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Both the SACD and DVD-Audio disc formats are striking out, with a shaky DualDisc next up to bat. But the video twins HD-DVD and Blu-ray are warming up in the bullpen—and they just might save the day for high-resolution audio.

How can video save the audio star? Recent announcements from both Dolby and DTS have revealed plans to add high-resolution lossless audio formats to one or both impending High Definition video disc formats. And if one or both of these primarily HD video formats takes off, high-resolution audio will be along for the ride.

DTS is taking another step in tightening up its high-rez audio formats with a recent announcement that "DTS-HD" will be the new trademarked brand name for its lossless technology. Previously known under working name "DTS++", the company says that the DTS-HD mark will denote "media, source players, and decoders that are compliant with the next-generation high-definition disc formats, Blu-ray Disc and High Definition DVD (HD-DVD)."

According to the company, DTS-HD is a set of extensions to the Coherent Acoustics audio coding system, which also encompasses DTS Digital Surround, DTS-ES, and DTS 96/24. "The introduction of DTS-HD will provide manufacturers and content providers with a complete range of DTS-branded technologies," says DTS, "incorporating lossless technology for next-generation formats."

The company notes that DTS-HD can support a "virtually unlimited" number of discrete surround-sound channels, can downmix to 5.1- and two-channel, and can deliver audio quality at bit rates extending from DTS Digital Surround up to lossless. DTS claims that the new format "provides the highest quality audio performance available in the new format standards, while still being capable of playback in legacy equipment, such as existing home theater systems."

In addition to debuting the new brand and logo, DTS says it will support DTS-HD with a branding campaign to roll out in conjunction with the introduction of the new optical disc formats.

The audiophile score update: Blu-ray, backed by Sony and Philips, will run standard Dolby Digital and DTS-HD, while HD DVD, backed by the DVD Forum, will offer audio specifications similar to DVD-Audio by using MLP and Dolby Digital Plus, and will also run DTS-HD.

So far, DSD, used on SACD, is still MIA.