Broadcom & Microsoft in the Format Wars

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In announcements released in time to influence the pace of events at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show, Broadcom has announced a chipset that supports both the Blu-ray and HD-DVD standards, while Microsoft has announced native Windows Vista support for HD-DVD only.

A company spokesman was quoted as saying, “Our chip set will play 100% of HD-DVD and 100% of Blu-Ray, and all the special features that come with that.” That implies that the chipset’s firmware will support both iHD and BD-J interactive layers, and AACS with and without the added layers of protection found on Blu-ray Disc. This chipset has application in both dedicated players, like those found in the home theater environment, and in high-definition DVD ROM drives targeted for computers.

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As expected, Microsoft announced it is folding HD DVD playback support into its next operating system release, Windows Vista. This inclusion will essentially be free. On the other hand, PC manufacturers will likely have to pay a $30 licensing fee to offer Blu-ray Disc playback support. $30 may not seem like very much, but in the commodity-driven, cutthroat world of PC marketing, it could be a showstopper. To further sweeten the pot, Microsoft is also reported to be offering cash incentives to PC manufacturers who bundle HD DVD ROM drives in their machines.

Source: DVDFILE