HDTV news, Mark Schubin [Archive]

Alan Roberts

11th June 2004, 16:37

Dated 2004/06/01

- Follow-ups:

- Over-the-air cable-like multicasting service - The Emmis-led
Broadcasters Initiative has reportedly more than doubled the number of
participating stations to 350 in 30 groups since the number announced at
the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention in April:
http://www.tvweek.com/news/web052704.html#stations

- MPEG LA AVC license fees -
- I am told by someone who should know that the one-time
encoder fees are truly one-time, with no issue of renewal.
- That covers free broadcasts. Someone at a pay-TV company
had a different point of view in a message to me: "From my perspective,
MPEG-LA may have just killed AVC."

- Australian DTT set-top boxes - The list was updated on May 27.
There are now 36 models, just five of which are HD. The prices have not
changed:
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=18

- DTT on mobile phones - There's a European Union project that has
made a multimillion-Euro grant:
http://www.eetuk.com/tech/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=21100319

- July 1 -
- There's exactly one month to go to the start of the
CableCARD and DTT-reception-circuitry mandates.
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets:
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- JVC AV36AF54 36-inch flat-screen TV @ Ultimate $798.95
- Magnavox MS3652 36-inch TV @ Circuit City $449.99
- Sharp 36US50 36-inch TV @ Best Buy $449.99
- Toshiba 36-inch TV @ Sears $599.99
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Apex AT2708 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $179.99
- Apex AT2708S 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $168.95
- Magnavox 27MS343S 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $189.99
- Sansui TVS2746 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $169.99
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- RCA 13V400T 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $69.99
- Magnavox 20MT133S 20-inch TV @ Circuit City $109.99
- Mystery brand 20-inch TV @ CompUSA $79.99 after rebate
- Mystery brand 20-inch TV @ Fry's $89
- Daewoo DV6T8748 DVD/VCR combo @ CompUSA $99.99
- Mystery brand DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $84.99 after rebate
- Sansui DVD/VCR combo @ Sears $94.99
- Toshiba SD-V392 DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $129.99
- Coby DVD-R1000 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $249.99
- LiteOn DVD+R/RW recorder @ CompUSA $199.99 after rebate
- Philips DVDR75 DVD+R/RW recorder @ CompUSA $299.99
- Pioneer DVR-225 DVD recorder @ Best Buy $299.99
- Replay TV RPTV5500 40-hour PVR @ Graffiti $129
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Sylvania 6313CD/CE 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Ultimate $98.95
- Toshiba MV13P2 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Best Buy $119.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Action ACN5503 5-inch TV/AM/FM @ Circuit City $89.99
- jWIN JV-TV1010 5-inch TV/AM/FM @ Graffiti $17.88

- May 1 - Neither the NAB nor the Association of Public Television
Stations (APTS) has updated its lists this week, but the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) has (as of May 26):
- 1642 stations (97%) have received either construction
permits or licenses for DTT, and 1423 U.S. DTT stations are said to be
on the air (more than 200 more than the NAB lists):
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvsum.html
- There has been no change in the 40 top-10-market stations
due on the air May 1, 1999; 38 are fully licensed and two are operating
on temporary authority:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat.html
- There has been no change in the 79 market 11-30 stations due
on the air November 1, 1999; 72 are fully licensed and seven are
operating on temporary authority:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat11.html
- The FCC says 263 non-commercial U.S. DTT stations are in
operation; APTS still lists only 246:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonairsum.html
- These are the 781 stations listed as operating on temporary
authority (at low power):
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstas.html
- These are the 642 said to be either fully licensed or
operating on program-test authority:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonair.html
Doug Lung's RF Report in TV Technology says the FCC's CDBS database
listed 524 fully licensed U.S. DTT stations as of May 23:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=452

- More than seven years after it laid down a timetable for the DTT
transition, the FCC has finally decided to "seek comment on options for
minimizing the disruption to consumers when the switch-over to digital
broadcasting occurs. We are primarily concerned with those households
that rely exclusively on over-the-air broadcasting for their television
service, but we seek comment more broadly on minimizing the impact on
all consumers. First, we seek comment on the identity of those
consumers that rely on over-the-air television broadcasting and why they
do not subscribe to a pay television service. Second, we seek comment
on potential options for minimizing the impact on these and other
consumers when broadcasters are operating solely in digital." Comments
are due July 12 with replies due August 5:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-041497A1.doc
That's all reasonable except that the FCC is examining only TV
sets. Some consumers also "rely... on over-the-air broadcasting" for
their VCRs, PVRs, DVD recorders, computer tuner cards, and TV-band
radios. I use one of the last on most of the live shows on which I work.

- The May 2004 issue of The Standard from the Advanced Television
Systems Committee (ATSC) has come out. It has extensive information on
the E-AC-3 audio standard:
http://www.atsc.org/news_information/newsletter/ATSC_Newsletter-15.pdf

- There's an interesting article by Karen Brown on 1080p in the online
version of the cable publication Communications Engineering Digest:
http://www.cedmagazine.com/ced/2004/0604/06e.htm

- International H/DTV news:

- Taiwan Television Enterprise was to have begun DTT broadcasts today:
http://www.taiwanglobe.com/p/95/45a5d4f1098c66.html?id=WNATa56bfc52b98fef6dd5c61cc 980bb7c43

- The CableLabs newsletter has a story on video over DSL in Europe:
http://www.cablelabs.com/news/newsletter/SPECS/AprMay_2004/story7.html

- There's a report available on the ITU regional
radiocommunications conference on digital broadcasting:
http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2004/13.html

- A report on the latest Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) open
house mentions their UHDTV system, but there doesn't seem to be anything
new:
http://www.idg.com.sg/idgwww.nsf/0/BEEA22FE29B63CA248256EA6000DCA8F?OpenDocument

- Sony's 4k (horizontal-resolution) SXRD projector has gotten some press:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/31/technology/31projector.html
http://www.idg.com.sg/idgwww.nsf/0/FCCA751C6D13A12348256EA6000F464C?OpenDocument
But this article says the one to wait for is still their GLV system
(for which we've been waiting a LONG time):
http://www.arnnet.com.au/index.php?id=1835460307&fp=2&fpid=1

- Screen Digest's May issue notes more digital-projection theater
screens in Asia than in North America:
http://www.screendigest.com

- Based on figures from CEA, sales of VCRs to U.S. dealers were down 68%
for the first 19 weeks of 2004 compared to the same period in 2003.
Non-H/DTV direct-view TV sets were UP 2%. My ten-week running average
for them was up 1.8%.
So-called "Digital Television" sales to U.S. dealers for the 19th
week were 56,907 units. For the first 19 weeks of the year, there were
1,394,576 units. "Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays
without DTT-reception capability) still accounted for about 14.8% of the
TVs (not counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers so far
this year. It may be worth noting here what that means. Over 85% of
the non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold so far this year were still
plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify as a "Digital Television," a display need only be
capable of dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either
receiving digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable
of receiving DTT signals were still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of only the Samsung at J&R.

- The ads - I think Best Buy's 27-inch Advent for $449.99 and Fry's
Samsung 27-inch might be new low prices for sets said to be HDTV. FYI,
not in the ads but according to a correspondent, Samsung's 26-inch
integrated HDTV is selling for $699 at both Best Buy and Target in
Plano, Texas. Best Buy once again advertised the Sanus Systems "Digital
TV Stand." J&R called the Panasonic TH-42PC25U/P and TH-50PX25U
monitors even though the ads noted that they included both ATSC and NTSC
"tuners."
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- Advent HT2751A 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $449.99
- JVC LT17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $999.99
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1899.99
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2499.99
- Pioneer PDP5041HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $8999.99
- Samsung HLN-5065W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.99
- Samsung LT-P227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1899.99
- Samsung LT-P1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $649.99
- Samsung SP-P4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99
- Sony KV32FS100 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $699.99
- Sony KV36FS100 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499.99
- Toshiba 57H93 57-inch 16:9 CRT integrated proj. DTV $1999.99
- Big Screen Store (Washington Post, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi 73-inch 16:9 projection TV $2999
- Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers):
- Akai PT4298HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $999.99
- Audiovox 15-inch direct-view LCD TV $429.99
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1199.99
- Sony KE37XS910 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4499.99
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1529.99
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimer):
- Panasonic PT-47WX53 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1199.99
- Panasonic TH-50PX20U/P 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.99
- Samsung SPN4235 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99
- Dell (various papers, no disclaimer):
- Dell 2200MP projector $899
- Dell W1700 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $630
- Dell 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $2499
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- "Major Brand Name" projection TV $1499
- Mitsubishi WS-55413 55-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1999
- Samsung 27-inch 4:3 direct-view TV $399
- Samsung HLN-5065 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WS 65413 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $1949
- Philips 42FD9935 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499
- Sony KV34HS510 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1699
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Epson PowerLite Home 10 projector
- JVC HM-DH4000U D-VHS recorder $649.99
- Panasonic TC-17LA1 17-inch 4:3 LCD TV $749.99
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Panasonic TH-50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Samsung LTN406W 40-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV
- Samsung SIR-T165 ATSC receiver/decoder $399.99
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- Sony KE-42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- Toshiba 30HF83 30-inch 16:9 direct-view flat CRT TV
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4499.99
- Toshiba TLP-ET1 projector $1044.99
- Zenith P42W34 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG DU-42PZ60 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3498
- LG DU52SZ61D 61-inch projection TV $3298
- LG RU-44SX61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2798
- Mitsubishi WS-55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1898
- Panasonic PT-50LC13 50-inch LCD projection TV $2798
- Panasonic PT-60LC13 60-inch LCD projection TV $3998
- Sony KE32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3998
- Sony KE42XS910 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5998
- Sony KE50XS910 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $7998
- Sony KF-50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3298
- Sony KF-60WE610 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3998
- MyerEmco (Washington Post, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WS48413 48-inch 16:9 projection TV $1599
- Sharp LC32G4U 32-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $3999
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2999
- ViewSonic VPW450HD 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999
- Provideo (Washington Post, no disclaimer):
- Sony KF42WE610 42-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV
- Sony 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299
- Sony 51-inch projection TV $1399
- Sears (no disclaimer):
- Hitachi 46-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54713 $1399.99
- Philips 55-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54333 $1699.99
- Samsung 26-inch 16:9 direct-view TV, Sears #45063 $569.99
- Samsung 43-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV, Sears #54073 $2849.99
- Ultimate Electronics (no disclaimer noticed):
- Akai PT4298HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $898.95**
- Hitachi 46F500 46-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1349.95
- JVC AV48WP74 48-inch 16:9 projection TV $1198.95
- JVC PD42WV74 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799.95
- Mitsubishi WS48513 48-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1799.95
- Mitsubishi WS55813 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3149.95
- Mitsubishi WS65513 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2519.95
- Panasonic CT32HL43 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $898.95
- Samsung HPN5039 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4999.95
- Sharp LC22SV6U 22-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $1499.95
- Sony KDP57WS550 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1999.95
- Zenith L15V26C 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $498.95
- Zenith P42W22B 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1998.95**
** price after mail-in rebate
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG MU50PZ90V 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4997
- Sony KF42WE610 42-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2797
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3297
- Sony KDE50XBR950 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $8997

- DVD news:

- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the
first 19 weeks of 2004 were up 2.7% over the same period in 2003. My
ten-week running average was up 1.3%.

- CompUSA had ads for DVD movies at 6 for $29.97 and DVD-R blank at
100 for $19.98. Fry's advertised DVD players for $29 without need of
rebate.

- The BBC is reportedly making its archive available on the Internet:
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,39020369,39156023,00.htm

- Here's the Government Accounting Office report on spectrum management:
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-666
Here are just the highlights:
http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d04666high.pdf

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- June 3, Montgomery, Alabama, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/18_Montgomery.htm.
- June 4-6, Dallas Convention Center, HD Expo http://www.hdexpo.net/.
- June 5-11, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, InfoComm
http://infocomm03.expoexchange.com/.
- June 7, Tampa, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/19_Tampa.htm.
- June 9, Miami, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/20_Miami.htm.
- June 11, West Palm Beach, Florida, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/21_WPalm_Beach.htm.
- *June 11-13, Universal City Studios, Cine Gear Expo
http://www.cinegearexpo.com.
- June 14, Jacksonville, Florida, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/22_Jacksonville.htm.
- June 14, Panavision, Woodland Hills, California, ETC Charles
Poynton Seminar http://www.etcenter.org/Seminars.asp.
- June 14-18, Milwaukee Area Technical College, SMPTE Engineering
Committee meetings http://www.fibush.net/smpte/June2004/June2004.htm.
- June 15-18, Singapore Expo, Broadcast Asia 2004, Audio Technology
2004, CableSat 2004, ComGraphics & Animation 2004, CommunicAsia 2004,
EnterpriseIT 2004 http://www.broadcast-asia.com/.
- June 16, Atlanta, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/23_Atlanta.htm.
- June 18, Huntsville, Alabama, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/24_Huntsville.htm.
- June 21, Nashville, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/25_Nashville.htm.
- *June 21-24, RAI, Amsterdam, Cinema Expo http://www.cinemaexpo.com.
- June 23, Knoxville, Tennessee, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/26_Knoxville.htm.
- June 24-26, Toronto, Joint Technical Symposium (archiving and
preservation) http://www.jts2004.org/english/index_en.htm.
- June 25, Greenville, South Carolina, Road Show -- "A Taste of
NAB" (not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/27_Greenville.htm.
- June 28, Charlotte, North Carolina, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/28_Charlotte.htm.
- June 30, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, Road Show -- "A Taste of
NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/29_Raleigh-Durham.htm.
- July 6, Baltimore-Washington, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/30_Baltimore-Washington.htm.
- July 8, Philadelphia, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/31_Philadelphia.htm.
- July 12, New Haven, Connecticut, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/32_New_Haven.htm.
- July 14, Boston, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/33_Boston.htm.
- July 16, Eastern New York, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/34_Up_State_NY.htm.
- July 19, Binghamton, New York, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/35_Binghamton.htm.
- July 19-23, Seattle, MPEG meetings.
- July 21, Cleveland, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/36_Cleveland.htm.
- July 22, Columbus, Ohio, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/37_Columbus.htm.
- July 26, Indianapolis, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/38_Indianapolis.htm.
- July 28, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, Road Show -- "A Taste of
NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/39_Urbana-Champaign.htm.
- July 29, Madison, Wisconsin, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/40_Madison.htm.
- August 2, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/41_Minn-StP.htm.
- August 4, Omaha, Nebraska, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/42_Omaha.htm.
- August 6, Riverton, Wyoming, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/43_Riverton.htm.
- August 9, Salt Lake City, Utah, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/44_SLC.htm.
- August 11, Bozeman, Montana, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/45_Bozeman.htm.
- August 13, Boise, Idaho, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/46_Boise.htm.
- August 16, Spokane, Washington, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/47_Spokane.htm.
- August 18, Washington State University, Road Show -- "A Taste of
NAB" (not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/48_WSU.htm.
- August 20, Seattle, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/49_Seattle.htm.
- August 24, Portland, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/50_Portland.htm.
- August 25, Eugene, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/51_Eugene.htm.
- August 30-September 1, Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, Entertainment
Media Expo http://www.media-tech.net/news/New_A.htm.
- September 1-3, Reading, UK, International Symposium on Consumer
Electronics http://www.isce.reading.ac.uk.
- September 9-14, RAI, Amsterdam, International Broadcasting
Convention http://www.ibc.org.
- September 16-19, Sony, Basingstoke, England, SMPTE Engineering
Committee meetings http://www.fibush.net/smpte/Sept2004/Sept2004.htm.
- October 6-7, Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, Government
Video Technology Expo http://www.GVExpo.com.
- October 13-15, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast
Symposium http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symposium.html.
- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo
http://www.hdexpo.net/.
- November 4-7, Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home
Entertainment 2004 West http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
http://bee.jesa.or.jp.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
http://www.cesweb.org/.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International
Conference on Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo.
Next week's memo might be late. There will be no memo the week of June
14, and the memo the following week will be late (if it comes out at all).

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html

Alan Roberts

11th June 2004, 16:42

Dated 2004/06/08
Reminder: There will be no memo next week, and IF there's a memo the
following week, it will be very late.

- Follow-ups:

- Australian DTT set-top receivers - The latest list has six HD models
out of 37:
www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=18 (http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=18)

- Taiwan DTT - Five broadcasters have begun transmissions before the
official launch date, two offering programming to cars:
www.dtg.org.uk/news/world/-taiwan_jump_gun.htm (http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/world/-taiwan_jump_gun.htm)

- Sony's 4k digital-cinema projector - This is typical of many stories,
that Sony's work is nice but TI doesn't think it will affect them much:
finance.lycos.com/qc/news/story.aspx?story=41803063 (http://finance.lycos.com/qc/news/story.aspx?story=41803063)

- MPEG LA's license terms for AVC - The Technical Committee of the World
Broadcasting Unions is not impressed by the $2500 one-time encoder
payment. "Despite this concession, the WBU-TC has unanimously concluded
that the MPEG-4 AVC licensing terms remain extremely onerous for
free-to-air broadcasters. The WBU-TC suggests that free-to-air
broadcasters should be exempted from charges for use of MPEG-4 AVC. In
the absence of such an exemption, the WBU-TC may recommend that the
worlds major broadcasters should not use MPEG-4 AVC":
www.nabanet.com/WBU_TC_MPEG.pdf (http://www.nabanet.com/WBU_TC_MPEG.pdf)

- The Emmis-led Broadcasters Initiative and USDTV - The former might try
to acquire the latter:
<http://www.tvweek.com/news/web060304.html#emmis[/url]
FYI, a correspondent reported seeing the USDTV boxes in a Wal-Mart in
Illinois for under $200.

- Digital cable and HD - There's an overview in CableWorld:
www.cableworld.com/ct/archives/0604/0604_weather.html (http://www.cableworld.com/ct/archives/0604/0604_weather.html)

- UHDV - Many media outlets are reporting on it now; Monday Memo readers
saw it reported long ago:
www.nytimes.com/2004/06/03/technology/circuits/03next.html?8cir (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/03/technology/circuits/03next.html?8cir)

- July 1 - See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets:
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- Toshiba 36E60 36-inch TV @ Royal $298
- RCA ZA46 46-inch projection TV @ Royal $397
- Toshiba 50A60 50-inch projection TV @ Royal $428
- Sony 53S65 53-inch projection TV @ Royal $498
- Sony 61S75 61-inch projection TV @ Royal $598
- Toshiba 61H60 61-inch projection TV @ Royal $618
- Sony 65S65 65-inch projection TV @ Royal $849
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- RCA 25-inch TV @ Royal $98
- Sharp 25-inch TV @ Fry's $119.99
- Daewoo DTQ2754FC 27-inch TV @ Target $169.99
- Magnavox 27MS3404 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $199.99
- Toshiba 27-inch TV @ Fry's $199
- Toshiba 27H50 27-inch TV @ Royal $139
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- "Famous Maker" 13-inch TV @ Royal $58
- RCA E13320 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $89.99
- Sylvania 13-inch TV @ Sears $89.99
- Daewoo DTQ20U4SC 20-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $129.99
- Mystery brand 13-inch TV/DVD combo @ OfficeMax $99.99 after rebate
- GoVideo R6640 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $299.99
- GoVideo R6640 DVD+R/RW recorder @ Ultimate $298.95
- Philips DVD recorder @ Fry's $299
- DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $119.99
- DVD/VCR combo @ OfficeMax $89.99
- GoVideo DVD/VCR combo @ Ultimate $98.95
- Polaroid DVC-2010 DVD/VCR combo @ Target $99
- Sylvania DVD/VCR combo @ Sears $89.98
- Sylvania DVC860E DVD/VCR combo @ amazon.com $99.99
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Daewoo DVQ-13H1FC 13-inch TV/VCR combo $99.99
- Mystery brand 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Circuit City $109.99
- Sylvania 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Sears $99.99

- May 1 -
- Neither the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) nor the National
Association of Broadcasters (NAB) updated their lists this week.
- The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) has updated its
list to 247 non-commercial U.S. DTT stations, still well below the FCC
figure of 263:
www.apts.org/html/digital/dtv/ptv_digitalstations.htm (http://www.apts.org/html/digital/dtv/ptv_digitalstations.htm)
- Doug Lung's RF Report says the FCC CDBS database listed 529 fully
licensed U.S. DTT stations as of June 6:
www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=466 (http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=466)

- There are no H/DTV items on agenda of June 10 FCC meeting:
hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-248013A1.pdf (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-248013A1.pdf)

- The House Telecommunications Subcommittee held a hearing on U.S. DTT
last week. Here are some reports on it:
bth.broadcastengineering.com/june_7/# (http://bth.broadcastengineering.com/june_7/#)
www.twice.com/article/CA422995?display=Breaking+News (http://www.twice.com/article/CA422995?display=Breaking+News)
news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040602/pl_nm/congress_digitaltv_dc_2 (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040602/pl_nm/congress_digitaltv_dc_2)
www.tvweek.com/news/web060204.html#lawmakers (http://www.tvweek.com/news/web060204.html#lawmakers)
www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=461 (http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=461)
www.twice.com/article/CA422995?display=Breaking+News (http://www.twice.com/article/CA422995?display=Breaking+News)
The big news was that Representative Joe Barton, who chairs the parent
House Energy and Commerce Committee, said it was so important to recover
the TV spectrum that Congress should consider buying receivers for those
who can't afford them, thereby keeping the 2006 analog cut-off date.
Only TV Technology reported that by the end of the hearing the only
representative who hadn't left the room was the subcommittee chair Fred
Upton:
www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2039 (http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2039)
- Here's the NAB point of view:
www.nab.org/Newsroom/PressRel/testimonies/FrittsDTV060204.asp (http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/PressRel/testimonies/FrittsDTV060204.asp)
- Here's that of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association:
www.ncta.com/pdf_files/robert_sachs_testimony_6-02-04.pdf (http://www.ncta.com/pdf_files/robert_sachs_testimony_6-02-04.pdf)
- Here's the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). It's interesting in
that CEA is joining NAB in calling for cable and satellite to provide
full carriage of DTT (by January 2009):
www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10470 (http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10470)

- Sinclair Broadcast Group praised Zenith's 5th-generation ATSC receiver
this week, saying that it seems to have solved indoor reception issues:
www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-08-2004/0002189302&EDATE= (http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-08-2004/0002189302&EDATE=)
I, too, am very impressed with the receiver, but I'd prefer to see it
tested in my apartment before saying it's solved indoor reception.

- Cox is adding local HD ads to its cable systems in Rhode Island:
www.cedmagazine.com/cedailydirect/2004/0604/cedaily040607.htm#1 (http://www.cedmagazine.com/cedailydirect/2004/0604/cedaily040607.htm#1)

- CBS has long been known for its HDTV; now it wants its affiliates to
do multicasting. The full stories require paid subscriptions, but the
abstracts may be sufficient:
www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA423590?verticalid=311&industry=Top+of+the+Week&industryid=1024 (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA423590?verticalid=311&industry=Top+of+the+Week&industryid=1024)
www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000525264 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000525264)
It may be worth noting that, depending on how it's done and how many
simultaneous streams are provided, multicasting can preclude HDTV.

- More free digital screenings at the Entertainment Technology Center's
Hollywood Pacific Theater lab: "Shrek 2" on Monday (June 14) and "The
Day After Tomorrow" on June 28. You must register first:
www.etcenter.org/Seminars.asp (http://www.etcenter.org/Seminars.asp)

- Those attending the Joint Technical Symposium in Toronto get to go to
a free screening of the restored FILM print of "The Good, the Bad, and
the Ugly," with a discussion of the restoration process, on the 25th:
www.jts2004.org/english/schedule.html (http://www.jts2004.org/english/schedule.html)

- DisplaySearch has issued a call for papers for its HDTV Forum 2004, to
be held August 24-26. Abstracts are to be submitted by June 30 to
kendra@displaysearch.com (http://kendra@displaysearch.com)

- David Pogue had a story on Voom in this week's "Circuits" section of
The New York Times. I couldn't help offering the opening paragraph
(which has essentially nothing to do with Voom):
"Let's face it: those $5,000 plasma screens are popular not just because
they're high-definition TV sets but also because they're status symbols.
Look at Gateway's 42-inch $3,000 plasma screen, a runaway hit even
though it can't actually display images in high definition. At this
rate, someone will surely come up with a $200 plasma screen that doesn't
even turn on. It would just hang on the wall and look cool":
www.nytimes.com/2004/06/03/technology/circuits/03stat.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/03/technology/circuits/03stat.html)

- Based on figures from CEA, sales of VCRs to U.S. dealers were down
66.4% for the first 20 weeks of 2004 compared to the same period in
2003. Non-H/DTV direct-view TV sets were UP 2.7%. My ten-week running
average for them was up 4.3%.
So-called "Digital Television" sales to U.S. dealers for the 20th week
were 60,443 units. For the first 20 weeks of the year, there were
1,455,019 units. "Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays
without DTT-reception capability) still accounted for about 14.7% of the
TVs (not counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers so far
this year. It may be worth noting here what that means. Over 85% of the
non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold so far this year were still
plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify as a "Digital Television," a display need only be capable of
dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either receiving
digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable of
receiving DTT signals were still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of only the LG and Samsung at
J&R.

- The ads - My Los Angeles correspondent was out of town this week.
The DTT-reception premium at Ultimate for the Mitsubishi WS55613 over
the WS55313 was just $270 this week -- and there's a model in between.
Ultimate called an integrated set a monitor, but only at Ultimate did
there seem to be an increase in the number of integrated sets.
- amazon.com (no disclaimer):
- Toshiba 30HF83 30-inch 16:9 direct-view flat CRT TV $799.99
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- JVC PD42WV74 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$400 gift card $3999.99
- Mystery brand plasma TV $2499.99
- Optoma EZPRO 732 projector $1199.99
- Panasonic PT-50LC13 50-inch LCD projection TV w/$200 GC $2799.99
- Samsung TX-P2670WH 26-inch 16:9 TV w/$50 gift card $699.99
- Sharp 32F641 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $499.99
- Sharp LC30HV4U 30-inch 16:9 LCD TV w/$400 gift card $3999.99
- Sony KE42XS910 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$500 gift card $5999.99
- Sony KE50XS910 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$500 gift card $7999.99
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$300 gift card $3299.99
- Sony KP57WS510 57-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$200 gift card $1999.99
- Toshiba 26HL83P 26-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$300 gift card $2999.99
- Toshiba 46H83 46-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1499.99
- Zenith L23V36 23-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$100 gift card $1899.99
- Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers):
- Hitachi 42HDT50 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5399.99
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2969.99
- Hitachi 51F500A 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1529.99
- Hitachi 57F500A 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1799.99
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $939.99
- RCA HD61LPW42 61-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $3509.99
- Samsung HLN507W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3149.99
- Samsung LTP1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $584.99
- Samsung SPN4235 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2519.99
- Samsung TXN3245FP 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $629.99
- Sharp LC15B4US 15-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $674.99
- Sharp LC20B4US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $1079.99
- Sharp LC22SV2U 22-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $1529.99
- Sony KE37XS910 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4499.99
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1349.99
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1529.99
- Sony KV32HS510 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1169.99
- Sony KV34XBR910 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $2249.99
- Sony KV36HS510 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1619.99
- Dell (no disclaimer):
- Dell 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $699
- Fry's (Dallas Morning News, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WS-55413 55-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1699
- Philips 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2199.99
- Philips 60-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499
- RCA HD50LPW151 50-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2999
- Samsung HLN-5065W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2999
- Sony KV-32FS100 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $599
- Toshiba 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1699
- Home Theater Store (Dallas Morning News, no disclaimer):
- LG 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999
- LG 60-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2999
- Mitsubishi 42-inch 16:9 TV $999
- Mitsubishi 48-inch 16:9 TV $1299
- Mitsubishi 65-inch 16:9 TV $1899
- Samsung 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Samsung 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4999
- Samsung 61-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Sony 42-inch LCD projection TV $2499
- Sony 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- LG LST-3510A ATSC receiver/DVD player $449.99
- Panasonic TC-15LT1 15-inch 16:9 LCD TV
- Philips 20PF7835 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $799.99
- Samsung SIR-T165 ATSC receiver/decoder $379.99
- Sharp LC-37HV4U 37-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $4599.99
- Toshiba 30HF83 30-inch 16:9 direct-view flat CRT TV $499.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4299.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1899.99
- Sears (no disclaimers):
- Hitachi 50-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54759 $3299.99
- Philips 55-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54333 $1799.99
- Samsung 42-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54003 $999.99
- Sony 46-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54604 $1499.99
- Ultimate Electronics (no disclaimer):
- Akai PT4298HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $998.95
- Epson LS57P1 57-inch 16:9 projection TV/photo printer $3699.95
- Mitsubishi WS48313 48-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.95
- Mitsubishi WS55313 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1709.95
- Mitsubishi WS55513 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1979.95
- Mitsubishi WS65513 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2519.95
- Mitsubishi WS65813 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4049.95
- Panasonic CT32HL43 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $798.95
- Panasonic PT47WX53 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1999.85**
- Panasonic PT50LC13 50-inch LCD projection TV $2499.95
- Panasonic TH42PD25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4084.95
- Pioneer PDP4340HD 43-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6174.95
- Sony KDP57WS550 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1999.95
- Sony KE37XS910 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4249.95
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3099.95
- Zenith C34W37 34-inch 16:9 integr. direct-view CRT cable/DTV $1619.95
- Zenith L15V26C 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $498.95
- Zenith L20V26 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $749.95
- Zenith L23V36 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1709.95
- Zenith P42W22B 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2498.95
** price includes home theater sound package

- DVD news: According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for
the first 20 weeks of 2004 were up 4.2% over the same period in 2003. My
ten-week running average was flat.

- The Consumer Electronics Association has issued a call for speakers
for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES):
www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10482 (http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10482)

- There's also a call for papers for the IEEE Consumer Communications
and Networking Conference, taking place just before CES
www.ieee-ccnc.org/ (http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/)

- Ed DiGiulio, involved in the development of Steadicam, Showscan, and
many other products, including an HD telecine, died on Friday. Memorial
services will be held at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park
and Mortuary, 1218 Glendon Avenue, Westwood Village, 310-474-1579, on
Saturday at 1 p.m.

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- June 9, Miami, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
www.tech-notes.tv/2004/20_Miami.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/20_Miami.htm).
- June 11, West Palm Beach, Florida, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/21_WPalm_Beach.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/21_WPalm_Beach.htm).
- June 11-13, Universal City Studios, Cine Gear Expo
www.cinegearexpo.com (http://www.cinegearexpo.com).
- June 14, Jacksonville, Florida, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/22_Jacksonville.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/22_Jacksonville.htm).
- June 14, Panavision, Woodland Hills, California, ETC Charles Poynton
Seminar www.etcenter.org/Seminars.asp (http://www.etcenter.org/Seminars.asp).
- June 14-18, Milwaukee Area Technical College, SMPTE Engineering
Committee meetings www.fibush.net/smpte/June2004/June2004.htm (http://www.fibush.net/smpte/June2004/June2004.htm).
- June 15-18, Singapore Expo, Broadcast Asia 2004, Audio Technology
2004, CableSat 2004, ComGraphics & Animation 2004, CommunicAsia 2004,
EnterpriseIT 2004 www.broadcast-asia.com/ (http://www.broadcast-asia.com/).
- June 16, Atlanta, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
www.tech-notes.tv/2004/23_Atlanta.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/23_Atlanta.htm).
- June 18, Huntsville, Alabama, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/24_Huntsville.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/24_Huntsville.htm).
- June 21, Nashville, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
www.tech-notes.tv/2004/25_Nashville.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/25_Nashville.htm).
- June 21-24, RAI, Amsterdam, Cinema Expo www.cinemaexpo.com (http://www.cinemaexpo.com).
- June 23, Knoxville, Tennessee, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/26_Knoxville.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/26_Knoxville.htm).
- June 24-26, Toronto, Joint Technical Symposium (archiving and
preservation) www.jts2004.org/english/index_en.htm (http://www.jts2004.org/english/index_en.htm).
- June 25, Greenville, South Carolina, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/27_Greenville.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/27_Greenville.htm).
- June 28, Charlotte, North Carolina, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/28_Charlotte.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/28_Charlotte.htm).
- June 30, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/29_Raleigh-Durham.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/29_Raleigh-Durham.htm).
- July 6, Baltimore-Washington, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/30_Baltimore-Washington.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/30_Baltimore-Washington.htm).
- July 8, Philadelphia, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/31_Philadelphia.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/31_Philadelphia.htm).
- July 12, New Haven, Connecticut, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/32_New_Haven.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/32_New_Haven.htm).
- July 14, Boston, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
www.tech-notes.tv/2004/33_Boston.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/33_Boston.htm).
- July 16, Eastern New York, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/34_Up_State_NY.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/34_Up_State_NY.htm).
- July 19, Binghamton, New York, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/35_Binghamton.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/35_Binghamton.htm).
- July 19-23, Seattle, MPEG meetings.
- July 21, Cleveland, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
www.tech-notes.tv/2004/36_Cleveland.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/36_Cleveland.htm).
- July 22, Columbus, Ohio, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/37_Columbus.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/37_Columbus.htm).
- July 26, Indianapolis, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/38_Indianapolis.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/38_Indianapolis.htm).
- July 28, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated)
www.tech-notes.tv/2004/39_Urbana-Champaign.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/39_Urbana-Champaign.htm).
- July 29, Madison, Wisconsin, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/40_Madison.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/40_Madison.htm).
- August 2, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/41_Minn-StP.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/41_Minn-StP.htm).
- August 4, Omaha, Nebraska, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/42_Omaha.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/42_Omaha.htm).
- August 6, Riverton, Wyoming, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/43_Riverton.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/43_Riverton.htm).
- August 9, Salt Lake City, Utah, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/44_SLC.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/44_SLC.htm).
- August 11, Bozeman, Montana, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/45_Bozeman.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/45_Bozeman.htm).
- August 13, Boise, Idaho, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/46_Boise.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/46_Boise.htm).
- August 16, Spokane, Washington, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/47_Spokane.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/47_Spokane.htm).
- August 18, Washington State University, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/48_WSU.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/48_WSU.htm).
- August 20, Seattle, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
www.tech-notes.tv/2004/49_Seattle.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/49_Seattle.htm).
- August 24, Portland, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/50_Portland.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/50_Portland.htm).
- *August 24-26, Westin Century Plaza, Los Angeles, DisplaySearch HDTV
Forum 2004 www.displaysearch.com/hdtvforum/ (http://www.displaysearch.com/hdtvforum/).
- August 25, Eugene, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) www.tech-notes.tv/2004/51_Eugene.htm (http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/51_Eugene.htm).
- August 30-September 1, Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, Entertainment
Media Expo www.media-tech.net/news/New_A.htm (http://www.media-tech.net/news/New_A.htm).
- September 1-3, Reading, UK, International Symposium on Consumer
Electronics www.isce.reading.ac.uk (http://www.isce.reading.ac.uk).
- September 9-14, RAI, Amsterdam, International Broadcasting Convention
www.ibc.org (http://www.ibc.org).
- September 16-19, Sony, Basingstoke, England, SMPTE Engineering
Committee meetings www.fibush.net/smpte/Sept2004/Sept2004.htm (http://www.fibush.net/smpte/Sept2004/Sept2004.htm).
- October 6-7, Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, Government Video
Technology Expo www.GVExpo.com (http://www.GVExpo.com).
- October 13-15, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast
Symposium www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symposium.html (http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symposium.html).
- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo www.hdexpo.net/ (http://www.hdexpo.net/).
- November 4-7, Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home
Entertainment 2004 West www.homeentertainment-expo.com/ (http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/).
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
bee.jesa.or.jp (http://bee.jesa.or.jp).
- *January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking
Conference www.ieee-ccnc.org/ (http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/).
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
www.cesweb.org/ (http://www.cesweb.org/).
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International Conference on
Consumer Electronics www.icce.org/ (http://www.icce.org/).
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** www.hpaonline.com (http://www.hpaonline.com).
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. There
will be no memo next week, and IF there is a memo the week of the 21st,
it will be very late.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html (http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html)

Alan Roberts

30th June 2004, 11:39

Dated 30.June.2004

- Follow-ups:

- USDTV boxes - Here is one user's report:
http://technology360.typepad.com/technology360/2004/06/usdigital_dtv_s_1.html

- Sinclair and the 5th-generation Zenith ATSC receiver - I spoke
extensively with Sinclair's Mark Aitken today, and he described how the
receiver worked in tough locations I had visited during the earlier
Sinclair tests. It certainly seems to him to have worked about as well
as the COFDM receivers used then.

- July 1 - See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated
sets:
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- Magnavox 36-inch TV @ Fry's $399
- Magnavox MS3625 36-inch TV @ Circuit City $549.99
- Toshiba 36A43 36-inch TV w/stand @ Best Buy $599.99
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Apex AT2708 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $189.99
- Apex AT2708S 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $168.95
- Magnavox 27MS3404 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $199.99
- Philips 27PT543S 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $199.99
- Sansui TVS2746 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $169.99
- Toshiba 27A34 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $229.99
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Apex AT1308 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $64.99
- RCA E13320 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $89.99
- Toshiba 13A23/4 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $79.99
- Symphonic ST419E 19-inch TV @ Best Buy $89.99
- Magnavox 20MS233S 20-inch TV @ Best Buy $119.99
- Magnavox 20MT133S 20-inch TV @ Circuit City $109.99
- Daewoo DTQ20U4SC 20-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $129.99
- Magnavox 20MS3442 20-inch flat-screen TV @ Circuit City $149.99
- Sylvania 20-inch flat-screen TV @ Sears $119.99
- Daewoo DV6T874B DVD/VCR combo @ CompUSA $99.99
- Mystery brand DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $99.99
- Philips DVD750VR DVD/VCR combo @ CompUSA $119.99
- Sansui DVD/VCR combo @ Sears $99.99
- Sylvania DVC845E DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $89.99
- Toshiba SDV492 DVD/VCR combo @ J&R $119.99
- Zenith XBV442 DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $109.99
- Zenith XBV443 DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $109.99
- Coby DVD-R1000 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $249.99
- GoVideo R6640 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $279.99
- Magnavox MRV64017 DVD+R/RW recorder @ Circuit City $269.99
- Panasonic DMR-E505 DVD-R/RAM recorder @ CompUSA $299.99
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Broksonic CTSGT9369T 19-inch TV/VCR combo @ Circuit City $159.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Casio GBOXTV980 2.3-inch LCD TV @ Circuit City $69.99
- Casio SY-4000 4-inch LCD TV @ J&R $179.99
- Curtis RT068 5-inch TV w/radio @ Best Buy $19.99
- Sony DNF400PSGR AM/FM/Weather/TV/CD portable @ Best Buy $79.99
- Sony DNS707F AM/FM/Weather/TV/CD portable @ Best Buy $99.99
- Sony DNS707F AM/FM/Weather/TV/CD portable @ Circuit City $99.99
- Sony SRFM80V AM/FM/Weather/TV/stopwatch portable @ Best Buy
$49.99

- May 1 -
- Despite the long delay since the last memo, neither the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) nor the National Association of
Broadcasters (NAB) has updated its lists.
- Doug Lung's RF Update in TV Technology reported 533 licensed
U.S. DTT stations listed in the FCC CDBS database as of June 19:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=481
- The Association of Public Television Stations now lists 263
non-commercial DTT stations operating in the U.S.:
http://www.apts.org/html/digital/dtv/ptv_digitalstations.htm

- There's a story on public-television datacasting in the
public-broadcasting publication Current:
http://www.current.org/dtv/dtv0410datacast.shtml

- Here's a story on the recent U.S. Senate hearing on DTT:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2056

- Many people contacted me about their being impressed with the
Panavision Genesis digital-cinematography camera shown at CineGear
Expo. Like ARRI's D20, it appears to use a 35-mm-frame-sized imager.
Reports say it has over 12 million pixels:
http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/index.php?showtopic=1308&st=0
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/columns/tech_reporter_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=100052742 5

- International H/DTV news:

- Britain's Sky satellite service plans to offer HDTV in 2006:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds14675.html

- Sky also plans a free-to-view service said to have up to 200
channels or just 116 (compared to Freeview's 30):
<http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds14674.html (http://<http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds14674.html)
http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/news_releases.mhtml?d=58868
It's possible that it will cost something after two years:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3794443.stm
Roughly 97% of UK households are said to have access to the service
vs. 73% of UK households having access to all Freeview channels and
another 7% to some:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3793471.stm

- According to some reports, the UK Freeview DTT service is now in
four million UK households:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3815971.stm
The figure was reportedly disputed in the Guardian, but I don't
have a URL for that.

- Free DTT is to start in France on March 1 of next year with pay
channels following six months later:
http://www.advanced-television.com/2004/news_archive_2004/June7_11.htm#frenchdtt

- Australia's commercial broadcasters have differing plans for
their DTT channels IF they're allowed to implement them:
http://entertainment.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4459,9787380%255E10229%255E%255Enbv,00.html

- There are concerns in Australia about receiver quality:
http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9865260%255E15306,00.html

- Finland's commercial broadcasters are to start DTT in August and
September, by which time they should be serving 94% of the population:
http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/world/-finland_94percent.htm

- Auto-parts maker Visteon is offering mobile DTT receivers in Germany:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-24-2004/0002199582&EDATE=

- On a street corner in Xi'an, China last week, I saw an ad for
some sort of "1080p" TV.

- The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has come up with a
recommended practice for receiver performance in areas of sensitivity,
overload, phase noise, selectivity, and multipath. It also suggests a
smart-antenna interface. The first URL is for the press release. The
second is for the 67-page recommended practice:
http://www.atsc.org/news_information/press/2004/PR_Receiver_RP_June2004.htm
http://www.atsc.org/standards/a_74.pdf
This next URL is a spreadsheet relating to success of demodulating
certain captured signals. Many were not:
http://www.atsc.org/standards/a_74_RF_capture_spreadsheet.xls

- ATSC also has a candidate standard that will allow receivers to be
upgraded with downloaded software in the field. Again, the first URL is
the press release and the second the 16-page candidate standard:
http://www.atsc.org/news_information/press/2004/PR_Download_CS.htm
http://www.atsc.org/standards/cs_documents/cs_97.pdf

- An article by Eric Taub in the New York Times "Circuits" section last
week suggests that there are still (at least before sales of the
5th-generation Zenith receiver) significant ATSC reception problems.
FYI, he contacted me, but I was out of town, so I contributed absolutely
nothing to the story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/24/technology/circuits/24hdtv.html?th

- Samsung says that if its receivers are not upgraded to include
"broadcast flag" software, users may have trouble getting even
"unprotected content":
http://www.samsungusa.com/stb_upgrade/
One posting on the OpenDTV Forum suggested problems are already
occurring:
http://www.freelists.org/archives/opendtv/06-2004/msg00255.html

- Sony has been sued for aspect-ratio burn-in:
http://finance.lycos.com/qc/news/story.aspx?story=42104003

- Proposals for papers for the IEEE Conference on Consumer Electronics
(ICCE) will be accepted until July 15:
http://www.icce.org/

- According to iSuppli/Stanford Resources, worldwide TV shipments in the
first quarter were 38.5 million, of which 1.6 million were LCD:
http://www.eetuk.com/mr/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=22101631

- NPD Intelect, which measures sales to consumers (except Wal-Mart,
catalogs, and Internet) reported 404,660 CRT-based projection TVs in the
first quarter and 56,623 microdisplay-based (DLP and different forms of
LCD) projection TVs. LCD 27-inch and up exceeded plasma. But CRT still
has a roughly 11 times more units sold than non-CRT:
http://www.twice.com/article/CA428356.html?verticalid=820&industry=Video&industryid=23099&pubdate=06/21/2004

- Based on figures from CEA, sales of VCRs to U.S. dealers were down
64.8% for the first 21 weeks of 2004 compared to the same period in
2003. Non-H/DTV direct-view TV sets were UP 4.1%. My ten-week running
average for them was up 6%. For the first 22 weeks it was -65.7%, 0.1%,
and -7.6%. For the first 23 weeks it was -64.5%, -0.5%, -7.5%.
So-called "Digital Television" sales to U.S. dealers for the 21st
week were 125,992 units, for the 22nd week 47,300 units, and for the
23rd week 51,182 units. For the first 23 weeks of the year, there were
1,679,493 units. "Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays
without DTT-reception capability) accounted for about 15% of the TVs
(not counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers so far
this year. It may be worth noting here what that means. About 85% of
the non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 23rd week this
year were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify as a "Digital Television," a display need only be
capable of dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either
receiving digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable
of receiving DTT signals were still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I saw FOUR! And the prices of two of
them were $299.99.

- The ads - These are three weeks worth except only two weeks from
Minneapolis (by my request, to keep my inbox clear). With the scheduled
"tuner mandate" kicking in on Thursday, most of the advertised sets are
still not capable of DTT reception:
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- Daewoo DP-42SM 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2299.99
- JVC LT17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $949.99
- JVC LT23X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1804.99
- JVC LT26WX84 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$200 GC $2499.99
- JVC PD42WV74 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$300 gift card $3999.99
- Mitsubishi WS-48313 48-inch 16:9 projection TV $1329.99
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1899.99**
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2499.99**
- Mystery brand 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $699.99
- Mystery brand 42-inch plasma TV w/$200 gift card $2499.99
- Panasonic CT-27HL14 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $526.99
- Panasonic PT-50LC13 50-inch LCD projection TV $2499.99**
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integ. plasma DTV w/$400 GC $5999.99
- Philips 17PF9936 17-inch 16:9 LCD TV $899.99**
- Philips 30PF9946 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2849.99
- Philips 30PW8402 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/stand $799.99
- Pioneer PDP4341HD 43-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6174.99
- Prima (Advent?) HT2751A 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $449.99
- RCA D52W15 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1234.99
- Samsung HLN-5065W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2999.99
- Samsung HL-P5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- Samsung LTN1535 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $569.99
- Samsung LT-P1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $649.99**
- Samsung SP-P4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99**
- Samsung SIR-TS360 ATSC/DirecTV receiver/decoder $299.99
- Sharp LC30HV4U 30-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV w/$200 GC $2749.99***
- Sony KE37XS910 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4749.99
- Sony KE42XS910 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$400 gift card $5999.99
- Sony KE50XS910 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$500 gift card $7999.99
- Sony KLV23HR1 23-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $2184.99
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $3299.99**
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1499.99
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99**
- Sony KP57WS510 57-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1999.99
- Sony KP65WS510 65-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $2499.99**
- Sony KV30HS420 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 gift card $999.99
- Sony KV32FS100 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $664.99
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch direct-view CRT TV w/stand $999.99
- Sony KV36FS100 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $949.99
- Toshiba 26HL83P 26-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$200 GC $2699.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5224.99
- Toshiba 46H83 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99**
- Toshiba 57H93 57-inch 16:9 CRT integrated proj. DTV $1999.99
** price includes leather recliner and ottoman
*** price after mail-in rebate
- Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers):
- Akai PT4298HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $999.99
- Akai PDP4249G 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3199.99
- ESA PDP4294LV 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99
- Hitachi 42HDT50 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5399.99****
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2969.99
- Hitachi 51F500A 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1624.99
- Hitachi 57F500A 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1799.99
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1199.99
- Motorola HDT100/HDT101 set-top ATSC receiver/decoder $299.99
- Panasonic CT34WX54 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1324.99
- Panasonic PT50LC13 50-inch LCD projection TV $2499.99
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $1024.99
- Panasonic TH42PX20U/TH42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499.99****
- Philips 15PF9936 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $629.99
- RCA 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299.99
- RCA D52W20 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1424.99
- RCA HD61LPW42 61-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3509.99
- Samsung HLN507W/HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3199.99
- Samsung HLN617W 61-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4049.99
- Samsung LTN1565 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $549.99
- Samsung TXN2775HF 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $539.99
- Samsung TXN3075WHF 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799.99
- Samsung TXN3275HF 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $809.99
- Sharp LC13B4US 13-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $499.99
- Sharp LC22SV2U 22-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $1624.99
- Sony KE37XS910 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4499.99****
- Sony KLV21SG2 21-inch widescreen LCD TV $1624.99
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2999.99
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1424.99
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1529.99
- Sony KV30HS420 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $899.99
- Sony KV32HS510 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $924.99
- Sony KV36HS510 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1424.99
**** price includes basic installation after rebate
- CompUSA (disclaimers one week):
- Hitachi 42HDT50 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.99
- Hitachi 51F500 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV w/$100 gift card
$1799.99
- Panasonic PT-47WX53 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1349.99*****
- Panasonic PT-50LC13 50-inch LCD projection TV w/$200 gift card
$2999.99
- Panasonic TH-50PX20U/P 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.99*****
- Philips 55PL9524 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3799.99*****
- Samsung SPN4235 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99*****
- Sharp LC20B4US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV w/$50 gift card $899.99
***** price includes DVD/VCR 5.1-channel home-theater sound system
- Dell (no disclaimer):
- Dell 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $699
- Dell 2200MP projector $810
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WS-55413 55-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1699
- Mystery brand 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- Samsung HLN617W 61-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999
- Sony KDP-57WS550 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1999
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimer):
- JVC PD42WX84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4999
- Philips 34PW9819 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1699##
- Philips 42FP9954 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999
- Philips 50FD9955 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999
- Philips 55PL977S 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $2699
- Samsung LTN226WX 22-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1199
- Sony KDP57WS550 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1999
- Sony KLV21SG2 21-inch widescreen LCD TV $1699##
- Sony KV30HS510 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999##
- ViewSonic N2700W 27-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $2499##
## price includes DVD portable
- Great Indoors (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Epson LS47P1 47-inch 16:9 projection TV/photo printer $3499
- Epson LS57P1 57-inch 16:9 projection TV/photo printer $3999
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3299
- Hitachi 60V500 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3999
- Samsung HLN467W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299
- Samsung HLN567W 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic PT-47WX53 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499
- Panasonic PT-53TW53 53-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1599
- Panasonic PT53WX53 53-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1599
- Panasonic PT56TW53 56-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1799
- Panasonic PT60LC13 60-inch LCD projection TV $3299
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699
- Toshiba 46HX83 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1399
- Toshiba 51HX83 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1599
- Toshiba 57HX83 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1899
- Toshiba 65HX83 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2199
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- JVC AV-20P475 20-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $229.99
- Panasonic PT-50LC13 50-inch LCD projection TV $2499.99
- Panasonic TC-15LT1 15-inch 16:9 LCD TV $699.99
- Panasonic TC-22LH1 22-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1699.99
- Panasonic TH-50PX20U 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6299.99
- Philips 36PT842H 36-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $1299.99
- Samsung 710MP 17-inch LCD TV $539.99***
- Samsung DVD-L1200 12-inch widescreen DVD/LCD combo
- Samsung HLN507W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Samsung HLN617W 61-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Samsung HPN5039 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4999.99
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- Sharp LC-30HV4U 30-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $2999.99
- Sharp LC-37HV4U 37-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $4299.99
- Toshiba 34HF83 34-inch (called "36") 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1499.00
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Toshiba DST3100 ATSC/DirecTV/NTSC receiver $499.99
- Westinghouse W32001 20-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $699.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1899.99
*** price after mail-in rebate
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG DU-42PZ60 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3498
- LG DU-50PZ60 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6498
- LG RU-42PZ90 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2998
- LG RU-20LA61 20-inch direct-view LCD TV $998
- LG RU-44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2798
- LG RU-48SZ40 48-inch 16:9 projection TV $3498
- LG RU-52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $3298
- Magnolia (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi PD4225S 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4499
- Mitsubishi PD5030 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6999
- Mitsubishi WS-55413 55-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1799
- Panasonic TC-26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2999
- Panasonic TH42PA20U 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999
- Panasonic TH50PX20U 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6999
- Pioneer PDP-5030 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6999
- Samsung HLN437 43-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2799
- Samsung HLN567 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499
- Paul's (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WT-42311 42-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $985
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer):
- Hitachi 46-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54713 $1399.99
- Hitachi 57-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54733 $1999.99
- Philips 55-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54333 $1799.99
- Samsung 43-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV, Sears #54073 $2999.99
- Sony 46-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54604 $1499.99
- Sony 51-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54623 $1699.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer noticed):
- Akai PT4298HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $998.95
- Epson LS57P1 57-inch 16:9 projection TV/photo printer $3699.95
- JVC PD42WV74 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799.95
- Mitsubishi WS55313 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1979.95
- Mitsubishi WS55513 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1979.95
- Panasonic PT47WX53/34 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1198.95
- Panasonic PT50LC13 50-inch LCD projection TV $2499.95
- Panasonic 60-inch LCD projection TV $3499.95
- Panasonic TC17LA1 17-inch 4:3 LCD TV $749.95
- Panasonic TC22LH1 22-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1899.95
- Panasonic TH42PD25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4084.95
- Panasonic TH50PX20U 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.95
- Pioneer PDP4340HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6174.95
- Samsung HLN467W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3134.95
- Samsung HLN567W 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3799.95
- Samsung HPN5039 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4999.95
- Sharp LC22SV6U 22-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $1499.95
- Sharp LC30HV4U 30-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $2999.95
- Sony KDE42XBR950 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7599.95
- Sony KDP57WS550 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1999.95
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1349.95
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch direct-view CRT TV $899.95
- Zenith C34W37 34-inch 16:9 integ. direct-view CRT cable/DTV $1619.95
- Zenith L15V26C 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $498.95
- Zenith L20V26C 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $749.95
- Zenith P42W22B 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2298.95
- Zenith P42W34H 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2159.95
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG DU42PZ60 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3497
- LG MU50PZ90 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5997
- LG RU52SZ30 52-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2427
- Sony KDF70XBR950 70-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $6997
- Sony KE-32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3997
- Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5497
- Sony KE-42XS910 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5997
- Sony KF42WE610 42-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2797
- Sony SAT-HD300 ATSC/NTSC/DirecTV set-top receiver $397

- Tech-Notes #125 has come out:
http://www.tech-notes.tv/Archive/tech_notes_125.pdf

- DVD news:

- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the
first 21 weeks of 2004 were up 3.4% over the same period in 2003. My
ten-week running average was up 0.9%. For the first 22 weeks it was
DOWN 3.6% and down 18.5%. For the first 23 weeks, it was down 3% and
down 18%. It's the end of an era. Sigh.

- NPD Techworld reports that consumer DVD-player prices fell by
almost 10% last month:
http://www.npdtechworld.com/techServlet?nextpage=pr_body_it.html&content_id=1068

- The physical spec of HD DVD has been approved:
http://www.eet.com/sys/news/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=QA3XDO3N1ZV1QQSNDBCSK HQ?articleID=22100666

- Hollywood, based on remarks at the recent Home Entertainment
Summit, seems to be in no rush for a prerecorded HD consumer disk system.
- "We're in no real hurry to align ourselves with one format,"
said Buena Vista's Bob Chapek. "We're comfortably on the fence," said
MGM's David Bishop. "We would all be doing ourselves a disservice if we
stepped on the growth curve of DVD," said Lion's Gate's Steve Beeks.
And, according to Fox's Mike Dunn, DVD "is still a sexy format":
http://www.uemedia.net/CPC/videography/article_8631.shtml

- EchoStar's DISH network has hit 10 million subscribers:
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/altavista/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20040614005438&newsLang=en

- SBC is planning to deliver HD via its phone network using Microsoft
technology:
http://www.nypost.com/business/23541.htm

- The FCC has issued its notice of inquiry for its annual report on
competition in the multichannel vide programming marketplace. Comments
are due July 23, replies August 25:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-136A1.doc

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- June 30, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, Road Show -- "A Taste of
NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/29_Raleigh-Durham.htm
- July 6, Baltimore-Washington, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/30_Baltimore-Washington.htm
- July 8, Philadelphia, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/31_Philadelphia.htm
- July 12, New Haven, Connecticut, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/32_New_Haven.htm
- July 14, Boston, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/33_Boston.htm
- July 16, Eastern New York, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/34_Up_State_NY.htm
- July 19, Binghamton, New York, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/35_Binghamton.htm
- July 19-23, Seattle, MPEG meetings.
- July 21, Cleveland, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/36_Cleveland.htm>
- July 22, Columbus, Ohio, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/37_Columbus.htm
- July 26, Indianapolis, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/38_Indianapolis.htm
- July 28, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, Road Show -- "A Taste of
NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/39_Urbana-Champaign.htm
- July 29, Madison, Wisconsin, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/40_Madison.htm
- August 2, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/41_Minn-StP.htm
- August 4, Omaha, Nebraska, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/42_Omaha.htm
- August 6, Riverton, Wyoming, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/43_Riverton.htm
- August 9, Salt Lake City, Utah, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/44_SLC.htm
- August 11, Bozeman, Montana, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/45_Bozeman.htm
- August 13, Boise, Idaho, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/46_Boise.htm
- August 16, Spokane, Washington, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/47_Spokane.htm
- August 18, Washington State University, Road Show -- "A Taste of
NAB" (not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/48_WSU.htm
- August 20, Seattle, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/49_Seattle.htm
- August 24, Portland, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/50_Portland.htm
- August 24-26, Westin Century Plaza, Los Angeles, DisplaySearch
HDTV Forum 2004 http://www.displaysearch.com/hdtvforum/
- August 25, Eugene, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/51_Eugene.htm
- August 30-September 1, Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, Entertainment
Media Expo http://www.media-tech.net/news/New_A.htm
- September 1-3, Reading, UK, International Symposium on Consumer
Electronics http://www.isce.reading.ac.uk
- September 9-14, RAI, Amsterdam, International Broadcasting
Convention http://www.ibc.org
- September 16-19, Sony, Basingstoke, England, SMPTE Engineering
Committee meetings http://www.fibush.net/smpte/Sept2004/Sept2004.htm
- October 6-7, Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, Government
Video Technology Expo <http://www.GVExpo.com>.
- October 13-15, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast
Symposium http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symposium.html
- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo
http://www.hdexpo.net/
- November 4-7, W
estin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home Entertainment 2004 West
http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
http://bee.jesa.or.jp
- *January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and
Networking Conference <http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/>.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
http://www.cesweb.org/
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International
Conference on Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo.
Next week's memo might be late.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html

Alan Roberts

15th July 2004, 20:09

Dated: July 12 2004

- Follow-ups:

- Mexico's DTT standard - It's that of the Advanced Television
Systems Committee (ATSC):
http://www.atscforum.org/pr/PR-040707-ATSC-Mexico.pdf

- South Korea's DTT standard - After much debate, they also
reaffirmed the choice of ATSC, though they are considering DVB for
mobile applications:
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200407/200407080021.html
Ministry of Information and Communications official Rha Bong-ha said
analog shut down would be in 2010, when 95% of households are expected
to be DTT-equipped:
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200407/kt2004070817121610230.htm

- CableCARDs and IEEE-1394 - It may be apocryphal, but one
correspondent says a friend of his found incomprehension at a cable
system but kept insisting that they were required by law to provide
Firewire outputs and was rewarded by receiving a fire extinguisher.
After repeatedly getting blank responses from my cable company, Time
Warner Cable of New York City, today I got a response to my question,
"How much does Time Warner get for a CableCARD?" It's $1.75/month here
(where a digital set-top box is $6.75).

- Other cable and H/DTV -
- On its HD-on-demand service, Comcast is reportedly offering
only two movies, "Antarctica HD" and "India: Kingdom of the Tiger":
http://www.tvpredictions.com/comcasthd070704.html
- The National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA)
mid-year report lists just 382 U.S. DTT stations being carried on any
U.S. cable systems but 17 HD cable networks. It divides the U.S. total
multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) universe (97 million
households out of Nielsen's 108.4 million TV households) as of April as
follows:
- 73.3% - Cable
- 23.5% - DBS satellite
- 1.1% - Satellite master-antenna TV (SMATV)
- 0.4% - C-band satellite
- 0.2% - Multichannel multipoint distribution service (MMDS)
- 1.4% - Other:
http://www.ncta.com/pdf_files/Overview.pdf

- July 1 -
- According to a story in This Week in Consumer Electronics
(TWICE), sales of TV sets with integrated DTT reception had no growth
(or even negative growth) in the first quarter:
http://www.twice.com/article/CA435342.html?verticalid=820&industry=Video&industryid=23099&pubdate=07/12/2004

- For the second week, I saw no ads for inexpensive 36-inch TVs.
- In this week's ads, there were (if I counted right) 50 TVs
36-inch or larger, 12 of which were integrated with DTT reception.
- Here are the ads for inexpensive non-H/DTV sets. See also
the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets:
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Apex AT2708 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $189.99
- Apex AT2708S 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $168.95
- Sansui TVS2746 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $169.99
- Sharp/Jensen 27-inch home-theater system @ Ultimate $297.90**
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Daewoo DTQ13V5FC 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $59.99
- RCA E13320 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $89.99
- Symphonic ST419E 19-inch TV @ Best Buy $89.99
- Magnavox 20MS3442 20-inch flat-screen TV @ Circuit City $149.99
- Sylvania 20-inch flat-screen TV @ Sears $119.99
- Samsung DVDV4600 DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $119.99
- Sensory Science SC104 DVD/VCR combo @ Ultimate $88.95
- Toshiba SDV392 DVD/VCR combo @ J&R $119.99
- GoVideo R6640 DVD+RW recorder @ J&R $279.99
- Magnavox MRV64017 DVD+RW recorder @ Circuit City $249.99
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- SuperScan 19-inch TV/VCR/DVD combo @ Sears $199.99
- Magnavox 27MDTR20/17 27-inch TV/VCR/DVD combo @ Home Depot $279
** price after rebate

- May 1 - Only the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
updated its list this week. As of the 9th, they said there were 1233
U.S. DTT stations in operation in 207 markets. That's considerably less
than the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 1424 (as of June 30)
reported here last week:
http://www.nab.org/newsroom/issues/digitaltv/dtvstations.asp

- There are no H/DTV items on the agenda of the FCC's Technological
Advisory Council meeting on the 28th:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-2064A1.pdf

- The FCC is proposing that broadcasters retain recordings of their
broadcasts between 6 am and 10 pm for as long as 90 days to be checked
for obscenity, indecency, and profanity:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-145A1.pdf
At 19.4 Mbps for U.S. DTT stations, that comes to close to 13 terabytes
of storage -- or a bunch of D-VHS tapes; if it's 24 hours, make that
more like 20 TB.

- The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) has
joined the Digital Transition Coalition (of which EchoStar was already a
member).
http://www.twice.com/article/CA434777.html?display=Breaking+News
The Coalition has promoted the satellite industry plan to carry
broadcast HD programming to places where they can't currently do so:
http://www.digitaltransitioncoalition.com/digital/

- International H/DTV news:
- NHK (the Japan Broadcasting Corporation) reports shipments of over
a million DTT receivers in seven months:
http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=4&id=304882
I haven't seen a recent Consumer Electronics Association report on
similar shipments here, but the time frame will be more like seven years.

- Hong Kong DTT has been delayed by a year (to 2007) to give China a
chance to pick a standard. If they don't by the end of 2006, Hong Kong
will go DVB-T:
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200407/10/eng20040710_149123.html
China has reportedly tested five standards but wants to launch DTT
before the 2008 Olympics in Beijing:
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail_frame.cfm?articleid=49200&intcatid=1

- Australia's latest list of set-top DTT receivers shows 19
manufacturers offering 41 models, eight of them HDTV-capable. The least
expensive SD model is A$199 (about US$144). The least-expensive HD
model is A$599 (about US$435):
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=18

- Based on figures from CEA, sales of VCRs to U.S. dealers were down 64%
for the first 25 weeks of 2004 compared to the same period in 2003.
Non-H/DTV direct-view TV sets were down 0.2%. My ten-week running
average for them was down 7.6%. Interestingly, for the 25th week alone,
sales of TV/VCR combos were actually UP 7.9% over last year's 25th week.
So-called "Digital Television" sales to U.S. dealers for the 25th
week were 97,666 units. For the first 25 weeks of the year, there were
1,836,801 units. "Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays
without DTT-reception capability) accounted for about 15% of the TVs
(not counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers so far
this year. It may be worth noting here what that means. About 85% of
the non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 25th week this
year were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
I've been saying that for a while, so some of you may be wondering
how much of the market plasma and LCD represent. Here are CEA figures
for unit TV sales to U.S. dealers this year through April:
- Non-H/DTV direct-view CRT - 6,274,842
- "Digital" direct-view CRT - 232,995
- CRT-based projection - 1,051,415
- Microdisplay projection - 172,047
- Plasma TVs - 158,324
- "Digital" LCD TVs* - 370,505
* - differentiated primarily from hand-held LCD TVs
For global shipments, here, again, is iSupply/Stanford Resources for
the first quarter of 2004 in thousands:
- Direct-view CRT TVs - 11,186
- CRT rear projection - 1,001
- Direct-view LCD TV - 365
- Plasma TV - 356
- Microdisplay projection TV - 265
- Home front projector - 106
http://www.twice.com/article/CA428356.html?verticalid=820&industry=Video&industryid=23099&pubdate=06/21/2004

To qualify as a "Digital Television," a display need only be capable
of dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either
receiving digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable
of receiving DTT signals were still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I saw none this week.

- The ads - Best Buy introduced a "Reward Zone" program with points and
certificates ($95 on a $2500 item), but, because they don't mention
certificate values for all items, I haven't included them. Ultimate
called the Mitsubishi WS55613 a monitor.
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- Daewoo DP-42SM 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99
- JVC LT17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $999.99
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2499.99
- RCA D52W15 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299.99
- Samsung HL-P5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499.99
- Samsung SP-P4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799.99
- Samsung TX-P2670WH 26-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $699.99
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2999.99
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99
- Sony KV32FS100 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $599.99
- Sony KV36FS210 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499.99
- Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers):
- Akai PDP4249G 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3199.99
- Akai PT4298HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $899.99
- Audiovox FP1500 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $399.99
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3099.99
- Hitachi 51F500A 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1699.99
- Hitachi 57F500A 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1999.99
- Panasonic PT50LC13/PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2999.99
- Philips 26PW8402 26-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $599.99
- RCA D52W20 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499.99
- Samsung LTN1535 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- Samsung LTP1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $649.99
- Samsung LTP2045 20-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $999.99
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99***
- Samsung TXN3075WHF 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799.99
- Sharp LC20B4US/LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $11998.99
- Sharp LC22SV2U 22-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $1499.99
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99***
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99
- Sony KV30HS420 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.99
- Sony KV34HS510 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1999.99
*** price includes basic installation
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- "Major Brand" 51-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1499
- Philips 42FD9954 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999
- Sony KDP-57WS550 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2199
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic PT47WX34 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299
- Panasonic PT53X54 53-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1599
- Panasonic PT56TW53 56-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1799
- Panasonic TH37PD25UP 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $3299
- Panasonic TH42PD25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3799
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- JVC PD-42WX84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4099.99
- Philips 23PF9945 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1499.99
- Philips 37FD9954 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99
- Samsung TX-P2745P 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $399.99
- Toshiba 32AF44 32-inch direct-view CRT TV $499.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi 55-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54124 $1804.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, one disclaimer):
- LG RU17LZ22 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $809.95
- LG RU44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2519.95
- Magnavox 42MF7000 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2498.95
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1199.95
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1709.95
- Mitsubishi WS55513 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1979.95
- Mitsubishi WS55613 55-inch 16:9 integr. projection DTV - part of pkg.
- Mitsubishi WS65513 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2519.95
- Mitsubishi WS65813 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3999.95
- Mitsubishi WT42315 42-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1349.95
- Panasonic PT47WX34/WX53 47-inch 16:9 projection TV - part of package
- Panasonic PT50LC13 50-inch LCD projection TV $2499.95
- Panasonic TC22LH1 22-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1799.95
- Panasonic TH42PD25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3419.95
- Pioneer PDP4340HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5399.95**
- Samsung HLN567W 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3599.95
- Samsung LTP1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $539.95
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3479.95
- Sharp LC30HV4U 30-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $2999.95
- Sony KDP57WS550 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1999.95
- Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4949.95
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2969.95
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1349.95
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.95
- Zenith C32V37 32-inch 4:3 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $899.95
- Zenith L15V26C 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $498.95
** price after rebate

- DVD news:
- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the
first 25 weeks of 2004 were DOWN 1.2% from the same period in 2003. My
ten-week running average was down 12.3%.

- Next year's Academy Awards "screeners" may be encrypted DVDs
requiring a special player:
http://audiotechnologyupdate.broadcastengineering.com/july_9/#oscar

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- July 14, Boston, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/33_Boston.htm.
- July 16, Eastern New York, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/34_Up_State_NY.htm.
- July 19, Binghamton, New York, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/35_Binghamton.htm.
- July 19-23, Seattle, MPEG meetings.
- July 21, Cleveland, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/36_Cleveland.htm.
- July 22, Columbus, Ohio, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/37_Columbus.htm.
- July 22, Todd-AO Studios, Studio City, California, Entertainment
Technology Center demo of Fraunhofer Institute's Wave Field Synthesis
spatial audio technology, RSVP +1-213-743-1600 http://www.etcenter.org.
- *July 23-24, Raleigh Studios, Hollywood, HPA Summer School
http://www.hpaonline.com/i4a/forms/form.cfm?id=88.
- July 26, Indianapolis, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/38_Indianapolis.htm.
- July 28, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated)
http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/39_Urbana-Champaign.htm.
- July 29, Madison, Wisconsin, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/40_Madison.htm.
- August 2, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/41_Minn-StP.htm.
- August 6, Riverton, Wyoming, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/43_Riverton.htm.
- August 9, Salt Lake City, Utah, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/44_SLC.htm.
- August 11, Bozeman, Montana, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/45_Bozeman.htm.
- August 13, Boise, Idaho, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/46_Boise.htm.
- August 16, Spokane, Washington, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/47_Spokane.htm.
- August 18, Washington State University, Road Show -- "A Taste of
NAB" (not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/48_WSU.htm.
- August 20, Seattle, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/49_Seattle.htm.
- August 24, Portland, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/50_Portland.htm.
- August 24-26, Westin Century Plaza, Los Angeles, DisplaySearch
HDTV Forum 2004 http://www.displaysearch.com/hdtvforum/.
- August 25, Eugene, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/51_Eugene.htm.
- August 30-September 1, Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, Entertainment
Media Expo http://www.media-tech.net/news/New_A.htm.
- September 1-3, Reading, UK, International Symposium on Consumer
Electronics http://www.isce.reading.ac.uk.
- September 9-14, RAI, Amsterdam, International Broadcasting
Convention http://www.ibc.org.
- September 16-19, Sony, Basingstoke, England, SMPTE Engineering
Committee meetings http://www.fibush.net/smpte/Sept2004/Sept2004.htm.
- October 6-7, Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, Government Video
Technology Expo http://www.GVExpo.com.
- October 13-15, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast
Symposium http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symposium.html.
- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo
http://www.hdexpo.net/.
- November 4-7, W
estin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home Entertainment 2004 West
http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
http://bee.jesa.or.jp.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and
Networking Conference http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
http://www.cesweb.org/.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International
Conference on Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo.
Next week's memo might be late and could be without ads. There will be
some loss of memos in August, but I'm not yet sure when that will be.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Alan Roberts

20th July 2004, 20:39

Dated 20 July 2004
- Follow-ups:

- Australian DTT STB receiver prices - The prices include the 10%
Federal sales tax.

- Licensing AVC - MPEG LA announced the availability of its
H.264/MPEG-4 Part 10 patent-portfolio license on the 15th:
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2004/jul/1057185.htm

- Cable and HDTV -
- Firewire - A correspondent tried to get a set-top box with
Firewire connection from his local cable operator and was told they
weren't available in his area. One day after he contacted his state
regulatory authority, they became available.
- Number of HDTV cable subscribers - INHD, alone, reports
reaching over a million. They, therefore, have committed to providing
no less than 100 hours of new programming per month:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=SVBIZINK3.story&STORY=/www/story/07-19-2004/0002212830&EDATE=MON+Jul+19+2004,+10:44+AM

- Satellites and HDTV -
- DTT programming - DirecTV is providing some HD programming
from WCBS-DT in New York and KCBS-DT in Los Angeles to subscribers in
markets where CBS owns and operates stations. Another arrangement to
carry Fox HD programming to subscribers in markets where Fox owns
stations is expected:
http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/world/-directv_hd.htm
- A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators John Ensign
of Nevada and John McCain of Arizona, the "Satellite Home Viewer
Extension and Rural Consumer Access to Digital Television Act of 2004"
(an act only if passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the
President or veto-overridden) would allow such programming to be
delivered by satellite wherever local DTT signals can't be received
(which could be in cities of license). The Consumer Electronics
Association (CEA) approves of the bill:
http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10503
- Cablevision Systems won the bidding (with minimum bids) for
two orbital slots that could improve reception of Voom on the west coast:
http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-biz-bzvoom0715,0,1079568.story?coll=ny-business-headlines
FYI, despite reductions in standard-definition news coverage of them:
http://www.tvweek.com/news/web071904.html#cbs,
both Voom's High Definition News (HDN) and HDNet plan HD coverage of the
political conventions (a paid subscription is required for the full
article, but take my word for it):
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA436814?display=Breaking+News

- July 1 - I've been out of town and away from newspapers since
Wednesday (except Sunday's Denver Post), and my Minneapolis-area
correspondent is also away, so the pickings are meager this week. See
also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets.
Of what I've reported here and in the ads section below, I am aware
of ads for 39 TVs 36-inch or larger, of which seven had integrated
DTT-reception circuitry (there were also two sub-36-inch integrated sets
but many more advertised):
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- Sony 36-inch TV @ Unitek $749
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Apex AT2708S 27-inch TV @ SoundTrack $168.95
- Toshiba 27A34 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $229.99
- Daewoo DTQ27U4SC 27-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $249.99
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Advent Q1435A 14-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $99.99
- Samsung DVDV4600A DVD/VCR combo @ SoundTrack $119.95
- Sensory Science SC104 DVD/VCR combo @ SoundTrack $98.95
- Coby DVD-R1000 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $199.99
- Sensory Science DVD recorder @ SoundTrack $248.95
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Sony DNF400PSGR AM/FM/CD/TV/weather portable @ Best Buy $79.99
- Sony DNS707F AM/FM/CD/TV/weather portable @ SoundTrack $99.95

- May 1 - None of the lists I check weekly were updated this week.

- The June/July issue of the National Association of Broadcasters' (NAB)
"Destination Digital TV" is now available online:
http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/Issues/digitaltv/DDTV/0604.pdf

- The U.S. House of Representatives' Commerce Committee is to hold a
hearing Wednesday on the completed transition from analog TV to DTT in
Berlin:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/Hearings/07212004hearing1339/hearing.htm

- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) informal working group 4
(broadcasting and amateur issues) of the advisory committee for the 2007
World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC 07) will meet the morning of
August 10 at Shaw Pittman, LLP:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-2149A1.doc

- Despite noting that it would result in a loss of analog-TV service,
the FCC allowed WRNN in Kingston, NY to transmit DTT only because,
"according to Nielsen Media Research, there was no reportable
over-the-air viewing for the station for the month of April 2004":
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-2039A1.pdf

- A correspondent reports from a recent trip that WSTM-DT in Syracuse,
New York is carrying its own NBC signal on one sub-channel and WSTQ's
UPN on another. In Watertown, New York, WWNY-DT had its own CBS signal
on one sub-channel and WNYF's Fox on another. For some time, WNYW-DT in
New York City has been carrying its own Fox programming on one
sub-channel and WWOR's UPN on another. So the question is: What happens
when both sub-channels want to go HD? Fortunately, it's still early in
the transition.

- Lyra Research's DTV View Report "Desperately Seeking Content: A Survey
of HDTV Users," based on an Internet survey of more than 500 existing
users of high-definition television sets, conducted in May and June
2004, found that movies were most desired to be in HDTV, followed by
sports. Commercials were least desired to be in HDTV, followed by
reality programming:
http://www.dtvview.com/dtvview.nsf/hdtv

- Most fascinating technical explanation of the week: The nominal
version of HDTV, 1080i, has 1080 x 1920 or roughly two million picture
elements (pixels) per frame, and NHK's UDTV has 16 times that many. But
a press release on a new sign in Times Square for JPMorgan Chase notes
that "It is the highest definition display in the world. The display
uses nearly 2 million pixels. That's ten times the resolution of the
average television and 3 times the resolution of top-of-the-line HDTV sets":
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-15-2004/0002211297&EDATE=

- International H/DTV news:

- Good news and bad news about watching TV on a cell phone in Korea:
"I had missed an episode of my favorite TV drama so I began watching it
using my phone [while fishing]," said Noh Eun Kyung. "The TV function
is fun and convenient but also very expensive. I only watched about 45
minutes and it cost me about $50":
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3880069.stm

- Possible illegal state aid related to DTT in Germany and Sweden
is being investigated by the European Commission:
http://www.dtg.org.uk/latest/latest_eu_investigation.htm
A story in Ireland's Business World suggests that the results of
the investigation "may block Government plans to launch a digital
television service that would compete with satellite and cable":
http://www.businessworld.ie/livenews.htm?a=957105;s=rollingnews.htm

- Digital rights management news:

- Broadcast Engineering's Strategic Content Management reports
dissention in the ranks of premium on-demand programming distributors
with regard to copying. HBO and Showtime, according to the report,
oppose ANY copying; Starz! prefers allowing copy-once:
http://assetmanagement.broadcastengineering.com/july_13_2004/#copying

- A Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Internet piracy
study of 3600 Internet users worldwide found that 24% "have downloaded a
movie" (58% in Korea). 80% of the respondents had broadband access:
http://www.mpaa.org/MPAAPress/

- Meanwhile, for theatrical exhibition, Broadcast Engineering's
Strategic Content Management reports that, under a bill introduced by
Senators John Cornyn and Dianne Feinstein, "those found guilty of
theater taping would face up to three years in prison for a first
offense, or five years if it was done for profit. Repeat offenders
could spend 10 years behind bars." A similar bill is moving through the
House of Representatives:
http://assetmanagement.broadcastengineering.com/july_13_2004/#Senate

- Warren Communications News reported last week that the "MPAA
gives thumbs up to Windows Media DRM for broadcast flag." The story is
no longer on their site, and I couldn't find any press releases about it
on either the Microsoft or MPAA sites:
http://www.warren-news.com/

- The big story of the week was about the Advanced Access Content
System (AACS) developed by Disney, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Panasonic,
Sony, Time Warner, and Toshiba, ostensibly for next-generation consumer
media:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/14/technology/14copyright.html
AACS is supposed to provide "flexible rules" that would allow users
to share content over home networks (up to ten devices, according to
someone who was briefed on the system) -- maybe even portable devices,
according to Richard Doherty of Envisioneering. At the same time, it
reportedly uses 128-bit AES encryption and renewable and revocable security
http://www.eet.com/sys/news/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=CLWR14BUFD2OWQSNDBCCK HQ?articleID=23900919
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5269286.html

- Broadcast Engineering's Strategic Content Management reports that
a coalition including the American Foundation for the Blind, the
American Library Association, BellSouth, the Computer and Communications
Industry Association, CEA, the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers
Union, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Gateway, Intel, Philips,
Public Knowledge, Qwest, SBC, Sun Microsystems, the U.S. Telecom
Association, and Verizon are supporting a proposal by representative
Rick Boucher to rewrite the section of the Digital Millennium Copyright
Act that bans distribution of descrambling systems. The rewrite would
allow them as long as no copyright infringement is taking place:
http://assetmanagement.broadcastengineering.com/july_13_2004/#DMCA

- CEA-2027 is the new expandable home theater (XHT) standard allowing
home networking of HDTV with Internet-protocol control:
http://news.designtechnica.com/article4681.html

- NPD's Consumer Electronics Price Watch for May shows these average prices:
- 42-inch ED plasma displays - $2736
- DVD recorders -------------- $ 353
- Portable DVD/LCD combos ---- $ 234
- 27-inch TVs ---------------- $ 335
- CRT-based projection TVs --- $1733
Interestingly, that last one (projection TVs) experienced the
lowest rate of price decline.
The story is not yet on the NPD site. Here's a URL to the reported
press release:
http://finance.lycos.com/qc/news/story.aspx?story=42584280

- Based on figures from CEA, sales of VCRs to U.S. dealers were down
63.7% for the first 26 weeks of 2004 compared to the same period in
2003. Non-H/DTV direct-view TV sets were down 5.4%. My ten-week
running average for them was down 20.5%. The 26th week of 2004 seems
anomalously bad and the 26th week of 2003 was anomalously good.
So-called "Digital Television" sales to U.S. dealers for the 26th
week were 89,522 units. For the first 26 weeks of the year, there were
1,926,353 units. "Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays
without DTT-reception capability) accounted for just over 15% of the TVs
(not counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers so far
this year. It may be worth noting here what that means. About 85% of
the non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 26th week this
year were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify as a "Digital Television," a display need only be
capable of dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either
receiving digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable
of receiving DTT signals were still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of the Philips at J&R and
the LG at Video & Audio Centers, both new brands to be advertised for
that product.

- The ads - I've been out of town and away from newspapers since
Wednesday (except Sunday's Denver Post), and my Minneapolis-area
correspondent is also away, so the pickings are meager this week:
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- JVC LT23X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1899.99
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1899.99**
- Mystery brand plasma TV $2499.99**
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5999.99**
- Philips 17PF9936 17-inch 16:9 LCD TV $899.99
- Philips 34PW8502 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1299.99
- Samsung LTN1535 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4299.99**
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3299.99**
- Sony KF60WE610 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3999.99**
- Toshiba 26HL84 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2499.99
- Toshiba 32HF73 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.99
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1399.99**
- Toshiba TDP-S20U projector $999.99
- Zenith E44W46LCD 44-inch widescreen LCD projection TV $2299.99**
** price includes home-theater speaker system
- Dell (no disclaimer):
- Dell 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1280
- Dell 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $2240
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- Philips 27PT830H 27-inch widescreen CRT direct-view TV $499
- Samsung HL-P5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3497
- Toshiba 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1499
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimers):
- JVC AV36DF74 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999
- JVC PD42WV74 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799
- Philips 27PT8320 27-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $499
- Pioneer PRO730HDI 64-inch 16:9 projection TV $2999
- Sharp LC37HV6U 37-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $4499
- Sony KE50XS910 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $7499
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3299
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic TH37PD25UP 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $3299
- Panasonic TH42PD25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3799
- Philips 42PF9936 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Philips 37FD9954 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99
- Philips FTR9955 ATSC set-top receiver/decoder $299.99 after rebate
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- SoundTrack (Denver Post, no disclaimer):
- LG RU17LZ22 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $809.95
- LG RU52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2969.95
- Magnavox 42MF7000 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2298.95
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1098.95
- Mitsubishi WS48315 48-inch 16:9 projection TV $1439.95
- Mitsubishi WS55513 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1979.95
- Panasonic 47-inch 16:9 projection TV as part of a package
- Panasonic TH42PD25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3419.95
- Philips 55PL9774 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3599.95
- Pioneer PDP4340HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.95***
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3419.95
- Samsung TXP2775HF 27-inch integrated direct-view CRT DTV $629.95
- Sharp LC30HV4U 30-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $2999.99
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.95
- Zenith C34W37 34-inch 16:9 integr. direct-view CRT cable/DTV $1619.95
- Zenith L15V26C 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $498.95
- Zenith P42W34H 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2519.95
*** price after mail-in rebate
- Unitek (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Sony PFM42B2/H 16:9 42-inch plasma TV $3799
- Sony PFM42V1/B 16:9 42-inch plasma TV $2789
- Sony PFM50C1 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5699
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG LSS3200 DirecTV/ATSC set-top receiver/decoder $297****
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3997
**** requires activation of DirecTV subscription

- DVD news:

- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the
first 26 weeks of 2004 were down 4.6% from the same period in 2003. My
ten-week running average was down 19.6%.

- The average selling price of a "basic" DVD recorder in Taiwan is
said to be about $180 (U.S.) according to Taiwan's Market Intelligence
Center. Compare to NPD's $353 average in May (above the ads section):
http://finance.lycos.com/qc/news/story.aspx?story=42482968

- I have seen a July 12 document called "Liaison Statement to
ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG11 on request for defining 4:2:0 8bit profile in
Amendment 1 to ISO/IEC 14496-10." It was sent by the Blu-ray disk
founders (BDF) to ask the Joint Video Team that developed
AVC/H.264/MPEG-4 Part 10 compression "to define 4:2:0 / 8bit profile in
'FDAM 1 to ISO/IEC 14496-10 : AVC Fidelity Range Extensions' that is
planned to be fixed in July 2004." The document notes that MPEG-2 is
already part of the Blu-ray pre-recorded disk standard but that, "In
addition to MPEG-2, we started evaluating advanced video codec for
covering a range from low bit rate applications to high bit rate around
20Mbps to achieve near transparent quality. 'FPDAM 1 to ISO/IEC 14496-10
: AVC Fidelity Range Extensions' including the Study text discussed in
March 2004 (JVT-K047) is our first choice, because coding efficiency
especially for HD-movies meets our requirements."
Another document I have seen, JVT-L033, a report on subjective
testing of that same fidelity range extension (FRExt) just submitted,
indicated that original movie test material (including the difficult
Digital Cinema Initiatives Standard Evaluation Material, DCI StEM)
scored 4.03 on a quality scale, and the AVC/H.264 FRExt at 20 Mbps
scored 3.90 and 4.00 at 16 Mbps (no doubt a slight testing anomaly -- it
appears to have been essentially transparent).

- Yet another HD disk format: New Medium Enterprises announced a
15 GB multilayer disk prototype last week. It reportedly provides "150
minutes of High-Definition (1080i) Video Content in MPEG-2 format" using
red lasers:
http://finance.lycos.com/qc/news/story.aspx?story=200407151400_PZN_60821

- Patent-infringement litigation has forced Thomson to stop selling
the RCA ClearPlay DRC232N DVD player with parental control, which has
been carried by Kmart and Wal-Mart:
http://www.twice.com/article/CA436315?display=Breaking+News

- "On-Demand TV 2004: A Nationwide Study on VOD and DVRs," from
Leichtman Research Group, based on a telephone survey of 1350 U.S.
adults in June, found just over 3% have DVRs (PVRs) (but 74% knew about
them) and 10% of cable subscribers have used video-on-demand (45% of
those who have it available):
http://www.leichtmanresearch.com/press/071904release.html

- It looked like Siemens would smoothly take over BBC Technology, but
Broadcast Engineering's Beyond the Headlines reported today that the
Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union representing
more than 80% of BBC Technology staff has voted to go on strike over
Siemens's failure to meet their demands:
http://bth.broadcastengineering.com/july_19/#strike

- FCC chair Michael Powell's blog can be read here:
http://www.alwayson-network.com/comments.php?id=4921_0_3_0_C

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- Through July 23, Seattle, MPEG meetings.
- July 21, Cleveland, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/36_Cleveland.htm.
- July 22, Columbus, Ohio, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/37_Columbus.htm.
- July 22, Todd-AO Studios, Studio City, California, Entertainment
Technology Center demo of Fraunhofer Institute's Wave Field Synthesis
spatial audio technology, RSVP +1-213-743-1600 http://www.etcenter.org.
- July 23-24, Raleigh Studios, Hollywood, HPA Summer School
http://www.hpaonline.com/i4a/forms/form.cfm?id=88.
- July 26, Indianapolis, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/38_Indianapolis.htm.
- July 28, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, Road Show -- "A Taste of
NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/39_Urbana-Champaign.htm.
- July 29, Madison, Wisconsin, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/40_Madison.htm.
- August 2, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/41_Minn-StP.htm.
- August 4, Omaha, Nebraska, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/42_Omaha.htm.
- August 6, Riverton, Wyoming, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/43_Riverton.htm.
- August 9, Salt Lake City, Utah, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/44_SLC.htm.
- *August 10, Shaw Pittman, Washington, D.C., informal working
group 4 (broadcasting and amateur issues) for FCC advisory committee on
WRC 07 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-2149A1.doc.
- August 11, Bozeman, Montana, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/45_Bozeman.htm.
- August 13, Boise, Idaho, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/46_Boise.htm.
- August 16, Spokane, Washington, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/47_Spokane.htm.
- August 18, Washington State University, Road Show -- "A Taste of
NAB" (not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/48_WSU.htm.
- August 20, Seattle, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/49_Seattle.htm.
- August 24, Portland, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/50_Portland.htm.
- August 24-26, Westin Century Plaza, Los Angeles, DisplaySearch
HDTV Forum 2004 http://www.displaysearch.com/hdtvforum/.
- August 25, Eugene, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/51_Eugene.htm.
- August 30-September 1, Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, Entertainment
Media Expo http://www.media-tech.net/news/New_A.htm.
- September 1-3, Reading, UK, International Symposium on Consumer
Electronics http://www.isce.reading.ac.uk.
- September 9-14, RAI, Amsterdam, International Broadcasting
Convention http://www.ibc.org.
- September 16-19, Sony, Basingstoke, England, SMPTE Engineering
Committee meetings http://www.fibush.net/smpte/Sept2004/Sept2004.htm.
- October 6-7, Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, Government
Video Technology Expo http://www.GVExpo.com.
- October 13-15, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast
Symposium http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symposium.html.
- *October 18-19, Pasadena Convention Center, California, Global
Society for Asset Management G-SAM 2004
http://www.g-sam.org/gsam2004/index.asp.
- *October 20-23, Pasadena Convention Center, California, SMPTE
Technical Conference and Exhibition
http://www.smpte.org/conferences/146tech.cfm.
- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo
http://www.hdexpo.net/.
- November 4-7, W
estin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home Entertainment 2004 West
http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
http://bee.jesa.or.jp.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and
Networking Conference http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
http://www.cesweb.org/.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International
Conference on Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo.
Next week's memo might be late. The first two memos of August might not
happen; I'm not yet sure.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html

Alan Roberts

27th July 2004, 09:56

Dated 26/07/2004

- Follow-ups:

- The DTT-reception breakthrough at "The Schubin Site" -
- First, here's a recap for those of you who missed the
Thursday special: Reliable DTT reception was achieved in my apartment
for the first time, on Thursday morning, using the 5th-generation LG
chip and either a simple rectangular loop antenna or the classic Radio
Shack dual bow-tie with reflector. Fancier antennas were less successful.
We were able to receive six local DTT stations quite reliably;
people could walk around the room during reception, and the antenna
could even be moved around and reoriented during reception with
virtually no ill effect (it WAS possible to find a location and
orientation that caused problems, but I had to really try). A seventh
station could be received with the antenna at the window (different
seventh stations for different antennas). In the eight years of DTT
testing here:
- This was the first time reception was possible with the
antenna atop my TV (as it is for my analog reception).
- This was the first time WNYW-DT (Fox) and any other
station could be received from the same antenna location, never mind
orientation.
- This was the first time that no care needed to be used
in orienting the antenna; haphazardly hanging the loop from a string was
fine.
- The stations received were WABC-DT, WCBS-DT, WFME-DT,
WNBC-DT, WNJN-DT, WNYW-DT (which carries WWOR as a subchannel), and
WPXN-DT. A station I had previously received during an earlier test was
off the air when we were testing on Thursday.
- The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) lists 19
stations as being in my market (they actually list one station just
eight miles away as being in the Philadelphia market, because it's a
satellite of another station):
http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/issues/digitaltv/DTVStations.asp
As best I know, all of the other DTT stations listed for my market
were either operating at very low power, far away, both, or off the air
during the test on Thursday morning. I, therefore, consider the test to
have been completely successful. If some future receiver can pull in
even low-power signals, that will be a bonus.
- Here's a recap of the conditions in my apartment. The
apartment is in a pre-war 17-story building on a wide Manhattan cross
street. It is on the 4th floor. It faces north, with all DTT
transmitters to the south or southwest, so at least one bounce is
required for all reception. It is about two miles from the Empire State
Building and closer to the Conde Nast Building. It is probably less
than ten miles from all the New Jersey stations received. In other
words, it is in a relatively high signal strength area.
- The receiver was an LG LST-3100A, BUT that receiver is
normally shipped with the FOURTH-generation circuitry. The
4th-generation chip was replaced with a 5th-generation in the test
receiver. As best I know, no 5th-generation receivers have yet been
sold, but they are expected later this year (see USDTV story below).
- Sinclair says their results testing this receiver in
Baltimore were essentially the same as mine.
- Here was the sequence of events Thursday morning:
- People showed up.
- The equipment was unpacked.
- A Radio Shack dual bow-tie with reflector was set up in
front of and below the TV set, aimed roughly towards the window (no
critical aiming). Six stations were pulled in, WPXN not quite reliably.
- The antenna was moved to the set top (about two feet
higher); all six stations were reliably received.
- The antenna was moved to the window; a seventh station
(WFME) was pulled in, all reliably.
- The loop antenna was tried, with similar results.
- Other antennas were tried, with worse results.
- The loop antenna was moved around successfully during
reception on different channels.
- WPIX-DT (WB), which is transmitting at low power on VHF
channel 12, was sort of sniffed (the receiver paused a long time on
channel 12 during scanning) but never came in. We tried two
orientations of rabbit ears (and another indoor antenna that included
rabbit ears) but didn't get it. All of the other antennas were
optimized for UHF.
- Here is a rough history of the breakthroughs in DTT testing
here:
- The "first-generation" Panasonic TU-DST20 couldn't
receive anything off air with any antenna tried but got the 8-VSB then
used by Time Warner Cable of NYC well.
- The "second-generation" RCA DTC100 could, with certain
antennas (16 were tried, including some almost as long as the room),
pick up WCBS-DT relatively reliably from a number of locations but not
atop the TV nor on the floor. It could pick up WNYW-DT (transmitting
from the same Empire State Building) from the floor in the corner but
from nowhere else. Succeeding receivers had similar results.
- As more stations came on the air in New York, they,
too, were received, but never more than three (usually just one) from
any single antenna orientation, regardless of receiver or antenna.
WABC-DT, transmitting from the Conde Nast Building, was easiest to
receive until Thursday, but it could not be received from atop my TV nor
from the floor (where WNYW-DT could be received).
- I am prevented by non-disclosure agreement from revealing
all of the tests here, but you will be safe in assuming that what you
have just read represents the relevant information.
- One correspondent asked whether I thought the success of the
5th-generation LG chip in my apartment obviates the need for "smart"
antennas. I would point out again that I am in a high-signal-strength
urban area.
- Another correspondent asked whether the success of the
5th-generation LG chip obviates the need for the more-robust E-VSB
system and whether, because E-VSB uses up so much more of the channel,
anyone would ever use it. Again, I would point out that I am in a
high-signal-strength area, and, even here, in certain antenna positions,
certain stations (which might not be at full power) were received not
entirely reliably. I suggest that the use of E-VSB to carry
"bulletproof" audio (which would take a negligible amount of data rate
-- perhaps about 130 kbps -- from the channel) could mean the difference
between a "watchable" program and an "unwatchable" one.

- E-VSB - The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has
officially approved the E-VSB amendment to the A/53C standard:
http://www.atsc.org/news_information/press/2004/PR_EVSB.htm
Here's the amended standard (the 37-page amendment replaces former
Annex D):
http://wwww.atsc.org/standards/a_53c_with_amend_1.pdf
A correspondent suggests that E-VSB is a way for LG/Zenith to
continue to receive intellectual-property fees after the expiration of
their rights to 8-VSB.

- USDTV -
- They have "announced a technology partnership with LG
Electronics and LG Innotek to supply fifth-generation 8-VSB chips and
ATSC tuners for use in USDTV's set-top boxes." Shipments are to begin
in the fourth quarter of this year:
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20040720005736&newsLang=en
http://eet.com/semi/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=23903585
I've asked USDTV a number of questions about this, including the LG
deal's relationship to the Hisense deal and whether the new boxes would
have advanced-compression decoding. It's possible I will learn the
answers on Wednesday, but I told them I was in no rush.
- They have cut the cost of their receiver to $19.95, not
counting antenna ($29.95) or installation ($49.95), if either is needed:
http://www.usdtv.com/get_usdtv-subscription_details.php
- Warren Communications News reported today that the possible
deal between USDTV and the Emmis consortium has fallen through. By the
time you read this, the story will probably no longer be on their site:
http://www.warren-news.com/

- Academy-Awards "Screeners" - Cinea will provide the 10,000 secure
DVD players at their own cost. The full story requires a paid subscription:
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=upsell_article&articleID=VR1117907011&categoryID=1338&cs=1

- House Commerce Committee hearing on Berlin DTT transition -
- It occurred. Here are three reports:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2154
http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,64299,00.html?tw=rss.BIZ
http://bth.broadcastengineering.com/july_26/#
- Broadcasting & Cable's coverage concentrated on committee
chair Joe Barton's contention that it could cost the government $1
billion to pay for receivers but might allow a "hard" analog cutoff date
that would enrich the Treasury with payments for spectrum:
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA438041?display=Breaking+News&promocode=SUPP
- The Government Accountability Office report was presented:
http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-04-926T
- Here are the highlights:
http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d04926thigh.pdf
- Here's the complete report:
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04926t.pdf
- Here's the testimony of broadcaster Greg Schmidt of LIN
Television:
http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/PressRel/testimonies/Schmidttestimony072104.asp
- Here's the testimony of cabler Michael Willner of Insight
Communications:
http://www.ncta.com/pdf_files/Willner%20DTV%20Testimony.pdf
He noted that his company, with 1,297,900 subscribers, has 26,184
HD subscribers (even though 94% have access to HD).

- Other cable and H/DTV news - According to a story on the CED
website, a report from ABI Research says that the "Digital cable-ready
TV sets now hitting the market are costing between $80 and $120 more
than standard units":
http://www.cedmagazine.com/cedailydirect/2004/0704/cedaily040720.htm#2
I could not find those amazing figures in the press release on the
ABI Research site:
http://www.abiresearch.com/abiprdisplay2.jsp?pressid=299

- Digital rights management - The Washington Post reports that the
National Football League and Hollywood studios want the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) to prevent TiVo from introducing a way
for users to watch captured programming outside their homes:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A4042-2004Jul21

- July 1 -
- My Minneapolis-area correspondent is still out, so I have no
Sears or Ultimate Electronics ads this week.
- This week, I was aware of ads for 47 TVs with larger than
36-inch screens; seven had integrated DTT-reception circuitry. So far,
the biggest impact of the "tuner mandate" seems to have been the
(perhaps coincidental) virtual elimination of ads for non-HD 36-inch
direct-view TV sets.
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets
that are HD and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Magnavox 27MS3404 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $199.99
- Philips 27PT543S 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $199.99
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Apex AT1308 13-inch TV @ J&R $69.99
- Toshiba 13A23/4 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $79.99
- Toshiba 19A24 19-inch TV @ Best Buy $119.99
- Magnavox 20MT133S 20-inch TV @ Circuit City $99.99
- Daewoo DTQ20U4SC 20-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $129.99
- Apex ADV-3800 DVD/VHS combo @ J&R $89.99
- Sylvania DVC845E DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $89.99
- Zenith XBV442 DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $109.99
- Coby DVD-R1000 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $189.99
- LiteOn LVW5005 DVD+R/RW recorder @ CompUSA $249.99 after rebate
- Magnavox MRV64017 DVD+RW rec. @ Circuit City $249.99 after rebate
- Mystery brand DVD+R/RW recorder @ Fry's $179
- Pioneer DVR-224 DVD-R/RW rec. w/$25 gift card @ Best Buy $299.99
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Toshiba MV20P2 20-inch TV/VCR combo @ Best Buy $179.99
- Broksonic SC20145 20-inch TV/VCR/DVD combo @ Circuit City $249.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Casio SY-30 2.7-inch LCD TV @ J&R $99.99
- Sony D-NS707F AM/FM/Weather/TV/CD portable @ J&R $99.99

- May 1 -
- None of the lists I check (FCC, NAB, Association of Public
Television Stations) was updated this week.
- Doug Lung's RF Report in TV Technology notes just 536
licensed U.S. DTT stations listed in the FCC's CDBS database as of July
18, no change from the July 4 listing:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=512

- International H/DTV news:

- In the first four months they were on sale, 273,557 "interactive"
DTT receiver/decoders were reportedly sold in Italy:
http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200407231903-1221-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia

- The HD Euro1080 satellite channel reportedly has 10,000
"viewers." Getting the story requires filling out a questionnaire:
http://www.scri.com/sub/sc_newscur.html

- The UK analog-shutdown date has been put off by two years to 2012:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3917449.stm

- According to a story about a report in the Mail, commercial ITV
in the UK "is threatening to hand back its broadcasting licence and make
all its programmes available only to digital viewers." The issue is the
high cost of its government fees for an analog broadcasting, reportedly
UKP200 million (over $368 million) annually and costs to provide
public-service programming, UKP250 million (over $460 million) a year.
Like U.S. broadcasters giving back their analog licenses, ITV would
still be available on DTT, cable, and satellite:
http://www.advanced-television.com/2004/news_archive_2004/July19_23.htm#itvquit

- The UK DTT pay-TV Top Up TV is starting a campaign to get people
to buy the conditional-access modules (CAMs) necessary for their
service. The CAMs are to go for about UKP40 ($74), and the monthly fee
for ten channels will be about UKP8 ($15):
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds15127.html

- The latest list of set-top receiver decoders from Digital
Broadcasting Australia shows 42 boxes from 19 brands; 41 can receive
standard definition, of which the least expensive are A$199 (US$141);
eight can receive HD, of which the least expensive is A$599 (US$425):
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=18

- Korea's government Ministry of Information and Communications has
reportedly persuaded manufacturers to drop prices of "digital TVs." As
here in the U.S., the term has been used in Korea to represent displays
without DTT capability, so I don't know which these are. Samsung is
reportedly dropping the price of its 28-inch model from 1.29 million won
to 999,000 ($1110 to $858); LG is to match the lower figure. Daewoo's
29-inch set is dropping from 790,000 to 630,000 won ($680 to $542). All
three companies will sell 32-inch sets for 1.39 million won ($1196):
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200407/kt2004072318244711810.htm
Government agencies have been ordered to help the DTV industry:
http://www.yonhapnews.net/Engnews/20040723/300100000020040723160642E0.html

- The Hollywood all-studio Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) has
reportedly selected JPEG2000 as its desired compression system and has
asked SMPTE DC-28 to accept it. One reason for the selection was said
to be that it is royalty-free:
http://www.backstage.com/backstage/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000536521

- Scientific-Atlanta has established a web site to educate consumers
about HDTV:
http://www.exploreHD.com
http://www.scientificatlanta.com/products/hdtv.htm
One page notes the differences between an "HD-Ready Television"
(later called an "HD-Ready Monitor" and an "HD-Capable Monitor":
http://www.scientificatlanta.com/products/guidetoHDTV5.htm
Another page notes that optimum viewing distance maxes out at seven
feet:
http://www.scientificatlanta.com/products/guidetoHDTV6.htm
The Lechner fixed distance that people sit from TVs in the U.S. was
found to be nine feet; the Jackson distance in the UK was found to be
three meters.

- Warren Communications News reported today that Gateway is planning to
drop DLP projection TVs. By the time you read this, the story will
probaly no longer be on the site:
http://www.warren-news.com/

- According to the Consumer Electronics Association, cumulative sales to
U.S. dealers of "digital televisions" through May were 11,128,360
units. The press release doesn't mention DTT-receivers:
http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10508

- Based on figures from CEA, sales of VCRs to U.S. dealers were still
down 63.7% for the first 27 weeks of 2004 compared to the same period in
2003. Non-H/DTV direct-view TV sets were down 4.8%. The improvement
over last week is due, in part, to huge sales of TV/VCR combos, up 230%
over the same week in 2003. My ten-week running average for non-H/DTV
direct-view TV sets was down 21.8%.
So-called "Digital Television" sales to U.S. dealers for the 27th
week were 51,912 units (TV/VCR combos were 38,843). For the first 27
weeks of the year, there were 1,978,265 units. "Digital Televisions"
(most of which are HDTV displays without DTT-reception capability)
accounted for 15.2% of the TVs (not counting plasma or direct-view LCD)
sold to U.S. dealers so far this year. It may be worth noting here what
that means. About 85% of the non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold
through the 27th week this year were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view
TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify as a "Digital Television," a display need only be
capable of dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either
receiving digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable
of receiving DTT signals were still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of only the Samsung at J&R.

- The ads - My Minneapolis-area correspondent is still out, so I have no
Sears or Ultimate Electronics ads this week. Best Buy listed a Sony
1280 x 768 LCD TV as HDTV but not a JVC of identical pixel count.
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- JVC LT17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $999.99
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2499.99**
- Mystery brand L17M103 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $599.99***
- Mystery brand plasma TV $2499.99
- Philips 42PF9966 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499.99**
- Samsung HL-P5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499.99**
- Samsung SP-P4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499.99
- Sharp LC37G4U 37-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $5499.99**
- Sony KLV23HR1 23-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1999.99**
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99**
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99**
- Sony KV30HS420 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.99***
- Sony KV34HS420 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1599.99**
- Toshiba 20DL74 20-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $999.99
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99**
- Toshiba 57H84 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1899.99**
** price includes DVD player and three DVDs
*** price includes three DVDs
- Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers):
- Akai PDP4249G 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99
- Akai PT4298HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $999.99
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2799.99****
- Magnavox 27MS5402 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $489.99
- Panasonic PT47X54 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299.99****
- Panasonic PT50LC13/PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2699.99****
- Panasonic TC32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3599.99****
- Panasonic TH42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.99****
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3199.99
- Samsung LTN1535 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $499.99****
- Samsung LTP227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1799.99****
- Sharp LC20E1UB 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $799.99****
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3599.99****
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1599.99****
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.99****
**** price after mail-in rebate
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimer):
- Panasonic PT-50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2999.99*****
- Sharp LC15B4US 15-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $549.99
- ViewSonic VPW425 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.99*****
***** price includes DVD+R/RW recorder
- Dell (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Dell 2200MP projector $899
- Dell 3300MP projector $1399
- Dell W1700 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $630
- Dell W2300 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1280
- Dell W3000 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $2240
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- "Major Brand" 51-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1299
- "Major Brand" 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1199
- Optoma 50-inch 16:9 projection TV $2997
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimer):
- "Famous Brand" 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- JVC PD42WX84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4999
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3999
- Pioneer PRO530HDI 53-inch 16:9 projection TV $2199
- Pioneer PRO730HDI 64-inch 16:9 projection TV $2999
- Samsung HLN567W 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999
- Sony KD34XBR960 34-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view DTV $2199
- Sony KE37XS910 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4999
- Sony KE42XS910 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999
- Sony KE50XS910 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $7999
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV
- Hewlett-Packard (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- HP F2304 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $2199
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- JVC LT-17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $799.00
- JVC LT26WX84 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2099.99
- JVC PD-42WX84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3599.99
- Optoma EzPro 731 projector $729.99 after mail-in rebate
- Philips 23PF9945 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1499.99
- Philips 30PF9975 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2499.99
- Philips 37FD9954 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.99
- Samsung HL-P4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Samsung SIR-T165 ATSC receiver/decoder $379.99
- Samsung TX-P2745P 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $399.99
- Toshiba 14AF44 14-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $129.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1999.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG RU-44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2798
- LG RU-52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3298
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $3998
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $4498
- Mitsubishi WS-55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1898
- Mitsubishi WS-65713 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2998
- Panasonic TH-42PD25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3798
- Magnolia (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Fujitsu P50XHA10US 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6999
- Philips 17PF9945 17-inch 16:9 LCD TV $799
- Philips 23PF9945 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1699
- Philips 30PF9975 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2999
- Unitek (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Sony PFM42B2/H 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799
- Sony PFM50C1 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5699

- DVD news:

- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the
first 27 weeks of 2004 were down 3.8% from the same period in 2003. My
ten-week running average was down 21.1%.

- Lyra Research's DTV View Survey of HDTV Users, conducted in May
and June, found 47% owning more than 50 prerecorded DVDs and another 24%
owning between 21 and 50. There were 577 respondents. The URL is for a
July 15 report called "Dark Horse Winner of Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD Battle,"
which contains the information in a graph:
http://lyra6.lyra.com/DTVVIEW/Surprisewinner.html

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- *July 27, WFYI, Indianapolis, Road Showe -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/38_Indy.htm
- *July 28, John Wood Community College, Quincy, IL -- "A Taste of
NAB" (not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/39_Quincy.htm.
- July 29, Madison, Wisconsin, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/40_Madison.htm.
- *July 31, Flint, Michigan, -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/39a_Michigan.htm.
- August 2, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/41_Minn-StP.htm.
- *August 2-6, Loew's Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado, California,
CEA Summer Technology and Standards Forum
http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=STSF04.
- August 4, Omaha, Nebraska, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/42_Omaha.htm.
- August 6, Riverton, Wyoming, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/43_Riverton.htm.
- August 9, Salt Lake City, Utah, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/44_SLC.htm.
- *August 10, Shaw Pittman, Washington, D.C., informal working
group 4 (broadcasting and amateur issues) for FCC advisory committee on
WRC 07 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-2149A1.doc.
- August 11, Bozeman, Montana, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/45_Bozeman.htm.
- *August 11-13, Hilton Austin Downtown, Texas Association of
Broadcasters Convention http://www.tab.org/convention-session.php.
- August 13, Boise, Idaho, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/46_Boise.htm.
- August 16, Spokane, Washington, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/47_Spokane.htm.
- August 18, Washington State University, Road Show -- "A Taste of
NAB" (not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/48_WSU.htm.
- August 20, Seattle, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/49_Seattle.htm.
- August 24, Portland, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not
NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/50_Portland.htm.
- August 24-26, Westin Century Plaza, Los Angeles, DisplaySearch
HDTV Forum 2004 http://www.displaysearch.com/hdtvforum/.
- August 25, Eugene, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/51_Eugene.htm.
- August 30-September 1, Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, Entertainment
Media Expo http://www.media-tech.net/news/New_A.htm.
- September 1-3, Reading, UK, International Symposium on Consumer
Electronics http://www.isce.reading.ac.uk.
- September 9-14, RAI, Amsterdam, International Broadcasting
Convention http://www.ibc.org.
- September 16-19, Sony, Basingstoke, England, SMPTE Engineering
Committee meetings http://www.fibush.net/smpte/Sept2004/Sept2004.htm.
- October 6-7, Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, Government
Video Technology Expo http://www.GVExpo.com.
- October 13-15, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast
Symposium http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symposium.html.
- October 18-19, Pasadena Convention Center, California, Global
Society for Asset Management G-SAM 2004
http://www.g-sam.org/gsam2004/index.asp.
- *October 18-20, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CEA Industry Forum
http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=IF04.
- October 20-23, Pasadena Convention Center, California, SMPTE
Technical Conference and Exhibition
http://www.smpte.org/conferences/146tech.cfm.
- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo
http://www.hdexpo.net/.
- November 4-7, Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home
Entertainment 2004 West http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/.
- *November 15-18, Long Beach Convention Center, California,
Electronic House Expo http://www.ehx2004.com/.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
http://bee.jesa.or.jp.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and
Networking Conference http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
http://www.cesweb.org/.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International
Conference on Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. I
wish I could be more definite about the next memo, but I am still
awaiting travel orders from my client. I expect to be out of the
country and unable to send memos between August 1 and 19. If things
change, there will be a memo next week; if not, I might try to send
something Saturday.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html

Alan Roberts

4th October 2004, 17:06

Gents, with my apologies for delays in posting these, I’m trying to catch up now.

Here’s the next in the series-

===============================================

I will be out of the country until the 17th. I'm not sure if there will
be any memo between now and the week of the 23rd.

Note to those of you on the OpenDTV Forum: I'll be dropping it as soon
as I send this until I return.

- Follow-ups:

- 5th-generation receiver test - I made a few errors last week:
- Eight years should have been five.
- The first generation Panasonic was the TU-DST50.
- One of the people who have tested here over the years sent a picture
of a Silver Sensor antenna atop my TV receiving WCBS-DT via a Samsung
SIR-T150. So it seems one or more of the following is true:
- My recollection was faulty,
- Reception wasn't reliable, or
- I wasn't there at the time.

- July 1 -
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets that are
HD and/or widescreen.
- Yet another week has gone by with no ad that I've seen for a non-H/DTV
36-inch set. That seems to have been the main result of the mandate so
far. This week's memo has meager offerings, but here is the summary of
the ads section down below. There are 28 sets listed with screen sizes
of 36-inch or above; of them, four have integrated DTT-reception
circuitry (and one of those wasn't advertised with it).
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- ESA ET427E 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $189.99
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- ESA ET413E 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $64.99
- RCA 14F400T 14-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $119.99
- Sylvania 6420FE 20-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $139.99
- GoVideo DV1040 DVD/VCR combo @ J&R $99.99
- Mystery brand DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $89.99
- Panasonic PVD4744S DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $129.99
- Coby DVD-R1000 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $189.99
- Panasonic DMR-E55 DVD-R/RAM recorder @ J&R $299.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Sony DNF400 AM/FM/TV/Weather CD portable @ Circuit City $79.99
- Sony ICF-CD73V AM/FM/TV/Weather CD shower clock radio $79.99
- Sony MZNF520D FM/TV/Weather MD Walkman @ Circuit City $149.99

- May 1 -
- Neither the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) nor the
Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) updated their lists
this week.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated its lists on July 28:
- They say 1658 U.S. TV stations have now been granted either a DTT
license or a construction permit, 96% of the original April 1997 total
(but there are now more analog stations on the air). According to the
FCC, there are now 1423 U.S. DTT stations transmitting sometimes at some
power levels:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvsum.html
The NAB still lists just 1233:
http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/issues/digitaltv/DTVStations.asp
- The FCC lists 286 non-commercial U.S. DTT stations:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonairsum.html
APTS still lists just 263:
http://www.apts.org/html/digital/dtv/ptv_digitalstations.htm
- The FCC says 634 are either fully licensed or operating on
program-test authority:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonair.html
- The other 789 are all at low power on temporary authority:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstas.html
- There has been no change in the 40 stations due on the air May 1,
1999; 38 are still fully licensed and two on temporary authority:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat.html
- There has also been no change in the 79 due on the air November 1,
1999; 72 are fully licensed and seven are on temporary authority:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat11.html

- After missing many, DTT is finally back on the agenda (item 7) for
Wednesday's FCC meeting. "The Commission will consider a Report and
Order concerning the conversion of the nation s broadcast television
system from analog to digital television":
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250222A1.pdf

- Sign-of-good-faith? department: The following is from a letter sent by
NAB president Edward Fritts to National Cable and Telecommunications
Association president Robert Sachs. "Following up on Rep. Tauzin's
suggestion, I would like to propose a meeting as early as possible
between key broadcast and cable industry leaders. Our goal should be
simple: to set aside past policy differences, while doing what's best
for the viewing public":
http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/PressRel/072604lettertoSachs.asp

- Based on the previous auction the FCC has granted 154 licenses for
terrestrial service that shares DBS downlink frequencies:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-2331A1.pdf

Teranex is now part of Silicon Optix.

- International H/DTV news: Freeview now has a seven-day electronic
program guide:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds15128.html

- At the July 27 in Redmond, Washington, MPEG announced that the "Joint
Video Team (JVT) has completed its extension of AVC/H.264. Fidelity
Range Extension (FRExt), as it called, includes four new profiles that
broaden an already wide ranging set of applications that are well suited
to AVC/H.264. The new profiles are fully nested beginning with 'high'
profile (HP) for high definition content. Hi10P incorporates 10 bit
coding suitable for film material. Hi422 provides the video community
with the capabilities needed in broadcasting and editing. Lastly, Hi444
supports full RGB color resolution and 12 bit precision for professional
production and graphics environments. Demanding video production
environments are further supported with the ability of carry compressed
alpha channel data and the film industry now has the ability to analyze
and synthesize the representation of film grain for high quality
consumer applications."
The release also notes that "MPEG has produced version 1 of LASeR
(Lightweight Application Scene Representation). LASeR can be implemented
in as few as 30Kilobytes and leverages the functionality of industry
standards such as MPEG-4 BIFS, W3C SVG and Macromedia Flash. A fully
compatible W3C SVG T1.2 LASeR compressed SVG stream can deliver rich
graphic content in as little as 10kbps":
http://www.chiariglione.org/mpeg/meetings/redmond04/redmond_pr.htm

- I am not permitted to release week 28 CEA sales figures until August
2nd, so you'll have to wait for those or get them elsewhere.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of only the LG at J&R this
week (but I've seen no non-New York ads thus far).

- The ads -
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- Advent HT2751A 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $399.99
- LG RU-52SZ51D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$200 gift card $3299.99
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 proj. TV w/$200 gift card $2499.99
- Mystery brand plasma TV with $200 gift card $2499.99
- Panasonic PT-43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV w/$200 gift card $2799.99
- Panasonic PT-50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV w/$200 gift card $2999.99
- Panasonic PT-60LC14 60-inch LCD projection TV w/$300 gift card $3999.99
- Panasonic TC-26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$200 gift card $2999.99
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV w/$400 GC $5999.99
- Panasonic TH-50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV w/$500 GC $7999.99
- Philips 30PF9946 30-inch wide. direct-view LCD TV w/$200 GC $2499.99
- Philips 50PF9956 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$50 gift card $6999.99
- Samsung HL-P4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$200 GC $3199.99
- Samsung LT-P1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- Samsung SP-P4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$200 gift card $3299.99
- Sharp LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV w/$50 gift card $1099.99
- Sony KE42TS2B 42-inch plasma TV $4299.99
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$200 GC $2999.99
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1699.99
- Sony KV36FS120 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 gift card $899.99
- Sony KV36HS420 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 gift card $1499.99
- Toshiba 32HF73 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 gift card $899.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$400 gift card $4999.99
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$50 gift card $1399.99
- Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers):
- ESA PDP4294LV 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99
- Hitachi 42HDT50 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499.99
- Hitachi 51F510 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1624.99
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1199.99
- Panasonic CT32HXC14 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $749.99
- Panasonic TC14LA2 14-inch 4:3 LCD TV $549.99
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $1099.99
- Panasonic TH42PD25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated (?) plasma DTV $3899.99
- RCA HD61LPW42 61-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3599.99
- Sharp LC20B4US/LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $949.99
- Samsung HLP4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2899.99
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2999.99
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2699.99
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1424.99
- Sony KV27HS420 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $699.99
- Sony KV34HS420/KV34HS510 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1524.99
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- JVC LT-17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $799.00
- JVC LT-23X475 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499.99
- JVC LT-26WX84 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1999.99
- JVC PD-42WX84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $599.99
- LG LST-3100A ATSC/QAM receiver $349.99
- Philips 23PF9945 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1499.99
- Philips 37FD9954 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.99
- Sharp LL-M17W1 17-inch LCD TV $469.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Westinghouse W32001 20-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $649.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1999.99

- DVD news:

- Again, I'm not permitted to release CEA sales figures until August 2.

- There was a three-day "HD DVD Showcase" in Tokyo last week:
http://www.eet.com/sys/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=25600557

- PVR news: I got a kick out of the Wired headline "Group Warns DVRs
Endangered" as there have been so many stories about DVRs (PVRs)
endangering commercial broadcasting:
http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,64309,00.html

- Satellite news: A joint Korean-Japanese service, to be launched in
October, might deliver TV to mobile phones. It's initially to offer
seven TV channels, 30 radio, and one date, all in 25 MHz. The video will
be 320x240, initially MPEG-4 (presumably Part 2) with H.264 under
consideration:
http://eet.com/sys/news/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=NLGMJACT4WJQIQSNDBCSK HQ?articleID=26100562

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- August 2, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/41_Minn-StP.htm.
- August 2-6, Loew's Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado, California, CEA
Summer Technology and Standards Forum
http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=STSF04.
- August 6, Riverton, Wyoming, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/43_Riverton.htm.
- August 9, Salt Lake City, Utah, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/44_SLC.htm.
- August 10, Shaw Pittman, Washington, D.C., informal working group 4
(broadcasting and amateur issues) for FCC advisory committee on WRC 07
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-2149A1.doc.
- August 11, Bozeman, Montana, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/45_Bozeman.htm.
- August 11-13, Hilton Austin Downtown, Texas Association of
Broadcasters Convention http://www.tab.org/convention-session.php.
- August 13, Boise, Idaho, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/46_Boise.htm.
- *August 16, Hollywood Pacific Theater, ETC digital screening of "I,
Robot," registration required http://www.etcenter.org/Seminars.asp.
- August 16, Spokane, Washington, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/47_Spokane.htm.
- August 18, Washington State University, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB"
(not NAB affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/48_WSU.htm.
- August 20, Seattle, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB affiliated)
http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/49_Seattle.htm.
- *August 23, Hollywood Pacific Theater, ETC digital screening of "The
Bourne Supremacy," registration required
http://www.etcenter.org/Seminars.asp.
- August 24, Portland, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/50_Portland.htm.
- August 24-26, Westin Century Plaza, Los Angeles, DisplaySearch HDTV
Forum 2004 http://www.displaysearch.com/hdtvforum/.
- August 25, Eugene, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB
affiliated) http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/51_Eugene.htm.
- *August 30, Hollywood Pacific Theater, ETC digital screening of
"Catwoman" registration required http://www.etcenter.org/Seminars.asp.
- August 30-September 1, Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, Entertainment
Media Expo http://www.media-tech.net/news/New_A.htm.
- September 1-3, Reading, UK, International Symposium on Consumer
Electronics http://www.isce.reading.ac.uk.
- September 9-14, RAI, Amsterdam, International Broadcasting Convention
http://www.ibc.org.
- September 16-19, Sony, Basingstoke, England, SMPTE Engineering
Committee meetings http://www.fibush.net/smpte/Sept2004/Sept2004.htm.
- October 6-7, Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, Government Video
Technology Expo http://www.GVExpo.com.
- October 13-15, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast
Symposium http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symposium.html.
- October 18-19, Pasadena Convention Center, California, Global Society
for Asset Management G-SAM 2004 http://www.g-sam.org/gsam2004/index.asp.
- October 18-20, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CEA Industry Forum
http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=IF04.
- October 20-23, Pasadena Convention Center, California, SMPTE Technical
Conference and Exhibition http://www.smpte.org/conferences/146tech.cfm.
- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo http://www.hdexpo.net/.
- November 4-7, Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home
Entertainment 2004 West http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/.
- November 15-18, Long Beach Convention Center, California, Electronic
House Expo http://www.ehx2004.com/.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
http://bee.jesa.or.jp.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking
Conference http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
http://www.cesweb.org/.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International Conference on
Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. There
will probably not be any memo the next two weeks (but, maybe, if I'm
inundated with Internet access, there will be). Look for the next one
the week of August 23.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Alan Roberts

4th October 2004, 17:10

Dated August 30

==============================================

Sorry about the big delay. I was more unavailable than I had expected.
Here's one tidbit from my travels that I found interesting. I read the
newspapers of four New Zealand cities. In each, ads for some TVs touted
the fact that they are high-definition. But there is no HDTV being
carried in New Zealand.

- Follow-ups:

- Sinclair and DTT - Now that they are happy with the performance of the
5th-generation LG/Zenith ATSC receiver, Sinclair appears to be beating
the drum louder than any other broadcaster promoting DTT. They have made
public-service announcements and established a web site:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2255
http://www.myfreehdtv.org/

- Number of U.S. TVs relying on off-air transmission - The comments
filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have come out.
The broadcaster filing, based on a survey by Knowledge Networks/SRI
earlier this year, found roughly one percent of U.S. households to have
DTT-reception capability, about a fifth relying exclusively on
antenna-based off-air reception, and many more with unwired second or
third sets (not to mention VCRs):
http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/PressRel/Filings/OTAComments81104.pdf

- E-VSB - An interesting tidbit about the standard for enhanced U.S. DTT
was noted on the OpenDTV Forum. Section 5.6.1 (page 100) restricts the
maximum robust stream "during premium programming times" to "3 Mbps out
of the total 19.4 Mbps channel capacity":
http://www.atsc.org/standards/a_53c_with_amend_1.pdf
http://www.freelists.org/archives/opendtv/08-2004/msg00059.html

- The "broadcast flag" - The FCC has approved 13 technologies: the old
Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP), the old High-bandwidth
Digital Content Protection (HDCP), four Sony MagicGate systems,
Thomson's SmartRight, the Hewlett-Packard/Philips Video Content
Protection System (VCPS, formerly called Vidi), something called Content
Protection recordable Media for Video Content, TiVo's TiVoGuard Digital
Output Protection Technology, RealNetworks' Helix DRM Trusted Recorder,
Microsoft's Windows Media Digital Rights Management, and JVC's D-VHS.
The first URL is the FCC press release, the second the order, and the
third commissioner Martin's concerns about DTCP licensing terms and
about TiVo's system (which some find insufficiently restrictive):
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250532A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-193A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-193A2.pdf
It's easy to see how a JVC DTT receiver might use its manufacturer's
approved technology to communicate with a D-VHS recorder or how a
Philips receiver might communicate with a Hewlett-Packard device. I'm
interested in seeing how the multiple systems will play out in the
marketplace. Licenses will be available, but will owners of approved
systems buy licenses from others? Will a Thomson receiver be able to
send HDTV to a Sony recorder?

- The FCC DTT-rules review - It includes a new channel "election"
process (stations deciding which of their two simulcast channels to keep
after analog shutdown) starting this December, a new way of dealing
power levels to match analog coverage, requirements for PSIP, closed
captioning, and V-chip information, allowing distributed transmission
(multiple-transmitter coverage), and eliminating the simulcasting
requirement. I find that last interesting, because some of the rationale
for using cable coverage as a justification for analog shutdown is based
on the fact that 100% simulcasting means analog cable carriage IS
carriage of DTT programming.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250542A1.pdf
Commissioners Copps and Adelstein expressed concern about a lack of
public-interest requirements:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250542A3.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250542A5.pdf
Commissioner Martin expressed concern about small broadcasters and
must-carry:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250542A4.pdf

- July 1 -
- Roughly two months after the order went into effect, of 152 advertised
sets 36-inch or larger listed in this memo, only 33 have integrated DTT
reception, and there has even been a return of ads for non-H/DTV 36-inch
sets. Gary Merson reports similar results in his HDTV Insider newsletter:
http://www.hdtvinsider.com
- The Late July edition of the HDTV Insider newsletter also reports that
Comcast, the largest U.S. cable operator, charges the same amount
monthly for either a CableCARD to be inserted in a digital-cable-ready
TV or an HDTV-capable cable set-top box ($5-7/month in either case).
Other cable operators charge less, the monthly CableCARD fees ranging
from $1.25 to $5:
http://www.hdtvinsider.com
- These listings represent all ads I've seen (in the U.S.) since the
last memo at the end of July. Wherever prices varied over the weeks, I
chose the lower. See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated
sets that are HD, progressive, and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- JVC 36-inch TV @ Sears $599.99
- Magnavox 36-inch TV @ Fry's $399
- Magnavox MS3652S 36-inch TV @ Circuit City $499.99
- RCA 36V430T 36-inch TV @ Best Buy $449.99
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Sharp 25C340 25-inch TV @ Best Buy $169.99
- Apex AT2708 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $189.99
- Apex AT2708S 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $168.95
- ESA ET427E 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $179.99
- Magnavox 27MS3404 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $199.99
- Philips 27PT543S 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $199.99
- Sansui TVS2746 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $159.99
- Sharp 27C241 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $179.99
- Sylvania 6427TE 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $168.95
- Toshiba 27-inch TV @ Fry's $199
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Daewoo DTQ13V5FC 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $49.99
- ESA ET413E 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $59.99
- Magnavox 13MT143S 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $79.99
- RCA 13V400T 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $69.99 after rebate
- RCA E13320 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $79.99
- Toshiba 13A23/4 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $79.99
- Symphonic ST419E 19-inch TV @ Best Buy $79.99 after rebate
- Konka K2001UM 20-inch TV @ Best Buy $89.99
- Magnavox 20MT133S 20-inch TV @ Circuit City $109.99
- Mystery brand DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $89.99
- Sylvania DVC845E DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $89.99
- Coby DVD-R1100 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $229.99
- GoVideo DVD+R/RW recorder @ Fry's $149
- GoVideo R6640 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $249.99
- LiteOn LVW5001 DVD+R/RW rec. @ CompUSA $199.99 after rebate
- LiteOn LVW5005 DVD+/-R/RW rec. @ CompUSA $279.99
- Magnavox MRV64017 DVD+R/RW rec. @ Circuit City $269.99 w/rebate
- Panasonic DMR-E55S DVD-R/RAM recorder @ Best Buy $299.99
- Panasonic DMR-E55 DVD-R/RAM recorder @ J&R $299.99
- Philips DVDR80 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $299.99
- Pioneer DVR-225 DVD-R/RW recorder @ Best Buy $269.99
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Sylvania 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Sears $94.99
- Symphonic SC313E 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Best Buy $89.99
- Broksonic SC20145 20-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $269.99
- Sylvania 6719DE 19-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ amazon.com $249.99
- Broksonic SC20145 20-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $269.99
- Sylvania 6720FDE 20-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $249.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Casio TV980 2.3-inch LCD TV @ Circuit City $69.99
- Coby CX-TV1 5-inch TV/AM/FM @ J&R $9.99
- Sony DNF400 AM/FM/TV/Weather/CD portable @ Circuit City $69.99
- Sony DNF400PSGR AM/FM/TV/Weather/CD portable @ Best Buy $79.99
- Sony DNS707F A/FM/TV/Weather/CD portable @ Best Buy $99.99
- Sony MZ-NHF800 AM/FM/TV/Weather MiniDisc recorder @ J&R $249.99
- Sony SRFM AM/FM/TV/Weather portable @ Best Buy $49.99

- May 1 -
- The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) updated its list of
U.S. DTT broadcasters to 1273 on August 12 and to 1292 on August 16.
They list 18 in the not-very-large-geographically New York market, but
most of those would appear not to be on the air whenever I check with a
spectrum analyzer:
http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/issues/digitaltv/DTVStations.asp
FYI, a TV DXer in my market reports being able to get over 40 stations,
from as far as Boston and Washington, but cannot get three of the local
stations stably.
- The FCC updated its lists on August 25. They say 1655 stations (96% of
the original group) have been granted either construction permits or
licenses, and 1445 are on the air:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvsum.html
- There has been no change in the 40 top-10 market stations due on the
air May 1, 1999; it's still 38 fully licensed and two on temporary
authority (due to 9/11):
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat.html
- There has also been no change in the 79 market-11-30 stations due on
the air November 1, 1999; it's still 72 fully licensed and seven on
temporary authority:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat11.html
- These are the 651 stations said to be licensed or operating on
program-test authority:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonair.html
Doug Lung's RF Report in TV Technology noted that the FCC CDBS database
listed 556 licensed U.S. DTT stations as of August 1:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=524
and 598 as of August 15:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=537
His next update is due tomorrow.
- These are the 794 stations the FCC says are operating on temporary
authority (at low power):
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstas.html
- The FCC summary chart now lists 1722 total DTT channel allocations
instead of the previous 1688 because they're now including
single-channel stations (new stations that opted to go straight to DTT
without analog). The summary also says there are 297 non-commercial U.S.
DTT stations on the air:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonairsum.html
The Association of Public Television Stations lists just
*************

- The FCC also just released its list of ANALOG TV stations as of June
30. There were 1747 full power and 7433 low power. Here's a breakdown:
- UHF Commercial 776
- VHF Commercial 589
- UHF Non-commercial 255
- VHF Non-commercial 127
- UHF Class A 497
- VHF Class A 112
- UHF LPTV 1601
- VHF LPTV 517
- UHF translators 2658
- VHF translators 2048
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-251120A1.pdf

- Voom reported close to 25,000 subscribers at the end of June:
http://www.twice.com/article/CA443959?display=Breaking+News

- Still undecided about the upcoming U.S. election? "The Kerry-Edwards
plan will complete the transition to digital television, and accelerate
the return of valuable spectrum that is currently being used for
broadcasting the 'analog' television signal. The plan will ensure that
Americans continue to enjoy free, over-the-air television, including
subsidies if necessary to ensure all Americans can make the transition."
So they say:
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=34772

- The August edition of the NAB's "Destination Digital TV" has come out.
It has more information than previous editions. It lists, for example,
44 ALL-digital markets (none of the top-10; Seattle is the highest). It
also has some statistics on consumer penetration, saying that, as of
their survey earlier this year 5.9% had "DTV" (presumably displays
because only 22.9% of those had DTT-reception capability):
http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/Issues/digitaltv/DDTV/0804.pdf
CEA's recent DTT-reception-capability figures closely match NAB's, but
their figure for displays is much higher (9.5-million households):
http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10511

- There have been many complaints about NBC's HD coverage of the Olympic
Games, ranging from delays to selected content to technical issues.
Here's one as an example:
http://www.nola.com/living/t-p/index.ssf?/base/living-3/1092732935296730.xml

- San Francisco broadcaster KRON is carrying HDNet programming:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/08/19/BUGAV8A83D1.DTL&type=business

- The Advanced Television Systems Committee has approved a
synchronization standard for distributed (multi-transmitter) DTT. The
first URL is for the press release; the second is for the standard:
http://www.atsc.org/news_information/press/2004/PR_SFN_Aug_04.htm
http://www.atsc.org/standards/a_110.pdf

- International H/DTV news:

- The European Commission wants to promote standards but won't impose
one on interactive digital TV -- at least not yet:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=5847644

- Digital Broadcasting Australia reports combined sales of DTT
set-top-box (STB) receivers and integrated TVs (to dealers, I think),
hit 409,000 at the end of June:
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?display=news&newsID=558
In their latest list of those STB receivers, there are 49 models listed,
of which nine are HD-capable. The least expensive model is A$169; the
least expensive HD model is A$599:
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=18

- China currently has 280,000 digital-TV households (all cable, I
think). They want to hit 380 million. Wang Xiaojie, in charge of DTV at
the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, said, "We want
to phase out all analog and convert to digital by 2015. We are going to
have to fund some of the technology required." The plan is to start by
converting the 100 million urban cable households from analog to digital
at an expected cost of $7 billion for STBs.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2004/08/17/2003199112

- Four companies reportedly plan to compete with Texas Instruments in
digital micromirror-based displays:
http://www.eet.com/sys/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=35300003

- This URL will take you to a story about computer manufacturers getting
involved in digital TV products:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,117552,pg,1,RSS,RSS,00.asp

- Key Digital notes that its HD Hanna receives DTT and "scales the video
program to match your display's native resolution with a choice of
numerous output resolutions":
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/altavista/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20040816005278&newsLang=en

- Shades-of-the-Tice-clock department: The Late July edition of Gary
Merson's HDTV Insider also noted that some consumer-electronics retail
salespeople he encountered said he should use a Monster power
conditioner for the best HD pictures. He quotes from the package:
"Monster Clean Power removes 'dirty' AC power for the best high
definition picture." Without it, "You’ll experience a lack of sharpness
and color detail from your high definition components." Merson sets the
record straight:
http://www.hdtvinsider.com

- Based on figures from CEA, here are the statistics for factory sales
to U.S. dealers since the last memo:
- First 28 weeks:
VCRs down 63.5%
Non-H/DTV TVs down 3.9% (largely due to TV/VCR combos), 10-week down 13.6%
28th-week "digital" 71,212, first 28 weeks 2,049,477, "digital" portion
15.1%
- First 29 weeks:
VCRs down 62.8%
Non-H/DTV TVs down 2.8%, 10-week running average down 11.3%
29th-week "digital" 85,382, first 29 weeks 2,134,859, "digital" portion
15.2%
- First 30 weeks:
VCRs down 62.6%
Non-H/DTV TVs down 2.6%, 10-week running average down 12.2%
30th-week "DTV" 147,681, first 30 weeks 2,282,540, "digital" portion 15.4%
- First 31 weeks:
VCRs down 63.2%
Non-H/DTV TVs down 4.6%, 10-week running average down 20.5%
31st-week "DTV" 49,039, first 31 weeks 2,323,113, "digital" portion 15.4%
The "digital" portion is the percentage of all TV sales represented by
the "DTV products." It does not include plasma or direct-view LCD. It
may be worth noting here what the 15% means. About 85% of the
non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 31st week this year
were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify as a "Digital Television," a display need only be capable of
dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either receiving
digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable of
receiving DTT signals were still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of four since the last memo
-- the Hughes and Samsung at Best Buy, the Samsung at Circuit City, and
the Toshiba at J&R.

- The ads - This represents all ads I've seen (in the U.S.) since the
last memo at the end of July. Wherever prices varied over the weeks, I
chose the lower. Where the same model was offered at the same price with
different premiums of about the same value, I included only the first I saw.
Circuit City offered $100 towards HD cable on some Panasonic products.
Ultimate Electronics also offered a number of complete home-video
packages; I haven't listed their prices because I couldn't separate the
TV component.
- amazon.com (no disclaimer) - prices said to be "before on-site savings":
- Daewoo DSC-34W70N 34-inch 16:9 flat-screen CRT TV $1099.99
- Gateway 56-inch widescreen DLP projection TV $3499.99
- Olevia LT20HVK 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $699.99
- Philips 30PF9975 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2399.99
- Philips 55PL9223/17 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3499.99
- Sharp LC-32G4U 32-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $3999.99
- Sharp LC-37G4U 37-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $5499.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99
- ViewSonic VPW450HD 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- Hughes HT-LHD DirecTV/ATSC set-top DTV receiver w/dish $299.99
- Insignia I-LC23Q1 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1599.99
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- JVC HD61Z575 61-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV w/$300 GC $4499.99
- JVC PD42V475 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799.99**
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$100 GC $1999.99
- LG RU-44SZ51D 44-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2799.99
- LG RU-52SZ51D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.99
- Maxent MX-42VM10 42-inch widescreen plasma TV w/$100 gift card $1999.99
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3999.99
- Mits. WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DLP DTV w/$300 GC $4499.99
- Mitsubishi WS-48515 48-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2199.99**
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1899.99
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2299.99**
- Mystery brand plasma TV $2499.99
- Panasonic PT-50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2999.99
- Panasonic PT-60LC14 60-inch LCD projection TV $3999.99
- Panasonic TC-26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2499.99
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5999.99**
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-in. 16:9 integr. plas. DTV w/$400 GC $5499.99
- Panasonic TH-50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7999.99****
- Philips 23PF9966 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $2299.99**
- Philips 26PW6341 26-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $399.99
- Philips 30PW8402 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799.99****
- Philips 34PW8502 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1299.99
- Philips 42PF9966 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499.99***
- Pioneer PDP4341HD 43-inch 16:9 integr. plas. DTV $5999.99** w/rebate
- Pioneer PDP5041HD 50-inch 16:9 integr. plas. DTV $7999.99** w/rebate
- Polaroid LCD-1700 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $649.99
- Samsung HL-P4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$200 GC $3199.99
- Samsung HL-P5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4199.99**
- Samsung LT-P227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1799.99**
- Samsung SIR-TS360 DirecTV receiver/decoder w/dish $299.99
- Samsung SP-P4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$200 gift card $3299.99
- Samsung TX-P2670WH 26-inch 16:9 integr. direct-view CRT DTV $899.98****
- Samsung TX-P3071WH 30-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $999.99#
- Samsung TX-P3271WH 32-inch 4:3 integr. CRT DTV w/$100 gift card $999.99
- Sansui LCDVD200 20-inch widescreen LCD/DVD combo $899.99****
- Sharp LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $1099.99
- Sony KE37XS910 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99***
- Sony KE42XS910 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.99##
- Sony KE50XS910 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$500 gift card $6999.99
- Sony KLV21SG2 21-inch widescreen LCD TV $1499.99
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99##
- Sony KV32FS320 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $649.99#
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999.99
- Sony KV34HS420 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $1599.99
- Sony KV36FS120 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.99#
- Toshiba 20DL74 20-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $999.99****
- Toshiba 26HL84 26-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$200 GC $2499.99
- Toshiba 30HF84 30-inch 16:9 direct-view flat CRT TV w/$50 GC $899.99
- Toshiba 32HF73 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.99#
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4499.99**
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1399.99
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99**
- Westinghouse W32701 27-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1699.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1999.99**
- Zenith E44W46LCD 44-inch widescreen LCD proj. TV w/$100 GC $2299.99
- Zenith E44W46LCD 44-inch widescreen LCD proj. TV GC $2299.99##
- Zenith P42W46X 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.99**
** price includes portable DVD/LCD combo
*** price includes basic installation
**** price includes upconverting DVD player
# price includes DVD player
## price includes XBOX video game system
- Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers) - some prices "before savings":
- Akai PDP4249G 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99
- Akai PT4298HD/PT4299HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $999.99
- Audiovox FP1500 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $399.99
- ESA PDP4294LV 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$50 gift card $2499.99
- Hitachi 42HDT50 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$500 gift card $5999.99
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV w/$300 gift card $3099.99
- Hitachi 51F510 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV w/$100 gift card $1699.99
- JVC AV30W475 30-inch widescreen CRT TV $599.99
- Magnavox 20MF200V 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $849.99
- Magnavox 27MS5402 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $489.99
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1199.99
- Panasonic CT30WX54 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $999.99
- Panasonic CT32HXC14 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $799.99
- Panasonic CT34WX54 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $1399.99
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV w/$200 GC $2799.99
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV w/$300 GC $2999.99
- Panasonic TC14LA2 14-inch 4:3 LCD TV $599.99
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $999.99
- Panasonic TC32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3699.99
- Panasonic TH42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV w/$500 GC $5999.99
- Philips 26PW8402 26-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $549.99
- Philips 27PT8302 27-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $549.99
- RCA D52W20 52-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1499.99
- RCA HD61LPW42 61-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV w/$300 GC $3299.99
- Samsung HLP4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $3199.99
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4199.99
- Samsung LTN1535 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $549.99
- Samsung LTP227W 22-inch widescr. direct-view LCD TV $1699.99
- Samsung LTP266W 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2299.99
- Samsung LTP1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- Samsung LTP1745 17-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $749.99
- Samsung LTP2045 20-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $899.99
- Samsung SIRTS360 DirecTV receiver/decoder w/dish $299.99
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$300 gift card $3299.99
- Samsung TXN3075WHF 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $849.99
- Samsung TXP2675WHD 26-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $699.99
- Sharp LC13E1UB/LC13S1UB 13-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $399.99
- Sharp LC13B4US/LC13B6US 13-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $429.99
- Sharp LC20E1UB/LC20S1UB 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $849.99
- Sharp LC20B4US/LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV w/$50 GC $949.99
- Sharp LC22SV2U 22-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $1299.99
- Sharp LC37GD4U 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV w/$500 GC $5999.99
- Sony KDE32XBR950 32-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.99
- Sony KDE42XBR950 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7749.99 w/rebate
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$400 gift card $3999.99
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV w/$300 gift card $3299.99
- Sony KLV21SG2 21-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$100 gift card $1499.99
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$300 GC $2999.99
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1499.99
- Sony KP51WS510/KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 GC $1699.99
- Sony KV27HS420 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $749.99
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $999.99
- Sony KV34HS420 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1599.99
- Sony KV36FS100/KV36FS120 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999.99
- Sony KV36HS420 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1499.99
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimers):
- Panasonic PT-47WX54 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299.99
- Panasonic PT-53WX54 53-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV w/$100 GC $1599.99
- Panasonic TH42PD25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.99
- Philips 55PL9524 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3499.99
- Samsung TXP2675WHD 26-inch 16:9 integr. CRT DTV w/$300 GC $2799.99
- ViewSonic VPW425 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99###
### price includes DVD+R/RW recorder
- Dell (no disclaimer)
- Dell 2200MP projector $899
- Dell W1700 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $630
- Dell W2300 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1399
- Dell 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $2799
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- "Major Name Brand" 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $999
- "Major Name Brand" 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1499
- "Major Name Brand" 60-inch 4:3 projection TV $1499
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4497
- Mystery brand 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- Philips 27PT830H 27-inch widescreen CRT direct-view TV
- Toshiba 52HM84 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3497
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimers):
- "Brand Varies by Location" 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1499
- Philips 32PT842H 32-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $599
- Philips 42FD9955 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- Philips 55PL977S 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $2499
- Pioneer PRO730HDI 64-inch 16:9 projection TV $2999
- Samsung HLN467W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2999
- Samsung HPN4239X 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999
- Sony KV36HS510 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999
- ViewSonic N2700W 27-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $1999
- Great Indoors (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Epson LS47P1 47-inch 16:9 projection TV/photo printer $3199
- Epson LS57P1 57-inch 16:9 projection TV/photo printer $3699
- Panasonic TC-32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3999
- Panasonic TH42PD25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4299
- Samsung HLN467W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299
- Samsung HLN567W 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4199
- Sony KLV-32M1 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3999
- Harvey (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Fujitsu P50XHA30WS 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $7999 after rebate
- Loewe Spheros 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/stand $4499
- SharpVision LC20B4U 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $799
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic TH37PA20P 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499
- Panasonic TH42PA20P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Epson PowerLite S1+ projector w/$100 gift card $999.99
- Humax L3040 30-inch 5:3 LCD TV $1499.99
- InFocus X2 projector w/$100 gift card999.99
- JVC HD-61Z575 61-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV
- JVC LT-17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $799.99
- JVC LT-23X475 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499.99
- LG RU-42PZ90 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- LG RU-52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.99
- Panasonic CT32HL44 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV
- Panasonic CT34WX54 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV
- Panasonic PT-50DL54 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Panasonic TC-20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV
- Panasonic TC-32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV
- Panasonic TH-42PD25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Panasonic TH-50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Philips 17PF8946 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $799.99
- Philips 30PF9975 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2399.99
- Philips 30PW9819 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799.99
- Philips 32FD9954 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2199.99
- Philips 37FD9954 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.99
- Philips 55PL9524 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3799.99
- Samsung HPP5071 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99
- Samsung TX-P2745P 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $399.99
- Sony KDE-50XBR950 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Sony KE-32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3199.99
- Sony KF-50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV
- Sony KF-60WE610 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499.99
- Toshiba 52HM84 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Toshiba DST3100 ATSC/DirecTV/NTSC receiver $499.99
- Westinghouse W31501 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $429.99
- Westinghouse W32001 20-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- Zenith C32V28 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $849.99
- Zenith P42W46 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG RU-15LA61 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $598
- LG RU-44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2798
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3998
- Mitsubishi WS-65713 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2998
- Panasonic TH42PD25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2998
- Sharp LC-37HV6U 37-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $4998
- Sony KF-50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3298
- Sony KF-60WE610 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3998
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer):
- Hitachi 46-inch projection TV, Sears #54713 $1399.99
- JVC 56-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54814 $1699.99
- Mitsubishi 55-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54124 $1899.99
- Samsung 42-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54014 $1099.99
- Samsung 46-inch DLP projection TV, Sears #54058 $3039.99
- Samsung 47-inch projection TV, Sears #54084 $1199.99
- Samsung 50-inch DLP projection TV, Sears #54088 $3324.99
- Toshiba 46-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54434 $1399.99
- Toshiba 57-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54444 $1899.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer noted):
- Akai PT4298HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $998.95
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3499.95###
- LG RU17LZ22 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $899.95 "before savings"
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1995.95 "before savings"
- LG RU44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2799.95 "before savings"
- LG RU52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.95 "before savings"
- Magnavox 42MF7000 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2298.95
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated proj. DLP DTV $3999.95###
- Mitsubishi WS55513 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1849.95
- Mitsubishi WS65513 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2299.95###
- Mitsubishi WS65813 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4162.95
- Mitsubishi WT42315 42-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1387.95
- Panasonic CT34WX54 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1399.95
- Panasonic PT47WX53/54 47-inch 16:9 projection TV
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2774.95
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $899.95
- Panasonic TC22LH1 22-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1799.95###
- Panasonic TH37PD25 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2499.95###
- Panasonic TH42PD25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.95###
- Panasonic TH42PX25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.95###
- Philips 32PT8320 32-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $699.95
- Philips 34PW850H 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.95
- Philips 55PL9774 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3699.95
- Pioneer PDP4340HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5999.95####
- Pioneer PRO910HD 43-inch 16:9 integr. plas. DTV $7499.95 "before sav."
- Samsung LTP2045 20-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $999.95 "before sav."
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3299.95 "before savings"
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2312.95
- Sony KDE42XBR950 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7399.95
- Sony KDL32XBR950 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $5087.95
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3052.95
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1572.95
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV
- Sony KV36FS120 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.95
- Zenith L15V26C 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $498.95
- Zenith L23V36 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1799.95 "before savings"
- Zenith P42W34H 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2589.95
### price includes DVD recorder
#### price after rebate but "before savings"

- Tech-Notes #125.5 has come out. It's largely links (from Lee Wood's
board) to news stories):
http://www.tech-notes.tv/Archive/tech_notes_125.5.pdf

- DVD news:

- According to CEA, here are the factory-to-dealer sales statistics
since the last memo:
First 28 weeks: down 3%, 10-week running average down 14.6%
First 29 weeks: down 1.8%, 10-week running average down 12.8%
First 30 weeks: down 0.6%, 10-week running average down 12%
First 31 weeks: down 3.3%, 10-week running average down 18.3%

- HDNet's Mark Cuban's blog has a story on hard drives (and flash
drives) vs. DVD for both SD and HD:
http://www.blogmaverick.com/entry/7706137582525561/

- PVR news: TiVo reports 1.9 million subscribers, 288,000 of them added
in the second quarter of this year (225,000 of the 288,000 being DirecTV
subscribers):
http://a423.g.akamai.net/7/423/1788/57ae1f2ef76271/www.tivo.com/pdfs/reports/TiVo_Q204_final.pdf

- Satellite news:

- The FCC notes that Canada has requested frequency coordination for
some C-band earth stations:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-251275A1.pdf

- And the Los Angeles Times notes that it's illegal to RECEIVE Canadian
satellite signals here without government authorization:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-canada19aug19,1,339115.story?coll=la-headlines-business

- The CIE chromaticity diagrams are shaped sort of like an elongated,
rotated letter D. Connecting the dots of any three color primaries
creates a triangle rather than a D. An area of visible color typically
lost is in the saturated blue-greens. What can be done? Go to more than
three primaries, as this New York Times article reports:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/26/technology/circuits/26next.html?8cir
I still like the Land Retinex two-primary color TV. Visitors to the
Exploratorium in San Francisco or the Hall of Science in New York can
check out the principle in the "Green Tomatoes" exhibit.

- Nielsen has made the U.S. TV-household universe for the 2004-2005
season 109.6 million, up from 108.4 million in 2003-4 (which was up a
bigger jump from 106.7 million in 2002-3). The top five markets
represent almost 20%; the top ten almost 30%. Glendive, Montana remains
the last (210th) market:
http://www.nielsenmedia.com/

- ***It's that time of year again. If you're interested in doing a demo,
moderating a breakfast roundtable, or making a presentation at the
Hollywood Post Alliance ***Technology Retreat*** in the Palm Springs
area in January, please contact me.

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- Through September 1, Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, Entertainment Media
Expo http://www.media-tech.net/news/New_A.htm.
- September 1-3, Reading, UK, International Symposium on Consumer
Electronics http://www.isce.reading.ac.uk.
- September 9-14, RAI, Amsterdam, International Broadcasting Convention
http://www.ibc.org.
- September 16-19, Sony, Basingstoke, England, SMPTE Engineering
Committee meetings http://www.fibush.net/smpte/Sept2004/Sept2004.htm.
- October 6-7, Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, Government Video
Technology Expo http://www.GVExpo.com.
- *October 7-9, Embassy Suites Baltimore North, Hunt Valley, Maryland,
WEBE/SMPTE convention [url] http://www.webe.org/pages/convention.html.
- October 13-15, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast
Symposium http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symposium.html.
- October 18-19, Pasadena Convention Center, California, Global Society
for Asset Management G-SAM 2004 http://www.g-sam.org/gsam2004/index.asp.
- October 18-20, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CEA Industry Forum
http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=IF04.
- October 20-23, Pasadena Convention Center, California, SMPTE Technical
Conference and Exhibition http://www.smpte.org/conferences/146tech.cfm.
- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo http://www.hdexpo.net/.
- November 4-7, Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home
Entertainment 2004 West http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/.
- November 15-18, Long Beach Convention Center, California, Electronic
House Expo http://www.ehx2004.com/.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
http://bee.jesa.or.jp.
- *December 7, Radisson Barcello Hotel, Washington, D.C., ATSC ACAP
seminar http://www.atsc.org/seminars/2004_ACAP/acap_04.htm.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking
Conference http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
http://www.cesweb.org/.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International Conference on
Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. Next
week's memo might be late.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Alan Roberts

4th October 2004, 17:12

Dated September 21 2004

==============================================

- Follow-ups:

- Media-Tech 2004 - Some correspondents wanted a URL for my presentation, too. The slides may be found here:
http://www.media-tech.net/conference2004/pdf/02/2004_keynote_schubin.pdf

- Silicon Optix Realta - Here's a story on it:
http://www.twice.com/article/CA454450.html?verticalid=820&industry=Video&industryid=23099&pubdate=09/20/2004

- DCI - On September 8, the major-studios' Digital Cinema Initiatives announced completion of overall system requirements and specifications for digital cinema:
http://www.dcimovies.com/press/09-08-04.tt2

- January 1, 2009 -
- Representatives Rick Boucher of Virginia and Frank Pallone of New Jersey urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not to plan to shut down analog TV then without congressional hearings about whether it meets the spirit of the exclusions in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997:
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=6325
- Senator John McCain has reportedly introduced a bill that may be voted on in the Senate Commerce Committee as early as tomorrow (though it doesn't yet appear to be on the committee's web site). Called the "Spectrum AVailability for Emergency-response and Law-enforcement to Improve Vital Emergency Services" bill (which, with that capitalization, spells "SAVE LIVES"), it would assure the January 1, 2009 deadline by providing a $1 billion fund to help pay for either DTT set-top receivers or connections to cable, satellite, or other multichannel video programming distributor for those who might otherwise be disenfranchised. Another provision would require labels for analog-TV receivers sold after September of next year to warn buyers that they won't pick up TV signals after December 31, 2008 "without the purchase of additional equipment."
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) reportedly opposes the bill because $1 billion isn't enough to cover every TV receiver that will need help. Here are some stories:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=6274958
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=6330
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=6284771
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=televisionNews&storyID=6287098

- The "broadcast flag" - In a possible indication of things to come, STMicroelectronics has combined the functions of two chips into one that doesn't have an unsecure digital output:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-14-2004/0002249630&EDATE=

- July 1 -
- This week I've listed 89 advertised TVs 36-inch or larger. Of those, 23 (25.8%) have integrated DTT-reception capability. It's nowhere near 50% yet, but the percentage IS growing.
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets that are HD and/or widescreen.
- Another week went by with no ads of which I'm aware for 36-inch non-HD/widescreen/widescreen-capable sets.
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- ESA ET427E 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $189.99
- Sansui TVS2746 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $159.99
- Sylvania 64271E 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $168.00
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- RCA 13V400T 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $74.99
- RCA E13320 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $79.99
- Philips DVDR80 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $299.99
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- ESA EC313E 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Circuit City $109.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Sony DNS707F AM/FM/TV/weather/CD portable @ Best Buy $99.99
- Sony SRFM80V AM/FM/TV/weather portable @ Best Buy $49.99

- May 1 - None of the lists I check were updated this week.

- International H/DTV news:

- There is concern in the UK Border (between Scotland and England) region that their analog cut-off will start in 2007 and that the poor there will lose TV reception as a result:
http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=135857
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/24081.html
The Scotsman quotes the UK regulator Ofcom as saying: "The cost of digital switchover in terms of upgrading consumer equipment will inevitably fall disproportionately on those with the lowest incomes since they have the lowest level of digital penetration.
"Ofcom considers that the fact that alternatives to DTT are considerably more expensive for consumers presents an obstacle to ensuring that digital TV is affordable to all consumers. Some of these households may have to give up TV altogether were they unable to afford to switch to digital satellite":
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1095472004

- Ofcom reports 55% penetration (13,704,459) of some form of digital television delivery by the end of the second quarter (with another 4% getting multichannel analog service), up from 53% at the end of the first. The fastest growing segment is the DTT Freeview service, serving almost four million households (considerably more than analog and digital cable combined). Although Freeview's penetration grew more than 12% during the quarter, that's down from more than 18% the previous quarter. Sky's share fell from 55% to 53.5%. Here is a summary:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media_office/latest_news/20040917a_nr?a=87101
Here is the full Ofcom uptake report:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/industry_market_research/m_i_index/dtvu/dtu_2004_q2/?a=87101

- BT is launching "BT Freeview Plus," with a set-top box that can receive either DTT or broadband-delivered programming:
http://www.dtg.org.uk/latest/latest_bt_dtv.htm

- Sky Italia is reportedly considering both asking the Italian government for a subsidy for its satellite set-top boxes or complaining to the European Commission about existing subsidies for DTT boxes:
http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/world/-italy_subsidy_row.htm

- Moscow is to get DTT between the end of this year and 2007:
http://www.russiajournal.com/news/cnewswire.shtml?nw=45565#n45565

- The latest update of DTT set-top boxes on the Digital Broadcasting Australia web site lists 23 brands with 53 models, ten of them HD. The least expensive of the HD boxes is A$599 ($422); the least expensive of the standard-definition is A$169 ($119):
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=18
For integrated sets, the site lists five brands with 16 models, six of them HD (and four of those from LG). The least-expensive HD model is A$8999 ($6350); the least-expensive standard-definition model is A$2248 ($1586):
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=78

- Here's a headline that needs no further comment: "Aquavision Launches Industry's First Home Theatre, Waterproof, HDTVs For The Bathroom":
http://db.widescreenreview.com/webnews/FMPro?-db=webnewsearch.fp5&-format=record%5fdetail.htm&-lay=layout%20%231&-sortfield=year&-sortorder=descend&-sortfield=month&-sortorder=desc end&-sortfield=day&-sortorder=descend&Type=Web%20News&-op=eq&Year=2004&-op=eq&Month=09&-op=eq&Day=16&-max=2147483647&-recid=41951&-find= (http://db.widescreenreview.com/webnews/FMPro?-db=webnewsearch.fp5&-format=record%5fdetail.htm&-lay=layout%20%231&-sortfield=year&-sortorder=descend&-sortfield=month&-sortorder=descend&-sortfield=day&-sortorder=descend&Type=Web%20News&-op=eq&Year=2004&-op=eq&Month=09&-op=eq&Day=16&-max=2147483647&-recid=41951&-find=)

- The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has announced a standard (CEA-2027) for a home-networked user interface:
http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10554

- Based on figures from CEA, sales to U.S. dealers of non-H/DTV television sets for the first 35 weeks of 2004 were down 4.9% from the same period in 2003. My ten-week running average was down 15%.
Sales of so-called "Digital Television" for the 35th week were 87,631 units (even that was down almost 27% from the same week last year), for the first 35 weeks 2,469,711.
"Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays without DTT-reception capability) accounted for about 14.5% of the TVs (not counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers through the 35th week this year. It may be worth noting here what that means. About 85% of the non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 35th week this year were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify as a "Digital Television," a display need only be capable of dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either receiving digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable of receiving DTT signals were still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of only the LG at Video & Audio Center.

- The ads - The Dell and Harvey ads are from last week; I missed them. Sears called the Panasonic "25" plasma TVs "monitor."
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- [Advent] HT2751A 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $399.99
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3254.99
- JVC HD61Z575 61-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $4049.99
- JVC LT17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $806.99
- JVC PD42V475 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3068.99
- LG RU-52SZ51D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV (part of package) $3733.98
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2161.99
- Mystery brand plasma TV $1879.99
- Panasonic PT-60LC14 60-inch LCD projection TV $3440.99
- Panasonic TH-37PD25U/P 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2349.99
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4949.99 OW
- Panasonic TH-50PX25U/P 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6749.99 OW
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3779.99
- Samsung TX-P3071WH 30-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $949.99
- Sansui LCDVD200 20-inch widescreen LCD/DVD combo $899.99
- Sony KLV21SG2 21-inch widescreen LCD TV $1424.99
- Sony KV36HS420 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1424.99
- Toshiba 26HL84 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2149.99
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1597.99
- Toshiba 57H84 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1785.99
- Zenith E44W46LCD 44-inch widescreen LCD projection TV $1999.99
OW - price includes on-wall installation after rebate
- Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers):
- Akai PT4299HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $999.99
- Hitachi 42HDT50 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.99 BS
- Hitachi 57F510 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1999.99
- JVC AV30W475 30-inch widescreen CRT TV $599.99
- Magnavox 15MF170V 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $499.99
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV $2499.99 BS
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $899.99 BS
- Panasonic TC32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3499.99 BS
- Panasonic TH37PD25U 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2499.99 BS
- Philips 17PF8946 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $799.99 BS
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499.99 BS
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3299.99
- Samsung TXP2775HD 27-inch integrated direct-view CRT DTV $699.99 BS
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99 BS
- Sony KF42WE610 42-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2799.99 BS
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3299.99 BS
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2499.99 BS
- Sony KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99 BS
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999.99 BS
BS - price "before savings"
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimer):
- Hitachi 57F500 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1999.99 BS
- Panasonic PT-50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2999.99
- Samsung SPN4235 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99 BI
- ViewSonic N2700W 27-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $1599.99 AR
- ViewSonic VPW425 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99 BI
AR - price after mail-in rebate
BI - price includes basic installation
BS - price "before savings"
- Dell (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Dell W1700 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $699
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- "Major Brand" 51-inch widescreen projection TV $1199
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4497
- Mitsubishi WS-65513 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2499 BS
- Mystery brand 37-inch widescreen plasma TV $1397
- Mystery brand 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- Panasonic TH-42PX25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499 BS
BS - price "before savings"
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimers):
- "Famous Brand" 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- Fujitsu P55XHA30WS 55-inch 16:9 plasma TV $10,499 AR DVD
- JVC LT17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $749
- LG RU42PZ61 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799 DVD
- LG RU52SZ30 52-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2699 DVD
- Mitsubishi WD62725 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4699 DVD
- Philips 23PF9966 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1699 DVD
- Philips 26PW8402/37 26-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $649
- Philips 50FD9955 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4999 DVD
- Philips 62PL9774/37 62-inch LCoS projection TV $4299 DVD
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499 DVD
- Samsung LTP266W 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2499 DVD
- Samsung TXP3075WHXF 30-inch 16:9 integr. direct-view CRT DTV $999 DVD
- Sharp LC45GX6U 45-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $7999 DVD
- Sony KD34XBR960 34-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view DTV $2199 DVD
- Sony KDE50XBR950 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $9999 DVD
- Sony KDL32XBR950 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $5499 DVD
- Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999 DVD
- Sony KF42WE610 42-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2799 DVD
- Zenith C27V36 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $499
AR - price after mail-in rebate
DVD - price includes "HD upconverting" DVD player
- Harvey (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Loewe Spheros 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4499
- Samsung HLP5685W 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4799
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- JVC LT26WX84 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1879.99
- Panasonic PT-50DL54 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Panasonic TC17LA2 17-inch 4:3 LCD TV
- Philips 30PF9975 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2299.99
- Sony KE-42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG RU20LA61 20-inch direct-view LCD TV $998
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1798
- LG RU37LZ30 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $4998
- LG RU42PX11 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2497
- LG RU44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2798
- LG RU44SZ80L 44-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2499
- LG RU52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3298
- Pacific Sales (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Philips 30PF9975 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1997
- Sharp LC30HV2U 30-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $2497
- Sony KP57WS500 57-inch 16:9 projection TV $1297
- Sony KV32FS100 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $467
- Toshiba 32A42 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $297
- Paul's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic TH42PD25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2995
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer -- with REAL model #s!):
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3999.99
- Mitsubishi WD62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4499.99
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1899.99
- Mitsubishi WS65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2299.99
- Panasonic PT-50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2999.99
- Panasonic PT-60LC14 60-inch LCD projection TV $3699.99
- Panasonic TH-37PD25 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2499.99
- Panasonic TH-42PD25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.99
- Sony [KP]46WT520 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99
- Sony [KP]51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1399.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, appropriate disclaimer):
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3499.95 BS
- LG RU52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.95
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3999.95 BS
- Mitsubishi WS55513 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1799.95
- Panasonic CT27HL14 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $949.90 PP
- Panasonic PT47WX34 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1098.95
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2999.95 BS
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $899.95 BS
- Panasonic TC22LH1 22-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1799.95 BS
- Panasonic TH37PD25 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2499.95 BS
- Panasonic TH42PD25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.95 BS
- Philips 32PT8320 32-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $699.95
- Philips 42PF9976 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.95 BS
- Samsung HLN567W 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3799.95
- Sharp LC22SV6U 22-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $1298.95
- Sharp LC32GD6U 32-inch widescreen LCD integrated DTV $4999.95 BS
- Sharp XVZ10000 16:9 DLP projector $7999.95
- Sony KDE42XBR950 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7999.95 BS
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2499.95
- Philips 32PT8320 32-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $1499.95 BS
- Zenith P42W22B 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1998.95
BS - price "before in-store savings"
PP - price is for complete home-theater package with sound system
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG DU50PZ60 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6497
- LG LST-3410A ATSC receiver/PVR $797
- LG MU60PZ90V 60-inch 16:9 plasma TV $11,997
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1797
- LG RU42PX11 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2497
- LG RU42PZ61 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3979
- LG RU52SZ60 52-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2697
- LG RU44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2497
- Panasonic TH42PA20UP 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2797
- Sony KE32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2697
- Sony KF60WE610 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3397

- Tech-Notes #126 has come out:
http://www.tech-notes.tv/Archive/tech_notes_126.pdf

- DVD news: According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the first 35 weeks of 2004 were down 4.5% from the same period in 2003. My ten-week running average was down 14%. VCR sales were down 63.2%.

- The latest edition of the Electronic Frontier Foundation's "EFFector" has an article on the proposed "Induce Act," which some see as reversing the Supreme Court's 1984 Betamax decision (which authorized home video recording):
http://www.eff.org/effector/17/34.php

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- September 25, Plus8 Video Annex, Burbank, California, Cinematography's Digital Revolution Workshop with Roy Wagner, ASC http://www.welchintegrated.com/asc/enews_ACmag_RHW04.html.
- September 28, Four Seasons Hotel, Washington, D.C., MSTV 18th Annual Television Conference, "Broadcast Television: Meeting America's Digital Demand," http://mstv.org/evfall.html.
- October 5-7, Des Moines Marriott, Iowa, Iowa DTV Symposium 2004 http://www.iptv.org/dtv/2004/.
- October 6-7, Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, Government Video Technology Expo http://www.GVExpo.com.
- October 7-9, Embassy Suites Baltimore North, Hunt Valley, Maryland, WEBE/SMPTE convention [url] http://www.webe.org/pages/convention.html[/url].
- October 13-15, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast Symposium http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symposium.html.
- October 18-19, Pasadena Convention Center, California, Global Society for Asset Management G-SAM 2004 http://www.g-sam.org/gsam2004/index.asp.
- October 18-20, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CEA Industry Forum http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=IF04.
- October 19-20, Hudson Hotel, New York, 12th ETA Summit http://www.etaexpo.com/.
- October 20-23, Pasadena Convention Center, California, SMPTE Technical Conference and Exhibition http://www.smpte.org/conferences/146tech.cfm.
- October 25-28, Orlando World Center Marriott, ShowEast http://www.showeast.com/filmgroup/showeast/index.jsp.
- November 2, Laemmle's Monica, Digital Studio Conference http://www.ihollywoodforum.com/.
- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo http://www.hdexpo.net/.
- November 4-7, Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home Entertainment 2004 West http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/.
- November 15-18, Long Beach Convention Center, California, Electronic House Expo http://www.ehx2004.com/.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE http://bee.jesa.or.jp.
- December 7, Radisson Barcello Hotel, Washington, D.C., ATSC ACAP seminar http://www.atsc.org/seminars/2004_ACAP/acap_04.htm.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking Conference http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show http://www.cesweb.org/.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International Conference on Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. Next week's memo might be late.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Alan Roberts

5th October 2004, 08:45

Dated 4 October 2004

================================================== ======

Sorry about the lack of memo last week. Things got too hectic.

- Follow-ups:

- ***The Technology Retreat*** -
- It's shaping up nicely. The major networks are committing to
be there for the broadcasters panel. Brad Hunt, senior vp and chief
technology officer of the Motion Picture Association (MPAA) will be doing a
"Digital Content Protection 2005 Status Report." Attorney Jim Burger will
provide another Washington update (and there should be plenty to be updated
on!). There will be a Wednesday morning compression tutorial (including
such not-strictly-technical items as licensing). We are expecting AAF and
ATSC tutorials on Tuesday.
- If you are interested in moderating a breakfast roundtable on
any TV/video/cinema-related subject on Thursday and/or Friday morning, just
let me know the topic(s) and day(s), and you're on.
- If you are interested in demonstrating any new technology, just
let me know, and you're on. We've had some pretty amazing stuff in the
past: 72-fps HDTV, 3-D football, a palmable pan/tilt/roll metadata sensor,
etc. And that's not counting the products that were introduced at the
retreat, such as Panasonic's Varicam and Sony's HDCAM SR. There is no fee
for exhibiting beyond the ordinary retreat admission. We provide power,
table(s), and space; you provide the exciting new stuff, the labor, and the
lack of corporate signage (this is NOT a trade show).
- If YOU are interested in doing a presentation in the main
program, then YOU should contact me. Please do NOT have your PR company
contact me. I can't guarantee inclusion in the main program at this point,
but it's not full yet. Presenters get discounted admission.
- It will be at the same place as in 2003, the Marriott Rancho
Las Palmas Resort, January 26-28 (with pre-retreat events to be announced
-- AAF and ATSC on the 25th). Mark your calendars NOW!
- Registration will be cut off this year when room capacity has
been reached -- no exceptions! Don't say you haven't been warned.
- There doesn't seem to be anything posted on the HPA web site
yet, but you can look up info on the 2003 and 2004 events. FYI, this is
the 10th year of the Technology Retreat:
http://www.hpaonline.com/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1

- CEDIA - Here's another review of the event:
http://www.dvhardware.net/review/3895

- Low-power stations and U.S. DTT - The full Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) order has been released:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-220A1.pdf

- Broadcast flag - The opposition comment window on DTCP closes
October 18, with replies due by October 28:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-3086A1.pdf

- Multichannel video programming distributors (MVPD) and H/DTV -
- Multichannel News reported today that there are consumer
problems with CableCARD TV sets. The full story requires a paid
subscription:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA468337.html
- The National Cable & Telecommunications Association reports HD
cable from at least one operator in 177 U.S. markets (out of 210),
including all of the top-100, with 90 million households being passed by
one of the HD systems. Only 454 DTT broadcasters are being carried, but
there are 17 cable networks that are at least partially HD:
http://www.ncta.com/press/press.cfm?PRid=536&showArticles=ok
- USDTV's non-cable DTT-delivered "cable" service, still in only
three markets at the time of their press release, has passed the 10,000
subscriber point:
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040922/225397_1.html
- Viewers are complaining about picture quality after what they
say was a move by DirecTV to carry as many as three HD programs per
transponder:
http://www.widemovies.com/directvcomp.html
Bit rates for MPEG-2 HD are reported to be as low as 7.4 Mbps:
http://www.widemovies.com/dfwbitrate.html

- Digital rights management - Hewlett-Packard, Intertrust, Matsushita
(Panasonic), News Corp. (Fox), Philips, Samsung, and Sony announced the
Coral Consortium today to allow consumers to use digital content from all
sources on all devices within nine months:
http://www.itworld.com/Man/2683/041004drm/
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-drm4oct04,1,2961775.story?coll=la-h
eadlines-technology

- McCain "SAVE LIVES" - Much has happened since the bill was
introduced in the Senate Commerce Committee. In the committee, it was
modified so that only stations on channels 63, 64, 68, or 69 would have to
vacate their channels by 2008 and then only if public safety agencies
requested them and there wouldn't be "consumer disruption":
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=6355
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=televisionNews&storyID=631105
5
http://wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,65056,00.html?tw=wn_3polihead
Then, amazingly, the full Senate passed what seems to be the modified
bill last week. I haven't seen the full bill yet, so I don't know exactly
what's in it. As the amendment appeared to come from the broadcast
industry, I don't think it would have eliminated the labeling requirements,
and news reports say the money to subsidize DTT-reception is still in it.
Seventy-five stations are reportedly in the group that MIGHT have to shut
down by the end of 2007, and they are said to be disproportionately
Spanish-language:
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=6416
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=6370676

- July 1 -
- This week I've listed 156 advertised TVs 36-inch or larger. Of
those, 43 (28%) have integrated DTT-reception capability. The percentage
continues to grow slowly.
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets
that are HD and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- Sony 36S45 36-inch TV @ Universal $319
- Toshiba 36H45 36-inch TV @ Universal $279
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Sharp 25C340 25-inch TV @ Best Buy $169.99
- Daewoo DTQ27U4SC 27-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $229.99
- Magnavox 27MS3404 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $199.99
- Sharp 27-inch TV @ Fry's $169
- Sylvania 6427TE 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $168.95
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- "Famous Brand" 13-inch TV @ Universal $49
- Sylvania SRT2313A 13-inch TV @ Sears $59.99
- Advent Q1435A 14-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $99.99
- ESA ET419E 19-inch TV @ Circuit City $89.99
- "Famous Brand" 19-inch TV @ Universal $65
- Memorex MT1194 19-inch TV @ Sears $99.99
- Toshiba 19A24 19-inch TV @ Best Buy $119.99
- Broksonic DVD-R/RW/VCR combo @ Circuit City $279.99 after rebate
- Coby DVD-R1100 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $199.99
- GoVideo R6740 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $199.99
- Magnavox MRV64017 DVD+R/RW recorder @ Circuit City $249.99
- Mystery-brand DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $89.99
- Sylvania SRD4900 DVD/VCR combo @ Sears $89.99
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Sansui VRD4005 VCR/DVD-R/RW recorder @ Sears $299.99
- Sylvania SRC2213W 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Sears $99.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Sony MZ-NHF800 AM/FM/TV/weather MD recorder @ J&R

- May 1 -
- The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) updated its list
today to 1315 DTT stations operating in 209 U.S. markets:
http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/issues/digitaltv/DTVStations.asp
- The FCC has not yet posted any September list updates:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvsum.html
- Doug Lung reported the FCC CDBS database listing 618 licensed
U.S. DTT stations as of September 26:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=583

- The FCC "kicked off" a DTV education campaign today:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-252592A1.pdf
The content panel comprised the Association of Public Television
Stations (APTS), CBS, Discovery, ESPN, Fox, HBO, and Sinclair. The "How
consumers can take advantage" of the content panel comprised the Consumer
Electronics Association (CEA), Decisionmark, DirecTV, Emmis, Hearst-Argyle,
the Association for Maximum Service Television (MSTV), and NCTA:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-252835A1.pdf
Other than APTS, there were no public-interest groups represented,
though they wanted to be. That reportedly ticked off the Democratic
commissioners. The full story requires a paid subscription:
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA468336.html?display=Breaking+New
s
The FCC proudly announced its effort today:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-252851A1.pdf
FCC chair Michael Powell reportedly was interviewed about it on ABC's
"Monday Night Football" tonight:
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=6443
I tried out the associated web site. It seems to try to drive home
two points:
1. DTV is not the same as HDTV.
2. DTV includes digital cable and satellite as well as DTT.
Then the site does its best to confuse consumers about those points.
One button, for example, says "Look up DTV and HDTV programming." It sends
consumers to the new Decisionmark CheckHD site co-sponsored by ABC, CBS,
Fox, NBC, WB, UPN, Sinclair, CEA, LG, Mitsubishi, and Panasonic -- so far
-- also activated today. But, as its name suggests, it is about HD
programming on cable and satellite. The only hint of non-HD digital
programming is restricted to broadcast:
http://www.checkhd.com/
Then there's the FAQ question, "Can I see a big difference between
analog TV and DTV?" The answer is said to yes -- because of HDTV.
There are other strange items. Scientific-Atlanta is listed as a
broadcaster. It's listed but not Motorola. Showtime is listed but not HBO.
SDTV is said to provide 150-300,000 pixels. That's okay. It's sort of the
range between a half-bandwidth cable or satellite channel (168,960) and a
full-bandwidth one (345,600). But EDTV is said to range from 300-400,000
pixels.
Then there's the problem the FCC got itself into by calling its
DTT-reception mandate a "tuner" mandate. The site notes that devices
without tuners cannot receive DTT. Fair enough. But the Sears ad for
Sony's entry-level KE42M1 plasma TV boldly specifies that it includes a
tuner. It DOES! It's an NTSC tuner, and it won't provide DTT reception.
Those are just some first-glance issues:
http://www.dtv.gov/

- Here's a report on the annual MSTV DTT conference in Washington:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2346

- The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has approved a
recommended practice, A/111, for the "Design of Synchronized Multiple
Transmitter Networks":
http://www.atsc.org/news_information/press/2004/PR_111_SMTN_04.htm

- Here's a story on a lodging trade site about HDTV in hotels:
http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4020692.search?query=hdtv+digi
tal+tv

- International H/DTV news:

- A survey by Decima Research reports that Canadians are happy with
analog cable:
http://www.advanced-television.com/2004/news_archive_2004/Sep20_24.htm#cana
dianrest

- On a similar note, a story in Cableworld is headlined "HDTV: An
Uphill European Climb":
http://www.cableworld.com/ct/archives/0904/0904_optimize.htm
Here's another story on HD in Europe:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/international/feature_display.jsp?vnu_
content_id=1000642977

- Malaysia plans DTT next year:
http://www.ctimes.com.my/Highlight/20040927102122/wartrevamp

- DTT is moving beyond Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo in Japan:
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/040930/kyodo/d85dui7o0.html

- One company, Advanced Digital Broadcast, claims to have shipped
half-a-million DTT receivers to retailers in Italy:
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040924/245126_1.html

- Chinese manufacturer Changhong has priced a 43-inch projection TV at
5999 yuan ($724):
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-09/30/content_379063.htm

- Korea's Ministry of Information and Communications is offering loans
to speed the DTT transition. Broadcasters will also be required to air
more programming:
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20041001A3016.html

- I'm not quite sure what this story means, but Casema, a Netherlands
cable operator, is said to be offering free "additional" digital TV and
radio starting January 1:
http://www.telecom.paper.nl//site/news_ta.asp?type=abstract&id=52964

- CEA will hold HDTV update meetings in Newark, New Jersey tomorrow, San
Francisco October 20, Los Angeles October 21, and New York November 10:
http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10558

- Based on figures from CEA, sales to U.S. dealers of non-H/DTV television
sets for the first 36 weeks of 2004 were down 4.7% from the same period in
2003. My ten-week running average was down 3.2%. There was a revision of
these figures in the 37th week. For the revised figures, the first 37
weeks were down 5.2%, and my ten-week running average was down 4.5%.
Sales of so-called "Digital Television" for the 36th week were 77,904
units), for the 37th week 94,032, and for the first 37 weeks 2,641,647.
"Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays without
DTT-reception capability) accounted for about 14.6% of the TVs (not
counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers through the 36th
week this year and, given the 37th-week revision, 14.8% through the 37th
week. It may be worth noting here what that means. About 85% of the
non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 36th week this year
were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
Today CEA offered a glimpse at those LCD and plasma sales. The total
"digital television" sales to U.S. dealers for August were 328,838, but,
with LCD and plasma included, they were 514,065. So, if LCD and plasma
were counted along with the other CEA "digital televisions," the total
would represent about 21% of all the TVs sold in August; the percentage
with DTT-reception is much smaller. The figure including LCD and plasma
has not yet been posted on the CEA web site.
To qualify to CEA as a "Digital Television," a display need only be
capable of dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either
receiving digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable of
receiving DTT signals are still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of only the Hughes at Video &
Audio Center and the LGs at Value.

- The ads - As usual when I combine weeks, I have selected the lower price
(if any) when a retailer offered the same model both weeks at different
prices. Where a higher price and gift-card combination was offered, I've
listed both (but I haven't listed the option of DVDs in lieu of discount).
Harvey also advertised a TV stand for $949, chairs starting at $995,
and a remote control starting at $1349 ("Does not include programming").
Sears appears to have called some integrated sets "monitor."
- Best Buy (mostly appropriate disclaimers):
- [Advent] HT2751A 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $349.99
- GE D52GW12 52-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$50 GC $1199.99
- Insignia I-LC23Q1 23-inch LCD TV w/$100 GC $1499.99
- JVC LT17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $799.99
- JVC PD42V475 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99 BI
- LG DU-37LZ30 37-inch integrated direct-view LCD DTV $4999.99 BS
- LG RU-44SZ51D 44-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2659.99
- LG RU-52SZ51D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3134.99
- Mits. WD-52525 52-in. 16:9 integr. proj. DTV $3799.99
($3999.99/$300GC)
- Mits. WD-62525 62-in. 16:9 integr. proj. DTV $4274.99
($4499.99/$400GC)
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 proj. TV $1785.99 ($1899.99/$100GC)
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2184.99
- Mystery-brand plasma TV $1999.99
- Panasonic PT-43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV w/$200 GC $2499.99
- Panasonic PT-50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV w/$200 GC $2999.99
- Panasonic TH42PD25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2849.99 WI
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.99 BI
- Philips 30PW8402 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $799.99
- Philips 42PF9966 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV - part of a package
- Pioneer PDP4341HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5349.99
- Pioneer PDP5041HD 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6599.99 AR WI
- RCA HD61THW263 61-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $8099.99
- Samsung HL-P4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2975.99
- Samsung HL-P5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- Samsung HL-P6163W 61-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $4299.99
- Samsung LTN406W 40-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV w/$500 GC $4999.99
- Samsung LT-P326W 32-inch direct-view LCD TV w/$200 GC $2999.99
- Samsung SP-P4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3134.99 WI
- Samsung TX-P2670WH 26-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $664.99
- Sharp LC32G4U 32-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $3799.99
- Sony KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 proj. TV $1614.99 (or $1699.99 w/$100 GC)
- Sony KV32FS120 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $569.99
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $949.99
- Toshiba 20DL74 20-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $854.99
- Toshiba 23HLV84 23-inch LCD/DVD combo w/$100 GC $1799.99
- Toshiba 30HF84 30-inch 16:9 direct-view flat CRT TV $854.99
- Toshiba 32HF73 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $899.99
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1329.99
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 GC $1699.99
- Toshiba 52HM84 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- Toshiba 57H84 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV w/$100 GC $1899.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1899.99
- Zenith E44W46LCD 44-inch widescreen LCD proj. TV w/$100 GC $2299.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate
BI - price includes basic installation after mail-in rebate
BS - price "before savings"
GC - price includes gift card of amount shown
WI - price includes on-wall installation after mail-in rebate
- Circuit City (mostly appropriate disclaimers):
- Audiovox FPE2000 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $849.99 BS
- ESA PDP4294LV 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2299.99
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3099.99 BS
- Hitachi 50V810 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3999.99 HT
- Hitachi 51F510 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1699.99 BS
- Hitachi 57F510 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1899.99 HT
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299.99 HT
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2999.99 BS
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $899.99
- Panasonic TC32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3499.99 BS/HT
- Panasonic TH37PD25U 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2499.99 HT
- Panasonic TH42PD25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.99 HT
- Panasonic TH42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.99 BS/HT
- Philips 26PW8402 26-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $549.99
- Philips 27PT8302 27-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $549.99
- RCA D52W20 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99 BS
- Samsung HLP4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3199.99 BS
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4199.99 BS
- Samsung LTP227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499.99 HT
- Samsung LTP266W 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1999.99 HT
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2699.99 BS HT
- Samsung TXP2745FP 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $449.99
- Samsung TXP3064W 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799.99 BS
- Sharp LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $1099.99 HT
- Sharp LC20S1UB 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $899.99
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2199.99 HT
- Sharp LC32G4U 32-inch LCD direct-view TV $3299.99 HT
- Sharp LC32GD4U 32-inch integrated LCD direct-view DTV $3799.99 HT
- Sharp LC37GD4U 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $5499.99 HT
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch widescreen integr. LCD proj. DTV $2799.99 HT
- Sony KP46WT520 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99
- Sony KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99 HT
- Sony KV30HS420 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.99 HT
BS - price "before savings"
HT - price includes home-theater sound system
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimer):
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.99
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2499.99
- Sharp LC32G4U 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3999.99
- Dell (no disclaimer):
- Dell 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $699
- Dell 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1399
- Dell 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1999
- Dell 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $2299
- Dell W3000 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $2125
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- "Major Name Brand" 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3699
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4199
- Mitsubishi WS-48613 48-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1799
- Mitsubishi WS-65713 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3199
- Mystery brand 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1899
- Samsung HL-P5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3119
- Sony KF42WE610 42-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $1999
- ViewSonic N3020W 30-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $1997
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimer):
- Fujitsu P55XHA30WS 55-inch 16:9 plasma TV (price confusion)
- Gateway GTWP42M303 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3499
- LG RU42PZ61 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799
- LG RU44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2799
- Mitsubishi WD-62725 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4699
- Mitsubishi WS48513 48-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1299
- Mitsubishi WS65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $1999
- Pioneer PRO730HDI 64-inch 16:9 projection TV $2499
- Samsung HLP4663X 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3199
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4199
- Samsung HPN5039X 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999
- Samsung LTP1795X 17-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $899
- Samsung LTP266WX 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1999
- Samsung TXP2675WHFX 26-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $699
- Sharp LC26GD6U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2999
- Sharp LC30HV6U 30-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $2999
- Sony KD34XBR960 34-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view DTV $2199
- Sony KDE55XBR950 55-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $12,999
- Sony KDL32XBR950 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $5499
- Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2799
- Sony KLV21SG2 21-inch widescreen LCD TV $1499
- Zenith C27V36 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $449
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Great Indoors (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Hitachi 50VS810 50-inch 16:9 integrated LCD projection DTV $3999
- Sharp LC26G4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2499
- Sharp LC26GD6U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $3999
- Toshiba 52HM84 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499
- Harvey (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Fujitsu P42HHA30WS 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6999
- Fujitsu P42VHA30WS 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4999
- Fujitsu P50XHA30WS 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $8999
- Fujitsu P55XHA30WS 55-inch 16:9 plasma TV $10,999AR
- Fujitsu P63XHA30WS 63-inch 16:9 plasma TV $24,999
- Loewe Articos 30 30-inch widescreen TV $1199
- Pioneer PRO920HD 43-inch 16:9 plasma TV $7499
- Pioneer PRO1120HD 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $9499
- Samsung HPP5071 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6999
- SharpVision LC13S2US 13-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $499
- SharpVision LC15PX1U 15-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $1299
- SharpVision LC15S2US 15-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $649
- SharpVision LC20PX1U 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $1799
- SharpVision LC20S2US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $1099
- SharpVision LC32GD6U 32-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $4499
- SharpVision LC37GD6U 37-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $5999
- SharpVision LC45GX6U 45-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $7999
- Sony KDE42XBR950 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7999
- Sony KDE50XBR950 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $9999
- Sony KDF60XBR950 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $5499
- Sony KDF70XBR950 70-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $6999
- Sony KDL32XBR950 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $5999
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $3299
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Humax L3040 30-inch 5:3 LCD TV $1599.99
- JVC LT-23X475 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1299.99
- JVC PD-42WX84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499.99
- Panasonic TC-26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV
- Panasonic TH-50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Philips 30PF9975 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2299.99
- Philips 55PL2524 [9524?] 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV
- Toshiba 30HF84 30-inch 16:9 direct-view flat CRT TV $714.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499.99
- Toshiba 62HM84 62-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Westinghouse W31501 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $429.99
- Westinghouse W32001 20-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $699.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG RU-20LA61 20-inch direct-view LCD TV $998
- LG RU-23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1798
- LG RU-30LZ30 30-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $3298
- LG RU-37LZ30 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $4998
- LG RU-42PX11 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2498
- LG RU-44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2798
- LG RU-44SZ80L 44-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2498
- LG RU-52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3298
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3998
- Mitsubishi WS-65713 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2998
- Panasonic TH-42PD25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2998
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2998
- Magnolia (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Pioneer PRO910HD 43-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6499
- Samsung HLN567 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2998
- Samsung LTP227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499
- Samsung LTP266 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1999
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2699
- Sony KE-32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999
- Paul's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic TH-42PD25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2995
- Sears (no disclaimer):
- Hitachi 46F500 46-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1399.99
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3999.99
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1899.99
- Mitsubishi WS65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2299.99
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2999.99
- Panasonic TH37PD25U 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2499.99
- Panasonic TH-42PD25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.99
- Samsung HCP4241W 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $1099.99
- Samsung HCP4741W 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1199.99
- Samsung HLP4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3199.99
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499.99
- Samsung SPP4231 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99
- Samsung TXP3064W 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799.99
- Sony KDP51WS655 51-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2099.99
- Sony KDP57WS655 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2099.99
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Sony KP46WT520 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99
- Sony KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1399.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, appropriate disclaimer):
- Epson Home10Plus projector and screen $1299.95
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3499.95 BS
- JVC HD61Z575 61-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $4499.95 BS
- LG RU44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2799.95 BS
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1198.95
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3999.95 BS
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1899.95 BS
- Mitsubishi WS65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2299.95 BS
- Mitsubishi WT42315 42-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1499.95 BS
- Panasonic CT34WX54 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1399.95
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV $2499.95 BS
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $899.95 BS
- Panasonic TC22LH1 22-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1799.95 BS
- Panasonic TC32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3499.95
- Panasonic TH42PD25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2849.95
- Panasonic TH42PX25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.95 BS
- Panasonic TH50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6999.95 BS
- Philips 34PW850H 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.95
- Philips 42PF9976 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499.95 BS
- Philips 55PL9774S 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3499.95 BS
- Pioneer PRO910HDI 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7499.95 BS
- Samsung HLN567W 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3799.95
- Sharp LC13S1US 13-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $449.95
- Sharp LC15S1US 15-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $549.95
- Sharp LC20S1US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $899.95
- Sharp LC22SV6U 22-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $1197.95
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2199.95
- Sharp LC32GD6U 32-inch widescreen LCD integrated DTV $3799.95 BS
- Sony KD34XS955 34-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view DTV $1999.95 BS
- Sony KF60WE610 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2799.95
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999.95
- Zenith C34W37 34-inch 16:9 integr. direct-view CRT cable/DTV $1799.95
- Zenith P42W22B/P42W34H 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1998.95
BS - price "before savings"
- Unitek (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Planar PDP42BK 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- Sony PFM-42X1/B 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3659
- Universal Computers & Electronics (am New York, no disclaimers):
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $2675
- JVC HD61Z575 61-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3449
- Value Electronics (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- LG 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2699.95
- LG 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.95
- LG DU-30L730 [LZ30?] 30-inch integrated direct-view LCD DTV $2999.95
- LG DU-42P410X [PY10X?] 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV $4499.95
- LG DU-60P410X [PY10X?] 60-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV $12,999.95
- LG LST-3410A ATSC receiver/PVR $799.95
- LG LST-4200A ATSC/digital-cable set-top box $279.95
- LG MU-50P290 [PZ90?] 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.95
- LG RU-17LZ22 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $899.95
- LG RU-23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1799.95
- LG RU-44S521D [SZ51D?] 44-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2799.95
- LG RU52S230 [SZ30?] 52-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2699.95
- LG RU-52SZ51D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.95
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Hughes HR10250 set-top ATSC/DirecTV receiver/PVR $999 BS
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3997 BS
- Panasonic TH50PX25UP 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6996 BS
- Sony KE32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2697
- Sony KF42WE610 42-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2397
BS - price "before savings"

- Tech Notes number 126 has come out:
http://www.tech-notes.tv/Archive/tech_notes_126.pdf

- DVD news:

- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the first
36 weeks of 2004 were UP 0.8% from the same period in 2003. My ten-week
running average was UP 14.2%. For the first 37 weeks, they were up 3.6%
and my ten-week running average was up 21.7%. WOW! DVD players are
getting a second wind (I've peeked at next week's figures)! VCR sales were
down 62.6% for the first 36 weeks and 62.7 for the first 37.

- DTS reports it has been selected as a mandatory audio format for
both Blu-ray and HD DVD players:
[url]http://www.dtsonline.com/company/press/press-article.php?ID=132784259&cID=1
&yID=2004[/url]

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- Through October 7, Des Moines Marriott, Iowa, Iowa DTV Symposium
2004 http://www.iptv.org/dtv/2004/.
- October 6-7, Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, Government Video
Technology Expo http://www.GVExpo.com.
- October 7-9, Embassy Suites Baltimore North, Hunt Valley, Maryland,
WEBE/SMPTE convention [url] http://www.webe.org/pages/convention.html[/url].
- *October 7-9, PC&E Stages, Atlanta, HD Expo VariCamp
http://www.hdexpo.net/workshops/varicampHome.html.
- October 13-15, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast
Symposium http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symposium.html.
- *October 18, KAET, Phoenix, SBE Gary Sgrignoli 8-VSB seminar
tjharvey@asu.edu (http://tjharvey@asu.edu).
- October 18-19, Pasadena Convention Center, California, Global
Society for Asset Management G-SAM 2004
http://www.g-sam.org/gsam2004/index.asp.
- October 18-20, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CEA Industry Forum
http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=IF04.
- October 19-20, Hudson Hotel, New York, 12th ETA Summit
http://www.etaexpo.com/.
- October 20-23, Pasadena Convention Center, California, SMPTE
Technical Conference and Exhibition
http://www.smpte.org/conferences/146tech.cfm.
- October 25-28, Orlando World Center Marriott, ShowEast
http://www.showeast.com/filmgroup/showeast/index.jsp.
- November 2, Laemmle's Monica, Digital Studio Conference
http://www.ihollywoodforum.com/.
- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo
http://www.hdexpo.net/.
- November 4-7, Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home
Entertainment 2004 West http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/.
- November 15-18, Long Beach Convention Center, California, Electronic
House Expo http://www.ehx2004.com/.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
http://bee.jesa.or.jp.
- December 7, Radisson Barcello Hotel, Washington, D.C., ATSC ACAP
seminar http://www.atsc.org/seminars/2004_ACAP/acap_04.htm.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking
Conference http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
http://www.cesweb.org/.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International Conference
on Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. Next
week's memo might be late.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html
==================================================

Alan Roberts

12th October 2004, 08:57

Mark's newsletter dated 11 10 2004

================================================
Sorry about the big delay. I was more unavailable than I had expected.
Here's one tidbit from my travels that I found interesting. I read the
newspapers of four New Zealand cities. In each, ads for some TVs touted
the fact that they are high-definition. But there is no HDTV being
carried in New Zealand.

- Follow-ups:

- Sinclair and DTT - Now that they are happy with the performance of the
5th-generation LG/Zenith ATSC receiver, Sinclair appears to be beating
the drum louder than any other broadcaster promoting DTT. They have made
public-service announcements and established a web site:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2255
http://www.myfreehdtv.org/

- Number of U.S. TVs relying on off-air transmission - The comments
filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have come out.
The broadcaster filing, based on a survey by Knowledge Networks/SRI
earlier this year, found roughly one percent of U.S. households to have
DTT-reception capability, about a fifth relying exclusively on
antenna-based off-air reception, and many more with unwired second or
third sets (not to mention VCRs):
http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/PressRel/Filings/OTAComments81104.pdf

- E-VSB - An interesting tidbit about the standard for enhanced U.S. DTT
was noted on the OpenDTV Forum. Section 5.6.1 (page 100) restricts the
maximum robust stream "during premium programming times" to "3 Mbps out
of the total 19.4 Mbps channel capacity":
http://www.atsc.org/standards/a_53c_with_amend_1.pdf
http://www.freelists.org/archives/opendtv/08-2004/msg00059.html

- The "broadcast flag" - The FCC has approved 13 technologies: the old
Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP), the old High-bandwidth
Digital Content Protection (HDCP), four Sony MagicGate systems,
Thomson's SmartRight, the Hewlett-Packard/Philips Video Content
Protection System (VCPS, formerly called Vidi), something called Content
Protection recordable Media for Video Content, TiVo's TiVoGuard Digital
Output Protection Technology, RealNetworks' Helix DRM Trusted Recorder,
Microsoft's Windows Media Digital Rights Management, and JVC's D-VHS.
The first URL is the FCC press release, the second the order, and the
third commissioner Martin's concerns about DTCP licensing terms and
about TiVo's system (which some find insufficiently restrictive):
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250532A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-193A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-193A2.pdf
It's easy to see how a JVC DTT receiver might use its manufacturer's
approved technology to communicate with a D-VHS recorder or how a
Philips receiver might communicate with a Hewlett-Packard device. I'm
interested in seeing how the multiple systems will play out in the
marketplace. Licenses will be available, but will owners of approved
systems buy licenses from others? Will a Thomson receiver be able to
send HDTV to a Sony recorder?

- The FCC DTT-rules review - It includes a new channel "election"
process (stations deciding which of their two simulcast channels to keep
after analog shutdown) starting this December, a new way of dealing
power levels to match analog coverage, requirements for PSIP, closed
captioning, and V-chip information, allowing distributed transmission
(multiple-transmitter coverage), and eliminating the simulcasting
requirement. I find that last interesting, because some of the rationale
for using cable coverage as a justification for analog shutdown is based
on the fact that 100% simulcasting means analog cable carriage IS
carriage of DTT programming.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250542A1.pdf
Commissioners Copps and Adelstein expressed concern about a lack of
public-interest requirements:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250542A3.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250542A5.pdf
Commissioner Martin expressed concern about small broadcasters and
must-carry:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250542A4.pdf

- July 1 -
- Roughly two months after the order went into effect, of 152 advertised
sets 36-inch or larger listed in this memo, only 33 have integrated DTT
reception, and there has even been a return of ads for non-H/DTV 36-inch
sets. Gary Merson reports similar results in his HDTV Insider newsletter:
http://www.hdtvinsider.com
- The Late July edition of the HDTV Insider newsletter also reports that
Comcast, the largest U.S. cable operator, charges the same amount
monthly for either a CableCARD to be inserted in a digital-cable-ready
TV or an HDTV-capable cable set-top box ($5-7/month in either case).
Other cable operators charge less, the monthly CableCARD fees ranging
from $1.25 to $5:
http://www.hdtvinsider.com
- These listings represent all ads I've seen (in the U.S.) since the
last memo at the end of July. Wherever prices varied over the weeks, I
chose the lower. See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated
sets that are HD, progressive, and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- JVC 36-inch TV @ Sears $599.99
- Magnavox 36-inch TV @ Fry's $399
- Magnavox MS3652S 36-inch TV @ Circuit City $499.99
- RCA 36V430T 36-inch TV @ Best Buy $449.99
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Sharp 25C340 25-inch TV @ Best Buy $169.99
- Apex AT2708 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $189.99
- Apex AT2708S 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $168.95
- ESA ET427E 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $179.99
- Magnavox 27MS3404 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $199.99
- Philips 27PT543S 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $199.99
- Sansui TVS2746 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $159.99
- Sharp 27C241 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $179.99
- Sylvania 6427TE 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $168.95
- Toshiba 27-inch TV @ Fry's $199
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Daewoo DTQ13V5FC 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $49.99
- ESA ET413E 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $59.99
- Magnavox 13MT143S 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $79.99
- RCA 13V400T 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $69.99 after rebate
- RCA E13320 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $79.99
- Toshiba 13A23/4 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $79.99
- Symphonic ST419E 19-inch TV @ Best Buy $79.99 after rebate
- Konka K2001UM 20-inch TV @ Best Buy $89.99
- Magnavox 20MT133S 20-inch TV @ Circuit City $109.99
- Mystery brand DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $89.99
- Sylvania DVC845E DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $89.99
- Coby DVD-R1100 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $229.99
- GoVideo DVD+R/RW recorder @ Fry's $149
- GoVideo R6640 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $249.99
- LiteOn LVW5001 DVD+R/RW rec. @ CompUSA $199.99 after rebate
- LiteOn LVW5005 DVD+/-R/RW rec. @ CompUSA $279.99
- Magnavox MRV64017 DVD+R/RW rec. @ Circuit City $269.99 w/rebate
- Panasonic DMR-E55S DVD-R/RAM recorder @ Best Buy $299.99
- Panasonic DMR-E55 DVD-R/RAM recorder @ J&R $299.99
- Philips DVDR80 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $299.99
- Pioneer DVR-225 DVD-R/RW recorder @ Best Buy $269.99
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Sylvania 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Sears $94.99
- Symphonic SC313E 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Best Buy $89.99
- Broksonic SC20145 20-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $269.99
- Sylvania 6719DE 19-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ amazon.com $249.99
- Broksonic SC20145 20-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $269.99
- Sylvania 6720FDE 20-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $249.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Casio TV980 2.3-inch LCD TV @ Circuit City $69.99
- Coby CX-TV1 5-inch TV/AM/FM @ J&R $9.99
- Sony DNF400 AM/FM/TV/Weather/CD portable @ Circuit City $69.99
- Sony DNF400PSGR AM/FM/TV/Weather/CD portable @ Best Buy $79.99
- Sony DNS707F A/FM/TV/Weather/CD portable @ Best Buy $99.99
- Sony MZ-NHF800 AM/FM/TV/Weather MiniDisc recorder @ J&R $249.99
- Sony SRFM AM/FM/TV/Weather portable @ Best Buy $49.99

- May 1 -
- The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) updated its list of
U.S. DTT broadcasters to 1273 on August 12 and to 1292 on August 16.
They list 18 in the not-very-large-geographically New York market, but
most of those would appear not to be on the air whenever I check with a
spectrum analyzer:
http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/issues/digitaltv/DTVStations.asp
FYI, a TV DXer in my market reports being able to get over 40 stations,
from as far as Boston and Washington, but cannot get three of the local
stations stably.
- The FCC updated its lists on August 25. They say 1655 stations (96% of
the original group) have been granted either construction permits or
licenses, and 1445 are on the air:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvsum.html
- There has been no change in the 40 top-10 market stations due on the
air May 1, 1999; it's still 38 fully licensed and two on temporary
authority (due to 9/11):
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat.html
- There has also been no change in the 79 market-11-30 stations due on
the air November 1, 1999; it's still 72 fully licensed and seven on
temporary authority:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat11.html
- These are the 651 stations said to be licensed or operating on
program-test authority:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonair.html
Doug Lung's RF Report in TV Technology noted that the FCC CDBS database
listed 556 licensed U.S. DTT stations as of August 1:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=524
and 598 as of August 15:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=537
His next update is due tomorrow.
- These are the 794 stations the FCC says are operating on temporary
authority (at low power):
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstas.html
- The FCC summary chart now lists 1722 total DTT channel allocations
instead of the previous 1688 because they're now including
single-channel stations (new stations that opted to go straight to DTT
without analog). The summary also says there are 297 non-commercial U.S.
DTT stations on the air:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonairsum.html
The Association of Public Television Stations lists just
*************

- The FCC also just released its list of ANALOG TV stations as of June
30. There were 1747 full power and 7433 low power. Here's a breakdown:
- UHF Commercial 776
- VHF Commercial 589
- UHF Non-commercial 255
- VHF Non-commercial 127
- UHF Class A 497
- VHF Class A 112
- UHF LPTV 1601
- VHF LPTV 517
- UHF translators 2658
- VHF translators 2048
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-251120A1.pdf

- Voom reported close to 25,000 subscribers at the end of June:
http://www.twice.com/article/CA443959?display=Breaking+News

- Still undecided about the upcoming U.S. election? "The Kerry-Edwards
plan will complete the transition to digital television, and accelerate
the return of valuable spectrum that is currently being used for
broadcasting the 'analog' television signal. The plan will ensure that
Americans continue to enjoy free, over-the-air television, including
subsidies if necessary to ensure all Americans can make the transition."
So they say:
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=34772

- The August edition of the NAB's "Destination Digital TV" has come out.
It has more information than previous editions. It lists, for example,
44 ALL-digital markets (none of the top-10; Seattle is the highest). It
also has some statistics on consumer penetration, saying that, as of
their survey earlier this year 5.9% had "DTV" (presumably displays
because only 22.9% of those had DTT-reception capability):
http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/Issues/digitaltv/DDTV/0804.pdf
CEA's recent DTT-reception-capability figures closely match NAB's, but
their figure for displays is much higher (9.5-million households):
http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10511

- There have been many complaints about NBC's HD coverage of the Olympic
Games, ranging from delays to selected content to technical issues.
Here's one as an example:
http://www.nola.com/living/t-p/index.ssf?/base/living-3/1092732935296730.xml

- San Francisco broadcaster KRON is carrying HDNet programming:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/08/19/BUGAV8A83D1.DTL&type=business

- The Advanced Television Systems Committee has approved a
synchronization standard for distributed (multi-transmitter) DTT. The
first URL is for the press release; the second is for the standard:
http://www.atsc.org/news_information/press/2004/PR_SFN_Aug_04.htm
http://www.atsc.org/standards/a_110.pdf

- International H/DTV news:

- The European Commission wants to promote standards but won't impose
one on interactive digital TV -- at least not yet:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=5847644

- Digital Broadcasting Australia reports combined sales of DTT
set-top-box (STB) receivers and integrated TVs (to dealers, I think),
hit 409,000 at the end of June:
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?display=news&newsID=558
In their latest list of those STB receivers, there are 49 models listed,
of which nine are HD-capable. The least expensive model is A$169; the
least expensive HD model is A$599:
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=18

- China currently has 280,000 digital-TV households (all cable, I
think). They want to hit 380 million. Wang Xiaojie, in charge of DTV at
the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, said, "We want
to phase out all analog and convert to digital by 2015. We are going to
have to fund some of the technology required." The plan is to start by
converting the 100 million urban cable households from analog to digital
at an expected cost of $7 billion for STBs.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2004/08/17/2003199112

- Four companies reportedly plan to compete with Texas Instruments in
digital micromirror-based displays:
http://www.eet.com/sys/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=35300003

- This URL will take you to a story about computer manufacturers getting
involved in digital TV products:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,117552,pg,1,RSS,RSS,00.asp

- Key Digital notes that its HD Hanna receives DTT and "scales the video
program to match your display's native resolution with a choice of
numerous output resolutions":
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/altavista/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20040816005278&newsLang=en

- Shades-of-the-Tice-clock department: The Late July edition of Gary
Merson's HDTV Insider also noted that some consumer-electronics retail
salespeople he encountered said he should use a Monster power
conditioner for the best HD pictures. He quotes from the package:
"Monster Clean Power removes 'dirty' AC power for the best high
definition picture." Without it, "You’ll experience a lack of sharpness
and color detail from your high definition components." Merson sets the
record straight:
http://www.hdtvinsider.com

- Based on figures from CEA, here are the statistics for factory sales
to U.S. dealers since the last memo:
- First 28 weeks:
VCRs down 63.5%
Non-H/DTV TVs down 3.9% (largely due to TV/VCR combos), 10-week down 13.6%
28th-week "digital" 71,212, first 28 weeks 2,049,477, "digital" portion
15.1%
- First 29 weeks:
VCRs down 62.8%
Non-H/DTV TVs down 2.8%, 10-week running average down 11.3%
29th-week "digital" 85,382, first 29 weeks 2,134,859, "digital" portion
15.2%
- First 30 weeks:
VCRs down 62.6%
Non-H/DTV TVs down 2.6%, 10-week running average down 12.2%
30th-week "DTV" 147,681, first 30 weeks 2,282,540, "digital" portion 15.4%
- First 31 weeks:
VCRs down 63.2%
Non-H/DTV TVs down 4.6%, 10-week running average down 20.5%
31st-week "DTV" 49,039, first 31 weeks 2,323,113, "digital" portion 15.4%
The "digital" portion is the percentage of all TV sales represented by
the "DTV products." It does not include plasma or direct-view LCD. It
may be worth noting here what the 15% means. About 85% of the
non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 31st week this year
were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify as a "Digital Television," a display need only be capable of
dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either receiving
digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable of
receiving DTT signals were still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of four since the last memo
-- the Hughes and Samsung at Best Buy, the Samsung at Circuit City, and
the Toshiba at J&R.

- The ads - This represents all ads I've seen (in the U.S.) since the
last memo at the end of July. Wherever prices varied over the weeks, I
chose the lower. Where the same model was offered at the same price with
different premiums of about the same value, I included only the first I saw.
Circuit City offered $100 towards HD cable on some Panasonic products.
Ultimate Electronics also offered a number of complete home-video
packages; I haven't listed their prices because I couldn't separate the
TV component.
- amazon.com (no disclaimer) - prices said to be "before on-site savings":
- Daewoo DSC-34W70N 34-inch 16:9 flat-screen CRT TV $1099.99
- Gateway 56-inch widescreen DLP projection TV $3499.99
- Olevia LT20HVK 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $699.99
- Philips 30PF9975 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2399.99
- Philips 55PL9223/17 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3499.99
- Sharp LC-32G4U 32-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $3999.99
- Sharp LC-37G4U 37-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $5499.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99
- ViewSonic VPW450HD 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- Hughes HT-LHD DirecTV/ATSC set-top DTV receiver w/dish $299.99
- Insignia I-LC23Q1 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1599.99
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- JVC HD61Z575 61-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV w/$300 GC $4499.99
- JVC PD42V475 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799.99**
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$100 GC $1999.99
- LG RU-44SZ51D 44-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2799.99
- LG RU-52SZ51D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.99
- Maxent MX-42VM10 42-inch widescreen plasma TV w/$100 gift card $1999.99
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3999.99
- Mits. WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DLP DTV w/$300 GC $4499.99
- Mitsubishi WS-48515 48-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2199.99**
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1899.99
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2299.99**
- Mystery brand plasma TV $2499.99
- Panasonic PT-50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2999.99
- Panasonic PT-60LC14 60-inch LCD projection TV $3999.99
- Panasonic TC-26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2499.99
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5999.99**
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-in. 16:9 integr. plas. DTV w/$400 GC $5499.99
- Panasonic TH-50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7999.99****
- Philips 23PF9966 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $2299.99**
- Philips 26PW6341 26-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $399.99
- Philips 30PW8402 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799.99****
- Philips 34PW8502 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1299.99
- Philips 42PF9966 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499.99***
- Pioneer PDP4341HD 43-inch 16:9 integr. plas. DTV $5999.99** w/rebate
- Pioneer PDP5041HD 50-inch 16:9 integr. plas. DTV $7999.99** w/rebate
- Polaroid LCD-1700 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $649.99
- Samsung HL-P4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$200 GC $3199.99
- Samsung HL-P5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4199.99**
- Samsung LT-P227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1799.99**
- Samsung SIR-TS360 DirecTV receiver/decoder w/dish $299.99
- Samsung SP-P4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$200 gift card $3299.99
- Samsung TX-P2670WH 26-inch 16:9 integr. direct-view CRT DTV $899.98****
- Samsung TX-P3071WH 30-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $999.99#
- Samsung TX-P3271WH 32-inch 4:3 integr. CRT DTV w/$100 gift card $999.99
- Sansui LCDVD200 20-inch widescreen LCD/DVD combo $899.99****
- Sharp LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $1099.99
- Sony KE37XS910 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99***
- Sony KE42XS910 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.99##
- Sony KE50XS910 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$500 gift card $6999.99
- Sony KLV21SG2 21-inch widescreen LCD TV $1499.99
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99##
- Sony KV32FS320 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $649.99#
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999.99
- Sony KV34HS420 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $1599.99
- Sony KV36FS120 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.99#
- Toshiba 20DL74 20-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $999.99****
- Toshiba 26HL84 26-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$200 GC $2499.99
- Toshiba 30HF84 30-inch 16:9 direct-view flat CRT TV w/$50 GC $899.99
- Toshiba 32HF73 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.99#
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4499.99**
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1399.99
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99**
- Westinghouse W32701 27-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1699.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1999.99**
- Zenith E44W46LCD 44-inch widescreen LCD proj. TV w/$100 GC $2299.99
- Zenith E44W46LCD 44-inch widescreen LCD proj. TV GC $2299.99##
- Zenith P42W46X 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.99**
** price includes portable DVD/LCD combo
*** price includes basic installation
**** price includes upconverting DVD player
# price includes DVD player
## price includes XBOX video game system
- Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers) - some prices "before savings":
- Akai PDP4249G 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99
- Akai PT4298HD/PT4299HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $999.99
- Audiovox FP1500 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $399.99
- ESA PDP4294LV 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$50 gift card $2499.99
- Hitachi 42HDT50 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$500 gift card $5999.99
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV w/$300 gift card $3099.99
- Hitachi 51F510 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV w/$100 gift card $1699.99
- JVC AV30W475 30-inch widescreen CRT TV $599.99
- Magnavox 20MF200V 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $849.99
- Magnavox 27MS5402 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $489.99
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1199.99
- Panasonic CT30WX54 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $999.99
- Panasonic CT32HXC14 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $799.99
- Panasonic CT34WX54 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $1399.99
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV w/$200 GC $2799.99
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV w/$300 GC $2999.99
- Panasonic TC14LA2 14-inch 4:3 LCD TV $599.99
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $999.99
- Panasonic TC32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3699.99
- Panasonic TH42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV w/$500 GC $5999.99
- Philips 26PW8402 26-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $549.99
- Philips 27PT8302 27-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $549.99
- RCA D52W20 52-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1499.99
- RCA HD61LPW42 61-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV w/$300 GC $3299.99
- Samsung HLP4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $3199.99
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4199.99
- Samsung LTN1535 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $549.99
- Samsung LTP227W 22-inch widescr. direct-view LCD TV $1699.99
- Samsung LTP266W 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2299.99
- Samsung LTP1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- Samsung LTP1745 17-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $749.99
- Samsung LTP2045 20-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $899.99
- Samsung SIRTS360 DirecTV receiver/decoder w/dish $299.99
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$300 gift card $3299.99
- Samsung TXN3075WHF 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $849.99
- Samsung TXP2675WHD 26-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $699.99
- Sharp LC13E1UB/LC13S1UB 13-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $399.99
- Sharp LC13B4US/LC13B6US 13-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $429.99
- Sharp LC20E1UB/LC20S1UB 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $849.99
- Sharp LC20B4US/LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV w/$50 GC $949.99
- Sharp LC22SV2U 22-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $1299.99
- Sharp LC37GD4U 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV w/$500 GC $5999.99
- Sony KDE32XBR950 32-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.99
- Sony KDE42XBR950 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7749.99 w/rebate
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$400 gift card $3999.99
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV w/$300 gift card $3299.99
- Sony KLV21SG2 21-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$100 gift card $1499.99
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$300 GC $2999.99
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1499.99
- Sony KP51WS510/KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 GC $1699.99
- Sony KV27HS420 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $749.99
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $999.99
- Sony KV34HS420 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1599.99
- Sony KV36FS100/KV36FS120 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999.99
- Sony KV36HS420 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1499.99
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimers):
- Panasonic PT-47WX54 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299.99
- Panasonic PT-53WX54 53-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV w/$100 GC $1599.99
- Panasonic TH42PD25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.99
- Philips 55PL9524 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3499.99
- Samsung TXP2675WHD 26-inch 16:9 integr. CRT DTV w/$300 GC $2799.99
- ViewSonic VPW425 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99###
### price includes DVD+R/RW recorder
- Dell (no disclaimer)
- Dell 2200MP projector $899
- Dell W1700 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $630
- Dell W2300 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1399
- Dell 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $2799
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- "Major Name Brand" 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $999
- "Major Name Brand" 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1499
- "Major Name Brand" 60-inch 4:3 projection TV $1499
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4497
- Mystery brand 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- Philips 27PT830H 27-inch widescreen CRT direct-view TV
- Toshiba 52HM84 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3497
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimers):
- "Brand Varies by Location" 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1499
- Philips 32PT842H 32-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $599
- Philips 42FD9955 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- Philips 55PL977S 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $2499
- Pioneer PRO730HDI 64-inch 16:9 projection TV $2999
- Samsung HLN467W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2999
- Samsung HPN4239X 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999
- Sony KV36HS510 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999
- ViewSonic N2700W 27-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $1999
- Great Indoors (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Epson LS47P1 47-inch 16:9 projection TV/photo printer $3199
- Epson LS57P1 57-inch 16:9 projection TV/photo printer $3699
- Panasonic TC-32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3999
- Panasonic TH42PD25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4299
- Samsung HLN467W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299
- Samsung HLN567W 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4199
- Sony KLV-32M1 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3999
- Harvey (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Fujitsu P50XHA30WS 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $7999 after rebate
- Loewe Spheros 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/stand $4499
- SharpVision LC20B4U 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $799
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic TH37PA20P 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499
- Panasonic TH42PA20P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Epson PowerLite S1+ projector w/$100 gift card $999.99
- Humax L3040 30-inch 5:3 LCD TV $1499.99
- InFocus X2 projector w/$100 gift card999.99
- JVC HD-61Z575 61-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV
- JVC LT-17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $799.99
- JVC LT-23X475 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499.99
- LG RU-42PZ90 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- LG RU-52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.99
- Panasonic CT32HL44 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV
- Panasonic CT34WX54 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV
- Panasonic PT-50DL54 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Panasonic TC-20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV
- Panasonic TC-32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV
- Panasonic TH-42PD25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Panasonic TH-50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Philips 17PF8946 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $799.99
- Philips 30PF9975 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2399.99
- Philips 30PW9819 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799.99
- Philips 32FD9954 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2199.99
- Philips 37FD9954 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.99
- Philips 55PL9524 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3799.99
- Samsung HPP5071 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99
- Samsung TX-P2745P 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $399.99
- Sony KDE-50XBR950 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Sony KE-32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3199.99
- Sony KF-50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV
- Sony KF-60WE610 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499.99
- Toshiba 52HM84 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Toshiba DST3100 ATSC/DirecTV/NTSC receiver $499.99
- Westinghouse W31501 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $429.99
- Westinghouse W32001 20-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- Zenith C32V28 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $849.99
- Zenith P42W46 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG RU-15LA61 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $598
- LG RU-44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2798
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3998
- Mitsubishi WS-65713 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2998
- Panasonic TH42PD25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2998
- Sharp LC-37HV6U 37-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $4998
- Sony KF-50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3298
- Sony KF-60WE610 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3998
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer):
- Hitachi 46-inch projection TV, Sears #54713 $1399.99
- JVC 56-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54814 $1699.99
- Mitsubishi 55-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54124 $1899.99
- Samsung 42-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54014 $1099.99
- Samsung 46-inch DLP projection TV, Sears #54058 $3039.99
- Samsung 47-inch projection TV, Sears #54084 $1199.99
- Samsung 50-inch DLP projection TV, Sears #54088 $3324.99
- Toshiba 46-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54434 $1399.99
- Toshiba 57-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54444 $1899.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer noted):
- Akai PT4298HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $998.95
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3499.95###
- LG RU17LZ22 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $899.95 "before savings"
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1995.95 "before savings"
- LG RU44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2799.95 "before savings"
- LG RU52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.95 "before savings"
- Magnavox 42MF7000 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2298.95
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated proj. DLP DTV $3999.95###
- Mitsubishi WS55513 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1849.95
- Mitsubishi WS65513 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2299.95###
- Mitsubishi WS65813 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4162.95
- Mitsubishi WT42315 42-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1387.95
- Panasonic CT34WX54 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1399.95
- Panasonic PT47WX53/54 47-inch 16:9 projection TV
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2774.95
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $899.95
- Panasonic TC22LH1 22-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1799.95###
- Panasonic TH37PD25 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2499.95###
- Panasonic TH42PD25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.95###
- Panasonic TH42PX25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.95###
- Philips 32PT8320 32-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $699.95
- Philips 34PW850H 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.95
- Philips 55PL9774 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3699.95
- Pioneer PDP4340HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5999.95####
- Pioneer PRO910HD 43-inch 16:9 integr. plas. DTV $7499.95 "before sav."
- Samsung LTP2045 20-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $999.95 "before sav."
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3299.95 "before savings"
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2312.95
- Sony KDE42XBR950 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7399.95
- Sony KDL32XBR950 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $5087.95
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3052.95
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1572.95
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV
- Sony KV36FS120 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.95
- Zenith L15V26C 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $498.95
- Zenith L23V36 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1799.95 "before savings"
- Zenith P42W34H 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2589.95
### price includes DVD recorder
#### price after rebate but "before savings"

- Tech-Notes #125.5 has come out. It's largely links (from Lee Wood's
board) to news stories):
http://www.tech-notes.tv/Archive/tech_notes_125.5.pdf

- DVD news:

- According to CEA, here are the factory-to-dealer sales statistics
since the last memo:
First 28 weeks: down 3%, 10-week running average down 14.6%
First 29 weeks: down 1.8%, 10-week running average down 12.8%
First 30 weeks: down 0.6%, 10-week running average down 12%
First 31 weeks: down 3.3%, 10-week running average down 18.3%

- HDNet's Mark Cuban's blog has a story on hard drives (and flash
drives) vs. DVD for both SD and HD:
http://www.blogmaverick.com/entry/7706137582525561/

- PVR news: TiVo reports 1.9 million subscribers, 288,000 of them added
in the second quarter of this year (225,000 of the 288,000 being DirecTV
subscribers):
http://a423.g.akamai.net/7/423/1788/57ae1f2ef76271/www.tivo.com/pdfs/reports/TiVo_Q204_final.pdf

- Satellite news:

- The FCC notes that Canada has requested frequency coordination for
some C-band earth stations:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-251275A1.pdf

- And the Los Angeles Times notes that it's illegal to RECEIVE Canadian
satellite signals here without government authorization:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-canada19aug19,1,339115.story?coll=la-headlines-business

- The CIE chromaticity diagrams are shaped sort of like an elongated,
rotated letter D. Connecting the dots of any three color primaries
creates a triangle rather than a D. An area of visible color typically
lost is in the saturated blue-greens. What can be done? Go to more than
three primaries, as this New York Times article reports:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/26/technology/circuits/26next.html?8cir
I still like the Land Retinex two-primary color TV. Visitors to the
Exploratorium in San Francisco or the Hall of Science in New York can
check out the principle in the "Green Tomatoes" exhibit.

- Nielsen has made the U.S. TV-household universe for the 2004-2005
season 109.6 million, up from 108.4 million in 2003-4 (which was up a
bigger jump from 106.7 million in 2002-3). The top five markets
represent almost 20%; the top ten almost 30%. Glendive, Montana remains
the last (210th) market:
http://www.nielsenmedia.com/

- ***It's that time of year again. If you're interested in doing a demo,
moderating a breakfast roundtable, or making a presentation at the
Hollywood Post Alliance ***Technology Retreat*** in the Palm Springs
area in January, please contact me.

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- Through September 1, Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, Entertainment Media
Expo http://www.media-tech.net/news/New_A.htm.
- September 1-3, Reading, UK, International Symposium on Consumer
Electronics http://www.isce.reading.ac.uk.
- September 9-14, RAI, Amsterdam, International Broadcasting Convention
http://www.ibc.org.
- September 16-19, Sony, Basingstoke, England, SMPTE Engineering
Committee meetings http://www.fibush.net/smpte/Sept2004/Sept2004.htm.
- October 6-7, Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, Government Video
Technology Expo http://www.GVExpo.com.
- *October 7-9, Embassy Suites Baltimore North, Hunt Valley, Maryland,
WEBE/SMPTE convention [url] http://www.webe.org/pages/convention.html.
- October 13-15, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast
Symposium http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symposium.html.
- October 18-19, Pasadena Convention Center, California, Global Society
for Asset Management G-SAM 2004 http://www.g-sam.org/gsam2004/index.asp.
- October 18-20, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CEA Industry Forum
http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=IF04.
- October 20-23, Pasadena Convention Center, California, SMPTE Technical
Conference and Exhibition http://www.smpte.org/conferences/146tech.cfm.
- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo http://www.hdexpo.net/.
- November 4-7, Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home
Entertainment 2004 West http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/.
- November 15-18, Long Beach Convention Center, California, Electronic
House Expo http://www.ehx2004.com/.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
http://bee.jesa.or.jp.
- *December 7, Radisson Barcello Hotel, Washington, D.C., ATSC ACAP
seminar http://www.atsc.org/seminars/2004_ACAP/acap_04.htm.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking
Conference http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
http://www.cesweb.org/.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International Conference on
Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. Next
week's memo might be late.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Alan Roberts

20th October 2004, 10:45

Dated 20 10 2004

=================================================

- Follow-ups:

- The ads - Last week I mentioned that I saw the Samsung SIRTS360
set-top box in a Best Buy ad. I should have said Circuit City, as the
later listings indicated.

- Toshiba's hand-held digital TV receiver/display - There seems to be
a difference of opinion as to whether it has DTT reception or satellite.
Pace is reportedly offering a mobile PVR:
http://broadcastengineering.com/newsletters/scm/20041012/#Pace

- ***The Technology Retreat*** - Mike Strein of ABC is joining CBS,
Fox, PBS, Sinclair, and WB on the broadcasters panel, and
consumer-electronics industry consultant, journalist, and CEDIA board
member Mike Heiss is joining the consumer-marketplace panel. I should have
many more announcements soon related to digital cinema, wide-gamut capture
and display, PSIP, targeted commercials, 4K files, digital dailies, and
more. BE THERE! January 26-28 (with pre-retreat seminars on the 25th and
-- trade press take note -- possible other events before that):
http://www.hpaonline.com

- DTT legislation - The House of Representatives passed a non-binding
resolution calling for a hard analog cut-off at the end of 2006, which
should make the intelligence-reform bill conference interesting. The full
story requires a paid subscription:
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA471489.html?display=Breaking+New
s

- July 1 -
- This week I've listed 85 advertised TVs 36-inch or larger. Of
those, 26 (31%) have integrated DTT-reception capability. The percentage
continues to climb, though it's still well below half.
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets
that are HD and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- Toshiba 36H50 36-inch TV @ Broadway Computers $369
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- JVC AV27530 27-inch TV @ Sears $199.99
- Mystery brand 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $157.99
- Mystery brand 27-inch TV @ Fry's $97
- Philips 27PT543S 27-inch TV @ Best Buy w/$5 "reward" $199.99
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Advent Q143A 14-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $99.99
- ESA ET419E 19-inch TV @ Circuit City $89.99
- Memorex MT1194 19-inch TV @ Sears $84.99
- Sylvania 6420FE 20-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $139.99
- Mystery brand DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $84.99
- Coby DVD-R1100 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $179.99
- GoVideo R6740 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $189.99
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Sylvania SRC2213E 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Sears $89.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:

- May 1 - Neither the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) nor the
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) updated its lists this week.
The FCC has yet to release any September figures.
According to Doug Lung's RF Report in TV Technology, as of October 10,
the FCC CDBS database listed just 623 licensed U.S. DTT stations:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=602

- The FCC Technological Advisory Committee meeting next Wednesday will
feature a demonstration of multiband OFDM:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-3237A1.pdf

- Rights news:
- The New York Times reported last Tuesday that entertainment-industry
interests have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a decision allowing
file-sharing software. I neglected to snag the URL, but it's past the
free-viewing point anyway. If you want to pay for the article, just go to:
http://www.nytimes.com
and enter "Betamax Zeller" in the search box.
- There's a strange story about someone in Canada effectively running
a free wireless-cable service, supposedly legal:
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20040930.html
- Get the latest rights info straight from the experts, like Motion
Picture Association CTO Brad Hunt and Copy Protection Technical Working
Group member Jim Burger at ***The Technology Retreat***, January 26-28:
http://www.hpaonline.com

- Comcast is offering politics on demand in Colorado. Viewers with VOD can
get candidates statements on major issues at any time:
http://finance.lycos.com/qc/news/story.aspx?story=44336631

- International H/DTV news:

- Sales of "digital television sets" in Korea have reportedly FALLEN
the first eight months of this year:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/041019/3/r9ua.html

- A story about NEC selling DTT transmitters in China says
transmissions to mobile receivers in buses, taxis, and ferries have already
begun:
http://www.japancorp.net/Article.Asp?Art_ID=8567

- China is reportedly second only to the U.S. in number of digital-cinema
screens, with the possibility of passing us soon:
http://english.people.com.cn/200409/22/eng20040922_157910.html

- An LCD TV owned by a student in Oregon was shut by government order. It
was emitting the 121.5 MHz distress frequency:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/18/odd.television.reut/index.html

- Based on figures from CEA, sales to U.S. dealers of non-H/DTV television
sets for the first 39 weeks of 2004 were down 6.5% from the same period in
2003. My ten-week running average was down 11.8%.
Sales of so-called "Digital Televisions" for the 39th week were
151,902 units and for the first 39 weeks 2,901,402.
"Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays without
DTT-reception capability) accounted for about 15% of the TVs (not counting
plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers through the 39th week this
year. It may be worth noting here what that means. About 85% of the
non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 39th week this year
were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify to CEA as a "Digital Television," a display need only be
capable of dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either
receiving digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable of
receiving DTT signals are still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I am aware of only the DirecTV units at
Good Guys this week.

- The ads - The Los Angeles ads are for two weeks; where the same model
appeared with two prices, I've listed the lower. Remarkably for
mid-October 2004, the same-store, same-brand, same-size, same-resolution
premium for DTT reception was $500 for the Mitsubishi WS55515 over the
WS55513 at Ultimate Electronics, but there IS a model between them.
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- GE D52GW12 52-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$35 GC $1199.99 BS
- LG RU-52SZ51D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$100 GC $3299.99 BS
- Maxent MX-42VM10 42-inch widescreen plasma TV $1999.99
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DTV $3799.99 BS
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-in. 16:9 integr. proj. DTV w/$130 GC $4499.99
BS
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$70 GC $2299.99 BS
- Panasonic TC-26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$75 GC $2499.99 BS
- Panasonic TH42PD25U 42-in. 16:9 integr. plasma DTV w/$90 GC $2999.99
BS
- Pioneer PDP5041HD 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$220 GC $7499.99 BS
- RCA HD50LPW162 50-inch 16:9 integr. DLP proj. DTV w/$80 GC $2999.99 BS
- RCA HD61LPW162 61-inch 16:9 integr. DLP proj. DTV $3499.99 BS
- RCA HD61THW263 61-inch 16:9 integr. DLP proj. DTV w/$260 GC $8999.99
BS
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$125 GC $4199.99 BS
- Samsung HP-P4261 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$145 GC $4999.99 BS
- Samsung LT-P227W 22-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$45 GC $1499.99 BS
- Samsung TX-P3071WH 30-inch 16:9 integr. CRT DTV w/$30 GC $999.99 BS WS
- Sony KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$50 GC $1699.99 BS
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$30 GC $999.99 BS WS
- Zenith E44W46LCD 44-inch widescreen LCD proj. TV w/$70 GC $2299.99 BS
BS - price is said to be "before savings"
GC - price includes "reward certificates" (gift card) in the amount
shown
WS - price includes stand
- Broadway Computers & Electronics (Metro NY, no disclaimer):
- JVC AV-52Z575 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $2699
- RCA 65HD65 65-inch projection TV $899
- Sharp LC-20B5US 20-inch widescreen LCD TV $749
- Sony KP[51]WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1199
- Sony KP[57]WS510 57-inch 16:9 projection TV $1399
- Circuit City (insufficient disclaimers):
- Hitachi 32HDL51 32-inch LCD TV $3999.99
- Hitachi 42HDT51 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.99
- Hitachi 51F510 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1699.99
- JVC AV30W475 30-inch widescreen CRT TV $599.99
- Magnavox 20MF200V 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $699.99
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1067.99
- Panasonic TC26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2499.99
- Philips 17PF8946 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $799.99
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499.99
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2699.99
- Samsung TXN3075WHF/TXP3064W 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799.99
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch widescreen integrated LCD proj. DTV $2799.99
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499.99
- Sony KF60WE610 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3999.99
- Sony KLV21SG2 21-inch widescreen LCD TV $1499.99
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2499.99
- Sony KP46WT520 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99
- Sony KV34HS520 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1599.99
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimer):
- Audiovox FP-1520 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $399.99
- Daewoo DTS 42 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $1999.99
- ViewSonic N2700W-B1 27-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $1599.99 AR
AR - price after rebate
- Dell (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Dell 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $649
- Dell 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1249
- Dell 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1649
- Dell 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $1999
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3699
- Mitsubishi WS-65513 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2199
- Mystery brand 27-inch widescreen LCD TV $1299
- Mystery brand 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1799
- RCA HD50LPW42 50-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2499
- Samsung HL-P5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3899
- Toshiba 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimer):
- DirecTV/ATSC set-top receiver/decoder $299
- DirecTV HR10250 set-top receiver/decoder/PVR $999
- "Famous Brand" 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3499
- JVC PD42V475 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999
- LG KU17WDVD 17-inch widescreen LCD TV w/DVD player $1199
- LG RU52SZ30 52-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2699
- Mitsubishi PD5030 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4999
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3799
- Mitsubishi WS48513 48-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1249
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $1999
- Philips 17PF9946/37 17-inch 16:9 LCD TV $899
- Philips 30PW8402/37 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799
- Pioneer PRO730HDI 64-inch 16:9 projection TV $2499
- Pioneer PRO1120HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $8999
- Samsung HLN467W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2299
- Samsung HLP4663WX 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3199
- Samsung HPP4261X 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4999
- Samsung LTP266WX 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1999
- Samsung TXP2675WHFX 26-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $699
- Sharp LC37G4U 37-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $4999
- Sony KDE50XS955 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6999
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch widescreen integrated LCD projection DTV $2799
- Sony KDF60XBR950 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $5499
- Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999
- Sony KV34HS420 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1599
- Zenith C27V36 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $449
- Great Indoors (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4199
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- JVC LT-23X475 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1299.99
- JVC LT26WX84 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1879.99
- JVC PD-42WX84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499.99
- Panasonic TH-37PX25U/P 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV
- Philips 32PF9966 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $2399.99
- Philips 44PL9523/17 44-inch widescreen LCoS projection TV $2299.99
- Samsung HLP4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Samsung HL-P6163W 61-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499.99
- Toshiba SD-P7000 17-inch 16:9 LCD/DVD combo $799.99
- Westinghouse W31501 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $399.99
- Westinghouse W32001 20-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $699.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1799.99
- Zenith L17W36 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$75 GC $799.99
GC - price includes gift card of the value shown
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG RU-42PX11 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499
- LG RU-44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2798
- Mitsubishi WD-52725 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3998
- Mitsubishi WS-55813 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2998
- Panasonic PT-50LCX64 50-inch integrated LCD projection DTV $3298
- Sony KDF-42WE655 42-inch widescreen integrated LCD proj. DTV $2798
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WS-55513 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1699.99
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2249.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer noted):
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3499.95
- JVC PD42V475 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.95 BS
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3799.95 BS
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1899.95 BS
- Mitsubishi WS55515 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2399.95 BS
- Mitsubishi WT42315 42-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1499.95 BS
- Panasonic CT34WX54 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1399.95 BS
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV $2499.95
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2999.95 BS
- Panasonic TH42PX25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.95
- Philips 26PF9966 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1699.95 BS
- Philips 30PF9946D 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2299.95
- Philips 34PW850H 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.95
- Pioneer PRO1010HD 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $7999.95
- Samsung TXP2775HF 27-inch integrated direct-view CRT DTV $699.95 BS
- Sharp LC20S1US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $899.95 BS
- Sharp XVZ200 16:9 DLP projector $3499.95
- Sharp XVZ10000 16:9 DLP projector $6999.95
- Zenith L27V46 27-inch widescreen LCD TV $1999.95
- Zenith P42W22B/34H 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1998.95
BS - price is said to be "before savings"
- Unitek (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Planar PDP-42BK 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1799
- Sony PFM-42V1/B 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2299
- Sony PFM-42X1/B 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG RU42PX11 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2497 BS
- LG RU52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3297 BS
- Mitsubishi WD 52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3997 BS
- Sharp LC30HV6U 30-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $2697
- Sony KF42WE610 42-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2397
BS - price is said to be "before savings"

- DVD news:

- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the first
39 weeks of 2004 were up 4% from the same period in 2003. My ten-week
running average was up 9.6%. VCR sales were down 63.1% for the first 39
weeks.

- The plan to distribute secure DVD players to Academy members for
awards voting purposes has not yet been implemented, and the clock is
ticking:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/16/movies/MoviesFeatures/16dvd.html?oref=log
in&th

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- Through October 20, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CEA Industry
Forum http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=IF04.
- Through October 20, Hudson Hotel, New York, 12th ETA Summit
http://www.etaexpo.com/.
- October 20, VCA Fusion, 370 Seventh Avenue, New York, SMPTE NY
Section meeting on 24p post http://www.smpteny.org/smpteny/.
- October 20-23, Pasadena Convention Center, California, SMPTE
Technical Conference and Exhibition
http://www.smpte.org/conferences/146tech.cfm.
- October 25-28, Orlando World Center Marriott, ShowEast
http://www.showeast.com/filmgroup/showeast/index.jsp.
- October 26-29, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Cable and
Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia
http://www.casbaaconvention.com/.
- November 2, Laemmle's Monica, Digital Studio Conference
http://www.ihollywoodforum.com/.
- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo
http://www.hdexpo.net/.
- November 4-7, Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home
Entertainment 2004 West http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/.
- November 15-18, Long Beach Convention Center, California, Electronic
House Expo http://www.ehx2004.com/.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
http://bee.jesa.or.jp.
- December 7, Radisson Barcello Hotel, Washington, D.C., ATSC ACAP
seminar http://www.atsc.org/seminars/2004_ACAP/acap_04.htm.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking
Conference http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
http://www.cesweb.org/.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International Conference
on Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/.
- January 11-13, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort, California,
SCTE Emerging Technologies Conference http://et.scte.org/.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. The
next two memos will almost certainly be late.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Alan Roberts

3rd November 2004, 21:00

This issue dated 3 Nov 2004

==================================================

- Follow-ups:

- ***The Technology Retreat*** -
- A couple of apologies: The name of the expert from Tandberg in
the compression seminar is Matthew Goldman, and on-line registration
probably won't be available until Monday. Sorry about that.
- We are overflowing with submissions for the main program --
many more than we can include. Unless you have something earth shattering,
please do not submit anything more for the main program.
- BUT there are PLENTY of breakfast roundtables available, and
there's still space in the demo area. If you'd like one or more breakfast
roundtables, please just let me know the topic(s) -- very short titles,
please -- the moderator(s), and the day(s) -- Thursday and/or Friday.
- So, wait until Monday, but then REGISTER! Don't say you
haven't been warned:
http://www.hpaonline.com

- CEA DTV Guide - More of the latest version of the Consumer
Electronics Association publication is now available online -
- Here's an overview:
http://www.ce.org/publications/books_references/dtv_guide/default.asp
- Here are just the product charts to which I referred last week:
http://www.ce.org/publications/books_references/dtv_guide/listings/HDTV_Fal
l04_Product_Charts.pdf
- Here's a chart of seven PC DTT-tuner cards, starting at $199:
http://www.ce.org/publications/books_references/dtv_guide/listings/DTV_Tune
r_Cards.pdf
- Here's a chart of recorders -- six D-VHS and 15 PVRs -- both
starting at $449:
http://www.ce.org/publications/books_references/dtv_guide/listings/DTV_Vide
o_Recorders.pdf
- Here's a chart of 18 HD cable boxes:
http://www.ce.org/publications/books_references/dtv_guide/listings/EDTV_Mon
itors.pdf
- Here's a chart of 27 set-top DTT receiver/decoders, starting at
$199 (just one at that price, from V, Inc.):
http://www.ce.org/publications/books_references/dtv_guide/listings/Set-Top_
Decoders.pdf
- Here's a chart of 32 EDTV monitors, of which 26 have no analog
NTSC tuners and are, therefore, not subject to the FCC DTT-circuitry
mandate:
http://www.ce.org/publications/books_references/dtv_guide/listings/EDTV_Mon
itors.pdf
- Here's a chart of 286 HD monitors, of which 126 have no analog
NTSC tuner:
http://www.ce.org/publications/books_references/dtv_guide/listings/HDTV_Mon
itors.pdf
- Combined with the 120 NTSC-tunerless flat-panel monitors I
noted last week, there are 272 NTSC-tunerless models listed, UP from 220 in
the previous version of the guide. Including the integrated sets from last
week, DTT set-top boxes, and PC DTT cards, there are 211 models DTT
receivers of any kind (with or without displays) listed and 696 models of
"digital televisions" listed with no capability to receive
digital-television broadcasts. It is now more than 7.5 years since the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued its DTT rules.

- Ending analog TV broadcasts in the U.S. - The National Association
of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Association for Maximum Service Television
(MSTV) have come up with their own proposal, which they have submitted to
the FCC. Here are the main points:
- Cable systems need to carry all of a broadcaster's digital
transmissions and either offer analog conversion equipment to subscribers
or carry both digital and analog on the cable system to homes (small cable
operators can have some exemption).
- Cable systems must not "degrade" digital broadcasts.
- No new unlicensed devices should operate in the TV spectrum
until after the transition.
- The FCC should ensure sufficient spectrum for wireless mics and
cameras and other auxiliary broadcast gear.
Do all that, and "it could be possible to set a hard date for the
completion of the digital transition, except where the FCC grants waivers
due to factors beyond licensee's control, as in the case of New York City,
and where the issues may have technical consequences in neighboring markets
or other external circumstances."

http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/PressRel/Filings/DTV102904.pdf
As might be expected, the National Cable & Telecommunications
Association (NCTA) was not impressed:
http://www.ncta.com/press/press.cfm?PRid=541&showArticles=ok

- July 1 -
- This week I've listed 107 advertised TVs 36-inch or larger. Of
those, 26 (24%) have integrated DTT-reception capability. Again, I have
not included non-H/DTV projection TVs advertised in AM New York (this time
at Royal Computers and Electronics). The lower percentage might be because
I included Dallas ad supplements this week.
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets
that are HD and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- Sony Wega 36-inch TV @ Royal $549
- Toshiba 36E60 36-inch TV @ Royal $298
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- RCA 25-inch TV @ Royal $98
- Sharp 25-inch TV @ Fry's $169
- Daewoo DTQ27U4SC 27-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $229.99 AR
- Durabrand DU2701/DWT2704 27-inch TV @ Wal*Mart $168.74
- Sylvania 6427TE 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $158.95
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- ESA ET413E 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $59.99
- "Famous Maker" 13-inch TV @ Royal $58
- Mystery brand CTGV4563TCT 13-inch TV @ Conn's $59.99
- RCA 13V400T 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $69.99 AR
- RCA E13320 13-inch TV @ Conn's $79.97
- Sylvania SRT2313 13-inch TV @ Sears $59.99
- Samsung 14-inch flat-screen TV @ Target $99
- "Famous Maker" 19-inch TV @ Royal $78
- Toshiba 19A24 19-inch TV @ Best Buy $119.99
- Toshiba 19A24 19-inch TV @ Conn's $119.99
- "Famous Brand" VCR @ Royal $34.99
- Apex VCR/DVD/Picture CD/MP3/WMA combo @ OfficeMax $79.99
- Emerson EWD2204 VCR/DVD combo @ Wal*Mart $79.86
- ilo DVDR04 DVD+R/RW recorder @ Wal*Mart $149.67
- Magnavox MRV640 DVD+R/RW recorder @ Best Buy $199.99
- Panasonic DMR-E55K DVD-R/RAM recorder @ Fry's $269
- Samsung DVD-R100 DVD-R/RW/RAM recorder @ J&R $299.99
- Sony RDRGX7/B DVD+/-R/RW recorder @ Best Buy $299.99 AR
- Sharp DVRW340U VCR/DVD-recorder combo @ Best Buy $299.99
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Emerson REWC1303 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Conn's $79.99
- Sylvania 6313CE 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Ultimate $98.95
- Magnavox 19MDTR2017 19-inch TV/VCR/DVD combo @ Target $198
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- GPX TV524 5-inch TV with AM/FM @ Academy $19.99
- Casio TV980 2.3-inch LCD TV @ Circuit City $69.99
- Sony DNF400 AM/FM/TV/weather CD portable @ Circuit City $79.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate

- May 1 - Neither the NAB nor the FCC updated their lists recently.
It is now November, and the FCC has yet to release any September figures.
It has also been a long time since CEA released any DTT-receiver sales
figures.

- The FCC did, however, today release its analog station figures through
September 30:
- Full-power commercial VHF ------- 589
- Full-power commercial UHF ------- 777
- Full-power non-commercial VHF --- 127
- Full-power non-commercial UHF --- 255
- Class A (low-power) VHF --------- 110
- Class A (low-power) UHF --------- 492
- Low-power VHF ------------------- 496
- Low-power UHF ------------------ 1557
- VHF translators ---------------- 1905
- UHF translators ---------------- 2629
Total U.S. analog TV broadcast transmitters as of September 30 ---
8937:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-253919A1.pdf
Licensed U.S. DTT stations in CDBS database as of October 24 --- 625:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=619

- There are no H/DTV items on the agenda for the FCC meeting next Tuesday:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-253922A1.pdf

- There is yet another integrated-home standard. This one is called the
Universal Home Application Programmer Interface (UHAPI), and the UHAPI
Forum was formed by Access, the Digital TV Industry Alliance of China,
Hewlett-Packard, Philips, and Samsung:
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/041101/16258_1.html

- Qualcomm has created a subsidiary, MediaFLO, to provide 700 MHz
"interactive multimedia services to consumers":
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041101/lam038a_1.html

- International H/DTV news:

- In Canada, cable operators seem to already be doing much of what the
NAB/MSTV plan calls for, delivering both analog and digital simultaneously:
http://www.cedmagazine.com/ced/2004/1104/11c.htm

- Here's an overview of HDTV in Canada:
http://www.torontofreepress.com/2004/bray102904.htm

- Still dealing with our neighbor to the north, a judge in Quebec has
ruled that Canadian federal restrictions on satellite reception infringe on
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, so Canadians should be allowed to
receive U.S. DBS:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20041101/SAT
ELLITE01/TPNational/Canada

- According to the International Herald Tribune, Finland has the
world's highest DTT penetration, 17%:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/10/31/business/digitv01.html

- Based on figures from CEA, sales to U.S. dealers of non-H/DTV television
sets for the first 41 weeks of 2004 were down 6.5% from the same period in
2003. My ten-week running average was down 7.5%.
Sales of so-called "Digital Televisions" for the 41st week were 95,767
units and for the first 41 weeks 3,018,476.
"Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays without
DTT-reception capability) still accounted for about 15.3% of the TVs (not
counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers through the 41st
week this year. It may be worth noting here what that means. About 85% of
the non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 41st week this
year were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify to CEA as a "Digital Television," a display need only be
capable of dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either
receiving digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable of
receiving DTT signals are still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I am aware of only the LG models at Best
Buy and Circuit City. Circuit City also advertised a DirecTV one-room
upgrade to HD for $299.99.

- The ads - Circuit City listed the KDF50WE655 as an alternate model for
the KF50WE610, but one is integrated and one isn't. Conn's advertised the
Mitsubishi WS55311, which is from two model cycles ago. They also noted
that the Hitachi 57S715 has an "HDTV tuner" (singular) but "2-Tuner PIP."
Ultimate had many older models, too. Wal*Mart had a Durabrand six-speaker
home-theater system for $49.73. J&R had the Westinghouse LTV-17v LCD TV
with a 5:4 (advertised!) aspect ratio.
The same-store, same-brand, same-size, same-shape, same-type,
same-resolution premium for DTT reception was $300 at Conn's for the
Hitachi 50V715 over the 50V500.
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- GE D52GW12 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1099.99
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3499.99 LD
- JVC LT26X575 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2299.99 LD
- LG LST-3510A ATSC receiver/DVD player $399.99
- Maxent MX-42VM10 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999.99 LD
- NEC LT170 DLP projector $1499.99 AR
- Philips 30PW8402 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $699.99
- RCA HD50LPW162 50-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2999.99 LD
- RCA HD61LPW162 61-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $3499.99 LD
- Samsung HL-P4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2999.99 LD
- Samsung HL-P5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.99 LD
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999.99 LD
- Samsung HL-P6163W 61-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999.99 LD
- Sharp LC37G4U 37-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $4999.99
- Sony KDE37XS955 37-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4499.99 LD
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999.99
- Toshiba 23HL84 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1599.99 LD
- Toshiba 42HP84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4499.99 LD
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99 LD
- Toshiba 57H84 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1899.99 LD
AR - price after mail-in rebate
LD - price includes portable LCD/DVD combo
- Circuit City (insufficient disclaimers):
- Akai PDP4249G 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2699.99
- Audiovox FPE2000 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV w/$50 GC $699.99
- Hitachi 42HDT51 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$500 GC $5999.99
- Hitachi 50VS810 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV w/$400 GC $3999.99
- Hitachi 57F510 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV w/$100 GC $1899.99
- JVC AV30W475 30-inch widescreen CRT TV $599.99
- LG LST-3510A ATSC receiver/DVD player $399.99
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$100 GC $1799.99
- LG RU42PZ61 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$300 GC $3799.99
- LG RU42PZ71 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$200 GC $2799.99
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV w/$300 GC $2999.99
- Panasonic TC14LA2 14-inch 4:3 LCD TV $549.99
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV w/$50 GC $899.99
- Panasonic TC26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$200 GC $2499.99
- Panasonic TC32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- Panasonic TH42PD25U 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV w/$300 GC $2999.99
- Panasonic TH42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV w/$500 GC $5499.99
- Philips 26PW8402 26-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $599.99
- RCA D52W20 52-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 GC $1499.99
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$400 GC $4199.99
- Samsung HPP5071 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$500 GC $7499.99
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$200 GC $2699.99
- Samsung TXP3264 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $799.99
- Sharp LC13S1UB 13-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $449.99
- Sharp LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV w/$100 GC $1099.99
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$200 GC $2199.99
- Sony KD34XS955 34-inch 16:9 integr. direct-view DTV w/$200 GC $1999.99
- Sony KDF55WF655 55-inch wide integr. LCD proj. DTV w/$300 GC $3599.99
- Sony KDL32XBR950 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $5499.99
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV w/$300 GC $3299.99
- Sony KLV23M1 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$100 GC $1799.99
- Sony KP46WT520 46-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 GC $1499.99
- Sony KV27HS420 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $749.99
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $999.99
- Sony KV36HS420 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $1499.99
GC - price includes gift card of value shown
- Conn's (Dallas Morning News, insufficient disclaimers):
- Hitachi 42EDT41 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.97
- Hitachi 42V715 42-inch 16:9 integrated LCD DTV $2799.97
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2999.97
- Hitachi 50V715 50-inch 16:9 integrated LCD projection DTV $3299.97
- Hitachi 57S715 57-inch 16:9 integrated CRT projection DTV $2299.99
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3799.97
- Mitsubishi WS55311 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1799.97
- Mystery brand 50-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection TV $2299.97
- Mystery brand PT5598 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299.99
- Mystery brand 61-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection TV $2799.97
- Proview HV207 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $799.97
- Samsung HLP4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3199.97
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499.97
- Samsung LTP1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $529.99
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch widescreen integr. LCD projection DTV $2799.97
- Sony KDF50WE655 50-inch widescreen integr. LCD projection DTV $3299.97
- Sony KP46WT520 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.97
- Sony KP57WS520 57-inch 16:9 projection TV $1999.97
- Toshiba 30HF84 30-inch 16:9 direct-view flat CRT TV $799.99
- Toshiba 52HM84 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3199.97
- Toshiba 57H84 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1699.97
- Dell (no disclaimer):
- Dell W1700 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $629
- Dell W2300 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $999
- Dell W2600 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1599
- Dell 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $1999
- Fry's (Dallas Morning News, no disclaimer):
- "Major Name Brand" [Philips?] 51PW9363 51-inch 16:9 projection TV
$1199
- "Major Name Brand" 60-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499
- "Major Name Brand" 61-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2999
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $1999
- Optoma 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2497
- Panasonic PT-60LC14 60-inch LCD projection TV $3399
- Philips 27PT830H 27-inch widescreen CRT direct-view TV $399
- Sony KP57WS520 57-inch 16:9 projection TV $1997
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4199
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $1999
- Samsung HL-P5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3199
- Toshiba 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999
- Harvey (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- LG RU44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2799
- LG RU52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999
- Loewe Aventos 30-inch widescreen direct-view TV $799
- Hewlett-Packard (Dallas Morning News, no disclaimer):
- HP pl4245n 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic PT47WX34 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299
- Panasonic TH42PD25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999
- Philips 42PF9936 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499
- Sony KF42WE610 42-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2199
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2799
- Sony KP46WT520 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499
- Toshiba 65H84 65-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $2199
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- JVC LT26WX84 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1799.99
- Philips 30PF9975 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2199.99
- Samsung HL-P6163W 61-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499.99
- Westinghouse W31501 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $399.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1799.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Epson LS47P1 47-inch 16:9 projection TV/photo printer $1997 AR
- Epson LS57P1 57-inch 16:9 projection TV/photo printer $2497 AR
- LG RU-44SZ80L 44-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2498
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV
- Mitsubishi WS-55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1798
- Panasonic PT-50LCX64 50-inch integrated LCD projection DTV $2998
- Panasonic TH42PD25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999
- Zenith D60WLCD 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2998
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Paul's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic TH-42PD25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2995
- Pep Boys (Dallas Morning News, no disclaimer):
- Real Digital LTD-1502 15-inch 4:3 LCD/DVD combo $399 AR
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Samsung (no disclaimer):
- Samsung LT-P1745 17-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $699
- Samsung LT-P2045 17-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $899
- Samsung LT-P1795W 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $899
- Samsung LT-P227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499
- Samsung LT-P266W 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1999
- Samsung LT-P326W 32-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2999
- Samsung LTN406W 40-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $4999
- Sears (no disclaimer):
- Samsung HCP4241W 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $1099.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer noted):
- Akai PT4298HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $898.95
- Epson LS57P1 57-inch 16:9 projection TV/photo printer $2384.95
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2187.95
- JVC LT26WX84 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1767.95
- JVC PD42V475 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.95 BS
- Magnavox 42MF7000 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2298.95
- Mitsubishi LT2220 20-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1498.95
- Mitsubishi WS55513 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1697.95
- Mitsubishi WS55813 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2984.95
- Mystery brand 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1888.95
- Philips 30PF9946D 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2299.95 BS
- Philips 32PT8320 32-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $598.95
- Philips 34PW850H 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $968.95
- Philips 42PF9976 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4999.95 BS
- Pioneer PDP4340HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4976.95
- Pioneer PRO730/HDI 64-inch 16:9 projection TV $2977.95
- Samsung HCN5529WH 47-inch 16:9 CRT integrated projection DTV $1397.95
- Samsung HLN467 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2874.95
- Samsung HLN567W 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3288.95
- Samsung HLN5039 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4684.95
- Samsung TXN2745FP 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $366.95
- Sharp LC20S1US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $899.95
- Sharp LC22SV6U 22-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $998.95
- Sony KDE42XS955 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.95 BS
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2497.95
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1156.95
- Zenith L23V36 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1397.95
BS - price "before savings"
- Video and Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG RU42PX11 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2497 BS
- Mitsubishi WS-55313 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1597
- Sony KF42WE610 42-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2297
BS - price "before savings"

- DVD news: According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the
first 41 weeks of 2004 were up 1.8% from the same period in 2003. My
ten-week running average was up 16.2%. It's pretty amazing! VCR sales
were down 63.1% for the first 41 weeks.

- Satellite news:

- DirecTV added 484,000 net new subscribers in the third quarter out
of 1.08 million gross to end the quarter with 13.5 million:
http://www.twice.com/article/CA477358?display=Breaking+News

- Lyra Research's DTV View reports that weather-related reception
problems are DBS-viewers' most common complaint:
[url]http://www.dtvview.com/DTVViewReports.nsf/bbc0d6f4c78c142785256a23005932fa/
4526573d966793bf85256f1f005b5260?OpenDocument[/url]

- MPEG reports from its October meeting in Mallorca that it is evaluating
spatial audio coding, is close to a new standard for scalable video coding,
and is calling for evidence on multiple view (3D) coding. The press
release should be posted here soon:
http://www.chiariglione.org/mpeg/for_the_media.htm

- The MPEG Induistry Forum has announced a 30-company sixth round of
interoperability testing, which will include AVC and high-efficiency AAC:
http://www.m4if.org/public/documents/vault/mp-out-40056.php

- The National Center for Accessible Media is offering CaptionKeeper,
software to move video line-21 captions to streamed and file-based media in
QuickTime, RealPlayer, or Windows Media Player formats:
http://ncam.wgbh.org/webaccess/captionkeeper/

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo
http://www.hdexpo.net/.
- November 4-7, Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home
Entertainment 2004 West http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/.
- November 9, Starz Encore, Englewood, Colorado, SMPTE HDTV boot camp
rchelsi@pinnaclesys.com (http://rchelsi@pinnaclesys.com) Rome Chelsi, 303 670-3590.
- *November 10, Post Works, New York, NY SMPTE Section meeting "HDV
Unwrapped" http://www.smpteny.org.
- *November 12, WNET, New York, VSB seminar
http://www.zenith.com/digitalbroadcast/downloads/WNET_Seminar_Flyer.pdf.
- *November 15-16, Indiana Broadcasters Association convention
http://www.indianabroadcasters.org/information/brochure01.html
- November 15-18, Long Beach Convention Center, California, Electronic
House Expo http://www.ehx2004.com/.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
http://bee.jesa.or.jp.
- *November 20, UNC-TV, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, VSB
seminar
http://www.zenith.com/digitalbroadcast/downloads/UNC_Seminar_Flyer.pdf.
- December 7, Radisson Barcello Hotel, Washington, D.C., ATSC ACAP
seminar http://www.atsc.org/seminars/2004_ACAP/acap_04.htm.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking
Conference http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
http://www.cesweb.org/.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International Conference
on Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/.
- January 11-13, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort, California,
SCTE Emerging Technologies Conference http://et.scte.org/.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com.
- March 28-31, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, SURA/VIDe
2005 http://www.vide.net/conferences/spr2005/.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. Next
week's memo might be late.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Alan Roberts

14th November 2004, 16:15

This one's dated 13.11.2004

================================================

Sorry about the delay! I'm involved in a project that's been taking a lot
more time than I expected, but there's supposed to be a respite at the end
of next week.

- Follow-ups:

- ***The Technology Retreat*** - There have been many developments,
but I haven't had a chance to note them all. John Galt of Panavision will
present the Genesis camera. Pete Challinger will be doing a breakfast
roundtable on Thursday on tapeless (and filmless) color correction and one
on Friday on tools for worldwide deliverables. Most important, online
registration has now opened:
<http://www.hpaonline.com>
More as soon as I get a chance.

- MPEG's recent meeting - I had a finger slip last week. I wrote that
they were "close to a new standard for scalable video coding." That should
have been "closer."

- Qualcomm's MediaFLO - Here's a bigger story:
<http://p2pnet.net/story/2943>

- The 5th-generation LG/Zenith DTT receiver - A posting on the AV
Science Forum indicates a delay:
<http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4535510#post4535510>

- July 1 -
- This was the headline on a Consumer Electronics Association
(CEA) press release this week: "CEA And CERC Petition FCC For Expedited 100
Percent Digital Tuner Implementation." CERC is the Consumer Electronics
Retailers Coalition, and the headline makes it sound like they and CEA want
to speed up the "tuner" mandate. They do. They want to speed up the 100%
date for 25-inch and up from July 1, 2006 to March 1, 2006. But there's a
hidden quid pro quo. They want the 50% date of July 1, 2005 to go away.
Why? Their petition to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) cites
this section of these memos to indicate how much hardship consumers buying
27-inch TVs would face if they had to get sets with today's relatively
expensive DTT receiver/decoder circuitry:
<http://www.ce.org/press_Room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10599>
TV Technology caught the hidden agenda. Their article, too, cites
this section of these memos:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2475>
- This week I've listed 111 advertised TVs 36-inch or larger. Of
those, 35 (32%) have integrated DTT-reception capability.
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets
that are HD and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- ESA EF427E 27-inch flat-screen TV @ Circuit City $249.99
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- ESA ET413E 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $59.99
- Sylvania SRT2313B 13-inch TV @ Sears $59.99
- Advent Q1435A 14-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $99.99
- ESA ET419E 19-inch TV @ Circuit City $89.99
- Memorex MT1194 19-inch TV @ Sears $89.99
- Samsung DVD-V4600A DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $119.99
- Toshiba SDV392 DVD/VCR combo @ Sears $119.99
- Zenith XBV442 DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $109.99 w/movie
- LiteOn DVD+/-R/RW recorder @ CompUSA $249.99
- Panasonic DMR-E55S DVD-R/RAM recorder @ Best Buy $299.99
- Pioneer DVR-320-S DVD recorder @ J&R $299.99
- Samsung DVD-R100 DVD+/-R/RW recorder @ J&R $299.99
- Sylvania DVR90DE DVD recorder @ amazon $189.99
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- ESA EC313E 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Circuit City $109.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Sony DNF400PS AM/FM/TV/weather/CD portable @ Best Buy $74.99
- Sony ICF-CD73V AM/FM/TV/weather/CD shower radio @ J&R $79.99
- Sony ICF-S79 AM/FM/TV/weather shower radio @ J&R $49.99

- May 1 - Activity at last!
- The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) updated its list
on Wednesday to 1344 DTT stations operating in 211 U.S. markets:
<http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/issues/digitaltv/DTVStations.asp>
- Having skipped September entirely, the FCC last week released
its October 27 update.
- They have increased the total number of DTT-station slots
to 1722 including single-channel stations. Of that number, 1669 (97%) have
been granted a construction permit or license, 1468 are broadcasting some
amount of DTT at some power, and 669 are authorized to transmit at full
power, either licensed or on program-test authority:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvsum.html>
- Here's the information in tabular form:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonairsum.html>
- There has been no change in the top-ten-market stations
due on the air May 1, 1999:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat.html>
- There has also been no change in the market-11-30 stations
due on the air November 1, 1999:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat11.html>
- These are the 799 stations operating on temporary
authority at low power:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstas.html>
- These are the 669 that were either licensed or on
program-test authority as of October 27:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonair.html>
- According to Doug Lung's RF Report, 636 stations were listed as
licensed in the FCC database as of November 7:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=640>

- International H/DTV news:

- Taiwan plans to cut its commodity tax on digital TV in half to help
speed the transition:
<http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2004/11/09/2003210344>

- The lowest priced of the 17 integrated DTT sets listed by Digital
Broadcasting Australia is a 26-inch Loewe direct-view CRT SDTV model for
A$2248 (about $1729):
<http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=78>

- Canada's Star Choice satellite service now has nine HD channels:
<http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/041104/45036_1.html>

- France had been debating putting off DTT to wait for MPEG-4 coding:
<http://www.advanced-television.com/2004/news_archive_2004/Nov1_5.htm#nopeac
e>
But MPEG-2 won, and the launch is still scheduled for March:
<http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/041108/323/f669m.html>

- DTT receiver prices in Italy have been dropping so rapidly (with
over three million sold so far) that the government is considering reducing
its subsidy from 150 euro to 70 or 80:
<http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200411051844-1187-RT1-CRO-0-NF82&page
=0&id=agionline-eng.italyonline>

- Here's an update on DTT in Germany:
<http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=26&story_id=1
3679&name=German+digital+TV+revolution+takes+hold+>

- A report from the Informa Group reportedly says the UK is lagging
behind Canada, Norway, Ireland, Finland, and the U.S. in the digital
transition. Really?
<http://www.thebusinessonline.com/modules/news/view.php?id=29141>

- A survey of Freeview homes by TNS Research in August and September
reportedly showed 29% having to pay 80-100 UKP to upgrade their antennas.
The government had been saying it was 10%:
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1346603,00.html>

- SCRI International's Digital Cinema Marketplace Report shows 39.4% of
producers already shooting feature movies electronically rather than on
film:
<http://www.scri.com>

- Based on figures from CEA, sales to U.S. dealers of non-H/DTV television
sets for the first 42 weeks of 2004 were down 5.9% from the same period in
2003. My ten-week running average was down 7.1%.
Sales of so-called "Digital Televisions" for the 42nd week were
125,926 units and for the first 42 weeks 3,240,169.
"Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays without
DTT-reception capability) still accounted for about 15.4% of the TVs (not
counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers through the 42nd
week this year. It may be worth noting here what that means. About 85% of
the non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 42nd week this
year were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify to CEA as a "Digital Television," a display need only be
capable of dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either
receiving digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable of
receiving DTT signals are still a small fraction of those numbers.

- The 85% figure doesn't seem to hold true for high-end retailers.
Tweeter's Mark Richardson says, "Somewhere in the neighborhood of 90% or
more of our TV sales are HD-ready TVs":
<http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/P87311.asp>

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I am aware of only the LG at Circuit City
and the Hughes at Great Indoors.

- The ads - Best Buy's "savings" on the Mitsubishi WS-XX315 models worked
out so that the 65-inch model is more than $100 less than the 55-inch. I
suspect an error on the savings listed for the 65-inch. Best Buy also
offered a Samsung indoor TV antenna for $99.99 and a Terk for $149.99.
Circuit City offered 5% rewards (or 18 months of no interest
financing) on most models but listed the amount only for one Samsung model.
- amazon.com (no disclaimer):
- Philips 27PT8302 27-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $599.99
- Toshiba 46HM84 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2999.99
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- Funai F42PDME 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2299.99
- LG RU-44SZ51D 44-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2659.99
- LG RU-52SZ51D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3134.99
- Maxent MX-42VM10 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999.99
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1804.99
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99
- Panasonic PT-60LC14 60-inch LCD projection TV $3514.99
- Panasonic TC-26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2374.99
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5224.99
- Samsung LTN406W 40-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $4999.99 BS
- Samsung LT-P1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- Samsung TX-P2670WH 26-inch 16:9 integr. CRT DTV w/$50 GC $664.99
- Sony KD34XS955 34-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view DTV $1899.99
- Sony KD36XS955 36-inch 4:3 integrated direct-view DTV $1614.99
- Sony KDE37XS955 37-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4274.99
- Sony KDE42XS955 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5224.99
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch widescreen integr. LCD projection DTV $2659.99
- Sony KDF50WE655 50-inch widescreen integr. LCD projection DTV $3134.99
- Sony KDF60XS955 60-inch 16:9 integrated LCD projection DTV $4179.99
- Sony KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1614.99
- Toshiba 30HF84 30-inch 16:9 direct-view flat CRT TV $899.99 BS
- Toshiba 32HF73 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $854.99
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1329.99
- Toshiba 52HM84 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.99 BS
- Zenith E44W46LCD 44-inch widescreen LCD projection TV $2184.99
BS - price "before savings"
GC - price includes gift card of amount shown (by mail)
- Circuit City (insufficient disclaimers):
- Akai PT4299HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $999.99
- ESA PDP4294LV 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999.99
- Hitachi 50VS810 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3999.99 DX
- LG LST-3510A ATSC receiver/DVD player $399.99
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499.99
- LG RU42PZ61 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799.99 DX
- LG RU42PZ71 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.99 DX
- LG RU44SZ63D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2799.99 DX
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV $2499.99 DX
- Panasonic TC32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3499.99 WM
- RCA D52W20 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99 DX
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499.99 DX
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$210 RC $4199.99 DX
- Samsung HPP5071 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $7499.99 DX
- Samsung LTP227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499.99 WM
- Samsung LTP266W 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1999.99 WM
- Samsung LTP1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $599.99 WM
- Samsung LTP2045 20-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $899.99 WM
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2699.99 DX
- Samsung TXP3264 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $799.99 ST
- Sharp LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $1099.99 WM
- Sharp LC20S1UB 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $899.99 WM
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2199.99 WM
- Sony KD34XS955 34-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view DTV $1999.99 ST
- Sony KDE50XS955 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6999.99 DX
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch wide integr. LCD projection DTV $2799.99 DX
- Sony KDP57WS655 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2499.99 DX
- Sony KLV23M1 23-inch direct-view LCD TV $1799.99 WM
- Sony KLV21SG2 21-inch widescreen LCD TV $1499.99 WM
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2499.99 WM
- Sony KP46WT520 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99 DX
- Sony KV34HS520 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1599.99 ST
DX - price includes DVD player or "Xbox holiday bundle"
RC - price includes "reward certificate" of amount shown
ST - price includes stand
WM - price includes wall mount
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimer):
- Daewoo DTS 42 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1799.99
- Sharp LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $1099.99
- Dell (no disclaimer):
- Dell 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $599
- Dell 19-inch widescreen LCD TV $799
- Dell W2300 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $999
- Dell W2600 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1599
- Dell W3000 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $1999
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- "Major Name Brand" 60-inch 4:3 projection TV $1499
- Mitsubishi WS-65613 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2499
- Mystery brand LCD TV $1097
- Mystery brand LCD TV $1597
- Toshiba 62HM84 62-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3699
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimer):
- Fujitsu P42HHA30WS 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$300 GC $4999
- Fujitsu P42VHA30WS 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$300 GC $3999
- Fujitsu P50XHA30WS 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$500 GC $5999
- JVC LT32X575 32-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$300 GC $3299
- Mitsubishi WD-62725 62-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DTV w/$300 GC $4699
- Philips 26PW8402/37 26-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $649
- Pioneer PRO920HDI 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV w/$500 GC $6999
- Pioneer PRO1120HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV w/$500 GC $8999
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $3499
- Samsung LTP-266WX 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$100 GC
$1999
- Samsung LTP-1795WX 17-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV w/$50 GC $899
- Sony KDF-42WE655 42-inch wide integr. LCD proj. DTV w/$200 GC $2799
- Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$300 GC $3999
- Sony KV34HS420 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $1599
- Zenith P42W46X 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$200 GC $2299
GC - price includes gift card of the amount shown
- Great Indoors (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Hughes HR10-250 DirecTV/ATSC/TiVo set-top receiver/PVR $999
- Sharp LC32GD6U 32-inch widescreen LCD integrated DTV $3999 DR
- Sony KDF-60XBR950 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $4999
- Sony KDF-70XBR950 70-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $4999
- Toshiba 52HM84 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499
- Toshiba 62HM84 62-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999
DR - price includes DVD recorder
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic PT47WX34 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299
- Panasonic TH42PD25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999
- Philips 42PF9936 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499
- Sony KF42WE610 42-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2199
- Sony KP46WT520 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699
- Toshiba 65H84 65-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $2199
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- JVC LT-23X475 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1249.99
- JVC PD-42V485 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2599.99
- Panasonic PT50DL54 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Panasonic TC-22LH30 22-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1599.99
- Panasonic TH-37PX25U 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV
- Panasonic TH-50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Philips 42PF9996 42-inch 16:9 LCD TV $6999.99
- Philips 55PL9524 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $2799.99
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Samsung HP-P3761 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99
- Sharp LC15B6U 15-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $549.99
- Sharp LC-37G4U 37-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $3999.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3449.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1799.99
- Mitsubishi:
- Mitsubishi LT-2240 20-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV
- Mitsubishi LT-3050 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV
- Mitsubishi PD-5050 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6999
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3499
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4299
- Mitsubishi WS-48315 48-inch 16:9 projection TV $1599
- Mitsubishi WS-55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1799
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2299
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer):
- JVC AV56WP575 56-inch 16:9 projection TV $1614.99
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3324.99
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3609.99
- Mitsubishi WD62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4274.99
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1804.99
- Mitsubishi WS55515 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2279.99
- Mitsubishi WS65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2184.99
- Mitsubishi WS65515 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2659.99
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2149.99
- Panasonic PT53X54 53-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1519.99
- Panasonic TH37PD25U 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2374.99
- Panasonic TH-42PD25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2849.99
- Panasonic TH50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7124.99
- Samsung HLP4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2849.99
- Samsung HP-P5031 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6174.99
- Samsung SPP4231 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2374.99
- Samsung TXP3064W 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799.99
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2089.99
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch widescreen integr. LCD projection DTV $2659.99
- Sony KDF50WE655 50-inch widescreen integr. LCD projection DTV $3139.99
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3324.99
- Sony KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1614.99
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1329.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, insufficient
disclaimers):
- Mitsubishi LT3050 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $4049.95
- Mitsubishi WD52725 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3599.95
- Mitsubishi WS48315 48-inch 16:9 projection TV $1439.95
- Mitsubishi WS55515 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2159.95
- Mitsubishi WS65813 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3599.95
- Panasonic CT32HL44 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $854.95
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV $2249.95
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $809.95
- Panasonic TH50PX25 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6474.95
- Philips 23PF9966 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1599.95 BS
- Philips 30PF9946D 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2299.95 BS
- Pioneer PRO1010HD 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $7999.95 BS
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2699.95 BS
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1979.95
- Sony KDE42XS955 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5274.95
- Sony KDF55WF655 55-inch widescreen integr. LCD projection DTV $3329.95
- Sony KP46WT520 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1349.95
- Sony KV34HS420 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1424.95
- Zenith L15V26C 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $498.95
BS - price "before savings"
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG RU44SZ80L 44-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2497 BS
- Sony KE32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2697
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2697
BS - price "before savings"

- Tech-Notes #127 has come out:
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/Archive/tech_notes_127.pdf>

- DVD news:

- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the first
42 weeks of 2004 were up 1.2% from the same period in 2003. My ten-week
running average was up 11%. It's pretty amazing that the high growth rate
has been sustained this long! VCR sales were down 63.2% for the first 42
weeks.

- Circuit City offered a DVD player this week for $29.99 (after
rebate) including a movie.

- Satellite news:

- EchoStar added 350,000 net new subscribers in the third quarter to
end with 10.5 million:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2482>
Last week I reported that DirecTV had added 484,000 to 12.1 million.

- EchoStar is planning a change to MPEG-4, but it will be later than
originally planned -- probably sometime in 2006:
<http://www.twice.com/article/CA479247?display=Breaking+News>

- Voom, the HD-heavy service, ended September with fewer subscribers
(26,000) than at the end of August (28,700), and that was before October,
when they started cutting off viewers who hadn't paid:
<http://www.twice.com/article/CA479054?display=Breaking+News>

- PVR news:

- TiVo is sending code to its boxes to restrict some recording
capability: <http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.11/view.html?pg=3>

- 55% of advertising executives surveyed by the American Advertising
Federation felt that, despite PVRs, the "30-second spot will remain [the]
cornerstone of TV advertising.: Another 12% feel PVRs will be little or no
impact on ads:
<http://www.aaf.org/news/pdf/adtrends04.pdf>

- Here's a story on Internet TV:
<http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2004/11/07/internet_tv_t
ries_to_go_mainstream/>

- TV-B-Gone is a plastic $14.99 keychain fob that, as its slogan goes,
"turns off virtually any television!"
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/technology/circuits/04gone.html>

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- November 15-16, Indiana Broadcasters Association convention
<http://www.indianabroadcasters.org/information/brochure01.html>
- November 15-18, Long Beach Convention Center, California, Electronic
House Expo <http://www.ehx2004.com/>.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
<http://bee.jesa.or.jp>.
- *November 18, Atlantic Video, Washington, SMPTE meeting on tapeless
television <http://www.smpte.org/sections/washdc/index.html>.
- November 20, UNC-TV, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, VSB
seminar
<http://www.zenith.com/digitalbroadcast/downloads/UNC_Seminar_Flyer.pdf>.
- December 7, Radisson Barcello Hotel, Washington, D.C., ATSC ACAP
seminar <http://www.atsc.org/seminars/2004_ACAP/acap_04.htm>.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking
Conference <http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/>.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
<http://www.cesweb.org/>.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International Conference
on Consumer Electronics <http://www.icce.org/>.
- January 11-13, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort, California,
SCTE Emerging Technologies Conference <http://et.scte.org/>.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** <http://www.hpaonline.com>.
- March 28-31, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, SURA/VIDe
2005 <http://www.vide.net/conferences/spr2005/>.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. Next
week's memo will be late. Maybe I'll catch up by the following week.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
<http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Alan Roberts

25th November 2004, 14:05

This was dated 23/11/2004

===============================================

- Follow-ups:

- ***The Technology Retreat*** -
- I've got pretty much the full schedule now, subject to some
possible changes. The main program is full, and there's a long waiting
list for cancellations, so please don't submit any more proposals (unless
they're earth-shattering, of course). BUT, there's still plenty of room
for breakfast roundtables, and there's still room in the demo space. If
you'd like either or both of those, please let me know. And attendee
registration will continue until we hit the fire-marshal's limit for the
room (which could happen sooner than you think). Don't delay! Register
today!
http://www.hpaonline.com
- Adam Goldberg of Sharp Laboratories will be offering a
consumer-electronics perspective in the compression session, which (we
hope) will take place in a theater across the street, rigged for digital
cinema, so we can see the JPEG2000 test results (we might also be able to
peek at some Panavision Genesis stuff). Hal Protter, senior-vp of
technology for The WB, will be joining the broadcasters panel. There will
be a tapeless-acquisition panel moderated by Avid Fellow Pete Fasciano
(speaking of Fellows, I think there will be more SMPTE Fellows speaking at
this event than at the SMPTE convention).
- There will be two digital-cinema sessions aside from the
theater event. Want to know why it'll be X'Y'Z' color space instead of
RGB? Want to learn what's involved in MXF packaging for digital cinema?
Want to find out about the European WorldScreen project? Need the
Hollywood studio perspective? Come to the TechnoTreat!
- Want to do digital-intermediate work on your laptop? How about
using Final Cut Pro with XML? Have you been following the MOS Group work
on a real-time device-control standard? What about the GFX standard? Come
and learn!
- At previous TechnoTreats, Belden's Steve Lampen has dazzled us
with such knowledge as the fact that evenly spaced cable ties can destroy
your signal. This year, he'll enlighten us about skew -- and get YOUR
input on color codes.
- We've got speakers coming from all around the world (I think
Wellington, New Zealand, where a large statue of a character from "Lord of
the Rings" sits atop the airport terminal, is the farthest). And, as
usual, we've got people representing every aspect of the television
industry, from Hollywood studios to home-theater installers, from lens
manufacturers to broadcasters, from standards makers to compression
breakers. As usual, whatever question you've got, someone will be there
who knows the answer.
- That's just a quick sampler. I'll be offering more in future
memos, and the full schedule should soon be posted at the HPA web site:
http://www.hpaonline.com
- Here are some practical details:
- The 2005 TechnoTreat (this will be the 10th anniversary!)
will be held at the same location as the 2003, the Marriott Rancho Las
Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs area).
- The main program starts this year with the Compression
Confabulation session on Wednesday MORNING January 26 and continues through
Friday evening January 28 (with the usual quizzes, softball game,
cocktails-in-the-demo-room, lunches, dinners, breakfast roundtables, etc.).
The day before (Tuesday, January 25) are the ATSC half-day seminar "Getting
PSIP Right" and Charles Poynton's all-new half-day seminar on wide-gamut
acquisition and display. Members of ATSC Transport Specialist Group T3/S8
will be meeting Tuesday morning, and those of you in the trade press should
check to see where your pre-NAB briefings will be taking place; you might
be surprised.
- This year's championship ball games will be at Fenway
Park, home of the world champions!
- As usual, don't say you haven't been warned. BE THERE!
http://www.hpaonline.com

- Cable carriage - The American Corn Growers Association and the
Soybean Producers of America have come out against a hard analog cutoff
date in the U.S. and in favor of full-carriage by cable of broadcast
signals. The full stories require paid subscriptions:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA480618.html?display=Breaking+News
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA481089.html?display=Breaking+New
s

- July 1 -
- Although this is being sent on Sunday, I've intentionally
omitted today's ads. They'll be in the next memo (which I hope to get out
by Tuesday night). These ads include last Sunday's.
- This week I've listed 110 advertised TVs 36-inch or larger. Of
those, 50 (45%) have integrated DTT-reception capability. It's getting
there!
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets
that are HD and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- Sony KV36FS120 36-inch TV @ Sears $899.99
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Daewoo DTQ27U4SC 27-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $229.99 AR
- ESA ET427E 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $159.99 AR
- RCA 27F530T 27-inch flat-screen TV @ Wal*Mart $247
- Sansui TVS2746 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $159.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- RCA E13320 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $79.99 BS
- Toshiba 13A23/4 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $79.99
- ESA ET419E 19-inch TV @ Circuit City $89.99
- Toshiba 19A24 24-inch TV @ Sears $119.99
- Sanyo DS20930 20-inch flat-screen TV @ Wal*Mart $128.68
- Sylvania 6420FE 20-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $129.99
- GoVideo DV1040 DVD/VCR combo @ J&R $99.99
- Samsung DVD/VCR combo @ Radio Shack $99.99
- Zenith XBV443 DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $99.99
- Broksonic DRVCR900 VCR/DVD-R/RW recorder @ Circuit City $279.99
- LG DVDR313 DVD recorder @ Video & Audio Center $297 BS
- Magnavox MRV640 DVD+R/RW recorder @ Best Buy $199.99
- Magnavox MRV64017 SVD+R/RW recorder @ Circuit City $229.99
- Panasonic DMR-E55S DVD-R/RAM recorder @ Best Buy $299.99
- Panasonic DMRE55S DVD-R/RAM recorder @ Circuit City $299.99
- Sharp DVRW340U VCR/DVD-R/RW recorder @ Best Buy $299.99
BS - price "before savings"
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Toshiba MV13P2 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Best Buy $119.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- MTV STVG710 karaoke w/7-inch TV @ Circuit City $99.99
- Singing Machine STVG513 karaoke w/5-inch TV @ Circuit City $79.99
- Sony DNF400 AM/FM/TV/WX CD portable @ Circuit City $79.99
- Sony ICFCD855VSIL AM/FM/TV/WX/CD clock radio @ Circuit City
$79.99
WX - weather

- May 1 - Neither the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) nor
the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated their lists this week.

- The FCC Consumer Advisory Committee meeting on Friday had as an agenda
item "Report & Recommendations of [the] BroadBand DTV Working Group,
chaired by Larry Goldberg of WGBH:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-254282A1.pdf

- TrendWatch's "HD Use Report" says 81% of visual effects/dynamic media
studios/facilities are not currently using HD:
http://www.hdtvbuyer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=29115
Want to do your own survey? Come to ***The Technology Retreat***.
All the best studios and facilities will be there:
http://www.hpaonline.com

- SBC, one of the "Baby Bells," is planning to deliver TV (including HD)
over data circuits. They are reportedly paying Microsoft $400 million for
software:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/17/technology/17soft.html
They will reportedly deliver up to four streams of HD per subscriber
(not including the usual voice and Internet-access) and might serve 18
million:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,118584,00.asp

- There's a interesting report on improved "coding gain" by using the
Koetter-Vardy algorithm for error correction. It's said to work best on
Rayleighan channels:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=649

- Funai's STB400E DTT set-top box is to use ATI chips to offer
smart-antenna connections. Funai products are sold in the U.S. as Emerson,
Sylvania, and Symphonic. The box is expected here later this year.
http://www.ati.com/companyinfo/press/2004/4800.html

- The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has started filing
lawsuits against individuals they say are providing pirated copies of
movies. They'll also be offering a movie-sniffer program to help identify
miscreants:
http://finance.lycos.com/qc/news/story.aspx?story=45063818
Want the latest info? Ask MPAA chief technology officer Brad Hunt at
***The Technology Retreat***. He'll be offering a content-protection
update on January 26. BE THERE! Ignorance of the law is no excuse!
http://www.hpaonline.com

- The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has made its
"Programming Metadata Communication Protocol Standard" available:
http://www.atsc.org/standards/a_76.pdf
Needless to repeat (but I'll do so anyway), they'll also be offering
an outstanding seminar on getting PSIP right in conjunction with ***The
Technology Retreat*** on January 25:
http://www.hpaonline.com

- International H/DTV news:

- At the rate sales have been running (50,000 set-top boxes per week),
the Freeview DTT service will be in five million UK households before the
end of the year and will be in more homes than the Sky Digital satellite
service by the end of next year. The set-top boxes are available for as
little as 40 UKP ($74) each:
http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,1352673,00.html
Just so you don't think it's the newspaper making the story up, here's
another version:
[url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2004/11/19/cnfree19.
xml&menuId=242&sSheet=/money/2004/11/19/ixcity.html[/url]

- There are 60 models of set-top DTT receivers in Australia from 27
brands, starting at A$169 (US$132). Of those, 14 models from 12 brands can
do HD, starting at A$599 (US$469):
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=18
There are 18 integrated DTT receiver/displays from six brands,
starting at A$2248 (US$1759). Of those, six models from two brands can
handle HDTV, starting at A$6999 (US$5477):
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=78

- None of the Engineering Emmy Awards given out this past week had any
specific connection to H/DTV, though the UHP lamps are important in
microdisplay projectors:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2522

- According to the New York Times, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
director of industry analysis Sean Wargo said 60% of the plasma TVs sold in
the U.S. this year are NOT HD. Two years ago, 70% WERE HD:
[url]http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/18/technology/circuits/18tube.html?oref=logi
n[/url]
At what industry event has he presented his latest sales and
household-penetration figures? Right! ***The Technology Retreat***! It's
THE place to learn:
http://www.hpaonline.com

- Based on figures from CEA, sales to U.S. dealers of non-H/DTV television
sets for the first 43 weeks of 2004 were down 5.1% from the same period in
2003. My ten-week running average was down 3.1%.
Sales of so-called "Digital Televisions" for the 43rd week were
229,233 units and for the first 43 weeks 3,469,402.
"Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays without
DTT-reception capability) accounted for about 15.7% of the TVs (not
counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers through the 43rd
week this year. It may be worth noting here what that means. About 84% of
the non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 43rd week this
year were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify to CEA as a "Digital Television," a display need only be
capable of dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either
receiving digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable of
receiving DTT signals are still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: Circuit City had both an LG and a
Samsung, but Good Guys had an amazing FOUR from LG, RCA, and Samsung.

- The ads - Although this is being sent on Sunday, I've intentionally
omitted today's ads. They'll be in the next memo. These include last
Sunday's.
Harvey called an integrated HDTV "HD-ready." Note the integrated
Sanyo 32-inch DTV at Wal*Mart for $697.
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- GE D52GW12 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1099.99
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3254.99
- JVC HD61Z575 61-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $4049.99
- JVC LT17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $799.99
- JVC LT26X575 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2161.99
- JVC PD42V475 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99
- LG DU-42PY10X 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4049.99
- Maxent MX-42VM10 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999.99
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3254.99
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3869.99
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1691.99
- Panasonic TH-37PD25U/P 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2349.99
- Philips 50PF9956 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5399.99
- Samsung TX-P3071WH 30-inch 16:9 integr. CRT DTV w/$100 GC $949.99
- Sony KDE42XS955 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.99 BS
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch widescreen integr. LCD proj. DTV $2349.99
- Sony KDF50WE655 50-inch widescreen integr. LCD proj. DTV $2789.99
- Sony KV34HS420 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1503.99
- Westinghouse W32701 27-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1139.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1597.99
BS - price "before savings"
GC - price includes gift card in the amount shown
- Circuit City (HD-only disclaimers):
- Akai PDP4249G 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2699.99
- Akai PT5299HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $797.99 AR
- Apex AVL2776 27-inch widescreen LCD TV $1199.99 BS
- Hitachi 42HDT51 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499.99
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2999.99 BS
- Hitachi 50VS810 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3999.99
- JVC AV30W475 30-inch widescreen CRT TV $599.99 BS
- LG LST-3510A ATSC receiver/DVD player $399.99
- Magnavox 17MF200V 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $549.99
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1199.99
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV $2499.99
- Panasonic PT47X54 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1399.99
- Panasonic TH37PD25U 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2499.99
- Panasonic TH42PD25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.99
- Panasonic TH42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.99 BS
- Panasonic TH50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6999.99 BS
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499.99
- Samsung LTP227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499.99
- Samsung SIRTS360 DirecTV receiver/decoder $299.99
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2699.99
- Sharp LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $1099.99
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2199.99
- Sony KDE42XBR950 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7999.99
- Sony KDF50WE655 50-inch widescreen integr. LCD projection DTV $3299.99
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499.99
- Sony KV30HS420 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate
BS - price "before savings"
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimer):
- Daewoo DTS 42 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1799.99
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2199.99
- Sony KDF-42WE655 42-inch widescreen integr. LCD proj. DTV $2499.99
- Sony KDF-50WE655 50-inch widescreen integr. LCD proj. DTV $2999.99
- Sony KDF-55WF655 55-inch widescreen integr. LCD proj. DTV $3599.99
- Sony KLV23M1 23-inch direct-view LCD TV $1799.99
- Sony KLV32M1 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3499.99
- Dell (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Dell W2300 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $999
- Dell W3000 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $1499
- Dell (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Dell 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2299
- Dell 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999
- Epson (no disclaimer):
- Epson Livingstation 47-inch wide proj. TV/photo printer $2699 AR
- Epson Livingstation 57-inch wide proj. TV/photo printer $3199 AR
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- "Major Brand Name" 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1299
- Mitsubishi WS-65613 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2599
- Mystery brand 27-inch widescreen LCD TV $1097
- Mystery brand 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $1497
- Mystery brand 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1699
- RCA HD50LPW42 50-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2299
- Samsung HLP 4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2699
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimers):
- JVC HD61Z575 61-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $4499
- LG LST-3410A ATSC receiver/PVR $799
- LG LST-4200A ATSC receiver $279
- LG RU44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2799
- Mitsubishi 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $2999
- Mitsubishi 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6999
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3499
- Mitsubishi WD62725 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $5999
- Mitsubishi WS55515 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2199
- Mitsubishi WS65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $1999
- Mitsubishi WS65815 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4999
- Mitsubishi WT42315 42-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1499
- RCA HR10250 ATSC/DirecTV/TiVo $999
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4199
- Samsung HLP5685WX 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4799
- Samsung SIRT360 DirecTV receiver/decoder $299
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2499
- Great Indoors (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3799
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4499
- Sony KE-42XS955 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499
- Sony KE-50XS955 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6999
- Harvey (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Bang & Olufsen Beovision 5 plasma TV
- Fujitsu P50XHA40US 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $8999
- Fujitsu P55XHA30US 55-inch 16:9 plasma TV $11,999
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499
- Pioneer PRO1120HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $8999
- Samsung DVDL1200 12-inch widescreen DVD/LCD combo $999
- Samsung LTP326W 32-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2999
- SharpVision LC45GX6U 45-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $7999
- Sony KDE42XBR950 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7999
- Hewlett-Packard (no disclaimer):
- HP 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Canon LV-X4 projector $1499.00
- Hitachi 55HDT51 55-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Humax L3040 30-inch 5:3 LCD TV $1499.99
- JVC LT-23X475 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1249.99
- JVC LT26WX84 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1799.99
- JVC LT-32X575 32-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2629.99
- JVC PD-42V485 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2599.99
- LG RU-52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2999.99
- Panasonic PT-50DL54 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2499.99
- Panasonic TC-22LH30 22-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1499.99
- Panasonic TH37PD25U/P 37-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Philips 30PF9975 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2199.99
- Philips 42PF9996 42-inch 16:9 LCD TV $6999.99
- Philips 50PF9966 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.99
- Philips 55PL9524 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $2799.99
- SVA EV-1703 17-inch 4:3 LC D TV $299.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3449.99
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3799.99
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1799.99
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2999.99
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2199.99
- Samsung HCP4241W 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $1099.99
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499.99
- Sony KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, HD-only
differentiation):
- JVC PD42V475 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.95
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3499.95 BS
- Mitsubishi WD62725 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4499.95 BS
- Mitsubishi WS55515 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2199.95 BS
- Mitsubishi WS65813 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3999.95 BS
- Mitsubishi WT42315 42-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1349.95
- Panasonic CT30WX54 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $949.95
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $809.95
- Panasonic TC26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2299.95 BS
- Panasonic TH37PD25 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2499.95 BS
- Philips 23PF9966 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1599.95 BS
- Philips 34PW850H 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.95
- Philips 55PL9774 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $2999.95
- Pioneer PRO1120HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $8999.95 BS
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2699.95 BS
- Sharp LC13S1US 13-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $449.95 BS
- Sharp LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $1099.95 BS
- Sharp LC37GD6U 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $5499.95 BS
- Sony KDE42XS955 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.95 BS
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch widescreen integr. LCD proj. DTV $2499.95 BS
- Sony KDF55WF655 55-inch widescreen integr. LCD proj. DTV $3299.95 BS
- Sony KDF60XBR950 60-inch 16:9 LCD integrated projection DTV $4999.95
BS
- Sony KP46WT520 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.95 BS
- Sony KV34HS420 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1424.95
BS - price "before savings"
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Fujitsu P50XHA40WS 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $8997
- LG DU-60PY10 60-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $12,997 BS
- LG RU-42PX11 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2497 BS
- LG RU52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2997 BS
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3797 BS
- Mitsubishi WD-62725 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4697 BS
- Pioneer PRO-1120HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $8997 BS
- Sharp LC32GD6U 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $3979 BS
- Sharp LC45GD6U 45-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $7997 BS
- Sony KDE-55XBR950 55-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $10,997 BS
- Sony KDF-42WE655 42-inch widescreen integr. LCD proj. DTV $2497 BS
- Sony KE-42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3497 BS
- Sony KF42WE610 42-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2297
BS - price "before savings"
- Wal*Mart (Minneapolis Star Tribune, HD-only disclaimers):
- Magnavox 15MF150V/37 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $348
- Philips 30PW850H 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $696
- RCA D52W19 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1194
- Sanyo CLT1554 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $397
- Sanyo HT32744 32-inch 4:3 integrated CRT DTV $697

- DVD news:

- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the first
43 weeks of 2004 were up 2.2% from the same period in 2003. My ten-week
running average was in the double digits, but I moved ahead to the 44th
week, so I can't report it accurately. VCR sales were down 63.3% for the
first 43 weeks.

- Warren Communications News reported Monday that sales of DVD
recorders were falling short of expectations despite lower prices (down to
around $150). The story is no longer on their site:
http://www.warren-news.com/

- PVR news:

- TiVo will reportedly soon be inserting ads visible during
fast-forwarding over other ads:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-et-tivo17nov17,0,3236496.story
There has been some explanation here:
[url]http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?postid=2373114#post2373
114[/url]

- Although that story scared some TiVo users, Don Kaplan offered a
scarier statement in the New York Post. "Congress is considering a law
that could one day make it illegal to fast-forward through the
commercials":
http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/34357.htm
Can this be true? What's it all about? Come to attorney Jim Burger's
Washington Update at ***The Technology Retreat*** to find out:
http://www.hpaonline.com

- CEA has come up with a Camera Phone Code of Conduct:
http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10610

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- November 15-16, Indiana Broadcasters Association convention
http://www.indianabroadcasters.org/information/brochure01.html
- November 15-18, Long Beach Convention Center, California, Electronic
House Expo http://www.ehx2004.com/.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE
http://bee.jesa.or.jp.
- *November 18, Atlantic Video, Washington, SMPTE meeting on tapeless
television http://www.smpte.org/sections/washdc/index.html.
- November 20, UNC-TV, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, VSB
seminar
http://www.zenith.com/digitalbroadcast/downloads/UNC_Seminar_Flyer.pdf.
- *November 22, Entertainment Technology Center, Hollywood Pacific
Theater, "The Incredibles" http://www.etcenter.org/Seminars.asp.
- *December 3-4, Entertainment Technology Center, Hollywood Pacific
Theater, SMPTE seminar: "The New Digital Workflow: Case Studies from the
Edge" http://www.etcenter.org/Seminars.asp.
- December 7, Radisson Barcello Hotel, Washington, D.C., ATSC ACAP
seminar http://www.atsc.org/seminars/2004_ACAP/acap_04.htm.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking
Conference http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
http://www.cesweb.org/.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International Conference
on Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/.
- January 11-13, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort, California,
SCTE Emerging Technologies Conference http://et.scte.org/.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com.
- March 28-31, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, SURA/VIDe
2005 http://www.vide.net/conferences/spr2005/.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. Next
week's memo might be late.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Alan Roberts

30th November 2004, 10:20

This issue dated 29/11/2004

================================================

- Follow-ups:

- DirecTV set-top box at Good Guys - A reader says it may have been a
Samsung rather than a Hughes.

- ***The Technology Retreat*** -
- The schedule (updated periodically) has been posted on the
Hollywood Post Alliance web site:
http://www.hpaonline.com/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=304
- Courtesy of Peter Putman, the first 108 attendees at the
softball championship (players first) will get Topps baseball cards!
- Most of the schedule of the Advanced Television Systems
Committee (ATSC) half-day seminar on "Getting PSIP Right" on Tuesday,
January 25 is now available. It includes ATSC's Jerry Whitaker, Encoda's
Chris Lennon, the National Association of Broadcaster's (NAB's) Art
Allison, Sony's Mark Eyer, and Triveni Digital's Rich Chernock and Nandhu
Nandhakumar.
- There are a bunch of interesting breakfast roundtables
(starting at 7:30 am!). Wendy Aylsworth of Warner Bros. will moderate a
roundtable on digital-cinema standards and other issues. Mike Wade of sgi
will moderate one on improving security and watermarking in digital
workflow. Larry Thorpe of Canon will do recommendations for HD lens
testing. Eric Fankhauser and Joe Cirincione of Evertz will do fiber
facility connectivity (and Joe will do another on a new HD camera fiber
adapter). Pete Challinger will do tools for generating worldwide
deliverables. There are more. But there are also plenty of spaces
available. If you're attending the retreat and you'd like to moderate a
breakfast roundtable, just tell me the day(s) (Thursday and/or Friday), the
topic(s) (short titles, please), and your name, and I can instantly confirm
you. Disclaimer: There are two reasons why you might not want to moderate
a breakfast roundtable. They are the aforementioned 7:30 am starting time
and the inability of a moderator to sit in on someone else's.
- The demo area is rapidly filling up, with Apple, Canon,
Chrominance, Digital Vision, Iridas, JVC, Luma, Mindego, QuVIS, Teresis,
and Xytech committed thus far. There are sure to be surprises. In past
demo rooms participants saw the first demonstrations of HD plasma panels,
72 Hz HD cameras, Panasonic's Varicam, and Sony's HDCAM SR, among other
delights. This February, ILM/Lucas Digital showed their tiny
camera-attitude sensor, and Cobalt showed the 3-D camera rig used at the
Super Bowl (and 3-D footage). In 2003, I loved the Evertz gear that could
turn a Grass Valley Model 100 into a low-cost HDTV production switcher.
Some demo space is still available, but don't delay in letting us know your
interest.
- BE THERE! January 26-28 (with separate-admission half-day seminars
on the 25th) at the Rancho Las Palmas Marriott Resort in Rancho Mirage,
California:
http://www.hpaonline.com

- Copy rights management - Other publications have had similar
stories, but I thought it interesting that a piece by Eric Hellweg in MIT's
Technology Review begins, "Do you like fast-forwarding through commercials
on a television program you've recorded? How much do you like it? Enough to
go to jail if you're caught doing it? If a new copyright and intellectual
property omnibus bill sitting on Congress's desk passes, that may be the
choice you'll face":
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/04/11/wo_hellweg111904.asp?p=1
Is this real? What's the possibility of it happening? Ask MPAA chief
technology officer Brad Hunt and Copy Protection Technical Working Group
member attorney Jim Burger at ***The Technology Retreat***. Don't say you
haven't been warned:
http://www.hpaonline.com

- July 1 - Black-Friday ads included this week may have prices lower
than normal.
- This week I've listed 130 advertised TVs 36-inch or larger. Of
those, 51 (39%) have integrated DTT-reception capability.
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets
that are HD and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- Magnavox 36-inch TV @ Fry's $399
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- "Major Name Brand" 25-inch TV @ Fry's $69
- ESA ET427E 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $159.99 AR
- Mystery brand 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $127.99 AR
- Sansui TVS273 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $179.99 AR
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Daewoo DTQ13V5FC 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $47.99 AR
- ESA ET413E 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $59.99
- Mystery brand 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $59.99
- ESA ET419E 19-inch TV @ Circuit City $79.99
- Symphonic ST419E 19-inch TV @ Best Buy $74.99 AR
- Konka K2001UM 20-inch TV @ Best Buy $68.99 AR
- Allegro ABV441 DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $59.99 AR
- ESA E4000 DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $64.99 AR
- Sylvania DVC845E DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $79.99 AR
- DVD/VHS combo @ Fry's $49
- DVD/VCR home theater sound system @ Circuit City $129.99 AR
- Aspire Digital AD-8091 DVD recorder @ amazon.com $179.99
- Centrios EDW8020 DVD recorder @ Circuit City $129.99 AR
- CyberHome DVD+R/RW recorder @ Target $168
- GoVideo R6740 DVD recorder @ Good Guys $149 AR
- GoVideo VR3930 VCR/DVD recorder combo @ J&R $249.99
- LiteOn DVD+/-R/RW recorder @ CompUSA $169.99 AR
- Magnavox MRV640 DVD recorder @ Best Buy $199.99
- Sharp DVRW340U VCR/DVD recorder w/50 DVD-R @ Best Buy $299.99
- Sylvania DVR90VE VCR/DVD recorder at amazon.com $249.99
- DVD+R/RW recorder @ Fry's $129
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- ESA EC313E 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Circuit City $109.99
- KLH KDT133UY 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Best Buy $88.99
- Mystery brand 20-inch TV/VCR/DVD combo @ Circuit City $199.99 AR
- Polaroid 20-inch TV/VCR/DVD combo @ Target $239
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Casio TV-980 2.3-inch LCD TV @ Best Buy $37.99 AR
- Casio TV-980 2.3-inch LCD TV @ Circuit City $44.99 AR
- Sony DNF400PS AM/FM/TV/weather/CD portable @ Best Buy $74.99
- Sony DNS707F AM/FM/TV/weather/CD portable @ Best Buy $99.99
- Sony SRFM80V AM/FM/TV/weather stopwatch portable @ Best Buy
$49.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate

- May 1 - Neither the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) nor the
NAB updated their DTT station lists since the last memo.

- Toshiba has announced the support of New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures,
Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. for the HD DVD format:
http://www.twice.com/article/CA483426?display=Breaking+News
Video Business online reports that Universal plans to issue HD DVDs by
next year's holiday season, when the first players are due, and Paramount
will release them in 2006:
http://www.videobusiness.com/article.asp?articleID=9284&catType=NEWS
What does this mean? Why not ask the studio vice presidents at ***The
Technology Retreat***, January 26-28 at Rancho Las Palmas Resort:
http://www.hpaonline.com

- International H/DTV news:

- Steve Dowdle, managing director of Sony UK, says the DTT transition
is being hampered there by broadcaster and government promotion of set-top
boxes instead of integrated DTVs. He told the Westminster Forum that
annual UK sales to August were 5.4 million analog TVs and 2.2 million
analog VCRs but "only" 2.5 million DTT set-top boxes:
http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/articles/2004/11/westminster-sony

- Providing financial assistance to the blind and people over 75 to
cover DTT reception could cost the UK government up to 400 million UKP:
http://www.ofcomconsumerpanel.org.uk/nr/241104.htm

- While other countries wonder when their analog cut-off dates will
be, Electronics Weekly in the UK has come up with a date, 2005, when the
announcement of the cut-off date "should" be made:
http://www.electronicsweekly.co.uk/articles/article.asp?liArticleID=38128&l
iArticleTypeID=1&liCategoryID=4&liChannelID=2&liFlavourID=1&sSearch=&nPage=1

- The Daily Yomiuri reports on the DTT transition in Japan. I think
something was lost in the translation, but I think they're trying to say
that when broadcasts began on December 1 of last year 12 million households
were in the coverage area. Now it's 18 million. Some 1.6 million set-top
receivers and integrated DTVs have been shipped:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20041129wo62.htm

- New Zealand's Broadcasting Standards Authority will reportedly soon
set a DTT-transition date:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3111002a28,00.html

- Here's a story on DTT in India:
http://www.rediff.com/money/2004/nov/25trai.htm

- Taiwan is planning an analog cut-off date of 2010:
http://publish.gio.gov.tw/FCJ/current/04112652.html

- A story in today's New York Times is headlined "Signs of a Glut and Lower
Prices on Thin TV's":
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/29/technology/29lcd.html
Other stories, however, say that supply bottlenecks at Sony may be
preventing a glut:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/27/technology/27sony.html
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=693037
8
Canon has also been experiencing LCD-manufacturing problems:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=691786
5
A somewhat-related story in The New York Times today notes that
Intel's holiday party next month will have a disco ball with mirrors
comprised of LCoS chips from the company's aborted venture into that field:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/29/technology/29intel.html

- Based on figures from CEA, sales to U.S. dealers of non-H/DTV television
sets for the first 44 weeks of 2004 were down 6.6% from the same period in
2003. My ten-week running average was down 11.7%.
Sales of so-called "Digital Televisions" for the 44th week were 80,889
units and for the first 44 weeks 3,550,291.
"Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays without
DTT-reception capability) still accounted for about 15.7% of the TVs (not
counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers through the 44th
week this year. It may be worth noting here what that means. About 84% of
the non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 44th week this
year were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
It's worth asking what percentage it is WITH LCD and plasma TVs. The
simple answer is, "I don't know." Today's New York Times has an article by
Eric Taub on flat-panel TVs:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/29/technology/29lcd.html
He says they will account for under 10% of the TVs sold this year. If
they were a full 10% and all of them were so-called digital TVs (which many
LCD TVs are not), then the "digital television" percentage would rise to
25.7%. FYI, Taub ays flat-panel TVs are running 73% LCD/27% plasma.
According to DisplaySearch, as reported in USA Today, not quite four
million flat-panel TVs will be sold WORLDWIDE this year:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2004-11-29-recycle_x.ht
m
To qualify to CEA as a "Digital Television," a display need only be
capable of dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either
receiving digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable of
receiving DTT signals are still a small fraction of those numbers.

- The same USA Today story says properly disposing of used CRT TVs could
cost $100 million per month:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2004-11-29-recycle_x.ht
m

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I am aware of no such ads since the last
memo.

- Clear days in advertising department: I'm often asked why I make a point
of mentioning disclaimers and CEA's unusual definition of "digital
televisions." It's because the labeling is so inconsistent that consumers
face difficult choices. Is an "integrated" set ready to receive DTT or
not? How about an "HD-ready" set? How about an "HDTV"?
- One HP ad for the pl4245n, which calls it a "High Definition Ready
Plasma TV," says, "High-definition ready tuner makes any source look
remarkably like the real thing." Another calls the same model a "Plasma
HDTV." DigitalAdvisor.com says it has "Dual integrated NTSC tuners."
- amazon.com calls the Sharp LC-XXGD4U models, which include
integrated ATSC reception, "HDTV-Ready."
- Ken Crane's and Epson's ads said the Epson LS47P2 (and LS57P2) came
"with the included HDTV tuner." I checked Epson's web site. They call the
units "HDTV-ready" and say at one point that they have two NTSC tuners, but
they also say the RF inputs are "ATSC/NTSC" and at another point they say
they have an ATSC/NTSC tuner. I can't figure it out, but I've included
them in the integrated category this week.

- The ads - Circuit City had a "Black Friday" special on an NXX ESDVD1000
six-speaker home-theater sound system with DVD player for $67.88 after
rebate. My Minneapolis-St. Paul-area correspondent is out of town, so I
have nothing from Sears or Ultimate Electronics this week. The
DTT-reception premium on Dell's 42-inch plasma TV appears to be $500.
- amazon.com (no disclaimer):
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.99 BS
- Sharp LC-32GD4U 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $4499.99 BS
- Sharp LC-37GD4U 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $5499.99 BS
- Sharp LC-45GD4U 45-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $7999.99 BS
- Toshiba 46HM84 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2999.99 BS
- Zenith L15V36 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $499.99 BS
BS - price "before on-site savings"
- Best Buy (HD-only disclaimers and none for Black Friday):
- Advent HT2751A 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $349.99
- GE D52GW12 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $888.88
- Insignia I-LC23Q1 23-inch LCD TV $1099.99
- Insignia I-LC26Q1 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1299.99
- JVC AV30W475 30-inch widescreen CRT TV $499.99
- JVC LT17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $799.99
- JVC PD42V475 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99 EJ
- LG DU-37LZ30 37-inch integrated direct-view LCD DTV $4999.99
- Maxent MX-42VM10 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1699.99 AR
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1799.99 EJ
- Panasonic PT-50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2799.99 EJ
- Panasonic PT-60LC14 60-inch LCD projection TV $3499.99 EJ
- Philips 30PF9946D/37 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2299.99
- Philips 42PF9966 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4499.99 EJ
- Philips 50PF9956 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.99 EJ
- Pioneer PDP-4341HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.99
- Samsung HL-P4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2999.99 EJ
- Samsung HL-P5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.99 EJ
- Samsung TX-P2670WH 26-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $699.99
- Samsung TX-P3071WH 30-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $999.99
- Sharp LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $1099.99
- Sharp LC32G4U 32-inch LCD direct-view TV $3299.99
- Sharp LC37G4U 37-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $4999.99
- Sharp LC45GD4U 45-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $7999.99
- Sony KD36XS955 36-inch 4:3 integrated direct-view DTV $1699.99
- Sony KDE37XS955 37-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4499.99 EJ
- Sony KDE42XS955 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.99 EJ
- Sony KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99 EJ
- Toshiba 26HL84 26-inch widescreen LCD TV
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299.99
- Toshiba 52HM84 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2999.99 EJ
- Toshiba 62HM84 62-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3699.99 EJ
AR - price after mail-in rebate
EJ - price includes DVD player and 4 Elton John concert DVDs
- Circuit City (HD-only disclaimers and none for Black Friday):
- Akai PDP4249G 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2699.99
- Akai PT4299HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $699.99 AR
- Apex AVL2776 27-inch widescreen LCD TV $999.99 (or $1199.99 DVD)
- Hitachi 32HDL51 32-inch integrated LCD photo-slot DTV $3799.99 HD
- Hitachi 42HDT51 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.99 HD
- Hitachi 50VS810 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3699.99 HD
- Hitachi 51F510 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1699.99 BS DVD
- Hitachi 57F510 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1899.99 DVD
- JVC AV30W475 30-inch widescreen CRT TV $599.99
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499.99 DVD
- LG RU42PZ61 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799.99 HD
- LG RU42PZ71 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.99 BS HD
- LG RU44SZ63D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2799.99 HD
- Magnavox 27MS5402 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $479.99
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1199.99 DVD
- Panasonic CT30WX54 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.99 DVD
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV $2299.99 HD
- Panasonic PT47X54 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1399.99 DVD
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2799.99 HD
- Panasonic TC17LA2 17-inch 4:3 LCD TV $799.99 DVD
- Panasonic TC22LH30 22-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1799.99 DVD
- Panasonic TH37PD25U 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2499.99 HD
- Panasonic TH42PD25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.99 HD
- Panasonic TH42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.99 HD
- Panasonic TH50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6999.99 HD
- RCA D52W20 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99 DVD
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999.99 HD
- Samsung LTP227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499.99 DVD
- Samsung TXP3064W 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799.99 BS
- Samsung TXP3264 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $799.99 DVD
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2199.99 HD
- Sony KD34XS955 34-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view DTV $1999.99 HD
- Sony KDE42XBR950 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7999.99
- Sony KDE50XS955 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6999.99 HD
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch wide integr. LCD proj. DTV $2499.99 BS HD
- Sony KDF50WE655 50-inch wide integr. LCD proj. DTV $2999.99 HD
- Sony KDF60XS955 60-inch 16:9 integr. LCD proj. DTV $4099.99 HD
- Sony KDL32XBR950 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $5499.99
- Sony KDP57WS655 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2499.99 HD
- Sony KLV23M1 23-inch direct-view LCD TV $1799.99 DVD
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2499.99 DVD
- Sony KP46WT520 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99 DVD
- Sony KV27HS420 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $749.99 DVD
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999.99 DVD
- Sony KV36HS420 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1499.99 DVD
BS - price "before savings"
DVD - price includes DVD player
HD - price includes "HD" DVD player
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimers):
- Audiovox FP-1520 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $299.99
- HP F2304 23-inch LCD $1999.99 AR
- Panasonic PT-50DL54 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.99
- Samsung 192MP 19-inch LCD TV $649.99 AR
- Samsung HLP4663WX/XAA 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2999.99
- Samsung LT-P266WX 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1999.99
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2199.99
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch wide integr. LCD projection DTV $2499.99
- Sony KLV23M1 23-inch direct-view LCD TV $1799.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Dell (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Dell 19-inch widescreen LCD TV $849
- Dell 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1599
- Dell 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $1999
- Dell 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999
- Dell 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3499
- Epson (no disclaimer necessary):
- Epson LS47P2 47-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DTV/printer w/stand $2699 AR
- Epson LS57P2 57-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DTV/printer w/stand $3199 AR
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, HD disclaimers):
- "Major Name Brand" 50-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1999
- "Major Name Brand" 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $799
- Mitsubishi WD-62725 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4299
- Mystery brand 27-inch LCD TV $799
- Mystery brand 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1449
- Samsung HL-P5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2999
- Toshiba 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimers):
- LG RU52SZ30 52-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $1999
- Mitsubishi LT-3040 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $2999
- Mitsubishi WS-48513 48-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1249
- Mitsubishi WS-65613 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2199
- Mystery brand 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1499
- Philips 34PW9819 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999
- Pioneer PDP-4330HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3499
- Samsung HLN567W 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2499
- Harvey (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- SharpVision LC45GX6U 45-inch wide integr. LCD DTV $7999
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic TH37PD25U 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2499
- Philips 42PF9936 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2399
- Sony KE32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2399
- Sony KP46WT520 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499
- Sony KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1399
- Toshiba 57H84 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1899
- Toshiba 65H84 65-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $2199
- HP (no disclaimer):
- HP pl4245n 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Akai PDV42S10 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999.99
- Akai LCT2660 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1199.99
- GoVideo T1530 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $349.99
- JVC PD-42WX84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99
- Panasonic PT-50DL54 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Philips 50PF9966 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499.99
- Toshiba 32HL84 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $2499.99
- Westinghouse LTV-17v1 17-inch 5:4 LCD TV $429.99
- Westinghouse W32001 20-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Epson LS47P2 47-in. 16:9 integr. proj. DTV/printer w/stand $2699 AR
- LG DU-42PY10X 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4498
- LG RU-44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2498
- LG RU-52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2998
- Mitsubishi LT-2240 20-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $2498
- Mitsubishi LT-3050 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $3998
- Mitsubishi PD-4225 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3998
- Mitsubishi PD-5050 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6998
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3499
- Mitsubishi WD-52825 52-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DTV/PVR $5498
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4299
- Mitsubishi WD-62825 62-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DTV/PVR $5998
- Mitsubishi WS-55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1798
- Mitsubishi WS-65713 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2998
- Mystery brand 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $1997
- Panasonic TH-37PD25UP 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV PL
- Panasonic TH-42PD25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV PL
- Pioneer PRO1010HD 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6998
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch widescreen integr. LCD projection DTV $2498
- Sony KDF50WE655 50-inch widescreen integr. LCD projection DTV $2998
AR - price after mail-in rebate
PL - price listed but unclear to me
- Magnolia (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Fujitsu P42VHA30WS 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3498
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3498
- Panasonic PT-43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV $1998
- Philips 26PF9966 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1599
- Philips 42PF9936 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2849
- Sony KE32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2998
- Paul's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic TH-37PD25UP 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2495 BS
BS - price "before savings"
- PC Mall (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Mystery brand 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $1099 AR
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Samsung (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Samsung LTN406W 40-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $4999
- Samsung LT-P1745 17-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $699
- Samsung LT-P1795W 17-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $899
- Samsung LT-P2045 20-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $899
- Samsung LT-P227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499
- Samsung LT-P266W 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1999
- Samsung LT-P326W 32-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2999
- Sound Factor (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Pioneer PRO1120HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $8999
- Unitek (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Planar PDP-42BK 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1699
- Sony PFM-42X1/B 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499
- Sony FWD50PX1/W 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4699
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Fujitsu P50XHA30US 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5997
- LG DU50PY10 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6497 BS
- LG RM26LZ30 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1997 BS
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1497 BS
- LG RU42PX11 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2497 BS
- LG RU42PZ61D 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3797 BS
- LG RU44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2497 BS
- LG RU52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2997 BS
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3497 BS
- Mitsubishi WS 65413 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2297
- Samsung HLN617W 61-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3597
- Samsung HLP5685W 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4797 BS
- Samsung LTP266W 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1997 BS
- Sony KD36XS955 36-inch 4:3 integrated direct-view DTV $1697 BS
- Sony KDE50XS955 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6997 BS
- Sony KDF70XBR950 70-inch 16:9 integr. LCD proj. DTV $6997 BS
- Sony KE32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2297
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3497 BS
- Sony KF42WE610 42-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $1997
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2697
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1497
- Sony KV30HS420 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $997 BS
BS - price "before savings:

- DVD news:

- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the first
44 weeks of 2004 were DOWN 1.2% from the same period in 2003. My ten-week
running average was flat. VCR sales were down 64.1% for the first 44
weeks.

- A story in the UK edition of Electronic Engineering Times suggests
this may be the end of DVD sales growth, based on a report from
International Data Corp.:
http://www.eetuk.com/mr/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=54200511

- Black Friday prices hit amazing new lows. Fry's had a
"progressive-scan" DVD player for $14.99 after rebate. Warren News
reported a CyberHome DVD player at Strawberries for $14.99 with no mention
of a rebate (the story will be on their site until tomorrow morning):
http://www.warren-news.com/
Best Buy had Norcent players for $17.99 after rebate. Circuit City
also showed DVD players at $17.99. Best Buy offered five DVD movies for
$25; Circuit City offered DVD movies at $4.99 each. Best Buy offered a
50-pack of Dynex DVD+R disks for $2.99 after rebate! Circuit City offered
a Philips 50-pack for $9.99 with no rebate required.
Fry's had a DVD/VCR combo for $49 and a DVD recorder for $129. I've
listed seven DVD recorders priced under $200 in the "July 1" section above.

- PVR news:

- USA Today reports that DirecTV is considering dropping TiVo in favor
of an NDS product. According to the story, "More than 61% of TiVo's 2.3
million DVRs belong to DirecTV subscribers who pay an extra $5 a month to
get the TiVo service from the No. 1 satellite company." In the 3rd
quarter, 75% of new subscribers came from DirecTV:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2004-11-29-dvr_x.htm

- Another USA Today story deals with TV shows going beyond the normal
half-hour start/stop marks. This is said to screw up PVR users worse than
VCR users:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-11-28-tv-schedule_x.htm

- The Entertainment Technology Alliance seeks proposals for presentations
at their June summit:
http://www.etaexpo.com/proposal.html

- The SMPTE/USC seminar scheduled for December 4-5 has been postponed.

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- *December 1, BAFTA, London, Digital TV: The Next Steps
http://www.tvconferences.com/.
- December 7, Radisson Barcello Hotel, Washington, D.C., ATSC ACAP
seminar http://www.atsc.org/seminars/2004_ACAP/acap_04.htm.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking
Conference http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
http://www.cesweb.org/.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International Conference
on Consumer Electronics http://www.icce.org/.
- January 11-13, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort, California,
SCTE Emerging Technologies Conference http://et.scte.org/.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The
Technology Retreat*** http://www.hpaonline.com.
- *January 28, Wokefield Park, England, International Association of
Broadcasting Manufacturers conference
http://www.theiabm.org/index.cfm?RecordID=80.
- *January 30-February 2, Crowne Plaza Ravinia, Atlanta, SMPTE
Advanced Motion Imaging Conference and VidTrans
http://www.smpte.org/conferences/vidsm.cfm.
- *March 23, KQED, San Francisco, VSB seminar
http://www.lns.com/sbe/archive/sbenov04.html.
- March 28-31, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, SURA/VIDe
2005 http://www.vide.net/conferences/spr2005/.
- *April 3-5, Moscone Center, San Francisco, NCTA: The National Show
http://www.thenationalshow.com/ncta2005/ncta2005/public/enter.aspx.
- *April 16-21, Las Vegas Convention Center, NAB 2005
http://www.nabshow.com/default.asp.
- *May 22-27, Hynes Convention Center, Boston, SID International
Symposium 2005 http://www.sid.org/conf/sid2005/sid2005.html.
- *June 4-10, Las Vegas Convention Center, Infocomm 2005
http://www.sid.org/conf/sid2005/sid2005.html.
- *June 28-30, Javits Convention Center, New York, Entertainment
Technology Alliance Summit http://www.etaexpo.com/register.html.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. Next
week's memo might be late.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Alan Roberts

7th December 2004, 17:41

This dated December 6 2004

============================================

- Follow-ups:

- ***The Technology Retreat*** -
http://www.hpaonline.com/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=289
- URGENT! Extended early registration ends this coming Friday
(the 10th), and the hotel is quickly running out of rooms for Tuesday night
(there IS a nearby backup hotel). Details follow, but first here's the
reason why Tuesday night has become so popular.
- It seems that, thanks to ***The Technology Retreat***, our
hotel is THE place to be the week of January 22. So, depending on your
affiliation, plan to spend even more time there.
The Technical Committee of the North American Broadcasters Association
(NABA) will be meeting at the hotel Tuesday, January 25 from 10:00 am to
3:00 pm. The AAF (Advanced Authoring Format) Association will be holding
its strategic planning sessions there Monday all day and Tuesday morning.
Their annual general meeting will be Tuesday afternoon. Grass Valley
Thomson will be holding their pre-NAB press briefing at the hotel Sunday
January 23 through Tuesday January 25. ATSC (Advanced Television Systems
Committee) specialist group T3/S8 will be meeting there Tuesday morning.
The half-day ATSC "Getting PSIP Right" seminar and newly renamed Charles
Poynton "HDTV and Digital-Cinema Camera Technology" seminar (details below)
will be conducted Tuesday afternoon. The main Technology Retreat runs
Wednesday through Friday. You can take Saturday off or use it to fly the
SMPTE Advanced Motion Imaging Conference and VidTrans (starting Sunday the
30th in Atlanta):
http://www.smpte.org/conferences/vidsm.cfm
- Again, the schedule (updated periodically) has been posted on
the Hollywood Post Alliance web site:
http://www.hpaonline.com/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=304
- Here are some new additions: In the ATSC "Getting PSIP Right"
half-day seminar, Jean Macher of Thales will be presenting "Automating
PSIP: A Case History."
- In the main retreat program, DirecTV senior director of new
technologies Robert Plummer, Microsoft senior director of worldwide media
standards Pat Griffis, and NBC vp of technology Glenn Reitmeier will be
joining CEDIA board member Michael Heiss on the Consumer-Marketplace panel
(and we expect more to come on that panel). With the addition of NBC, the
broadcasters panel is now complete (with Mike Strein of ABC, Bob Seidel of
CBS and UPN, Jim DeFilippis of Fox, Jerry Butler of PBS, Mark Aitken of
Sinclair, and Hal Protter of The WB). Sony vp of technology Hugo Gaggioni
and Ikegami digital-news-gathering specialist Jose Rosado are joining
Panasonic's Phil Livingston and JVC's Bob Mueller on the Tapeless Camcorder
Acquisition panel moderated by Avid's Pete Fasciano.
- The intelligence community's view of video forensics will be
presented in a Friday-morning breakfast roundtable by Ed Grogan of the
Department of Defense at Ft. Meade and Dr. Nick Beser of the Applied
Physics Laboratory of Johns-Hopkins University. Oliver Morgan of Metaglue
will present a Thursday-morning breakfast roundtable on "Applications for
AAF & MXF Working Together." Brad Gilmer of the AAF Association will
present a breakfast roundtable Friday morning on AAF and XML. Chris Lennon
of Harris will moderate breakfast roundtables on Thursday and Friday on
implementation of the new ATSC Programming Metadata Communication Protocol
(PMCP) standard. We're also expecting an OmniTek breakfast roundtable on
test, measurement, and monitoring in the digital-intermediate realm, and we
might have one on unlicensed Wi-Fi devices in the TV spectrum.
Despite all of those (and the others already listed in the schedule),
there's still plenty of room for more breakfast roundtables on any subject.
If you'd like to moderate one (or more), just let me know the day(s)
(Thursday and/or Friday), the subject(s) (be as brief as possible, please),
and the moderator(s). Disclaimer: There are two reasons why you should
think twice about agreeing to moderate a breakfast roundtable:
1. They start at 7:30 am (but are well attended even at that hour).
2. If you commit to moderate a roundtable, you can't sit in on
someone else's that day.
- SMPTE-Gold-Medal-winner Charles Poynton has reworked his
Tuesday-afternoon half-day seminar. It's now called "HDTV and
Digital-Cinema Camera Technology," and here's the latest description of
this all-new educational event (he considers it a work-in-progress for his
next book):
"The 3-CCD 'beamsplitter' camera has ruled video for about a quarter
of a century. This is set to change. Single-sensor 'mosaic' cameras have
already been announced by at least three companies, and more are surely on
the way. This half-day seminar will start by reviewing optics and lens
design for HDTV and digital cinema cameras. It will then outline the task
of color separation with both the tried-and-true prism beam-splitter and
emergent color filter array (CFA) technology that originated in the digital
still camera world. 'Demosaicking" algorithms necessary to reconstruct
color in these cameras will be described. The optics, physics, and
electronics of CCD and CMOS image sensors will be covered, with particular
attention to the sources and treatment of noise. The seminar will conclude
with the emergent technologies of wide color gamut and high dynamic range
imaging."
- The AAF Association and its members will be showing in the demo
room early implementations of AAF-X, AAF to Windows Media XTL files, and
AAF to Adobe project files, possibly with some additional surprises.
Edifis Media Technologies, EtherGuide Systems, Filmlight, and MPro/OmniTek
are also joining the others in the demo room, and Sony will be showing off
its latest projection technology in a special demo room.
- By my count, we now have 17 SMPTE Fellows making presentations
at the retreat. I won't bother counting the Emmy awards, Oscars, gold
medals, doctorates, etc. (but any of the teams waiting for our softball
championship to end could nevertheless probably wipe us out on the playing
field).
- Again, the extended early registration deadline is THIS COMING
FRIDAY, December 10 -- no kidding! And the fire marshal rules! No matter
how much you're willing to pay, when the room capacity is hit, that's it
for admittance. So do yourself a favor and don't delay. FYI, as of today,
pre-registration is running four times faster than it did last year.
Here's the registration information, with a link to the online
registration form:
http://www.hpaonline.com/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=290
- Don't forget to reserve a room at the hotel, too. The hotel's
deadline for offering the special rate of $149 a night (and 20% off golf
and spa fees) is January 10. BUT they might run out of rooms by then.
PLEASE don't wait!
http://www.hpaonline.com/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=290
If there's no room at the inn by the time you register (the Bob Hope
Classic is happening that week, too), you can try the Country Inn & Suites,
about two blocks away, where you can get the Hollywood Post Alliance
special rate of $126.65 (+1-888-319-3999, +1-760-340-5516). For other
hotels in the area (Rancho Mirage is relatively compact), try here:
http://www.californiadeserts.worldweb.com/RanchoMirage/WheretoStay/HotelsMo
tels/
- Organizations committed to coming so far include the AAF
Association, ABC, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS),
Adobe, Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), All-Media Marketing,
Apple Computer, Ascent Media, Avid, Azcar, BAE, Baker Capital, Belden,
Breakpoint Digital, Canon, CBS, CEA, CEDIA, Chrominance, Company 3, CPTWG,
CUNY-TV, da Vinci Systems, Del Rey, Deluxe Digital Studios, Deluxe
Laboratories, Deluxe Toronto, Department of Defense, Digital Vision,
DirecTV, Discovery, Discreet, Disney, Dolby, Dow Lohnes, Edifis Media
Technologies, Encoda (Harris), Enders & Associates, the Entertainment
Technology Center (ETC) at the University of Southern California (USC),
Entertainment Technology Consultants, EtherGuide Systems, Evertz, Exavio,
Filmlight, Flying Eye, Fox, Grass Valley, Harmonic, Harris, HDMG, Ikegami,
Imagica, Iridas, Johns-Hopkins University, JVC, Kagan Research, Karagosian
MacCalla, Kodak, Laser-Pacific, Luma, Matsushita, Merrill Weiss Group,
Metaglue, Metropolitan Opera, Microsoft, Mindego, Modern VideoFilm, MOS
Group, Motion Picture Association (MPAA), MPro, MPTV/MATC, MTI Film,
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), NBC, North American
Broadcasters Association (NABA), Omneon Video Networks, OmniTek, Pacific
Interface, Panasonic, Panavision, Paramount Pictures, PBS, Pinnacle
Systems, Plus8 Digital, Post Blur, Psychofish, Quartz Electronics, QuVIS,
Ratheon, ROAM Consulting, Scripps Networks, sgi, Sharp Laboratories,
Silicon Optix, Sinclair Broadcast Group SMPTE, Snell & Wilcox, Sohonet,
Sony, Stark Raving Solutions, Starz Encore, Tandberg, Teranex, Teresis,
Texas Instruments, Thales, Thomson, Triveni Digital, Turner Broadcasting,
Twin Cities Public Television, Universal Pictures, University of Arizona,
Via Licensing, Video Post & Transfer, Virtual Katy Development, Warner
Bros., The WB, and Xytech
- Whatever question you have about digital-cinema, television, or
video technology, someone will be there who knows the answer. So, BE
THERE, too! Don't say you haven't been warned! January 26-28 (with
separate-admission half-day seminars on the 25th and all other events noted
above) at the Rancho Las Palmas Marriott Resort in Rancho Mirage,
California:
http://www.hpaonline.com

- Nomenclature - Now it's getting serious. Maryland's chief
information officer is reportedly asking state residents to buy HDTVs in
the hope that such purchases will free 700-MHz spectrum for public-safety
purposes:
http://gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/28012-1.html
A DTT set-top box will work just as well for that purpose, and an HDTV
display without DTT-reception capability won't. When nomenclature starts
causing problems for public safety, isn't it time to get things straight?
Something I wrote a while back on the subject of "tuners" has been
posted on the Digital TV web site:
http://digitaltelevision.com/articles/article_833.shtml

- LCDs: Feast or Famine? - Warren Communications News reported Friday
that Corning said its LCD glass shipments "weakened" in November, leading
the company to project only 3% growth "at best" in 4th-quarter revenues.
The story is no longer on the site:
http://www.warren-news.com/

- The latest U.S. DTT-transition plan - According to a story by Doug
Halonen in TV Week online, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 2009
plan for analog cut-off "was put on indefinite hold last week." "I'm not
very married to a particular approach," said FCC head Michael Powell:
http://www.tvweek.com/article.cms?articleId=26610
Writing in the Kansas City Star today, Aaron Barnhart said, "Don't
worry: Plain old TV isn't going anywhere soon":
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/10334046.htm
The end of the version of the article on his TV Barn site includes my
suggestions for how to go shopping for an HDTV set. The term "failsafe" is
his, not mine:
http://www.tvbarn.com/ticker2004/archives/028058.shtml
Here are some other recent pronouncements in the news:
- Wilson Rothman in The New York Times on Thursday wrote, "Most
people don't realize this, but DVD's are far from high-def":
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/02/technology/circuits/02stat.html
- Fred Kaplan in Slate wrote, "EDTVs (enhanced-definition
televisions) may seem like a bargain, but they're a waste":
http://slate.msn.com/id/2110469/

- Off-time network programming - A reader who wrote in about other
issues related to that thread ended thus:
"Interesting thing about NBC is that most of the time the first minute
and a half of "ER" comes though on the digital channel as letterboxed on a
4X3 window. Abruptly at 10:00 PM the screen goes to full 1080i HD. [The
local NBC station's] feed is controlled out of 30 Rock by NBC, [so] you'd
think they could just start the HD feed at 9:58:30 PM, right?"

- Recent HDTV consumer studies - They're summed up in this
Broadcasting & Cable story (this one is free with no subscription
necessary):
[url]http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA485285.html?display=Feature&refe
rral=SUPP[/url]
Another study, conducted by Frank N. Magid Associates of 1251
consumers in October, found:
- 29% of consumers intending to buy a TV "will or are very likely to
buy an HDTV set" and another 17% are "somewhat likely." Eight percent
already owned an "HD set."
- But 40% could name only one HD network and only 28% could name at
least four:
http://www.magid.com/company_info/news_article.asp?articleID=736

- July 1 -
- My Minneapolis-St. Paul correspondent is still out of town.
- Since I've been doing this roundup of tuner-mandate ads, I've
noticed changes. There used to be many ads for 36-inch TVs; now there are
a similar number for 35-inch TVs. Another shift is starting in the next
mandate category. There used to be many ads for 25-inch TVs; now there are
a similar number for 24-inch. I wonder if we'll start seeing ads for
12-inch TVs instead of 13 around the 2007 deadline.
- This week I've listed 116 advertised TVs 36-inch or larger. Of
those, 44 (38%) have integrated DTT-reception capability.
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets
that are HD and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- Toshiba 36E60 36-inch TV @ CEW $269
- RCA 50-inch 4:3 projection TV @ CEW $449
- RCA 61-inch widescreen projection TV @ CEW $649
- Sony 61-inch widescreen projection TV @ CEW $749
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Daewoo DTQ27U4SC 27-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $199.99 AR
- Magnavox 27MS3404 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $199.99
- Sansui TVS2746 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $149.99 AR
- Sony 27S45 27-inch TV @ CEW $159
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- ESA E413E 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $59.99
- "Famous Brand" 13-inch TV @ CEW $49
- RCA 13V400T 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $54.99 AR
- ESA ET419E 19-inch TV @ Circuit City $89.99
- "Famous Brand" 19-inch TV @ CEW $69
- GoVideo DV2140 DVD/VCR combo @ J&R $89.99
- ESA E4000 DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $79.99 AR
- Samsung DVD-V4600A/C DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $99.99
- Zenith XBV442 DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $99.99
- GoVideo RV4000 VCR/DVD recorder combo @ CompUSA $249.99
- GoVideo VR3950 VCR/DVD-R/RW recorder @ J&R $249.99
- Magnavox MRV640 DVD+R/RW recorder @ Best Buy $149.99 AR
- Panasonic DMRE55S DVD-R/RAM rec. @ Circuit City w/$10 RC $224.99
- Panasonic DMRE55S DVD-R/RAM recorder @ CompUSA $249.99
- Philips DVDR615 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $249.99
- Sharp DVRW340U VCR/DVD recorder @ Best Buy w/$25 GC $299.99 3D
- Sylvania DVR90DE DVD recorder @ amazon.com $179.99
3D - price includes three DVDs
AR - price after mail-in rebate
GC - price includes gift card of the amount shown
RC - price includes "reward certificate" of amount shown
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Toshiba MV13P2 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Best Buy $119.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Casio EV570C 2.5-inch LCD TV @ Circuit City $99.99 AR
- 5-inch TV/AM/FM combo @ Toys"R"Us $17.99
- Audiovox 7-inch under-cabinet LCD TV/AM/FM @ Circuit City $299.99
- Sony ICFCD855VSIL AM/FM/TV/weather/CD combo @ Circuit City $79.99
- Sony ICF-S79V AM/FM/TV/weather shower radio @ J&R $49.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate

- May 1 -
- The NAB did not update its list this week.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated its lists
on November 30:
- 1674 U.S. full-power TV stations (97.2% of the new total)
have received a DTT construction permit or license, and 1476 are
transmitting at least some DTT at some power level:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvsum.html
- There has been no change in the 40 top-10-market ABC, CBS,
Fox, and NBC stations due on the air May 1, 1999. It's still 38 fully
licensed and two operating at low power on temporary authorization:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat.html
- There has also been no change in the 79 market-11-30
stations due on the air November 1, 1999. It's still 72 fully licensed and
seven at low power on temporary authorization:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat11.html
- Here's a chart summarizing the status:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonairsum.html
- These are the 803 stations operating at low power on
temporary authorization:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstas.html
- These are the 673 stations fully licensed or on
program-test authorization:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonair.html
Tomorrow, Doug Lung's RF Report will list the number of licensed U.S.
DTT stations in the FCC database. The two numbers are getting close.

- The front-page headline in the November issue of the ATSC publication The
Standard is "FCC Mandates PSIP":
http://www.atsc.org/news_information/newsletter/ATSC_Newsletter_17.pdf
Indeed, they have! The best way to learn about what you have to do is
probably to attend the ATSC half-day seminar "Getting PSIP Right" at ***The
Technology Retreat***, Tuesday January 25, at the Rancho Las Palmas
Marriott Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California. Then, for follow-up,
you can attend Chris Lennon of Harris's breakfast roundtables on the new
ATSC PMCP standard. BE THERE! Register today! The ATSC seminar (and
Charles Poynton's half-day camera-technology seminar) requires separate
registration:
http://www.hpaonline.com

- Charlie Rhodes's report on the recent IEEE Broadcast Symposium is well
worth reading -- especially his comments on low-VHF impulse noise and basic
tuner performance. Now that multipath seems to be licked (in prototypes,
anyway) it's time to move on to other reception issues:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/features/digital_tv/Features_Rhodes.shtml

- According to a report in Broadcasting & Cable online, George W. Bush has
ordered the Commerce Department to create a non-government advisory
committee to help with the DTT transition as part of its Spectrum Policy
Initiative on Tuesday. The desired cut-off date is said to still be the
end of 2006:
[url]http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA484757.html?display=Breaking+New
s&referral=SUPP[/url]
Media Post says the same:
[url]http://www.mediapost.com/dtls_dsp_news.cfm?SubMatter=Traditional&newsID=281
293[/url]
Broadcast Engineering's Beyond the Headlines, however, says, "the new
initiative did not specifically address the transition to digital
television":
http://broadcastengineering.com/newsletters/bth/20041206/

- The New York City DTT stations that were knocked off the air on 9/11
should soon be back on, sharing a CBS-developed joint DTT transmission
facility on the Empire State Building. They are WABC, WNBC, WNET (PBS),
WPIX (WB), and WWOR (UPN). The work has required shutting down WCBS-DT,
carried by DirecTV nationwide, at midnight daily. The full story requires
a paid subscription:
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA485301.html?display=Technology

- The ATSC has released A/97, a standard for software data download service
(capable of upgrading receivers in the field). The first URL is for the
press release; the second is for the standard itself:
http://www.atsc.org/news_information/press/2004/PR_SDDS_11_04.htm
http://www.atsc.org/standards/a_97.pdf
Slightly earlier, ATSC released its standard on the Programming
Metadata Communication Protocol. You can learn about it from NAB's Art
Allison at the ATSC half-day seminar before ***The Technology Retreat***
and follow up with Harris's Chris Lennon's breakfast roundtables. Yes,
it's JUST that simple!
http://www.hpaonline.com.

- Panasonic joins Sony and Thomson in taking a 24p license from Filmlook:
http://www.filmlook.com/
What's involved in making a digital-cinematography camera? Come to
Charles Poynton's half-day seminar before ***The Technology Retreat*** and
find out. When you've finished that one, listen to John Galt of Panavision
explain their Genesis camera and Larry Thorpe of Canon explain what's
necessary is lenses.
Yes, ***The Technology Retreat***:
http://www.hpaonline.com

- Screen Digest's E-Cinema Report #143 this week was the last. According
to Patrick von Sychowski, "I will be leaving my position at Screen Digest
next week to join Unique Digital. I will be based in London and head up
Unique's effort to consolidate their position as the world's leading
provider of digital advertising solutions for cinemas -- their system is
already used in Norway, UK, Belgium, Spain and Portugal -- and their
transition to full blown, high-end digital cinema. There is a press
release about it on the site, for those who want more details":
http://www.uniquedigitalcinema.com/
His closing thought about digital cinema? "It's Not A Technology
Business." Amen.
Those wanting to reach him can use this e-mail address:
pvs@mailudc.com (http://pvs@mailudc.com).

- Ingmar Bergman's latest movie, "Saraband," will reportedly be released
digital-only:
[url]http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/international/brief_display.jsp?vnu_co
ntent_id=1000727930[/url]

- International H/DTV news:

- DTT in Japan is expected to cover 80% of households by the end of
2006, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications:
http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=4&id=320682

- One site lists 128 widescreen TVs from 15 brands in Australia,
starting at A$699 ($542). Eleven of those (from four brands) are said to
be integrated with DTT reception circuitry, starting at A$2248 ($1743).
Four of those are said to be SDTV, but only one, at A$8999 ($6976), has a
screen with HD resolution:
http://www.widescreentv.info/products.html
Another site lists 17 integrated sets from six brands (again starting
at A$2248). The discrepancy may be based on availability. Some of these
sets are not yet available. This list has six models said to be HD (from
two brands), starting at A$5999 ($4651):
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=78
There are 63 set-top DTT receivers from 27 brands, starting at A$169
($131). Fourteen of those are HD (from 12 brands), starting at A$599
($465):
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=18

- Got a plan for a new service on Australian DTT? You have until
December 23 to let the government know what it is. The same story says
it's unlikely that analog TV will be switched off by the planned 2008 date:
[url]http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,11558797%5e15306%5e%5enbv%5
e,00.html[/url]

- A headline in Canada's National Post said, "HDTV lacks programs:
CRTC head worried broadcasters aren't keeping up." CRTC is roughly
equivalent to the U.S. FCC:
[url]http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=3bf
ba7e9-8316-4f0a-b7f7-1b87194c6804[/url]

- Canada's Globe and Mail reports on a Convergence Consulting Group
study that found about 1.2 million "HD-compatible TVs" already in Canadian
homes but only about 180,000 used to get HD programming:
[url]http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20041206/RHD
TVMARKET06/Business/Idx[/url]

- Euro180 plans to launch a second HD satellite channel in June
concentrating on pay-per-view programming. They will plan to use MPEG-4
and have made distribution deals on multiple satellites and cable systems:
[url]http://www.advanced-television.com/2004/news_archive_2004/Dec6_Dec10.htm#eu
ro1080[/url]

- The two tiny Welsh villages that were to be converted to DTT with
free receivers have been. Depending on which report you read, it was
either 350 or 450 homes:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/4058069.stm
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/media/story/0,12123,1366311,00.html

- Unfortunately, a YouGov poll commissioned by the UK government
Digital Awareness Campaign "has found that, with digital television
providing more programme choices than ever, almost one in six families
predict they will have some form of disagreement over TV watching this
Christmas. However, help is at hand from leading psychologist Donna
Dawson, who has devised a three-step survival plan to ensure that families
make the most of the benefits offered by digital TV." Whew!
http://www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk/press/2004/multichannel_christmas.html

- According to the Financial Times, the BBC plans to do all of its
production in HD within six years:
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/8abd8e7c-44a1-11d9-9f6a-00000e2511c8.html

- DTT in France will be "pre-launched" from the Eiffel Tower on
January 15 to help antenna installers get ready:
[url]http://www.advanced-television.com/2004/news_archive_2004/Nov29_Dec3.htm#dt
tprelaunch[/url]

- Taiwan's government plans to revoke all analog-TV licenses by 2010
and require DTT reception in all new TVs 29-inch or larger as of 2006 and
all TVs "manufactured after 2008." But cable operators are unhappy:
[url]http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/variety/20041205/va_tv_ne/digital_
plan_irks_cablers_1[/url]

- The Fraunhofer Institute (a ***Technology Retreat*** attendee in the
past), inventor of MP3, has come up with a surround-sound version. Thomson
will license it.
http://eet.com/sys/news/showArticle.jhtml;j?articleID=54201827
Free evaluation software may be downloaded. The encoder expires
December 31:
http://www.mp3surround-format.com
Interested in sound? Come to ***The Technology Retreat*** and hear
about John McKay's work on the sound editing of the "Lord of the Rings"
trilogy. BE THERE!
http://www.hpaonline.com

- Nikkei Electronics Asia online offers a report on the CEATEC
consumer-electronics exhibition. Highlights included:
- a Sharp 65-inch LCD TV,
- LED backlights for LCDs from Everlight, Rohm, and Sony yielding
greater-than-NTSC color range, and
- a 36-inch SED prototype from Canon and Toshiba with a claimed 8600:1
contrast ratio:
http://neasia.nikkeibp.com/nea/200412/techana_346605.html
Want to know what displays are introduced at January's Consumer
Electronics Show? Listen to Peter Putman at ***The Technology Retreat***:
http://www.hpaonline.com

- NPD reports that "While 18 percent of respondents [in their consumer
panel] said they purchased electronics equipment for holiday gifts last
year, just twelve percent" planned to do so this year, at an average of
$231 ($317 for those 55-64 and $299 for those 18-24):
[url]http://www.npdtechworld.com/techServlet?nextpage=viewpoint_body.html&conten
t_id=2035[/url]

- Another NPD report indicates that the average retail price of plasma TVs
dropped $250 from August to $2467 in September. In the same month, 20-inch
LCD TVs were $857 and 17-inch $445:
[url]http://www.npdtechworld.com/techServlet?nextpage=pr_body_it.html&content_id
=2045[/url]

- What are the latest household-penetration and factory-sales figures for
H/DTV products? Come to ***The Technology Retreat*** and find out!
http://www.hpaonline.com

- Based on figures from CEA, sales to U.S. dealers of non-H/DTV television
sets for the first 45 weeks of 2004 were down 5.7% from the same period in
2003. My ten-week running average was down 4.8%.
Sales of so-called "Digital Televisions" for the 45th week were
109,092 units and for the first 45 weeks 3,659,383.
"Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays without
DTT-reception capability) accounted for about 15.6% of the TVs (not
counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers through the 45th
week this year, a slight DROP from the previous two weeks. It may be worth
noting here what that means. About 84% of the non-plasma,
non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 45th week this year were still
plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify to CEA as a "Digital Television," a display need only be
capable of dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either
receiving digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable of
receiving DTT signals are still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I am aware of only the LG at Circuit City
and the Hughes at Good Guys.

- Ad confusions - This is just a sampling of the ads I saw personally:

- CompUSA (one of the only reliable sources of disclaimers these days)
said the Pioneer PDP4340HD was "HD-Ready" but also had a built-in ATSC
tuner.

- Harvey called the integrated Sony KDE42XBR950 and Pioneer PRO1120HD
"HD-Ready" but the SharpVision LC45GX6U an "HDTV."

- On streetprices.com, eight retailers were listed as carrying Sharp's
LC-45GD4U. Two called it a monitor, four called it a television or TV, and
only one called it an HDTV:
http://www.streetprices.com/Electronics/Consumer/TV/LCD/SP2462275.html

- The ads - My Minneapolis-St. Paul-area correspondent is still out of
town. Gracious Home offered an "Instant Fireplace" DVD to go with its LCD
TVs for $14.99. Bloomingdale's advertised a Sharp Aquos 15-inch LCD TV,
the first even vaguely H/DTV ad I've seen from them. As there was no model
number or indication that it could handle a progressive-scan input,
however, I have not listed it.
- amazon.com (no disclaimer):
- Olevia LT20HVK 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $499.99 AR
- Philips 42PF9936D 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99 BS
- Toshiba 30HF84 30-inch 16:9 direct-view flat CRT TV $899.99 BS
AR - price after mail-in rebate
BS - price "before on-site savings"
- Best Buy (HD disclaimers only):
- LG DU-42PY10X 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4499.99
- LG RU-52SZ51D 52-inch 16:9 DLP proj. TV w/$300 GC & $175 RC $2999.99
- Maxent MX-42VM10 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999.99
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DTV w/$400 GC $4299.99
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$200 GC $1999.99
- Philips 17PF8946 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $699.99
- Philips 30PW8402 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $749.99
- Philips 34PW8502 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.99
- Pioneer PDP5041HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7499.99
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$400 GC $3999.99
- Samsung LT-P1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- Samsung TX-P2764X 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $499.99
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch wide integr. LCD proj. DTV w/$200 GC $2499.99
- Sony KDF50WE655 50-inch wide integr. LCD proj. DTV w/$300 GC $2999.99
- Toshiba 23HLV84 23-inch LCD/DVD combo $1799.99
- Toshiba 42HP84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4499.99
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 GC $1399.99
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 GC $1699.99
- Westinghouse W32701 27-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1299.99
- Zenith E44W46LCD 44-inch wide LCD proj. TV w/$200 GC $1999.99
GC - price includes gift card of the amount shown
RC - price includes "reward certificates" of the amount shown
- Circuit City (HD disclaimers only):
- ESA PDP4294LV 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999.99
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV w/$200 GC $2799.99
- Hitachi 50VS810 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV w/$300 GC $3699.99
- Hitachi 57F510 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV w/$100 GC $1899.99
- LG LST-3510A ATSC receiver/DVD player $399.99
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$100 GC $1499.99
- LG RU42PZ61 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$300 GC $3799.99
- LG RU42PZ71 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$200 GC $2799.99
- LG RU44SZ63D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$200 GC $2499.99
- Magnavox 17MF200V 20-inch widescreen LCD TV $599.99
- Magnavox 27MS5402 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $479.99
- Norcent LT2720 27-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$100 GC $1199.99
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV w/$200 GC $2299.99
- Panasonic PT47X54 47-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 GC $1399.99
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV w/$200 GC $2799.99
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV w/$50 GC $899.99
- Panasonic TC32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$300 GC $3299.99
- Panasonic TH42PD25U 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV w/$300 GC $2999.99
- Panasonic TH42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV w/$500 GC $5499.99
- Panasonic TH50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV w/$500 GC $6999.99
- Samsung HLP4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $2999.99
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$200 GC $2699.99
- Samsung TXP3064W 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $799.99
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$200 GC $2199.99
- Sony KD34XS955 34-inch 16:9 integr. DTV w/$200 GC $1999.99
- Sony KDE42XBR950 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV $7999.99
- Sony KDE50XS955 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV w/$500 GC $6999.99
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch wide integr. LCD proj. DTV w/$200 GC $2499.99
- Sony KDF55WF655 55-inch wide integr. LCD proj. DTV w/$300 GC $3299.99
- Sony KDF60XS955 60-inch 16:9 integr. LCD proj. DTV w/$400 GC $4099.99
- Sony KDP57WS655 57-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DTV w/$200 GC $2499.99
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- Sony KLV21SG2 21-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$100 GC $1499.99
- Sony KLV23M1 23-inch direct-view LCD TV w/$100 GC $1799.99
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$200 GC $2499.99
- Sony KV27HS420 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $749.99
- Sony KV30HS420 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $999.99
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $999.99
GC - price includes gift card of the amount shown
- Computers & Electronics Wa