[opendtv] 20040830 Mark's Monday Memo

Sorry about the big delay. I was more unavailable than I had expected.
Here's one tidbit from my travels that I found interesting. I read the 
newspapers of four New Zealand cities. In each, ads for some TVs touted 
the fact that they are high-definition. But there is no HDTV being 
carried in New Zealand.

- Follow-ups:

- Sinclair and DTT - Now that they are happy with the performance of the 
5th-generation LG/Zenith ATSC receiver, Sinclair appears to be beating 
the drum louder than any other broadcaster promoting DTT. They have made 
public-service announcements and established a web site:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2255>
<http://www.myfreehdtv.org/>

- Number of U.S. TVs relying on off-air transmission - The comments 
filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have come out. 
The broadcaster filing, based on a survey by Knowledge Networks/SRI 
earlier this year, found roughly one percent of U.S. households to have 
DTT-reception capability, about a fifth relying exclusively on 
antenna-based off-air reception, and many more with unwired second or 
third sets (not to mention VCRs):
<http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/PressRel/Filings/OTAComments81104.pdf>

- E-VSB - An interesting tidbit about the standard for enhanced U.S. DTT 
was noted on the OpenDTV Forum. Section 5.6.1 (page 100) restricts the 
maximum robust stream "during premium programming times" to "3 Mbps out 
of the total 19.4 Mbps channel capacity":
<http://www.atsc.org/standards/a_53c_with_amend_1.pdf>
<http://www.freelists.org/archives/opendtv/08-2004/msg00059.html>

- The "broadcast flag" - The FCC has approved 13 technologies: the old 
Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP), the old High-bandwidth 
Digital Content Protection (HDCP), four Sony MagicGate systems, 
Thomson's SmartRight, the Hewlett-Packard/Philips Video Content 
Protection System (VCPS, formerly called Vidi), something called Content 
Protection recordable Media for Video Content, TiVo's TiVoGuard Digital 
Output Protection Technology, RealNetworks' Helix DRM Trusted Recorder, 
Microsoft's Windows Media Digital Rights Management, and JVC's D-VHS. 
The first URL is the FCC press release, the second the order, and the 
third commissioner Martin's concerns about DTCP licensing terms and 
about TiVo's system (which some find insufficiently restrictive):
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250532A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-193A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-193A2.pdf>
It's easy to see how a JVC DTT receiver might use its manufacturer's 
approved technology to communicate with a D-VHS recorder or how a 
Philips receiver might communicate with a Hewlett-Packard device. I'm 
interested in seeing how the multiple systems will play out in the 
marketplace. Licenses will be available, but will owners of approved 
systems buy licenses from others? Will a Thomson receiver be able to 
send HDTV to a Sony recorder?

- The FCC DTT-rules review - It includes a new channel "election" 
process (stations deciding which of their two simulcast channels to keep 
after analog shutdown) starting this December, a new way of dealing 
power levels to match analog coverage, requirements for PSIP, closed 
captioning, and V-chip information, allowing distributed transmission 
(multiple-transmitter coverage), and eliminating the simulcasting 
requirement. I find that last interesting, because some of the rationale 
for using cable coverage as a justification for analog shutdown is based 
on the fact that 100% simulcasting means analog cable carriage IS 
carriage of DTT programming.
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250542A1.pdf>
Commissioners Copps and Adelstein expressed concern about a lack of 
public-interest requirements:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250542A3.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250542A5.pdf>
Commissioner Martin expressed concern about small broadcasters and 
must-carry:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250542A4.pdf>

- July 1 -
- Roughly two months after the order went into effect, of 152 advertised 
sets 36-inch or larger listed in this memo, only 33 have integrated DTT 
reception, and there has even been a return of ads for non-H/DTV 36-inch 
sets. Gary Merson reports similar results in his HDTV Insider newsletter:
<http://www.hdtvinsider.com>
- The Late July edition of the HDTV Insider newsletter also reports that 
Comcast, the largest U.S. cable operator, charges the same amount 
monthly for either a CableCARD to be inserted in a digital-cable-ready 
TV or an HDTV-capable cable set-top box ($5-7/month in either case). 
Other cable operators charge less, the monthly CableCARD fees ranging 
from $1.25 to $5:
<http://www.hdtvinsider.com>
- These listings represent all ads I've seen (in the U.S.) since the 
last memo at the end of July. Wherever prices varied over the weeks, I 
chose the lower. See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated 
sets that are HD, progressive, and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- JVC 36-inch TV @ Sears $599.99
- Magnavox 36-inch TV @ Fry's $399
- Magnavox MS3652S 36-inch TV @ Circuit City $499.99
- RCA 36V430T 36-inch TV @ Best Buy $449.99
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Sharp 25C340 25-inch TV @ Best Buy $169.99
- Apex AT2708 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $189.99
- Apex AT2708S 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $168.95
- ESA ET427E 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $179.99
- Magnavox 27MS3404 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $199.99
- Philips 27PT543S 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $199.99
- Sansui TVS2746 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $159.99
- Sharp 27C241 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $179.99
- Sylvania 6427TE 27-inch TV @ Ultimate $168.95
- Toshiba 27-inch TV @ Fry's $199
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Daewoo DTQ13V5FC 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $49.99
- ESA ET413E 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $59.99
- Magnavox 13MT143S 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $79.99
- RCA 13V400T 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $69.99 after rebate
- RCA E13320 13-inch TV @ Circuit City $79.99
- Toshiba 13A23/4 13-inch TV @ Best Buy $79.99
- Symphonic ST419E 19-inch TV @ Best Buy $79.99 after rebate
- Konka K2001UM 20-inch TV @ Best Buy $89.99
- Magnavox 20MT133S 20-inch TV @ Circuit City $109.99
- Mystery brand DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $89.99
- Sylvania DVC845E DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $89.99
- Coby DVD-R1100 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $229.99
- GoVideo DVD+R/RW recorder @ Fry's $149
- GoVideo R6640 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $249.99
- LiteOn LVW5001 DVD+R/RW rec. @ CompUSA $199.99 after rebate
- LiteOn LVW5005 DVD+/-R/RW rec. @ CompUSA $279.99
- Magnavox MRV64017 DVD+R/RW rec. @ Circuit City $269.99 w/rebate
- Panasonic DMR-E55S DVD-R/RAM recorder @ Best Buy $299.99
- Panasonic DMR-E55 DVD-R/RAM recorder @ J&R $299.99
- Philips DVDR80 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $299.99
- Pioneer DVR-225 DVD-R/RW recorder @ Best Buy $269.99
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Sylvania 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Sears $94.99
- Symphonic SC313E 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Best Buy $89.99
- Broksonic SC20145 20-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $269.99
- Sylvania 6719DE 19-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ amazon.com $249.99
- Broksonic SC20145 20-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $269.99
- Sylvania 6720FDE 20-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Best Buy $249.99
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Casio TV980 2.3-inch LCD TV @ Circuit City $69.99
- Coby CX-TV1 5-inch TV/AM/FM @ J&R $9.99
- Sony DNF400 AM/FM/TV/Weather/CD portable @ Circuit City $69.99
- Sony DNF400PSGR AM/FM/TV/Weather/CD portable @ Best Buy $79.99
- Sony DNS707F A</FM/TV/Weather/CD portable @ Best Buy $99.99
- Sony MZ-NHF800 AM/FM/TV/Weather MiniDisc recorder @ J&R $249.99
- Sony SRFM AM/FM/TV/Weather portable @ Best Buy $49.99

- May 1 -
- The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) updated its list of 
U.S. DTT broadcasters to 1273 on August 12 and to 1292 on August 16. 
They list 18 in the not-very-large-geographically New York market, but 
most of those would appear not to be on the air whenever I check with a 
spectrum analyzer:
<http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/issues/digitaltv/DTVStations.asp>
FYI, a TV DXer in my market reports being able to get over 40 stations, 
from as far as Boston and Washington, but cannot get three of the local 
stations stably.
- The FCC updated its lists on August 25. They say 1655 stations (96% of 
the original group) have been granted either construction permits or 
licenses, and 1445 are on the air:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvsum.html>
- There has been no change in the 40 top-10 market stations due on the 
air May 1, 1999; it's still 38 fully licensed and two on temporary 
authority (due to 9/11):
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat.html>
- There has also been no change in the 79 market-11-30 stations due on 
the air November 1, 1999; it's still 72 fully licensed and seven on 
temporary authority:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstat11.html>
- These are the 651 stations said to be licensed or operating on 
program-test authority:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonair.html>
Doug Lung's RF Report in TV Technology noted that the FCC CDBS database 
listed 556 licensed U.S. DTT stations as of August 1:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=524>
and 598 as of August 15:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=537>
His next update is due tomorrow.
- These are the 794 stations the FCC says are operating on temporary 
authority (at low power):
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvstas.html>
- The FCC summary chart now lists 1722 total DTT channel allocations 
instead of the previous 1688 because they're now including 
single-channel stations (new stations that opted to go straight to DTT 
without analog). The summary also says there are 297 non-commercial U.S. 
DTT stations on the air:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonairsum.html>
The Association of Public Television Stations lists just
*************

- The FCC also just released its list of ANALOG TV stations as of June 
30. There were 1747 full power and 7433 low power. Here's a breakdown:
- UHF Commercial 776
- VHF Commercial 589
- UHF Non-commercial 255
- VHF Non-commercial 127
- UHF Class A 497
- VHF Class A 112
- UHF LPTV 1601
- VHF LPTV 517
- UHF translators 2658
- VHF translators 2048
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-251120A1.pdf>

- Voom reported close to 25,000 subscribers at the end of June:
<http://www.twice.com/article/CA443959?display=Breaking+News>

- Still undecided about the upcoming U.S. election? "The Kerry-Edwards 
plan will complete the transition to digital television, and accelerate 
the return of valuable spectrum that is currently being used for 
broadcasting the 'analog' television signal. The plan will ensure that 
Americans continue to enjoy free, over-the-air television, including 
subsidies if necessary to ensure all Americans can make the transition." 
So they say:
<http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=34772>

- The August edition of the NAB's "Destination Digital TV" has come out. 
It has more information than previous editions. It lists, for example, 
44 ALL-digital markets (none of the top-10; Seattle is the highest). It 
also has some statistics on consumer penetration, saying that, as of 
their survey earlier this year 5.9% had "DTV" (presumably displays 
because only 22.9% of those had DTT-reception capability):
<http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/Issues/digitaltv/DDTV/0804.pdf>
CEA's recent DTT-reception-capability figures closely match NAB's, but 
their figure for displays is much higher (9.5-million households):
<http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10511>

- There have been many complaints about NBC's HD coverage of the Olympic 
Games, ranging from delays to selected content to technical issues. 
Here's one as an example:
<http://www.nola.com/living/t-p/index.ssf?/base/living-3/1092732935296730.xml>

- San Francisco broadcaster KRON is carrying HDNet programming:
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/08/19/BUGAV8A83D1.DTL&type=business>

- The Advanced Television Systems Committee has approved a 
synchronization standard for distributed (multi-transmitter) DTT. The 
first URL is for the press release; the second is for the standard:
<http://www.atsc.org/news_information/press/2004/PR_SFN_Aug_04.htm>
<http://www.atsc.org/standards/a_110.pdf>

- International H/DTV news:

- The European Commission wants to promote standards but won't impose 
one on interactive digital TV -- at least not yet:
<http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=5847644>

- Digital Broadcasting Australia reports combined sales of DTT 
set-top-box (STB) receivers and integrated TVs (to dealers, I think), 
hit 409,000 at the end of June:
<http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?display=news&newsID=558>
In their latest list of those STB receivers, there are 49 models listed, 
of which nine are HD-capable. The least expensive model is A$169; the 
least expensive HD model is A$599:
<http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=18>

- China currently has 280,000 digital-TV households (all cable, I 
think). They want to hit 380 million. Wang Xiaojie, in charge of DTV at 
the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, said, "We want 
to phase out all analog and convert to digital by 2015. We are going to 
have to fund some of the technology required." The plan is to start by 
converting the 100 million urban cable households from analog to digital 
at an expected cost of $7 billion for STBs.
<http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2004/08/17/2003199112>

- Four companies reportedly plan to compete with Texas Instruments in 
digital micromirror-based displays:
<http://www.eet.com/sys/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=35300003>

- This URL will take you to a story about computer manufacturers getting 
involved in digital TV products:
<http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,117552,pg,1,RSS,RSS,00.asp>

- Key Digital notes that its HD Hanna receives DTT and "scales the video 
program to match your display's native resolution with a choice of 
numerous output resolutions":
<http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/altavista/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20040816005278&newsLang=en>

- Shades-of-the-Tice-clock department: The Late July edition of Gary 
Merson's HDTV Insider also noted that some consumer-electronics retail 
salespeople he encountered said he should use a Monster power 
conditioner for the best HD pictures. He quotes from the package:
"Monster Clean Power removes 'dirty' AC power for the best high 
definition picture." Without it, "You’ll experience a lack of sharpness 
and color detail from your high definition components." Merson sets the 
record straight:
<http://www.hdtvinsider.com>

- Based on figures from CEA, here are the statistics for factory sales 
to U.S. dealers since the last memo:
- First 28 weeks:
VCRs down 63.5%
Non-H/DTV TVs down 3.9% (largely due to TV/VCR combos), 10-week down 13.6%
28th-week "digital" 71,212, first 28 weeks 2,049,477, "digital" portion 
15.1%
- First 29 weeks:
VCRs down 62.8%
Non-H/DTV TVs down 2.8%, 10-week running average down 11.3%
29th-week "digital" 85,382, first 29 weeks 2,134,859, "digital" portion 
15.2%
- First 30 weeks:
VCRs down 62.6%
Non-H/DTV TVs down 2.6%, 10-week running average down 12.2%
30th-week "DTV" 147,681, first 30 weeks 2,282,540, "digital" portion 15.4%
- First 31 weeks:
VCRs down 63.2%
Non-H/DTV TVs down 4.6%, 10-week running average down 20.5%
31st-week "DTV" 49,039, first 31 weeks 2,323,113, "digital" portion 15.4%
The "digital" portion is the percentage of all TV sales represented by 
the "DTV products." It does not include plasma or direct-view LCD. It 
may be worth noting here what the 15% means. About 85% of the 
non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 31st week this year 
were still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
To qualify as a "Digital Television," a display need only be capable of 
dealing with at least 480p; it need not be capable of either receiving 
digital signals or displaying them. Devices actually capable of 
receiving DTT signals were still a small fraction of those numbers.

- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of four since the last memo 
-- the Hughes and Samsung at Best Buy, the Samsung at Circuit City, and 
the Toshiba at J&R.

- The ads - This represents all ads I've seen (in the U.S.) since the 
last memo at the end of July. Wherever prices varied over the weeks, I 
chose the lower. Where the same model was offered at the same price with 
different premiums of about the same value, I included only the first I saw.
Circuit City offered $100 towards HD cable on some Panasonic products. 
Ultimate Electronics also offered a number of complete home-video 
packages; I haven't listed their prices because I couldn't separate the 
TV component.
- amazon.com (no disclaimer) - prices said to be "before on-site savings":
- Daewoo DSC-34W70N 34-inch 16:9 flat-screen CRT TV $1099.99
- Gateway 56-inch widescreen DLP projection TV $3499.99
- Olevia LT20HVK 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $699.99
- Philips 30PF9975 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2399.99
- Philips 55PL9223/17 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3499.99
- Sharp LC-32G4U 32-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $3999.99
- Sharp LC-37G4U 37-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $5499.99
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99
- ViewSonic VPW450HD 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- Hughes HT-LHD DirecTV/ATSC set-top DTV receiver w/dish $299.99
- Insignia I-LC23Q1 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1599.99
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- JVC HD61Z575 61-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV w/$300 GC $4499.99
- JVC PD42V475 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3799.99**
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$100 GC $1999.99
- LG RU-44SZ51D 44-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2799.99
- LG RU-52SZ51D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.99
- Maxent MX-42VM10 42-inch widescreen plasma TV w/$100 gift card $1999.99
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3999.99
- Mits. WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DLP DTV w/$300 GC $4499.99
- Mitsubishi WS-48515 48-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2199.99**
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1899.99
- Mitsubishi WS-65315 65-inch 16:9 projection TV $2299.99**
- Mystery brand plasma TV $2499.99
- Panasonic PT-50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2999.99
- Panasonic PT-60LC14 60-inch LCD projection TV $3999.99
- Panasonic TC-26LX20 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2499.99
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5999.99**
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-in. 16:9 integr. plas. DTV w/$400 GC $5499.99
- Panasonic TH-50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7999.99****
- Philips 23PF9966 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $2299.99**
- Philips 26PW6341 26-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $399.99
- Philips 30PW8402 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799.99****
- Philips 34PW8502 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1299.99
- Philips 42PF9966 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5499.99***
- Pioneer PDP4341HD 43-inch 16:9 integr. plas. DTV $5999.99** w/rebate
- Pioneer PDP5041HD 50-inch 16:9 integr. plas. DTV $7999.99** w/rebate
- Polaroid LCD-1700 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $649.99
- Samsung HL-P4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$200 GC $3199.99
- Samsung HL-P5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4199.99**
- Samsung LT-P227W 22-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1799.99**
- Samsung SIR-TS360 DirecTV receiver/decoder w/dish $299.99
- Samsung SP-P4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$200 gift card $3299.99
- Samsung TX-P2670WH 26-inch 16:9 integr. direct-view CRT DTV $899.98****
- Samsung TX-P3071WH 30-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $999.99#
- Samsung TX-P3271WH 32-inch 4:3 integr. CRT DTV w/$100 gift card $999.99
- Sansui LCDVD200 20-inch widescreen LCD/DVD combo $899.99****
- Sharp LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $1099.99
- Sony KE37XS910 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3999.99***
- Sony KE42XS910 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $5999.99##
- Sony KE50XS910 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$500 gift card $6999.99
- Sony KLV21SG2 21-inch widescreen LCD TV $1499.99
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499.99##
- Sony KV32FS320 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $649.99#
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999.99
- Sony KV34HS420 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $1599.99
- Sony KV36FS120 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.99#
- Toshiba 20DL74 20-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $999.99****
- Toshiba 26HL84 26-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$200 GC $2499.99
- Toshiba 30HF84 30-inch 16:9 direct-view flat CRT TV w/$50 GC $899.99
- Toshiba 32HF73 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.99#
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4499.99**
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1399.99
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99**
- Westinghouse W32701 27-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1699.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1999.99**
- Zenith E44W46LCD 44-inch widescreen LCD proj. TV w/$100 GC $2299.99
- Zenith E44W46LCD 44-inch widescreen LCD proj. TV GC $2299.99##
- Zenith P42W46X 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.99**
** price includes portable DVD/LCD combo
*** price includes basic installation
**** price includes upconverting DVD player
# price includes DVD player
## price includes XBOX video game system
- Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers) - some prices "before savings":
- Akai PDP4249G 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99
- Akai PT4298HD/PT4299HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $999.99
- Audiovox FP1500 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $399.99
- ESA PDP4294LV 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$50 gift card $2499.99
- Hitachi 42HDT50 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$500 gift card $5999.99
- Hitachi 50V500 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV w/$300 gift card $3099.99
- Hitachi 51F510 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV w/$100 gift card $1699.99
- JVC AV30W475 30-inch widescreen CRT TV $599.99
- Magnavox 20MF200V 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $849.99
- Magnavox 27MS5402 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $489.99
- Magnavox 51MP392H 51-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1199.99
- Panasonic CT30WX54 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $999.99
- Panasonic CT32HXC14 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $799.99
- Panasonic CT34WX54 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $1399.99
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV w/$200 GC $2799.99
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV w/$300 GC $2999.99
- Panasonic TC14LA2 14-inch 4:3 LCD TV $599.99
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $999.99
- Panasonic TC32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3699.99
- Panasonic TH42PX25U 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV w/$500 GC $5999.99
- Philips 26PW8402 26-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $549.99
- Philips 27PT8302 27-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $549.99
- RCA D52W20 52-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1499.99
- RCA HD61LPW42 61-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV w/$300 GC $3299.99
- Samsung HLP4663W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $3199.99
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV w/$300 GC $3499.99
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4199.99
- Samsung LTN1535 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $549.99
- Samsung LTP227W 22-inch widescr. direct-view LCD TV $1699.99
- Samsung LTP266W 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2299.99
- Samsung LTP1545 15-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- Samsung LTP1745 17-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $749.99
- Samsung LTP2045 20-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $899.99
- Samsung SIRTS360 DirecTV receiver/decoder w/dish $299.99
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$300 gift card $3299.99
- Samsung TXN3075WHF 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $849.99
- Samsung TXP2675WHD 26-inch 16:9 integrated direct-view CRT DTV $699.99
- Sharp LC13E1UB/LC13S1UB 13-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $399.99
- Sharp LC13B4US/LC13B6US 13-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $429.99
- Sharp LC20E1UB/LC20S1UB 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $849.99
- Sharp LC20B4US/LC20B6US 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV w/$50 GC $949.99
- Sharp LC22SV2U 22-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $1299.99
- Sharp LC37GD4U 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV w/$500 GC $5999.99
- Sony KDE32XBR950 32-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.99
- Sony KDE42XBR950 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7749.99 w/rebate
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$400 gift card $3999.99
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV w/$300 gift card $3299.99
- Sony KLV21SG2 21-inch widescreen LCD TV w/$100 gift card $1499.99
- Sony KLV26HG2 26-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV w/$300 GC $2999.99
- Sony KP46WT510 46-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 gift card $1499.99
- Sony KP51WS510/KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$100 GC $1699.99
- Sony KV27HS420 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$50 GC $749.99
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV w/$100 GC $999.99
- Sony KV34HS420 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1599.99
- Sony KV36FS100/KV36FS120 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999.99
- Sony KV36HS420 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1499.99
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimers):
- Panasonic PT-47WX54 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299.99
- Panasonic PT-53WX54 53-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV w/$100 GC $1599.99
- Panasonic TH42PD25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.99
- Philips 55PL9524 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3499.99
- Samsung TXP2675WHD 26-inch 16:9 integr. CRT DTV w/$300 GC $2799.99
- ViewSonic VPW425 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99###
### price includes DVD+R/RW recorder
- Dell (no disclaimer)
- Dell 2200MP projector $899
- Dell W1700 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $630
- Dell W2300 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1399
- Dell 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $2799
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- "Major Name Brand" 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $999
- "Major Name Brand" 57-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1499
- "Major Name Brand" 60-inch 4:3 projection TV $1499
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4497
- Mystery brand 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- Philips 27PT830H 27-inch widescreen CRT direct-view TV
- Toshiba 52HM84 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3497
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimers):
- "Brand Varies by Location" 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1499
- Philips 32PT842H 32-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $599
- Philips 42FD9955 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- Philips 55PL977S 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $2499
- Pioneer PRO730HDI 64-inch 16:9 projection TV $2999
- Samsung HLN467W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2999
- Samsung HPN4239X 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999
- Sony KV36HS510 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $999
- ViewSonic N2700W 27-inch widescreen LCD direct-view TV $1999
- Great Indoors (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Epson LS47P1 47-inch 16:9 projection TV/photo printer $3199
- Epson LS57P1 57-inch 16:9 projection TV/photo printer $3699
- Panasonic TC-32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3999
- Panasonic TH42PD25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4299
- Samsung HLN467W 46-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299
- Samsung HLN567W 56-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999
- Samsung HLP5085W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $4199
- Sony KLV-32M1 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $3999
- Harvey (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Fujitsu P50XHA30WS 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $7999 after rebate
- Loewe Spheros 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/stand $4499
- SharpVision LC20B4U 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $799
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic TH37PA20P 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499
- Panasonic TH42PA20P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Epson PowerLite S1+ projector w/$100 gift card $999.99
- Humax L3040 30-inch 5:3 LCD TV $1499.99
- InFocus X2 projector w/$100 gift card999.99
- JVC HD-61Z575 61-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV
- JVC LT-17X475 17-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $799.99
- JVC LT-23X475 23-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $1499.99
- LG RU-42PZ90 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- LG RU-52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.99
- Panasonic CT32HL44 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV
- Panasonic CT34WX54 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV
- Panasonic PT-50DL54 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Panasonic TC-20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV
- Panasonic TC-32LX20 32-inch widescreen LCD TV
- Panasonic TH-42PD25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Panasonic TH-50PX25U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Philips 17PF8946 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $799.99
- Philips 30PF9975 30-inch widescreen direct-view LCD TV $2399.99
- Philips 30PW9819 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $799.99
- Philips 32FD9954 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2199.99
- Philips 37FD9954 37-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2799.99
- Philips 55PL9524 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3799.99
- Samsung HPP5071 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99
- Samsung TX-P2745P 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $399.99
- Sony KDE-50XBR950 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Sony KE-32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3199.99
- Sony KF-50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV
- Sony KF-60WE610 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV
- Toshiba 42HP83P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499.99
- Toshiba 52HM84 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV
- Toshiba DST3100 ATSC/DirecTV/NTSC receiver $499.99
- Westinghouse W31501 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $429.99
- Westinghouse W32001 20-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $599.99
- Zenith C32V28 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $849.99
- Zenith P42W46 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2499.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG RU-15LA61 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $598
- LG RU-44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 projection TV $2798
- Mitsubishi WD-52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3998
- Mitsubishi WS-65713 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2998
- Panasonic TH42PD25UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2998
- Sharp LC-37HV6U 37-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $4998
- Sony KF-50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3298
- Sony KF-60WE610 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3998
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer):
- Hitachi 46-inch projection TV, Sears #54713 $1399.99
- JVC 56-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54814 $1699.99
- Mitsubishi 55-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54124 $1899.99
- Samsung 42-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54014 $1099.99
- Samsung 46-inch DLP projection TV, Sears #54058 $3039.99
- Samsung 47-inch projection TV, Sears #54084 $1199.99
- Samsung 50-inch DLP projection TV, Sears #54088 $3324.99
- Toshiba 46-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54434 $1399.99
- Toshiba 57-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54444 $1899.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer noted):
- Akai PT4298HD 42-inch 16:9 projection TV $998.95
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $3499.95###
- LG RU17LZ22 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $899.95 "before savings"
- LG RU23LZ21 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1995.95 "before savings"
- LG RU44SZ61D 44-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2799.95 "before savings"
- LG RU52SZ61D 52-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3299.95 "before savings"
- Magnavox 42MF7000 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2298.95
- Mitsubishi WD52525 52-inch 16:9 integrated proj. DLP DTV $3999.95###
- Mitsubishi WS55513 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1849.95
- Mitsubishi WS65513 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2299.95###
- Mitsubishi WS65813 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4162.95
- Mitsubishi WT42315 42-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1387.95
- Panasonic CT34WX54 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $1399.95
- Panasonic PT47WX53/54 47-inch 16:9 projection TV
- Panasonic PT50LC14 50-inch LCD projection TV $2774.95
- Panasonic TC20LA2 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $899.95
- Panasonic TC22LH1 22-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1799.95###
- Panasonic TH37PD25 37-inch integrated 16:9 plasma DTV $2499.95###
- Panasonic TH42PD25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.95###
- Panasonic TH42PX25 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5499.95###
- Philips 32PT8320 32-inch 4:3 CRT direct-view TV $699.95
- Philips 34PW850H 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.95
- Philips 55PL9774 55-inch 16:9 LCoS projection TV $3699.95
- Pioneer PDP4340HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5999.95####
- Pioneer PRO910HD 43-inch 16:9 integr. plas. DTV $7499.95 "before sav."
- Samsung LTP2045 20-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $999.95 "before sav."
- Samsung SPP4251 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3299.95 "before savings"
- Sharp LC26GA4U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $2312.95
- Sony KDE42XBR950 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7399.95
- Sony KDL32XBR950 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $5087.95
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $3052.95
- Sony KP51WS510 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1572.95
- Sony KV32HS420 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV
- Sony KV36FS120 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.95
- Zenith L15V26C 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $498.95
- Zenith L23V36 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1799.95 "before savings"
- Zenith P42W34H 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2589.95
### price includes DVD recorder
#### price after rebate but "before savings"

- Tech-Notes #125.5 has come out. It's largely links (from Lee Wood's 
board) to news stories):
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/Archive/tech_notes_125.5.pdf>

- DVD news:

- According to CEA, here are the factory-to-dealer sales statistics 
since the last memo:
First 28 weeks: down 3%, 10-week running average down 14.6%
First 29 weeks: down 1.8%, 10-week running average down 12.8%
First 30 weeks: down 0.6%, 10-week running average down 12%
First 31 weeks: down 3.3%, 10-week running average down 18.3%

- HDNet's Mark Cuban's blog has a story on hard drives (and flash 
drives) vs. DVD for both SD and HD:
<http://www.blogmaverick.com/entry/7706137582525561/>

- PVR news: TiVo reports 1.9 million subscribers, 288,000 of them added 
in the second quarter of this year (225,000 of the 288,000 being DirecTV 
subscribers):
<http://a423.g.akamai.net/7/423/1788/57ae1f2ef76271/www.tivo.com/pdfs/reports/TiVo_Q204_final.pdf>

- Satellite news:

- The FCC notes that Canada has requested frequency coordination for 
some C-band earth stations:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-251275A1.pdf>

- And the Los Angeles Times notes that it's illegal to RECEIVE Canadian 
satellite signals here without government authorization:
<http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-canada19aug19,1,339115.story?coll=la-headlines-business>

- The CIE chromaticity diagrams are shaped sort of like an elongated, 
rotated letter D. Connecting the dots of any three color primaries 
creates a triangle rather than a D. An area of visible color typically 
lost is in the saturated blue-greens. What can be done? Go to more than 
three primaries, as this New York Times article reports:
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/26/technology/circuits/26next.html?8cir>
I still like the Land Retinex two-primary color TV. Visitors to the 
Exploratorium in San Francisco or the Hall of Science in New York can 
check out the principle in the "Green Tomatoes" exhibit.

- Nielsen has made the U.S. TV-household universe for the 2004-2005 
season 109.6 million, up from 108.4 million in 2003-4 (which was up a 
bigger jump from 106.7 million in 2002-3). The top five markets 
represent almost 20%; the top ten almost 30%. Glendive, Montana remains 
the last (210th) market:
<http://www.nielsenmedia.com/>

- ***It's that time of year again. If you're interested in doing a demo, 
moderating a breakfast roundtable, or making a presentation at the 
Hollywood Post Alliance ***Technology Retreat*** in the Palm Springs 
area in January, please contact me.

- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):

- Through 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 7-9, Embassy Suites Baltimore North, Hunt Valley, Maryland, 
WEBE/SMPTE convention < http://www.webe.org/pages/convention.html>.
- 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>.
- *December 7, Radisson Barcello Hotel, Washington, D.C., ATSC ACAP 
seminar <http://www.atsc.org/seminars/2004_ACAP/acap_04.htm>.
- 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. Next 
week's memo might be late.

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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