Blu-ray "PornGate" Ends with the Return of 'Debbie Does Dallas'

Despite reports of a covert operation by Blu-ray backers to banish porn from the format, it seems a '70s adult superheroine has come to the rescue, with the official announcement of Vivid Entertainment's 'Debbie Does Dallas...Again' on Blu-ray.

In a story only missing an informant named Deep Throat (sorry, we couldn't resist), the news first erupted out of CES two weeks ago. Adult legend Joone, co-founder of porn distributor Digital Playground, said that his company was forced to change HD allegiances for the company's planned first high-def titles after "all Blu-ray Disc copying facilities in the United States had refused to cooperate." He went on to allege that primary Blu-ray backer Sony "wants me to publish my films on HD DVD."

Though the official Blu-ray Group never officially responded to Joone's accusations, the company did hurry out a follow-up statement last week claiming that the Sony-backed organization is committed to working with "all" content providers.

"The BDA welcomes the participation of all companies interested in using and supporting the format, particularly those from the content industry," said Marty Gordon, vicechair of the Blu-ray Disc Association US Promotions Committee.

Now, the question of "Will they or won't they?" for Blu-ray and porn seems to have been finally answered, with adult heavy Vivid Entertainment officially [post 329]making good on earlier plans to release the first next-gen porn title to Blu-ray, 'Debbie Does Dallas...Again' for release on March 28.

"We have had many challenges, but have secured both authoring and replication for Blu-ray," co-chairman of Vivid Entertainment Steven Hirsch told Video Business.

Though full specs for 'Debbie Does Dallas...Again' have not yet been released, the title is set to include a full 1080p transfer, plus a feature that so far even mainstream studio releases haven't yet dared try -- multiple angles during select scenes. Ahem.

The title will also debut simultaneously on HD DVD, and list price for either version is $39.95.

Wherever one may stand on the moral line regarding adult content, we can only think this is good news for both Blu-ray and HD DVD. More content, regardless of genre, brings more eyeballs to high-def, and with porn a billions-a-year business, it's a market neither format can afford to exclude.

And in what we see as a nice little bit of postmodern irony, how fitting that the first Blu-ray adult title is also a sequel to the original 'Debbie Does Dallas,' which was not only one of porn's biggest hits in the '70s but responsible for helping to ensure the success of VHS over its rival -- the Sony Betamax.

We'll keep you posted on any further developments in the PornGate story as it continues...

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.