The Blu-Ray Disc Association said Tuesday that it will require Microsofts VC-1 video codec, based on Windows Media, to be included in the read-only BD-ROM spec.
Blu-Ray, backed by companies like Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Philips and Matsushita will require the codec to be used in playback equipment. The rival HD DVD format, backed by NEC and Toshiba, has already endorsed the VC-1 codec in its own specification.
“Weve been committed to adding advanced codecs to enrich the Blu-ray Disc format,” said Maureen Weber, general manager of HPs optical storage solutions business and a member of the Blu-Ray group, in a statement. “We want to offer content providers a variety of compression codecs to suit their various needs. With the addition of Microsofts VC-1, we extend that option in a package that makes Blu-ray Discs capacity advantage even more substantial while still delivering the picture quality that consumers demand from high-definition technology.”
Microsoft will maintain its neutral position in supporting the emerging high definition video formats, said Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president of Microsofts Windows Media division, in a statement.