[opendtv] Re: News: DIRECTV Sued Over HDTV Picture Quality
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 11:20:36 -0400
Mark Schubin wrote:
>> The price delta caused by built-in receivers is no longer
>> noticeable.
>
> I disagree. While the delta might be invisible on
> thousand-dollar sets, I no longer see any $150 27-inch TV
> sets advertised. There is ONE sub-$200 integrated set I've
> seen (and it's $199.99). There used to be sub-$100 25-inch
> sets advertised regularly.
>
> The delta has become apparent in the 25-inch-to-35-inch
> range. When the "tuner mandate" kicks in for sub-25-inch
> sets, we'll REALLY see a delta. Do you think that integrated
> 13-inch TVs will sell for $50 as the analog models currently
> do?
Good point. On the small sets, below 25", I have no info, because they
are never integrated sets. But I've noticed a progressive price increase
from LCDs of 13" on up that seems unaffected by the ATSC receiver, which
in practice kicks in at 26" and above.
15" LCDs go for about $300 to $400, always 4:3. (Monitor)
17" LCDs go for about $600 to $650 when they are 16:9. (Monitor)
20" go for $400 to $600, almost always 4:3. (Monitor)
26" or 27" go for $700 to $800, always 16:9. (Integrated)
32" go for about $1000 to $1200, always 16:9. (Integrated)
So I agree that the data on small sets is not in yet, and I'm not
looking at CRTs at all. What I see in stores today is a price increase
that seems only to be a function of size and features (e.g. built-in DVD
player). It's likely that the ATSC receiver will make its presence more
obvious in the cheapest sets.
> The FCC staff posited a "natural" analog cutoff date of
> 2032 based on all TVs having DTT-reception capability in
> 2007 and a 25-year replacement time period.
Frankly, I don't understand how the FCC expects this to work. The "tuner
mandate" by itself can't make people update fast enough, and a sudden
shutoff of analog will leave the majority high and dry. The only way I
see this working is a progressive shutoff of analog stations, which will
encourage consumers to gradually do whatever they need to do (buy new
sets, STBs, or go to cable).
Bert
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