Hybrid hi-def offerings may end the latest format debate.

For some time, movie makers, distributors, and tech firms have fought over which of the two formats for high-definition DVDs should become the market standard. But there’s an increasing possibility that the battle between the HD-DVD format backed by Toshiba and Sony’s Blu-ray format could soon become irrelevant, according to a report in Red Herring magazine.

The evidence? Several new products unveiled at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month combine the two competing standards. Such moves could encourage more customers to upgrade to hi-def as the public has been holding off because of confusion over what format will prevail.

One of the products rolled out at CES was a hybrid disc player from South Korean electronics giant LG. The company’s new dual-format HD-DVD and Blu-ray player, dubbed BH100 but also called “Super Multi Blue,” will be the first hybrid player on the market to accept both types of discs. LG says the BH100 will go on sale sometime between now and March for around $1,199. The news could boost sales of hi-def players and movies, which have lagged as a result of consumer confusion. Delayed adoption is also slowing price declines.