CEA Moves to Expand DTV Product Definitions and Consumer Terminology Standards

Arlington, Va., December 23, 1999 -- The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) today outlined steps being taken by its Video Division Board to expand existing voluntary industry definitions for digital television.

"Now that DTV is a market reality and consumers have access to a broad array of digital television products, we realize that the original definitions must be extended to address the full range of new products available to consumers," said CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro. "Our goal is to simplify the different levels of DTV products and provide manufacturers and consumers with uniform terminology to ensure that consumers can make informed DTV purchasing decisions."

This effort, part of an ongoing process which began in June of this year, follows a Video Board vote in October 1999 reaffirming the definitions for digital television products originally issued in January 1998. Today, the Video Board agreed, in a resolution unanimously adopted by its members, that NTSC-only products (scanning frequency of 15.75Khz) should not be marketed as "having any particular DTV capability or attributes," allowing consumers to distinguish between analog and digital television products. The Board also embraced a new definition for audio products compatible with DTV (DTV audio ready).

The Board is developing additional definitions to describe the various performance levels of DTV and the component nature of products available. A technical working group has been appointed to make recommendations to assist the Video Division Board in developing these definitions. Since DTV was introduced in late 1998, the industry, in response to consumer.demand, has greatly expanded consumer choice in DTV product offerings. The industry expects to introduce additional terminology addressing these product offerings in 2000 and as other new DTV products are introduced into the marketplace.

"As the industry develops, it is important for manufacturers and retailers to clearly communicate to consumers the features and benefits of new products," said Shapiro. "The additional definitions under development, along with a commitment from manufacturers to clearly label NTSC-only products, will provide consumers with terminology that makes sense and allows them to make smart purchasing decisions."