[opendtv] 20060216 Wolfsson's (almost) Wednesday Words (Mark's Monday Memo)
- From: Mark Schubin <tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 01:19:14 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
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/>
Americans may also call the Red Cross at 800 HELP NOW (800 435-7669).
- Follow-ups:
- Screen Digest DTT penetration figures - A reader disputes them:
<//www.freelists.org/archives/opendtv/02-2006/msg00111.html>
- PSIP receiver-freezing problem - It is reportedly now fixed:
<//www.freelists.org/archives/opendtv/02-2006/msg00088.html>
- ***The Technology Retreat***, February 21-24 in Rancho Mirage -
- Del Parks, vp of engineering and operations for Sinclair Broadcast
Group, is joining the broadcasters panel.
- Michael Kanfer, digital-production evangelist at Adobe, will be
moderating a Friday breakfast roundtable on "Finishing in HD with The Adobe
Production Studio."
- Inlet Technologies, Root6 Technologies, and Wafian are all joining
the demo area.
- This will probably be the last update.
<http://www.hpaonline.com>
- U.S. analog cutoff and set-top box subsidy -
- George Bush signed the act containing the cutoff and subsidy into
law on February 8:
<http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6305856.html?display=Breaking+News>
- As a result, Lee Wood reset the countdown clock on his HDTV-info
web site, adding 779 days to the previous cutoff date:
<http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2894>
- Congress could always change its mind, as it did with the previous
date, but that might not even be necessary. A number of experts on
constitutional law say that, due to a clerical error, the two houses of
Congress passed different versions of the bill, and, therefore, it "is not law":
<http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Dems_legal_scholars_Budget_bill_not_0214.html>
- It's worth reading the law. Section 3002 notes that only
full-power stations need to drop analog on that date, and Section 3005 seems to
indicate that if a set-top box has anything but an NTSC RF output it cannot be
subsidized:
<http://tinyurl.com/ay3kl>
- U.S. viewer statistics -
- James Hibberd in TV Week said "...the current HD universe contains
only 6 million viewers....":
<http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=9384>
- A new study from Kagan Research showed, at the end of last year,
284.1 million TV sets in U.S. households, of which 11.2% were replaced last
year, 10.1 million of them with HD sets. There were reportedly 3.8 million HD
cable subscribers and 1.8 million HD satellite subscribers:
<http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060213/20060213006263.html?.v=1>
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says it has issued its
12th annual video-competition report, but all they've released thus far is a
press release with a summary of statistics as of June 2005:
- 109.6 million U.S. TV households
- 94.2 million (86%) subscribing to a multichannel video
programming distributor (MVPD)
- cable down to 69% of MVPD subscribers
- DBS up to 28% of MVPD subscribers
- all other MVPDs down from 3.3% to 2.9%
- 15 million households relying exclusively on off-air reception
- 531 satellite-delivered national programming networks plus 96
regional
- 375 models of CableCARD TVs as of November 30; 90,000 cards
deployed by top-ten MSOs:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-263763A1.pdf>
- Broadcasting and first responders, WXXI in Rochester, New York is
offering an Emergency Training and Information Network via DTT. This story is
from digitalbroadcasting.com:
<http://tinyurl.com/745vo>
- Next-generation disks -
- Sony Pictures has come up with pricing for Blu-ray releases. New
titles will be $23.45 wholesale, about 20% more than DVD; older titles will be
$17.95 wholesale, about the same as DVD ten years ago:
<http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds28970.html>
<http://www.twice.com/article/CA6306069.html>
- The final specs of the Advanced Access Content System have
reportedly still not been resolved, which could delay launches:
<http://www.digitaltvdesignline.com/blogs/index.jhtml#180202479>
- Super Bowl ads and PVRs - Here's a headline without comment. "Can You
TiVo to See Just the Ads?"
<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/07/business/media/07adco.html>
- PVRs and audience measurement - That's the subject of this story:
<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/13/business/media/13adcol.html>
- Movie Beam - It's back. It's in 29 markets. It's offering HD. It's
reportedly still using datacasting via ANALOG PBS-station transmissions:
<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/14/business/media/14movie.html>
<http://www.twice.com/article/CA6307471.html>
- IPTV -
- Here's a pundit who says it offers infinite channels:
<http://broadcastengineering.com/newsletters/iptv_update/20060214/#universe>
- A survey by Harris Interactive says 56% of U.S. adults have heard
of "Internet television" [I wonder what they think that means]; 17% would
cancel cable or satellite and go to "IPTV," 2/3 would keep existing service and
try "IPTV," and 7% would add "IPTV" to their existing service. This story is
from Digital TV Design Line:
<http://tinyurl.com/da3do>
- UK DTT box issuing a distress signal - There has been another:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/4712122.stm>
- NAB news - Fujinon's HA16X6.3ERM lens, to be exhibited at the National
Association of Broadcasters convention, has a pretty wide angle and a
reasonable tight end, too:
<http://www.videography.com/articles/article_13942.shtml>
- July 1 -
- This week I've listed 130 ads for TVs 36-inch or larger. Of those,
100 (77%) have integrated DTT-reception capability. As of July 1, 100% of
those manufactured in or imported to the U.S. and equipped with tuners were
supposed to have integrated DTT-reception capability. I've also listed 50 ads
for TVs between 25- and 35-inch. Of those, 10 (20%) have integrated
DTT-reception capability. As of July 1, 50% of those manufactured in or
imported to the U.S. and equipped with tuners were supposed to 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:
- Sony 36S45 36-inch TV w/PIP @ Universal $289
- Sony Wega 36FS10 36-inch flat-tube TV @ Universal $459
- Toshiba 36H45 36-inch TV w/PIP @ Universal $259
- Toshiba Da50 50-inch projection TV w/PIP @ Universal $409 DV
- Sony 53S65 53-inch projection TV w/PIP @ Universal $479
- Sony 65S75 65-inch projection TV w/PIP @ Universal $749
DV - price includes DVD player
- TV sets that required DTT-reception circuitry starting 2005:
- Insignia ISTV040923 27-inch TV @ Best Buy $169.99
- Jensen TS2750J 27-inch TV @ Circuit City $174.99
- Panasonic 27H45 27-inch TV w/PIP @ Universal $109
- Panasonic CT27SL15 27-inch flat-tube TV @ Circuit City $309.99
- Sony 27S45 27-inch TV w/PIP @ Universal $129
- Sony Wega 27FS10 27-inch flat-tube TV @ Universal $189
- Sylvania 27-inch TV @ Kmart $169.99
- Sylvania 6427FF 27-inch flat-tube TV @ Sears $219.99
- Sylvania 6427TF 27-inch TV @ Conn's $189.99
- Toshiba MW27F51 27-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Conn's $399.97
- Magnavox 32MT3305 32-inch TV w/stand $389.98
- Sony 32S45 32-inch TV w/PIP @ Universal $189
- Sony Wega 32FS10 32-inch flat-tube TV @ Universal $309
- Sony Wega KV32FS120 32-inch flat-tube TV @ Circuit City $514.99
- Sony Wega KV32FS120 32-inch flat-tube TV @ Conn's $499.97
- Sylvania 6432TE/6432TF 32-inch TV @ Conn's $269.99
- Devices that would require DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Living Solution 5-inch TV/AM/FM @ Walgreens $19.99
- Mystery brand GTV5055 5-inch TV @ Conn's $14.97
- Sony ICFDVD57TV 9-inch TV/DVD/clock radio @ Sears $449.99
- Konka 13-inch TV @ Universal $45
- Mystery brand GTGV4563TCT 13-inch TV @ Conn's $59.99
- Advent6 Q1435A 14-inch flat-tube TV @ Circuit City $87.99
- Konka 19-inch TV @ Universal $59
- Toshiba 19A24/25 19-innch TV @ Best Buy $99.99
- Mystery brand DVD/VCR combo @ Conn's $69
- Samsung DVDV5500 DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $89.99
- Samsung DVDV5500 DVD/VCR combo @ Conn's $94.97
- Sansui VCR @ Universal $22
- Sansui DVD/VCR combo @ Universal $44
- Sony DVD/VCR combo @ Fry's $89
- Panasonic DMR-ES20S DVD recorder @ Best Buy $179.99 AR BS
- RCA DVD recorder @ Fry's $89
- RCA DRC-8312 VCR/DVD recorder combo @ Target $199.99
- Samsung DVDR120 DVD recorder @ Best Buy $149.99 BS
- Samsung DVDR120 DVD recorder @ Circuit City $149.99
- Samsung DVDR120 DVD recorder @ Conn's $149.97
- Sansui VCR/DVD recorder combo @ Universal $79
- Sony RDR-GX315 DVD recorder @ J&R $179.99 AR
- Sony RDRVX515 VCR/DVD recorder combo @ Circuit City $299.99 AR
- Sony RDRVX515 VCR/DVD recorder combo @ P.C. Richard $299.97
- Sylvania DVR90DE/DVR90DEA DVD recorder @ Conn's $139.97
- Toshiba DR4 DVD recorder @ Conn's $199.97
- HP computer w/TV tuner @ Fry's $869.99 AR
- HP M7330N computer w/TV tuner pkg. @ Circuit City $999.99 AR
- HP m7330n computer w/TV tuner pkg. @ CompUSA $969.98 AR
- HP M7334N computer w/TV tuner pkg. @ Best Buy $1009.97 AR
- HP M7350 computer w/TV tuner pkg. @ Conn's $1549.99
- Sony computer w/TV tuner @ Universal $699
- Sony VGX-XL1 computer w/TV tuner @ J&R $1899.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate(s)
BS - price "before instant savings"
- Devices that would require dual DTT-reception circuitry in 2007:
- Sylvania 6720FDE 20-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Conn's $209.99
- Sylvania 6720FDF 20-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Sears $199.99
- Symphonic SC720FDF 20-inch flat TV/DVD/VCR @ Circuit City $247.99
- Symphonic SC724DF 24-inch TV/DVD/VCR combo @ Circuit City $278.99
- Devices possibly not covered but receiving analog TV signals:
- eton FR300 AM/FM/TV/weather/light/crank/charger/siren @ J&R $49.99
- 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 -
- Neither the FCC nor the NAB lists have been updated since the last
memo.
- Doug Lung's RF Report says the FCC's CDBS database listed 861
licensed U.S. DTT stations as of February 4. That's finally half of at least
the figure the FCC is using for the current DTT total slots:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=1165>
- The Association for Maximum Service Television is joining some others in
raising interference concerns based on distributed DTT transmission:
<http://www.tvtechnology.com/dlrf/one.php?id=1166>
- There have been many complaints about the technical quality of the HD
Olympics in the U.S. Here's one thread:
<http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7141317#post7141317>
- Here's an overview of Washington issues affecting cable:
<http://www.cedmagazine.com/article/CA6303850.html>
- Misuse of the term "HDTV": This Associated Press story discusses
high-definition churches, among other things:
<http://www.businessweek.com/ap/tech/D8FJ7EBO0.htm>
- Here's an overview of content protection in HDTV magazine:
<http://tinyurl.com/domee>
- Fry's advertised 2 GB Patriot Memory SD cards For $99.99 after mail-in
rebate, 1 GB Kingston Technology SD cards for $49.99 (no rebate required), and
1 GB Lexar Memory Stick cards for $39.99 after mail-in rebate. Circuit City
advertised 2 GB SanDisk SD cards for $79.99. J&R advertised 1 GB PNY SD cards
for $49.99. So, will P2 cards get less expensive?
- International news:
- European media commissioner Viviane Reding has ruled out interactive-TV
standards:
<http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?id=1461>
- The European Commission reportedly expressed satisfaction with the pace
of conversion to digital television despite a study showing problems:
<http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060207/media_nm/media_tv_eu_dc_1>
- Like the FCC, the European Commission is just releasing viewer figures
(from Dataxis) from June 2005 for digital cable, digital satellite, DTT, and
IPTV. The UK has the greatest number in the first three categories and the
greatest overall DTV penetration (63.5%). France has the highest IPTV number.
The lowest penetrations are in Lithuania and Luxembourg (0.6% each). Ten of
the 25 countries listed have no DTT:
<http://tinyurl.com/am3r9>
- New Media Markets reports an interface issue between some "HD-Ready"
sets in the UK and BSkyB's HDTV decoders. Compliance testing is being
considered:
<http://www.idtv.co.uk/ShowNews.php?NewsID=311>
- Here's a Czech Republic update:
<http://www.radio.cz/en/article/75671>
- Brazilian broadcasters reportedly prefer Japan's ISDB-T. This story is
from Brazzilmag.com:
<http://tinyurl.com/7fuv4>
- The Hong Kong government is warning that all ads for DTT decoders are
false. How do they know? No standard has been selected yet:
<http://tinyurl.com/7txob>
- Australia ended 2005 with over 1.3 million DTT receivers sold to dealers
and installers; 1.2 million are estimated to be in homes -- about 16%
penetration. Integrated DTVs represented 15% of [year-end?] TV sales. Of
218,000 DTT units sold in the last quarter of 2005, 35% were HD:
<http://www.dba.org.au/newsletter/IB-FebMar06-full.asp#PRODUCT1>
Here's the previous story about less than 10% of the 600,000 widescreen
TVs sold in Australia in 2005 having integrated DTT reception circuitry:
<http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?display=news&newsID=815>
- This story from The [Melbourne] Age talks about Australian DTT
conversion costs:
<http://tinyurl.com/87zk2>
- A parliamentary committee is recommending that Australia delay analog
cutoff two years to 2010. This story is from Australian IT:
<http://tinyurl.com/axr7b>
Here's the official inquiry into DTT uptake:
<http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/cita/digitaltv/index.htm>
And here are some of the other unanimous recommendations, besides the
delayed cutoff date:
- Allow multicasting as soon as possible.
- Establish a testing and conformance center.
- Establish mandatory accurate set labeling:
<http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?display=news&newsID=818>
- More than half the flat panel TVs to be shipped by Taiwan manufacturers
this year are to be HD:
<http://www.digitimes.com/displays/a20060210PB207.html>
- According to iSuppli's assessments, DLP-TV circuit boards have a bill of
materials of $128, plasma $279, and LCD $295:
<http://www.eet.com/news/design/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=180201470>
- Based on figures from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), sales to
U.S. dealers of non-H/DTV television sets for the first week of 2006 were down
33.2% from the same period in 2005; my ten-week running average was down 22.4%.
For the first two weeks, they were down 16.2%, and my ten-week running average
was down 20.3%. For the first three weeks, they were down 10.1%, and my
ten-week running average was down 18.7%. It's too soon to judge anything from
the 2006 figures, but the ten-week running averages do seem to show a lessening
of the negative growth rate of non-"digital" TV sales.
Sales of so-called non-flat-panel "Digital Televisions" to U.S. dealers
for the first week were 60,227 units, for the second 99,366, for the third
182,385, and for the first three weeks 341,978 (compared to 837,825 for sets
not called "digital" by CEA). Based on CEA's new system, the "digital" figures
now include flat-panel TVs.
"Digital Televisions" (most of which still appear to be HDTV displays
without DTT-reception capability) accounted for about 29% of the TVs sold to
U.S. dealers through the third week this year. It may be worth noting here
what that means. About 71% of the TVs sold to U.S. dealers in 2006 were still
plain non-H/DTV direct-view TVs with picture tubes.
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. CEA says
about 82% of the "digital televisions" sold in 2005 were HDTV.
- Ads for set-top DTT receivers: I'm aware of only the DirecTV units at Best
Buy, Circuit City, and Video & Audio Center.
- Ad confusions: Conn's correctly said at one point in their ad that the Funai
F42PDME "Requires External Tuner for Content" but on the picture of the product
had "Requires Optional Cable or Satellite Tuner," omitting DTT (or even
over-the-air NTSC). Reviewers say the Dell W3201C has built-in ATSC reception,
but I could find no indication of it on Dell's product pages.
- 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.
Best Buy advertised a Mobile ESPN Sanyo phone with one-button access to
ESPN video.
- Bang & Olufsen (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 4 42-inch 16:9 plasma monitor
- Best Buy (HD disclaimers only):
- DirecTV H20 DirecTV/ATSC receiver/decoder $0 AS
- InFocus SP4805 DLP projector $999.99 AR BS
- Insignia IS-TVHD30 30-inch widescreen TV $449.99
- JVC HD567BP6 56-inch wide integr. D-ILA proj. DTV w/stand $2564.99
- LG 50PX1D 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3609.99
- LG DU-37LZ30 37-inch 16:9 integrated LCD DTV $2184.99
- Maxent MX-42VM11 42-inch widescreen plasma TV $1329.99
- Maxent MX-50X3 50-inch 16:9 plasma monitor $2374.99
- Panasonic TH-37PX50U 37-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2499.99 BS
- Panasonic TH-42PD50U 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $1999.99 BS
- Philips 37PF7320A 37-inch 16:9 integrated LCD DTV $2299.99
- RCA D52W23 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $999.99
- Samsung LNR328W 32-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1519.99
- Samsung LNR408D 40-inch 16:9 integrated LCD DTV $2799.99 BS
- Samsung TXR3079WH 30-inch 16:9 integrated CRT DTV $849.99
- Sharp LC26DA5U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1139.99
- Sony KDFE42A10 42-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $1899.99
- Sony KDLV26XBR1 26-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $1999.99
- Sony KLVS19A10 19-inch widescreen LCD TV $949.99
- Sony KLVS23A10 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $1134.99
- Toshiba 32HL95 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $1709.99
- Toshiba 42HP95 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2849.99
- Toshiba 52HM95 52-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2174.99
- Westinghouse LTV-27W2 27-inch 16:9 LCD TV $699.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate
AS - price after mail-in rebate requiring subscription to DirecTV
BS - price "before savings" or "before instant savings"
- Circuit City (HD IDs only):
- DirecTV H20 DirecTV/ATSC receiver/decoder $0 AS
- DirecTV HR10250 ATSC/DirecTV receiver/PVR $399.99 AS
- Hitachi 42HDS52A 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV $2849.99
- Magnavox 17MD255V 17-inch widescreen LCD TV/DVD combo $539.99
- Magnavox 20MF605T 20-inch LCD TV $449.99
- Magnavox 26MF605W 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $799.99
- Mystery brand plasma TV $1399.99
- Panasonic TC26LX50 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $1234.99
- Polaroid FLM1511 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $229.99 AR
- Polaroid FLM3701 37-inch widescreen LCD TV $1599.99
- Samsung HLR4266W 42-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $1709.99
- Samsung HLR5667W 56-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2564.99
- Samsung HPR4252 42-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $2849.99
- Samsung HPR5052 50-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $3799.99
- Samsung LNR238W 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $849.99
- Samsung TXR3079WH 30-inch 16:9 integrated CRT DTV $849.99
- Sharp LC20SH4U 13-inch 4:3 LCD TV $474.99
- Sony KDFE50A10 50-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $2374.99
- Sony KDSR60XBR1 60-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $4274.99
- Sony KLVS15G10 15-inch LCD TV $479.99
- Sony KLVS32A10 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $1899.99
- Zenith Z50PX2D 50-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $2999.99
AR - price after mail-in rebate
AS - price after mail-in rebate requiring subscription to DirecTV
- CompUSA (appropriate disclaimer):
- Sony KLVS23A10 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $999.99
- Zenith Z50PX2D 50-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $2799.99
- Conn's (Dallas Morning News, appropriate IDs):
- Akai PT5250A 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $999.97
- Funai F20LCTE 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $349.99
- Funai F42PDME 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1249.97
- Hitachi 42HDF52 42-inch 16:9 integr. plasma DTV $2699.97
- Mystery brand widescreen plasma TV $999
- Mystery brand widescreen projection TV $799
- Norcent LT2722 27-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $599.97 AR
- Samsung HLR4667W 46-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $1999.97
- Samsung HLR5667W 56-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2499.97
- Samsung HLR6167 61-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2999.97
- Samsung HPR5052 50-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $3999.97
- Samsung LNR408D 40-inch 16:9 integrated LCD DTV $2799.97
- Samsung SPR4232 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $1999.97
- Sharp LC26SH3U 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $949.99
- Sharp LC32D4U 32-inch integrated LCD DTV $1599.97
- Sony KDP51WS655 51-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1599.97
- Sylvania 6615LF4 15-inch 4:3 LCD TV $249.99
- Toshiba 30HF85 30-inch 16:9 flat CRT TV $749.99
- Toshiba 37HL95 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $2499.97
- Toshiba 42HP95 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2999.97
- Toshiba 62HM95 62-inch 16:9 integr. DLP proj. DTV $2499.97
- Toshiba 65HC85 65-inch widescreen projection TV $1599.99
- Toshiba MW30G71 30-inch 16:9 flat-tube TV/DVD/VCR combo $799.97
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Dell (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer necessary):
- Dell 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $1999
- Dell (New York Times, no disclaimer necessary):
- Dell W3201C 32-inch 16:9 integrated LCD DTV $1499
- Fry's (Dallas Morning News, HD IDs only):
- "Major Name Brand 62-inch widescreen integrated LCD proj. DTV $2499
- Mitsubishi 37-inch Medallion widescreen integrated LCD DTV $2999
- Mitsubishi 52-inch widescreen DLP projection TV $1499 BS
- Mystery brand 42-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1799
- Mystery brand 42-inch 16:9 plasma TV $1299
- Samsung 46-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $3999
- Samsung 50-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $3499
- Samsung 56-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2999
- Samsung 61-inch widescreen integrated DLP projection DTV $3299
- Sharp Aquos 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $899
- Sony 50-inch widescreen integrated SXRD proj. DTV $3499 LC
- Sony 60-inch widescreen integrated SXRD proj. DTV $2699
- Toshiba 42-inch plasma monitor $1699
- Toshiba 42-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $2499
- Toshiba 72-inch widescreen integrated DLP projection DTV $4299
- ViewSonic 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $799 AR
AR - price after mail-in rebate
BS - price before savings
LC - price includes 27-inch LCD TV
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- HP LC2600N 26-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $799.99
- HP LC3700N 37-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $1899.99
- HP MD5820 58-inch widescreen integrated projection DTV $2399.99
- InFocus ScreenPlay 61 md10 61-inch 16:9 DLP proj. TV w/PIP $2599.99
- JVC LT-40X776 40-inch wide integr. LCD DTV $2499.99
- Philips 42PF7320A 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2399.99
- Pioneer PDP-42A3HD 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV
- Samsung 242mp-Silver 24-inch 8:5 LCD TV $1399.99 AR
- Samsung 910MP-Silver 19-inch 5:4 LCD TV $439.99 AR
- Samsung 940MW 19-inch 8:5 LCD TV $459.99 AR
- Samsung HL-R5668W 56-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2699.99
- Samsung HP-R4252 42-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $2399.99
- Sharp LD-23SH1U 23-inch LCD TV $699.99
- Sony KDF-E50A10 50-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $1999.99
- Sony KDF-E60A20 60-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $2599.99
- Sony KDL-V40XBR1 40-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV
- Sony KLV-S23A10 23-inch widescreen LCD TV $899.99
- Sony KV-27FS120 27-inch 4:3 CRT TV $299.99
- Sony KV-30HS420 30-inch 16:9 CRT TV $649.99
- Westinghouse LTV-30w2 30-inch widescreen LCD TV w/PIP $799.99
- Westinghouse LTV-32w1 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $999.99
- Westinghouse LVM-42w2 42-inch widescreen LCD monitor $2799.00
AR - price after mail-in rebate
- Ken Crane's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- HP LC3200N 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $1698
- HP MD5820 58-inch widescreen integrated projection DTV $2598
- HP PL4200N 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma TV $3198
- HP PL5000N 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma TV $4298
- LG 26LX2D 26-inch 16:9 integrated LCD DTV $1298
- LG 42PX5D 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3198
- LG 50PX1D 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3398
- Mitsubishi WD-52327 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1998
- Mitsubishi WD-62527 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3197
- Mitsubishi WD-6252[8] 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4198
- Panasonic TH-37PX50U 37-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2298
- Panasonic TH-42PD50 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $1798
- Sony KD-LV32XBR1 32-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $2698
- Sony KDS-R50XBR1 50-inch widescreen integr. LCD proj. DTV $3498
- Sony KDS-R60XBR1 60-inch widescreen integr. LCD proj. DTV $4498
- Magnolia (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Mitsubishi WD52528 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2499
- Mitsubishi WD62528 62-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $3399
- Pioneer PRO930HD 43-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $4498
- Pioneer PRO1130HD 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $5498
- Samsung HLR4266 42-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $1799
- Samsung HLR5067 50-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2298
- Samsung HLR5678 56-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $3499
- Samsung HLR6178 61-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $4499
- Samsung LNR238 23-inch 16:9 LCD TV $899
- Samsung LNR328 32-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1698
- Samsung LNR409 40-inch 16:9 integrated [?] LCD DTV $2999
- Sony K[D]LV40XBR1 40-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $3499 BS
- Sony KLV[S]32A10 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $1999 BS
BS - price "before savings"
- Office Depot (Dallas Morning News, no disclaimer):
- Optoma EP719 DLP projector w/$100GC $999.99
GC - price includes gift card of amount shown
- P.C. Richard & Son (am New York, no disclaimers):
- Mitsubishi WD52527 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $1899.87
- Samsung HLR4266W 42-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $1574.97
- Samsung LNR469DX 46-inch 16:9 integrated LCD DTV $4499.97
- Samsung SPR4232 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $1979.97
- Sony KDFE60A20 60-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $2969.97
- Toshiba 42HP95 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $2399.37
- Sears (HD IDs):
- Magnavox 26MF605 26-inch widescreen LCD TV $799.99
- Magnavox 32MF605 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $1099.99
- Philips 42PF7320A 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $1999.99
- Samsung HL-R5067W 50-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2069.99
- Samsung LN-R328W 32-inch 16:9 LCD TV $1439.99
- Toshiba 56HM195 56-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2879.99
- Ultimate Electronics (Minneapolis Star Tribune, appropriate IDs):
- LG 23LX1RV 23-inch widescreen LCD/DVD combo $924.95
- LG 50PX1D 50-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3514.95
- LG DU37LZ30 37-inch 16:9 integrated LCD DTV $2124.95
- Mitsubishi WD52627 52-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2959.95
- Mitsubishi WD73727 73-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $5084.95
- Panasonic TC19LX50 19-inch 16:9 LCD TV $699.95
- Samsung HLR5067W 50-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2124.95
- Samsung HLR5078W 50-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $2959.95
- Samsung HLR5678W 56-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $3419.95
- Samsung HLR6178W 61-inch 16:9 integrated DLP projection DTV $3699.95
- Samsung LNR409D 40-inch 16:9 integrated LCD DTV $3144.95
- Sharp LC45GD7U 45-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $4624.95
- Sony KLVS32A10 32-inch widescreen LCD TV $1849.95
- Sylvania 6842 42-inch widescreen plasma TV $1298.95
- Toshiba 27HL85 27-inch widescreen LCD TV $1294.95
- Toshiba 42HPX95 42-inch 16:9 integrated plasma DTV $3234.95
- Toshiba 62MX195 62-inch 16:9 integr. DLP proj. DTV $3699.95
- Universal Computers & Electronics (am New York, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic [?] HPP3298PP 32-inch widescreen flat-panel TV $699
- Panasonic TH42PE506 42-inch widescreen flat-panel TV $1149
- Philips 42-inch widescreen TV $1049
- Samsung 42-inch widescreen TV $849
- Samsung HLD5020 50-inch TV w/PIP $1029
- Sony KED4235 42-inch widescreen flat-panel TV $1399
- Sony KDF55B25 55-inch LCD [projection?] TV $1029
- Video & Audio Center (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- DirecTV H20 DirecTV/ATSC receiver/decoder $0 AS
- "Famous Brand" 50-inch widescreen integrated plasma DTV $2797
- Sony KDFE42A10 42-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $1797
- Sony KDFE50A10 50-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $2497 BS
- Sony KDFE55A20 55-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $2797 BS
- Sony KDFE60A20 60-inch wide integrated LCD projection DTV $3297 BS
- Sony KDLV40XBR1 40-inch widescreen integrated LCD DTV $3497 BS
AS - price after mail-in rebate requiring subscription to DirecTV
BS - price "before savings"
- DVD news:
- According to CEA's figures, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the
first week of 2006 were UP 33.8% from the same period in 2005; my ten-week
running average was down 11.1%. For the first two weeks, they were up 16.5%,
and my ten-week running average was down 6.6%. For the first three weeks ,
they were up 29.1%, and my ten-week running average was down 2.5%. The 2006
numbers are too few to show any solid trend, but the ten-week running average
seems to indicate a second wind for DVD players.
I've decided to stop listing stand-alone VCR figures, because they're so
low (22,117 for the first three weeks of 2006 versus 394,104 for DVD players,
including DVD/VCR combos).
- Circuit City had a 50-pack of Nexxtech DVD+R or DVD-R blanks for $9.99.
- Research by Comcast and Nielsen indicates that VOD doesn't seem to reduce
regular TV viewing. This story is from Multichannel News:
<http://tinyurl.com/dld26>
- In a week in which a top news story was the shooting of a hunting partner by
the Vice President, you could expect anything, and here it is. Light Blue
Optics has come up with a holographic system to allow video projectors in
mobile phones:
<http://www.eet.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=180200448>
- A study by Points North Group and Horowitz Associates found "that while 25
percent of Internet users are interested in watching downloaded TV shows and
movies on their PCs, 38 percent prefer to watch that video on their TVs."
Among 18-to-34 year olds, it was 45% and 68%:
<http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=180201849>
- Yes, a feature movie has been shot with eight mobile phones:
<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117937878?categoryid=13&cs=1>
- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):
- ***February 21, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs
area), California, pre-Technology Retreat seminars <http://www.hpaonline.com>.
- ***February 22-24, Rancho Las Palmas Marriott, Rancho Mirage (Palm
Springs area), California, HPA's 12th-annual Technology Retreat
<http://www.hpaonline.com>.
- February 26-28, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CableLabs Winter
Conference <http://www.cablelabs.com/conferences_public/>.
- February 27-28, Park Central Hotel, New York, Collaborative
Communications Summit <http://sites.securemc.com/folder4073/>.
- February 28, Dorchester Hotel, London, Collaborative Conferencing Summit
<http://sites.securemc.com/folder22719/>.
- *March 9, Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, HD Expo
<http://www.hdexpo.net/>.
- March 21-23, Loews Coronado Bay Resort, San Diego, DisplaySearch
flat-panel display conference <http://www.displaysearch.com/usfpd2006/>.
- April 6-7, Las Vegas, IEEE International Symposium on Broadband
Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting
<http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/index.html>.
- April 9-11, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, the National Show
(NCTA2006) <http://www.thenationalshow.com/?ref=nctaMenu>.
- April 22-27, Las Vegas Convention Center, NAB2006
<http://www.nabshow.com/>.
- April 28-30, Early Television Museum, Hilliard, Ohio, 2006 Early
Television Convention <http://www.earlytelevision.org/2006_convention.html>.
- *May 17, Film Row Cinema, Columbia College, Chicago, HD Expo
<http://www.hdexpo.net/>.
- May 20-23, Porte de Versailles, Paris, 120th AES convention
<http://www.aes.org/events/120/>.
- June 7-9, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Infocomm
<http://www.infocomm.org/>.
- June 27-29, Javits Center, New York, Entertainment Technology Alliance
<http://www.etaexpo.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 and might be missing ads.
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
- Universal Computers & Electronics: +1-718-784-8000
Have a question about the memo? Before contacting me, please try the FAQs and
glossary in the second postscript to the January 5 memo:
<http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02213.html>
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