Consumers looking to upgrade to high-definition DVD players are now faced with two warring formats. As early as this month, major retailers will begin stocking both HD DVD and Blu-ray format players and movies.

Japan-based Toshiba, a chief backer of the HD DVD technology, announced before January's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that its HD DVD player would carry a suggested retail price of U.S.$499. French-owned (but U.S.-based) Thomson announced that its RCA brand HD DVD player will also cost $499. Reportedly, nearly 200 movies and TV shows from Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros., and the Weinstein Company will be available on this format. Analysts expect a 15-25 percent mark-up in these new-fangled DVDs.

Microsoft has also showed its commitment to HD DVD, announcing plans to add an external HD DVD drive to its Xbox 360 videogame console. Among other benefits, the HD DVD player will allow users to make copies of games onto a media center hard drive or Windows-powered portable video player.

On the other hand, the new Blu-ray Disc players are set to debut for U.S.$1,000-$1,800, with broader software support than their rival. Among the electronics companies supporting this technology are Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Sony and Samsung. Studios including Buena Vista, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros. will offer DVD titles that use the Blu-ray system.

Even though the opening price of Blu-ray devices is significantly higher, experts speculate that the two devices will have similar prices by year's end.

STUDIOS COMPLYING WITH BLU-RAY TECH ONLY

* Buena Vista Home Ent.

* Lionsgate

* Sony BMG Music Ent.

* Sony Pictures Home Ent. (including MGM)

* Twentieth Century Fox

STUDIOS COMPLYING WITH HD DVD TECH ONLY

* Studio Canal

* Universal Pictures

* The Weinstein Company

STUDIOS COMPLYING WITH BOTH TECHS

* Paramount Home Ent.

* Warner Home Video