Blu-ray DVD Backers See Room To Grow; Tout Format's Features; Technology's supporters see extra capacity as an edge over rival HD DVD.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)

Byline: BRIAN DEAGON

Backers of a next-generation DVD format called Blu-ray showed off the versatility of their format for the first time this week.

Blu-ray supporters, looking to stave off a rival DVD standard, put on a glitzy multimedia presentation in Los Angeles Tuesday. The upshot: Movie studios, such as 20th Century Fox and Disney-owned Buena Vista Entertainment, look to pack a lot of content onto the new discs.

Rather than just holding a single version of a movie -- as current DVDs do -- Blu-ray discs will include versions of films in both wide-screen and standard format, along with two hours of movie-related information. The discs might also include games and multiple movie trailers. And the content will all be in high-definition.

The demonstration helped answer a central question: What is Hollywood going to do with the 50 gigabytes of space planned for Blu-ray discs? After all, a DVD movie in high-definition only takes up about a third of that capacity. Current DVD discs store about 5 gigabytes.

Bob Chapek, president of Buena Vista Entertainment, says Blu-ray's extra room will be well-used. "We'll load in as many consumer benefits as we possible can," he said.

High-definition DVD players should be a boon to Hollywood, personal computer makers and consumer electronics retailers. As the new technology takes root, consumers are expected to replace their old DVD players with more advanced versions.