The BDA (sounds sort of like a sinister wing of the FDA) has approved the first full version of the read only Blue-ray Disc format. This format will compete with the next DVD format: HD-DVD.

BD-ROM players are set to ship late next year, the BDA said, with content coming through in the same timeframe. At this stage, the only major content provider to have publicly confirmed its willingness to off BD-ROM discs is Sony, which has said its Sony Pictures Entertainment will offer BD-ROM high-definition movies in Japan. The company’s disc manufacturing wing is, however, promoting BD-ROM to studios in the US.

Sony has said they will equip the Playstation 3 with a BD-ROM player.