[opendtv] 20040706 Twang's Tuesday Tribune (Mark's Monday Memo)
- From: Mark Schubin <tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Multiple Addresses Suppressed <tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 20:51:48 -0400
- Follow-ups:
- Copy protection - The Electronic Frontier Foundation has launched
a Digital Television Liberation Project to "create a 'cookbook' that
teaches technically-minded (and not-so-technically-minded) people how
they can whip up their own fully-capable DTV devices." The first URL is
the announcement; the second is the project:
<http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2004_07.php>
<http://www.eff.org/broadcastflag/>
- July 1 -
- It's after July 1, but it still seems like June:
- Many people have told me they've contacted their cable
operators to ask about CableCARDs and digital set-top-box connections
and got blank responses. Broadcast Engineering's Beyond the Headlines
offers a different view of roughly the same situation:
<http://bth.broadcastengineering.com/july_6/>
- I saw no ads for inexpensive 36-inch TVs this week, but
I saw plenty of ads for TVs larger than 36 inches -- 58, if I've counted
correctly (see the ads section below). Of them, 10 had integrated DTT
reception circuitry. ALL of the ads are from July 1 or later. The best
showing was at Ultimate Electronics, which had five integrated sets out
of 12 that were over 36 inches. Without Ultimate, the rest of the ads
had five integrated sets out of 45. Clearly, the ads are not reflecting
the mandate.
- It might be worth noting that ATI's new HDTV Wonder
card, approximating the circuitry needed to add DTT reception to a TV,
retails for $199:
<http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1619390,00.asp>
- Here are the ads for the July 1 section. 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 $179.99
- Apex AT2708S 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $158.95
- Magnavox 27MS3404 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $199.99
- Sharp 27C241 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $189.99
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Daewoo DTQ-131FC 13-inch TV @ Target $59.99
- RCA 13V400T 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $74.99
- Sylvania 19-inch TV @ Sears $79.99
- Magnavox 20MT133S 20-inch TV @ Circuit City $109.99
- Magnavox MDV-560 DVD/VCR combo @ Target $108.88
- Mystery brand DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $79.99 after rebate
- Philips DVD750VR DVD/VCR combo @ CompUSA $99.99 after rebate
- Samsung DVD-V4600 DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $119.99
- Coby DVD-R1000 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $199.99
- GoVideo R6640 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $279.99
- LiteOn LVW5001 DVD+R/RW recorder @ CompUSA $199.99 after rebate
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Sylvania 6720FDE 20-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $279.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Casio SY30C 2.5-inch LCD TV @ Circuit City $119.99
- GPX 5-inch TV @ CVS $19.99
- Sony DNS707F CD/AM/FM/Weather/TV portable @ Best Buy $99.99
- May 1 -
- Neither the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS)
nor the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) updated their lists
this week.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) monthly update
was on June 30:
- 1658 stations (98%) have been granted DTT construction
permits or licenses, and 1424 are doing some form of DTT broadcasting:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvsum.html>
- There has been no change in the top-10 markets, where
38 of the stations due on the air on May 1, 1999 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 markets 11-30, where 72 of
the stations due on the air on November 1, 1999 are fully licensed and
seven are operating on temporary authority:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat11.html>
- The chart shows 276 non-commercial DTT stations:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonairsum.html>
That's more than the 263 listed by APTS:
<http://www.apts.org/html/digital/dtv/ptv_digitalstations.htm>
- These are the 797 stations the FCC says are operating
on temporary authority (at low power):
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstas.html>
- These are the 627 stations the FCC says are either
licensed or operating on program-test authority:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonair.html>
- Doug Lung's RF Report in TV Technology notes that the
FCC's CDBS database listed just 536 licensed stations as of July 4:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=496>
- In an unusual move, the FCC extended the deadlines for comments on the
impact that analog shutdown will have on consumers. Comments are now
due August 11 and replies September 7:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-2002A1.pdf>
- There are no H/DTV-related items on the agenda of the FCC meeting on
Thursday:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-249217A1.pdf>
There IS some mention of it in a recent Notice of Inquiry on localism:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-129A1.pdf>
- FCC chair Michael Powell was interviewed by Gartner Fellow Kenneth
McGee on June 15. Here are a couple of excerpts:
- McGee: "With regard to digital TV and the 85-percent threshold
or the December 2006 transition date, what percentage of the population
knows they're going to have to do something about their TVs, as analog
gets turned off and digital becomes the coin of the realm?"
- Powell: "Few. I think people have a vague sense that the
television system is changing."
- Powell (later): "It took 35 years for the video cassette
recorder to reach 85 percent. If that's the measure, we won't be
transitioning for 40 years. The December 2006 date is false and was the
day it was written. Our plan is to try and figure out a way to measure
this, so we have a greater certainty when it does end":
<http://www4.gartner.com/research/fellows/asset_91308_1176.jsp>
I would point out that it hasn't yet been 35 years since the
introduction of the videocassette recorder -- even if one dates it from
the 3/4-inch u-matic.
- A story in today's New York Times about some clever HDTV marketing
notes that according to Bruce Leightman of Leichtman Research, there are
1.7 million cable HDTV subscribers (doubled in the last six months):
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/06/business/06hdtv.html?th>
- International H/DTV news:
- In Japan, the value of flat-panel TV shipments (LCD and plasma)
exceeded the value of CRT TV shipments in 2003, according to the Japan
Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association. In
units, however, there were 1.77 million flat-panel TVs and 7.16 million
CRT TVs:
<http://neasia.nikkeibp.com/wcs/leaf/CID/onair/asabt/news/316780>
- Taiwan's DTT launch happened as scheduled, with 14 TV programming
channels from five stations:
<http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/detail.asp?ID=50270&GRP=B>
Set-top boxes are approximately $120 (US):
<http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040701/tc_afp/taiwan_media_tv_040701142739>
- Reuters reports that Mexico now has a DTT plan. The first
stations are to begin transmissions by 2006 with the whole country
getting them by 2021:
<http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=televisionNews&storyID=5578881>
- According to Knowledge Networks/SRI's "2004 Ownership and Trend
Report" from "The Home Technology Monitor":
- 4% of TV homes have a PVR,
- 5% have a computer with a TV tuner,
- 6% have an HDTV display, and
- 18% have a DVD/VCR combo:
<http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-30-2004/0002202409&EDATE=>
- Based on figures from CEA, sales of VCRs to U.S. dealers were down
64.7% for the first 24 weeks of 2004 compared to the same period in
2003. Non-H/DTV direct-view TV sets were down 0.7% largely because of a
huge drop in TV/VCR combos. My ten-week running average for them was
down 7.3%.
So-called "Digital Television" sales to U.S. dealers for the 24th
week were 56,608 units. "Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV
displays without DTT-reception capability) accounted for about 14.9% 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 24th 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 only one this week, the Toshiba
DST3100 at J&R for $479.99. Prices have not fallen significantly recently.
- The ads - Best Buy advertised a "cable-ready" 13-inch LCD built into a
26-cubic-foot refrigerator for $3149.99; a 25-cu.-ft. refrigerator of
the same brand (LG) without the built-in TV was $1799.99.
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- Advent HT2751A 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $399.99
- JVC LT23X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1804.99
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1804.99
- Mystery brand plasma TV $2299.99
- Philips 30PF9946 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2849.99
- Philips 30PW8402 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV (part of a package)
- Pioneer PDP4341HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6174.99
- Pioneer PDP5041HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $8549.99
- Polaroid LCD-1700 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $699.99
- Samsung TX-P3071WH 30-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $949.99
- Sony KE37XS910 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4749.99
- Sony KP65WS510 65-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $2374.99
- Toshiba 20DL74 20-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $949.99
- Zenith E44W46LCD 44-inch widescreen LCD projection TV $2184.99
- Big Screen Store (Washington Post, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi 73-inch 16:9 projection TV $2999
- Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers):
- ESA PDP4294LV 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2789.99
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1069.99
- Panasonic TC14LA2 14-inch 4:3 LCD TV $539.99
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1349.99
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimer):
- Panasonic PT-53X54 53-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1439.99
- ViewSonic VPW425 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.99
- Dell (no disclaimer):
- Dell 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD monitor $630
- Dell 3300MP projector $1699
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Samsung HLN-617W 61-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3799
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimer):
- JVC PD42WX84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4999
- Mitsubishi 42-inch 16:9 projection TV
- Mitsubishi PD5030 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6999
- Philips 34PW9819 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/stand $1499
- Philips 42FD9954 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999
- Philips 50FD9955 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999
- Sony KDP57WS550 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1999
- Sony KV30HS510 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999
- Sony KV34HS510 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1499
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic "PT56TH53" 56-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1799
- Philips 42PF9936 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- GoVideo T1730 15-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- JVC PD-42WX84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4099.99
- Panasonic TH-50PX20U 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.99
- Philips 23PF9945 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1499.99
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3499.00
- Toshiba 26HL84 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2499.00
- Toshiba 30HF83 30-inch 16:9 direct-view flat CRT TV $999.99
- Toshiba 32HL83 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $2999.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4299.99
- Toshiba DST3100 ATSC/DirecTV/NTSC receiver $479.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG RU-44SX61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2798
- LG RU-48SZ40 48-inch 16:9 projection TV $3498
- LG RU52SZ361D 52-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3298
- Mitsubishi WS-55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1898
- Panasonic TH-42PD25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3798
- Panasonic TH-42PX25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5998
- Sony KE-32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3798
- Sony KE-42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4798
- Zenith D52WLCD 52-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2498
- Zenith D60WLCD 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2998
- MyerEmco (Washington Post, no disclaimer):
- Samsung LTP227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1599
- Sharp LC30HV6U 30-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $2749 after rebate
- Sony KE-42XS910 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2999
- Sony Qualia 004 SXRD projector
- Sears (no disclaimer):
- Hitachi 46-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54713 $1399.99
- Hitachi 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV, Sears #54759 $3299.99
- JVC 56-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54814 $1699.99
- Memorex 17-inch widescreen LCD TV, Sears #71264 $679.99
- Mitsubishi 55-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54124 $1899.99
- Sony 21-inch LCD TV, Sears #71624 $1699.99
- Sylvania 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV, Sears #75244 $2599.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer noticed):
- Akai PT4298HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $998.95**
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3149.95**
- Magnavox 42MF7000 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2198.95** after rebate
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1749.95**
- Mitsubishi WS55513 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1979.95**
- Mitsubishi WS65513 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2519.95**
- Panasonic PT50LC13 50-inch LCD projection TV $2499.95**
- Panasonic TC22LH1 22-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1899.95**
- Panasonic TH42PD25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4084.95**
- Pioneer PDP4340HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5999.95***
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3619.95**
- Sony KDP57WS550 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1999.95**
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1349.95**
- Zenith C32V37 32-inch 4:3 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $899.95**
** price includes cooler
*** price after rebate, includes cooler
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3297
- DVD news:
- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the
first 24 weeks of 2004 were down 1.2% from the same period in 2003. My
ten-week running average was down 16.8%.
- Warren Communications News reported last week that Panasonic
showed a 50-GB Blu-ray blank disk capable of holding 4.5 hours of HD.
Its deck is said to also record DVDs. The story is no longer on their site:
<http://www.warren-news.com/>
- Nielsen reportedly says the average number of channels DROPPED from
102.1 in 2002 to 100.4 in 2003:
<http://www.mediapost.com/dtls_dsp_news.cfm?cb=073051P&newsID=257842>
- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):
- *July 8, Entertainment Technology Center Digital Cinema
Laboratory, Hollywood, T-Systems and Film-Ton-Technik digital-cinema
server system demo. RSVP: <http://www.etcenter.org>.
- 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 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 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. There will be some weeks without memos
in August, but I'm not yet sure what they'll 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>
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