BURBANK, California - Technicolor, a division of Thomson, has opened the first Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA)-approved Blu-ray disc testing centre in the North America.

Based here, the new "content verifier" facility will test commercial AV content for the BDA including BD-Live, BD-Java and the loading of Blu-ray discs and features.

Technicolor says the testing center addresses the demand to improve disc compatibility and performance, and accelerate the release of Blu-ray movies.

"[The testing center] will provide a value-added service to the industry and ultimately result in a better user experience of Blu-ray Discs," says BDA spokesperson Bob Michaels.

In July, CESI Technology established the world's first Blu-ray disc test centre in China.