Mumbai: Sony Corp will launch four models of new Blu-ray high-definition optical disc recorders in November in Japan. The new models, capable of storing up to 16 hours of high-definition programmes on a dual-layer, 50-gigabyte (GB) Blu-ray disc, will go on sale on November 8.

Sony''s previous models, launched last year, were unable to record on a dual-layer disc.

Sony and Panasonic maker Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd are jointly promoting the Blu-ray technology, which competes with the HD DVD format, backed by Toshiba Corp and Microsoft Corp.

Blu-ray recorders can still handle conventional DVD discs.

Outside Japan, Sony is considering offering Blu-ray recorders in Europe, but the launch timing has yet to be decided.

Video rental chain Blockbuster Inc, the largest US provider of home movie entertainment, in June came out in favour of the Blu-ray format.

But Viacom Inc''s Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc signed exclusivity deals last month to distribute their next-generation discs on Toshiba''s HD DVD format for the next 18 months, a move that evened a contest where Sony''s Blu-ray disc appeared to be pulling ahead.

Sony was banking on its PlayStation 3 videogame console, which is equipped with a Blu-ray player to give the Blu-ray camp an edge against the competing HD DVD format.

But the PS3 has lagged behind rival Nintendo Co Ltd''s Wii in unit sales since their launches late last year due to the Sony machine''s relatively high price and scarcity of strong game titles.