The deciding factor in HD format war? Porn, of course

With competing high-definition DVD standards HD DVD and Blu-ray, a clear line has been drawn in the sand. Major technology companies are beginning to line up with their support for one side or the other. But it won't necessarily be the Sonys or Microsofts of the world that determine the winner in this standards war. In the end, it may come down to an often overlooked technology influencer: the porn industry.

Adult film producers have a long history of being early adopters of new technology. When the porn industry pushed hard for VHS in the 1980s, Sony took a beating with its Beta Max standard. CNET's Rich DeMuro says the current battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray bears a striking resemblance to that format war. In a three-part video series, Rich looks at how the industry might again be the deciding factor that makes or breaks one of them.

By most accounts, the two standards look the same to the average viewer. So it may come down to which standard gets more support from movie studios, with consumers adopting whichever standard makes it possible for them to view the movies they want.

Check out part one of the series on CNET TV. And for a detailed look at how the two standards compare, watch Veronica Belmont as she pits the two against each other in a Prizefight match-up.