This question begs understanding for those who must take part in the various pieces which go into making up a global era advanced television system. Keep in mind that the all-digital standard television movement, begat by the HDTV movement, is the one now in focus and dragging against your ambitions in HDTV. There is nothing to do but submit and avoid action at this time. However, things will take a change and the inherently smaller "fragmentation forces" of standard television will dilute themselves into harmlessness, leaving the field open in a new and more exotic era-true HDTV program making and distribution worldwide.

However, there are many of you who were committed to HDTV in prior days that now say to follow this view, or its promoters, is folly. You will hear all manner of why from the fragmentors, who say they will dominate the world forever like insects over the mammals (hmmmm).

But when the splitting apart of the television business is more complete the seed of the new good (I say here HDTV is good) will hit the ground and spout. Then the aims of HDTV will once again be clarified and the good inherent in it (inclusive the programming it will foster) will regain influence and come into its own. The fragmentors will wilt in the sunlight of the great new HDTV global networks destined to emerge. The fragmentors will wilt because programing will increasingly be matched for HDTV presentation. As the audience grows (with word of mouth its first high level salesman) programming dollars will be expanded. Cable taught us how to get paid for our programming and we will find numerous revenue streams in the beginning to insure this business expansion goes on for a long, long time. This is a business for real broadcasters who have good taste, intelligence, and personality to share rather than ones governed by the sinister hand of exploitation.

Here the motion picture industry either joins wholeheartedly these emerging networks or faces its most serious challenge to date. Given that programs will be created and owned by these new global networks (who can be headquartered where no laws can govern against this) means that more investment dollars can and will be spent on each program. The return is then forever (and from all media outlets) to its developers-not its syndicators.

In the HDTV networks there is no need of imitating the programing of standard television. The superiority of programs for HDTV networks is clearly the only thing to attract your HDTV audience. That audience has to invest in themselves by buying an expensive set and you, the broadcasters, are the compliment of this investment. You will work hard and inspired to see that you meet that audience, especially after you have made considerable commitment to get into the HDTV distribution business. You will not have the luxury of looking back, but of marching forward to new heights which are inaccessible by the lower quality competitors. Look at it as the high end niche, if you must.

Dale Cripps, President
HDTV Newsletter
Alsea, Oregon USA