Succeeding or Failing, It's Our Choice — HDTV's Future Depends on Programming Vision

by Dale Cripps
Monday, January 18, 1999

Oh, it was a magnificent show in Las Vegas this year's CES. No question, the buzz was about H/DTV. But, there is trouble, and aplenty. The rip-snorting enthusiasm you need to launch such a heavy ship is missing. It is still words, words, and more words all focused upon confusing minutia rather than the exciting big picture. If we don't grasp the big picture, we had just as well stay with the old one.

But that is not necessary. It is only recognizing that without the right programming there will be no need to proceed. And with the right programming, nothing can stop us from proceeding to an enriched era.

HDTV should not be looked upon as just an upgrade to standard television. This is the most golden opportunity in history to fix everything wrong in television today. If we do not hear from within ourselves the clarion call for creating and viewing the greatest television network ever conceived, we have missed this opportunity and you will have widescreen Jerry Springer and the Tonight show as your reward.

This is THE time right NOW to draw upon every ounce of our collective ambitions and step out to create the world's most outstanding television networks. The era of global is upon us and any vision that fails to take that into account still falls short of the mark. A full view of the world and its diverse cultures brought lovingly to view through a fresh clear eye and ear is a goal we cannot overlook without later regrets.

If we do that with world-class panache and Barnum-like showmanship, the demand for the receiving end will be realized with utter ease. Any thing less and corresponding trouble brews ugly for the receiver marketplace.

Dale E. Cripps
Copyright January 18, 1999
All rights reserved