[opendtv] 20051017 Mark's Monday Memo
- From: Mark Schubin <tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 22:25:49 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
Here are some very efficient (low-administrative-cost) relief
organizations (all have four-star ratings from CharityNavigator.org):
<http://www.americares.org/>
<http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html>
<http://www.directrelief.org/index.html>
<http://www.hopeww.org/>
<http://www.mercycorps.org/splash/>
I understand the Red Cross web site is often busy. Americans may also
call 800 HELP NOW (800 435-7669).
- Follow-ups:
- Warner and Blu-ray - Warren Communications News reported Thursday that
Warner denied the report that it was supporting Blu-ray. The story is no
longer on their site:
<http://www.warren-news.com/>
- The analog cut-off hard-date - What's in the very short (five-page)
draft in the Senate Commerce Committee is April 7, 2009. This story from
Multichannel News is not restricted to subscribers:
<http://tinyurl.com/8r9wz>
That story says $4.8 billion is allocated to converters. I don't think it
is. I've seen the draft (the October 13 version). The Secretary of Commerce
(or designee) is supposed to establish funds "to assist consumers in the
purchase of converter boxes...," "to convert low-power television stations and
television translator stations...," "to facilitate emergency
communications...," "to implement the ENHANCE 911 Act...," and "to provide
assistance to coastal States affected by hurricanes and other natural
disasters." Then, on October 9, 2009, $4.8 billion gets tranferred to the
general fund of the Treasury. In other words, the bill is for budget
balancing, just like the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which created the various
DTT loopholes that this bill would remove. All the payments except the $4.8
billion to the Treasury expire on September 14, 2010.
This story in TV Technology is better:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=3348>
I was quite puzzled by the April 7 date until I read stories like this
next one. It seems Congress is worried about being yelled at for pulling the
plug before the "March Madness" basketball games are over:
<http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=24499>
- Multicast must-carry - I was surprised to see a story about it in the
Toronto Free Press, but it's just about the U.S. issue:
<http://www.torontofreepress.com/2005/swank101205.htm>
- Voom -
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the transfer
of Voom's satellite and other assets to EchoStar:
<http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6271311.html?display=Breaking+News>
- Meanwhile, for programming the Voom HD channels on EchoStar,
there's a deal with the Media Development Authority of Singapore:
<http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6275011.html?display=Breaking+News>
- CEATEC - A bit more:
<http://www.idg.se/ArticlePages/idgnet.asp?id=9218>
- U.S. DTT reception - Doug Lung's article in the current TV Technology is
about the war between top-level engineering firms working for EchoStar (who say
it's tough to receive DTT) and broadcasters (who say it's easy). It's an
interesting story, if you care about the technology, and it will continue next
month:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/features/On-RF/f_doug_lung-10.05.05.shtml>
- DisplayPort - This story is headlined "Why DisplayPort is going to fail":
<http://www.digitimes.com/displays/a20051007PR200.html>
- July 1 -
- There were very few ads this week.
- This week I've listed 58 ads for TVs 36-inch or larger. Of those,
43 (74%) have integrated DTT-reception capability. As of July 1, 100% of those
manufactured in or imported to the U.S. and equipped with tuners were supposed
to have integrated DTT-reception capability. I've also listed 40 ads for TVs
between 25- and 35-inch. Of those, 8 (20%) have integrated DTT-reception
capability. As of July 1, 50% of those manufactured in or imported to the U.S.
and equipped with tuners were supposed to have integrated DTT-reception
capability.
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets that
are HD and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that required DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Insignia ISTV040924 27-inch flat-tube TV @ Best Buy $219.99
- Panasonic PVDF2735 27-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ etronics.com
- RCA 27-inch TV @ Kmart $189.99
- Samsung TXR2735 27-inch flat-tube TV @ Best Buy $299.99
- Sharp 27C241 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $169.99
- Sony KV27FS120 27-inch flat-tube TV @ Sears $329.99
- Symphonic ST427FF 27-inch flat-tube TV @ Circuit City $219.99
- Sylvania 6427FF 27-inch flat-tube TV @ Sears $209.99
- JVC AV32F476 32-inch flat-tube TV @ Circuit City $449.99
- RCA 32V550T 32-inch TV @ Circuit City $299.99
- Sharp 32C241 32-inch TV @ Best Buy $259.99
- Sharp 32F641 32-inch flat-tube TV @ Best Buy $399.99
- Toshiba 32A35 32-inch TV @ Sears $329.99
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Symphonic ST413E 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $61.99
- Magnavox 14MS2331/17 14-inch flat-tube TV @ Best Buy $89.99
- Insignia ISTV040920 20-inch flat-tube TV @ Best Buy $119.99
- Magnavox 20MT133S 20-inch TV @ Circuit City $99.99
- Samsung DVDV5500 DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $99.99
- Sylvania DVD/VCR combo @ Kmart $79.99
- Insignia IS-DVD100121 VCR/DVD recorder combo @ Best Buy $199.99
- JVC DRMV5S VCR/DVD recorder combo @ Sears $284.99
- Mystery brand DVD recorder @ Fry's $79
- Philips DVDR615 DVD recorder @ Circuit City $159.99
- Samsung DVD-R120 DVD recorder @ J&R $159.99
- Sony RDRGX315 DVD recorder @ Best Buy $299.99
- Sony RDR-VX500 VCR/DVD recorder combo @ J&R $299.99
- Sony VGC-RB36G computer w/TV tuner @ J&R $849.99
- WinTV computer tuner w/installation @ Best Buy $99.99
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Sylvania 6719DF 19-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $199.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Audiovox VE920 9-inch LCD TV/DVD clock @ Circuit City $359.99
- Readers have asked how to get hold of some of the non-national
retailers, so look for their phone numbers at the bottom of the memo.
- May 1 -
- Neither the FCC nor the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
updated their lists this week.
- According to Doug Lung's RF Report, the FCC's CDBS database listed
794 licensed U.S. DTT stations as of October 9:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=1035>
- The September issue of ATSC's The Standard is available:
<http://tinyurl.com/axk5r>
- The first person to be prosecuted under the Family Entertainment and
Copyright Act for using a camcorder to shoot a movie in a theater has pleaded
guilty:
<http://broadcastengineering.com/newsletters/scm/20051011/#theater>
- International H/DTV news:
- Taiwan's Asuka Semiconductor has come out with a 3.5-inch
battery-operated LCD DTV. It works on DVB-T signals:
<http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20051013PR207.html>
- According to Research and Markets, China can produce 80 million color
TVs a year, made 65 million in 2003, and is expected to make more than 70
million this year:
<http://tinyurl.com/a2maz>
- The latest list of set-top DTT receivers from Australia shows 75 from 23
brands, starting at A$99 (US$74). Of those, 22 from 15 brands are HD capable,
starting at A$499 (US$373):
<http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=18>
- A third of Finnish households have DTT-reception capability, putting
their analog cutoff date of August 2007 in doubt:
<http://tinyurl.com/9bzl3>
- A company in Brittany (western France) is looking for a senior system
architect for ATSC (yes, ATSC) DTT. If you're interested, contact me, and I'll
send you the details.
- There were two big announcements of mobile video devices this week:
- EchoStar announced Pocket Dish, based on the Archos devices. There are
three models, a 2.2-inch 4:3, a 4-inch 16:9, and a 7-inch 16:9. They list from
$329 to $599. Connected to an appropriate DISH DVR, they are said to be able
to download an hour of programming in five minutes:
<http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/local_story_285075734.html>
- After Steve Jobs pooh-poohed the idea last year, there is now a video
iPod. It has a 2.5-inch screen. There's a deal to allow access to some ABC
shows for $1.99 each a day after they are broadcast. ABC affiliates and unions
are among those who think more needs to be worked out:
<http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=Business&storyid=133066>
<http://www.quote.com/qc/news/story.aspx?story=52319359>
<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/244567_applefolo14.html>
I find it interesting, in this era of HD, that both devices start with
very-low-resolution narrow screens.
- Based on figures from CEA, sales to U.S. dealers of non-H/DTV television sets
for the first 39 weeks of 2005 were down 11% from the same period in 2004; my
ten-week running average was down 17.2%.
Sales of so-called non-flat-panel "Digital Televisions" to U.S. dealers
for the 39th week were 135,982 units and for the first 39 weeks 2,849,446
(compared to 14,556,429 for non-flat-panel sets not called "digital" by CEA).
For 12 of the last 15 weeks, the number of non-flat-panel "digital televisions"
sold to U.S. dealers was lower than in the same period last year.
"Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays without
DTT-reception capability) accounted for about 16.4% of the non-flat-panel TVs
sold to U.S. dealers through the 39th week this year. Based on CEA's report of
unit sales through the end of June including flat-panel displays, the total
"digital" percentage (assuming no flat-panel non-"digital" TVs) would be 31.1%.
It may be worth noting here what that means. About 69% of the TVs sold
through the 39th week this year were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with
picture tubes, and that percentage is increasing slightly.
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 says
that, through June, about 85% of "digital televisions" were HDTV.
- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of only the DirecTV units at Best
Buy. I'd be a lot more sanguine about the availability of inexpensive
converters in a year and a half if they started being advertised now.
- Ad confusions: Flat Universe said of its Sony KLV-26HFU that it is 1280 x
768 (which would be a 5:3 aspect ratio) but has a 16:9 aspect ratio. P.C.
Richard said in one ad that the Panasonic TC-32LX50 had an ATSC tuner and in
another that the Sony KLVS15G10 was HDTV.
- The ads - Readers have asked how to get hold of some of the non-national
retailers, so look for their phone numbers at the bottom of the memo.
Best Buy offered a 26-inch Insignia widescreen flat-tube integrated HDTV
for just $379.99
- Best Buy (HD disclaimers only):
- DirecTV H10 DirecTV/ATSC receiver/decoder $199.99
- DirecTV HR10-250 ATSC/DirecTV receiver/PVR $499.99 AR
- InFocus SP4805 DLP projector $999.99 AR
- Insignia ISTV040927 26-inch widescreen flat-tube integrated DTV $379.99
- LG 50PX4DR 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV/PVR $4999.99 D2
- Magnavox 15MF605T/17 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $289.99
- Maxent MX-42XM11 42-inch widescreen plasma TV $1999.99 D2
- RCA HD50LPW175 50-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $1999.99 D2
- Samsung HLR5667W 56-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2999.99 D2
- Samsung LNR238W 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $999.99
- Samsung LNR328W 32-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1899.99 D2
- Samsung LNR408D 40-inch 16:9 integrated LCD DTV $3299.99 D2
- Samsung TXR3079WH 30-inch 16:9 integrated CRT DTV $899.99
- Sharp DT400 DLP projector $3499.99 D2
- Sharp LC32DA5U 32-inch LCD TV $1799.99 D2
- Sony KDLV32XBR1 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $2699.99 D2
- Toshiba 42HP95 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.99 D2
- Toshiba 50HP95 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3999.99 D2
- Toshiba 51HC85 51-inch widescreen projection TV $1299.99 D2
- Toshiba 57H94 57-inch 16:9 CRT integrated projection DTV $1499.99 D2
- Westinghouse LVM-37W1 37-inch widescreen LCD monitor $1899.99 D2
- Zenith Z50PX2D 50-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $3499.99 D2
AR - price after mail-in rebate
D2 - price includes DVD player and two DVDs
- Circuit City (HD IDs only):
- Hitachi 57F710S 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1709.99
- InFocus SP4805 DLP projector $999.99 AR
- Magnavox 42MF130A 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1699.99
- Panasonic PT61LCX65 61-inch widescreen integr. proj. DTV $2699.99
- Panasonic TC32LX50 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $1709.99
- Philips 30PW8420 30-inch 16:9 flat-tube CRT TV $669.99
- Philips 42PF7320A 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2249.99
- Philips 50PF9630A 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3599.99
- Polaroid FLM1511 20-inch LCD TV $289.99
- Polaroid FLM3201 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $1299.99
- Polaroid FLM3701 37-inch widescreen LCD TV $1799.99
- RCA HD52W59 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $989.99
- Samsung HLR5067W 50-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2249.99
- Samsung HLR5087W 50-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $3149.99
- Samsung HPR4252 42-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $2699.oo
- Samsung LNR238W 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $899.99
- Samsung TXR2779H 27-inch 4:3 integrated CRT DTV $674.99
- Samsung TXR3079WH 30-inch 16:9 integrated CRT DTV $899.99
- Sharp LC20B8US 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $809.99
- Sharp LC26GA5U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1169.99
- Sharp LC32DA5U 32-inch LCD TV $1619.99
- Sony KDFE55A20 55-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $2699.99
- Sony KDFE60A20 60-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $3149.99
- Sony KLVS26A10 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1349.99
- Zenith Z20LA7R 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $494.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Dell (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Dell W1900 19-inch widescreen LCD TV $699
- Dell W2600 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $999
- Dell W4200 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2599
- etronics.com (Village Voice, no disclaimer):
- Samsung LTP227W 22-inch widescreen LCD TV $989.99
- Samsung LT-P2045X 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $569.99
- Flat Universe (metro New York, no disclaimer):
- Norcent PT42FU 42-inch plasma TV $1199.95
- Pioneer PDP42MFU 42-inch plasma TV $1799.95
- Sharp LC32FU5U 32-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1469.95
- Sony 42PV1FU 42-inch plasma TV $1699.95
- Sony KLV-26HFU 26-inch wide LCD TV $1149.95
- Zenith Z26LZFU 26-inch wide LCD TV $849.95
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, HD IDs only):
- "Major Name Brand" 13-inch LCD TV $99
- Mystery brand 20-inch widescreen LCD TV $249
- Mystery brand 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $799
- Mystery brand 42-inch widescreen plasma monitor $999
- Panasonic 37-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $1999
- J&R (am New York, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic TH-37PX50U 37-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2299.99
- Westinghouse LTV-30w2 30-inch widescreen LCD monitor $999.99
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- JVC LT-32X576 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $1799.99
- Samsung HP-R4252 42-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV
- Samsung TX-R3079 30-inch 16:9 integrated CRT DTV $799.99
- Sharp LC-32GDA5U 32-inch LCD TV $1449.99
- Sharp LC-45GD4U 45-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $3999.99
- Sony KDF-E55A20 55-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $2499.99
- Sony KLV-S23A10 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $899.99
- Syntax Olevia LT42HVi 42-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $2299.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- "Famous Maker" 42-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $1698
- LG 17LX1R 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $798
- LG 26LX2D 26-inch 16:9 integrated LCD DTV $1598
- LG 50PX1D 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3998
- LG 50PX4DR 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV/PVR $4998
- LG DU-37LZ30 37-inch 16:9 integrated LCD DTV $2798
- LG DU-42LZ30 42-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $3798
- LG DU-42PX12 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2798
- Panasonic TH-42PD50 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $1998
- Panasonic TH-50PX50U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3998
- Sony KDF-E42A10 42-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $1998
- Sony KDF-E55A20 55-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $2998
- Paul's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WD-52327 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1995
- Panasonic PT-44LCX65 44-inch wide integrated DLP proj. DTV $1995
- Panasonic TH-42PD50 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $1995
- P.C. Richard & Son (am New York, HD disclaimers only):
- Audiovox FP1505 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $288.87
- Mitsubishi PD5050 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.57
- Panasonic TC20LA5 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $599.37
- Panasonic TC32LX50 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $1599.27
- Philips 42PF7320 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2399.37
- Sharp LC26DA5U 26-inch widescreen LCD DTV $1169.97
- Sharp LC37GB5U 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $2399.37
- Sony KLVS20G10 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $699.27
- Toshiba 42DPC85 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1799.97
- P.C. Richard & Son (New York Times, some HD disclaimers only):
- Mitsubishi PD5050 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.57
- Philips 42PF7320 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2399.37
- Sharp LC37GB5U 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $2499.27
- Sony KLVS15G10 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $489.57
- Sony KLVS23A10 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1169.97
- Sony KLVS26A10 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1349.97
- Sony KLVS32A10 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $1799.97
- Toshiba 42DPC85 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1799.97
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, HD disclaimers only):
- Magnavox 32MF605 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $1249.99
- Mitsubishi WD62527 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3150.99
- Samsung LNR238W 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $900.99
- Samsung TXR3079 30-inch 16:9 integrated CRT DTV $899.99
- Sony KDP57WS655 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1799.99
- Toshiba 42HP95 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2700.99
- DVD news:
- According to CEA's revised figures, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers
for the first 39 weeks of 2005 were down 25.4% from the same period in 2004; my
ten-week running average was down 22.6%. VCR sales were down 42.6%.
- In addition to a $79 DVD recorder, Fry's also had a DVD player for
$14.99 with no rebate required.
- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV) - I've had requests to separate the "Taste
of NAB Road Show" dates, so I've done so below this section:
- October 19-20, Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center, Broadcast
Engineering Expo 2005 and SBE National Meeting <http://www.bee2005.org/>.
- October 20, Pittsburgh Radisson in Greentree, SBE Regional Expo,
featuring "What Is HDTV and Who Can See It?"
<http://www.broadcast.net/~sbe20/convention/attendeepage.htm#Special%20Events>.
- October 24-25, Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco, Collaborative
Communications Summit <http://sites.securemc.com/folder4073/>.
- October 24-25, Sofitel Paris Forum Rive Gauche, DVD Forum Europe
<http://www.uands.com/pg04.htm>.
- October 24-27, Orlando World Center Marriott, ShowEast
<http://www.vnufilmgroup.com/filmgroup/showeast/index.jsp>.
- October 25, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Portland, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/73-Portland.htm>.
- October 25-26, Best Western Royal Plaza, Marlborough, Massachusetts,
Bos-Con <http://www.bos-con.com/>.
- November 3, Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, HD Expo
<http://www.hdexpo.net/>.
- November 9-12, New York Hilton, SMPTE Technical Conference & Exhibition
<http://www.smpte.org/conferences/>.
- November 15-17, San Jose Convention Center, Streaming Media West
<http://www.streamingmedia.com/west/>.
- *November 15-17, Javits Center, New York, NAB Post+
<http://www.nabpostplus.com/>.
- November 16-18, Makuhari Messe, InterBEE 2005
<http://bee.jesa.or.jp/en/index.html>.
- November 30-December 1, Washington, D.C., Convention Center, Government
Video Expo <http://www.gvexpo.com/>.
- January 5-8, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
<http://www.cesweb.org/default_flash.asp>
- ***February 21, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs
area), California, pre-Technology Retreat seminars <http://www.hpaonline.com>.
- ***February 22-24, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, Rancho Mirage (Palm
Springs area), California, HPA's 12th-annual Technology Retreat
<http://www.hpaonline.com>.
- February 28, Dorchester Hotel, London, Collaborative Conferencing Summit
<http://sites.securemc.com/folder22719/>.
- *June 27-29, Javits Center, New York, Entertainment Technology Alliance
<http://www.etaexpo.com/>.
* - new or revised listing
- Taste of NAB Road Show calendar - Please check their site:
http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/2005-2.htm
TTFN,
Mark
PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. Next
week's memo might be late.
Phone numbers of some retailers mentioned (the ones starting +1 will work from
outside the United States):
- eTronics.com: +1-212-475-3149
- Flat Universe: +1-212-600-0654
- J&R: +1-212-238-9000, 800-221-8180
- Paul's: +1-714-529-2314
- P.C. Richard: +1-212-979-2600
Have a question about the memo? Before contacting me, please try the FAQs and
glossary in the second postscript to the January 10 memo:
<http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02163.html>
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