Claim: Sherlock (TV series) is on discs that are read with a blue laser.

Blu-ray or Blu-ray Disc -LRB- BD -RRB- is a digital optical disc data storage format . It was designed to supersede the DVD format , in that it is capable of storing high-definition -LRB- 720p and 1080p -RRB- and ultra high-definition video resolution -LRB- 2160p -RRB- . The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick , the same size as DVDs and CDs . Conventional -LRB- pre-BD-XL -RRB- Blu-ray Disc discs contain 25 GB per layer , with dual layer discs -LRB- 50 GB -RRB- being the industry standard for feature-length video discs . Triple-layer discs -LRB- 100 GB -RRB- and quadruple layers -LRB- 128 GB -RRB- are available for BD-XL re-writer drives . The name `` Blu-ray '' refers to the blue laser -LRB- specifically , a violet laser -RRB- used to read the disc , which allows information to be stored at a greater density than is possible with the longer-wavelength red laser used for DVDs . The main application of Blu-ray is as a medium for video material such as feature films and physical distribution of video games for the PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , and Xbox One . Besides the hardware specifications , Blu-ray is associated with a set of multimedia formats .   High-definition video may be stored on Blu-ray discs with up to 2160p resolution -LRB- 3840 × 2160 pixels -RRB- , at up to 60 frames per second . DVD discs had been limited to a maximum resolution of 480p -LRB- NTSC , 720 × 480 pixels -RRB- or 576p -LRB- PAL , 720 × 576 pixels -RRB- . The BD format was developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association , a group representing makers of consumer electronics , computer hardware , and motion pictures . Sony unveiled the first Blu-ray disc prototypes in October 2000 , and the first prototype player was released in April 2003 in Japan . Afterwards , it continued to be developed until its official release in June 2006 . During the high definition optical disc format war , Blu-ray Disc competed with the HD DVD format . Toshiba , the main company that supported HD DVD , conceded in February 2008 , releasing its own Blu-ray Disc player in late 2009 . According to Media Research , high-definition software sales in the US were slower in the first two years than DVD software sales . Blu-ray faces competition from video on demand and the continued sale of DVDs . As of January 2016 , 44 % of U.S. broadband households had a Blu-ray player .