By Mark Schubin, September 30, 2003
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From Mark Schubin
Date Mon, 05 May 2003 23:57:41 -0400
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- Follow-ups:
- ATSC Filing - I misrepresented the Advanced Television Systems
Committee's requests last week. Although their filing described E-VSB
and distributed transmission and noted that the latter might require
some action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), all they
asked was that the commission approve amendment 2 to A/53B and make PSIP
mandatory.
- PSIP - In a discussion on the EtherGuide PSIP list last week, Art
Allison of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) provided a
clarification of what is or is not currently required. Section 5 of
A/53B (part of the current FCC rules) says, "Compliant Transport Streams
shall include system information and program guide data formatted
according to the structure and syntax described in ATSC Standard A/65,
'Program and System Information Protocol for Terrestrial Broadcast and
Cable.'" But, given the FCC's recent second inquiry, it's not clear
that any PSIP is currently required of broadcasters.
- ATSC receivers - A reader would like me to point out that some
ATSC receivers, such as computer cards, are not included in the Consumer
Electronics Association (CEA) figures. No one seems to know how many
"some" is; I suspect it's a small number.
The same reader would like me to point out that the CEA figures
don't include HD cable boxes. That is already a substantial number, and
I would not be at all surprised to find the number of HD cable boxes
exceeding the number of ATSC receivers in U.S. homes sometime soon.
- Seattle DTT and cable - A reader on a Comcast system in the
Seattle area wonders why subscribers in Saskatoon can watch his local
DTT stations on cable when he can't.
- May 1 -
- The NAB updated its list to 861 DTT stations operating in
189 U.S. markets as of Friday; today they increased it to 885:
Eleven of those are said to be in the New York market. My
most-recent test still got only two in my apartment, and even those
could only be received with two different antenna locations.
- The FCC didn't update its digital lists, but they did
release analog station totals as of March 31:
- UHF commercial TV ----- 757
- UHF non-commercial TV - 254
- VHF commercial TV ----- 583
- VHF non-commercial TV - 127
sub-total 1721
- Class A UHF ----------- 493
- Class A VHF ----------- 107
sub-total 600
- UHF translators ------ 2632
- VHF translators ------ 2094
sub-total 4726
- UHF low-power TV ----- 1596
- VHF low-power TV ------ 522
sub-total 2118
Grand total of U.S. analog TV transmitters: 9165
- Everyone agrees that not all of the non-commercial stations
met Thursday's deadline. How many did or didn't depends on what you
read.
Warren's Consumer Electronics Daily and TV A.M. (both +1 202
872-9200) reported that fewer than half, 152, made it. TV Technology
agreed that it was fewer than half but put it at 155:
Broadcast Engineering's Beyond the Headlines said that only 160 --
fewer than half -- DIDN'T make it:
The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) lists 163 on
the air as of tonight, considerably fewer than the 373 slots listed by
the FCC (TV Technology and Warren list 357):
Whatever the numbers, the non-commercial stations came closer than
the commercial ones to meeting their deadline. As a present, the FCC
allowed non-commercial broadcasters another six months to meet the 50%
simulcasting requirement.
- Reply comments on the cable/consumer-electronics "plug-&-play"
agreement have been received by the FCC. There were no surprises. The
cable and consumer-electronics industries want it approved as is:
According to a story in Warren's Consumer Electronics Daily on
Wednesday, broadcasters want over-the-air DTT reception included (and
non-commercial broadcasters also want PSIP), and the Motion Picture
Association of America (MPAA) doesn't think copy protection should be
standardized therein. The cutest comment was from the Electronic
Frontier Foundation, which thought the whole thing was like something
seen through the looking glass: The MPAA doesn't want copy protection,
and the consumer-electronics industry does (in this case).
- The FCC, according to an April 29 letter to Congress, will seek
voluntary information on how the DTT transition is going from
broadcasters, cable operators, and manufacturers:
- KVMD, in Twentynine Palms, California, has been permitted to cease
analog transmissions and transmit DTT only. The station has to
broadcast announcements between 6 pm and 11 pm at least four days a week
for a month before shutting down its analog operations:
TV A.M. reported this morning that the station joins two others,
WWAC in Atlantic City and KOPX in Oklahoma City, and that two more, WVPX
in Akron and WNVT in Goldvein, Virginia, that want to do so.
- HDTV programming: There was a spate of announcements this week. Dish
Network (EchoStar) is adding HDNet and HDNet Movies. Reception will be
via a three-satellite SuperDish:
iN Demand will start its first HD channel on September 1:
- Britain's Independent Television Commission confirmed a power increase
for Multiplex A DTT at some sites:
- According to Warren's Consumer Electronics Daily on Friday,
Rent-a-Center is offering 15 models of 42-inch to 57-inch widescreen
HDTVs from seven brands for $34.99 to $44.99 per month on a 30-month
contract. Some 25,000 HDTVs were being rented as of March 31, up from
11,000 at the end of last year. The company plans not to buy any more
"analog" projection TVs, but they're still renting 186,000 of them at
$29.99 to $39.99 on a 27-month contract.
- According to CEA, sales to U.S. dealers of (supposedly) non-H/DTV
projection TVs were down 42.3% for the first 16 weeks of 2003 relative
to the same period in 2002. My ten-week running average is down 42.6%.
Direct-view was down 7.6%. My ten-week running average was down 11.1%.
So called "DTV product" sales to U.S. dealers for the 16th week
were 42,923 units, and the total for the 16-week period was 875,541.
"DTV products" (most of which are HDTV) have accounted for about 11.6%
of the total TVs sold to U.S. dealers this year.
- I saw no ad for an ATSC set-top receiver this week.
- The ads - Audio King had an RCA F27442 27-inch TV for $199.95 [Note 2]
and a Sharp 36US60 36-inch TV for $548.95 [Note 3].
Best Buy had a Panasonic PV-V4022 VCR with "Commercial Skip" for
$59.99 [Note 1], a Sharp 13NM150 13-inch TV for $79.99 [Note 1], a KLH
KT2006 20-inch TV for $99.99 [Note 1], a Sharp 25RS100 25-inch TV for
$189.99 [Note 2], a Sharp 36US50 36-inch TV for $569.99 [Note 3], and a
Panasonic PV-C2023 20-inch TV/VCR combo for $199.99 [Note 4].
Circuit City had a Sharp VCH960U Hi-Fi VCR with S-VHS playback for
$59.99 [Note 1], a Magnavox 13MT143S 13-inch TV for $79.99 [Note 1], an
Apex AT2002 20-inch TV for $99.99 [Note 1], an Apex AT2702 27-inch TV
for $179.99 [Note 2], and an RCA F36650 36-inch TV for $649.99 [Note 3].
CompUSA had an Apex AT2702 27-inch TV for $199.99 [Note 2]
. J&R
had an Apex AT1302S 13-inch TV for $69.99 [Note 1].
Note 1 - would require DTT-reception circuitry by July 1, 2007
Note 2 - would require DTT-reception circuitry starting July 1,
2005
Note 3 - would require DTT-reception circuitry starting July 1,
2004
Note 4 - would require dual DTT-reception circuitry by July 1, 2007
- Audio King (Minneapolis Star Tribune, appropriate disclaimer):
- Hitachi 51F500 51-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1999.95
- JVC AV32P903 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1199.95
- Mitsubishi WS48311 48-inch 16:9 projection TV $1999.95
- Mitsubishi WS55511 55-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $2999.95
- Mitsubishi WS65711 65-inch 16:9 integrated projection DTV $4999.95
- Panasonic CT34WX52 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $2299.95
- Panasonic PT42PD3 42-inch 16:9 plasma panel $4999.95
- Panasonic PT45LC12 45-inch LCD projection TV $3299.95
- Panasonic PT47WX42 47-inch 16:9 projection TV $1399.95
- Panasonic PT50PHD4 50-inch 16:9 plasma panel $9999.95
- Panasonic PT53WX42 53-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1599.95
- Panasonic PT65WX51 65-inch projection TV $2299.95
- Pioneer PRO1000 50-inch 16:9 plasma panel $10,999.95**
- Samsung HLM507W 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3799.95
- Samsung SPL4225K 42-inch 16:9 plasma panel $2999.95
- Samsung TXM3296 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $899.95
- Sharp LC22SV2U 22-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view TV $1999.95
- Sharp LC37HV4U 37-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view monitor $6999.95
- Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $6999.95
- Sony KE42XBR900 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $8999.95
- Sony KF60XBR800 60-inch 16:9 LCD projection TV $4999.95
- Sony KP46WT500 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.95
- Sony KP57WS500 57-inch 16:9 projection TV $2299.95
- Sony KP65WV700 65-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $3799.95
- Sony KV24FS100 24-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $379.95
- Sony KV27FS100 27-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $449.95
- Sony KV32FS100 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $749.95
- Sony KV32HS500 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1299.95
- Sony KV32HV600 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1499.95
- Sony KV34XBR800 34-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $2299.95
- Sony KV36HS500 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1799.95
- Sony KV36XBR800 36-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1999.95
- Sony KV40XBR800 40-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $2499.95
** price after mail-in rebate
- Best Buy (appropriate disclaimers):
- Mitsubishi VS-A50 50-inch 4:3 projection TV $1599.99***
- Mitsubishi WS-A55 55-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $2199.99****
- Mitsubishi WS-A65 65-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $2799.99****
- Samsung TXN-3071WF 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV $999.99***
- Sony KE32TS2 32-inch 16:9 plasma display $4999.99*****
- Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $6999.99*****
- Sony KP46WT500 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99***
- Sony KP51WS500 51-inch 16:9 projection TV $1999.99****
- Sony KV32HS500 32-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $1299.99***
*** price includes $100 gift card by mail
**** price includes $200 gift card by mail
***** price includes basic installation after mail-in rebate
- Circuit City (appropriate disclaimers):
- Hitachi 42HDT20 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $6999.99#
- Panasonic PT53WX42 53-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $1599.99
- RCA D52W20 52-inch 16:9 projection TV $1599.99
- Samsung TXN3075WHF 30-inch 16:9 direct-view CRT TV
- Sony KP46WT500 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699.99
- Sony KP53HS30 53-inch 4:3 CRT projection TV $1999.99
- Sony KP57WV600 57-inch 16:9 projection TV $2799.99
- Sony KV40XBR800 40-inch 4:3 direct-view CRT TV $2499.99
# price includes basic installation
- Good Guys (Los Angeles Times, appropriate disclaimer):
- Philips 34-inch 16:9 direct-view TV with stand $2299
- Sharp LC30HV4U 30-inch 16:9 LCD direct-view monitor $3999##
- Sony KE42TS2 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $6999##
- Sony KP46WT500 46-inch 16:9 projection TV $1699
## price includes 13-inch LCD TV
- Great Indoors (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Pioneer PDP4330HD 43-inch 16:9 plasma panel $7999
- Samsung HLM5065 50-inch 16:9 DLP projection TV $3999
- Howard's (Los Angeles Times, no disclaimer):
- Panasonic PT56HX41 56-inch 4:3 CRT projection TV $1499
- Sony KP61HS30 61-inch 4:3 CRT projection TV $1799
- J&R (New York Times, no disclaimer):
- LG Electronics 295LM 22-inch 16:10 LCD monitor $1799.99
- Panasonic TC-15LT1 15-inch 16:9 LCD TV $899.99
- Philips 60PP9502 60-inch 16:9 CRT projection TV $2199.99
- Samsung SPL4225K 42-inch 16:9 plasma panel $2999.99
- Zenith L20V26 20-inch 4:3 LCD TV $999.99
- Zenith P42W22 42-inch 16:9 plasma display $3699.99
- Sears (Minneapolis Star Tribune, no disclaimer):
- Hitachi 57-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54733 $2299.99
- Mitsubishi 48-inch 16:9 integrated proj. DTV, Sears #54178
$2599.99
- Mitsubishi 55-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54182 $2199.99
- Philips 46-inch 16:9 projection TV, Sears #54372 $1599.99
- Artisan Entertainment is to release the first HD DVD, "Terminator 2,"
next month. It will use Windows Media 9 and will be able to be played
only on computers:
- Other DVD news:
- According to tomorrow's edition of Warren's Consumer Electronics
Daily, Sony started selling its Blu-ray recorder in Japan, as promised,
for $3750. But, according to the story, it came out before certain
specs were finalized and lacks a terrestrial DTT receiver/decoder.
- According to CEA, sales of DVD players to U.S. dealers for the
first 16 weeks of 2003 were up 22.3% over the same period in 2002. My
ten-week running average is up 28.2%.
- The U.S. Copyright Office triennial hearings on DVD exemptions to
the Digital Millennium Copyright Act were held Friday. The Librarian of
Congress is expected to rule on them on October 28.
- 321 Studios' DVD X Copy Xpress is said, to tomorrow's Consumer
Electronics Daily, to be able to squeeze a DVD-9 so it can fit on a 4.7
GB blank.
- Next week's CeBIT CES Shanghai was cancelled due to SARS:
So was the June 16-20, BroadcastAsia2003 in Singapore:
.
- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):
- May 8-9, University of California Extension, Sunnyvale, Digital
Television Systems seminar .
- May 11-14, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, SCTE
Cable-Tec Expo .
- May 13-15, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Media-Tech Expo
.
- May 15-16, Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, 5th annual TV
Meets the Web seminar .
- *May 20, Cipriani 42nd Street, New York, Sky Forum
.
- May 20-22, Olympia, London, The Production Show
.
- May 23-25, Marienlyst, Helsingor, Denmark, AES signal-processing
conference .
- May 30-31, Santorini, Greece, International Conference On
Cross-Media Service Delivery .
- May 31-June 6, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Infocomm
.
- June 8-11, McCormick Place, Chicago, The National Show (cable)
.
- June 15-19, Marriott LAX, Los Angeles, International Conference
on Consumer Electronics .
- June 19-20, Wyndham Belage Hotel, Los Angeles, Digital Studio
Summit .
- June 26-28, Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta, Canada, AES conference
on multichannel sound .
- July 1-4, Sydney Convention Centre, SMPTE Australia convention
.
- July 17-18, Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, DisplayLA
.
- August 24-26, Beijing, International Symposium on Broadcasting
Technology
- August 27-30, Beijing, Beijing International Radio & Television
Exhibition
.
- September 11-16, RAI, Amsterdam, IBC .
- September 15-18, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa,
Preservation of Electronic Records
.
- November 12-15, New York Hilton, 145th SMPTE Technical Conference
.
- *December 2-5, Anaheim Convention Center, BroadbandPlus
.
- *December 3 & 4, 2003, Washington DC Convention Center,
Government Video Technology Expo .
* - 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.
.
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