Blu-ray (BD) is the name of a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association, a group of leading consumer electronics and PC companies (including Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. A single-layer Blu-ray Disc can hold 25GB, which can be used to record over two hours of HDTV or more than 13 hours of standard-definition TV. There are also dual-layer versions of the discs that can hold 50GB.

The competing format is HD-DVD format, developed by Toshiba. It’s based in large part on existing DVD technology and could well turn out to be less expensive to produce than the Blu-ray. In fact, Toshiba claims it can make HD-DVDs disks for about the same price as current DVDs. Also, players of disks based on Toshiba’s HD DVD technology would be able to play current DVDs as well as those in high-definition, according to Toshiba. Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, Disney, Warner Brothers and HP have all backed the HD-DVD format.