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 DVD
technology is zooming ahead -- and it is not good
for you. Soon, you may be forced into buying two
DVD players, because DVDs that come out in the
market will be in two entirely different formats -
which need two different types of players.
That future is not that far ahead. DVDs we use
currently use a red laser beam to read the DVD
code. The new DVD technology, pioneered by two
rival camps -- one by Sony and the other by
Toshiba -- use a blue laser to read the code. The
new DVDs will have at least 25 GB of data storage
space. It will enable high definition multi media
content, which are not possible with today's DVDs
and withering-out VCDs. The new DVDs will aid
multimedia interactivity and next-generation
comforts.
So what's wrong with all that?
The problem is, the next-gen DVDs are being
developed by two rival camps, which use completely
different formats to make the DVD. Sony is
readying its Blu-Ray discs, while the Toshiba-led
team is cooking HD-DVD. (High-definition DVD). In
terms of quality, both are identical, but the
formats used to make the DVDs are entirely
different - Blu-Ray DVDs will play only in players
made according to Blu-Ray format. Similarly,
HD-DVD will play only in HD-DVD format players.
The two technologies, though highly advanced, are
dissimilar and incompatible.
So, you may end up buying a next-gen DVD of Lord
of The Rings only to find that the DVD player you
have at home is not capable of playing it. Some of
your favourite movies may come out in a format
which your DVD player can accept, some not. Till
now, DVDs and VCDs were almost universally
compatible with CD and DVD drives. But DVD's
generation next is going to be a different ball
game.
Both Toshiba-Sanyo-NEC (which promotes HD-DVD) and
Sony-Dell (which promotes Blu-Ray) are intensely
aware of the consequences of the format war, which
will lead to billions of dollars wasted across the
globe because new DVD buyers will have to go for
two players. For the same reason, the battle has
intensified, and both are roping in as many camp
followers as possible.
The success of any new digital format - whether
HD-DVD or Blu-Ray -- depends, to a large extent,
on Hollywood. The side which can get maximum
Hollywood movie makers to join their band wagon
wins the format war - that side can roll in money
the rest of life with the format royalties, worth
billions, pouring in.
 When the format war began, Sony leaped ahead to
buy leading Hollywood movie maker MGM. The idea
was simple, MGM has decades of Hollywood movies in
its kitty. Acquiring MGM means Sony can set the
DVD agenda for MGM. All MGM movies, past and
future, can be put out in Blu-ray format so that
Blu-Ray technology gets a quantum leap. Simply
put, by the acquisition, Blu-Ray can piggyback on
MGM movies.
Even after the MGM acquisition, Sony aggressively
courted any other Hollywood production houses,
requesting them to put out their new movies in Blu-Ray
format. Studios currently supporting the Blu-Ray
disc format include Hollywood Pictures Home Video,
Touchstone Home Entertainment, Miramax Home
Entertainment and Dimension Home Video. Last week,
Sony got a significant gain when Walt Disney
agreed to back the Blu-Ray format.
Meanwhile, Toshiba is not sitting idle. Its HD-DVD
has found supporters in Warner Bros, New Line
Cinema, Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures,
representing about 45 percent of Hollywood's U.S.
sales of prepackaged DVDs. Support from US film
studios is vital in the format battle. Besides,
Toshiba is a leading producer of desktop PCs - it
can stuff its PCs with HD-DVD drives when they are
shipped.
But even Hollywood support is not something the
tech pioneers can completely bank on. Studios have
all agreed to "non-exclusive deals" with the DVD
camps, which means that they are free to offer
their movies in the opposite format also. Studios
are not taking a chance -- they know that Blu-Ray
and HD-DVD are more or less identical in quality.
They have moved into one DVD camp or the other,
but basically, they want to wait and watch for a
while. They will go with whichever format wins the
final battle. For the studios, it makes sense to
put out their movies in a format more people use.
If HD-DVD wins the format war, you can expect the
Blu-Ray followers becoming HD-DVD fans - and vice
versa. DVD technology loyalty be damned.
The digital format war is reminiscent of a similar
video format war in the 1980s. At that time,
Sony's Betamax format competed with the VHS format
for popularity - and failed. After the battle was
over, Betamax was decimated and all new video
cassettes came out in VHS format.
One thing is clear. There is only one winner here.
The loser will disappear without a trace. In the
digital format war, there is no place for a No.2.
So, till the battle wears out, make your next-gen
DVD player purchase with care. The format war is
just picking up steam.
BY JM
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