View source for China Blue High-definition Disc

{{update|reason=Reliable sources regarding this format are extremely rare|date=September 2024}}
{{about||the Founding Director of the Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity (CBHD)|John Kilner}}
{{Infobox media
|name=CH DVD
|logo=
|image=
|type=High-density [[optical disc]]
|encoding=
|capacity=
|read=
|write=
|standard=
|owner= [[DVD Forum]], Optical Memory National Engineering Research Center (OMNERC)
|use=Data storage, including [[high-definition video]]
|extended from=
|extended to=
}}
{{short description|Optical disc format based on HD DVD}}
'''China Blue High-Definition''' ('''CBHD'''; {{zh|c=中国蓝光高清光盘}}; alternatively "China High Definition DVD") is a high definition optical disc format announced in September 2007 by the Optical Memory National Engineering Research Center (OMNERC) of [[Tsinghua University]] in [[China]]. 

The format is a derivative of the [[HD DVD]], a medium created by the [[DVD Forum]] designed to succeed regular [[DVD]]s. 

Although HD DVD was scrapped as a result of losing the [[High definition optical disc format war|format war]] to [[Blu-ray]], CBHDs continued to be produced and marketed, though only in China.

==History==
Originally called CH-DVD, CBHD was developed by a joint venture between the DVD Forum and OMNERC. Development began in 2005, and an early prototype was demonstrated in 2007.<ref name="40th Steering Committee Meeting (Nov. 15, 2007)">{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdforum.org/40scmtg-resolution.htm |title=Steering Committee meeting, (Nov. 15, 2007) |publisher=Dvdforum.org |access-date=2011-08-03}}</ref> In 2008, during the DVD Forum's 42nd Steering Committee Meeting, the DVD Forum gave OMNERC the permission to edit HD DVD specifications.<ref name="40th Steering Committee Meeting (Feb. 27, 2008)">{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdforum.org/41scmtg-resolution.htm |title=Steering Committee meeting, Feb.27, 2008) |publisher=Dvdforum.org |access-date=2011-08-03}}</ref>

Though HD DVD proponents had hoped that CBHD would be a viable successor to the HD DVD format, the CBHD spec was ultimately incompatible with HD DVD players despite the similarities between the two.   As a result, CBHD is a proprietary format unique to China.

==Technology==
{{Optical disc authoring}}
Development of CBHD, heavily based on the HD DVD standard, was greatly helped by Japanese engineers. In particular, Hisashi Yamada, former Chief Technology Fellow at Toshiba's Digital Media Network, often referred to as the "father of DVD", has played a key role in China's plan to create its own high-definition consumer video format.<ref name="Japanese_engineers_help_China">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dvd-and-beyond.com/display-article.php?article=1535|title=DVD and beyond - Japanese engineers help China's homegrown hidef disc development|website=www.dvd-and-beyond.com}}</ref>

CBHD differs from HD DVD in several key areas. CBHD uses the PRC government-owned [[Audio Video Standard|AVS]] video [[codec]], [[Dynamic Resolution Adaptation|DRA]] audio codec,<ref name="Register_readies">{{cite web |first=Austin |last=Modine |title=China readies Blu-Ray competitor |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/29/china_cbhd_ready/ |website=[[The Register]] |date=2008-07-29 |access-date=2011-06-06 }}</ref> and a new [[copy protection]] system, [[DKAA]], as an alternative to HD DVD's and Blu-ray's [[Advanced Access Content System|AACS]].<ref name="ChinaHDACBHDSpecEn">[http://www.chinahda.org.cn/en/why-cbhd.html Why CBHD] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904124136/http://www.chinahda.org.cn/en/why-cbhd.html |date=2009-09-04 }} ChinaHDA.org</ref><ref name="efluxmedia.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_China_Adopts_New_HD_Disc_Standard_HD_DVD_Reaches_51GB_08434.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618163909/http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_China_Adopts_New_HD_Disc_Standard_HD_DVD_Reaches_51GB_08434.html|url-status=dead|title=China Adopts New HD Disc Standard, HD DVD Reaches 51GB<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=June 18, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2007/09/09/china-announces-ch-dvd-a-new-high-definition-dvd-standard/ |title=China announces CH-DVD, a new high definition DVD standard |date=9 September 2007 |publisher=Engadget |access-date=2011-08-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.betanews.com/article/New_Chinese_Involvement_Could_Trigger_HD_DVD_Price_Plunge/1189196071 |title=New Chinese Involvement Could Trigger HD DVD Price Plunge |date=7 September 2007 |publisher=BetaNews |access-date=2011-08-03}}</ref> 

CBHD's developers claim the format contains more copy protection features and is part of a big push by China to fight [[Copyright infringement|piracy]] in addition to reducing their reliance upon foreign patents with their associated [[Royalties|royalty payments]].<ref name=zdnet>[http://stor-age.zdnet.com.cn/stor-age/2007/0907/495410.shtml  High-definition discs Industry Alliance of China officially established its debut CH-DVD] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707022919/http://stor-age.zdnet.com.cn/stor-age/2007/0907/495410.shtml |date=2011-07-07 }}, ZDNet China, September 7, 2007</ref>

CBHD also eschews HD DVD's [[Advanced Content]] navigation system in favor of a Chinese system called [[China Electronics Technology Group Corporation|CETC]].<ref name="ChinaHDACBHDSpecEn"/>

Like HD DVD, CBHD discs have a capacity of 15 GB single-layer and 30GB dual-layer and can utilize existing DVD production lines.<ref>[http://www.tomshardware.com/news/cbhd-china-blue-bluray-disc,7681.html CBHD is China's Own Blu-ray Disc] - Tom's Hardware, May 1st, 2009</ref>

==Industry support==
In early March 2009, [[Warner Bros.]] announced they would be supporting the CBHD format, launching with titles including the ''[[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter]]'' series and ''[[Blood Diamond (film)|Blood Diamond]]'', with discs selling for between 50 and 70 yuan (roughly $7.25 to $10.15).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/media/news/2009/03/warner-bros-to-support-chinese-blu-ray-competitor-cbhd.ars |title=HD battle on the eastern front? Warner to support CBHD |website=Ars Technica |date=March 3, 2009 |access-date=2009-03-03}}</ref> 

According to an August 2009 television story by ''TV-Tokyo'', CBHD was outselling rival Blu-ray by a margin of 3 to 1 in China (due to heavy advertisement and favored backing from the government).<ref>{{cite web |title=Homegrown CBHD discs outsell Blu-ray by 3-1 margin in China  |url=https://arstechnica.com/business/news/2009/08/homegrown-cbhd-discs-outsell-blu-ray-by-3-1-margin-in-china.ars |website=[[Ars Technica]] |date=2 August 2009 |access-date=5 September 2009}}</ref>  

In September 2009, [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] and [[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] announced their support for the format.<ref>[http://formatwarcentral.com/2009/09/18/universal-studios-national-geographic-cbhd/ Universal Studios (US) and National Geographic (US) Announce Support for CBHD] - Format War Central, September 18, 2009</ref> Also adding support for the format are [[Paramount Pictures]] (US), Celestial (HK/CN) and [[BBC]]/[[Discovery Communications|Discovery]] (UK/US).<ref>[https://www.amazon.cn/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dvideo-substore&keywords=%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E8%93%9D%E5%85%89&Go.x=22&Go.y=8&searchKind=keyword CBHD/CH-DVD raw search], Joyo Amazon.com (in Chinese)</ref>

Six CBHD players were released: four by Shinco (CBHD-9100, CBHD-3800, HD-2100 and  HD-3700U) two by TCL (THBD-1008 and THBD-1038)  According to reports from the China HD Association, Shinco was selling under 11,000 CBHD players every month between mid-2009 and mid-2010. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://forum.lddb.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=10789&sid=c01a949e7f20ccf87ad0b3f34fb086bc&start=20 | title=LaserDisc Database • View topic - CBHD: The forgotten Blu-Ray competitor }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[China Video Disc]], a Chinese-modified [[VCD]] format
* [[High-Definition Versatile Disc]], China's high-resolution format on DVDs
* [[Blu-ray Disc]], an alternative high definition format
* [[Comparison of high definition optical disc formats]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090503105151/http://www.chinahda.org.cn/en/index.html Official Site (English)]
* [http://stor-age.zdnet.com.cn/stor-age/2007/0907/495410.shtml  High-definition discs Industry Alliance of China officially established its debut CH-DVD] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707022919/http://stor-age.zdnet.com.cn/stor-age/2007/0907/495410.shtml |date=2011-07-07 }}, ZDnet China,  September 7, 2007
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070912135101/http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070906006388&newsLang=en  Business Wire press release]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080914010421/http://thefutureofthings.com/news/1283/chinas-olympic-hd-dvd.html China's Olympic HD-DVD] - [[The Future of Things]] article
* [https://arstechnica.com/business/news/2009/08/homegrown-cbhd-discs-outsell-blu-ray-by-3-1-margin-in-china.ars Homegrown CBHD discs outsell Blu-ray by 3-1 margin in China - Ars Technica]

{{Video storage formats}}
{{High definition media}}
{{HD DVD}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:China Blue High-Definition Disc}}
[[Category:Audiovisual introductions in 2007]]
[[Category:HD DVD]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 2007]]
[[Category:Chinese inventions]]
[[Category:Optical discs]]