[opendtv] 20040731 Schubin's Saturday Supplement (Mark's Monday Memo)

I will be out of the country until the 17th. I'm not sure if there will 
be any memo between now and the week of the 23rd.

Note to those of you on the OpenDTV Forum: I'll be dropping it as soon 
as I send this until I return.

- Follow-ups:

- 5th-generation receiver test - I made a few errors last week:
- Eight years should have been five.
- The first generation Panasonic was the TU-DST50.
- One of the people who have tested here over the years sent a picture 
of a Silver Sensor antenna atop my TV receiving WCBS-DT via a Samsung 
SIR-T150. So it seems one or more of the following is true:
- My recollection was faulty,
- Reception wasn't reliable, or
- I wasn't there at the time.

- July 1 -
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets that are 
HD and/or widescreen.
- Yet another week has gone by with no ad that I've seen for a non-H/DTV 
36-inch set. That seems to have been the main result of the mandate so 
far. This week's memo has meager offerings, but here is the summary of 
the ads section down below. There are 28 sets listed with screen sizes 
of 36-inch or above; of them, four have integrated DTT-reception 
circuitry (and one of those wasn't advertised with it).
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- ESA ET427E 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $189.99
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- ESA ET413E 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $64.99
- RCA 14F400T 14-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $119.99
- Sylvania 6420FE 20-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $139.99
- GoVideo DV1040 DVD/VCR combo @ J&R $99.99
- Mystery brand DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $89.99
- Panasonic PVD4744S DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $129.99
- Coby DVD-R1000 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $189.99
- Panasonic DMR-E55 DVD-R/RAM recorder @ J&R $299.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Sony DNF400 AM/FM/TV/Weather CD portable @ Circuit City $79.99
- Sony ICF-CD73V AM/FM/TV/Weather CD shower clock radio $79.99
- Sony MZNF520D FM/TV/Weather MD Walkman @ Circuit City $149.99

- May 1 -
- Neither the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) nor the 
Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) updated their lists 
this week.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated its lists on July 28:
- They say 1658 U.S. TV stations have now been granted either a DTT 
license or a construction permit, 96% of the original April 1997 total 
(but there are now more analog stations on the air). According to the 
FCC, there are now 1423 U.S. DTT stations transmitting sometimes at some 
power levels:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvsum.html>
The NAB still lists just 1233:
<http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/issues/digitaltv/DTVStations.asp>
- The FCC lists 286 non-commercial U.S. DTT stations:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonairsum.html>
APTS still lists just 263:
<http://www.apts.org/html/digital/dtv/ptv_digitalstations.htm>
- The FCC says 634 are either fully licensed or operating on 
program-test authority:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonair.html>
- The other 789 are all at low power on temporary authority:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstas.html>
- There has been no change in the 40 stations due on the air May 1, 
1999; 38 are still fully licensed and two on temporary authority:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat.html>
- There has also been no change in the 79 due on the air November 1, 
1999; 72 are fully licensed and seven are on temporary authority:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat11.html>

- After missing many, DTT is finally back on the agenda (item 7) for 
Wednesday's FCC meeting. "The Commission will consider a Report and 
Order concerning the conversion of the nations broadcast television 
system from analog to digital television":
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250222A1.pdf>

- Sign-of-good-faith? department: The following is from a letter sent by 
NAB president Edward Fritts to National Cable and Telecommunications 
Association president Robert Sachs. "Following up on Rep. Tauzin's 
suggestion, I would like to propose a meeting as early as possible 
between key broadcast and cable industry leaders. Our goal should be 
simple: to set aside past policy differences, while doing what's best 
for the viewing public":
<http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/PressRel/072604lettertoSachs.asp>

- Based on the previous auction the FCC has granted 154 licenses for 
terrestrial service that shares DBS downlink frequencies:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-2331A1.pdf>

Teranex is now part of Silicon Optix.

- International H/DTV news: Freeview now has a seven-day electronic 
program guide:
<http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds15128.html>

- At the July 27 in Redmond, Washington, MPEG announced that the "Joint 
Video Team (JVT) has completed its extension of AVC/H.264. Fidelity 
Range Extension (FRExt), as it called, includes four new profiles that 
broaden an already wide ranging set of applications that are well suited 
to AVC/H.264. The new profiles are fully nested beginning with 'high' 
profile (HP) for high definition content. Hi10P incorporates 10 bit 
coding suitable for film material. Hi422 provides the video community 
with the capabilities needed in broadcasting and editing. Lastly, Hi444 
supports full RGB color resolution and 12 bit precision for professional 
production and graphics environments. Demanding video production 
environments are further supported with the ability of carry compressed 
alpha channel data and the film industry now has the ability to analyze 
and synthesize the representation of film grain for high quality 
consumer applications."
The release also notes that "MPEG has produced version 1 of LASeR 
(Lightweight Application Scene Representation). LASeR can be implemented 
in as few as 30Kilobytes and leverages the functionality of industry 
standards such as MPEG-4 BIFS, W3C SVG and Macromedia Flash. A fully 
compatible W3C SVG T1.2 LASeR compressed SVG stream can deliver rich 
graphic content in as little as 10kbps":
<http://www.chiariglione.org/mpeg/meetings/redmond04/redmond_pr.htm>

- I am not permitted to release week 28 CEA sales figures until August 
2nd, so you'll have to wait for those or get them elsewhere.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of only the LG at J&R this 
week (but I've seen no non-New York ads thus far).

- The ads -
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- Advent HT2751A 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $399.99
- LG RU-52SZ51D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$200 gift card $3299.99
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 proj. TV w/$200 gift card $2499.99
- Mystery brand plasma TV with $200 gift card $2499.99
- Panasonic PT-43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV w/$200 gift card $2799.99
- Panasonic PT-50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV w/$200 gift card $2999.99
- Panasonic PT-60LC14 60-inch LCD projection TV w/$300 gift card $3999.99
- Panasonic TC-26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$200 gift card $2999.99
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV w/$400 GC $5999.99
- Panasonic TH-50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV w/$500 GC $7999.99
- Philips 30PF9946 30-inch wide. direct-view LCD TV w/$200 GC $2499.99
- Philips 50PF9956 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$50 gift card $6999.99
- Samsung HL-P4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$200 GC $3199.99
- Samsung LT-P1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- Samsung SP-P4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$200 gift card $3299.99
- Sharp LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV w/$50 gift card $1099.99
- Sony KE42TS2B 42-inch plasma TV $4299.99
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$200 GC $2999.99
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1699.99
- Sony KV36FS120 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 gift card $899.99
- Sony KV36HS420 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 gift card $1499.99
- Toshiba 32HF73 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 gift card $899.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$400 gift card $4999.99
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$50 gift card $1399.99
- Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers):
- ESA PDP4294LV 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99
- Hitachi 42HDT50 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499.99
- Hitachi 51F510 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1624.99
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1199.99
- Panasonic CT32HXC14 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $749.99
- Panasonic TC14LA2 14-inch 4:3 LCD TV $549.99
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $1099.99
- Panasonic TH42PD25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated (?) plasma DTV $3899.99
- RCA HD61LPW42 61-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3599.99
- Sharp LC20B4US/LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $949.99
- Samsung HLP4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2899.99
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $2999.99
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2699.99
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1424.99
- Sony KV27HS420 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $699.99
- Sony KV34HS420/KV34HS510 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1524.99
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- JVC LT-17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $799.00
- JVC LT-23X475 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499.99
- JVC LT-26WX84 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1999.99
- JVC PD-42WX84 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $599.99
- LG LST-3100A ATSC/QAM receiver $349.99
- Philips 23PF9945 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1499.99
- Philips 37FD9954 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.99
- Sharp LL-M17W1 17-inch LCD TV $469.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Westinghouse W32001 20-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $649.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1999.99

- DVD news:

- Again, I'm not permitted to release CEA sales figures until August 2.

- There was a three-day "HD DVD Showcase" in Tokyo last week:
<http://www.eet.com/sys/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=25600557>

- PVR news: I got a kick out of the Wired headline "Group Warns DVRs 
Endangered" as there have been so many stories about DVRs (PVRs) 
endangering commercial broadcasting:
<http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,64309,00.html>

- Satellite news: A joint Korean-Japanese service, to be launched in 
October, might deliver TV to mobile phones. It's initially to offer 
seven TV channels, 30 radio, and one date, all in 25 MHz. The video will 
be 320x240, initially MPEG-4 (presumably Part 2) with H.264 under 
consideration:
<http://eet.com/sys/news/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=NLGMJACT4WJQIQSNDBCSKHQ?articleID=26100562>

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- August 2, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB 
affiliated) <http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/41_Minn-StP.htm>.
- August 2-6, Loew's Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado, California, CEA 
Summer Technology and Standards Forum 
<http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=STSF04>.
- August 6, Riverton, Wyoming, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB 
affiliated) <http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/43_Riverton.htm>.
- August 9, Salt Lake City, Utah, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB 
affiliated) <http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/44_SLC.htm>.
- August 10, Shaw Pittman, Washington, D.C., informal working group 4 
(broadcasting and amateur issues) for FCC advisory committee on WRC 07 
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-2149A1.doc>.
- August 11, Bozeman, Montana, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB 
affiliated) <http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/45_Bozeman.htm>.
- August 11-13, Hilton Austin Downtown, Texas Association of 
Broadcasters Convention <http://www.tab.org/convention-session.php>.
- August 13, Boise, Idaho, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB 
affiliated) <http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/46_Boise.htm>.
- *August 16, Hollywood Pacific Theater, ETC digital screening of "I, 
Robot," registration required <http://www.etcenter.org/Seminars.asp>.
- August 16, Spokane, Washington, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB 
affiliated) <http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/47_Spokane.htm>.
- August 18, Washington State University, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" 
(not NAB affiliated) <http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/48_WSU.htm>.
- August 20, Seattle, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB affiliated) 
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/49_Seattle.htm>.
- *August 23, Hollywood Pacific Theater, ETC digital screening of "The 
Bourne Supremacy," registration required 
<http://www.etcenter.org/Seminars.asp>.
- August 24, Portland, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB 
affiliated) <http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/50_Portland.htm>.
- August 24-26, Westin Century Plaza, Los Angeles, DisplaySearch HDTV 
Forum 2004 <http://www.displaysearch.com/hdtvforum/>.
- August 25, Eugene, Oregon, Road Show -- "A Taste of NAB" (not NAB 
affiliated) <http://www.tech-notes.tv/2004/51_Eugene.htm>.
- *August 30, Hollywood Pacific Theater, ETC digital screening of 
"Catwoman" registration required <http://www.etcenter.org/Seminars.asp>.
- August 30-September 1, Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, Entertainment 
Media Expo <http://www.media-tech.net/news/New_A.htm>.
- September 1-3, Reading, UK, International Symposium on Consumer 
Electronics <http://www.isce.reading.ac.uk>.
- September 9-14, RAI, Amsterdam, International Broadcasting Convention 
<http://www.ibc.org>.
- September 16-19, Sony, Basingstoke, England, SMPTE Engineering 
Committee meetings <http://www.fibush.net/smpte/Sept2004/Sept2004.htm>.
- October 6-7, Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, Government Video 
Technology Expo <http://www.GVExpo.com>.
- October 13-15, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast 
Symposium <http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symposium.html>.
- October 18-19, Pasadena Convention Center, California, Global Society 
for Asset Management G-SAM 2004 <http://www.g-sam.org/gsam2004/index.asp>.
- October 18-20, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CEA Industry Forum 
<http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=IF04>.
- October 20-23, Pasadena Convention Center, California, SMPTE Technical 
Conference and Exhibition <http://www.smpte.org/conferences/146tech.cfm>.
- November 4, Los Angeles Center Studios, HD Expo <http://www.hdexpo.net/>.
- November 4-7, Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Home 
Entertainment 2004 West <http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/>.
- November 15-18, Long Beach Convention Center, California, Electronic 
House Expo <http://www.ehx2004.com/>.
- November 17-19, Makuhari Messe (Tokyo area), InterBEE 
<http://bee.jesa.or.jp>.
- January 3-6, Las Vegas, IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking 
Conference <http://www.ieee-ccnc.org/>.
- January 6-9, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show 
<http://www.cesweb.org/>.
- January 8-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, International Conference on 
Consumer Electronics <http://www.icce.org/>.
- ***January 26-28, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, California, ***The 
Technology Retreat*** <http://www.hpaonline.com>.
* - new or revised listing

TTFN,
Mark

PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. There 
will probably not be any memo the next two weeks (but, maybe, if I'm 
inundated with Internet access, there will be). Look for the next one 
the week of August 23.

Confused about something in the memo? Please first check out the second 
post-script to the January 5 memo here:
<http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02052.html>



 
 
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