In This War, How to Ally With Both - NY Times
The electronics industry has spent billions of dollars on a stupid and unnecessary battle between the next-generation DVD formats: Blu-ray and HD DVD. And so far, it’s all been pretty much for nothing; consumers aren’t touching the things. Nobody wants to risk buying a DVD player that can play only half of the world’s movies.
CR Survey Finds DTV Confusion - TWICE
Despite growing awareness of the pending cut-off of analog TV broadcasts, consumers continue to show significant confusion on the matter, a study conducted by Consumer Reports has found.
The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a national telephone survey that found that 74 percent of respondents were aware of the transition, but have major misconceptions about its impact.
HDNet to Carry Shuttle Launch - TV Week
HDNet will be the exclusive high-definition telecaster of the Space Shuttle Atlantis launch Feb. 7. The telecast of NASA’s 24th U.S. mission to the International Space Station will start at 2 p.m., with the launch scheduled for 2:45 p.m., HDNet said in a statement.
Matsushita Profit Up 22%, Outlook Unchanged - Reuters
Panasonic maker Matsushita Electric Industrial reported a 22 percent gain in quarterly operating profit on brisk demand for its digital cameras and flat televisions, and it stood by its annual outlook that falls short of market expectations. Matsushita has been weathering slowing growth in the plasma TV market relatively well because its hefty output capacity can help it cut production costs, but it now faces a firmer yen and the risk of a U.S. recession.
FAQ: What the Digital TV Switch Actually Means - CNET News.com
In a little over a year, some analog television sets will go dark in the U.S., but avid TV viewers shouldn't panic. Chances are, most Americans won't even notice. February 17, 2009, is D-day for broadcasters to turn off their analog broadcasts and switch to digital. For most TV viewers, the switch will come and go without much notice. But for a small minority of the population, who still get their TV over the air using rabbit-ear antennas, some adjustments will have to be made.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Today's High-Def Headlines
AT&T U-verse TV Pitched to Chicago Suburbs - MCN
AT&T is blowing U-verse TV into more than 175 communities surrounding the Windy City, in what the telco claimed is the largest initial rollout to date for the Internet Protocol TV service.
The launch in northeastern Illinois -- where the telco primarily will challenge Comcast -- is the largest for U-verse in terms of how widely the service is available on Day One. AT&T is touting its IPTV service as having more high-definition channels than local cable competitors, with U-verse TV offering a lineup of “more than 40 HD channels.” In the Chicago suburbs, Comcast offers 29 linear HD channels.
Verizon Dangles HDTV Set Bait Until Feb. 16 - MCN
Say the words “free high-definition TV” and people are liable to do anything – like commit to a triple-play package for 24 months.Verizon Communications is extending its offer of a free, 19-inch liquid-crystal display HDTV through Feb. 16 to customers in 13 states who sign a two-year contract for FiOS TV, FiOS Internet and phone service. In addition, in the New York metro area -- where Verizon is targeting Cablevision Systems and Time Warner Cable -- the free HDTV set is available to customers who subscribe to DirecTV through Verizon for two years, along with digital subscriber line and phone service. In the original giveaway Verizon offered Sharp Electronics TVs, but it is now also working with other suppliers, including Philips Electronics’ Magnavox brand.
Sixth Avenue To Showcase Sharp’s 108-Inch LCD - TWICE
Sixth Avenue Electronics said it will be the first to show the prototype of Sharp’s 108-inch LCD TV to consumers in its Paramus location. The product is said to be the largest LCD TV in the world. The retailer said it will officially debut the product to customers during a presentation at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, at its Paramus, N.J., location.
AT&T is blowing U-verse TV into more than 175 communities surrounding the Windy City, in what the telco claimed is the largest initial rollout to date for the Internet Protocol TV service.
The launch in northeastern Illinois -- where the telco primarily will challenge Comcast -- is the largest for U-verse in terms of how widely the service is available on Day One. AT&T is touting its IPTV service as having more high-definition channels than local cable competitors, with U-verse TV offering a lineup of “more than 40 HD channels.” In the Chicago suburbs, Comcast offers 29 linear HD channels.
Verizon Dangles HDTV Set Bait Until Feb. 16 - MCN
Say the words “free high-definition TV” and people are liable to do anything – like commit to a triple-play package for 24 months.Verizon Communications is extending its offer of a free, 19-inch liquid-crystal display HDTV through Feb. 16 to customers in 13 states who sign a two-year contract for FiOS TV, FiOS Internet and phone service. In addition, in the New York metro area -- where Verizon is targeting Cablevision Systems and Time Warner Cable -- the free HDTV set is available to customers who subscribe to DirecTV through Verizon for two years, along with digital subscriber line and phone service. In the original giveaway Verizon offered Sharp Electronics TVs, but it is now also working with other suppliers, including Philips Electronics’ Magnavox brand.
Sixth Avenue To Showcase Sharp’s 108-Inch LCD - TWICE
Sixth Avenue Electronics said it will be the first to show the prototype of Sharp’s 108-inch LCD TV to consumers in its Paramus location. The product is said to be the largest LCD TV in the world. The retailer said it will officially debut the product to customers during a presentation at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, at its Paramus, N.J., location.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Today's High-Def Headlines
CEA: Super Bowl Boosts HD-Set Sales - B&C
More than 2.4 million HDTV sets will be sold due to Super Bowl XLII, according to a research study conducted by trade group the Consumer Electronics Association and advocacy group Sports Video Group. The sales of sets to viewers who want to use them to watch the Big Game will generate $2.2 billion in wholesale dollars, according to the third annual “Sports and Technology” survey conducted by the CEA and SVG.
The Unavoidable Update - NY Times
While people like to complain that there is nothing to watch on television, about 21 million American households may find that literally true in February 2009. On the 17th of that month, most TV stations will quit broadcasting analog TV signals over the air, and older sets will go blank. But remarkably, half of the country does not realize a changeover is coming, according to a survey by the Cable and Telecommunications Association for Marketing.
AT&T: Pair-Bonding to Come in ‘Late 2008’ - Telephony
AT&T said today it expects to begin pair-bonding advanced DSL lines in “late 2008,” pushing back the expected arrival of what the company says is an important part of its fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) initiative. AT&T has long cited the promise of pair-bonding in response to criticisms regarding the bandwidth limitations of its FTTN architecture. Pair-bonding would “not quite double but significantly increase” the bandwidth AT&T delivers to customers’ homes, the company has said, by adding a second pair of copper lines to each house and combining their outputs at the customer premises. Promising the introduction of a “whole-home” digital video recorder service this year as well as a second stream of high-definition television (HDTV), CFO Rick Lindner added, “A third enhancement that will be important to us going forward--because it will enable additional HD streams where they’re required--will be pair-bonding, which we expect late in 2008.”
More than 2.4 million HDTV sets will be sold due to Super Bowl XLII, according to a research study conducted by trade group the Consumer Electronics Association and advocacy group Sports Video Group. The sales of sets to viewers who want to use them to watch the Big Game will generate $2.2 billion in wholesale dollars, according to the third annual “Sports and Technology” survey conducted by the CEA and SVG.
The Unavoidable Update - NY Times
While people like to complain that there is nothing to watch on television, about 21 million American households may find that literally true in February 2009. On the 17th of that month, most TV stations will quit broadcasting analog TV signals over the air, and older sets will go blank. But remarkably, half of the country does not realize a changeover is coming, according to a survey by the Cable and Telecommunications Association for Marketing.
AT&T: Pair-Bonding to Come in ‘Late 2008’ - Telephony
AT&T said today it expects to begin pair-bonding advanced DSL lines in “late 2008,” pushing back the expected arrival of what the company says is an important part of its fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) initiative. AT&T has long cited the promise of pair-bonding in response to criticisms regarding the bandwidth limitations of its FTTN architecture. Pair-bonding would “not quite double but significantly increase” the bandwidth AT&T delivers to customers’ homes, the company has said, by adding a second pair of copper lines to each house and combining their outputs at the customer premises. Promising the introduction of a “whole-home” digital video recorder service this year as well as a second stream of high-definition television (HDTV), CFO Rick Lindner added, “A third enhancement that will be important to us going forward--because it will enable additional HD streams where they’re required--will be pair-bonding, which we expect late in 2008.”
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Today's High-Def Headlines
Verizon FiOS TV Picks Up MGM HD - B&C
MGM HD, the HD channel from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that draws on the studio’s extensive feature-film library, secured carriage on Verizon Communications’ FiOS TV service. The channel is set to roll out across all FiOS TV systems in late 2008 -- part of the company’s aggressive plan to add 150 HD channels by year’s end.
HDTV Makers Struggle to Stand Out - AP
HDTV manufacturers are trying to make the task of buying an HDTV set much more difficult than just choosing between LCD and plasma, 42 inches or 46 inches. To stand out amid fierce competition, they're adding exotic features, and even a little bit of color to the plain black bezels that have been de rigueur. They're also chasing each other to zero — zero thickness, that is. Apparently, you can't be too thin if you're a TV.
ESPN XGames Go HD This Weekend - B&C
This weekend ESPN's Winter X Games will take the HD half-pipe challenge as the network looks to make its most ESPN-centric product a full HD experience. Approximately 59 HD cameras -- a mix of Grass Valley, Sony and Panasonic gear -- will be used to cover the action. There will be one or two non-HD cameras, like POV cameras on snowmobiles, as the technology has still not caught up with the need.
Super Bowl TV Sales Could Soar 50%: NRF - TWICE
Shoppers plan to purchase 3.9 million TVs for Super Bowl Sunday, up more than 50 percent from last year, according to a new consumer survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF). Young adults, ages 18 to 24, will be the best customers, the survey suggested, with nearly one in 10 (9.8 percent) planning to buy a TV for the Feb. 3 event.
NPD Confirms Huge Blu-ray Share Jump - TWICE
Market research firm The NPD Group today confirmed numbers sent to members last week showing Blu-ray Disc player sales accounted for 90 percent of dedicated HD disc player unit sales and dollar volume during the week ending Jan. 12, but the firm wasn’t ready to declare a trend resulting from Warner Bros.’ HD DVD defection.
Weather Channel HD Facility Nears Finish Line - MCN
The Weather Channel said its 12,500-square-foot high-definition TV production facility in Atlanta is on track to be completed this month, and has set June 2 for the premiere of its first HD studio programs. Once construction is complete, workers will install 10,000 square feet of access flooring and 480 electric circuits for studio lights in the facility, which is adjacent to The Weather Channel’s existing headquarters.
MGM HD, the HD channel from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that draws on the studio’s extensive feature-film library, secured carriage on Verizon Communications’ FiOS TV service. The channel is set to roll out across all FiOS TV systems in late 2008 -- part of the company’s aggressive plan to add 150 HD channels by year’s end.
HDTV Makers Struggle to Stand Out - AP
HDTV manufacturers are trying to make the task of buying an HDTV set much more difficult than just choosing between LCD and plasma, 42 inches or 46 inches. To stand out amid fierce competition, they're adding exotic features, and even a little bit of color to the plain black bezels that have been de rigueur. They're also chasing each other to zero — zero thickness, that is. Apparently, you can't be too thin if you're a TV.
ESPN XGames Go HD This Weekend - B&C
This weekend ESPN's Winter X Games will take the HD half-pipe challenge as the network looks to make its most ESPN-centric product a full HD experience. Approximately 59 HD cameras -- a mix of Grass Valley, Sony and Panasonic gear -- will be used to cover the action. There will be one or two non-HD cameras, like POV cameras on snowmobiles, as the technology has still not caught up with the need.
Super Bowl TV Sales Could Soar 50%: NRF - TWICE
Shoppers plan to purchase 3.9 million TVs for Super Bowl Sunday, up more than 50 percent from last year, according to a new consumer survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF). Young adults, ages 18 to 24, will be the best customers, the survey suggested, with nearly one in 10 (9.8 percent) planning to buy a TV for the Feb. 3 event.
NPD Confirms Huge Blu-ray Share Jump - TWICE
Market research firm The NPD Group today confirmed numbers sent to members last week showing Blu-ray Disc player sales accounted for 90 percent of dedicated HD disc player unit sales and dollar volume during the week ending Jan. 12, but the firm wasn’t ready to declare a trend resulting from Warner Bros.’ HD DVD defection.
Weather Channel HD Facility Nears Finish Line - MCN
The Weather Channel said its 12,500-square-foot high-definition TV production facility in Atlanta is on track to be completed this month, and has set June 2 for the premiere of its first HD studio programs. Once construction is complete, workers will install 10,000 square feet of access flooring and 480 electric circuits for studio lights in the facility, which is adjacent to The Weather Channel’s existing headquarters.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Today's High-Def Headlines
Sharp, Pioneer: No Joint SKUs Slated In 2008 - TWICE
Sharp and Pioneer said it was unlikely either company would introduce products in the United States this year based on their co-development deal signed last fall. Executives with both companies told TWICE at International CES that strategies were not set as yet for product introductions. Sharp and Pioneer signed an agreement last September to form capital and business ties, with plans to join forces on the development of next-generation consumer electronics products.
Study: Digital TV Switch Won't Sway Cable Holdouts - Reuters/CNET
Half of the 21 million Americans who do not have cable or satellite TV will probably continue to use rabbit ears after the switch to digital TV in February 2009, according to a new study. About 43 percent of over-the-air households indicated they would buy a converter box or purchase a digital TV between now and the transition date, but only 12 percent of those said they would bite the bullet and pony up for a pay service, the Association of Public Television Stations found.
Best Buy to Offer Blu-ray Gift Card - Dealerscope
In another attempt to strike a decisive blow against HD DVD, Blu-ray has come together with Best Buy on a promotion to provide gift cards to those purchasing Blu-ray Disc movies. According to the technology Web site Punchjump.com, the retail chain will offer $10 gift cards to the store with the purchase of two Blu-ray Discs, and $25 gift cards for those purchasing three. The offer covers all movies on Blu-ray, including Spider-Man 3, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and Ratatouille.
RCN Blows In Windy City Transition - MCN
RCN is switching to all-digital TV programming in Chicago, reclaiming 80 analog channels for new standard and HDTV channel launches, officials said Tuesday. By going all digital and reclaiming excess spectrum, RCN has recreated its entire cable offering and rebranded its expanded-basic offering and digital-tier offering as the new Signature and Premiere packages.
Sharp and Pioneer said it was unlikely either company would introduce products in the United States this year based on their co-development deal signed last fall. Executives with both companies told TWICE at International CES that strategies were not set as yet for product introductions. Sharp and Pioneer signed an agreement last September to form capital and business ties, with plans to join forces on the development of next-generation consumer electronics products.
Study: Digital TV Switch Won't Sway Cable Holdouts - Reuters/CNET
Half of the 21 million Americans who do not have cable or satellite TV will probably continue to use rabbit ears after the switch to digital TV in February 2009, according to a new study. About 43 percent of over-the-air households indicated they would buy a converter box or purchase a digital TV between now and the transition date, but only 12 percent of those said they would bite the bullet and pony up for a pay service, the Association of Public Television Stations found.
Best Buy to Offer Blu-ray Gift Card - Dealerscope
In another attempt to strike a decisive blow against HD DVD, Blu-ray has come together with Best Buy on a promotion to provide gift cards to those purchasing Blu-ray Disc movies. According to the technology Web site Punchjump.com, the retail chain will offer $10 gift cards to the store with the purchase of two Blu-ray Discs, and $25 gift cards for those purchasing three. The offer covers all movies on Blu-ray, including Spider-Man 3, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and Ratatouille.
RCN Blows In Windy City Transition - MCN
RCN is switching to all-digital TV programming in Chicago, reclaiming 80 analog channels for new standard and HDTV channel launches, officials said Tuesday. By going all digital and reclaiming excess spectrum, RCN has recreated its entire cable offering and rebranded its expanded-basic offering and digital-tier offering as the new Signature and Premiere packages.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Today's High-Def Headlines
Top TVs For Watching The Super Bowl - Forbes
When the players line up for the Super Bowl kickoff in February, fans will want to catch every detail, down to the seams on the football or each individual blade of grass in the turf at the University of Phoenix Stadium. For a cultural spectacle of this magnitude, only a high-definition television will do. But that doesn't mean you have to spend like a millionaire. Here are some tips on how to find an excellent Super Bowl HDTV without ending up dissatisfied or broke.
Explore Your HDTV Programming Options - USA Today
So you want to watch television in high-definition. Buying a high-definition set is the first step. You also need to find HD programming, but the myriad options can be tricky to navigate. Many people are unaware of over-the-air HD programming. The major networks all offer free over-the-air programming in HD. You don't need a special antenna. Just use your existing UHF antenna to receive the broadcasts. In some areas, a VHF antenna is required.
LCD Profits Are Booming - WSJ
The supply shortages in the liquid-crystal-display market may well last throughout the remainder of this year, forcing some of Asia's biggest panel manufacturers to fast-forward their capital-spending plans to meet demand, analysts say. LCD makers are reaping their best profits since 2004 after capital-spending cuts since 2006 brought about industry shortages. Companies from South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. to Japan's Sharp Corp. are investing heavily this year to add LCD capacity, anticipating a boom in demand for flat-screen televisions and other consumer electronics ahead of the Beijing Summer Olympic Games.
Betting on a Bright Future for Rear-Projection TVs - NY Times
Back in the early years of this decade, when plasma high-definition televisions cost $10,000, consumers found that buying a rear-projection TV was a more affordable way to jump into the digital era. But with prices plummeting for liquid-crystal display and plasma TVs, the rear-projection market is quickly drying up. Sony and Philips got out of that business last month. But Texas Instruments, the chip maker that developed the digital light processor most commonly found in most rear-projection TVs, is holding the line.
Sharp To Supply LCDs For Olevia - TWICE
Syntax-Brillian, marketers of value-oriented Olevia-branded LCD TVs, said Wednesday it has signed an agreement to acquire LCD panels from Sharp Electronics, including an exclusive sourcing arrangement on Sharp’s advanced 120Hz 65-inch panels. Under the terms of the deal that was disclosed by Syntax-Brillain, Sharp will supply the company with a minimum of 700,000 LCD panels during 2008 for 32-inch, 37-inch, 52-inch and 65-inch screen sizes.
When the players line up for the Super Bowl kickoff in February, fans will want to catch every detail, down to the seams on the football or each individual blade of grass in the turf at the University of Phoenix Stadium. For a cultural spectacle of this magnitude, only a high-definition television will do. But that doesn't mean you have to spend like a millionaire. Here are some tips on how to find an excellent Super Bowl HDTV without ending up dissatisfied or broke.
Explore Your HDTV Programming Options - USA Today
So you want to watch television in high-definition. Buying a high-definition set is the first step. You also need to find HD programming, but the myriad options can be tricky to navigate. Many people are unaware of over-the-air HD programming. The major networks all offer free over-the-air programming in HD. You don't need a special antenna. Just use your existing UHF antenna to receive the broadcasts. In some areas, a VHF antenna is required.
LCD Profits Are Booming - WSJ
The supply shortages in the liquid-crystal-display market may well last throughout the remainder of this year, forcing some of Asia's biggest panel manufacturers to fast-forward their capital-spending plans to meet demand, analysts say. LCD makers are reaping their best profits since 2004 after capital-spending cuts since 2006 brought about industry shortages. Companies from South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. to Japan's Sharp Corp. are investing heavily this year to add LCD capacity, anticipating a boom in demand for flat-screen televisions and other consumer electronics ahead of the Beijing Summer Olympic Games.
Betting on a Bright Future for Rear-Projection TVs - NY Times
Back in the early years of this decade, when plasma high-definition televisions cost $10,000, consumers found that buying a rear-projection TV was a more affordable way to jump into the digital era. But with prices plummeting for liquid-crystal display and plasma TVs, the rear-projection market is quickly drying up. Sony and Philips got out of that business last month. But Texas Instruments, the chip maker that developed the digital light processor most commonly found in most rear-projection TVs, is holding the line.
Sharp To Supply LCDs For Olevia - TWICE
Syntax-Brillian, marketers of value-oriented Olevia-branded LCD TVs, said Wednesday it has signed an agreement to acquire LCD panels from Sharp Electronics, including an exclusive sourcing arrangement on Sharp’s advanced 120Hz 65-inch panels. Under the terms of the deal that was disclosed by Syntax-Brillain, Sharp will supply the company with a minimum of 700,000 LCD panels during 2008 for 32-inch, 37-inch, 52-inch and 65-inch screen sizes.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Today's High-Def Headlines
Second Leg of Apple’s Plans Includes Jumping Back Into Movie Rentals - NYT
Steven P. Jobs is rebooting Apple’s digital movie effort and putting the company squarely in the middle of an intensifying industry battle to download movies and Internet content to high-definition televisions. On Tuesday at Macworld Expo, an annual trade show, Mr. Jobs announced that the company is adding movie rentals from all the major Hollywood studios to its iTunes download service. Mr. Jobs said that more than 1,000 regular definition and about 100 high-definition movies would be available by the end of February.
Digeo Cuts Staff, Retail Products - TWICE
Digeo disclosed Tuesday that it has discontinued plans for previously announced retail versions of its Moxi HD Digital Media Receivers (HD DMR) and will instead focus on the development of a next-generation model slated for introduction later in the year. The company said the decision was made to allow its development team to focus on fewer platforms, and will result in a reduction of Digeo’s workforce by nearly one half, the company said. Digeo, backed by Microsoft co-founded Paul Allen, supplies DVRs to eight cable operators, including Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications.
SDV a Big Hammer in Bandwidth Toolbox - CED Magazine
As cable operators rush to satiate customers’ appetites for more HD channels, and as they compete against telco and satellite operators’ growing HD channel lineups, switched digital video (SDV) is becoming one of the most used tools in the cable operators’ bandwidth toolbox. SDV has been around since 2004, when the first trial took place in Austin with BigBand Networks and Time Warner Cable. SDV sends just the programming that consumers in a service group or node are watching, instead of the entire slate of channels. While the technology also holds promise for sharing bandwidth resources between video silos such as video-on-demand (VOD) and SDV, switched digital’s biggest impact this year is reclaiming bandwidth in order to allow MSOs to deploy more HD channels.
Steven P. Jobs is rebooting Apple’s digital movie effort and putting the company squarely in the middle of an intensifying industry battle to download movies and Internet content to high-definition televisions. On Tuesday at Macworld Expo, an annual trade show, Mr. Jobs announced that the company is adding movie rentals from all the major Hollywood studios to its iTunes download service. Mr. Jobs said that more than 1,000 regular definition and about 100 high-definition movies would be available by the end of February.
Digeo Cuts Staff, Retail Products - TWICE
Digeo disclosed Tuesday that it has discontinued plans for previously announced retail versions of its Moxi HD Digital Media Receivers (HD DMR) and will instead focus on the development of a next-generation model slated for introduction later in the year. The company said the decision was made to allow its development team to focus on fewer platforms, and will result in a reduction of Digeo’s workforce by nearly one half, the company said. Digeo, backed by Microsoft co-founded Paul Allen, supplies DVRs to eight cable operators, including Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications.
SDV a Big Hammer in Bandwidth Toolbox - CED Magazine
As cable operators rush to satiate customers’ appetites for more HD channels, and as they compete against telco and satellite operators’ growing HD channel lineups, switched digital video (SDV) is becoming one of the most used tools in the cable operators’ bandwidth toolbox. SDV has been around since 2004, when the first trial took place in Austin with BigBand Networks and Time Warner Cable. SDV sends just the programming that consumers in a service group or node are watching, instead of the entire slate of channels. While the technology also holds promise for sharing bandwidth resources between video silos such as video-on-demand (VOD) and SDV, switched digital’s biggest impact this year is reclaiming bandwidth in order to allow MSOs to deploy more HD channels.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Today's High-Def Headlines
Travel Channel Debuts HDTV Network - MCN
Travel Channel launched an HDTV version of its network, Travel Channel HD. The new service will feature the standard-definition channel’s series and personalities such as Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, Best Places to Find Cash and Treasures and Samantha Brown’s Passport series. In the Travel Channel HD Landscape Study, conducted by Frank N. Magid Associates last fall, Travel Channel was ranked the most anticipated new HDTV network among current HD subscribers.
Toshiba Cuts HD Player Prices in Blu-ray Fight - Reuters
Consumer electronics maker Toshiba Corp said on Monday it is slashing prices of its HD DVD format players by between 40 to 50 percent as major Hollywood studios move to embrace Sony Corp's Blu-ray format high definition DVDs. Toshiba America Consumer Products said it cut prices of its HD DVD players effective January 13 to boost market adoption of its next-generation DVD players by mainstream consumers after what it said was a successful fourth quarter in unit sales.
Toshiba Expands Regza Line For First Half - TWICE
Scott Ramirez, Toshiba TV products marketing VP, said due to intensified competition and rapidly changing TV market dynamics, the company will deliver products this year in two sixth-month cycles. The first half segment will ship in the February/March timeframe and the second half, to be unveiled later in the year, will include products slated for August/September, giving the manufacturer time to make adjustments as needed.
Travel Channel launched an HDTV version of its network, Travel Channel HD. The new service will feature the standard-definition channel’s series and personalities such as Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, Best Places to Find Cash and Treasures and Samantha Brown’s Passport series. In the Travel Channel HD Landscape Study, conducted by Frank N. Magid Associates last fall, Travel Channel was ranked the most anticipated new HDTV network among current HD subscribers.
Toshiba Cuts HD Player Prices in Blu-ray Fight - Reuters
Consumer electronics maker Toshiba Corp said on Monday it is slashing prices of its HD DVD format players by between 40 to 50 percent as major Hollywood studios move to embrace Sony Corp's Blu-ray format high definition DVDs. Toshiba America Consumer Products said it cut prices of its HD DVD players effective January 13 to boost market adoption of its next-generation DVD players by mainstream consumers after what it said was a successful fourth quarter in unit sales.
Toshiba Expands Regza Line For First Half - TWICE
Scott Ramirez, Toshiba TV products marketing VP, said due to intensified competition and rapidly changing TV market dynamics, the company will deliver products this year in two sixth-month cycles. The first half segment will ship in the February/March timeframe and the second half, to be unveiled later in the year, will include products slated for August/September, giving the manufacturer time to make adjustments as needed.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Today's High-Def Headlines
Toshiba Takes HD DVD On Offensive - TWICE
Rather than reeling from the body blow dealt to its HD DVD format by Warner Bros., Toshiba came back from International CES on the attack by stepping up its marketing campaign in the light of what it called “record-breaking unit sales in the fourth quarter of 2007.” Toshiba said Monday it is running major initiatives, including joint advertising campaigns with studios and extended pricing strategies set to begin in mid-January.
Blu-ray Could Win High-Def Battle - TWICE
The two remaining studios backing HD DVD could switch sides soon, ending the high-def format war instantly. Daily Variety has confirmed that Universal's commitment to backing HD DVD exclusively has ended. And Paramount has an escape clause in its HD DVD contract allowing it to release pics on Blu-ray after Warner Bros.' decision to back that format exclusively.
Startup Conjures Up Channel-Boosting Gear - MCN
Startup Imagine Communications this week is set to take the wraps off its first product: a system it claims will let operators stuff 50% more HD or standard-definition channels into the same amount of bandwidth, without hurting the quality of the video. The ICE Broadcast System optimizes MPEG-2 video streams, using Imagine’s proprietary processing algorithms to reencode the video at a lower bit rate while supposedly preserving image quality. The system then statistically multiplexes the streams to allow up to three HD or 15 SD channels to fit into a 6-Megahertz quadrature amplitude modulation carrier.
Gameplay HD Tackles ‘Madden Challenge’ - MCN
Gameplay HD is in the game with “EA Sports 2007 Madden Challenge.” Voom’s high-definition channel devoted to the world of video gaming has created a new TV series capturing the action from competitive tournaments built around Electronic Arts’ popular Madden NFL Football game. Gameplay HD will kick off a seven-part series at 1 p.m. on Feb. 2, the day before Super Bowl XLII.
WWE Pins Down HD Capabilities - MCN
World Wrestling Entertainment will finally showcase all of its elbow smashes, body slams and pins in high definition beginning with the Jan. 21 episode of USA Network’s Monday Night Raw series. Along with its original cable and broadcast series – USA’s Monday Night Raw and A.M. Raw; Sci Fi Channel’s ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling and The CW’s Friday Night SmackDown – the WWE will also deliver in HD all of its pay-per-view shows beginning with the Jan. 27 Royal Rumble event.
Rather than reeling from the body blow dealt to its HD DVD format by Warner Bros., Toshiba came back from International CES on the attack by stepping up its marketing campaign in the light of what it called “record-breaking unit sales in the fourth quarter of 2007.” Toshiba said Monday it is running major initiatives, including joint advertising campaigns with studios and extended pricing strategies set to begin in mid-January.
Blu-ray Could Win High-Def Battle - TWICE
The two remaining studios backing HD DVD could switch sides soon, ending the high-def format war instantly. Daily Variety has confirmed that Universal's commitment to backing HD DVD exclusively has ended. And Paramount has an escape clause in its HD DVD contract allowing it to release pics on Blu-ray after Warner Bros.' decision to back that format exclusively.
Startup Conjures Up Channel-Boosting Gear - MCN
Startup Imagine Communications this week is set to take the wraps off its first product: a system it claims will let operators stuff 50% more HD or standard-definition channels into the same amount of bandwidth, without hurting the quality of the video. The ICE Broadcast System optimizes MPEG-2 video streams, using Imagine’s proprietary processing algorithms to reencode the video at a lower bit rate while supposedly preserving image quality. The system then statistically multiplexes the streams to allow up to three HD or 15 SD channels to fit into a 6-Megahertz quadrature amplitude modulation carrier.
Gameplay HD Tackles ‘Madden Challenge’ - MCN
Gameplay HD is in the game with “EA Sports 2007 Madden Challenge.” Voom’s high-definition channel devoted to the world of video gaming has created a new TV series capturing the action from competitive tournaments built around Electronic Arts’ popular Madden NFL Football game. Gameplay HD will kick off a seven-part series at 1 p.m. on Feb. 2, the day before Super Bowl XLII.
WWE Pins Down HD Capabilities - MCN
World Wrestling Entertainment will finally showcase all of its elbow smashes, body slams and pins in high definition beginning with the Jan. 21 episode of USA Network’s Monday Night Raw series. Along with its original cable and broadcast series – USA’s Monday Night Raw and A.M. Raw; Sci Fi Channel’s ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling and The CW’s Friday Night SmackDown – the WWE will also deliver in HD all of its pay-per-view shows beginning with the Jan. 27 Royal Rumble event.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Today's High-Def Headlines
I think the whole industry is taking a well-deserved breather following CES earlier in the week, but here are a few stories we're watching:
Puppies in High Def: Animal Planet Shoots ‘Puppy Bowl IV’ - MCN
Animal Planet is once again banking on video clips of cute puppies and kittens to hook viewers during half time of the NFL Super Bowl, scheduling its fourth annual Puppy Bowl Feb. 3. This year’s contest, Puppy Bowl IV, will be offered in HDTV for the first time, Animal Planet said Thursday.
Matsushita to Change Corporate Name to Panasonic - MCN
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. -- best known for its global Panasonic brand of consumer electronics -- announced Thursday that the company will change its company name to Panasonic Corp. effective Oct. 1. The company will also use the Panasonic brand across the world for all of its products, which will include replacing the “National” brand in Japan by March 2010. The change was approved by the company’s board of directors and is subject to approval by shareholders.
Plasma TV Makes Comeback - Reuters/NY Times
Given up for dead less than a year ago, plasma TVs are making a comeback, with manufacturers boosting sales forecasts amid a continued shortage of LCD TVs and surging demand in developing countries. In less than two years, plasma-display technology has gone from dominant format to afterthought, then back to a viable option.
Philips' Eco TV Sips Power, Saves Rainforest - CNET
At CNET, we take HDTV power consumption seriously, which helps explain our excitement when Philips announced its Eco TV. The 42-inch, 1080p resolution, flat-panel LCD, model 42PFL5603D (due in March, $1,399 MSRP), is packed with power-saving features. Chief among them is the ability to dim the backlight--by up to five times peak brightness--in response to program material, much like the "local dimming" found on Samsung's LED-based LN-T4681F. Dimming the backlight in darker scenes has the dual benefit of saving power and improving black-level performance, according to the company. The backlight can also be dimmed via a room lighting sensor, so in dark rooms it will use less power.
The Thinner the Better for New HDTV Sets - Rocky Mountain News
HDTV manufacturers are trying to make the task of buying an HDTV set much more difficult than just choosing between LCD and plasma, 42 or 46 inches. To stand out amid fierce competition, they're adding exotic features and even a little bit of color to the plain black bezels that have been de rigueur. They're also chasing each other to zero - zero thickness, that is. Apparently, you can't be too thin if you're a TV.
Puppies in High Def: Animal Planet Shoots ‘Puppy Bowl IV’ - MCN
Animal Planet is once again banking on video clips of cute puppies and kittens to hook viewers during half time of the NFL Super Bowl, scheduling its fourth annual Puppy Bowl Feb. 3. This year’s contest, Puppy Bowl IV, will be offered in HDTV for the first time, Animal Planet said Thursday.
Matsushita to Change Corporate Name to Panasonic - MCN
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. -- best known for its global Panasonic brand of consumer electronics -- announced Thursday that the company will change its company name to Panasonic Corp. effective Oct. 1. The company will also use the Panasonic brand across the world for all of its products, which will include replacing the “National” brand in Japan by March 2010. The change was approved by the company’s board of directors and is subject to approval by shareholders.
Plasma TV Makes Comeback - Reuters/NY Times
Given up for dead less than a year ago, plasma TVs are making a comeback, with manufacturers boosting sales forecasts amid a continued shortage of LCD TVs and surging demand in developing countries. In less than two years, plasma-display technology has gone from dominant format to afterthought, then back to a viable option.
Philips' Eco TV Sips Power, Saves Rainforest - CNET
At CNET, we take HDTV power consumption seriously, which helps explain our excitement when Philips announced its Eco TV. The 42-inch, 1080p resolution, flat-panel LCD, model 42PFL5603D (due in March, $1,399 MSRP), is packed with power-saving features. Chief among them is the ability to dim the backlight--by up to five times peak brightness--in response to program material, much like the "local dimming" found on Samsung's LED-based LN-T4681F. Dimming the backlight in darker scenes has the dual benefit of saving power and improving black-level performance, according to the company. The backlight can also be dimmed via a room lighting sensor, so in dark rooms it will use less power.
The Thinner the Better for New HDTV Sets - Rocky Mountain News
HDTV manufacturers are trying to make the task of buying an HDTV set much more difficult than just choosing between LCD and plasma, 42 or 46 inches. To stand out amid fierce competition, they're adding exotic features and even a little bit of color to the plain black bezels that have been de rigueur. They're also chasing each other to zero - zero thickness, that is. Apparently, you can't be too thin if you're a TV.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Today's CES High-Def Headlines
Comcast to Offer 1,000 HD ‘Choices’ - MCN
In a message aimed at both Wall Street and the consumer electronics industry, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts Tuesday detailed his company’s future roadmap for convergence and competition, “Comcast 3.0.” Roberts offered the plan, which includes ramping up to 1,000 HDTV offerings by the end of the year, during a morning keynote address at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, the first such keynote by a cable company chief. Roberts devoted a good portion of his speech talking about Comcast’s plan to give consumers more than 1,000 HD choices in 2008, its strategy to begin adding additional HD movies, as well as announcing Project Infinity – its vision to give consumers the ability to watch any movie, TV show, user generated content or other video that a producer wants to make available On Demand.
Samsung Gives Video Road Map - TWICE
Samsung doesn’t plan this year to exit the rear-projection TV market despite the market’s decline, and it will launch its second dual-format HD disc player later this year as planned despite Warner’s surprise decision to pull out of the HD DVD market. The technology road map was outlined here for the press during a Samsung-moderated roundtable in which executives from Korea also said the company will ship its first 3-D-ready plasma displays in late March for use with 3-D PC games. The company also said it doesn’t expect to commercialize OLED TV technology until 2010.
JVC Unveils Slim Design LCD TV Line - TWICE
JVC unveiled at its Caesar’s Palace showroom Tuesday new Procision series LCD TVs billed as “the world’s thinnest tuner-equipped LC televisions.” The models measure 1.5 inches deep across most of the set and less than 3 inches at the center. Each is trimmed with a 0.98-inch bezel.
XStreamHD Promises HD From The Heavens - TWICE
A new service promising to deliver 1080p HD video content and lossless DTS audio to homes via satellite made its debut yesterday at International CES. At a press conference, here, XStreamHD CEO George Gonzalez, flanked by actor/investor Michael Douglas, introduced the company’s HD delivery system that is expected to launch in the fourth quarter.
Martin Says Analog Cutoff A ‘Hard Date’ - TWICE
FCC chairman Kevin Martin said in a wide-ranging International CES Industry Insiders event that the Feb. 17, 2009, analog cutoff was a “hard date” and there was no way he could envision it changing. “After all of our efforts we couldn’t just turn around and say ‘We’re just kidding.’” He added there couldn’t be anything worse to “dis-incentivize” the transition and those lining up to bid on the newly available 700 MHz spectrum.
In a message aimed at both Wall Street and the consumer electronics industry, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts Tuesday detailed his company’s future roadmap for convergence and competition, “Comcast 3.0.” Roberts offered the plan, which includes ramping up to 1,000 HDTV offerings by the end of the year, during a morning keynote address at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, the first such keynote by a cable company chief. Roberts devoted a good portion of his speech talking about Comcast’s plan to give consumers more than 1,000 HD choices in 2008, its strategy to begin adding additional HD movies, as well as announcing Project Infinity – its vision to give consumers the ability to watch any movie, TV show, user generated content or other video that a producer wants to make available On Demand.
Samsung Gives Video Road Map - TWICE
Samsung doesn’t plan this year to exit the rear-projection TV market despite the market’s decline, and it will launch its second dual-format HD disc player later this year as planned despite Warner’s surprise decision to pull out of the HD DVD market. The technology road map was outlined here for the press during a Samsung-moderated roundtable in which executives from Korea also said the company will ship its first 3-D-ready plasma displays in late March for use with 3-D PC games. The company also said it doesn’t expect to commercialize OLED TV technology until 2010.
JVC Unveils Slim Design LCD TV Line - TWICE
JVC unveiled at its Caesar’s Palace showroom Tuesday new Procision series LCD TVs billed as “the world’s thinnest tuner-equipped LC televisions.” The models measure 1.5 inches deep across most of the set and less than 3 inches at the center. Each is trimmed with a 0.98-inch bezel.
XStreamHD Promises HD From The Heavens - TWICE
A new service promising to deliver 1080p HD video content and lossless DTS audio to homes via satellite made its debut yesterday at International CES. At a press conference, here, XStreamHD CEO George Gonzalez, flanked by actor/investor Michael Douglas, introduced the company’s HD delivery system that is expected to launch in the fourth quarter.
Martin Says Analog Cutoff A ‘Hard Date’ - TWICE
FCC chairman Kevin Martin said in a wide-ranging International CES Industry Insiders event that the Feb. 17, 2009, analog cutoff was a “hard date” and there was no way he could envision it changing. “After all of our efforts we couldn’t just turn around and say ‘We’re just kidding.’” He added there couldn’t be anything worse to “dis-incentivize” the transition and those lining up to bid on the newly available 700 MHz spectrum.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Today's CES High-Def Headlines
Panasonic Unveils World's Largest TV - AP
A 150-inch high-definiton plasma TV unveiled by Panasonic is the world's largest to date, the Japanese consumer electronics company claimed Monday at the International Consumer Electronics Show. The plasma panel features an 8.84 million pixel image resolution. Its screen is the equivalent of nine 50-inch sets, with an effective viewing area of 11 feet, the company said.
Ergen Explains Dish Network HD Expansion - MCN
Dish Network CEO Charlie Ergen Monday explained his company’s HDTV ramp-up and clarified what turns about to be a very limited price “freeze” by the satellite TV provider. During a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show, Ergen said that Dish Network plans to launch a satellite each quarter this year, with three of those for domestic use to help facilitate an expansion to 100 national HDTV channels from 76 now.
Comcast, Panasonic Sell Portable Digital Video Recorders - MCN
Want your DVR for here or to go? At the Consumer Electronics Show here Monday, Comcast and Panasonic are debuting a high-definition digital video recorder that you can unplug and take with you to watch TV shows or movies virtually anywhere. The AnyPlay Portable DVR, developed by Panasonic for Comcast, functions as a regular HD set-top box when it’s set up in the living room.
Blu-ray Triumphs at Gadget Show - AP
The International Consumer Electronics Show is turning out to be a celebration party for Blu-ray, the high-definition format that Sony Corp. backed, and a wake for a rival movie disc technology pushed by Toshiba Corp. Just two months ago, Sony CEO Howard Stringer said the fight between Blu-ray and Toshiba's HD DVD was at a "stalemate," and expressed a wish to travel back in time to avert it. The impasse was broken Friday by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the last major studio to put out movies in both formats. It announced it was ditching HD DVD, and from May on, would only publish on Blu-ray and traditional DVD.
Sony Debuts 14 LCD TVs, Its 1st OLED - TWICE
Following its decision to exit the rear-projection TV category, Sony travels to International CES with an arsenal of new LCD TVs and the company’s first OLED TV for the U.S. market. Sony is launching here 14 Bravia LCD models, including slim-bezel and thin-depth cabinets, as well as Sony’s new 3-D graphic user interface integrated with TV Guide programming information.
Sharp Bows 4 Aquos Lines, Second Blu-ray Player - TWICE
Sharp is using International CES to unveil four Aquos LCD TV model series, highlighted by a "special edition" featuring the company’s best picture quality to date and built-in Internet access. Also slated are a pair of new DLP projectors and the company’s second Blu-ray Disc player. The Aquos special-edition SE94 series will include the 65-inch LC-65SE94U, 52-inch LC-52SE94U and 46-inch LC-46SE94U, each of which produces the company’s finest picture quality.
Pioneer’s Kuro Get Super Thin,‘Absolute’ Black - TWICE
Looking to apply the "thin-is-in" trend to its Project Kuro plasma TV behemoths, Pioneer is unveiling at International CES a 50-inch super-thin (9mm) plasma panel. Billed as "an advanced design concept," the thin-screen plasma TV prototype will be showcased as the future of the big-screen flat-panel TV technology.
Hitachi Bows Ultra Thin Plasma TVs, LCDs - TWICE
Hitachi will use International CES to unveil what it is calling some of the world’s thinnest plasma displays, in addition to its recently announced Ultra Thin 1.5-inch thick LCD TV line.
The Ultra Thin plasma panels, which will see their world premiere at CES, are expected to be available at the end of 2009 in the 50- and 60-inch screen sizes and will measure "under 1.5-inches in depth".
A 150-inch high-definiton plasma TV unveiled by Panasonic is the world's largest to date, the Japanese consumer electronics company claimed Monday at the International Consumer Electronics Show. The plasma panel features an 8.84 million pixel image resolution. Its screen is the equivalent of nine 50-inch sets, with an effective viewing area of 11 feet, the company said.
Ergen Explains Dish Network HD Expansion - MCN
Dish Network CEO Charlie Ergen Monday explained his company’s HDTV ramp-up and clarified what turns about to be a very limited price “freeze” by the satellite TV provider. During a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show, Ergen said that Dish Network plans to launch a satellite each quarter this year, with three of those for domestic use to help facilitate an expansion to 100 national HDTV channels from 76 now.
Comcast, Panasonic Sell Portable Digital Video Recorders - MCN
Want your DVR for here or to go? At the Consumer Electronics Show here Monday, Comcast and Panasonic are debuting a high-definition digital video recorder that you can unplug and take with you to watch TV shows or movies virtually anywhere. The AnyPlay Portable DVR, developed by Panasonic for Comcast, functions as a regular HD set-top box when it’s set up in the living room.
Blu-ray Triumphs at Gadget Show - AP
The International Consumer Electronics Show is turning out to be a celebration party for Blu-ray, the high-definition format that Sony Corp. backed, and a wake for a rival movie disc technology pushed by Toshiba Corp. Just two months ago, Sony CEO Howard Stringer said the fight between Blu-ray and Toshiba's HD DVD was at a "stalemate," and expressed a wish to travel back in time to avert it. The impasse was broken Friday by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the last major studio to put out movies in both formats. It announced it was ditching HD DVD, and from May on, would only publish on Blu-ray and traditional DVD.
Sony Debuts 14 LCD TVs, Its 1st OLED - TWICE
Following its decision to exit the rear-projection TV category, Sony travels to International CES with an arsenal of new LCD TVs and the company’s first OLED TV for the U.S. market. Sony is launching here 14 Bravia LCD models, including slim-bezel and thin-depth cabinets, as well as Sony’s new 3-D graphic user interface integrated with TV Guide programming information.
Sharp Bows 4 Aquos Lines, Second Blu-ray Player - TWICE
Sharp is using International CES to unveil four Aquos LCD TV model series, highlighted by a "special edition" featuring the company’s best picture quality to date and built-in Internet access. Also slated are a pair of new DLP projectors and the company’s second Blu-ray Disc player. The Aquos special-edition SE94 series will include the 65-inch LC-65SE94U, 52-inch LC-52SE94U and 46-inch LC-46SE94U, each of which produces the company’s finest picture quality.
Pioneer’s Kuro Get Super Thin,‘Absolute’ Black - TWICE
Looking to apply the "thin-is-in" trend to its Project Kuro plasma TV behemoths, Pioneer is unveiling at International CES a 50-inch super-thin (9mm) plasma panel. Billed as "an advanced design concept," the thin-screen plasma TV prototype will be showcased as the future of the big-screen flat-panel TV technology.
Hitachi Bows Ultra Thin Plasma TVs, LCDs - TWICE
Hitachi will use International CES to unveil what it is calling some of the world’s thinnest plasma displays, in addition to its recently announced Ultra Thin 1.5-inch thick LCD TV line.
The Ultra Thin plasma panels, which will see their world premiere at CES, are expected to be available at the end of 2009 in the 50- and 60-inch screen sizes and will measure "under 1.5-inches in depth".
Friday, January 04, 2008
Today's High-Def Headlines
After a long holiday break, I'm back. With CES kicking off this weekend, here's what's going on in the world of HD:
CES to Showcase Wireless HDTVs - NYT/AP
Flat-panel TVs look lovely on a wall -- the cords hanging from them, less so. After a few years of false starts, the industry finally seems close to tackling that problem. At least three dueling wireless technologies for high-definition TVs will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which starts Monday. Manufacturers promise that sets incorporating these technologies will be in stores before the next holiday season.
Cable-Cutting WiHD Spec Finalized - TWICE
The WirelessHD consortium has finalized specifications for its in-room cable-replacement WirelessHD (WiHD) technology, promoted as the only cable-replacement technology that delivers uncompressed copy-protected high-definition video up to 1080p with no signal loss.At press time, it wasn’t certain whether any of the consortium’s seven founding members would demonstrate the technology. The founders are LG, Panasonic, NEC, chipmaker SiBeam, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba. Intel is also a member.
Tennis Channel Nets Spot On DirecTV’s HD Lineup - MCN
Tennis Channel rang out 2007 by spinning in its first serve into the high-definition carriage arena. Tennis Channel, which now holds telecast rights to three of the sport's four Grand Slam events, became the latest addition to DirecTV’s ever-expanding HD roster of networks on Dec. 31. The launch on the nation’s leading satellite provider's platform coincides with the network's move into a new state-of-the-art production facility in Culver City, Calif., construction of which began last May.
Fujitsu Exits Plasma TV - TWICE
Fujitsu General Ltd., whose company Fujitsu General America has distributed plasma displays in the U.S. from the technology’s outset, said here Thursday it will exit the visual display business outside of Japan by March, due to declining profitability. “During the past several years, the pricing and profitability of this segment has compressed beyond the point which our company could realize a satisfactory return on investment,” Fujitsu said in a statement.
Netflix Partners With LG to Bring Movies Straight to TV - NYT
Netflix, the DVD-by-mail company with more than seven million customers, has a new strategy that may one day make those red envelopes obsolete. The company wants to strike deals with electronics companies that will let it send movies straight to TV screens over the Internet. Its first partnership, announced Wednesday night, is with the South Korean manufacturer LG Electronics to stream movies and other programming to LG’s high-definition televisions.
Demand Brisk For DTV Converter Coupons - MCN
The federal government’s DTV converter box subsidy program got off to a brisk start this week as the Commerce Department reported that 850,000 coupons worth $40 each were requested in the first 48 hours. The federal government has $1.5 billion to subsidize converter boxes. After administrative expenses, the funding will provide for 33.5 million coupons. About 500,000 households from all 50 states applied for coupons on Tuesday and Wednesday.
CEA: Half Of U.S. Homes Have DTVs - TWICE
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) released figures today showing that more than 50 percent of U.S. households now own a digital television (DTV). The association said consumers are adding DTVs to their homes at a record pace as completion of the digital television transition on Feb. 17, 2009 rapidly approaches.
Samsung To Show 31” OLED TV - TWICE
Samsung SDI, the display screen manufacturing unit of Samsung Electronics, plans to show a prototype 31-inch ultra-thin OLED screen at International CES, Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas, according to a Reuters report. The announcement came as Sony began selling an 11-inch OLED-based TV in Japan.
Cable Giants Aim to Rule HD - Raleigh News & Observer
Time Warner Cable and its rivals are in the early stages of a torrid campaign to win the latest battle for America's dens: high-definition programming. With thousands of new sets installed in the past year, satellite and cable service providers are touting plans to multiply the number of HD channels they offer. Until recently, Time Warner had the edge in the Triangle. Now, armed with new satellites, DirecTV can claim the most high-definition programming.
CES to Showcase Wireless HDTVs - NYT/AP
Flat-panel TVs look lovely on a wall -- the cords hanging from them, less so. After a few years of false starts, the industry finally seems close to tackling that problem. At least three dueling wireless technologies for high-definition TVs will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which starts Monday. Manufacturers promise that sets incorporating these technologies will be in stores before the next holiday season.
Cable-Cutting WiHD Spec Finalized - TWICE
The WirelessHD consortium has finalized specifications for its in-room cable-replacement WirelessHD (WiHD) technology, promoted as the only cable-replacement technology that delivers uncompressed copy-protected high-definition video up to 1080p with no signal loss.At press time, it wasn’t certain whether any of the consortium’s seven founding members would demonstrate the technology. The founders are LG, Panasonic, NEC, chipmaker SiBeam, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba. Intel is also a member.
Tennis Channel Nets Spot On DirecTV’s HD Lineup - MCN
Tennis Channel rang out 2007 by spinning in its first serve into the high-definition carriage arena. Tennis Channel, which now holds telecast rights to three of the sport's four Grand Slam events, became the latest addition to DirecTV’s ever-expanding HD roster of networks on Dec. 31. The launch on the nation’s leading satellite provider's platform coincides with the network's move into a new state-of-the-art production facility in Culver City, Calif., construction of which began last May.
Fujitsu Exits Plasma TV - TWICE
Fujitsu General Ltd., whose company Fujitsu General America has distributed plasma displays in the U.S. from the technology’s outset, said here Thursday it will exit the visual display business outside of Japan by March, due to declining profitability. “During the past several years, the pricing and profitability of this segment has compressed beyond the point which our company could realize a satisfactory return on investment,” Fujitsu said in a statement.
Netflix Partners With LG to Bring Movies Straight to TV - NYT
Netflix, the DVD-by-mail company with more than seven million customers, has a new strategy that may one day make those red envelopes obsolete. The company wants to strike deals with electronics companies that will let it send movies straight to TV screens over the Internet. Its first partnership, announced Wednesday night, is with the South Korean manufacturer LG Electronics to stream movies and other programming to LG’s high-definition televisions.
Demand Brisk For DTV Converter Coupons - MCN
The federal government’s DTV converter box subsidy program got off to a brisk start this week as the Commerce Department reported that 850,000 coupons worth $40 each were requested in the first 48 hours. The federal government has $1.5 billion to subsidize converter boxes. After administrative expenses, the funding will provide for 33.5 million coupons. About 500,000 households from all 50 states applied for coupons on Tuesday and Wednesday.
CEA: Half Of U.S. Homes Have DTVs - TWICE
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) released figures today showing that more than 50 percent of U.S. households now own a digital television (DTV). The association said consumers are adding DTVs to their homes at a record pace as completion of the digital television transition on Feb. 17, 2009 rapidly approaches.
Samsung To Show 31” OLED TV - TWICE
Samsung SDI, the display screen manufacturing unit of Samsung Electronics, plans to show a prototype 31-inch ultra-thin OLED screen at International CES, Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas, according to a Reuters report. The announcement came as Sony began selling an 11-inch OLED-based TV in Japan.
Cable Giants Aim to Rule HD - Raleigh News & Observer
Time Warner Cable and its rivals are in the early stages of a torrid campaign to win the latest battle for America's dens: high-definition programming. With thousands of new sets installed in the past year, satellite and cable service providers are touting plans to multiply the number of HD channels they offer. Until recently, Time Warner had the edge in the Triangle. Now, armed with new satellites, DirecTV can claim the most high-definition programming.
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