HD DVD versus Blu-Ray could end up a draw

The high definition war may end up as a draw, stifling the whole industry, if new research is to be believed.

Screen Digest's research predicts that the next generation format war will serve only to "dampen consumer appetite for the whole high definition disc category."

Screen Digest predict that the two formats will only net $11 billion of the $39 billion expected to be spent on video discs by 2010 in the United States, Europe and Japan. They say that comparisons being made between DVD and VHS cannot be applied to this same format war; with the new formats not offering enough different content.

The researchers did agree that the two new disc formats could co-exist for the time being, if only until a product that is universally more cost effective can take their place. Sony's Playstation 3 is going to support Blu-Ray, while Microsoft has stated that it will release a HD DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 later this year.

In other disc related news, ZDnet are reporting that Mission Impossible III will be the first movie released on all three formats at the same time. Tom Adams, veteran industry analyst and President of Adams Media Retailing, had this to say about the topic:

"It's clearly way too soon to know which format is going to prevail, and it may be years. So I think we'll see a lot more dual-format releases, at least in the short term. The interesting moment will be if we see that from somebody besides Paramount and Warner Home Video, the only two studios that have announced support for both formats."

Mission Impossible III could become the first benchmark to judge which format will be dominant. As of yet though there is no indication to consumers which format they should put their money behind, which is only adding to theconfusion and negative feeling surrounding the new formats.

Will HD DVD or Blu-Ray prevail? Do you have any reasons for supporting one or the other? Let us know in the forums.