DVD Forum backs Toshiba-NEC format

28 Nov 2003 | 08:39 GMT

By INQUIRER staff

Blu Ray go away

THE DVD FORUM said it will adopt a design put together by Toshiba and NEC for the next generation of high definition DVDs.

According to today's Nihon Keizai Shimbun, the decision means there will be a rival format to Blu-Ray disks, promoted by Sony.

The high definition DVD format will be capable of recording up to two hours of high res digital broadcasts, the newspaper said.

Products using the Toshiba-NEC format are set to appear towards the end of next year from the first company, and in 2005 from NEC.

Last week a Chinese consortium said it would develop an alternative format for DVDs, in order to avoid paying royalty fees to the the DVD Forum.