Sony, Samsung and LG are throwing their weight behind a new AV cable standard that poses yet another threat to the future of HDMI.

HDBaseT carries HD video, audio, network traffic and (perhaps crucially) power over standard Cat 5e/6 Ethernet cable. Its backers are pushing it as an all-in-one connector for devices ranging from PCs to net-connected televisions, games consoles and mobile devices.

The HDBaseT Alliance claims the technology is capable of delivering full 1080p HD video - as well as 3D formats - over a distance of 100m. That alone could give it a crucial advantage over HDMI, which struggles to carry a signal further than 15m without the use of extenders.

HDBaseT can also carry up to 100 watts of power, meaning it could be used to power peripherals.

The cable is capable of running at gigabit Ethernet speeds and uses the standard RJ-45 socket found on today's PCs and laptops.

The first specification of HDBaseT has now been finalised, and it will start appearing in devices as soon as the second half of this year, although the Alliance modestly predicts that "the majority of adoption" won't take place until next year.

By which time, another potential rival to HDMI - Intel's Light Peak - may well have emerged. Intel's optical interconnect technology offers an enormous increase in bandwidth over both HDMI and HDBasetT, starting off at 10Gbits/sec, although Intel is already demonstrating prototypes capable of 200Gbits/sec.

Intel's technology also uses standard connectors, with the optical technology likely to be built into USB cables, although PCs and other USB devices will need a dedicated unit to convert the optical signal into electrical data.

Great cable, bad connectors. RJ45s aren't exactly the prettiest of things out there.

But this is about practicality not pretty connectors. Though how will this affect the DRM on HD content?

It'll be even betterer when the platinum core, gold tipped manufactured-in-space-to-avoid-oxygen-contamination versions come out for £500 p/metre.

Ok, I know about (and in fact occasionally use) power over Ethernet but that's for fairly low power kit. Call me sceptical about one of the lines in at cat-5 cable being able to carry enough juice to power a big Lcd or plasma. A top of the range Panasonic viera plasma pulls 335w. Down a little wire like that?

The article says "100 watts of power, meaning it could be used to power peripherals." I didn't hear anyone suggest powering a huge plasma from it?

It's plenty to supply a small to medium sized LCD or OELED screen, and with the 100M range that's an excellent way to power remote displays.

Plasmas can be up to 400W so multiple cables to power it?