[opendtv] 20050517 Mark's (almost) Monday Memo
- From: Mark Schubin <tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 01:20:57 -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:
- Voom - According to a report in Newsday, Voom's hometown newspaper,
Cablevision plans to spend at least $100 million/year on the Voom HD channels.
They got their info from a quarterly financial filing:
<http://tinyurl.com/b9pn4>
- Blu-ray and HD DVD combining -
- Perhaps as a result of reports that a deal had been reached, the
deal appears to be off:
<http://www.eet.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=163100509>
<http://www.eet.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=163103901>
- The Nihon Keizai newspaper quoted Toshiba's "top negotiator" as
saying a deal "would be extremely difficult at this stage." But a company
spokesperson said Toshiba planned to continue negotiations, according to
Reuters:
<http://tinyurl.com/akhpx>
- Lucent vs. Dolby over AC-3 - A U.S. District Court has ruled that
Dolby's AC-3 does not infringe Lucent patents. Dolby's suit against Lucent
continues and is scheduled to go to trial on September 9. This story is from
TWICE:
<http://tinyurl.com/adt5f>
- The new "HDTV for Dummies" has fixed some of the problems of the old
one, but it's not exactly gospel. There is, for example, this paragraph:
"720p: This provides 720 lines of resolution with progressive scan (hence
the p). By comparison, NTSC has less than 480 lines of resolution."
You'll also "learn" that U.S. digital TV is 16:9, that color was added to
NTSC sometime after 1953, that no one is broadcasting the form of 1080p in the
ATSC standard, that digital SDTV is "equivalent to NTSC analog broadcasts,"
that you can't do surround sound on analog broadcasts, that "EDTVs are TVs...
that cost a lot," etc.
<http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/64/07645758/0764575864.pdf>
- Cable vs. Telco - Broadcasting & Cable has a big story. It's free -- no
subscription is required:
<http://tinyurl.com/7729n>
- July 1 -
- This week I've listed 121 advertised TVs 36-inch or larger. Of
those, 36 (30%) have integrated DTT-reception capability.
- See also the ads section for inexpensive non-integrated sets that
are HD and/or widescreen.
- TV sets that required DTT-reception circuitry starting 2004:
- RCA 36E20 36-inch TV @ Broadway $259
- Sony 36S45 36-inch TV @ Universal $319
- Sony Wega 36-inch TV @ Royal $549
- Sony Wega 36FS10 36-inch TV @ Universal $519
- Sony Wega 36fs100 36-inch TV w/stand @ Broadway $589
- Sony Wega 36FS100 36-inch TV w/stand @ Center City $549.99
- Sony Wega 36sf100 36-inch TV @ CEW $549
- Toshiba 36455 36-inch TV w/stand @ Center City $249
- Toshiba 36E60 36-inch TV @ Broadway $269
- Toshiba 36E60 36-inch TV @ CEW $269
- Toshiba 36E60 36-inch TV @ Royal $298
- Toshiba 36H45 36-inch TV @ Universal $279
- RCA ZA46 46-inch projection TV @ Royal $397
- RCA 50929 50-inch projection TV @ Center City $399 SS
- Toshiba 50-inch projection TV @ Broadway $469
- Toshiba 50-inch projection TV @ CEW $449
- Toshiba 50A60 50-inch projection TV @ Royal $428
- Zenith ZA50 50-inch projection TV @ Universal $409 DV
- Sony 53-inch projection TV @ Broadway $549
- Sony 53-inch projection TV @ CEW $498
- Sony 53S65 53-inch projection TV @ Center City $499 SS
- Sony 53S65 53-inch projection TV @ Royal $498
- Sony 53S65 53-inch projection TV @ Universal $519
- Zenith 53-inch projection TV @ CEW $449
- RCA 61-inch projection TV @ CEW $649
- Sony 61-inch projection TV @ Broadway $699
- Sony 61-inch projection TV @ CEW $749
- Sony 61S65 61-inch projection TV @ Center City $589 SS
- Sony 61S75 61-inch projection TV @ Royal $598
- Sony 61S75 61-inch projection TV @ Universal $624 DV
- Toshiba 61H60 61-inch projection TV @ Royal $618
- Zenith 61-inch projection TV @ Broadway $599
- RCA 65-inch projection TV @ Broadway $789
- Samsung 65-inch projection TV @ CEW $849
- Sony 65-inch projection TV @ Broadway $899
- Sony 65S65 65-inch projection TV @ Royal $739
- Sony 65S75 65-inch projection TV @ Universal $769
- Sony 65V75 65-inch projection TV @ Center City $699 SS
- Toshiba 65-inch projection TV @ Center City $799 SS
- Toshiba 65H65 65-inch projection TV @ Universal $689
DV - price includes DV player
SS - price includes surround-sound system
- TV sets that would require DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Magnavox 27MS3404 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $199.99
- RCA 25-inch TV @ Royal $98
- Sharp 27C241 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $189.99
- Sony 27S45 27-inch TV @ Broadway $159
- Sony 27S45 27-inch TV @ Center City $132
- Sony 27S45 27-inch TV @ CEW $159
- Sony 27S45 27-inch TV @ Royal $144
- Sony 27S45 27-inch TV @ Universal $159
- Sony Wega 27FS10 27-inch TV @ Royal $229
- Sony Wega 27FS10 27-inch TV @ Universal $239
- Sony Wega 27fs100 27-inch TV @ Broadway $239
- Sony Wega 27FS100 27-inch TV @ Center City $229.99
- Sony Wega 27sf100 27-inch TV @ CEW $219
- Toshiba 27H45 27-inch TV @ Universal $139
- Toshiba 27H50 27-inch TV @ Royal $139
- Sony 32s45 32-inch TV w/stand @ Center City $199
- Zenith 32Z30 32-inch TV @ Broadway $169
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- "Famous Brand" 13-inch TV @ Broadway $49
- "Famous Brand" 13-inch TV @ CEW $49
- "Famous Brand" 13-inch TV @ Universal $49
- "Famous Maker" 13-inch TV @ Royal $58
- Advent Q1435A 14-inch flat-screen TV @ Circuit City $99.99
- "Famous Brand" 19-inch TV @ Broadway $69
- "Famous Brand" 19-inch TV @ CEW $69
- "Famous Brand" 19-inch TV @ Universal $65
- "Famous Maker" 19-inch TV @ Royal $78
- Magnavox 20MT133S 20-inch TV @ Circuit City $99.99
- "Famous Brand" VCR @ Royal $29.99
- "Famous Maker" VCR @ Universal $29.98
- Allegro ABV511 DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $79.99
- Apex Digital DRX-9200 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $129.99
- Panasonic DMRES30VS VCR/DVD recorder @ Circuit City $269.99
- Philips DVDR77 DVD+R/RW recorder @ J&R $179.99
- Samsung DVDR120 DVD recorder @ Circuit City $199.99
- Compaq 5000C series computer w/tuner @ Soho $699
- HP Brio series computer w/tuner @ Soho $799
- Sony computer w/TV tuner @ CEW $719
- Sony computer w/TV tuner @ Universal $799
- Sony 560X series computer w/TV tuner @ Soho $899
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Sylvania SRC2213W 13-inch TV/VCR combo @ Sears $94.88
- Devices not covered by the mandate but using analog TV broadcasts:
- Sony D-NS707F AM/FM/TV/weather CD portable @ J&R $79.99
- 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.
- The New York Times on Thursday discussed a 13-inch 4:3 TV with only
analog input. Its cabinet is 68 inches tall and weighs 335 lbs. It also costs
$3150. It's a new LG combination TV/refrigerator, and it would be subject to
the "tuner mandate" on July 1, 2007:
<http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/12/technology/circuits/12fridge.html>
- May 1 -
- Neither the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) nor the
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) updated their lists this week.
- Doug Lung's RF Report said the FCC CDBS database listed 703
licensed U.S. DTT stations as of May 8:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=863>
- There are no H/DTV items on the agenda of Thursday's FCC meeting:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258669A1.pdf>
- Starting at the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) meeting, the
presidents of the NAB and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) have been
taking pot shots at each other. Edward Fritts, president of the NAB, after
praising CEA president Gary Shapiro, commented unfavorably on CEA's request to
delay the July 1 deadline for 50% of 25-to-35-inch TVs to have DTT reception
circuitry and on a lack of labels saying analog TVs would soon be obsolete:
<http://www.nab.org/newsroom/pressrel/speeches/051005atscspeech.htm>
- Shapiro said over-the-air TV broadcasting was a dying medium, with a
shrinking maximum of 13% of U.S. households relying on it:
<http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=7825>
He also complained about E-VSB and how it got to be a standard and asked,
regarding the possibility of having to add E-VSB reception circuitry to TVs,
"Where will the madness end?"
<http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=10749>
I find the comments about E-VSB odd. The technique originated with CEA
member LG. It's not mandatory. DTT-receiver manufacturers have already
ignored the dual-stream audio decoding in ATSC standards; why should they care
about E-VSB?
The fight extended to the House Commerce Committee. There, Shapiro said,
"Digital television has been adopted twice as quickly as color television. It
took color television ten years to achieve 5% penetration from introduction;
digital television products are already in 16 million American homes!" Of
course, he didn't mention that the vast majority of those "digital television
products" cannot receive digital television. If U.S. DTT is measured from the
ATSC standard in 1995, then we're approaching ten years now, and, as of the end
of 2004, fewer than 3% could receive it.
He provided some new figures: 1.5 million integrated TVs and 475,000
set-top DTT receivers sold to dealers in 2004 (he noted that ALL satellite HD
receivers include DTT-reception capability). Including all forms of HD (cable,
satellite, and DTT), he said 4.4% were getting HD in 2004, up from 2.7% in 2003.
Given his statements about the death of broadcast, the following sentence
was interesting. "Our antenna promotion website, www.antennaweb.org, receives
200,000 hits per month and promotes over the air broadcasting." If no one
cares about off-air reception, why so many hits?
<http://www.ce.org/shared_files/pr_attachments/20050511barton_release.doc>
NAB rebutted CEA, citing figures from the Government Accountability
Office. Its "roughly 21 million homes" "totally reliant" on off-air TV were
said to represent more homes than in "Texas, Florida, Michigan, Mississippi,
Montana, Alaska, and Hawaii, combined":
<http://tinyurl.com/9t4n7>
The fight was covered in TV Technology, with some interesting figures on
TV-set royalties as well as LG's plan for E-VSB rights (free until the 8-VSB
agreements expire):
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=2952>
There were other presentations at the ATSC meeting. Of these, I found the
first (regarding educational possibilities for DTT) and the last (on the latest
on ATSC standardization) particularly interesting:
<http://www.atsc.org/am2005/presentations/felland_final_rfs.pdf>
<http://www.atsc.org/am2005/presentations/seidel_rfs.pdf>
<http://www.atsc.org/am2005/presentations/donovan_rfs.pdf>
<http://www.atsc.org/am2005/presentations/mackin_rfs.pdf>
<http://www.atsc.org/am2005/presentations/whitaker_rfs.pdf>
- Also in Congress, Representatives James Sensenbrenner and Barney Frank have
renewed efforts to eliminate the DTT "tuner mandates" altogether.
Sensenbrenner had introduced similar legislation in 2002. The full story
requires a paid subscription to Broadcasting & Cable:
<http://tinyurl.com/b2yl5>
- DirecTV is charging an extra $99 for HD versions of its NFL Sunday Ticket
football games:
<http://www.directvsports.com/Packages/NFLSundayTicket/>
Last year, the HD was offered at no additional charge:
<http://www.twice.com/article/CA601708?display=Breaking+News>
- International H/DTV news:
- Here are two stories on HD in Europe. Given a sentence about how cable
operators "can't deploy HDTV because most of them don't have the necessary
"860-MHz bandwidth to transmit the signal," I'd take the first one with a grain
of salt, but maybe its lists of who is doing what are accurate:
<http://www.yankeegroup.com/public/products/decision_note.jsp?ID=12979>
The second one, from Video/Imaging Design Line, by a Harris employee, is a
lot more technically accurate:
<http://tinyurl.com/9aa74>
- Digital Broadcasting Australia's submission to the Digital Television
Inquiry is available here (sorry, TinyURL didn't work on this one):
<http://www.dba.org.au/uploads/documents/DBA_Submission_HoR_DTV_Inq_050506.pdf>
- If you miss the days of "blue sky" cable predictions in the early
1970s), read this story on the (yawn) convergence of computers, telephones, and
TV. "Imagine a world where older people consult doctors through their TV, tell
the council their bins have not been collected, claim benefits, pay bills, send
emails and report faults in their domestic equipment, all from their armchair.
That world is not far off":
<http://observer.guardian.co.uk/cash/story/0,6903,1478733,00.html>
- According to an Ofcom (UK) report on a survey of 2519 adults:
- Fewer than one in three heard the term "digital switchover," and
only 19% understand it.
- But people are better informed about DTT (70% understand it) than
broadband (62%), digital radio (47%), or third-generation wireless (15%).
- DTT unawareness and lack of understanding are greatest outside
England, and among the old and poor. But rural areas have better awareness
than urban ones.
- One in four don't know where to turn for advice. Fewer than one in
five would go to their TV-service provider for help, and only 4% would try the
government.
The full report is 65 pages:
<http://www.ofcomconsumerpanel.org.uk/publications/consumer_panel_report.pdf>
- Thomson plans to introduce a handheld Freeview portable TV in time for
the holiday shopping season for about UKP270 (about $497). It's to be shown in
September at the Internationale Funkaustellung in Germany. This story is from
the Telegraph:
<http://tinyurl.com/e24mu>
- Four more free channels and four pay channels are to join the 14
launched in France on March 31:
<http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2005/05/10/afx2012567.html>
- Based on figures from CEA, sales to U.S. dealers of non-H/DTV television sets
for the first 16 weeks of 2005 were down 11.2% from the same period in 2004; my
ten-week running average was down 9.4%.
Sales of so-called "Digital Televisions" to U.S. dealers for the 16th week
were 57,570 units and for the first 16 weeks 1,153,255.
"Digital Televisions" (most of which are HDTV displays without
DTT-reception capability) still accounted for about 15.9% of the TVs (not
counting plasma or direct-view LCD) sold to U.S. dealers through the 16th 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 16th 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 not aware of any this week.
- 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.
The model numbers are so hard to make out in the Center City ad that I
might have gotten them wrong (but I'm pretty sure they got at least one wrong,
too).
This week includes some Los Angeles ads from last week that I received too
late to include.
- Best Buy (HD disclaimers only):
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch wides D-ILA proj. TV w/$85RC $2599.99 D3
- Maxent MX-42VM10 42-inch widescreen plasma TV $1799.99
- Mitsubishi WD-62525 62-inch 16:9 integr. proj. DTV w/$120RC $3699.99 D3
- Philips 17PF9946 17-inch 16:9 LCD TV $599.99
- Philips 42PF9966 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV w/$115RC $3499.99 D3
- Samsung LNR328W 32-inch 16:9 LCD TV $2299.99 D3
- Samsung TX-P2764X 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $449.99
- Sony KDE37XS955 37-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4499.99 D3
- Sony KDE42XS955 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV w/$180RC $5499.99 D3
- Sony KDE50XS955 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV w/$230RC $6999.99 D3
- Sony KP51WS520 51-inch 16:9 projection TV w/$55RC $1699.99 D3
- Toshiba 30HF85 30-inch 16:9 direct-view flat CRT TV $799.99
- Toshiba 46H84 46-inch 16:9 projection TV w/45RC $1399.99 D3
- Westinghouse LTV-30W2 30-inch widescreen LCD monitor $1099.99 AR
- Zenith Z23LZ5R 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $999.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate
D3 - price includes DVD/LCD combo and three DVDs
- Broadway Computers & Electronics (am New York, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1499
- Sony 20-inch widescreen LCD TV $649
- Center City Computers & Electronics (am New York, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic PT43LC14 43-inch LCD projection TV $1699
- Samsung 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1499
- Sony 61Z577 [?] 60-inch 16:9 LCD [projection] TV $2599
- Sony KF50WE610 50-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $1999
- Circuit City (HD disclaimers only):
- ESA PDP4294LVI 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1709.99
- Hitachi 51F510 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1614.99
- Magnavox 32MF605W 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $1424.99
- Philips 30PW8420 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $712.49
- Pioneer PDP5050HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6649.99
- Polaroid FLM2011 20-inch widescreen LCD TV $474.99
- Samsung HLP5063W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2374.99
- Samsung SPP4251/SPR4232 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2374.99
- Sharp LC13SH4U 13-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $332.49
- Sharp LC26GA5U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1614.99
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch 16:9 integrated LCD projection DTV $2374.99
- Sony KDF50WE655 50-inch 16:9 integrated LCD projection DTV $2659.99
- Sony KP57WS520 57-inch 16:9 projection TV $1899.99
- Computers & Electronics Warehouse (am New York, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1499
- Samsung 42-inch plasma TV $1599
- Dell (Dallas Morning News, no disclaimer):
- Dell W4200 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Dell (Los Angeles Times, HD IDs only):
- Dell 19-inch widescreen LCD TV $699
- Dell 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $1599
- Dell 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999
- Dell (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Dell 3300MP projector $1280
- Dell W1900 19-inch widescreen LCD TV $640
- Dell W2600 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1599
- Dell W3000 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $1499 (yes, less)
- Dell 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- Fry's (Los Angeles Times, HD IDs only):
- Mitsubishi WS-48515 48-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1599
- Mystery brand 27-inch widescreen LCD TV $797
- Mystery brand 30-inch widescreen LCD TV $997
- Mystery brand 37-inch widescreen LCD TV $2299
- Panasonic TH-42PD50UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2249
- Panasonic TH-50PX50U 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4799
- Samsung SPR-4232X 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2249
- Sharp LC-26GA5U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1499
- Toshiba 62HM84 62-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $2799
- Toshiba TDP-T90U projector $1699
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimer):
- LG 23LX1R 23-inch widescreen LCD TV/DVD combo $1299
- LG DU42PX12X 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3299
- Mitsubishi 50-inch widescreen projection TV $5999
- Mitsubishi HC900U projector $2999
- Mitsubishi WD52327 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $2499
- Mitsubishi WD-52725 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3199
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299
- Pioneer PDP-4345HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4499
- Pioneer PRO920HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $6499 BS
- Pioneer PRO1120HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $7999 BS
- Sharp LC26D7U 26-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $2099
- Sharp LC45GD6U 45-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $6999
BS - price "before in store savings"
- Great Indoors (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Samsung HLR4667W 46-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection TV $2299 AR
- Samsung HLR5067W 50-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection TV $2599 AR
- Sharp LC26GA5U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1599 AR
- Sharp LC32GA5U 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $2299 AR
- Sony KDE42XS955 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV PG
- Sony KDE50XS955 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV PG
- Sony KDF-42WE655 42-inch 16:9 integrated LCD projection DTV PG
- Sony KDF-50WE655 50-inch 16:9 integrated LCD projection DTV PG
AR - price after rebate
PG - my correspondent provided prices, but they seem incorrect
- Harvey (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Pioneer PRO1120HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Sharp LCD-37D7U 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD TV $4299
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic PT60LC14 60-inch LCD projection TV $2699
- Panasonic TH42PD50UP 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2499
- Philips 42PF9936 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- Sony KDF42WE655 42-inch 16:9 integrated LCD projection DTV $2299
- Sony KE32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1999
- Toshiba 51H84 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1299
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- JVC HD61Z575 61-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $2649.99
- Panasonic TC-14LA2 14-inch 4:3 LCD TV $429.99
- Panasonic TH-42PX25U/P 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3399.99
- Philips 42PF9996 42-inch 16:9 LCD TV $4499.99
- Sharp LC-20B6U-S 20-inch 4:3 LCD direct-view TV $799.99
- Toshiba 14DLV75 14-inch 4:3 LCD TV/DVD combo $499.99
- Toshiba 32HL84 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $1999.99
- Toshiba 42HP84P 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3299.99
- Toshiba 57H84 57-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1499.99
- Westinghouse W32001 20-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $499.99
- Westinghouse W33001 30-inch 16:9 direct-view LCD TV $1099.99
- J&R (Village Voice, no disclaimer):
- HP PL4245N 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2999.99
- Samsung SP-R4232 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $1999.99
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- LG DU-42PX12 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3298
- Mitsubishi WD-52327 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $2498
- Panasonic TH-42PD50U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2495
- Sharp LC-20S2U-S 20-inch LCD TV $598
- Paul's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WD-52327 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $2495 EL
- Panasonic TH-42PD50U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2499 EL
EL - price "even lower now"
- P.C. Richard (am New York, appropriate disclaimer):
- ProView HV207 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $499.97
- Royal Computers & Electronics (am New York, no disclaimer):
- Mystery brand 42-inch flat-panel TV $1699
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer):
- JVC HD52Z575 52-inch widescreen D-ILA projection TV $2469.99
- Mitsubishi WS55315 55-inch 16:9 projection TV $1424.99
- Samsung HCP4741W 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $999.99
- Samsung LTP2045 20-inch 4:3 direct-view LCD TV $599.88
- Sony KDF50WE655 50-inch 16:9 integrated LCD projection DTV $2659.99
- Sony KDF55WF655 55-inch 16:9 integrated LCD projection DTV $2944.99
- Sony KE42M1 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $3499.99
- Sony KLV-32M1 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $2999.99
- Soho Electric (New York Press, no disclaimer):
- Champion 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $499
- Panasonic TH-42PW5 42-inch widescreen plasma TV $1699
- Panasonic TH-50PHD 50-inch widescreen plasma TV $3799
- Pioneer PDP-503 50-inch widescreen plasma TV $3599
- Staples (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Syntax Olevia LT20HVK 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $399.98
- Universal Computers & Electronics (am New York, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic 37-inch flat-panel TV $1599
- Samsung 42-inch flat-panel TV $1499
- Sony 42-inch flat-panel TV $1899
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Sharp LD26SH1U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1497 BS
- Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $2497
BS - price "before savings"
- DVD news:
- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the first 16
weeks of 2005 were down 35.8% from the same period in 2004; my ten-week running
average was down 29.1%. VCR sales were down 46.5%.
- A story in USA today says, "Sales of DVD recorders topped 940,000 in
February." As the source is NPD, that's probably sales to consumers, but it
seems awfully high for monthly sales. The same story says only 476,000 DVRs
(PVRs) were sold in the same period (not counting those provided by cable or
satellite companies):
<http://www.usatoday.com/tech/bonus/2005-05-15-dvd-recorders_x.htm>
- Warren Communications News reported today that Wal-Mart should start
selling Cyberhome DVD+R/RW recorders for $99 within a few weeks. The story
should be on the site for a few more hours:
<http://www.warren-news.com/>
Note that J&R is already selling an Apex model for under $130.
- MediaPost has a story on a Forrester Research report that VOD is available in
about 75% of U.S. digital-cable homes:
<http://tinyurl.com/78zu9>
- Want to get your TV via your gas pipes? "Nethercomm Corporation, the leading
innovator of subterranean broadband communications, announces the development
of Broadband-in-Gas (BiG) Technology":
<http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2005/5/emw236328.htm>
- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):
- *May 17, Atlanta Marriott Suites Downtown, PSIP and MPEG Compliance in
Practice <http://www.trivenidigital.com/seminars/>.
- May 17-20, COEX, Seoul, KOBA 2005 <www.koba.or.kr>.
- May 18, Oklahoma City, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/10-Oklahoma_City.htm>.
- May 19, Clear Channel Event Center, Tulsa, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/11-Tulsa.htm>
- *May 19, WPOZ, Altamonte Springs (Orlando area), Florida, PSIP and MPEG
Compliance in Practice <http://www.trivenidigital.com/seminars/>.
- May 22-27, Hynes Convention Center, Boston, SID International Symposium
2005 <http://www.sid.org/conf/sid2005/sid2005.html>.
- May 23, Wichita State University, Kansas, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/12-Wichita.htm>.
- *May 24, WMAQ, Chicago, PSIP and MPEG Compliance in Practice
<http://www.trivenidigital.com/seminars/>.
- May 26, Dallas, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/13-Dallas.htm>.
- *May 26, WOSU, Columbus, Ohio, PSIP and MPEG Compliance in Practice
<http://www.trivenidigital.com/seminars/>.
- May 28-31, CCIB, Barcelona, 118th AES Convention
<http://www.aes.org/events/118/>.
- May 30-June 3, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary,
SAIT/WABE Broadcast Training Seminar <wayne.watson@xxxxxxx>
<http://www.wabe.ca/>.
- May 31-June 2, Long Beach Convention Center, ISCe 2005 Satellite &
Communications <http://www.isce.com/>.
- May 31, Austin, Texas, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/14-Austin-.htm>
- June 1-3, Earls Court 2, London, Broadcast Production Show
<http://www.productionshow.com/>.
- June 4-10, Las Vegas Convention Center, Infocomm 2005
<http://infocomm05.expoexchange.com/>.
- June 6, Weslaco, Texas, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/16-Weslaco.htm>.
- *June 7, St. Louis, PSIP and MPEG Compliance in Practice
<http://www.trivenidigital.com/seminars/>.
- June 7-8, Universal City (Los Angeles), Digital Media Summit 2005
<http://www.ihollywoodforum.com/digitalmediasummit2005.htm>.
- June 8, Corpus Christi, Texas, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/17-Corpus%20Christi.htm>.
- *June 9, KRMA, Denver, PSIP and MPEG Compliance in Practice
<http://www.trivenidigital.com/seminars/>.
- June 10, Houston, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/18-Houston.htm>.
- June 13, Lamar State College, Port Arthur, Texas (Beaumont/Lake
Charles), Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/19-Beaumont_%20Lake%20Charles.htm>.
- June 13-17, Singapore Expo, BroadcastAsia 2005 (including SMPTE DC28
meeting) <http://www.broadcast-asia.com/Conference.html>.
- June 14, Courtyard Marriott, Shreveport, Louisiana, Taste of NAB Road
Show <http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/20-Shreveport.htm>.
- *June 14, Daystar Television, Bedford (Dallas area), Texas, PSIP and
MPEG Compliance in Practice <http://www.trivenidigital.com/seminars/>.
- June 14-16, Macau, IEEE International Symposium on Consumer Electronics
<http://www.ieee.org.hk/>
- *June 14-17, Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Cable-Tec Expo
<http://expo.scte.org/index.html>.
- *June 16, KTRK, Houston, PSIP and MPEG Compliance in Practice
<http://www.trivenidigital.com/seminars/>.
- June 17, Jackson, Mississippi, Taste of NAB Road Show,
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/21-Jackson.htm>.
- June 20, New Orleans, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/22-New%20Orleans.htm>.
- *June 21, Boston, PSIP and MPEG Compliance in Practice
<http://www.trivenidigital.com/seminars/>.
- June 22, Colonial Financial Center, Montgomery, Alabama, Taste of NAB
Road Show <http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/23-Montgomrty.htm>.
- *June 23, KGW, Portland, Oregon, PSIP and MPEG Compliance in Practice
<http://www.trivenidigital.com/seminars/>.
- June 24, Jacksonville, Florida, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/24-Jacksonville.htm>.
- June 27, Orlando, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/25-Orlando.htm>.
- June 27-30, Amsterdam RAI, Cinema Expo
<http://www.vnufilmgroup.com/filmgroup/cinemaexpo/index.jsp>.
- *June 28, KGO-TV, San Francisco, PSIP and MPEG Compliance in Practice
<http://www.trivenidigital.com/seminars/>.
- June 28-30, Javits Convention Center, New York, Entertainment Technology
Alliance Summit <http://www.etaexpo.com/register.html>.
- June 29, Tampa, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/26-Tampa.htm>.
- *June 30, KABC, Glendale (Los Angeles area), California, PSIP and MPEG
Compliance in Practice <http://www.trivenidigital.com/seminars/>.
- July 1, Cinema Trevi, Roma, SMPTE International Conference
<http://www.smpte.org/conferences/>.
- July 5, Miami, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/27-Miami.htm>.
- July 6, West Palm Beach, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/28-West_Palm_Beach.htm>.
- July 11, Atlanta, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/29-Atlanta.htm>.
- July 13, Huntsville, Alabama, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/30-Huntsville.htm>.
- July 14, Shop at Home Network, Antioch (Nashville), Tennessee, Taste of
NAB Road Show <http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/31-Nashville.htm>.
- July 18, Knoxville, Tennessee, Taste of NAB Road Show
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/32-Knoxville.htm>.
- July 19-21, Sydney Convention Centre, SMPTE 2005
<http://www.smpte.com.au/home.php>.
- July 20, Greenville, South Carolina, Taste of NAB Road Show,
<http://www.tech-notes.tv/2005/33-Greenville.htm>.
- 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 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>.
- 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 23-24, Beverly Hilton, DisplaySearch HDTV Conference 2005
<http://www.displaysearch.com/hdtvconference/>.
- 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 25-28, China International Exhibition Center, Beijing, BIRTV2005
<http://www.birtv.com/english/about.asp>.
- 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 8-13, RAI, Amsterdam, IBC 2005 <http://www.ibc.org/>.
- 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 29-October 1, Vicenza Fair, Sat Expo
<http://www.satexpo.it/en/>.
- 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>.
- 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>.
- 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>.
* - new or revised listing
- January 5-8, Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show
<http://www.cesweb.org/default_flash.asp>
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):
- Broadway Computers & Electronics: +1-212-567-4300
- Center City Computers & Electronics: +1-718-272-6474
- Computers & Electronics Warehouse: +1-718-205-2288
- J&R: +1-212-238-9000, 800-221-8180
- Paul's: +1-714-529-2314
- P.C. Richard: +1-212-979-2600
- Royal Computers and Electronics: +1-718-646-2100
- Soho Electric: +1-212-941-8533, 888-726-9324
- Universal Computers & Electronics: +1-718-784-8000
- Value Electronics: +1-914-723-3344, 800-789-5050
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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