Are There Any Signs Of An End To The Format War Between Blu-Ray And HD-DVD?

LG Electronics, a Korean firm, has plans for a drive which would be able to read discs in both formats. This is what happened in the similar format war over recordable DVD discs. Although there were several types of recordable DVD available, DVD+R and DVD-R formed the two main camps. In the early years of recordable DVD availability, DVD recorders tended only to be able to handle discs of one or the other type. Now many players are able to handle discs of both types. It is possible that the Blu-Ray and HD-DVD struggle will be resolved in the same way.

Another possible end to the format war might lie in a new disc type being marketed by Time Warner, Total HD. Total HD discs contain films in both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD formats in a single disc, playable in either type of player. Total HD discs are expected to be more expensive than conventional Blu-Ray or HD-DVD discs, however, so it remains to be seen whether consumers will be willing to pay a premium for cross-compatibility. There has also been resistance from some studios which have links to Blu-Ray or HD-DVD manufacturers and wish to see their favoured format prevail unambiguously.