Broadcom Corporation today announced a high definition (HD) audio/video decoder chip that is fully compliant with Blu-ray and HD DVD optical disc formats.

The BCM7411D HD A/V decoder chip supports H.264, the SMPTE standard based on Microsoft Windows Media Video 9. Both compression standards are mandatory for Blu-ray and HD DVD optical disc formats. The BCM7411D also supports high definition MPEG-2 decoding and provides backwards compatibility for current DVD video titles as well as new HD DVD titles that may be authored in an MPEG-2 format.

The BCM7411D is based on Broadcom's previous generation HD A/V decoder chips, which are currently shipping in cable, satellite and IPTV set-top boxes, media centers and gateways. This fourth generation chip adds features that specifically address the HD optical disc player market, while it supports the VC-1 video compression standard.

Also announced today is Broadcom's BCM97438 reference platform for the development of Blu-ray and HD DVD media players. The platform includes a reference board featuring the new BCM7411D HD A/V decoder chip and Broadcom's BCM7038 dual-channel HD digital video system chip, as well as a software platform that offers OEMs a wide range of integration options.

The chip's integrated audio codec supports Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby Digital Plus, DTS 5.1, DTS-HD, MLP Lossless, LPCM and MPEG audio formats. The chip also supports Thomson's Film Grain Technology.

The BCM7411D is now shipping in volume quantities with pricing available upon request.