Warner Home Video Announces Total HD, States Discs are Two-Sided

January 9, 2007, 10:15 PM by Scott M. Fulton, III

Scott Fulton, BetaNews: In a press conference at CES Tuesday afternoon, Warner Home Video representatives formally announced the creation of the Total HD high-definition disc format. But based on the early description given to us by Warner, the format appears to be inconsistent with the multi-layer formats that the Time Warner division has previously patented, where as many as three layers could be juxtaposed with varying degrees of reflectivity, to be played through a single side. Instead, the THD disc is described as a double-dual layer composite, with one or two Blu-ray Disc layers on one side and one or two HD DVD layers on the other, though with the total disc depth measuring 1.2 mm as mandated by player manufacturers.

What this means, obviously, is that there's no room for labeling or silkscreening with the exception of the thin little "washer" area around the inner rim of the disc; double-sided DVDs today print disc titles in near microscopic print along this rim.

So Total HD is not the technological breakthrough that it could have been. Still, it is an attempt by one major studio to end the format fracas that has stymied the high-def arena for almost two years.

Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment: [from prepared statement] By eliminating potential apprehension over formats, we believe this new disc could help consumers fully embrace the greatest home entertainment experience available.

Scott Fulton: Today's statement offers at least the semblance of an olive branch, which includes the words, "If broadly adopted by the industry..." indicating that Warner will attempt to license the format. But the apparent fact that the disc is two-sided may give opposing studios a reason to reject the format, as incapable of supporting appropriate artwork.

And since the notion of slamming two disc formats together on opposite sides is itself nothing new (it's been done before with DVD and SD-9), some may actually question whether Warner has the authority to license the concept as a format, since it owns neither HD DVD nor Blu-ray intellectual property. So just as LG's hybrid disc player left the video community with something to be desired, Warner's proposed solution to the high-def debate could leave open room for counter-argument from any other studio looking for an excuse.

Reuters reported Wednesday morning that representatives from Best Buy, Circuit City, and Amazon.com have all indicated their support for Total HD, and their willingness to stock titles using the format on their shelves. But the report also quotes an executive from Lionsgate studio as saying it would be less confusing for the consumer if Sony and Toshiba - the champions of Blu-ray and HD DVD, respectively - were allowed to battle it out, implying that perhaps the format that stands victorious over the other would be perceived by the consumer as the rightful victor. Lionsgate's approach of viewing the format war as a spectator sport for studios watching from the sidelines may not be shared by its peers.