The hybrid format, which Warner 1st announced earlier this year at the CES was originally planned to be released this year.

The hybrid discs have a physical structure of 12 cm, the same size as standard DVDs, HD DVD and Blu-ray discs. The Total HD disc also has the ability to contain both single layer & dual layers for both formats enabling either 15 GB or 30 GB on the HD DVD side, and 25 GB or 50 GB on the Blu-ray side.

Warner's senior VP of marketing management Steve Nickerson confirmed that the studio would be delaying the debut of the hybrid HD DVD/Blu-ray format until at least early 2008.

"There is no expiration date on the viability of this concept, so we're not in a rush to do it, we'll do it when it makes sense and when it's right." As stated by Nickerson.

It seams like the US companies will abandon the HD DVD format in favor of Blu-ray, probably because of the recently announced DRM BD+ technology, which should prevent illegal copies of movies.

The situation in Europe is different, because most European companies prefer HD DVD.