ATSC PUBLISHES NEW INTERACTIVE “ACAP” CANDIDATE STANDARD

Supports Broadcast, Cable, and Satellite Interactive TV Applications

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 2, 2003 – The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has successfully harmonized its DTV Application Software Environment (DASE) specifications with CableLabs’ OCAP™ Specifications.   This harmonization effort has resulted in the creation of the Advanced Common Application Platform “ACAP” Candidate Standard (CS/101).

ACAP will provide consumers with advanced interactive services while providing content creators, broadcasters, cable operators and consumer electronics manufacturers with technical details necessary for the development of interoperable services and products.

“The ACAP Candidate Standard is the result of a truly dedicated effort by representatives of various industry segments,” said Mark Richer, President of ATSC. “The challenging work of merging these two standards has created one that is stronger and more comprehensive, one that will be the ubiquitous platform for interactive television.”

The Candidate Standard stage is an explicit call for implementation and technical feedback.  As an ATSC Candidate Standard, ACAP is now under the domain of a newly formed T3 Specialist Group on ACAP chaired by Craig Smithpeters, Cox Communications.

The ATSC has also published a companion Candidate Standard for ATSC Interaction Channel Protocols (CS/96). This standard specifies protocols to enable interactive television applications using an interaction two-way channel.  This could be used in combination with forward broadcast download channels from terrestrial, cable, and satellite networks.

The ACAP and Interaction Channel Protocols Candidate Standards are available at www.atsc.org/standards.

The Advanced Television Systems Committee, Inc. is an international, non-profit organization developing voluntary standards for digital television. ATSC member organizations represent the broadcast, broadcast equipment, motion picture, consumer electronics, computer, cable, satellite, and semiconductor industries.

 

---

TV satellite rises from sea into orbit Galaxy 13/Horizon-1 to provide new platform for high-definition TV MSNBC STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

OSLO, Norway, Oct. 1 —  Sea Launch, an ocean-based satellite launch venture, said on Wednesday that it had deployed its 10th successful satellite mission overnight and that it was planning a new launch in November. [more]

---

August Dtv Sales Bring Year-To-Date Total To Two Million Units

Year-To-Date 2003 Factory-To-Dealer Shipments Upwardly Revised


Arlington, Va., October 1, 2003 - The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) today issued August factory-to-dealer sales of digital television (DTV) products, which totaled 298,714 units and revenues of $447,564,303. CEA also reported an upward revision to the year-to-date DTV sales total because of strong sales in the plasma and liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor categories.  The year-to-date DTV sales figure now has reached 2,015,351 units and represents a $3,168,985,073 investment in DTV.

August unit sales increased by 26 percent compared to the same period in 2002, while dollar revenues on DTV product sales increased by 18 percent.  CEA defines DTV products as integrated sets and monitors displaying active vertical scanning lines of at least 480p and, in the case of integrated sets, receiving and decoding ATSC terrestrial digital transmissions.

CEA also announced that January through August 2003 set-top box sales totaled 148,799 units.  Set-top box sales increased 376 percent in August 2003 compared to the same month in 2002.  August 2003 sales totaled 25,956 units. 

"August is perhaps best known for vacations and a slower pace, but DTV sales certainly never took time off," said CEA President and CEO, Gary Shapiro.    "Not only did we enjoy a high sales month, but we also are delighted to see a positive revision to the overall category thanks to  consumer to consumer interest in the sleek designs and functionality of plasma and LCD display technologies.   Now that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted the historic cable-consumer electronics 'plug-and-play' agreement, more consumers across the country will come to know the delights of DTV - particularly high-definition TV, which represents 87 percent of the total product category sales."

>From product introduction to date, DTV product sales total 6,793,469 units with a consumer dollar investment of some $11.9 billion.  CEA Market Research projects that 4.3 million DTV units will be sold in 2003, 5.8 million in 2004, 8.3 million in 2005, 11.9 million in 2006 and 16.2 million in 2007.

Data cited in this release is available for purchase through CEA's Market Activity Reports and Analysis (MARA) program. With more than 500 reports published annually, the MARA program is recognized as the "authoritative source" for data on the consumer electronics industry. For a list of available reports and purchasing information, visit www.eBrain.org/mara or send an e-mail request to info@ebrain.com.

 

---

Showtime Networks
Launches THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD

On December 1, 2003

Second HDTV Channel Represents The Company's Continued Commitment To Expand HDTV Offerings

New York, NY, October 1, 2003-- Showtime Networks will launch its second high definition television (HDTV) channel, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD, on December 1, 2003. The company will transmit an East Coast feed of Showtime Networks' all movie service in the highest picture resolution format available -- 1080i -- with the original widescreen aspect ratio (16:9) to preserve theatrical presentation. The announcement, made today by Mark Greenberg, Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Communications for Showtime Networks, reinforces the company's commitment to providing its premium subscribers with the highest quality home entertainment experience.

In December, HDTV titles on THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD will include “Bandits,” “Hardball,” “Novocaine,” “Rollerball,” "Sidewalks of New York," “What’s the Worst that Could Happen?” and many others. With 75% of the service's primetime schedule offered in HD, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD will also feature Dolby Digital 5.1, offering subscribers six-channel, theater quality directional surround sound.

According to Greenberg, "THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD will be an extremely attractive service for consumers in the emerging HDTV landscape. Research indicates that movies are among the top programming choice for potential HD customers. Seven out of 10 potential buyers say that they would be more likely to purchase an HDTV set if they knew their favorite movies would be broadcast in HD. We believe that THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD will not only add significant value to our affiliates HDTV offerings but it will also provide a powerful addition to the Showtime Unlimited package."

Showtime Networks' commitment to HDTV programming began in January 2000 when it launched SHOWTIME HD. SHOWTIME was the first network to launch Dolby Digital surround sound in conjunction with HDTV in 2000, and the first premium channel to launch a series fully produced in HDTV in 2002. Since then, the network has been substantially increasing the amount of programming available in HDTV. In 2003, in addition to providing theatricals in HDTV, SHOWTIME HD has aired returning series "Queer As Folk," "Jeremiah" and "Street Time," as well as its new series "Dead Like Me," "Free For All" and limited series "Out of Order" in HDTV. The new season of "The Chris Isaak Show" has also been shot in HD. Showtime Original Pictures which have aired in HDTV in 2003 have included "Our Town, "Soldier's Girl," "The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie," and "Jasper, Texas," to name a few. SHOWTIME also broadcast its first live HDTV broadcast in February 2003 with the Mike Tyson vs. Clifford Etienne heavyweight boxing match. SHOWTIME HD is currently available to more than 45 million homes via satellite on both DIRECTV and Dish Network and via cable by Cablevision Systems Corporation, Charter Communications Inc., Comcast Cable Communications, Inc. Cox Communications Inc., Insight Communications, and Time Warner Cable.

---

Microsoft hopes to inspire spending with Media Center
By Kristi Heim , Mercury News Seattle Bureau

REDMOND, Wash. - Take the brain of a personal computer and add the beauty of television. The result, Microsoft and its partners hope, will be a new wave of spending on consumer electronics.

Microsoft unveiled its latest edition of the Windows XP (news - web sites) Media Center operating system Tuesday, going a step further in its effort to transform the PC into an entertainment hub. [more]

---

Disney's Digital Video Service Debuts

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

LOS ANGELES - The Walt Disney Co. on Monday launched a service to transmit movies over the airwaves to customers' homes, betting that such delivery will prove more popular than trips to the video store or ordering movies through a cable system.


MovieBeam sends whole movies in digital form over the same broadcast spectrum already used by television stations. The movies are then stored in the hard drive of a set-top box and can be viewed at any time, unlike movies ordered on cable television, which run at preset times. [more]

---

Digital gamble pays off for Britain's BSkyB

LONDON (AFP) - British satellite broadcaster BSkyB announced it had reached its target of seven million digital television customers three months early, underlining its runaway success in the market.

By Tuesday, BSKyB had 7,015,000 digital customers in Britain and Ireland, beating a target for the end of 2003 set by the company three years ago. [more]

---

Dell entering consumer electronics market
Austin, Texas
September 30, 2003

Dell Inc will enter the consumer electronics market with television sets, digital music players and an online music service, opening yet another front in its war with rivals Gateway and Apple Computer.

"In extending into new categories, it gives us another opportunity to revolutionise products on behalf of our customers," CEO Michael Dell said at a news conference announcing the product expansion on September 25.

All of the products will be released this northern autumn and be available in time for the holiday season, Dell said. The company would not release pricing or other details.

The shift is part of a broader strategy by Dell to expand its highly efficient, low-cost distribution model - which has consistently squeezed other personal computer makers - into other markets, such as printers and servers. [more]

---

Tue Sep 30

Cablevision to Launch High-Definition TV

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cable television provider Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE:CVC - news) said on Tuesday it will offer a U.S. satellite service broadcasting high-definition television, pitching it against well-entrenched rivals.

Cablevision said its satellite division, Rainbow DBS, will offer 39 HDTV channels and some popular cable channels as part of service it will launch on Oct. 15. It did not say how much it would charge for the service.

The move pits Cablevision, which launched its satellite in July this year, directly against Hughes Electronics Corp.'s (NYSE:GMH - news) DirecTV and EchoStar Communications Corp. (Nasdaq:DISH - news), which have long dominated U.S. satellite television services. [more]

Cox to Offer HDTV in 85 Percent of Its Market

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cable operator Cox Communications Inc. (NYSE:COX - news) will make high definition television channels available in 85 percent of its market by the end of the year, Chief Executive Jim Robbins said on Tuesday. [more]

---

Mon Sep 29

Conn. Co. Launching Satellite for HDTV
By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN, AP Business Writer

STAMFORD, Conn. - A Connecticut company is launching a satellite this week as a platform for distributing high definition television programs in the United States. 

PanAmSat Corp., based in Wilton, Conn., on Wednesday will launch Galaxy 13/Horizons-1, which will be home to the first grouping, or neighborhood, of high definition programs in the United States on one satellite, company officials said.

Creating the neighborhood will encourage cable systems to set aside more capacity for high definition programing, said Tom Watts, a satellite analyst with SG Cowen.[more]

---

 
ReplayTV Inventors Aim at Living Rooms

By MAY WONG, AP Technology Writer

PALO ALTO, Calif. - A startup company is developing products to make the living room, and not the PC, the showcase for all digital content, from photos to music.

Related Quotes
Led by the man who helped spark a revolution in television by creating ReplayTV (news - web sites), the first digital video recorder, Roku is ready to challenge tech giants in the digital media market.

Roku founder and chief executive Anthony Wood knows big-name companies, such as Microsoft Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co., are already attempting to do the same with so-called media servers or media receivers — devices that allow users to take content stored on their computers and play it on their televisions or stereos. [more]

New Graphics Chips on Display at Computex Show

TAIPEI, Taiwan—The battle of top graphics card contenders knows no boundaries.

While Nvidia seized the moment at this week's Computex show here to introduce a major new product line, its main rival ATI Technologies decided to keep its next major release under wraps for a little while longer. [more]

2929 ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF LANDMARK THEATRES Deal will facilitate 2929's goal to aggressively leverage ability to produce films, promote and display them on HDNet and HDNet Movies and exhibit them at Landmark Theaters

Los Angeles, CA-Sept. 24, 2003--- Todd Wagner, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of 2929 Entertainment, announced his company has entered into an agreement to acquire the parent company of Landmark Theaters, the nation's largest art-house theater chain, from investment funds and accounts managed by Oaktree Capital Management, LLC. Upon closing of the transaction, Wagner and his partner Mark Cuban will assume ownership of the parent company of the Los Angeles based chain. It is expected that the current management team at Landmark will remain in place after the closing. The transaction is scheduled to close in October subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

"This transaction further enhances 2929 Entertainment's presence in the industry," says Wagner. "2929 Entertainment is now able to expand our development and acquisition efforts and create a vertical industry presence. Our goal is to aggressively leverage our ability to produce our own films, promote and display them on HDNet and HDNet Movies and exhibit them at Landmark. We think this acquisition provides a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in the art and independent film, HDTV production and digital exhibition communities."

After selling Broadcast.com, the Internet company that he and Cuban founded, for $5.7 billion to Yahoo! Inc. in 1999, Wagner created 2929 Entertainment to leverage his expertise in digital technology and his passion for the entertainment business. In November, 2001, 2929 acquired Rysher Entertainment and its substantial film and television programming library, including various rights to such shows as "Hogan's Heroes," Sex and the City," and "Star Search." A new version of "Star Search" co-produced by 2929 Entertainment, premiered in January 2003 to strong ratings. A second season of Star Search will launch in January 2004 on CBS.

2929 Entertainment co-financed the film, "Searching for Debra Winger," which was honored at the Cannes Film Festival in 2002. The company is currently in post-production on two films. "Godsend," starring Robert DeNiro and Greg Kinnear is a co-production with Lions Gate. The second film, "Criminal," is a co-production with Steven Soderbergh's Section 8 production company. Directed by frequent Soderbergh collaborator Greg Roberts, the film stars recent Oscar nominee John C. Reilly. Warner Brothers will release the film. It is expected that 2929 Entertainment will continue to acquire content and partner with movie studios and other industry leading partners on film and television projects.

In addition to 2929 Entertainment's extensive library and production capabilities, Wagner and Cuban are also partnered in HDNet, an all-high definition national television network. HDNet, the leader in high-definition broadcasting, produces and televises more hours of original HDTV entertainment, news and sports programming than any other network. Its two 24/7 networks, HDNet and HDNet Movies, are currently available on DIRECTV, DISH Network, Charter Communications, Insight Communications, and other cable companies affiliated with the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC).

2929 Entertainment also holds interests in Magnolia Pictures, a Denver-based movie exhibition company and Lion's Gate Entertainment; a global entertainment company whose recent releases include the Oscar-winning "Monster's Ball," "Frailty," and "Confidence." Landmark Theaters, the nation's largest art house chain, features first run independent and foreign films, restored classics and non-traditional studio fare in 54 theaters representing 185 screens in 14 states. Known for its successful grass roots marketing style, the chain was founded in Los Angeles in 1974.

Oaktree Capital Management, LLC is a Los Angeles based investment management firm with approximately $27.5 billion of assets under management from primarily private and public pension plans, private and educational foundations and endowments, insurance companies and private clients.

UK

Digital TV too complex for viewers, says study
By Tom Leonard, Media Editor

Millions of viewers do not want digital television because they find it too "laborious and demanding" even to change channels, a study said yesterday.

The elderly and short-sighted find it hard coping with the complicated remote control and "electronic programme guide" that, on digital television, replaces the simple pressing of a button to switch stations.[more]

Digital cable falls short of expectations
After spending billions on digital upgrades, the cable industry is seeing demand for digital services slip, with many TV viewers saying it's not worth paying more money to get extra channels. Churn for digital also is high, leading analysts to question whether cable can meet its goal of signing up 60% to 70% of customers for digital services.  The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (9/24)

September 23, 2003

HDTV Magazine is pleased to provide for our more advanced readers Mark
Schubin's weekly memo. Mr. Schubin is a world renowned television engineer,
author, and television historian. We thank him for his digest of the week's
events.

______________________________________


- Follow-ups:

     - FCC DTT-station lists - As usual after I post those, I received
comments from people saying some of the stations listed by the Federal
Communications Commission as being on the air simply aren't.

     - The long-awaited Tauzin digital-television legislation -
Broadcasting & Cable online today says "forget about" it.  The full
story requires a paid subscription:
<http://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=document&doc_id=126625&di
splay=breakingNews>

     - May 1 - The Association of Public  Television Stations, the FCC,
and the National Association of Broadcasters did not update their lists
this week.

     - July 1 -
          - Tuesday's arguments in court are summarized here:
<http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=345553
2>

          - TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting
2004:
            - RCA F36650 36-inch TV w/$50 gift card at Circuit City
$649.99
            - Sharp 36US50 36-inch TV at Best Buy $499.99
          - TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting
2005:
            - Philips 25PT533S 25-inch component-in TV at Best Buy
$229.99
            - RCA 27V550T 27-inch TV at Best Buy $249.99
            - Samsung TXN2726 27-inch TV at Circuit City $269.99
            - Sansui TVS2746 27-inch TV at Best Buy $169.99
            - Sharp 27US60 27-inch TV at Ultimate $198.95
            - Apex AT3208S 32-inch TV at Ultimate $268.95
          - Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
            - Apex AT1308 13-inch TV at Circuit City $64.99
            - Advent Q2035A 20-inch flat-screen TV at Best Buy $159.99
            - KLH KT2406 24-inch TV at Best Buy $139.99
            - Panasonic CT20G8 20-inch TV at Circuit City $149.99
          - Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in
2007:
            - Symphonic SC313D 13-inch TV/VCR combo at Best Buy $99.99
            - Panasonic PV-C2023 20-inch TV/VCR combo at Best Buy
$199.99

     - HDTV and cable -
          - I hate to run projections, but this one is so short term.
Kagan's Brian Santo says in Cableworld, "By the end of the year, only
1.2 million cable subscribers are likely to have installed the equipment
necessary to view hi-def programs":
<http://cableworld.com/ar/hidef_liftoff/index.htm>
     "Only"?  That would be more than off-air and satellite combined in
the U.S.  Cable definitely seems to be where the action is.
          - These are the HD channels being offered by Rogers Cable in
Canada at CDN$14.95 per month for rental of the necessary set-top box:
ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, City TV, The Movie Network, Viewer's Choice Pay
Per View, HD Sportsnet, and HD TSN.  They also plan to add HD Discovery
and HD time-shifting of ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and PBS to its Digital cable
service in the coming weeks.
<http://www.newswire.ca/releases/September2003/19/c2865.html>

- International H/DTV news:

     - According to a story in Toronto's Globe & Mail newspaper, the
reason for Canadian networks to go HD is to be able to simulcast U.S.
programming:
<http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030919/STRUTH
/TPSports/TopStories>

     - In the U.S., satellite companies carry terrestrial broadcasts; in
the UK, BSkyB, the satellite company, is planning to launch a DTT
channel on the Freeview service:
<http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=3473856>

     - Is DTT too hard to use?  It is for 7.1% of the viewing public,
according to a UK report.  Of course, the same report says analog TV is
too tough for 2.7%:
<http://www.newmediazero.com/redir.asp?inpage=/news/home.asp>
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3122584.stm>

     - Meanwhile, 70% in the UK "resent being required to switch to
digital":
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/09/20/ndigi20.xml
&sSheet=/news/2003/09/20/ixhome.html>

     - And maybe the sale of the UK analog spectrum won't bring in a lot
of money:
<http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,1045419,00.html>

     - Here's a UK overview:
<http://www.dtg.org.uk/latest/latest_jowell_rts.htm>

     - Cumulative DTT-receiver sales to Australian dealers and
installers exceeded 145,000 by the end of August:
<http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?display=news&newsID=435>

     - Japan's broadcasting magazine GALAC says, "There's no way we can
phase out analog broadcasting by 2011":
<http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=kuchikomi&id=267>

- Someone else to deal with PSIP for you.  The EtherGuide Emissary is a
full PSIP generator connected to the Internet for data input and remote
monitoring and control.  The time of day generated by each unit will be
via an included GPS card, and each unit will independently monitor and
log via a receiver card, the transmitted PSIP.  Output will be via
either 10/100 base-T Ethernet, RS-422/RS-232 serial, and DVB-ASI
parallel connections, the latter as an option.
     EtherGuide Prophecy is a Microsoft Windows application that will
run on
Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000 and XP computers and will be available as a
web service, that will link existing station information systems to the
EtherGuide Emissary and EtherGuide Systems web servers.  For more info,
contact John Willkie <jmwillkie@cts.com> 619-743-5814.

- Philips says Hollywood's content protection plan "would not work,
would hurt consumers, and would impede innovation."  They support
Senator Sam Brownback's proposed Consumers, Schools, and Libraries
Digital Rights Management Awareness Act of 2003, seemingly an
anti-Digital Millennium Copyright Act bill:
<http://www.newsalert.com/bin/story?StoryId=Cp2FCqbWbrenxmde5&Topic=Digital%
20TV&Nav=pr-prmynews-&StoryTitle=Digital%20TV>

     Here's more on the proposed legislation:
<http://brownback.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=211708>

- Roku's HD1000 media player allows, among other things, the display of
digital still camera images on HDTVs.  It costs $499:
<http://www.rokulabs.com/>

- Based on Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) figures, sales to U.S.
dealers of (supposedly) non-H/DTV projection TVs were still down 53.4%
for the first 36 weeks of 2003 relative to the same period in 2002 (VCRs
were down even more -- still 54.2%).  My ten-week running average was
down 63.4%.  Direct-view was still down 12.9%.  My ten-week running
average was down a larger 25.2%.
     So-called "DTV product" sales to U.S. dealers for the 36th week
were 51,256 units.  The total for the 36-week period was 2,177,142.
"DTV products" (most of which are HDTV displays without DTT-reception
capability) still accounted for about 12.1% of the total TVs sold to
U.S. dealers this year.  Devices actually capable of receiving DTT
signals were a small fraction of that.

- I know of one ad this week for a stand-alone ATSC DTT
receiver/decoder, the Samsung SIR-TS160 at Magnolia.

- The ads:  Audio King has now changed its name to that of its parent,
Ultimate Electronics.  Best Buy and Ultimate Electronics had other LCD
TVs that I didn't list; my rule for listing an LCD TV that is not 16:9
is for it to be advertised as HDTV, EDTV, or some such.
  - Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
    - JVC AV56WP74 56-inch 16:9 projection TV $1799.99**
    - Mitsubishi WS-55313 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $2099.99**
    - Mitsubishi WS-55513 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV
$2799.99**
    - Panasonic TH-42PA20U 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $4499.99
    - Philips 17PF9936 17-inch 16:9 LCD display $999.99
    - Samsung HCN-653W 65-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $2399.99**
    - Samsung HPN-5039 50-inch 16:9 plasma display $7999.99
    - Samsung PCN-5425R 54-inch 4:3 projection TV $1399.99**
    - Samsung TXN-2771HF 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $699.99
    - Sharp LC30HV4U 30-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view monitor $3999.99
    - Sharp LC37HV4U 37-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view monitor $6999.99
    - Sony KE-32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma display $3999.99
    - Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99**
    - Sony KP57WS510 57-inch 16:9 projection TV $2199.99**
    - Sony KV34HS510 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1999.99
    - Sony KV36FS210 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1099.99
    - Toshiba 42H83 42-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1499.99**
    - Toshiba 51H83 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1799.99**
    - Zenith P42W24B/X 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $2999.99
    ** price includes recliner and ottoman
  - Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers):
    - Panasonic CT32HXC43 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999.99***
    - Samsung PCN5425R 54-inch 4:3 projection TV $1499.99***
    - Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99***
    *** price includes $75 gift card
  - Gateway (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
    - Gateway 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $2899
    - Gateway 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $3999 (higher claimed
resolution)
  - Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimers):
    - Mitsubishi WS-55613 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2999
    - Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699
  - Harvey (New York Times, no disclaimer):
    - Fujitsu P42HHA10WS 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $6999
    - Loewe Spheros 42-inch 16:9 plasma panel $10,999
    - Runco CW50MC 50-inch 16:9 plasma panel $13,995
  - J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
    - Philips 20PF9925 20-inch 4:3 LCD display
    - Sampo PME-42S6 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $2799.99
    - Samsung HLN4365W 43-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
    - Samsung LTN325W 32-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV
    - Samsung LTN1535 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV
    - Zenith L20V26 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $999.99
  - Magnolia (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
    - Panasonic CT-34WX53 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1899
    - Samsung LTM225W 22-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD monitor $1899
    - Samsung SIR-TS160 ATSC/DirecTV receiver/decoder w/antenna $499****

    - Samsung TXN3075 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $949
    - Sony KE-42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $5499
    - Sony KV-34HS510 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1899
    - Sony KV-34XBR910 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $2349
    **** price after mail-in rebate
  - Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer):
    - Hitachi 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV, Sears #54759 $3299.99
    - Hitachi 57-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54733 $2199.99
    - Samsung 42-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54003 $1399.99*****
    ***** price includes $100 gift card after mail-in rebate
  - Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, appropriate
disclaimers):
    - Apex Digital GB51HD09 51-inch 4:3 projection TV $988.95
    - Hitachi 57S700 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $2519.96
    - JVC AV56WP74 56-inch 16:9 projection TV $1519.96****
    - Mitsubishi WS55313 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1889.96
    - Mitsubishi WS65711 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4499.95

    - Panasonic CT36HL43 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1439.96
    - Panasonic PT47WX53 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1259.96
    - Panasonic PT50LC13 50-inch LCD projection TV $2699.96
    - Panasonic PT51HX43 51-inch 4:3 CRT projection TV $1198.95
    - Pioneer PRO530 53-inch 16:9 projection TV $2649.96
    - Pioneer PRO1000HD 50-inch 16:9 plasma panel $10,999.95
    - Samsung SPN4235 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3599.96
    - Samsung TXN3275HF 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $809.96
    - Sharp LC22SV6U 22-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $1799.96
    - Sony KDP57WS550 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2609.96
    - Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $5399.96
    - Sony KE42XBR900 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $8099.96
    - Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1619.96
    - Zenith L15V26C 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $499.95
    - Zenith P42W22B 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $2998.95
    **** price after mail-in rebate
  - Video & Audio Centers (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer);
    - Mitsubishi WS-55313 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $2097
    - Sony KF-50XBR800 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3297
    - Sony KP-46WT500 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1397
    - Sony KV-32HS500 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1097

- Satellite news:

- DVD news:  According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for
the first 36 weeks of 2003 were up 24.7% over the same period in 2002.
My ten-week running average was up 29.2%.  Sales to dealers actually
fell during the 36th week.

- According to Adams Media Research, "Treasure Planet" made $37.9
million in theatrical box-office revenues but more than $71 million in
home-video revenues:
<http://www.adamsmediaresearch.com/cart/enter.html?target=Titles_Database.ht
ml>

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

     - *September 24, Chelsea Studios, New York, NY SMPTE Section
meeting on Tapeless Camcorder Technologies, with Hitachi, Ikegami, JVC,
Panasonic, and Sony <http://www.mte.com./nysmpte/meetings/mtg0309.htm>.
     - September 24-25, CBI Convention Centre, London, The Connected
Home <http://www.the-connected-home.co.uk/>.
     - September 29 - October 2, Orlando World Center Marriott, ShowEast
<http://www.showeast.com/>.
     - September 30, Helmsley Park Lane Hotel, New York, Kagan Digital
Household Economics conference
<http://www.kagan.com/cgi-bin/pkcat/dhe03f>.
     - *October 2, Henninger Media, Arlington, Virginia, ITVA seminar on
HDTV post production, registration required:<FulFramEnt@aol.com>
     - October 8-9, Doubletree San Jose, California, Digital Imaging '03
<http://www.capv.com/home/InfoTrends/itEvents/DIC03/DIC03Home.html>.
     - October 10-13, Javits Center, New York, Audio Engineering Society
convention <http://www.aes.org/events/115/>.
     - October 10-11, Ramada, Williamsburg, Virginia, WEBE/SMPTE Fall
Convention "Getting Past Getting On The Air," Mike Marno, +1 703
926-3602, <mic.mar@comcast.net>.
     - October 13-15, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, California, CEA
Industry Forum
<http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=FALL03>.
     - October 15-17, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast
Symposium <http://www.ieee.org/btsymposium>.
     - October 20-24, MPEG meetings, Brisbane, Australia
<http://mpeg.telecomitalialab.com/meetings/brisbane03/auagenda.htm>.
     - October 22-23, Embassy Suites, Alexandria, Virginia, ATSC PSIP
and Closed Captioning University <http://www.atsc.org/seminars.html>.
     - October 28-30, Hotel Fort Des Moines, Des Moines, Iowa, 9th
annual DTV Symposium <http://www.iptv.org/dtv/2003/>.
     - October 29-30, Bryant Park Hotel, New York, ETA Expo
<http://www.etaexpo.com/>.
     - October 30, Waldorf-Astoria, New York, SkyForum
<http://www.sbca.com/skytrends/forum.html>.
     - *November 4, KWBP, Portland, Oregon, LPTV, LPFM, Exciter,
Transmitter, Translator & where is LP-DTV going Seminar
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/Education/educational_opportunities.htm>
     - *November 5, KLSR, Eugene, Oregon, LPTV, LPFM, Exciter,
Transmitter, Translator & where is LP-DTV going Seminar
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/Education/educational_opportunities.htm>
     - *November 6, Southern Oregon Public Television, Medford, Oregon,
LPTV, LPFM, Exciter, Transmitter, Translator & where is LP-DTV going
Seminar
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/Education/educational_opportunities.htm>
     - November 10-12, Tribeca Grand Hotel, Global Society for Asset
Management conference <http://www.g-sam.org>.
     - November 10-13, Long Beach Convention Center, California,
Electronic House Expo <http://www.ehexpo.com/>.
     - November 12-13, Marina del Rey Marriott, California, "Enabling
HDTV from the Factory to the Home"
<http://www.displaysearch.com/hdtvforum/>.
     - November 12-15, New York Hilton, 145th SMPTE Technical Conference
<http://www.smpte.org/conferences/145tech.cfm>.
     - November 28-29, Milan Fair, IBTS, SMPTE International Conference
"D-Cinema and Beyond"
<http://www.smpte.org/conferences/International03.cfm>.
     - December 2-5, Anaheim Convention Center, BroadbandPlus
<http://www.broadbandplus.org/>.
     - December 3 & 4, 2003, Washington DC Convention Center, Government
Video Technology Expo <http://www.gvexpo.com>.
     - December 8-12, MPEG meetings, Waikaloa, Hawaii.
     - January 8-11, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
<http://www.cesweb.org/>.
     - January 18-23, Sheraton Hacienda del Mar, Cabo del Sol, Los
Cabos, Mexico, The Executive Retreat Forum
<http://www.ExecutiveRetreatForums.com>.
     - ***February 4-6, La Quinta Resort, California, ***The Technology
Retreat*** <http://www.hpaonline.com>.
     - March 15-19, MPEG meetings, Munich.
     - June 5-11, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, InfoComm
<http://infocomm03.expoexchange.com/>.

* - 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.




To unsubscribe go here: http://www.ilovehdtv.com/hdtvmagazine/unsubscribe.html

September 22, 2003

Dolby Acquires Cinea

Acquisition of anti-piracy technology company furthers ability to meet the needs of the entertainment marketplace

San Francisco, September 22, 2003—Dolby Laboratories announced that it has acquired Cinea, a start-up content-protection and anti-piracy technology company based in Virginia. Cinea will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Dolby Laboratories, with Cinea personnel and offices remaining in Virginia. Cinea CEO and founder Robert Schumann becomes head of the new Dolby subsidiary, reporting to Tim Partridge, Vice President, Professional Division, Dolby Laboratories.

“Content is increasingly being delivered digitally, and unauthorized use of digital content can have serious consequences for the content owner. Content protection has thus become an ever more important element in enabling the delivery of high-quality entertainment,” said Partridge. “Cinea has proven expertise in this important area, and is an ideal complement to Dolby’s audio and image expertise.”[More]

Wed Sep 17
Best Buy's Net Soars as Retailer Again Raises Outlook


MINNEAPOLIS -- Best Buy Inc.'s fiscal second-quarter profit more than doubled amid strong back-to-school sales season and lower costs, and the company raised its full-year earnings outlook for the second time in two weeks. [more]

---

September 22, 2003

Mitac Preps Widescreen PC

Sumner Lemon, IDG News Service

Mitac Preps Widescreen PCSumner Lemon, IDG News Service

TAIPEI-- Mitac International will begin shipping in October a desktop PC with an integrated 17-inch widescreen TFT LCD, according to a company spokesperson. An engineering prototype of the PC was on display at the Computex 2003 exhibition here.

From the front, the E8181D resembles a flat-screen television with a widescreen display, which can be tilted back to an optimium viewing angle. The PC components are hidden from view and integrated into the rear of the display's base.[more]

Tue Sep 16, 5:05

Digital comes to local TV channels

Mary Vandeveire , ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Fans of digital television can celebrate its arrival at some network affiliates in Tucson. They'll be enjoying clearer pictures and enhanced sound, as long as they have the right equipment.

As of Monday, four local network affiliate stations had begun launching their digital television transmissions. Making the upgrades were NBC affiliate KVOA, CBS affiliate KOLD and the local FOX and UPN stations.


Station officials say that currently the only way to receive the digital transmissions is over the air, which means in addition to a digital TV and tuner, viewers will need an antenna. A simple rooftop antenna or a set of rabbit ears will work if there's no obstruction between the viewer's home and Mount Bigelow, the site from which the stations are transmitting their digital signals - about 30 miles north of Tucson. [more]

---

Tue Sep 16,  2003

Appeals Court Hears Digital-TV Tuner Dispute

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Television makers should not be forced to include expensive digital tuners in their TV sets that few viewers will actually use, a consumer-electronics trade group told an appeals court on Tuesday. [More]

---

September 12, 2003

ESPN, ECHOSTAR form distribution agreement

BRISTOL, CONN. AND LITTLETON, COLO.-- ESPN, The Worldwide Leader in Sports, and EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network, the nation's fastest growing provider of satellite television services, announced today that they have entered into an agreement for the distribution of ESPN HD. Beginning Sept. 16, 2003, DISH Network will make ESPN HD available to its entire HD-enabled subscriber base.

"ESPN HD is enriching the lives of high-definition viewers by providing incredible sports programming detail that only an HDTV signal can provide," said Steve Raymond, ESPN Senior Vice President, National Accounts, Western Division. "It makes perfect sense to team up with DISH Network, a company that has proven its focus on high-definition television with its offer of a robust package of compelling high-definition content."

ESPN made a significant commitment to spur the growth of high-definition television on March 30, 2003, when it debuted ESPN HD, the first 24-hour high-definition national sports service in the country. Sports have proven to be an ideal showcase for the HDTV viewing experience and ESPN HD features all of the live, high-profile telecasts as ESPN, including games from Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, and the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship.

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) is the owner of DISH Network, the fastest growing U.S. provider of satellite television entertainment services with 9 million customers. DISH Network delivers advanced digital satellite television services, including hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, digital video recording, HDTV, sports and international programming, professional installation and 24-hour customer service. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network at or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).

ESPN Media Contact: Katina V. Arnold (katina.arnold@espn.com) or (860) 766-7463
EchoStar Media Contact: Steve Caulk (steve.caulk@echostar.com) or (303) 723-2010

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2003--EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) today announced that its subsidiary, EchoStar DBS Corporation, is offering approximately $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of senior debt securities in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 144A. The proceeds of the offering are intended to be used to repurchase or redeem EchoStar DBS Corporation's 9-3/8% Senior Notes due 2009 and other outstanding debt securities.[More]

Europe's First HD Channel Gets Trial Run
By DOUGLAS HEINGARTNER, Associated Press Writer

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Europe's first high-definition television channel went on the air over the weekend with a trial broadcast of music and sports programming. Only next year is the technology set to go mainstream.

Europe's shift to the sharper images and clearer sound of high-definition TV is moving much slower than in the United States, where several million HDTV sets are already in use. [more]

HDTV MAGAZINE brings you Mark Schubin's weekly Memo for our advanced
readers. Mr. Schubin is a well known and respected television engineer and
author/historian. He makes his home in New York City.


__________________Mark Schubin


     - DTT reception problems possibly caused by jitter in the
studio-transmitter link (STL) - Here's the promised URL:
[Click for more]

     - CEDIA -
          - Attendance was over 22,000, up from 19,500 in 2002:
[Click for more]
          - Here's Peter Putman's view:
and here's more from him on InfoComm:
and on an LCD & PDP (plasma) shootout:

     - IBC - Here are some tidbits from the International Broadcasting
Convention in Amsterdam:
          - There's a Grass Valley "TV Station in a Kit" series of
packages starting at about $60,000:

          - DTT to mobile phones seems to be a hot topic:
<http://www.eetimes.com/sys/news/OEG20030916S0040>
<http://www.eetimes.com/sys/news/OEG20030912S0022>
          - H.264/MPEG-4 Part 10 compression seems to be spreading:
<http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20030915S0054>
          - Microsoft is submitting Windows Media 9 to SMPTE for
standardization:
<http://news.com.com/2100-1025-5075335.html>
          - Even in Germany, where the DTT transition in Berlin is over,
only half-a-percent of the population watches digital, and nationwide
analog shutdown is not expected anytime soon ("at least seven years").
In other European countries, it's expected to be even longer.
     The highest current DTT penetrations are said to be 6.5% in
Finland, 6.1% in the UK, 4.2% in Sweden, and 1.1% in Spain.  No other
countries have hit even 1%, and Asia is said to be moving even slower.
     According to Colin Wright of Seven Network in Australia, "We're not
making an extra cent on digital.  It's all cost.  It's costing us a lot
of money":
<http://www.electronicstimes.com/bus/news/OEG20030911S0058>
          - In the UK, there are "more than 80 channels offering either
dedicated stand-aloe interactive services or enhanced content with
programmes."  France reportedly has 71, Spain 37, Italy 27, and Germany
11:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3104368.stm>

     - May 1 -
          - The Association of Public Television Stations still lists
180 non-commercial U.S. DTT stations:
<http://www.apts.org/html/digital/dtv/ptv_digitalstations.htm>
          - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated its
lists on September 10 (but released them yesterday). Out of 1688
stations due on the air by this past May 1, 1605 have been granted
construction permits or licenses, and 1230 are supposedly on the air.
Seven second extensions for commercial stations are still pending, but
167 of the 527 that were granted have requested third extensions.  Of
non-commercial stations, 73 extension requests are still pending:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvsum.html>
               - All of the 40 top-ten-market ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC
outlets that were due on the air by May 1, 1999 are on the air except
WABC-DT and WNBC-DT, which were knocked out when the World Trade Center
fell.  No new dates have been assigned to those:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat.html>
               - Of the 79 ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC outlets in markets
11-30 (the 80th is in Mexico) that were due on the air November 1, 1999,
72 are licensed and four are operating under temporary authority (the
list still refers to extensions to August 6):
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat11.html>
               - These are the 677 stations said to be operating (at low
power) on temporary authority:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstas.html>
               - And these are the 553 said to be fully licensed or on
program-test authority:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonair.html>
               - The summary chart conveniently lists those 553 out of
1688:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonairsum.html>
               - But Doug Lung's RF Report, using the FCC's own CDBS
database, came up with just 425 licensed stations as of September 12,
two days AFTER the other lists:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=165>
               - Would that be 425 out of 1688?  Not exactly, because
some DTT stations weren't part of the original number.  For comparison,
here are the latest analog TV station figures from the FCC, as of June
30:
                    - Full-power ----- 1726
                    - Class A --------  600
                    - Low-Power TV --- 2121
                    - TV translators - 4759
                    -----------------------
                    Total ------------ 9206
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/totals/bt030630.html>
     So, viewed most optimistically, the U.S. DTT transition is
currently at 1230 out of 1688 stations.  Viewed another way, it's 425
out of 9206.
          - Within that range, the National Association of Broadcasters
(NAB) now lists 1011 U.S. DTT stations operating in 201 markets:
<http://www.nab.org/newsroom/issues/digitaltv/dtvstations.asp>
     NAB's September edition of "Destination Digital TV" has now come
out:
<http://www.nab.org/newsroom/issues/digitaltv/DDTV/0903.pdf>

     - July 1 - I've decided to move this material, which used to appear
in the ads section, up here as we count down to the various July 1
dates.  All of the information is taken from ads that I have personally
seen since the last memo.
          - TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting
2004:
               - Magnavox MS3652S 36-inch TV at Circuit City $549.99
               - Toshiba 36A43 36-inch TV w/leather chair at Best Buy
$599.99
               - Toshiba 36-inch TV at Sears (#46423) $599.99
          - TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting
2005:
               - RCA F25441 25-inch TV at Best Buy $179.99
               - Apex AT2708S 27-inch TV at Audio King $178.95
               - Magnavox 27MS343S 27-inch TV at Circuit City $199.99
               - Panasonic CT27L8S 27-inch TV at Circuit City $249.99
               - Toshiba 27-inch TV at Sears (#47403) $249.99
               - Apex AT3208S 32-inch TV at Circuit City $279.99
               - GE 32GT740 32-inch TV w/leather chair at Best Buy
$279.99
               - Sharp 32US60 32-inch TV at Audio King $298.95
               - Sylvania 32-inch TV at Sears (#42202) $279.99
          - Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
               - Panasonic CT13R38S 13-inch TV at Circuit City $89.99
               - Sylvania 13-inch TV at Sears (#43203) $59.99
               - Apex PF2020 20-inch flat-screen TV at Circuit City
$149.99
          - Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in
2007:
               - Sylvania 13-inch TV/VCR combo at Sears (#44702) $99.99
               - Toshiba MV19N2 19-inch TV/VCR combo at Best Buy $179.99

     Arguments about why the DTT-reception-circuitry rules should be
overturned were to have been heard in court today:
<http://www.mediaweek.com/mediaweek/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_conten
t_id=1979438>

     - HDTV and satellite -
          - Cablevision's Voom satellite service, which could start next
month, is to be heavy on HD, with 39 HD channels, 21 of them exclusive
(and NONE of them local broadcast stations; Voom will provide an antenna
for those).  Equipment is to be about $750.  Monthly fees seem to start
at about $40 for the HD services:
<http://cableworld.com/ar/cablevision_calls_voom/index.htm>
          - Europe1080's official launch is to be with the Vienna New
Year's concert, but it was offered during IBC.  There are to be "Main"
and "Event" channels.  Facilities company Alfacam is behind it:
<http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=12692>
<http://www.euro1080.tv/>

     - HDTV and cable -
          - In Demand's two INHD channels have launched, and Comcast is
carrying them:
<http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20030914-123855-5207r.htm>
          - Clear Creek Telephone and TeleVision, a 90-year-old co-op
cable operator serving 1700 rural customers in Oregon, started carrying
HD on September 2 and had 18 customers for it in just more than a week:
<http://cableworld.com/ar/little_cable_coop/index.htm>
          - The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA)
said last Wednesday that HDTV was available by cable to 60 million
households (it's not clear whether that's subscribers or homes passed),
including 19 of the top-20 markets:
<http://www.ncta.com/press/press.cfm?PRid=391&showArticles=ok>
     Comcast later made it 20 out of 20 by adding Denver:
<http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/business/article/0,1299,DRMN_4_226227
9,00.html>

          - And now the big one:  On Wednesday (the 10th), the FCC
approved a slightly modified version of the cable/consumer-electronics
"plug-&-play" agreement:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-238850A1.doc>
     As readers of this memo know (but many journalists don't seem to
have known), Panasonic (and Hitachi) announced digital-cable-ready TVs
long before the FCC acted.
               - The FCC did not approve the DFAST content-protection
license.  Instead, they started a Second Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking to consider such issues.  Similarly, digital broadcast copy
protection remains a topic for the future.
     That leaves matters in a very interesting state.  The satellite
community has relied on the ability to turn off HDTV outputs (selective
output control, SOC) for content protection.  SOC is now prohibited by
the FCC for "all multichannel video programming distributors," which
includes satellite.
     The satellite industry is less than thrilled:  "We do not consider
today's misguided decision the end of the process and will not allow the
cable industry to believe it has scored another victory.  SBCA [the
Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association] and its member
companies will fully review the Order and leave open our options."
Options include lawsuits:
<http://www.sbca.com/press/091003.htm>
     Meanwhile, the hundreds of thousands of HD-capable satellite
receivers that have already left factories now have no content
protection at all.
               - The FCC says small cable systems can obtain a waiver
from meeting the transmission requirements, if they're "unduly
burdensome."
               - Otherwise, systems "must maintain a sufficient supply"
of point-of-deployment security modules (PODs, now called CableCards).
Those will presumably be supplied by such companies as Motorola and
Scientific-Atlanta (S-A), making it strange that S-A stock was said to
have fallen as a result of the FCC action (especially since the fall
began before the decision).  The full story requires a paid
subscription:
<http://www.multichannel.com/index.asp?layout=document&doc_id=126108&display
=breakingNews>

     Furthermore, the agreement (and order) covers only one-way digital
cable.  That means that impulse pay-per-view, video-on-demand, and the
typical digital-cable electronic program guides still require a cable
box.
               - Broadcasters are happy because the order (according to
the FCC press release) says that "DTV televisions labeled 'Digital Cable
Ready' must include an over-the-air DTV tuner":
<http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/PressRel/statements/S1203.htm>
     Zenith is happy, too, as that's where their intellectual-property
fees apply:
<http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-1
0-2003/0002014870&EDATE=>

     That was a modification of the original agreement.  But the wording
is strange.  Instead of saying TVs equipped for digital cable must have
ATSC-reception capability, it says that those LABELED as Digital Cable
Ready need it.  Does that mean sets could be sold with cable-only
digital reception as long as they're not labeled Digital Cable Ready?
               - Like SOC, down-resolution (another content-protection
technique) is prohibited, but only for broadcast programming.
Down-resolution for non-broadcast programming is to be addressed in the
future.  Those who want to use it before the issue is resolved are to
notify the FCC at least 30 days in advance.
               - So-called "encoding rules" (which relate to copy
protection and apply to both cable and satellite) are said to be:
                    - Copy never: pay-per-view, video-on-demand
                    - Copy once: basic- and extended-basic cable
                    - Unrestricted copying: broadcasts
     I wonder where HBO, The Movie Channel, and Showtime fall.   As
reported earlier here, Starz Encore is not happy about this
categorization:
<http://www.cedmagazine.com/cedailydirect/0903/cedaily030910.htm#1>
     And, of course, there are no "encoding rules" for analog outputs:
<http://www.cedmagazine.com/cedailydirect/0903/cedaily030911.htm#1>
               - Despite the modifications, the main cable and
consumer-electronics associations hailed the FCC order (although they
were not direct parties to the original agreement):
<http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10313>
<http://www.ncta.com/press/press.cfm?PRid=392&showArticles=ok>
               - Given the lack of content protection, the Motion
Picture Association of America did not offer celebratory comments:
<http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=3424562>

- Fox is adopting HDCAM SR technology for network program delivery:
<http://www.uemedia.com/CPC/article_11808.shtml>
     Meanwhile, they're buying Panasonic D-5 HD recorders:
<http://www.uemedia.com/CPC/article_11777.shtml>

- WNVT, a non-commercial station in Goldvein, Virginia (Washington, D.C.
market), received permission from the FCC to shut down its analog
service and operate digital-only:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=152>
     Only 3,000 households reportedly watched the analog signal:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=160>

- WNET, the largest non-commercial station in the New York market, has
received a grant (initially $500,000) from the National Imagery and
Mapping Agency to use its DTT and ITFS spectrum for emergency
public-safety purposes:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=153>

- Based on Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) figures, sales to U.S.
dealers of (supposedly) non-H/DTV projection TVs were still down 53% for
the first 35 weeks of 2003 relative to the same period in 2002 (VCRs
were down even more -- still 54.5%).  My ten-week running average was
down 63.1%.  Direct-view was down 12.9%.  My ten-week running average
was down 24.9%.
     So-called "DTV product" sales to U.S. dealers for the 35th week
were 149,142 units.  The total for the 35-week period was 2,125,886.
"DTV products" (most of which are HDTV displays without DTT-reception
capability) accounted for about 12.1% of the total TVs sold to U.S.
dealers this year.

- CEA has released the mid-year edition of "U.S. Consumer Electronics
Sales & Forecasts 1999-2004."  I think it's too early for estimated unit
sales for 2003, but I think the estimated average wholesale prices are
probably ok