A US company is to start selling a new type of high-definition DVD player
claiming that it has the cheapest players on the market.
The HD VMD (Versatile Multilayer Disc) players will compete against the
existing Blu-ray and HD DVD players, as well as China's
CH-DVD
format.
The new format aims to be the cheapest on the market because it relies on
older red laser technology rather than the more expensive blue lasers.
"US consumers have waited for an HD solution at DVD pricing and we believe we
have met this desire with HD VMD through a stellar quality, high-definition disc
and player at a price point that almost anyone can afford," said Mahesh
Jayanarayan, chief executive at
New
Medium Enterprises, which owns the standard.
"With the launch into the US market this month, and an accelerating rollout
of HD VMD content and retail distribution partners, we plan to drive adoption of
HD in the home."
The firm said that the first models will go on sale in the UK on 1 October
from online retailers like
Amazon
and Dabbs.
The first player will cost £119 and the media itself will be only slightly
more expensive than traditional DVDs, while the company has more than 100 films
available for purchase listed on its website.
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