[opendtv] 20041213 Mark's Monday Memo
- From: "Mark Schubin" <tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Multiple Addresses Suppressed" <tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 23:54:28 -0500
- Follow-ups:
- ***The Technology Retreat***, January 26-28 (with a number of
earlier pre-retreat events), at the Marriott Rancho Las Palmas Resort,
Rancho Mirage, California -
- There are MANY additions in the main program (I have no idea
how we squeeze them all in):
- The three moderators for the panel at the compression
session Wednesday morning have been selected. Charles Swartz, head of the
Entertainment Technology Center at the University of Southern California,
will be taking the digital-cinema viewpoint. Art Allison, director of
advanced engineering for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB),
will be taking the broadcasters' point of view. Glenn Reitmeier, NBC
Universal vp of technology, formerly of the Sarnoff Labs, will be covering
consumer and other viewpoints.
- Brian Markwalter, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
vp of technology, will be doing a consumer-electronics update session
Wednesday afternoon before joining the consumer video marketplace panel.
- Another addition to that panel is Jon Cody, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) chief of staff to chairman Powell.
- Juan Martinez, JVC's director of strategic technical
alliances, will be joining the tapeless camcorder acquisition panel on
Thursday morning.
- Thursday afternoon's digital-cinema session has been
modified to squeeze in even more. It still begins with Loren Nielsen of
Entertainment Technology Consultants on optimizing displays for digital
dailies followed by Glenn Kennel of Texas Instruments on the X'Y'Z' color
space for digital cinema. Next will be Kevin Wines of Laser Pacific on MXF
packaging for digital cinema, followed by the first discussion panel, with
all of those, moderated by Walt Ordway, chief technology officer of the
all-studio Digital Cinema Initiatives. Then Mike Christmann of Flying Eye
in Germany, the technical chair of the European WorldScreen project, will
offer a presentation on that topic and digital cinema in Europe. Next,
Laurin Herr, president of Pacific Interface, will provide a view of digital
cinema in Japan. Then, for a studio perspective, Chris Carey, senior-vp of
studio new technology at Walt Disney Studios will be joined by Howard Lukk,
executive director of production technology at the same studio. All of
them and Walt Ordway will be on the second discussion panel, moderated by
Charles Swartz of the Entertainment Technology Center at USC. Whew!
- I think (and hope) that just about does it for the main
program (though there might be another panelist or two on the video
consumer marketplace panel). 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>
- There have been many additions to the demo area, too:
- Belden will be using its demo space backwards, trying to
get information FROM participants about what color codes they'd like to see
in the digital era.
- Other newly announced participants in the demo area (there
are now 27) include AJA, DVEO, DVS, eCinema Systems, Evertz, MTI Film
Systems, Nucoda, Panasonic, and Ross Video.
- There are at least two more breakfast roundtables. They will
be on digital archiving for motion pictures. The one on Thursday will be
moderated by Mike Christmann of Flying Eye; the one on Friday will be
moderated by Laurin Herr of Pacific Interface.
Again, there is still room for more breakfast roundtables on any
subject. If you're registered for the retreat and you'd like to moderate
one (or two), just contact me, and I can confirm instantly. Again, here
are the only two cautions:
1. The breakfast roundtables start at 7:30 am (but tend to be well
attended even at that hour).
2. If you commit to moderating a roundtable, you can't sit in on
anyone else's breakfast roundtable that day.
- There are new quiz prizes! But don't worry; the
glow-in-the-dark statue of the official patron saint of television IS
returning.
- Got an announcement you'd like to make? Press registered so
far represent British Cinematographer, Broadcast Engineering, Compressed
News, Digital TV, Eizo Shimbun, Film & Video, Film Festival Reporter,
Government Video, High Definition Magazine, Shoot, Sports TV Production, TV
Technology, and Videography. Here's a recent blurb:
<http://www.filmandvideomagazine.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=29553>
- Don't hate yourself forever for missing this once-in-a-lifetime
event. Don't let your competitors destroy your business. Don't be on the
wrong side in the global war against ignorance. BE THERE!
You have been warned:
<http://www.hpaonline.com>
- The U.S. DTT transition -
- Six southern Democratic Representatives asked FCC head Michael
Powell to delay any vote on the analog shutdown. "Surely there can be
several months of congressional debate and input on this critical matter
during the first quarter of next year," they wrote. The full story
requires a paid subscription:
<http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA485726.html?display=Breaking+New
s>
- The Intelligence-Reform Bill finally passed both houses of
Congress, and it includes a non-binding "Sense of Congress" resolution.
- Broadcasting & Cable reported that it required the return
of analog channels "as early as" the end of 2006. The full story requires
a paid subscription:
<http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA486122.html?display=Breaking+New
s>
- If it were truly "as early as," the date could be anytime
from the end of 2006 onward. But that's not the language I found in the
bill: "Sense of Congress- Now, therefore, it is the sense of Congress that
section 309(j)(14) of the Communications Act of 1934 should be amended to
eliminate the 85-percent penetration test and to require broadcasters to
cease analog transmissions at the close of December 31, 2006, so that the
spectrum can be returned and repurposed for important public-safety and
advanced commercial uses":
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c108:3:./temp/~c108NCuWin:e690053:>
- That's a hard date, but, again, it's non-binding. Here's
TV Technology's take on it: "The venerable 'Sense of Congress' is not
merely a pun but a maneuver used to make it appear is if something is
happening when indeed it is not. The resolution carries no legal weight
whatsoever":
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2564>
- Nevertheless, Jon Cody, Powell's chief of staff at the
FCC, took note of the congressional action. "With the substantial benefits
that will flow to the public with the end of the DTV transition, including
more spectrum for public safety and broadband deployment and billions of
dollars to the U.S. Treasury, it is no surprise that Congress agrees that
setting a firm deadline for the end of the transition is a priority." The
full story requires a paid subscription:
<http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA487312.html?display=Top+Stories>
Does that mean the FCC will act soon? Why not ask Cody yourself at
***The Technology Retreat***, January 26, at the Rancho Las Palmas Marriott
Resort in Rancho Mirage, California? BE THERE!
<http://www.hpaonline.com>
- How many will lose TV reception when the analog plug is
pulled? That depends on how many what? In ascending order, there are TV
households, census households, postal households, and TV sets. Today's New
York Times offered some startling new figures on the last from Nielsen
Media Research. The proportion of census households that are TV households
has remained a steady 98% for many years. But the proportion of households
with four or more TV sets has jumped in just the last year by 19% to 23%
(25.2 million). Despite a growth in the number of households, the number
with just one TV set dropped from 26.4 million in 2003 to 23 million in
2004:
<http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2004/12/13/business/media/20041213mostwan
ted.html>
- The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA)
said in a letter to Powell last Thursday that the cost to the cable
industry of implementing the NAB plan for the transition could run to $28
billion. Again, the full story requires a paid subscription:
<http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA487230.html?display=Breaking+News>
In a somewhat related story, Multichannel News reported today that
NCTA president Robert Sachs has also been lobbying Powell to get the FCC to
drop its requirement that cable systems cease providing "integrated"
(channel navigation with conditional-access control) set-top boxes as of
July 2006. Once again, the full story requires a paid subscription:
<http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA487462.html?display=Breaking+News>
- U.S. DTT reception issues - ATI has demonstrated that two of their
DTT-reception chips meet ATSC guidelines for multipath, overload, phase
noise, selectivity, and sensitivity:
<http://eet.com/semi/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=55300593>
How did the Advanced Television Systems Committee come up with the
guidelines? Why not ask ATSC vp of standards development Jerry Whitaker at
the ATSC half-day seminar at ***The Technology Retreat***, January 25, at
the Rancho Las Palmas Marriott Resort in Rancho Mirage, California. Yes,
***The Technology Retreat." Don't say we didn't warn you:
<http://www.hpaonline.com>
- Blu-ray vs. HD DVD -
- Disney announced Wednesday that it would support the Blu-ray
standard (keeping its options open about HD DVD) and joined the Blu-ray
board:
<http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;?type=technologyNews&storyID=70353
77>
- Fox, although it hasn't yet committed, is already on the
Blu-ray board:
<http://eet.com/sys/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=55300632>
- But Thomson, already a Blu-ray board member, said it would
manufacture and sell HD DVD disks and players next fall:
<http://www.eetimes.com/sys/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=55300947>
Warren Communications News reported Friday that Thomson would sell the
HD DVD decks but NOT Blu-ray. That story, unfortunately, is no longer on
their site:
<http://www.warren-news.com/>
It appears that they WILL still support Blu-ray, but, as owners of the
major disk replicator Technicolor, couldn't afford to offend the Hollywood
studios supporting HD DVD:
<http://www.twice.com/article/CA487362?display=Breaking+News>
What does it all mean? You can find out from the studios, Thomson,
and others at ***The Technology Retreat***, the place where all the elite
meet and greet. It's neat! Rest your feet. Learn the latest on your beat
-- while you eat! And beat the sleet! I acknowledge poetic defeat.
<http://www.hpaonline.com>
- One more item: Toshiba and Memory-Tech have reportedly come up
with a dual-layer version of HD DVD said to be compatible with both
blue-laser HD DVD players AND ordinary red-laser DVD:
<http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/japan_toshiba_dvds>
- July 1 -
- This week I've listed 126 advertised TVs 36-inch or larger. Of
those, 41 (33%) 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 MS3652S 36-inch TV @ P.C. Richard & Son $388.97
- Sony Wega 36-inch TV @ Royal $549
- Sony Wega 36FS10 36-inch TV @ Universal $599
- Sony 36S45 36-inch TV @ Universal $319
- Toshiba 36E60 36-inch TV @ Royal $298
- Toshiba 36H45 36-inch TV @ Universal $279
- RCA ZA46 46-inch projection TV @ Royal $397
- Zenith ZA50 50-inch projection TV @ Universal $409 DVD
- Toshiba 50A60 50-inch projection TV @ Royal $428
- Sony 53S65 53-inch projection TV @ Royal $498
- Sony 53S65 53-inch projection TV @ Universal $519
- Sony 61S75 61-inch projection TV @ Royal $598
- Sony 61S75 61-inch projection TV @ Universal $624 DVD
- Toshiba 61H60 projection TV @ Royal $618
- Sony 65S65 projection TV @ Royal $849
- Sony 65S75 projection TV @ Universal $769
- Toshiba 65H65 projection TV @ Universal $689
DVD - price includes DVD player
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- RCA 25-inch TV @ Royal $98
- ESA EF427 27-inch flat-screen TV @ Circuit City $229.99
- Philips 27PT543S 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $179.99 AR
- Sansui TVS2746 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $159.99
- Sharp 27F540 27-inch flat-screen TV @ Ultimate $198.95
- Sony 27FS10 27-inch TV @ Royal $229
- Sony 27S45 27-inch TV @ Royal $144
- Sony 27S45 27-inch TV @ Universal $159
- Sylvania 6427TE 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $148.95
- Sylvania SRT4127W 27-inch flat-screen TV @ Sears $229.99
- Toshiba 27H45 27-inch TV @ Universal $139
- Toshiba 27H50 27-inch TV @ Royal $139
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- "Famous Brand" 13-inch TV @ Universal $49
- "Famous Maker" 13-inch TV @ Royal $58
- Little Tykes 13-inch TV @ Toys 'R' Us $99.99
- Magnavox 13MT143S 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $79.99
- "Famous Brand" 19-inch TV @ Universal $65
- Konka K2001UM 20-inch TV @ Best Buy $89.99
- Magnavox 20-inch TV @ Radio Shack $114.99
- Sylvania SRT2420 20-inch flat-screen TV @ Sears $99.99
- "Famous Brand" VCR @ Royal $34.99
- "Famous Maker" VCR @ Universal $29.99
- "Famous Maker" DVD/VCR combo @ Universal $79.99
- GoVideo DV2140 DVD/VCR combo @ J&R $89.99
- Toshiba SD-V392 DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $99.99
- Apex DRX-9200 DVD recorder @ amazon.com $149.99 AR
- Centrios EDW8020 DVD recorder @ Circuit City $161.99
- Coby DVD-R1100 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $169.99
- GoVideo VCR/DVD-R/RW recorder @ CompUSA $249.99
- Magnavox MRV640 DVD+R/RW recorder @ Best Buy $199.99
- Philips DVDR615 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $249.99
- Toshiba DR2 DVD-R/RAM/RW recorder @ J&R $249.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Symphonic SC313E 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Best Buy $79.99 AR
- Toshiba MV13P2 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Best Buy $119.99
- Sylvania SRC2419 19-inch TV/VCR combo @ Sears $129.99
- Toshiba MW20FP1 20-inch TV/VCR/DVD combo @ amazon.com $299.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Radio Shack 2.3-inch LCD TV @ Radio Shack $59.99
- Manor 516R 5.5-inch TV/AM/FM combo @ Best Buy $9.99 AR
- MTV STVG710 7-inch TV/karaoke @ Circuit City $99.99 AR
- Sony AM/FM/TV/weather clock radio @ Gracious Home $79.99
- 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 ICF-CD5557V 7-inch LCD TV @ J&R $349.99
- Sony SRFM80V AM/FM/TV/weather portable @ Best Buy $49.99
- May 1 -
- Neither the FCC nor the NAB updated their lists this week.
- Doug Lung's RF report notes that the FCC CDBS database listed
635 licensed U.S. DTT stations as of December 5, no change from his last
report two weeks ago:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=671>
- As expected, there are no H/DTV items on the agenda of Wednesday's FCC
meeting:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-255155A1.pdf>
- Nextel received FCC permission to use spectrum in TV channels 54, 59, 62
to 64, and 67 to 69 for "test and development of communications systems" in
New York (Manhattan) and Queens (New York City):
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-254919A1.pdf>
- Robert Rast, longtime attendee (and frequent quiz winner) of ***The
Technology Retreat***, has been elected to chair the 2005 ATSC board. The
outgoing chair and ongoing board member Phil Livingston as well as board
members Glenn Reitmeier and Peter Symes will also be speaking at ***The
Technology Retreat***:
<http://www.atsc.org/news_information/press/2004/PR_ATSC%20Board_2005.htm>
- DigitalTelevision.com is carrying an article called "Now That I Have To
Do PSIP, What Do I Do?" by Chris Lennon of Harris:
<http://digitaltelevision.com/articles/article_834.shtml>
Need more info? Ask Chris at ***The Technology Retreat***:
<http://www.hpaonline.com>
- Florida Atlantic University's Imaging Technology Space Center is using
Accom's WSD/HDi disk recorder to capture images with four times HD
resolution:
<http://www.hdtvbuyer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=29495>
Last year, participants at ***The Technology Retreat*** learned about
cameras with 16 times HD resolution. Panavision is working on the Florida
project. And where will you find Panavision's John Galt at the end of
January? Why, at ***The Technology Retreat***, of course! BE THERE!
<http://www.hpaonline.com>
- Texas Instruments has shipped its five-millionth DLP subassembly:
<http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041213/nym088_1.html>
- International H/DTV news:
- Private Maltese station Smash TV is the first station in that
country to transmit DTT:
<http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2004/12/05/t4.html>
- Digital Broadcasting Australia updated its list of DTT-reception
boxes on Thursday. There are 63 boxes from 27 brands, starting at A$149
($113). Of those, 14 are HD (from 12 brands), starting at A$499 ($379):
<http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=18>
- Those in them are complaining about holes in UK DTT reception:
<http://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/viewarticle.asp?id=161583>
- Spain has reportedly increased its number of potential DTT stations
(from 1064 to 1124) and has postponed analog cut-off to 2008:
<http://www.advanced-television.com/2004/news_archive_2004/Dec6_Dec10.htm#sp
angov>
- The opening story in the December 9 issue of Canada's Broadcast
Dialogue newsletter is more about the U.S. transition than Canada's:
<http://www.broadcastdialogue.com/newsletter.asp>
- By the end of November, both Samsung and LG Philips had EACH reportedly
shipped more than three million LCD panels larger than ten-inch:
<http://english.etnews.co.kr/news/detail_top.html?id=200412030001&art_grad=9
>
- In an escalation of the plasma war between Korea and Japan, on Monday
Korea banned the import of Matsushita (Panasonic) plasma panels:
<http://investmentsmagazine.com/managearticle.asp?C=120&A=9967>
- Based on figures from CEA, sales to U.S. dealers of non-H/DTV television
sets for the first 46 weeks of 2004 were still down 5.7% from the same
period in 2003. My ten-week running average was down 4.5%.
Sales of so-called "Digital Televisions" for the 46th week were
117,378 units and for the first 46 weeks 3,776,761.
"Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays without
DTT-reception capability) still accounted for about 15.6% of the TVs (not
counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers through the 46th
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 46th week this year were still
plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes. See below for comments
on including LCD and plasma.
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.
- CEA announced that total factory-to-dealer "DTV" sales (INCLUDING plasma
and LCD) were 968,394 units in October and that 290,000 of those were LCD:
<http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10628>
My figures for non-LCD, non-plasma "DTV" sales for weeks 40-43 of this
year (including all business days in October except Friday, the 1st) come
to 568,000 units, roughly 59% of the CEA total. On that basis, if the
proportions were to apply to the whole year, then "DTV" factory sales would
represent 26.6% of all TV factory sales. There were lower numbers earlier
in the year, so it's safe to say that at least 3/4 of the factory TV sales
this year have still been plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture
tubes.
Based on the above calculations, 110,394 plasma TVs were sold in
October.
- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: Good Guys had a full page with the
DirecTV, LG, and Samsung models, but I'm not aware of any others.
- The ads - Wherever Epson's LS47P2 and LS57P2 appear, I have referred to
them as integrated even though the ads don't.
- Best Buy (HD disclaimers only):
- GE D52GW12 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $999.99
- LG RU-52SZ51D 52-inch 16:9 DLP proj. TV w/$300 GC & $165 RC $2849.99
- Maxent MX-42VM10 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1899.99
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1709.99
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $1999.99
- Panasonic PT-60LC14 60-inch LCD projection TV $3324.99
- Panasonic TC-26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2184.99
- Philips 23PF9966 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1614.99
- Samsung HL-P4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2549.99
- Samsung SP-P4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2564.99
- Samsung TX-P2670WH 26-inch 16:9 integrated CRT DTV $664.99
- Sharp LC37G4U 37-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $4999.99 BS
- Sony KDE37XS955 37-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4274.99
- Sony KV30HS420 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $949.99
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1614.99
- Toshiba 57H84 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1804.99
BS - price "before savings"
GC - price includes gift card of the amount shown
RC - price includes "reward certificates" of the amount shown
- Circuit City (HD disclaimers only):
- Akai PT4299HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $999.99
- Apex AVL2776 27-inch widescreen LCD TV $1199.99 BS
- Audiovox FP1500 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $399.99 BS
- Audiovox FPE2000 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $699.99 BS
- Hitachi 32HDL51 32-inch integrated LCD photo-slot DTV $3799.99 BS
- LG RU42PZ61 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799.99 BS
- Magnavox 30MF200V 30-inch LCD TV $1899.99
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV $2299.99 BS
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2799.99 BS
- Panasonic TH37PD25U 37-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2499.99 BS
- Panasonic TH42PD25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.99 BS
- RCA D52W20 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99 BS
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999.99 BS
- Samsung LTP227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499.99 BS
- Samsung TXP3264 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $799.99 BS
- Sony KDE50XS955 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6999.99 BS
- Sony KDF50WE655 50-inch wide integr. LCD proj. DTV $2999.99 BS
- Sony KV34HS420 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1599.99 BS
BS - price "before savings"
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimer):
- Daewoo DTS 42 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$150 GC $1799.99
- HP F2304 23-inch LCD TV $1999.99 AR
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate
GC - price includes gift card of the amount shown
- Dell (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Dell 19-inch widescreen LCD TV $799
- Dell 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1499
- Dell 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $1999
- Dell 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2299
- Dell 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999
- Dell (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Dell W1900 19-inch widescreen LCD TV $849
- Epson (no disclaimer necessary):
- Epson 47-inch widescreen integrated proj. DTV/printer $2699 AR SC
- Epson 57-inch widescreen integrated proj. DTV/printer $3199 AR SC
AR - price after mail-in rebate
SC - price includes stand and external CD burner
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3299
- Sony KP-57WS520 57-inch 16:9 projection TV $1799
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimers):
- "Brand Varies" 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1,799
- DirecTV HR10250 DirecTV/ATSC receiver/PVR $999
- Fujitsu P55XHA30WS 55-inch 16:9 plasma TV $10,499 AR
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3499
- LG LST-3410A ATSC receiver/PVR $799
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1799
- LG RU42PZ61 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799
- LG RU52SZ51D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299
- Mitsubishi LT3040 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $2999
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3499
- Mitsubishi WD62825 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV/PVR $5999
- Mitsubishi WT-42315 42-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1499
- Pioneer PRO1120HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $8999
- Samsung HLP5663WX 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999
- Samsung SIRTS360 DirecTV receiver/decoder $299
- Sharp LC37GD4U 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $4999
- Sony KDE42XS955 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $2499
- Sony KDF-55WE655 55-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $3699
- Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Great Indoors (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Sharp LC13S1US 13-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $449
- Toshiba 52HM84 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/stand $2999
- Toshiba 62HM84 62-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3699
- Westinghouse LTV-17v1 17-inch 5:4 LCD TV $499
- Westinghouse W32701 27-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1299
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic PT47WX34 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1199
- Philips 42PF9936 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2399
- Sony KDF-42WE655 42-inch wide integr. LCD projection DTV $2499
- Sony KE32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499
- Sony KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1599
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1599
- Toshiba 57H84 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1799
- HP (no disclaimer):
- HP pl4245n 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Akai LCT2660 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1099.99
- GoVideo T1530 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $349.99
- JVC PD-42WX84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99
- Optima EP739 projector with screen $1499.99
- Panasonic TH-37PD25U/P 37-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Philips 55PL9524 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $2299.99
- Philips 62PL9774/37 62-inch LCoS projection TV w/stand $2599.99
- Sony KDE-50XBR950 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Sony KDF-50WE655 50-inch widescreen integrated LCD projection DTV
- Sony KDL-32XBR950 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV
- Toshiba 32HL84 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $2499.99
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1049.99
- Westinghouse LTV-17v1 17-inch 5:4 LCD TV $429.99
- Westinghouse W32001 20-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $549.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Epson LS47P2 47-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DTV/printer w/stand $2698 AR
- LG DU-42PY10X 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4498
- LG RU-42PX11 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2498
- LG RU-44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2498
- LG RU-52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2998
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3498
- Mystery brand 44-inch widescreen projection TV $1997
- Panasonic TH-37PD25UP 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2498
- Panasonic TH-42PD25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2998
- Pioneer PRO-1010HD 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6998
- Sony KDF-55WF655 55-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $3298
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Lord & Taylor (New York Times, no disclaimer)
- Initial 17-inch widescreen DVD/LCD combo $699.99
- Paul's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer necessary):
- Panasonic TH-42PD25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV $2995 EL
EL - price "even less"
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer):
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3299.99
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3324.99
- Mitsubishi WD62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4084.99
- Panasonic PT53X54 53-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1519.99
- Panasonic TH-37PD25 37-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2374.99
- Panasonic TH-42PD25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2849.99
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2089.99
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3324.99
- Sony KP-51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1614.99
- Sony KP-57WS520 57-inch 16:9 projection TV $1899.99
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1329.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, HD disclaimer only):
- Epson LS57P2 57-in. 16:9 integr. proj. DTV/printer/CD-R $3199.95 AR WS
- LG RU17LZ22 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $899.95 BS
- Magnavox 42MF7000 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1998.95
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $998.95
- 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 WS48315 48-inch 16:9 projection TV $1599.95 BS
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1799.95 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
- Panasonic CT34WX54 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1399.95 BS
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV $2299.95 BS
- Panasonic TC26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2299.95 BS
- Panasonic TH37PD25 37-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2499.95 BS
- Panasonic TH50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6999.95 BS
- Philips 23PF9966 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1599.95 BS
- Philips 30PF9946D 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV
- Philips 42PF9976 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $$4999.95 BS
- Philips 55PL9774 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV w/stand $2498.95
- Pioneer PRO1010HD 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $6999.95 BS
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.95 BS
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2699.95
- Samsung TXP2775HF 27-inch integrated direct-view CRT DTV $699.95 BS
- Sony KDF50WE655 50-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $2999.95 BS
- Sony KDP57WS655 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2399.95 BS
- Sony KV30HS420 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.95 BS
- Zenith L15V26C/D 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $498.95
AR - price after mail-in rebate
BS - price "before savings"
WS - price with stand
- Universal Computers & Electronics (am New York, no disclaimer):
- "Famous Makers" 42-inch plasma TV $1799
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $2675
- JVC HD61Z575 61-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3449
- Panasonic PT50DL54 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2399
- Panasonic PT60LC14 60-inch LCD projection TV $2599
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2597
- Sony KLV23M1 23-inch direct-view LCD TV $1597 BS
BS - price "before savings"
- DVD news:
- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the first
46 weeks of 2004 were down 2.5% from the same period in 2003. My ten-week
running average was down 7.8%. VCR sales were down 63.7% for the first 46
weeks.
- The satellite portion of the finally passed appropriations bill may be
found here:
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.4818.ENR:>
- Broadcasting & Cable lists the top-25 U.S. networks by 2004 revenue. NBC
is number one, followed by CBS. But three is QVC, followed by ABC. Five
is ESPN, followed by Fox. The WB is 19, just ahead of Fox News (CNN is
15). Univision is 24. Pax, Telemundo and UPN didn't make the top 25 (but
all the networks at ***The Technology Retreat*** did). This full story
does NOT require a paid subscription:
<http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA487193.html?display=Special+Repo
rt&referral=SUPP>
- Wired has a story called "The End of TV as We Know It," based on Internet
delivery of programming:
<http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.12/start.html?pg=7>
- Phone-company-delivered TV is running into local franchising issues:
<http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2004-12-08-ipcable_x.htm>
Multichannel News reported, however, that the FCC will take another 90
days to review SBS Communications' request not to have to comply with
cable-TV regulations. The full story requires a paid subscription:
<http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA486566.html?display=Breaking+News>
- PVR news:
- There has been much discussion lately of the 1984 Supreme Court
Betamax decision. But, if I recall correctly, it did NOT authorize
recording of pay-TV programming. According to this story, HBO is trying to
work out recording restrictions for their PVRs with cable operators:
<http://www.allyourtv.com/0405season/news/november/11282004transitional.html
>
- TiVo is finally trying to protect its name from becoming a generic
noun or verb:
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/13/technology/13tivo.html?oref=login>
- Speaking of names, beginning in January, outside of Japan, Matsushita is
becoming Panasonic:
<http://www.twice.com/article/CA486559?display=Breaking+News>
I was reminded of that by Peter Fannon, Matsushita/Panasonic vp of
technology policy and regulatory affairs and long-time moderator of the
video consumer marketplace panel at ***The Technology Retreat***. BE
THERE! This is your very last warning of the week:
<http://www.hpaonline.com>
- One more name story: CEA's Distributed Audio Subdivision is changing its
name to the Multi Room Audio Video Council (MRAV):
<http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10629>
- Here's Dilbert on video compression:
<http://www.comics.com/comics/dilbert/archive/images/dilbert2004152561209.gi
f>
- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):
- 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 15, KABC, Los Angeles, STE VSB seminar
<http://www.ste-ca.org/>.
- January 25, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, Rancho Mirage, California,
NABA Technical Committee meeting
<http://www.nabanet.com/calendar/default.asp?action=view&EventId=379>.
- ***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>.
- February 17-19, Resort at Squaw Creek, Lake Tahoe, California, CEA
Summit <http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=WS05>.
- February 21-22, New York and London, Collaborative Conferencing
Summit <http://sites.securemc.com/folder4073/>.
- February 25, 1750 K Street NW, Washington, D.C., ATSC Forum
<http://www.atsc.org/technicalmeetings.html>.
- March 7-11, Hyatt Regency San Antonio, Texas, CEA Winter Technology
& Standards Forum
<http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=WTS05>.
- 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>.
- May 28-31, CCIB, Barcelona, 118th AES Convention
<http://www.aes.org/events/118/>.
- May 30-June 3, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary,
SAIT/WABE Broadcast Training Seminar <wayne.watson@xxxxxxx>
<http://www.wabe.ca/>.
- 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>
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