DTV News for 12-19-2005

[Lee Wood]

DTV News for 12-19-2005
377 Days Until the Scheduled End of Analog Television Broadcasting

Republican Senators Push Their DTV Bill [Paid Subscription Required]
Five Senate Republicans, four on the Senate Commerce Committee, have written committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to urge him to stick with that committee's version of the DTV transition bill when he conferences with the House Commerce Committee leadership on a reconciled bill.
(Broadcasting & Cable)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/articl ... aking+News

Senators Express Concern Over House-Passed DTV Language [Adobe PDF File]
(National Association of Broadcasters)
http://www.nab.org/newsroom/pressrel/12 ... Letter.pdf

Hard date to soften?
Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) told C-SPAN earlier this month that without a sufficiently generous converter subsidy program, the House deadline for cessation of analog transmission could be delayed.
(Broadcast Engineering)
http://broadcastengineering.com/newslet ... 1216/#hard

Recommendations from 9-11 panel target analog switch-off
The panel charged with making recommendations on how to improve the nation's security post 9-11, identifies the lack of a return of analog TV spectrum as a major deficiency.
(Broadcast Engineering)
http://broadcastengineering.com/newslet ... /20051216/#


Order Extending the Effective Date of Children's Television Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters.
(Federal Communications Commission)
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/a ... -211A1.doc [MS Word File]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/a ... -211A1.pdf [Adobe PDF File]

FCC to Delay New Rules on Children's TV
(Associated Press via Lycos / Wired News)
http://news.lycos.com/wired/story.asp?s ... Id=1132065

FCC delays new kids' TV rules pending review
(Reuters)
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArtic ... ived=False

New rules for digital TV [Radio Report] [Real Audio Required]
After nearly a year of contention, the major cable and broadcast networks have brokered a deal with a coalition of children's advocacy organizations on new rules for digital TV. Hillary Wicai reports.
(American Public Media's Marketplace)
http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media/ ... 00:01:40.0

FCC Delays Kids Rule Kick-In [Paid Subscription Required]
As expected, the FCC has extended the effective date of some of its new children's TV rules so it can consider a deal announced Dec.15 between kids TV activists and TV programmers.
(Broadcasting & Cable)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/articl ... aking+News

Nets settle on kidvid [Paid Subscription Required for Complete Story]
The major cable and broadcast networks reached an agreement with a coalition of child-welfare advocacy groups Thursday that could end the legal game of chicken being played over children's digital TV regulations adopted by the FCC last year.
(Hollywood Reporter)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/te ... 1001699393


New measure would thwart 'analog hole' [Paid Subscription Required for Complete Story]
Top lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee have introduced legislation that would plug the so-called "analog hole" that opens up when digital content is converted to an analog format.
(Hollywood Reporter)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/te ... 1001700215

PBS Gets Dough For Nonfiction Channel [Paid Subscription Required]
PBS has gotten a $3 million grant to launch a 24/7 digital multicast channel and complementary Internet effort dedicated to nonfiction programming and public participation. The launch is targeted for fall 2006.
(Broadcasting & Cable)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/articl ... aking+News

Cable industry proposes interactive digital cable solution
Two NCTA filings with the commission propose a two-way interactive digital cable alternative to the CableCARD.
(Broadcast Engineering)
http://broadcastengineering.com/newslet ... nteractive


Survey shows consumers remain confused about HD reception
Just because a program says it's available in HDTV doesn't mean viewers are watching it in HD, but about one-quarter of HDTV owners didn't know they needed a special cable receiver, satellite receiver or antenna to get the HD show.
(Broadcast Engineering)
http://broadcastengineering.com/newslet ... 051216/#HD

Now The Time To Go HD?
Digital Signals Will Be Norm In 2009
(WCVB-TV Boston, MA / Yahoo News)
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/technol ... s&psp=news
http://news.yahoo.com/s/wcvb/20051216/lo_wcvb/3128652

HDTV Ready
Whether you want your digital T.V. H.D. ready or with the H.D. tuner already built in.
(WNCT-TV Greenville, NC)
http://www.wnct.com/servlet/Satellite?p ... 8768753356

Here comes another flat-screen TV
(Reuters)
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArtic ... ived=False

Mitsubishi Sends HDTVs To Katrina-Damaged Miss. Schools
Mitsubishi, through its Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, has donated 16 52-inch high-definition televisions to hurricane-ravaged schools that serve children with disabilities along the Gulf Coast.
(This Week in Consumer Electronics)
http://www.twice.com/article/CA6291923.html

Philips 42PF9830A
The Philips 42PF9830A is one of the best-performing LCDs we've reviewed, although it still doesn't rival the better plasmas at this size.
(CNET)
http://reviews.cnet.com/Philips_42PF983 ... ml?tag=nav

Pioneer PDP-4360HD
Pioneer's PDP-4360HD offers improved black-level performance and excellent overall picture quality, but it costs a bit more than the competition.
(CNET)
http://reviews.cnet.com/Pioneer_PDP_436 ... ml?tag=nav


HP hedges bets in Blu-ray/HDTV race
Blu-ray support backs both horses in high definition race
(Infomatics / Yahoo News)
http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/vnune ... u-ray-hdtv
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/17122005/175/h ... -race.html

HP gets cold feet, endorses HD-DVD
(EE Times)
http://www.eet.com/news/latest/showArti ... =175004773

HP To Support HD DVD High-definition DVD Format And Join HD DVD Promotions Group
Company To Maintain Neutrality In Disc Format Debate
(Widescreen Review)
http://www.widescreenreview.com/news_de ... ecid=10927

HP to Support HD-DVD High-definition DVD Format and Join HD-DVD Promotions Group
(LinuxElectrons)
http://www.linuxelectrons.com/article.p ... 6153116945

HP goes dual-format, will support HD DVD
(Engadget)
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000757073033/


Datacolor Debuts Innovative SpyderTV For Professionals Along With Other Products That Delight Consumers With Color Excellence AT CES
Color Calibration For Home Theatre And Digital Imaging On Display In Las Vegas This January
(Widescreen Review)
http://www.widescreenreview.com/news_de ... ecid=10913


NeoMagic Announces Mobile Digital TV Solution [ISDB-T]
These solutions address the need for handset manufacturers
(Broadcast Newsroom / DTV Professional / Digital Producer)
http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articl ... p?id=36308
http://www.dtvprofessional.com/articles ... p?id=36308
http://www.digitalproducer.com/articles ... p?id=36308

Pixela's HDTV On the Go
(Gizmodo via Yahoo News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/gizmodo/2005121 ... dtvonthego

Dedicated portable TV by Pixela
(MobileMag)
http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/337/C5665/


'Discovery HD', Canada's First 24-Hour High-Definition Specialty Service [Canada]
(Broadcaster Magazine)
http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/issu ... e=12172005

Discovery HD Launches December 19th [Canada]
(Digital Home Canada)
http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/index. ... &Itemid=51

Discovery HD, Canada's First 24-Hour High-Definition Specialty Service, Set to Launch Dec. 19 [Canada]
Channel Available in Free Preview Through July 2006; Opening Night to feature three marquee HDTV specials; Nightly programming themes to follow
(Canada NewsWire)
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/arch ... c1597.html

Eutelsat to offer HDTV Winter Olympics demos
(Advanced Television)
http://www.advanced-television.com/2005 ... tm#eutelst

Freeview In Tesco [UK]
(AV Interactive)
http://www.avinteractive.co.uk/News.Vie ... entID=1853