CBHD stands for China Blue High-Definition.

The format will use the AVS audio and video codec, which is owned by the Chinese government. So, it is highly unlikely that we will see these players and discs anywhere else, unless of course, they are smuggled out from China in some way.

Warner Bros. stated that it will support CBHD and will start releasing titles before 2009 ends. At least 100 titles will be released, which includes Harry Potter and Blood Diamond.

CBHD players from Shinco and TLC are priced close to the $300 USD mark. Still not cheap compared to known-brand Blu-ray players. The biggest thing about CBHD are the media, the discs will reportedly cost somewhere between $7 to $10 USD, now that’s cheap!

While the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) are trying to get player prices down in the US, China is starting its own country-exclusive Blu-ray-like format. This’ll definitely spark something up with CBHD and Blu-ray, at least in China.

[via SINA and Ars Technica]