By James Wells in Berlin
BERLIN: The Blu-ray Disc Association today explained the reasons behind the software format’s decision to incorporate 3D content at a press conference at IFA 2009 in Berlin.
According to Blu-ray Disc Association global promotions committee chair, Victor Matsuda, the group is working on a uniform specification to ensure consistent delivery of 3D content across the Blu-ray Disc platform.
“The BDA intends to take full advantage of the format’s high bandwidth and capacity to achieve the very highest possible quality 3D experience,” Matsuda said.
“Just as Blu-ray Disc has paved the way for next generation, high definition home entertainment, it will also set the standard for 3D home viewing in the future.
In an interview Matsuda conducted with the chairman of the BDA 3D taskforce and vice president of studio new technology at Walt Disney Studios, Benn Carr, it was revealed that there is an intention to offer a two-dimension (2D) version of the content to be encoded on all 3D discs. However, it is not known at this stage whether there will be sufficient room on a 50GB disc for additional content or whether bonus features will need to be encoded to an additional disc.
“3D will require more capacity,” Carr said.
“We will optimise the encoding so that a 3D movie will fit on a 50GB disc. With the bit-budgeting so far, we have conducted extensive tests and more capacity is required [than a standard Blu-ray movie].
“We are not sure whether we will have to move the bonus material to another disc. 3D will fit on a 50GB disc… we think.”
FutureSource Consulting company director, Jim Bottoms, commented on the growth of the format which has grown by 244 per cent in disc unit sales and 300 per cent in player sales assisted by a decrease in the differential between a DVD disc and a Blu-ray Disc resulting in higher back-catalogue adoption.
“The momentum is so strong, it is almost impossible to stop,” Bottoms said.