Total HD disc format looks to be a total bust

according to arstechnica:

Warner's plans to straddle the fence on the HD disc format war have hit a snag, as the company has decided to shelve its vaunted Total HD hybrid format. Announced at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show, Total HD was slated to arrive on store shelves by early 2008.

As you may have surmised from the name, Total HD offers both Blu-ray and HD DVD content on a single disc. Warner CEO Barry Meyer pitched the format as an easy out for consumers wondering what type of HD player to purchase and studios trying to decide which of the two (make that three) high-definition disc formats they want to support. It would also make life easier for retailers that would only have to stock one HD disc instead of two.

In late June, Warner indicated that it might be having second thoughts about the format, saying that Total HD would miss its anticipated holiday-season debut in favor of a launch early next year. At the time, there were questions raised about whether there was any real demand for the format from either consumers or the studios.