Toshiba has developed a 45GB HD DVD disc that fills the gap between HD DVD and BD-ROM capacities, which may allow content provides to record more content onto a single HD DVD device.

45GB HD DVD disc has three layers instead of two and is compatible with common HD DVD infrastructure. It is unclear whether additional capacity results in significant cost increase.

“These new HD DVD discs will surely be welcomed by content holders, including Hollywood studios and game developers, as further broadening the scope of future applications. We have already started verification for volume production of triple-layered discs, and we are confident of early verification as they are based on the 0.6mm disc structure and established production technologies,” said Shiroharu Kawasaki, president and CEO of Memory-Tech, Japan's largest independent disc replicator.

HD DVD is the next generation DVD format being standardized at the DVD Forum, which represents over 230 consumer electronics, information technology, and content companies worldwide. HD DVD can store up to 15GB of data on one layer. HD DVD players and HD DVD video software are expected to come to market in late 2005. The development of HD DVD is headed by NEC and Toshiba.