By Rachel Cericola, Jan 22, 2005

Robert Archer, senior editor at CE Pro magazine checked in with this report for us. Thanks Bob!

One of the best things about the Consumer Electronics Show is that we get to see the “next big thing.” Leading the way this year was HD-DVD and Blu-ray.

Toshiba received support for the HD-DVD format from Sanyo, HBO Video, New Line Home Entertainment, Paramount Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Warner Home Video, Thomson and its RCA brand, as well as its HD-DVD partner NEC. Further bolstering the format was the news that Cinram International Inc., who will produce discs for data storage in both the DVD and HD-DVD formats. Microsoft is also in talks with the format’s developers to contribute to the medium.

Supposedly, HD-DVD hardware and software will be available by the fourth quarter of 2005 with Toshiba releasing players and notebook PCs and Sanyo releasing players too. Supporting the players will be HD-DVD movie titles from Paramount; The Manchurian Candidate and Mission Impossible, Universal Pictures; VanHelsing and The Bourne Supremacy, and Warner Bros; Oceans Twelve and the upcoming movies Batman Begins and Constantine.

HD-DVD’s competitor Blu-ray received support at the show from Vivendi Universal Games. Also, Samsung was showing a prototype Blu-ray recorder in its booth, which could be available sometime in 2005. Pioneer was also supporting Blu-ray DVD, and according to company officials, Blu-ray is the technology that will deliver an uncompromising video experience. “Pioneer believes we should never settle for less than the very best we can achieve,” says Andy Parsons of Pioneer Electronics.

If you can't wait that long, find out what's going on now in the world of DVD.