It seems impossible to me that something as promising as VOOM would register so much difficulty with their High-definition centric launch. There are 12 million HDTV sets already sold and less than one third have any HDTV signal providing connections. The VOOM proposition is profitable to its operators with only 250,000 subscribers. Considering that they do offer the greater promise for HDTV, if you discount Rupert Murdoch's claim to have 150 "cable" like channels in HDTV delivered from DirecTV by year's end. But anyone with half a mind will tell you that there is not enough HDTV formatted programming in the can yet to accom0date so many channels. So, if you can receive VOOM, and you have your HDTV set's collecting standard TV signals, why not venture out there with VOOM? They can reach the threshold of profitability rather rapidly and then you have at least one more dedicated source for new HDTV programming when it becomes available. If DirecTV and DISH find that the digital sets being installed are only able to resolve 480 they will back off HDTV as fast as you can say "dumped."

"Oh," you say, "I think VOOM have service people problems, and Sears...well...you know." It may take a little work on your part to get connected. It took a hell-of-a lot-of work by a lot of dedicated people to get you HDTV at all. If you, as the consumers of these goods, don't reach out to pluck this fruit it will dry up on the tree and you will not see it again in your lifetime. Right now is the time to support all legit HDTV efforts. Why? Do you want to see the world go to 480i digital or 480p? You think it can't happen because HDTV is off to such a good start?

Read this press release and think again...

CERTAINTY OF ANALOG SPECTRUM RETURN NEEDED TO SPUR INNOVATION, INTEREST IN LOW-COST DIGITAL TELEVISION PRODUCTS

Affordable Standard Definition Digital TV (SDTV) and Digital-to-Analog Converters Coming Soon from RCA

Washington, D.C. - March 10, 2005 -- As the U.S. digital television transition moves to completion, consumers, manufacturers, and retailers need the certainty of firm deadlines to ensure that their investments in new digital products will reap the benefits long promised by the advocates of digital broadcasting, stated Thomson Vice President of Communications & Government Affairs David H. Arland during testimony today before the Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
"The marketplace is responding impressively to this Committee's approach of 'targeted intervention' in key areas of the Digital TV transition, and indeed, this intervention - including the establishment of hard deadlines where needed - has provided stakeholders with the requisite certainty to make critical business decisions. The results speak for themselves: in the past few years Digital TV product sales have increased dramatically (and are projected to almost double within the next year alone); prices for Digital TV products have dropped precipitously; consumers have access to an increasing amount of High-Definition TV programming; Digital TV signals now reach almost every American household, and critical progress has been made in the areas of cable compatibility and digital broadcast content protection. However, important work remains to be done to ensure a consumer-friendly conversion to Digital TV - which must be made affordable to the average consumer," Arland told the Subcommittee.

"Recognizing that smaller-sized, low-cost televisions far outsell all other categories of TVs, RCA is leading the way by introducing later in 2005 a line of Standard-Definition Digital Televisions that for the first time will offer consumers digital television at essentially 'analog' prices. Developed and manufactured by TTE Corporation, the world leader in television, the new RCA SDTV sets will have suggested retail prices under $300 for a 27-inch model and under $400 for a 32-inch SDTV."

While not designed to display high-definition images, these SDTV sets will offer DVD-quality pictures from terrestrial broadcasts and are ideal for receiving multiple additional streams of standard-definition programming when transmitted by a local broadcaster. In addition, pending the establishment of a firm analog spectrum return date, Thomson also is planning to introduce a Digital-to-Analog RCA converter box carrying a suggested retail price of under $125 - half the cost of similar converters now available at retail.

"Consumers must receive some 'added value' for their Digital TV purchase. Because consumers ultimately are being forced to make some sort of Digital TV purchase, that purchase must, in exchange, offer some added value, regardless of whether they invest in a high-end HDTV, an SDTV or simply get a converter box for their existing analog equipment. This includes more digital programming - both HDTV and multicast SDTV - delivered to the consumer in the same quality and resolution that it left the broadcast tower. It also means meeting consumers' expectations that they will be able to access and interact with digital television just as easily and conveniently as they interact today with analog TV. This includes preserving their ability to receive cable-delivered programming without the need for a set-top box, and preserving their established home recording capabilities," Arland said.

"RCA was there with the introduction of radio. We pioneered the launch of black-and-white commercial television service. We developed the analog color TV system that will soon be retired, and our technology forms the digital compression backbone of today's Digital TV standard. Along the way, we also popularized two of the most important home entertainment innovations in American homes: the home video recorder and the mini-dish satellite receiving system. Our motto at RCA is 'Changing Entertainment. Again.' And we're ready to keep pace with the products that America needs as we prepare consumers for the end of the digital television transition," Arland said.

Comment: What do you think the signal providers are going to do when they discover that 60 to 80% of those receiving their digital signal can only resolve 480p or less? Do you think they will continue to pay premiums to program producers and for transmission when only a fraction of their audience will ever see HDTV? No way. We loose. Get out there and support your HDTV cause today before its too late. __Dale Cripps

_Dale Cripps

Posted by Dale Cripps, March 10, 2005 2:01 PM