HD-DVD press event

The Consumer Electronic Show starts today, but the HD-DVD camp started early with a press event late Sunday.

They used the event to present sales figures for the format. An estimated 175,000 HD-DVD players (Standalone, XBOX 360 Add-on and Laptops) have been sold from the format's launch until January 5th 2007. When it comes to sold titles, the figure reaches 28 titles per sold player.

"Based on an expected install base of more than 2.5 million players by the end of 2007, the HD DVD Promotional Group estimates HD DVD movie title sales to exceed $600 million in North America for 2007," said a press release.

They also used the event to promise new titles in 2007. The format has 41 studios behind it worldwide, and they will release more than 300 titles during 2007. The list includes acclaimed hits such as "The Departed," "The Good Shepherd," "Flags of Our Fathers," "Babel," the entire "Harry Potter" series, "The Matrix" trilogy and "Blade Runner." Hit TV series will also appear on HD DVD, including "Battlestar Galactica," "The Sopranos," and the original episodes of "Star Trek," which have been digitally remastered.

Lastly, more hardware vendors are expected to release players in 2007 including Onkyo and Meridian.