Much like Rocky Balboa in Rocky IV, HD-DVD just will not relent in the face of what many consider superior opposition. Yet the next-gen format has received another shot in the arm today.
On the back of Sony's announcement that European Blu-ray Disc sales have increased by 1,000 per cent since the PS3 launch in March, an investigation has been launched by the European Commission into the exclusive deals the Blu-ray Disc Association has secured from the film studios and the motivations behind them. Concerns of anti-competitiveness and unfair tactics are being mooted.
Blu-ray is currently in collaboration with every Hollywood movie studio with the exception of Universal, maintaining exclusivity for BD with Sony Pictures, Disney, Twentieth Century Fox, Lionsgate and MGM. Each of these has been ordered to cough up all their files concerning any decision to support BD exclusively.
Of course this spells smiles all round at camp HD-DVD. If the commission does indeed find some evidence of malpractice and orders the studios to relinquish BD's exclusivity, HD-DVD will be right back in the fight, especially considering standalone HD-DVD players are currently outselling Blu-ray this side of the pond thanks to friendlier price points. The AV world holds its breath in anticipation, though we do suggest breathing at some point, as this will likely go on for ages!
More information: http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm
