[opendtv] 20050720 Wolfsson's Wednesday Words (Mark's Monday Memo)
- From: Mark Schubin <tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2005 19:42:01 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
Here are some very efficient (low-administrative-cost) relief
organizations (all have four-star ratings from CharityNavigator.org):
<http://www.americares.org/>
<http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html>
<http://www.directrelief.org/index.html>
<http://www.hopeww.org/>
<http://www.mercycorps.org/splash/>
- Follow-ups:
- Power consumption - Warren Communications News reported Monday that
energy standards for consumer-electronics products are expected to become law
in California and New York and are "likely to influence other states." The
story is no longer on their site:
<http://www.warren-news.com/>
- The broadcasters' model DTT-receiver project - The due date for
proposals has been extended to July 29:
<http://www.nab.org/newsroom/pressrel/Releases/converterboxRFQ.htm>
- Satellite DTT local-into-local - The reply comments of the National
Association of Broadcasters (NAB) to EchoStar's comments about the difficulty
of DTT reception are worth reading. It's a battle between the reports of two
highly regarded engineering firms:
<http://www.nab.org/newsroom/PressRel/Filings/SHVERADistSigRecReplyEngState7505.pdf>
- The Senate Hearings - This piece in TV Technology has my favorite
coverage. Here's a snippet:
"It was Sen. Daniel Inouye, (D-Hawaii) who made the most astute
observation at the Senate Commerce Committee's first DTV hearing of the
session.
"'I'm just wondering, do most of the people in the U.S. know what we're
doing in this room?' Inouye said.
"Indeed, it wasn't always clear to those in the room what the lawmakers
were doing, except for perhaps revealing agendas that were not exactly in sync.
While just about everyone on the dais and the witness panel, including the
broadcast lobby chief, agreed that Jan. 1, 2009 was a doable hard date for
ending analog TV, the devil was revealed to be in the details. Nothing
resembling consensus emerged on a subsidy program for set-top converter boxes
and for complete cable carriage of all broadcast signals":
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=3097
Warren Communications News offered something similar on Tuesday: "DTV
confusion rampant among Senate Commerce Committee members, themselves wary of
consumer confusion, hearing shows." The story is no longer on their site.
<http://www.warren-news.com/>
- July 1 - I haven't been back since the last memo, so take this all with
a grain of salt.
- This week I've listed 43 advertised TVs 36-inch or larger. Of
those, 29 (67%) have integrated DTT-reception capability. I've listed 13 sets
between 25 and 35 inches. Of those 3 (23%) have integrated DTT-reception
capability. Take these percentages with a grain of salt because I have so few
ads this week.
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets that
are HD and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that required DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Insignia ISTV040924 27-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $229.99
- Panasonic CT-27SL15 27-inch flat-screen TV @ Best Buy $329.99
- Sylvania 27-inch TV @ Kmart $179.99
- Sharp 32C241 32-inch TV @ Best Buy $269.99
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Magnavox 20MS233S 20-inch TV @ Best Buy $109.99
- RCA 20-inch TV @ Kmart $119.99
- Insignia IS-DVD100121 VCR/DVD recorder combo @ Best Buy $199.99
- Samsung DVDR120 DVD recorder @ Best Buy $179.99
- HP M7160N computer w/TV tuner @ Best Buy $1079.97 AR
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Memorex MVDT2402 24-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Sears $329.99
- Readers have asked how to get hold of some of the non-national
retailers, so look for their phone numbers at the bottom of the memo.
- May 1 -
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated its lists as of
July 18. 1687 TV stations (called 98%) have been granted a DTT construction
permit or license. 783 are authorized to be on the air at full power and 742
are operating at low power on temporary authority. This is the first time that
full-power stations have exceeded those on temporary authority. There has been
no change in the status of the 40 top-10-market stations due on the air May 1,
1999; 38 are fully licensed and two are on temporary authority. There HAS been
a change in the 79 market-11-to-30 stations due on the air November 1, 1999; 74
are now fully licensed and only five are on temporary authority:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvsum.html>
- Here is a summary chart:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonairsum.html>
- Doug Lung's RF Report notes that the FCC CDBS database listed 732
fully licensed stations as of July 17:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=942>
- There are no H/DTV items on the agenda of the FCC Technical Advisory Council
meeting on the 28th:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-2039A1.pdf>
- Clear-days-in-DTT-journalism department - This blog on
DigitalTVDesignLine.com refers to the 700 MHz band (where analog and digital
stations currently transmit -- as they do at lower frequencies) as "the analog
portion." Sigh:
<http://www.digitaltvdesignline.com/blogs/index.jhtml#165702805>
- International H/DTV news:
- The Yomiuri Shimbun reports that Sky Perfect and JSAT will deliver DTT
retransmissions by satellite to those parts of Japan without terrestrial
transmitters because analog shutdown (by July 2011) is likely to precede 100%
DTT coverage:
<http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/20050718TDY08006.htm>
- Australia is testing DVB-H to mobile devices:
<http://tinyurl.com/97aw2>
- Brazil is reportedly dropping plans for its own DTT system and will
choose among ATSC, DVB-T, and ISDB-T:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=936>
- I believe there may be some semantic problem here, but DisplaySearch
seems to be reporting 26% "HDTV penetration" in North America in the first
quarter of this year. It makes no sense to me. Japan reportedly had 24% and
China 3%.
<http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050718/185525.html?.v=1>
- It's-about-time department: Sharp is introducing the Aquos P50 series,
LCD TVs that don't require scaling to display 625-line (576 active) video
signals:
<http://hiddenwires.co.uk/resourcesnews2005/news20050715-07.html>
- Warren Communications News reported Monday that 100 Best Buy stores will soon
be selling a Funai DTT set-top box and antenna for $199. The story is no
longer on their site:
<http://www.warren-news.com/>
- Refurbished plasma TVs are showing up on eBay:
<http://www.insidebayarea.com/businessnews/ci_2866268>
- Sharp has announced an LCD panel that can offer two different simultaneous
video displays to viewers watching from different angles:
<http://www.twice.com/article/CA626505?display=Breaking+News>
- Based on figures from CEA, sales to U.S. dealers of non-H/DTV television sets
for the first 26 weeks of 2005 were down 7.6% from the same period in 2004; my
ten-week running average was down 2.2%.
Sales of so-called "Digital Televisions" to U.S. dealers for the 26th week
were 119,655 units and for the first 26 weeks 1,953,194) compared to 9,929,772
for sets not called "digital" by CEA).
"Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays without
DTT-reception capability) accounted for about 16.4% of the TVs (not counting
plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers through the 26th week this
year. It may be worth noting here what that means. About 84% of the
non-plasma, non-direct-view-LCD TVs sold through the 26th week this year were
still plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes. The last time CEA
released numbers allowing the LCD and plasma TVs to be included, they raised
the "digital" percentage to about 25%; I suspect it is higher now.
To qualify to CEA 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 are still a small fraction of those numbers.
- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of only the two DirecTV models at
Best Buy
- Ad confusions: J&R called several models with built-in DTT-reception
circuitry "monitor." Ultimate said the Panasonic TH42PD50U EDTV had "HD
Built-In."
- The ads - Readers have asked how to get hold of some of the non-national
retailers, so look for their phone numbers at the bottom of the memo. Again, I
haven't been home since the last memo, so this is just what I got from
correspondents or gleaned from other sources during the week.
- Best Buy (HD disclaimers only):
- DirecTV H10 DirecTV/ATSC receiver/decoder $299.99
- DirecTV HR10-250 ATSC/DirecTV receiver/PVR $699.99
- LG 17LX1R 17-inch widescreen LCD TV $649.99
- LG 50PX4DR 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV/PVR w/$195RC $5999.99
- Magnavox 17MF200V/17 17-inch 16:9 LCD TV $399.99
- Maxent MX-42VM11 42-inch widescreen plasma TV $1699.99
- Maxent MX-42XM11 42-inch widescreen plasma TV $1999.99
- Mitsubishi WD-52527 52-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DTV w/$90RC $2799.99 DI
- Philips 32PT9100D/37 32-inch 4:3 integrated CRT DTV $599.99 AR
- Samsung HLR5667W 56-inch 16:9 integr. DLP proj. DTV w/$95RC $2999.99
- Samsung HPR4252 42-inch wide integr. plasma DTV w/$115RC $3499.99
- Samsung HPR5052 50-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $4999.99
- Samsung LNR268W 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1699.99
- Samsung TXR2678WH 26-inch 16:9 integr. CRT DTV in HT pkg $799.98
- Sharp LC37GB5U 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV w/$130RC $3999.99
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch 16:9 integr. LCD proj. DTV w/$65RC $1999.99
- Sony KLVS19A10 19-inch widescreen LCD TV $1099.99
- Toshiba 51HC85 51-inch wide projection TV w/$40RC $1349.99
- Zenith Z42PX2D 42-inch wide integr. plasma DTV w/$65RC $2099.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate
DI - price includes delivery & installation
HT - home theater
RC - price includes "reward certificates" of amount shown
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, HD IDs only):
- Mystery brand 27-inch widescreen LCD TV $699
- Mystery brand 37-inch widescreen LCD TV $1499
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimers):
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1499
- Panasonic PT53WX54 53-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $999
- Panasonic TH42PD50UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2499
- Philips 42PF9936 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1199
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- InFocus LP 540 projector $1149.99
- Philips 30PF9946D 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $1499.99
- Philips 50PF9966 50-inch 16:9 plasma TV $4499.99
- Sharp LC-13B6U-S 13-inch 4:3 LCD TV $299.99
- Sony KDF-60WF655 60-inch 16:9 integrated LCD projection DTV $2499.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG 50PX1D 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4498
- LG DU-42PX12 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3098
- Mitsubishi WD-52327 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $2498
- Mystery brand 42-inch widescreen integrated plasma TV $1999
- Panasonic TH-42PX50U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3498
- Panasonic TH-50PX50U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3998
- Paul's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WD-52327 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $2275
- Panasonic TH42PD50UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2475
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, HD disclaimers only):
- Hitachi 42EDT41 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2299.88
- Samsung LNR268W 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1699.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, HD disclaimers only):
- LG 15LW1R 15-inch LCD TV $899.95
- LG 23LX1RV 23-inch widescreen LCD/DVD combo $1299.95 BS
- LG 32LX1D 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $2374.95
- LG 50PX1D 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4274.95
- LG DU42PX12X 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3134.95
- Mitsubishi WD52527 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2519.95
- Mitsubishi WD62725 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3499.95
- Panasonic PT44LCX65 44-inch wide integrated DLP proj. DTV $1999.95
- Panasonic TH42PD50U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2374.95
- Panasonic TH42PX50U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3324.95
- Samsung HLR4667W 46-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection TV $2249.95
- Samsung SPR4232 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2249.95
- Sharp LC20B9US 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $949.95 BS
- Sharp LC26GA5U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1614.95
- Sony KDFE55A20 55-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $2699.95
- Sylvania 6620LE 20-inch LCD TV $498.95
BS - price "before savings"
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG 23LX2R 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1197 BS
- LG 50PX4DR 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV/PVR $5997 BS
- LG RU42PX11 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- Mitsubishi WD52527 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2797 BS
- Sharp LC32D5U 32-inch integrated LCD DTV $2497
- Sony KDE50XS955 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4997
- Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3497
BS - price "before savings"
- DVD news: According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the
first 26 weeks of 2005 were down 24% from the same period in 2004; my ten-week
running average was down 11%. VCR sales were down 42.3%.
- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV) - I've had requests to separate the "Taste
of NAB Road Show" dates, so I've done so below this section:
- Through July 21, Sydney Convention Centre, SMPTE 2005
<http://www.smpte.com.au/home.php>.
- July 23, WDSU, New Orleans, VSB seminar
<http://www.mswdtv.com/index_files/Page796.htm>.
- July 25-29, JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek, CEA Summer Technology
and Standards Forum
<http://www.ce.org/events/event_info/default.asp?eventID=STSF05>.
- August 4, KHUT, Honolulu, VSB seminar
<http://www.mswdtv.com/index_files/Page796.htm>.
- August 23-24, Beverly Hilton, DisplaySearch HDTV Conference 2005
<http://www.displaysearch.com/hdtvconference/>.
- August 25-28, China International Exhibition Center, Beijing, BIRTV2005
<http://www.birtv.com/english/about.asp>.
- September 8-13, RAI, Amsterdam, IBC 2005 <http://www.ibc.org/>.
- September 16, WHRO, Norfolk, Virginia, VSB seminar
<http://www.mswdtv.com/index_files/Page796.htm>.
- September 19-24, Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film
Festival <http://www.jhfestival.org/>.
- September 29-October 1, Vicenza Fair, Sat Expo
<http://www.satexpo.it/en/>.
- October 4-6, Hotel Fort Des Moines, Iowa DTV Symposium
<http://www.iptv.org/dtv/2005/feature_detail.cfm?i=2>.
- October 7-10, Javits Convention Center, New York, Audio Engineering
Society convention <http://www.aes.org/events/119/>.
- October 11-13, Marriott, Madison, Wisconsin Broadcasters Clinic
<http://www.wi-broadcasters.org/cgi-bin/wi-toc.pl>.
- October 12-14, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast
Symposium <http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symp.html>.
- *October 19-20, Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center, Broadcast
Engineering Expo 2005 and SBE National Meeting <http://www.bee2005.org/>.
- October 24-27, Orlando World Center Marriott, ShowEast
<http://www.vnufilmgroup.com/filmgroup/showeast/index.jsp>.
- October 25, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Portland, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/73-Portland.htm>.
- October 25-26, Best Western Royal Plaza, Marlborough, Massachusetts,
Bos-Con <http://www.bos-con.com/>.
- November 1-2, RDS Irish International Convention and Exhibition Centre,
Dublin, Video Ireland <http://www.videoireland.tv/>.
- November 9-12, New York Hilton, SMPTE Technical Conference & Exhibition
<http://www.smpte.org/conferences/>.
- November 16-18, Makuhari Messe, InterBEE 2005
<http://bee.jesa.or.jp/en/index.html>.
- January 5-8, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
<http://www.cesweb.org/default_flash.asp>
* - new or revised listing
Taste of NAB Road Show calendar:
- July 21, Columbia, South Carolina, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/34-Columbia.htm>.
- July 25, Charlotte, North Carolina, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/35-Charlotte.htm>.
- July 27, Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/36-Raleigh.htm>.
- July 29, WDBJ, Roanoke, Virginia, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/37-Roanoke.htm>.
- August 1, Charleston, West Virginia, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/38-WestVirginia.htm>.
- August 3, Richmond, Virginia, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/39-Richmond.htm>.
- August 4, central Pennsylvania, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/40-Central%20Pennsylvania.htm>.
- August 5, Philadelphia, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/41-Philadelphia.htm>.
- August 10, northeastern Pennsylvania, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/42-N.E.PA.htm>.
- August 13, Connecticut Valley, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/43-Connecticut%20Valley.htm>.
- August 15, Boston, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/44-Boston.htm>.
- August 17, New Hampshire, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/45-New_Hampshire.htm>.
- August 19, Albany, New York, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/46-Albany.htm>.
- August 22, Binghamton, New York, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/47-Binghamton.htm>.
- August 24, Syracuse, New York, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/48-Syracuse.htm>.
- August 25, Rochester, New York, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/49-Rochester.htm>
- August 29, Buffalo, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/50-Buffalo.htm>.
- August 31, Clear Channel Radio, Youngstown, Ohio, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/51-Youngstown.htm>.
- September 6, Pittsburgh, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/52-Pittsburg.htm>.
- September 8, Evansville, Indiana, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/53-Evansville.htm>.
- September 12, Indianapolis, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/54-Indy.htm>.
- September 14, Dayton, Ohio, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/55-Dayton.htm>.
- September 16, Detroit, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/56-Detroit.htm>.
- September 19, Lansing, Michigan, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/57-Lansing.htm>.
- September 21, WGVU, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/58-Grand%20Rapids.htm>.
- September 23, South Bend, Indiana, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/59-South_Bend.htm>.
- September 26, Rockford, Illinois, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/60-Rockford.htm>.
- September 28, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/61-Milwaukee.htm>.
- September 30, Fox Valley (Green Bay), Wisconsin, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/62-Fox%20Valley.htm>.
- October 3, western Wisconsin, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/63-Western%20Wisconsin.htm>.
- October 5, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/64-Minneapolis-St.%20Paul.htm>.
- October 7, Des Moines, Iowa, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/65-Des%20Moines.htm>.
- October 10, Kansas City, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/66-Kansas_City.htm>.
- October 12, Omaha, Nebraska, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/67-Omaha.htm>.
- October 14, Riverton, Wyoming, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/68-Riverton.htm>.
- October 17, Bozeman, Montana, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/69-Bozeman.htm>.
- October 19, Spokane, Washington, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/70-Spokane.htm>.
- October 20, Pullman, Washington, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/71-Pullman.htm>.
- October 24, KLSR/KEVU, Eugene, Oregon, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/72-Eugene.htm>.
TTFN,
Mark
PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. Next
week's memo might be late.
Phone numbers of some retailers mentioned (the ones starting +1 will work from
outside the United States):
- J&R: +1-212-238-9000, 800-221-8180
- Paul's: +1-714-529-2314
Have a question about the memo? Before contacting me, please try the FAQs and
glossary in the second postscript to the January 10 memo:
<http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02163.html>
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