Samsung Electronics, one of the leading developers and proponents of the Blu-ray disc format, is planning to back both horses in the next-generation media race.

The company has announced the launch of a dual-format high-definition optical disc player over the summer that will also support the rival HD-DVD technology.

Samsung's BD-UP5000 will support both HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats as well as their respective interactive technologies, HDi and BD-Java.

The BD-UP5000 joins Samsung's next-generation DVD line-up which includes a second-generation Blu-ray player available at retail this month.

"We welcome Samsung's Duo HD player as another solution in the marketplace that will help reduce consumer confusion and buyer hesitancy towards HD media," said Ron Sanders, president of Warner Home Video.

Dongsoo Jun, executive vice president of the digital AV division at Samsung, acknowledged that consumers are hungry for more HD content, but are currently confused about competing formats.

"Samsung's Duo HD player will allow consumers access to every HD movie title available regardless of the authoring format," he said.

"As a member of the DVD Forum and contributor to the DVD Industry, we recognise that both HD-DVD and BD formats have merits. As such, we have decided to market a dual format player."