11.1 What companies create and support HD DVD formats?
11.2 What movie studios, music publishers, and distributors support HD DVD?
11.3 How much do consumer electronics HD DVD players and game consoles cost?
11.4 How much do consumer electronics HD DVD recorders cost?
11.5 How much do HD DVD-ROM drives cost?
11.6 How much do commercial HD DVD movie titles cost?
11.7 How much do blank HD DVD discs cost?
11.8 How much do HD DVD computer recorders cost?
11.9 What companies manufacture HD DVD-ROM discs?
11.10 What companies provide HD DVD verification services?
11.11 How much does HD DVD-Video authoring software cost?
What companies create and support HD DVD formats?
HD DVD was initially proposed in 2002 by Toshiba and NEC as Advanced Optical Disc (AOD) and later adopted by the DVD Forum in Nov. 2003. The DVD Forum (originally DVD Consortium) is an alliance of manufacturers founded in 1995 by Hitachi, Matsushita Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, Pioneer, Philips Electronics, Sony, Thomson, Time Warner, Toshiba and JVC.
Although the DVD Forum develops and administers all HD DVD format specifications, many of its contributors back competing Blu-ray Disc (BD). Thus, market development comes by way of the HD DVD Promotion Group (HDDVDPRG), a separate association of manufacturers founded in Dec. 2004. As of Mar. 2008, the HDDVDPRG consisted of 135 members and associates and is lead by Toshiba, NEC, Memory-Tech and Sanyo Electric.
On Feb. 19, 2008, Toshiba announced that it would no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. The HD DVD Promotion Group was dissolved on March 28, 2008.
On Dec. 15, 2008, Netflix discontinued rental of HD DVD discs.
HD DVD Promotion Group Membership List (as of March 3, 2008):
Chair: Toshiba Corporation; Vice Chair: Memory-Tech Corporation, NEC Corporation; Auditor: Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd.; Secretary: Toshiba Corporation.
Managing Members: Memory-Tech Corporation, NEC Corporation, Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd., Toshiba Corporation.
General Members: Almedio Inc., Alpine Electronics, Inc., Bandai Visual Co., Ltd., Broadcom Corporation, Canon Inc., CMC Magnetics Corporation, Corel Corporation, D&M Holdings Inc., DTS, Inc., Expert Magnetics Corp., Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Fujitsu Limited, Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Gibson Musical Instruments, GM Records, Hewlett-Packard Company, Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., Imation Corp., Intel Corporation, ITRI, Justsystem Corporation, Kadokawa Holdings, Inc., Kenwood Corporation, Kinyosha Printing Co.,Ltd., Konica Minolta Opto, Inc., Lenovo Japan, McRAY Corporation, Memory-Tech Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media Co., Ltd./Verbatim, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Moser Baer India Ltd., NEC Corporation, NEC Electronics Corporation, Nihon VTR Inc., Oerlikon Japan Co., Ltd., Onkyo Corporation, Paramount Home Entertainment, Pony Canyon Inc., Pony Canyon Enterprise Inc., Prodisc Technology Inc., Protron Digital Inc., Pulsetec Industrial Co., Ltd., Q-Tec, Inc., Ricoh Company Ltd., Ritek Corporation, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sonopress GmbH, Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd., Teac Corporation, Teijin Chemicals Ltd., Toemi Media Solutions Limited, Toppan Printing Co., Ltd., Toshiba Corporation, Toshiba Digital Frontiers Inc., Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Corporation, Toshiba-EMI Limited, Trendy Corporation, Ulead Systems, Inc., Universal Pictures and Warner Home Video Inc..
Associate Members: Acer Inc., Acses Co., Ltd., Ad Seeds Co.,Ltd, Allion Test Labs, Inc., Altech ADS Co., Ltd., AudioDev AB, ArcSoft, Inc, B.H.A Corporation, Beko Elektronik, CDN Corporation, LTD., Clariant Japan, CyberLink Corp., Daikin Industries, Ltd., Daiko.co, Ltd., Daxon Technology Inc., Dedicated Devices, Inc., DigiOn, Inc., Digital Site Corporation, Disc Labo Corp., Dolby Laboratories International Services Inc. Japan Branch, dr. schwab Inspection Technology GmbH, DT Japan Inc., EBISTRADE, INC., Entertainment Network Inc., EXA International, Finepack Co., Ltd., Flag, Inc., Fuji Plastic Co., Ltd., Fuji Seiki Co., Ltd., Gear Software, Inc, Hamamatsu Metrix Co., Ltd., Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Hoei Sangyo Co. Ltd., IDE-AVA, IMAGICA Corp., Info Source Multi Media Korea Ltd., Infodisc Technology Co., Ltd., JP Co., Ltd., Kaleidescape, Inc., Megan Media Holdings Bhd, Mitomo Co. Ltd., MPO International, Nero AG, NetBlender, Inc., NHK Technical Services, Inc., Nichia Corporation, Nikkatsu Corporation, nixbu Entertainment GmbH & Co. KG, Omnibus Japan, Onken Corporation, Online Media Technologies Ltd., Origin Electric Co. Ltd., Outpost FX (AB) International, Pegasys, Inc., Pico House Co., Ltd., Pixela Corporation, Plasmon OMS Sarl, PROBOXX Inc., Pryaid Records Inc., Query Inc., Sanken Media Product Co., Ltd., Shibaura Mechatronics Corporation, Sonic Solutions, Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd., Super Vision, Inc., Toei Video Co. Ltd., Toho Company Limited, Tokyo Laboratory Ltd., TOPTICA Photonics AG, Toyo Recording Co., Ltd., Transmix Co., Ltd., U-Tech Media Corp., VAP Inc. and Visionare Corporation.
What movie studios, music publishers, and distributors support HD DVD?
As of Jan. 2008, a number of domestic and foreign studios, independents, broadcasters and distributors have released or announced that they will offer movies, television shows and music in HD DVD format. These include:
Movies and Entertainment:
Warner Bros. (Warner Home Video, HBO Video/Castle Rock Entertainment, Turner Entertainment Company, New Line Home Entertainment) [until May 2008], Paramount Home Entertainment (Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Animation SKG, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies, MTV Films), Universal Pictures (Universal Studios Home Entertainment), Magnolia Home Entertainment, HDNet, BCI/Navarre, The Weinstein Company (Genius Products), Toshiba Entertainment, R&B Films, Koch Entertainment Distribution, The Picture Company, Bandai Visual, Pony Canyon, GHD, Shochiku, Kadokawa Pictures, Fuji Telecasting, DVD Acquisition and Development Group (DVD International), BBC Video, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Digital Leisure, Big River Pictures, Studio Canal, nixbu Entertainment, First Look Pictures, HDenvironments, Terwilliger Productions, Digital Playground, Vivid Entertainment, Wicked Pictures, Mantra Films, LFP Video Group, High Def Home Entertainment, Razor Digital Entertainment, Concorde Home Entertainment and others.
Music
Eagle Rock Entertainment, Concert Hot Spot, Rhino Entertainment, Live Nation, Videoarts Music, Surround Records, Image Entertainment, Interscope Records, Columbia Records and others.
How much do consumer electronics HD DVD players and game consoles cost?
As of Nov. 2008, HD DVD consumer electronics (CE) players are no longer available.
HD DVD Consumer Electronics Player Prices
(as of Nov. 2008)
| Brand/Manufacturer | Model | Type | MSRP (US$) | Availability (North America) |
| Integra | DHS-8.8 | HD DVD | $1,099 | discontinued |
| LG | BH100 | HD DVD/BD | $999 | discontinued |
| LG | BH200 | HD DVD/BD | $999 | discontinued |
| Microsoft | Xbox 360 Arcade | HD DVD | $409 | discontinued |
| Microsoft | Xbox 360 w/ HD DVD player | HD DVD | $479 | discontinued |
| Microsoft | Xbox 360 Elite w/ HD DVD player | HD DVD | $579 | discontinued |
| Microsoft | Xbox 360 Halo 3 SE w/ HD DVD player | HD DVD | $529 | discontinued |
| Microsoft | Xbox 360 Core w/ HD DVD player | HD DVD | $459 | discontinued |
| Onkyo | DV-HD805 | HD DVD | $899 | discontinued |
| RCA | HDV5000 | HD DVD | $499 | discontinued |
| Samsung | BD-UP5000 | HD DVD/BD | $799 | discontinued |
| Toshiba | HD-XA2 | HD DVD | $799 | discontinued |
| Toshiba | HD-A3 | HD DVD | $149 | discontinued |
| Toshiba | HD-A30 | HD DVD | $199 | discontinued |
| Toshiba | HD-A35 | HD DVD | $299 | discontinued |
| Toshiba | HD-A1 | HD DVD | $499 | discontinued |
| Toshiba | HD-XA1 | HD DVD | $799 | discontinued |
| Toshiba | HD-A2 | HD DVD | $299 | discontinued |
| Toshiba | HD-A20 | HD DVD | $399 | discontinued |
| Venturer/Alco Electronics | SHD7000 | HD DVD | $249 | discontinued |
How much do HD DVD consumer electronics recorders cost?
As of June 2007, Toshiba is shipping two HD DVD/hard disk consumer electronics (CE) recorders in Japan at suggested retail prices of roughly $1,220 and $1,620 (U.S.). Prices and units destined for the U.S. and other markets have yet to be announced.
HD DVD Consumer Electronics Recorder Prices
(as of Oct. 2007)
| Brand/Manufacturer | Model | MSRP (exchanged to US$) | Availability (Japan) |
| Toshiba | RD-A300 | $1,220 | current |
| Toshiba | RD-A600 | $1,620 | current |
| Toshiba | RD-A301 | $900 | Dec. 2007 |
| Toshiba | RD-A1 | $3,450 | discontinued |
How much do HD DVD-ROM drives cost?
As of Jan. 2008, Toshiba, Hewlett-Packard, Acer and Asus are shipping PC notebook computers equipped with HD DVD-ROM drives or combination HD DVD-ROM drive/Super Multi DVD recorders. Hewlett-Packard, Acer, Vidabox and Niveus Media offer PC desktop or media center computers with HD DVD-ROM drives or various combination HD DVD-ROM drives/recorders.
HD DVD-ROM/Combo Drive Prices
(as of Jan. 2008)
| Brand/Manufacturer | Model | Form Factor | MSRP (US$) | Availability (North America) |
| Addonics | Zebra | external | $409-$429 | current |
| Asus | HR-0205T | internal HH | ||
| Buffalo | BRHC-6316U2 | external | $649 | Q1 2008 |
| Hewlett-Packard | HD100 | external | $699 | current |
| LG | GGC-H20LI | internal HH | $299 | current |
| LG | GGW-H20LI | internal HH | $399 | current |
| LG | GGW-E10L | external | TBA | TBA |
| Microsoft | Xbox 360 HD DVD-ROM player | external | $179 | current |
| Toshiba | SD-H802A | internal HH | ||
| TSST | TS-L802A | simline | OEM | current |
| LG | GGW-H10N | internal HH | $1,119 | discontinued |
How much do commercial HD DVD movie titles cost?
As of May 2006, movie titles from Warner Home Video and Universal Studios Home Entertainment have suggested U.S. retail prices ranging from $28.99 to $29.95 for HD DVD discs and $29.95 to $34.95 for HD DVD/DVD Combo discs.
How much do blank HD DVD discs cost?
As of Feb. 2007, Verbatim, Imation, Memorex, Maxell, Moser Baer and Ritek are shipping individually packaged blank HD DVD-R (SL) discs with U.S. suggested retail prices ranging from $15.99 to $24.99. Several other manufacturers and marketers are developing or have announced that they will offer blank HD DVD discs. They include Ricoh, Fuji Photo Film, CMC Magnetics, Prodisc and Optodisc.
How much do HD DVD computer recorders cost?
As of Feb. 2007, Toshiba is shipping (Canada and Japan) PC notebook computers equipped with HD DVD-R recorders with suggested retail prices starting at roughly (U.S.) $2,899. Introduction in the U.S. is expected sometime in the third quarter. Announced by Toshiba in Jan. 2007, an internal HD DVD-R desktop computer recorder was never released to the market.
HD DVD Computer Recorder Prices
(as of June 2007)
| Brand/Manufacturer | Model | Form Factor | Type | MSRP (US$) | Availability (North America) |
| Toshiba | SD-H903A | internal HH | HD DVD-R | TBA | TBA |
| Toshiba | SD-L902A | slimline | HD DVD-R | OEM | current |
| Toshiba | SD-L912A | slimline | HD DVD-R/RW | OEM | July 2007 |
What companies manufacture HD DVD-ROM discs?
As of Dec. 2008, Memory-Tech Corporation, Cinram International, Sonopress, Technicolor Home Entertainment Services, Deluxe Digital Studios, MPO, optimal media production GmbH, Duplico 2000, Quantum Optical Laboratories (QOL), U-Tech Media Corp., SF Video, Markon, Laser-Video Multimedia, RepliMaster, Grupo Gema, Duplas Avelca, ODS Business Services Group GmbH, Infodisc Technology GmbH, CMC Magnetics/Vigobyte de Mexico, CDA Datenträger Albrechts GmbH and Victor Creative Media Co. Ltd. (formerly Victor Company of Japan/JVC) replicate prerecorded (pressed) HD DVD discs.
As a matter of background, according to the research firm Understanding & Solutions, Cinram, Technicolor, Sony and Sonopress accounted for 74% of North American prerecorded DVD disc production in 2006 while Technicolor, ODS Business Services, Cinram, Sony and Sonopress replicated 57% of the DVDs manufactured in Europe.
Major clients of these replicators include:
Cinram: Warner Home Video, Warner Music Group, New Line Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, MGM Home Entertainment, Artisan Entertainment/Lions Gate, Alliance Atlantis and EMI Group.
Technicolor: Disney, Universal Studios, Paramount/Dreamworks and Microsoft.
Quantum Optical Laboratories (QOL): TF1, M6, Europa Corp., Canal+, Pathe, Editions Atlas, Warner Home Video, Universal Pictures, Paramount and Fox.
HD DVD-ROM Disc Replicator Capabilities
(as of Feb. 2008)*
| Replicator | 3x DVD5 | 3x DVD9 | HD DVD15 | HD DVD30 | Combo 5/15 | Combo 5/30 | Combo 9/15 | Combo 9/30 | Twin |
| CDA Datenträger Albrechts GmbH | Germany | Germany | |||||||
| Cinram International | Olyphant, PA | Olyphant, PA | Olyphant, PA | Olyphant, PA | Olyphant, PA | Olyphant, PA | Olyphant, PA | Olyphant, PA | |
| CMC Magnetics/Vigobyte de Mexico | Tijuana, Mexico | Tijuana, Mexico | Tijuana, Mexico | Tijuana, Mexico | |||||
| Deluxe Digital Studios | Burbank, CA (check discs) | Burbank, CA (check discs) | Burbank, CA (check discs) | Burbank, CA (check discs) | Burbank, CA (check discs) | Burbank, CA (check discs) | |||
| Infodisc Technology GmbH | Renchen, Germany | Renchen, Germany | |||||||
| Memory-Tech Corporation | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | |||
| MPO | Averton, France; Madrid, Spain; Bangkok, Thailand | Averton, France; Madrid, Spain; Bangkok, Thailand | Averton, France | Averton, France | Averton, France | Averton, France | |||
| ODS Business Services Group GmbH | Germany; Poland | Germany; Poland | Germany; Poland | Germany; Poland | |||||
| optimal media production GmbH | Röbel/Müritz, Germany | Röbel/Müritz, Germany | Röbel/Müritz, Germany | Röbel/Müritz, Germany | Röbel/Müritz, Germany | ||||
| Quantum Optical Laboratories (QOL) | Vernouillet, France | Vernouillet, France | Vernouillet, France | Vernouillet, France | Vernouillet, France | Vernouillet, France | |||
| SF Video, Inc. | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA | ||||
| Sonopress | Gütersloh, Germany; Weaverville, NC | Gütersloh, Germany; Weaverville, NC | Gütersloh, Germany; Weaverville, NC | Gütersloh, Germany; Weaverville, NC | Gütersloh, Germany; Weaverville, NC | Weaverville, NC | Weaverville, NC | Weaverville, NC | Gütersloh, Germany; Weaverville, NC |
| Technicolor Home Entertainment Services ** | |||||||||
| U-Tech Media Corp. | Tao Yuan Shien, Taiwan | Tao Yuan Shien, Taiwan | Tao Yuan Shien, Taiwan | Tao Yuan Shien, Taiwan | Tao Yuan Shien, Taiwan | Tao Yuan Shien, Taiwan | Tao Yuan Shien, Taiwan | Tao Yuan Shien, Taiwan | Tao Yuan Shien, Taiwan |
| Victor Creative Media Co. Ltd | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
** Technicolor manufactures all of its HD DVD discs in Camarillio, CA but does not disclose the specific types.
What companies provide HD DVD verification services?
As of Nov. 2007, the DVD Forum has established several laboratories to provide verification services to HD DVD product manufacturers. They include Cinram, Crest Digital, DaTARIUS, Hitachi, ITRI, LG, Memory Tech, NEC, Samsung, Sanyo and Toshiba (see chart).
HD DVD Class-A Verification Laboratories
(as of Nov. 2007)
| Product | Cinram | Crest Digital | DaTARIUS | Hitachi | ITRI | LG | Memory Tech | NEC | Samsung | Sanyo | Toshiba |
| Disc | |||||||||||
| HD DVD-ROM | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| HD DVD-Video (ROM) | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| HD DVD-Video (3x ROM) | X | X | X | ||||||||
| HD DVD-R (SL/DL) | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| HD DVD-RW (SL/DL) | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Drive | |||||||||||
| HD DVD-ROM | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| HD DVD-R | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| HD DVD-RW | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Player/Decoder | |||||||||||
| HD DVD-Video | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Recorder/Encoder | |||||||||||
| HD DVD-R Video (VR) | X | ||||||||||
| HD DVD-RW Video (VR) | X | X | |||||||||
| HD Rec for R/RW/RAM | X | ||||||||||
| HD Rec for R/RW | X |
How much does HD DVD-Video authoring software cost?
As of Feb. 2008, Memory-Tech, Pinnacle Systems, Corel, NetBlender and Apple offer HD DVD-Video authoring software with U.S. suggested retail prices ranging from $79 for consumer packages to more than $200,000 for professional tools.
HD DVD-Video Authoring Software
(as of Feb. 2008)
| Package | Publisher | Platform | Standard Content | Advanced Content | MSRP (US$) |
| DoStudio MX | NetBlender Inc. | PC | X | $249/month | |
| Final Cut Studio 2 (DVD Studio Pro 4) | Apple Inc. | Mac | X | $1,299 | |
| HD DVD Authoring – High Profile Edition | Memory-Tech | PC | X | X | $200,000+ |
| HD DVD Authoring – Studio Profile Edition | Memory-Tech | PC | X | X | $50,000+ |
| HD DVD Interactivity Jumpstart | Microsoft | PC | X | no charge | |
| Pinnacle Studio Plus 11 | Pinnacle Systems | PC | X | $99 | |
| Pinnacle Studio Ultimate 11 | Pinnacle Systems | PC | X | $129 | |
| Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus | Corel Corporation | PC | X | $79 | |
| Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus | Corel Corporation | PC | X | $129 |
HD DVD-Video Development Tools
(as of Dec. 2007)
| Package | Publisher | Platform | Type | Price |
| Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator | Microsoft Corp. | Xbox 360/PC | Emulator | $2,999 |