China readies its own version of Blu-Ray

The first production line for the China Blue High-definition (CBHD) disk format has been completed. Formally known as CH-DVD, CBHD is essentially a Chinese version of the deposed HD-DVD format, coupled with an advanced copy protection as well as the ability to use government-owned DRA audio and AVS video codec.

From a licensee's point of view, one of the attractions of the CBHD has to do with the fact that a production line to manufacture these disks will only cost $800,000 compared to the more than $3 million required to setup a Blu-Ray line. In addition, royal fees for CBHD players are a mere 55 yuan ($8.10). Of course, CBHD has not won the requisite support from movie studios in Hollywood. It is hard to say whether this will prove fatal to the format, as it did to HD-DVD.

To read up more on China's version of Blu-Ray:
- check out this The Register article