The player will sell at Sony shops in Ireland for the not insignificant sum of Euro1,336.

Many in the electronics entertainment industry have expressed concerns about the viability of Blu-ray as it faces up against the much cheaper alternative of high-definition DVDs, for which players are available online from Amazon at US $210 or Euro156 before shipping.

Blu-ray discs can store more information, which means they offer far superior picture quality than is currently available.

However, high production costs, concerns over demand and Sony's refusal to engage with the adult entertainment industry have all led to doubts about the Blu-ray project.

"In many ways the Blu-Ray versus HD DVD battle is similar to the Beta VHS battle of the 1980s, " said Mike McHugh, who is doing a PhD in computers and media technology in Dublin City University (DCU).

"It is generally accepted across the industry that pornography was the deciding factor in that particular battle. Once they backed VHS, it made life extremely hard for Beta, " he told the Sunday Tribune.

While no family entertainment company would admit it, pornography is one of the main drivers of media technology, especially in early consumer adoption of products.

Porn helped the early development of the video rental business, streaming video and online payment systems.

"People make money from porn and the people who make it are willing to spend money on technology, " said Martin Molony, head of journalism and media technology at DCU.

"They are both early adopters and financiers. The motivation is there for them [to develop technology] if they can make money from it."

Sony has said it will not be supporting the production or replication of pornography on Blu-ray discs, cutting itself off from this potentially lucrative market and concentrating on entertainment enthusiasts.

Sony says its market is being driven by the customer.

"We would believe that Blu Ray does represent the future of home entertainment in Ireland, " said a Sony Ireland spokeswoman. "The market is being driven by the customer, not just those people who buy the latest technology.

It's the movie, football and entertainment enthusiasts who want to have the 'live' and cinema experience in their home."

The consumer electronics giant was somewhat embarrassed by criticism when softporn purveyor Playboy began offering content especially for Sony's PSP in 2005. According to online technology magazine the Register, Playboy's press release at the time quoted the musings of model Amy Cooper: "The thought of being carried around in a guy's pocket and having him push my buttons is really sexy".

Other issues apart from pornography are also raising doubts about the project. The Hollywood studios that are not affiliated with Sony have not yet backed Blu-ray, while the cost of a compatible TV and player to use Blu-ray will exceed Euro2,000.

"Blu-ray discs can store over 50GB. So what?" said McHugh. "You have to spend a lot of money to get the most out of Blu-ray. Also physical discs are slowly going out of fashion because of broadband and downloading. There is a lot wrong with the whole project."