Mark Cuban, Dell Team Up for Blu-ray Bundle

Editor's note: an earlier version of this story mistakenly stated that Mark Cuban is not yet supporting HD DVD. While this Dell bundle deal is Blu-ray only, both Cuban's Magnolia and HDNet are actively supporting both HD DVD and Blu-ray. We apologize for the error.

Mark Cuban's HDNet high-def cable network is teaming up with Dell computers to bundle original HD content with the company's computers.

Cuban, who is also a co-owner of indie studio 2929 Entertainment, most recently shook up the industry by championing the "day-and-date" release of movies in theaters and on television and home video simultaneously. Steven Soderbergh's controversial 'Bubble' was the first, which along with five other titles, Cuban and home video arm Magnolia Entertainment quietly released on high-def disc this past August.

Cuban and Magnolia have now struck a deal with Dell to bundle a series of Blu-ray titles with PCs beginning in early 2007. Launching the partnership is 'HDNet World Report Special: Shuttle Discovery's Historic Mission,' which will be packaged with Dell's XPS M1710 computer.

"Our combination of great programming, captured and displayed at only the highest quality, is a win-win opportunity for HDNet, Dell and consumers who want the very best high-definition home-viewing experience," Cuban said in a statement. "Through this opportunity, HDNet is able to provide high-quality original content to one of the computer industry's premiere companies."

We're always happy for any opportunity to bring the next-gen formats to the masses, and if high-def is going to have a "maverick mogul" on its side, it might as well be Cuban.

We'll keep you posted as this story develops...