The Blu-ray DVD format continues to gain momentum, with Lions Gate the latest company to commit to releasing movies and other titles on the Sony-backed high-definition format, expected to launch early next year.

Lions Gate represents just 4% of the homevideo market and as such isn't expected to shift the balance in Blu-ray's direction. But today's announcement reps the latest in a string of coups for Blu-ray, following last month's announcement by 20th Century Fox that the studio will release its programming on the format.

On Tuesday, Universal Music GroupUniversal Music Group -- no connection to the Universal movie studio -- said it had joined the Blu-ray Disc Assn. as a contributing member. The company stopped short of pledging to release its music discs in the format.

Lions Gate joins Fox, Disney and Sony to endorse Blu-ray and commit to releasing high-def discs in the format. Warner Bros., Paramount and the Universal film studio are backing the rival high-def format HD DVD.