Several years back, Sony introduced Superbit to improve the clarity, picture quality and sound quality over regular DVDs. But to help promote Blu-ray, Sony has officially dropped its Superbit line, according to Video Business. A Superbit DVD worked by leaving out the bonus content and using the extra free space to give up to double the video bit rate typically used on DVD as well as offer both DTS and 5.1 Dolby Digital audio. However, unlike Blu-ray and HD DVD titles, Superbit discs are fully DVD compliant and can be played in existing DVD players, but unlike regular DVDs they either had very limited or no bonus material.
Sony originally made the decision back around 2000 to 2001 once they officially took on Blu-ray technology and have already ceased Superbit production with the last Superbit title produced in April 2005. With Blu-ray titles now available, they have decided to no longer support Superbit, particularly with the peak of the format several years ago. Even during its peak, Superbit only accounted for 2% of sales for discs that were available in both Superbit and regular DVD versions. 57 Superbit titles were produced since 2000.
