The HD DVD camp seems to gain momentum in China with the today's announcement of the CH-DVD (China High Definition DVD), a Chinese High-def DVD format based on the HD DVD standard.

In the todays' opening ceremony of CHDA, (China HDV DVD Association) in Jade Palace Hotel, Beijing, the Optical Memory National Engineering Research Center (OMNERC) and the DVD Forum representatives announced the establishment of CH-DVD (China High Definition DVD), a new generation high definition DVD format developed in collaboration with research institutes and manufacturing enterprises.

The physical format of CH-DVD includes Chinese-owned intellectual property, and is based on HD DVD, the next generation high definition DVD approved by the DVD Forum. The realization of CH-DVD was supported by the Chinese government, and will pave the way for the localization of blue-laser, high-definition DVD in China.

CHDA is expected to play a leadership role in the promotion of CH-DVD, and will make a big push to launch CH-DVD player into the Chinese market in 2008.

The emergence of CH-DVD as a high definition format integrating Chinese-owned intellectual property demonstrates that a Chinese optical disc technology is already at the world-class level. In the near future, all related industries in China are expected to make the transition from standard definition DVD to high definition DVD.

CH-DVD adopts advanced copy protection technology that prevents the spread of pirated copy, according to the CHDA. Many content holders have confirmed their support for CH-DVD and will launch movie titles in the CH-DVD format,"

In the next year, China will start broadcasts of high definition TV programs.