Case Study

HD-DVD / Blu-ray
Alexander Schönmann

VS

21.11.2021 Schönmann Alexander; Matrikel 19288 25

HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray
Initial situation (2006-2008)

• Because DVDs offer too little space for high-definition movies in HDTV format, a
successor is needed
• Incompatible formats Blu-ray and HD-DVD compete for the throne.

 Low investment (conversion of existing

 High storage capacity (25 GB / 50 GB) Potential
production facilities)
up to 200 GB (4 layers)
 Cheaper production cost
 High data rate (data per time unit)
 No hard coating needed
 Additional copy protection BD+
 Less pressing time
 High resistance against scratches

 Higher unit costs:  Significantly lower storage capacity 15

 Pressing time GB / 30 GB

 Equipment investment  Insecure copy protection (AACS)

 Hard coating required

26 Netzwelt.de / blu-raydisc.de / Chip.de
HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray
Attractiveness of the formats: Potential (2006-2008)

A high-definition future...

 Future industry standard for computer discs

 Playback of high-definition video material (HD movies and HD
games)
 Flat screens and digital projectors can reproduce
breathtakingly realistic images

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 The weak point in home cinema is not the display,
but the feed from DVD (only 480p)
 Integration of new operating features:
 Scene selection during parallel movie playback (interactivity)
 additional bonus features via download function
 Combination of games and movies
 New standard for video consoles X-Box / Playstation

Areadvd.de
 Development of a more powerful disc format with more storage capacity as well as a higher
data rate for HDTV and new, better audio formats.
 Basically: requirements of resolution met by both formats!
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HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray
2008: And the winner is blu-ray…

2 main reasons...
 Film studios and distributors:
 Major studios like 20th Century Fox and Walt
Disney to release exclusively on Blu-ray
 Warner Bros. announces2008 it will only offer its
films in high-definition on Blu-ray  Game Over
 Film distributors such as Constantin and Senator

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also now only produce on Blu-ray
 Hardware:
 Only Toshiba builds players for HD-DVD
 Blu-ray players are offered by various well-known
manufacturers (Sony,Panasonic,Pioneer...)
 PlayStation3 provides for strong spreading of the
Blu-ray standard  more people have a bluray
player and search for videos for it

 2008: Toshiba finally discontinues HD DVD production  Toshiba will no longer develop,
distribute or manufacture HD-DVD devices
 The standard medium for high-definition video will be the Blu-ray disc.
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HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray
The end of the story: Video on Demand / Streaming is reality and much more successful

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