China adopts its own HD DVD standard: CH DVD

China is adopting its own version of the HD DVD standard - China High Definition DVD, or CH DVD.

The standard was developed by the Optical Memory National Engineering Research Centre (OMNERC), a consortium of Chinese universities, government officials and industry.

It is similar to the HD DVD format, although it includes stronger copy-protection features, and players with the correct software installed should able to read both HD DVD and CH DVD formats.

CH-DVD uses Chinese technology to reduce the number of patent payments that need to be paid to owners - keeping costs low.

The format’s improved anti-piracy technology is likely to appeal to Hollywood studios, which could help in securing rights to major movies.

It is anticipated that the CH-DVD standard will be introduced next year, in time for the Olympics. It may only be released in Asia, and as yet it is unclear how the new format will fit into the ongoing battle between the HD DVD and Blu-ray formats, which are now in their second year in the market.