First In The World For 24 Hour Day HDTV Satellite Broadcast
&
First In The World For 24 Hour Day HDTV Satellite Broadcast
"Our mission is to make HDTV a reality in the U.S."
September 24, 1998
Like with the launch of color television in 1951, Unity Motion now makes entertainment history as it begins 24-hour HDTV broadcasting, Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998. This marks the first around-the-clock high definition programming available throughout the United States and should end the problem of demonstration programming for retail marketers as HDTV moves into the commercial phase.
Unity will air HD-1, its general entertainment channel. HD-1 features movies, sports, travel, children's programs, animation, art, music, and special features. By the end of 1998, Unity will transmit two additional HD channels, one each for movies and sports. To meet their programming commitment, Unity Motion will spend $250 million on movies alone through the year 2000.
"We're buying from film distributors, movie studios and independent filmmakers,'' said Kim Gamel, director of communications." Now that we're broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we welcome the opportunity to work with anyone interested in bringing quality HDTV shows to North America."
"Our mission is to make HDTV a reality in the U.S. in a way that makes winners of consumers, high end home theater dealers, broadcasters, manufacturers and programmers," said Gamel. "This broadcast launch is one of many steps we will take toward achieving that goal."
The first feature to be shown is "Austin Powers."
Unity Motion
Advanced Television Publishing
753 East Fall Creek Road
Alsea, Oregon USA 97324-9504.
Phone (541) 487-4186
Fax (541) 487-4187
Email: hdtvnew@pioneer.net
WWW: hdtv/hdtvnews.com
Publisher and Editor:
Dale E. Cripps
Contributer:
Samantha de la Vega
Copyright 1997 by Advanced Television Publishing. All rights reserved. For address changes, send current and new address to ATP at the above address. Subscription rate $387 (US, Canada, Mexico), $427 overseas.
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List of Stations that will
have digital broadcasting beginning
November 1, 1998.
New York, WCBS-TV
Los Angeles, KABC-TV, KCBS-TV, KTLA-TV and KNBC-TV
Philadelphia, WPVI-TV, KYW-TV, WTXF-TV and WCAU-TV
San Francisco, KGO-TV, KPIX-TV, KTVU-TV and KRON-TV
Boston, WCVB-TV and WMUR-TV (Manchester, NH)
Washington, WJLA-TV, WUSA-TV, WETA-TV and WRC-TV
Dallas, WFAA-TV, KDFW-TV and KXAS-TV
Detroit, WXYZ-TV and WJBK-TV
Atlanta, WSB-TV and WXIA-TV.
Houston, KHOU- TV
Seattle, KOMO-TV KCTS-TV and KING-TV
Miami, WLRN-TV
Portland, OR, KOPB- TV
Indianapolis, IN, WTHR-TV
Charlotte, NC,WBTV-TV
Raleigh, NC, WRAL-TV
Cincinnati, OH, WLWT-TV
Milwaukee, WMVS-TV
Columbus, OH, WBNS-TV
Harrisburg, PA, WITF-TV
Honolulu, KITV-TV
Madison, WI, WKOW.
US Broadcasters understand this because they require an audience for digital television and plan to use HDTV as the bait. In other words, HD will serve the purpose of motivating consumer interest in the marketplace. Perhaps, after becoming interested in DTV, consumers will reconsider the price for high performance and opt for lower performing systems with lower price points. However, in order to generate the momentum it takes to make any such transition and move briskly beyond the difficult beginning, inertia must be replaced by a vital interest so HD will penetrate enough of the population to be a successeven if it ends up a niche market, which many seasoned experts conclude it will be.
Another factor for broadcasters to consider is competition. It is not yet formidable but it soon may be. Unity Motion, a new example, has upped its stakes with both sports programming and movies-all slated to be delivered in high definition. Unity has 200 hours of programming and is still not a viable business, but that can change as subscribers mount.
Unity has a view that many have adopted of late, which may bring them all to harm. Of course, this publication is unabashedly bias in that our name suggests we faove high-definition, though we tolerate . Its officials believe that 480p is the right choice for the consumer who is thinking of buying a display. As a result of industry pressure, they have decided to broadcast in 1080i or 720p even though they are not overly supportive of these two formats. With their willingness to pay but $500 per minute for original programming, they claim to need only a 100,000 or so subs to break even.
Unity may or may not have the strength to be a major player, but with ever-stronger partners merging into its banquet, it is likely to grow into a key merger candidate. HBO, and now Hubbard's USSB, have decided to launch HDTV services as well. Existing dish owners will each need to buy an additional dish, but this is of little consequence to those who really want and can afford HDTV. Primestar and Echostar have plans for HDTV as well and some cable companies think it may be a way to recover business lost to satellite services.
So, before the bell sounds, government policies must be fully formed allowing us to have competing channels from space and ground that will serve HDTV signals to all parts of the nation. Will this lead the way to a new golden era in broadcasting or will broadcasters serving up tasteless Clinton Jokes on the Jay Leno Show mean more to the American public in HDTV than gold? It is unlikely that HDTV will ever be popular among the general public under the best of conditions. The world is stratified in technology and taste more so than ever. Robert Wright, president of NBC said in a recent Washington, DC conference that television is now forever segmented and networks will need multiple outlets to remain a viable force. While it is tempting to think of oneself as a broadcaster, the truth of the matter is that everyone is becoming a narrow caster. Understand whichever segment you wish to serve, serve it well, and leave the rest to the other segments. The day of one community established by the influence of three major networks is over and while there may be a nostalgic feeling for the good old days, they don't exist in the future. The Internet and the computer exist in the future as does the television set. While they may use some parts of each other to enhance their respective franchises, they are forever kept from becoming one if for no other reason than they do not have common roots. TV segments are distinctly different from Internet segments, though they cross over at times as guests often do.
I have been rooting for HDTV for 12 years because I believe it will contribute to the betterment of society. Media is clearly a primary means for cultivating people and with the coming of HD, quality programming can be spurred to present a new and more attractive era. As has oft been stated, HD programming should include the arts, nature, and sports shows that are designed to emerse the viewer, inviting the viewer into new worlds formerly unattainable. The viewing experience will be transformed, and with it culture.
With HDTV finally in the dawning, I can now begun to step aside and allow others to contribute and report more on the transition. Samantha de la Vega, who has been writing articles for the Newsletter, is taking on more responsibility and I will continue on in the capacity of publisher and advisor. Samantha's interest in the evolution of HDTV is refreshing and her energy can only be a welcome addition to the ranks working that are hard for its launch.
Dale Cripps
by Samantha de la Vega
In the last couple of years the HDTV battle has reached a crossroads. Issues including cost, video formats, TV/PC convergence, the chicken and egg standoff between broadcasters and manufacturers, tower erecting problems, and roll out time frame, are primary concerns for those involved in this transition.
According to actions by major players in the television industry, it seems that digital and HDTV implementation will be successful though maybe not as quickly as some might hope. Surprisingly, despite the unsettled status of the aforementioned issues, we are now nearing the fall of 1998, and consumer electronics manufacturers are producing HDTV product lines scheduled for distribution around this time. In addition, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., addressing the issue of programming, is talking with Hollywood execs about co-producting HDTV shows to air along with its primary distribution of HD sets.
There appears to be general acceptance that roll out will take longer than originally expected and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) appears to be listening to reason. It is logical that broadcasters voice concern about, among other things, tower-erecting barriers that will stall implementation of HDTV must-carry. This and other issues will have to be addressed more thoroughly before HDTV's true colors successfully shine through.
The public, on the other hand, waits readily for HDTV, still protected from the knowledge of what is ahead. The average American family will not be able to afford early HD sets. Some, however, may be willing to dish out additional cash for decoder boxes that will enable them to continue using their current NTSC sets while viewing new digital and HD programming via satellite. The problem here is that formatting for these boxes is still not standardized because the ATSC standard for video formats was not adopted by the FCC, nor has there been a standard set for the 1394 firewire which will serve as a connector to certain set top boxes and other equipment such as VCRs. Additionally, HDTV transmissions will be overkill for those televisions which are not equipped to receive the HD picture.
Also vieing for position in the race for the digital transition, are those in the computer industry that are pushing for PC/Television convergence. Interactive PC/Television and educational programming are hot topics for these folks. The Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA) predicts in its January issue of Sales and Forecasts, that with the exception of Set-top Internet Access Devices, TV/PC combinations will reach a high of $325,000,000 worth of sales in 1998, with an average unit price of $2,600. That means unit sales of 125,000, which is more than double what they predicted for 1997.
Toward the end of 1997, more than 40 representatives of the TV, PC and associated industries got together in Indianapolis to attempt to develop a cross-industry standard for the interface between large-screen televisions and personal computers. Then in January, on another front, a successful transmission was made of digital television (DTV) programming to a personal computer. The test was conducted by WETA, Washington, D.C., and Intel Corporation to study the delivery of digital television, with added data such as interactive educational materials, to PCs.
WETA, however, is also one of six public television stations committed to the early adoption of DTV. In July of 1996, WETA received authorization from the FCC to broadcast DTV signals on an experimental station, Channel 34. WETA has also produced programs in high definition for national broadcast on PBS including three programs focusing on works of art.
To see where the industry stands in the digital
transition, we have only to look at the directions its
players are taking. Small stations are laboring to erect
towers to carry the new signals, and creating facilities
designed to handle HD production. Consider
Seattle's KCTS TV9, recently partnered with American
Production Services (APS) on the joint development of a
new digital high-definition post-production facility in
Seattle. Another is Hawaii's KITV, which
materialized its digital interests last year when it erected the
state's first HD-capable facility.
Vol 13, No 1
In addition, PBS went before congress in January
to ask for public funding for its stations in order to
comply with FCC pressure to gear up for digital
television. However, the House Appropriations Labor
Subcommittee on June 23 voted against funding for
the PBS DTV conversion in fiscal 1999 ($75 million
had been requested). Furthermore, the Corporation
for Public Broadcasting is prohibited from using its
allocated funds for DTV conversion. (Note that one
of PBS's concerns regarding the digital transition is
that many of its viewers live in Canada where signals
don't yet correspond with those from the US.) Canada
reception info here.
Live satellite HDTV demonstrations are being made in the US and abroad, and members of CEMA are designing HD lines with price points that are becoming more accessible to buyers.
In late 1997, there was an experiment in live satellite HDTV relay from a theater in Lyon, France to large screen theaters screens in Paris, London, and Brussels, and digital formats were demonstrated at the January Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
Critics stress format problems as a key barrier to HDTV's 1998 roll out. A topic of discussion since the incession of the HDTV debate, format is a major technological pot hole. However, no one seems to expect the road to the digital transission to be anything other than bumpy, and each day new ideas come to the forefront as we continue on in the uphill climb toward the the HDTV peak.
Apparently unshaken by the many technical problems there are concerning format, towers, and other broadcasting issues, various consumer electronics manufacturers are lining up for the oncoming exodus of high def competition. At the January CES show, HDTV products were featured by Ampro, Hitachi, JVC, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Proton, RCA (Thompson), Runco, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Unity Motion, Vidikron, and Zenith, and 19 sets have already been sold by Matsushita.
A key factor when considering roll out of
digital/HD products, is the target audience. What attitude
does the public have about HD? There is a basic
ignorance amidst the consumer population regarding
technical facts about coming consumer electronics products.
HDTV sounds good to people, but will they buy it? And importantly, to whom will manufacturers
direct their advertising and promotions? In an article
written for Vision Consumer Electronics, Gary
Shapiro
mentions that "CEMA's own numbers imply that younger males are the primary buyers, but few
males make major purchases without consulting women.
If advertisements and editorials are targeted at
women, they are not only more likely to have an opinion
when consulted by their partners, they are more likely
to want to buy our products." Shapiro goes on to
say that senior citizens make up 40 percent of the
total household wealth of our nation's population, and
the non-white population, which gets left out of polls,
now represents 27 percent of the population and is
growing.
Needless to day, broadcasters, manufacturers and others in the television industry are busy making plans for the digital transition. Crucial technical advances are being made and it is becoming more and more apparent to many that DTV/HDTV is a shared-risk venture that will only succeed if the various factions involved work together on finding solutions to the plethora of problems that exist. The Digital Video Broadcasting Project, (DVB) a consortium of over 200 broadcasters, manufacturers, network operators and regulatory bodies in more than 30 countries worldwide, is working diligently on designing a global standard for the delivery of digital television.
Although the different US, Japanese and European Digital Terrestrial standards all make use of the same MPEG-2 options for compressing their images, there are considerable differences in terms of modulations, sound coding and service information. This means that countries outside Europe, Japan and the US have a difficult decision to make. Each system requires a different implementaion strategy.
However, for whichever modulation standard broadcasters choose, be it ATSC 8 VSB, DVB-T COFDM, or the NHK-proposed Japanese ISDB standard (also using COFDM), manufacturers will deliver MPEG-2 HDTV and SDTV encoding equipment compliant with their choice of modulation technology.
MPEG-2, the global standard for digital video
compression designed by the Moving Pictures
Experts Group (MPEG), is a flexible toolkit offering a
variety of "profiles" and "levels" for encoding High and
Standard Definition television. DVB, the Japanese
proposal and the ATSC system all use MPEG-2 for image
compression, whether for a single HDTV program or
for multiple standard definition channels.
Vol 13, No 1
The market for digital transmitters is estimated to be
$2 billion. Manufacturers have yet to see a very big piece
of that. Bob Mancuso
"There's not really been a rush to digital technology," said Bob Mancuso, president and chief executive officer of Acrodyne Industries, Inc., Blue Bell, PA "This business is still analog. It does not hurt [stations] to go replace their old analog with new analog. They can just swap out the modulator. They're buying retrofitable analog," Mancuso concluded. "That's what's really driving this markea new generation of analog equipment that's retrofitable to digital. It isn't a function of whether all this digital equipment is available, it's the cost."
Senate Commerce hearings were held last month. The testimony given there sums up the inter-industry DTV bickering in the US. While other technical problems dog the launch of DTV, the all-important "must carry" question was central to the meeting. Elizabeth Murphy Burns was there representing Washington based AMSTV, as well as her Washington state TV stations. She began by saying that like her father she is prepared to make "risky, but far-sighted investments in smaller communities." Now on the brink of the DTV era she said that "if Congretional goals are to be met [for the return of the analog channel], consumers must have easy access to DTV signals over their cable systems, as well as over-the-air.
On July 10, 1998, the Federal Communications Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM or Notice) requesting public comments about the effects the transition to digital television (DTV) will have upon cable system operators and subscribers. Comments are due on October 13, 1998 and reply comments by November 24, 1998. Through current "must carry" and "retransmission consent" requirements, the signals of full-power commercial and noncommercial broadcast television stations must be carried on local cable systems in order to ensure the successful introduction of digital TV, minimize the disruption and costs to cable operators, programmers and subscribers, and provide compatibility between cable and broadcast digital television systems. For public interest advocates, the rulemaking provides a valuable opportunity to help shape the future of television. Nearly two-thirds of US households subscribe to cable TV. The results of this proceeding will determine: consumer access to digital TV signals, availability of stations and channels are over cable systems, cable subscriber rates, and future of noncommercial video outlets (i.e. PBS, C-SPAN and public assess cable).
"Must Carry proved to be one of the most benign pieces of legislation in communications history," claimed former CBS president Gene Jankowski in his 1995 book Television Today and Tomorrow, Oxford Press. "Cable operators," he said, "acquired $6 to $7 billion worth of product at no cost, for which they in turn charge their customers." Like buying water rather than drinking from the tap, cable subscribers are paying to watch free television "because of improved reception."
In her testimony Burns offers, "The commission has long known that the DTV transition depends on three components.
1) DTV channel assignments
2) The DTV transmission standard
3) Cable carriage and compatibility
The first two are, of course, done. That leaves the third to be settled. "There is no assurance that the DTV signals will be carried on cable," said Burns. "There is no assurance...in fact it seems unlikely...that the pricey DTV sets sold in November (1998) will be able to connect with the digital cable systems."
This concern led FCC Chairman William Kinnard to insist by letter written in the first week of August, that something concrete be established, i.e., fix the problem. Firewire, the interface known as IEEE 1394, is the likely answer which Kinnard and others have been looking for. It answers all peripheral device requirements with headroom. Another point not mentioned is that pricey DTV sets are being sold without decoders. They are now sold seperately.
Stressing concern over cable's role, Burns added that there is no assurance the cable set top boxes of tomorrow will be able to process DTV signals. Today's new cable set top box passes the HDTV signal through without decoding it. Rather, the HD signal must be decoded at the TV or by an additional set top box.
Most recall that TCI Chairman John Malone railed against the idea of passing through the 1080I signal, claiming at the NCTA annual conference and briefing that it was too spectrum-extravegent and that 720p was a better choice. His comments were brushed aside by CBS and NBC as politically motivated stemming from TCI's well-known involvement with the computer industry.
Back to the hearings: Ms. Burns bluntly asked for
swift FCC action to insure consumer access to DTV signals.
"First, the FCC should promptly adopt carriage
rules that do not unduly burden cable systems. The law
re
A wait-and-see attitude is bound to result in DTV penetration levels that fall short of congress's transition bench mark.
"Cable has the power to exclude, degrade or otherwise disadvantage our stations. Frankly, DTV will not even have a chance unless clear carriage rules are in place very shortly."
Her lament is clear. "I can't even get in the door to negotiate with cable systems, and there's nothing to stop the systems from importing the DTV affiliates from Seattle rather than carrying local stations. Cable Systems should not limit the public's choice of broadcast signals."
She believes the FCC should take a more active roll in the issue of cable compatibility. This fall, multiple DTV signals will be on the air in at least ten major markets and DTV sets will be on the showroom floors. These sets will not have the right ports to connect to the new digital cable set top boxes. "Thus, the people who are most likely to buy a DTV set will not be able to receive the over-the-air signals through their new set top boxes."
The cable industry has not wholly settled on a common transmission technology. Neither cable nor manufacturing industries have agreed on a standards interface, like a phone jack, to transport digital material from the cable systems to the DTV receivers. The DTV set, cable box, and VCR communicate with each other...but not yet.
"The FCC needs to step in and set deadlines as it has done in other areas."
Accredited industry standard-setting bodies such
as the ATSC, IEEE, and SMPTE are working on these
standards, but the process has languished. "The FCC
needs to step in and set deadlines as it has done in other
areas. Unless the FCC plays a forcing function,
broad
casters will be throwing a party but very few
people will have the transportation to come."
Burns expressed her fears saying, "We are committed to DTV but we worry that factors outside the broadcasters' control may maroon our signals between the transmitter and home." She added, "We only hope that the FCC's action is fast and effective enough. A wait-and-see attitude is bound to result in DTV penetration levels that fall short of congress's transition bench mark."
"If the transition falters, it will not be because consumers saw and rejected broadcast DTV, but simply because they did not have a chance to see it."
Elizabeth Murphy Burns
Committee Chairman Senator John McCain turned to Curcuit City CEO, Alan McCullough asking him when he would have HDTV sets ready for sale. McCullough said HD sets will be available by November at a cost between $5,000-$8,000 dollars. Responding to questioning concerning VCR usage in conjunction with new HD sets, McCullough stated that today's VCRs can't record or play HD but that the HD set will output to the VCR in standard NTSC.
Circuit City is a member of the Copy Protection Technical Working Group actively working on the 1394 connector standard. McCullough went directly to the heart of the concerncopywrite infringementsaying that the easiest solution would be to migrate the digital cable functionality to the television set, thus removing the problem entirely. He went on to say that eventually this capability will exist although not as early as this fall.
McCullough went on to say that there are digital
VHS machines available today. "The difficulty isn't in
producing a digital VCR, but moving the signal in
digital form from the VCRs to the display device." Both
JVC and Hitachi have digital VCRs available and some
are using them in DSS recording. The decoder still
resides in the DSS box. The signal moves across encrypted
and allows users to record digitally. "The question is:
How do you get the digital signal from the box to the
display device?"
Senator McCain then asked Mr. Lamb how many viewers he had lost as a result of the 1992 must carry act. Mr. Lamb's response is that overall there were 5 million homes affected directly from must carry.
The senator then commented that if Mr. Collins didn't drop C-Span in New York, it would be due greatly to his largess, thus putting the ball entirely in the hands of the broadcasters and leaving program providers essentially powerless. He went on to say that it seems inevitable that someone will be squeezed out whether it be Mr. Lamb or someone else.
Mr. Schmidt responded that there are many difficult decisions to be made, this being only one example. He continued by saying that unless there is an agenda concerning must carry, small broadcasters might well be squeezed out, and went on to deny that there was sufficient proof of C-Span's having been bumped in 1992, stating that it was not a substantial issue. According to Mr. Schmidt, Time Warner's current system utilizes an average of 750 megahertzapproximately double what existed in the early 90sand the cable capacity will again double by the year 2004, thus making obsolete Mr. Lamb's present concerns.
Mr. Lamb, referring to the first ammendment, stated that about 98 percent of broadcast stations are carried on cable systems already, and that in 1992, in many instances others such as shopping channels and public broadcasting stations, were aired instead of C-Span. He reminded the committee that at that time, local operators had far more limited channel choices to make, and still the result was that C-Span wasn't aired. Today, according to Lamb, there are at least eighteen channels for local operators to choose from and the results could be disastrous for C-Span and many other popular channels that might find their way off the air. He finished by expressing complete exasperation with the idea of hurrying the imposition of must carry, saying that if this were to occur, customers would see a blank channel where C-Span might be and would then be required to buy expensive new television sets ($5,000-$7,000) in order to view it.
"Broadcasters are under pressure of forced march and without the cooperation of local operators the deadlines won't be met."
Returning to Mr. Schmidt, Senator McCain asked him about his thoughts on the importance of the strike force headed by FCC Commissioner Ness. Schmidt, although not entirely familiar with the strike force's activities, stated that Commissioner Ness has been very supportive in trying to get certain issues resolved; one of them being the incompatibility of certain pieces of equipment. The strike force is necessary, in Schmidt's view, to prevent localities from becoming mini FCCs and regulating towers and transmitters on the basis of RF radiation or interference, or any other concerns. He went on to say that broadcasters are under pressure of forced march and without the cooperation of local operators the deadlines won't be met.
Does he believe the analog channels would be returned by the year 2006? Schmidt said he does not believe that is a realistic schedule. "Mr. Collins would have a better idea of what penetration levels to expect."
Mr. Collins in response said that the public would have to stampede to buy HD sets in order for that [return] to happen. He reminded the senator that those who maintain use of their current analog sets will have blank screens should the signals be returned in 2006 and went on to reinforce Schmidt's statement that the cable industry will have the capacity and the capability to carry vestidial analog signals so that the transition may take place with more fluidity.
Mr. Lamb then mentioned that....based on history...he does not believe that broadcasters will ever give up the analog channels if they aren't required to do so. He agreed with Mr. Collins that the cable industry will be capable by the year 2006 of dealing with these problems. His main concern, he stated, is the immediateness of the situation.
Ms. Burns opined that if we don't have must-carry and don't have the ability to get the digital television signal to the consumer, there will be absolutely no chance of a turnback in 2006.
Curcuit City's Mr. McCullough was in agreement
but added that the proper ingredience do exist for the
success of this endeavor and the only question is
what we do now to make it happen. He concluded that
neither Congress nor any other elected body is going
to allow or support a situation where millions of
American television sets go blank.
Next Sen. Burns addressed the issue of interface asking how far along talks are to date, and McCullough replied that there was still quite a way to go before standards would be set. He mentioned that set manufacturers are working on combining certain functions such as DSS and high definition, but finished by saying that the 1394 discussion was still not complete. Mr. Collins then added that there had been a recent meeting in which people from the cable industry gave a set of draft specifications to the consumer electronics manufacturers precisely to further this 1394 firewire interconnection issue.
When asked if he could quell Mr. Lamb's apprehensions concerning being taken off the air, Mr. Collins stated that he was more concerned about the threat to broadcasters saying, "The trouble with giving consolation to any particular programmer is we would have no control over the timing and so whenever the broadcaster says we now want our must carry station, whatever services we didn't have under contract at that point and required us to carry them, would have to be what we took off. So there would be enormous uncertainty.
Mr. Lamb then said that under the circumstances, it is not necessary to feed a digital signal, adding that his channel would continue to operate analog with cameras and other equipment for the near future.
Mr. McCullough added that new sets will include the capability of receiving analog signals as well as new digital transmission conversion. However he made it clear that it is currently unclear how the technology will be integrated.
When asked if the situation with digital sets could be likened to that of the Betamax video machine, McCullough expressed his faith in current standards stating that they will not allow for the obsoletion of new sets. He went on to say that there will be differMr. Lamb then said that under the circumstances, it is not necessary to feed a digital signal, adding that his channel would continue to operate analog with cameras and other equipment for the near future.
Mr. McCullough added that new sets will include
the capability of receiving analog signals as well as
new digital transmission conversion. However he made
it
clear that it is currently unclear how the
technology will be integrated.
When asked if the situation with digital sets could be likened to that of the Betamax video machine, McCullough expressed his faith in current standards stating that they will not allow for the obsoletion of new sets. He went on to say that there will be differences in picture quality depending on individual display capabilities and the decision will be up to consumers.
Mr. Schmidt's response to this statement was one of agreement. His concern, however, is that standards for connectors between current set top boxes and receivers have not been set, and some cable systems are not going to be set up to pass broadcast signals through their analog boxes. Consumers will be forced to buy additional equipment in order to make new receivers work. He went on to say that "...in many places, cable will be the only solution because there won't be good enough off-air reception to insure that an AB switch alone will work for an outdoor antenna."
Sen. Stevens then asked Mr. Collins if Time Warner's advanced digital set top box would be able to successfully receive and transmit full 1080i to the television set. Collins said that his system has been designed to receive whatever broadcasters transmit, including high definition formats. He then stressed the importance of setting the 1394 firewire standard, explaining that protocols in the firewire will allow the television or set top box to know whether analog or digital signals are available, and choose accordingly, which one to transmit. "It will allow the remote control to be just one remote control and to control both the set top box and the digital set."
When questioned about the affordability of new digital sets, Mr. McCullough, using computer prices as an example, said that consumer electronics, though they may start high, are historically known to deflate rapidly. This, he assured, would be the case with digital/HD television sets.
When asked if broadcasters are prepared to handle must carry, Ms. Burns said that her concern is that if she doesn't get must carry on her digital channel, it won't be seen. "I worry that if my digital signal is not carried through the transition period and HBO, Showtime, and the Disney Channel are all in digital television, it's going to be like watching the movie Titanic on HBO in color, and NBC in black-and-white...I think it's a different argument for local broadcasters and the networks."
When asked whether consumers will be able to
buy one set that handles all signals from both cable
and
Mr. McCullough then said that first generation sets will not have the 1394 firewire nor will they have a port that can be hooked up when the standard is developed. According to him, when these sets were being manufactured to meet the November deadline, there was no set standard so the firewire was simply left out of the production. Those who invest in first gen sets will have to eventually buy equipment that serves the purpose of the firewire.
When asked about the functionality of the AB switch between cable and broadcast channels, Ms. Burns said it is difficult to assure that it will work on all sets in the home. McCullough quickly retorted that this problem can easily be solved with a universal remote that Circuit City will offer. He reminded Burns that people already have systems in their homes that require some manipulation in order to receive, for example, local or satellite signals. To switch back and forth between signals, many use remotes which communicate with the built-in capability of their sets.
On the subject of must carry, Ms. Burns said signal delivery is the issue that cable systems need to address. Her belief is that must carry is necessary in order for her small station to get the eyeballs it needs. Viewers will then be able to make the choice between cable or broadcast.
Concerning broadcasters, she knows of quite a few that use multiplexing and are not using all channels for HDTV at all times. She stated that currently her concern was not whether or not multicasting would be better, but that her station is guaranteed high definition carriage.
Should cable operators be allowed to degrade the HD signal? Says Mr. Collins: "It would be shooting ourselves in the foot to degrade the HD signal because those who invest in HD sets are our best customers. They're the ones willing to pay $7,000 for a set and should be able to count on HD signals being delivered at their full potential."
What if the consumer buys an HD-ready set in New York, then moves to Denver and TCI's set top box degrades the signal so it's not getting through to his display in full HD? Is that fair? Says Collins: "I think TCI won't let that happen. They'll want him to have the best picture he can get."
When asked about plans for datacasting, Mr. Schmidt stated that broadcasters' plans are still fuzzy, but if they decide to provide customers with such a service it will be motivated by their desire to keep up with the competition. Next question: What should the FCC do to approve the transition to digital? Says Schmidt: "It's important to discuss must carry, but over-the-air transmission is also a big problem. Most people at the beginning of the transition will be getting signals over the air and we have to make sure that receiver standards are sufficient to bring through a ghost-free picture. We need the FCC to dictate certain minimum requirements for receivers that assure that people who pay $7,000 dollars for a set and buy an antenna are really going to be able to get a picture wherever they live."(And that is clearly going to be the way that most people in these early-adopter days are going to get their picture...and we have got to make sure that the receiver standards have a sufficiently good noise figure and an adaptive equalizer which is a device that helps get rid of ghosting on the pictures. )
Mr. Collins then said: "I guess I'm kind of amazed this morning to find out that one of the greatest public gifts in American history is not enough. Broadcasters, having received an extra channel for every channel they already had, now feel that everybody; the consumer electronic people, the cable people, etc. has to give them some additional help in order to make things work...I think the roll of the FCC ought to be to keep its eye on the process to encourage everybody to work together...But by and large I think the correct way to have high definition actually happen in this country is to let the marketplace work."
Mr. Lamb then said that the issue of programming is being neglected and taking its place is discussion of better picture alone. Says he: "...our viewers, the people watching this hearing, will be without raw, no-frills information that they've had for the last twenty years in millions of homes throughout the United States. I can't say it any stronger than that." Point taken.
Ms. Burns responded that now that many stations
have gone so far to gear up for the digital/HD
transition, "...there's a possibility that [they] will not be seen
in the early adoption years or that the $7,000 or
$10,000 dollar sets will not allow [them] to be seen via
other options." Her suggestion is that the FCC be a part of
a deadline-setting system that pushes everyone
towards a solution that is good for the public. "I don't see
this as a perk to broadcasters. I see it as the way that
the public is finally going to be able to get digital
local broadcasting."
Mr. McCullough? "We need to ask the broadcasters to take the spectrum that was entrusted to them and deliver the very best picture possible. In addition, we need to take advantage of the FCC rules which were just released and incorporate cable functionality into multi-function devices to make life easier for the customer and give him a reason to convert. And we have to find a way to deliver that signal to them."
"What we haven't talked about here today is that we need to find alternate delivery methods...I'd like to see the government's energy and the FCC's energy devoted to figuring out how we develop more programming and how we develop rapid alternative forms of delivery at low cost for the customer."
Senator Snow then began her line of questioning expressing concern for the consumer: "I would expect that most consumers are not aware of what they can expect down the road to make this conversion one way or the other; either through the purchase of a TV or a converter box and so on, and it could be a very expensive transition. Mr. McCullough, how do you expect to inform your customers about this transition?"
The gist of his reply: Circuit City has spent millions
of dollars on professionals who are trained to do just that.
Part of the education includes offering possible
consumers the opportunity to actually see
the difference in demonstrations by distributors. They will
suddenly comprehend. They have but to witness a game
that
usually would not be shown on television, such as
Ice Hockey, (because the puck is too small to see on
an NTSC set), to understand what they will be gaining
if they buy an HD set. In other words, the education
is in the experience.
Senator Snow replies that the transition will not be that simple because there are certain technical issues that also need to be understood by the consumer, including connector problems and equipment compatability. She then moves on to the subject of tower construction. How many need to be built? Who will build them?
The fact is, it seems there is no real answer to these questions. Guess-timating, Mr. Schmidt suggests approximately 800 need to be built across the country.
We all know the problems surrounding the building of towers. The biggy? It's all new to us, there really aren't many qualified teams, and it's dangerous work. However, as we also know, (and Mr. Schmidt points out), there are many who see a lucrative business in tower building.
Ms. Burns when questioned on the subject adds a new light. It's not just a question of where you're going to put your towers or who's going to construct them, but where you're going to get the steel.
One thing is clear, and that is that the average cost to a small station to make the transition to digital/HD, is in the hundreds of thousands and not all of them have it. Many worry they'll go under if forced to proceed in such a short amount of time.
Turning her attention to Mr. Lamb, Senator Snow asks him what he thinks would ease the transition and his reply is, "No must carry." His view is that it's unconstitional to force this on anyone. He also makes an interesting point about a possible consumer reaction to the transition, stating that when current cable viewers invest even ten more dollars in order to get 40 more stations, that's a big deal to them. They really don't know what they're getting into where digital and HD are concerned. How are we going to say to consumers, "you're going to pay more and get less channels and a better picture." It's going against everything that's been occurring for them since cable became big.
Sen. Snow then finished the session by saying that she was in agreement. People, she believes, will not take to the transition quickly.
The key is that the MPEG-2 decoder chip which
will be found in all digital receivers. If enough of
these chips are ordered from manufacturers, the cost of the
(Continued from Page 5)
digital receiver will decrease for the rollout of DTV worldwide. According to a recent report from DVB, an active market already exists in Europe, the US and around the world for MPEG-2 SDTV chips. SDTV receivers can be modified for HDTV simply by replacing the MPEG -2 SDTV chip-set with and HDTV enabled one. Here we can see how the worldwide consensus to use MPEG-2 for DTV images makes it possible for global manufacturers to market their solutions worldwide.
A Word from the Editor...
Ours is a diverse population with financial possibities unprecedented by most countries. We have the ability to do anything we wish if it's done with forethought. With proper education via hard-hitting advertising campaigns that get straight to the point with imagery designed to reach specific markets, consumers can get on the DTV/HDTV bandwagon with little or no pushing. The interest is there and with proper direction, can be productive for all.
It has been mentioned that those from the many
different industries involved in the DTV/HDTV
production work together, much can be accomplished.
This is a shared risk venture with endless possibilities.
A group of companies representing broadcast and cable networks; television stations; cable and satellite service providers; and the consumer electronics, PC and software industries has announced a draft specification for enhanced television programming. The authors of the specification are CableLabs; CNN; DIRECTV, Inc.; Discovery Communications, Inc.; The Walt Disney Company; Intel Corporation; Microsoft Corporation/WebTV Networks, Inc.; NBC Multimedia, Inc.; Network Computer, Inc. (NCI); NDTC Technology; Public Broadcasting Service (PBS); Sony Corporation; Tribune Company and Warner Bros.
The group, called the Advanced Television Enhancement Forum (ATVEF), has defined protocols for television programming enhanced with data, such as Internet content. The goal is to allow content creators to design enhanced programming that may be delivered over any form of transport (analog or digital TV, cable, or satellite) to all types of broadcast receivers that comply with the proposed specification.
Wink Communications, Inc. announced in late July support for a draft specification for enhanced television programming created by a group of companies representing broadcast and cable networks; cable and satellite service providers; and the consumer electronics, PC and software industries. The group, called the Advanced Television Enhancement Forum (ATVEF), has defined protocols for next-generation television programming enhanced with data, such as Internet content.
Wink Communications offers a simple-to-use, low-cost enhanced television broadcasting system named Wink Enhanced Broadcasting, that adds interactivity and electronic commerce opportunities to traditional television programming and advertising. Wink allows broadcast and cable networks and advertisers to create interactive programming and commercials to which viewers can respond by requesting information or ordering products through a remote control. The Company's Wink Response Network is designed to aggregate these responses and forward them to advertisers. Wink enhancements can provide additional
According to certain broadcast executives, the price to see the new digital television service could be going up due to the fact that major television networks and cable TV company Tele-Communications Inc. are discussing deals in which TCI's cable systems would charge subscribers an additional fee for the new format, which is set for introduction this fall.
Although major details remain unresolved in the talks, the discussions suggest that broadcasts could wind up as "premium" service on some cable systems, with subscribers having the option of paying $10 or $12 per month more to receive it.
However, the idea of charging extra for broadcasters' HDTV shows drew criticism from some. Noting that TV stations were given free slices of the airwaves to offer digital broadcasts to the public, Ken Johnson, a spokesman for House telecommunications subcommittee chairman W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-La.), said: "It wasn't the intent of Congress to give away the spectrum for HDTV only to have consumers charged for the privilege of watching it."
Following its successful national satellite broadcast
of high definition television (HDTV) programming
in June, Unity Motion took its show on the road and
demonstrated HDTV at select minor league baseball
stadiums in July.
Unity Motion conducted their demonstrations from the time gates opened until they closed on game days.
The baseball stadium broadcasts were the next step in Unity Motion's plan to bring HDTV to America. On June 23, Unity Motion became the first company to broadcast HDTV signals nationally via satellite. This summer, Unity Motion is broadcasting a variety of high definition programming in both progressive and interlaced format. Simultaneously, Unity Motion is selling high definition television viewing equipment through high-end home theater dealers.
This all-format, all-scan system is the first high definition distribution system of its kind in the United States, displaying high definition programs via satellite to a national subscriber base. Beginning Sept. 20, Unity Motion will broadcast two channels of 24 hours a day.
More About Unity Motion...
Those who viewed the first nationwide satellite broadcast of high definition television (HDTV) programming in late June, gave the technology rave reviews and provided important feedback on how it may be received once on the market.
On the evenings of June 23, 24, and 25, Unity Motion successfully made nationwide satellite broadcasts of general entertainment, sports, and movie programming, and demonstrated it has developed a reliable HDTV delivery system able to transmit signals from any programmer to a national audience equipped to receive and view progressive and interlaced signals.
The broadcasts were viewed at a number of locations across the country. One third of the guests at a large VIP viewing event in Seattle on June 23 were asked a series of questions to scientifically gauge their opinion of high definition television. All survey results were posted on Unity Motion's web site.
A new multi-client report by MRG Inc. (Multimedia Research Group) highlights the DTV plans for the top 150 U.S. stations, reaching over 52% of U.S. TV households. In the conversion to the new DTV standard, stations are considering how to use the various service capabilities available. The options include: HDTV (High Definition TV), SDTV (Standard Definition TV), Multi-channel (or Multi-casting), and Data-casting.
The report, DTV Broadcasters' Strategy, ROI, and Market Analysis, shows that networks have already chosen their DTV formats, but the network affiliate stations have greater flexibility to use DTV's various services. How stations will use this flexibility to their competitive advantage directly impacts decisions about production, advertising, and capital budgets.
Station executives also discuss their greatest DTV-related requirements for services and products over the next three years. The detailed analysis of costs, revenues, and ROI (Return On Investment) for DTV programming helps further clarify where capital budgets will be used long-term.
DTV Broadcasters' Strategy, ROI, and Market Analysis -- HDTV, SDTV, Multi-channel, and Data-casting 1998-2006 is available in both English and Japanese versions for $8,000.00 each, or $1,995.00 per section. It contains 170 pages and over 60 tables, charts, and illustrations.
Those interested in this report may contact Marc
Leon-Guerrero at info@mrgco.com or 408-524-9769 for
additional information.
According to new strategic research from Frost & Sullivan (www.frost.com), U.S. Consumer Television Markets, product replacement is the driving force behind market growth, prompted by revolutionary technologies.
Frost and Sullivan's latest study discusses in
great detail the impact that the HDTV standard will
have on this market. It is made apparent in the report
that while there will be a transition to digital, it is
doubtful that it will happen overnight. This is because "an
analog TV will always work with cable, satellite
dishes, DVD and VCRs" according to Frost & Sullivan
ana
New reports reveal that with the advent of digital and on-demand television, Electronic Program Guides (EPGs) will become the critical promotional and branding vehicle in television broadcasting.
EPGs in the television domain will determine which channels are viewed the most and which can successfully target niche audiences.
Phillips Market Intelligence Services offers a 220 page report titled Electronic Programming Guides: The Gateway to On-demand Television.
This report provides numerous figures and tables and offers insight into EPG growth opportunities, technologies, regulatory and standards issues, as well as worldwide forecasts for deployment up to 2005.
To obtain a copy of this report, contact Tandy Williams, Director of Client Services at 301.340.7788, x5410 or via e-mail at twilliams@phillips.com.
According to a new report from Communications Industry Researchers, Inc. (CIR), Digital Television (DTV) will be a major driver for fiber-rich local network architectures and that will boost the bottom line of the leading telecom equipment vendors.
The report titled "The New Television 2: Digital Television, HDTV, and the Future of Digital Video Networks" shows that high definition televsion is still very much a speculative technology, but the success of standard definition digital television is assured, because the transition from analog to digital television (SDTV) will be mandated in many countries, led by the United States. While much attention has been given to the fact that this will mean an entirely new generation of televisions and settop boxes, CIR believes DTV will also require a complete refurbishing of the cable television industry's infrastructure with hybrid fiber coax (HFC) networks.
The report predicts that the advent of DTV will spur the telephone companies to try their hand once more at becoming television distribution businesses, and this will mean that the telcos will speed up their deployment of digital access technologies, such as ADSL and fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC). As a result, equipment vendors specializing in such areas may experience a "boom market" in the next five years.
Among the many new types of digital consumer electronics products introduced in late 1997 and early 1998, DVD players and PC/TV combinations have captured the highest consumer awareness, although consumers indicated that they were most interested in purchasing digital televisions (HDTVs), DVD players, and NetTVs within the next twelve months, according to a new survey report published by International Data Corporation (IDC).
By contrast, consumers were much less aware or ready to purchase products such as Internet smart handheld devices, Internet screen phones, and on-line gaming consoles. NetTVs fell squarely in the middle of the range of market awareness and intent to purchase, with 26 percent of U.S. households stating they are familiar with the concept and seven percent stating they were likely to purchase one in the next 12 months.
But mass awareness and acceptance are not necessarily required for products to be successful. Internet screen phones and Internet smart handheld devices are shipping well over a million units per year.
This new study...which examines cross-product
consumer awareness, interest, and the intent to
purchase old and new types of digital consumer
electronics products...also revealed there is a significant and
growing number of multiple device households. With
over 54 percent of homes running 3+ televisions, and
with more than 12 percent running 2+ PCs, IDC
believes there is a tremendous opportunity to provide
home networking solutions if vendors can pick the right
combination of performance, features, and ease-of-use.
Comark is also working with the Japanese broadcasting company NHK to shoot World Cup matches in HDTV using their Hi-Vision cameras that are being transmitted across the Atlantic Ocean via satellite.
According to a recently published survey by SCRI International, Inc., over four in ten broadcast and production facilities (42.6%) have already purchased and/or expect to purchase H/DTV Production / Broadcast equipment by the year 2000.
With a third of respondents still unsure as to when they might purchase, the actual purchase numbers are likely to be even higher.
The survey is conducted on SCRI's website (www.scri.com) among broadcast station and professional video facility engineers, worldwide. The current results are part of the 1998 Mid-Year Industry Trends Report.
Telefonica and Sogecable, respectively the main shareholders in Via Digital and Canal Satelite Digital, the two digital satellite television platforms in Spain, have reached an agreement on their intentions to develop a joint platform which will begin operations as soon as possible.
As a result of this agreement in principle, both companies have begun the judicial, financial and commercial work needed to make this goal possible, in order to benefit their clients, suppliers and shareholders. The agreement, established on a parity basis, will be submitted to the appropriate authorities and its contractual terms should be completed by September 30 of this year, without prejudice to the requirements those authorities may establish.
In addition, the report notes that with television becoming part of the digital mainstream, the fiberization of access networks can be expected to grow rapidly and that this is, in fact, already happening. The cable companies' strong commitment to deploying HFC networks is, of course, well known. Less well known is the degree to which even xDSL technologies are dependent on fiber. In some cases, ADSL has been deployed from a remote fiber hub. And in its most evolved form, xDSL will take the form of VDSL, with short copper drops from small fiber hubs, making VDSL the first standardized FTTC architecture.
This report discusses in depth how xDSL, HFC, FTTC and other related technologies are being adapted to meet the needs of high quality video transmission for the coming DTV era. However, the impact that DTV will make on the information infrastructure is not the only topic covered in depth in the report. The report also contains discussions of how the major industrialized nations are making their transformation to DTV and HDTV; detailed profiles of the DTV/HDTV strategies of the leading cable companies, satellite companies, telephone companies, terrestrial broadcasters and other service providers, as well as of those vendors who make equipment for these service providers; and ten-year forecasts of global DTV/HDTV equipment sales, broken down by product type and service provider type. Equipment forecasts cover both settops and other customer premises equipment, as well as the network equipment used by the service providers themselves.
The high definition television (HDTV) broadcast of the 1998 World Cup soccer tournament in France was made possible in part by technology developed at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and distributed by the Digital Broadcasting Business America division of Mitsubishi Electric America Inc.
The Mitsubishi Electric MH-1000 HDTV codecs are part of a production package provided by
Comark Digital Services to broadcast World Cup '98
soccer matches in Brazil. The MH-1000E encoder is being
used in the international broadcasting center in Paris
and initial support in its operation was provided by
a Mitsubishi Electric engineer. After compression,
the HDTV signal is sent via satellite to San Paulo,
Brazil and feeds to a digital UHF transmitter for
over-the-air transmission to several viewing sites in the
city. Mitsubishi MH-1000D decoders are also being
used
The United States entered into separate agreements with Mexico and Canada that remove a regulatory obstacle for stations in Los Angeles, New York and other top markets to air higher quality digital broadcasts.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Bill Kennard announced the agreements recently. Five Los Angeles TV stations are affected under a memorandum of understanding Kennard signed Thursday with Mexico's Secretariat of Communications and Transportation.
And, 17 stations in New York, Boston, Chicago and Detroit are covered under a series of agreements the FCC has made with Canada over the last few weeks.
Before broadcasting in digital, these border stations needed an agreement with Mexican and Canadian regulators that their signals would not interfere with broadcasts in those countries.
The FCC said the agreement will permit the U.S. stations to meet the commission's deadlines for beginning digital broadcasts.
In Los Angeles, KABC-TV, KTLA-TV and KNBC-TV plan to start their digital
broadcasts in November. KCBS-TV and KTTV-TV are required by the FCC to begin on May 1, 1999.
The 17 stations covered under the Canadian agreements are slated to begin airing some digital broadcasts this fall and on May 1, 1999. A list of these stations was not immediately available from the FCC.
Additional agreements, however, will be necessary
to cover other U.S. stations on the Canadian border
which will begin airing digital TV at a later date, FCC
officials said.
As part of this MOU, the companies will work to develop and promote new enhanced televisions (eTVs), which include an electronic program guide and support for interactive television programs. Microsoft will provide HTML-rendering technologies based on the Microsoft Windows CE operating system for use in these eTVs. The new eTVs will provide consumers with an integrated TV receiver, in both analog and digital versions, that provides access to the types of interactivity only available today through set-top boxes.
Also, as part of the MOU, Thomson will license and sell WebTV set-top boxes under its RCA brand in the United States and the Thomson brand in Europe.
In support of these efforts, Microsoft and Thomson plan to collaborate on products and services related to the future of television with a common U.S.-based team. One focus of this effort will be the development of products and services for digital television that combine WebTV technologies with Thomson technologies for satellite and cable operators.
The French Government agreed recently to sell as much as 30 percent of Thomson Multimedia, one of Europe's largest consumer electronics makers, to industrial partners including the Microsoft Corporation, which is expected to use the investment to expand its push into delivering Internet services via television.
The Government said that Microsoft and the DirecTV unit of the Hughes Electronics Corporation, which is part of General Motors, along with the NEC Corporation of Japan and Alcatel S.A. of France, would each be allowed to buy 7.5 percent of the state-owned Thomson Multimedia, which has been losing money for years. The financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.
DVD Gets Down To Business
Sonic Solutions announced the widespread use of its DVD production systems to prepare DVD-based training, sales presentations, promotions, and other industrial content for companies such as Philips, General Motors, Steelcase, Sea World, Mattel, McGraw-Hill Medical, and dozens of others who are taking advantage of the qualityand flexibility of DVD for their corporate video productions.
The first system designed specifically for corporate applications, Sonic's DesktopDVD System is the leading system for corporate DVD production.
Microsoft Corp. and Thomson Multimedia announced recently they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop and promote interactive and enhanced television products and services, and to accelerate the adoption of digital television globally.
As a part of this relationship Microsoft proposes to
take a 7.5 percent interest in Thomson Multimedia and
one seat on the Thomson board of directors, and also
sit on a newly formed strategic committee of
Thomson multimedia. In parallel, NEC, Alcatel and
DIRECTV Inc.
Miller Freeman, Inc., a leading producer of trade shows in the U.S., announced in mid-July, that the 2nd Annual Digital Video Conference & Exposition will be held October 13-16 at the Pasadena Center in Pasadena, California.
The Digital Video Conference & Exposition is a targeted technical conference and product exposition focusing on the synergy of art and science in digital video production technology. With the sponsorship of industry leaders such as Sun Microsystems and Digital Video Magazine, the DV Expo will draw over 3,000 digital video professionals from all over the world for this event.
Over 50 technical and design conference sessions ranging from beginning to advanced level will cover topics significant to the business and art of digital video production. Session topics include: storyboarding and visual pre-production, animation and video for the web, video compression, editing, creating special effects, transitioning to HDTV, business and legal issues, and much more. Cutting-edge technologies will be explored and evaluated, and case-studies of several successful digital video productions will be presented.
Television by Design (TVBD) recently announced the completion of their first HDTV graphics project for KRON in San Francisco. The project marks the first in what promises to be a steady flow of requests from clients converting to DTV in the coming months.
In addition to announcing the 'KRON DIGITAL Clearly Better Television' slogan, the animation features an arrangement of four NTSC 720x486 clips of San Francisco scenes used at full resolution within the larger HDTV composition. Spanning four across, the scenes present a dramatic visual size comparison between the two formats. The four scenes also serve as a representation of the multi-channel possibilities available through DTV.
WNET Moves To Digital HD
Thirteen/WNET has taken a step toward introducing full digital video and audio production with the acquisition of Sony's HDVS (High Definition Video System) production system (including the new HDCAM recording format) and Sony Digital Betacam cameras, VTRs, switchers, editors and mixers for state-of-the-art edit suites and studios in Thirteen/WNET's new broadcast facility in New York. The investment positions Thirteen/WNET as a PBS leader for DTV programming and as one of the few HDTV broadcast facilities in the country.
When the station is not using the edit suite for its own productions, it will make the facility available to other public television stations.
Tele Danmark PPV
Tele Danmark has selected the digital video Movie System from SeaChange International, Inc. to anchor its 15-channel cable television pay-per-view service, which will offer feature-length movies to 765,000 subscribers throughout Denmark. This is the first Movie System installation to meet the emerging DVB (digital video broadcasting) standard, and is also SeaChange's first installed system for Copenhagen-based Tele Danmark, an international telecommunications company.
The SeaChange Movie System is an MPEG-2 video server solution that television operators
worldwide are using in support of diverse video output
formats including analog, serial digital and now DVB, a
cable and broadcast standard for multiplexed digital
video transport streams. With the DVB-compliant
Movie
To receive a catalog on the Digital Video Conference
& Exposition, please call 800-789-2223 or visit DV
Expo on the web at www.dvexpo.com. For more
information on the Media Masters Awards, contact DV Magazine
at www.dv.com or write to DV Media Masters Awards, 411 Borel Avenue, Suite 100, San Mateo, CA 94402.
KTVU-Oakland and WSB, both owned by Cox Broadcasting Inc., are two of the most recent television stations to purchase NDS's high definition encoding system. The encoder contracts are of the first awarded to NDS by a Cox Broadcasting television station. The high definition encoders will be delivered to KTVU and WSB in time to meet their targeted November on air dates. The complete encoding systems include the NDS E5810 HDTV encoder, StreamServer PCpro management system, and a microwave DS-3 interface for the Studio Transmitter Link (STL).
Both KTVU and WSB will integrate the NDS
equipment into their studio operations to broadcast a 720p/60
high definition signal beginning November 1.
The HDTV satellite transmissions were accessed again at Napa, demodulated and decoded into HDTV format using the vendor's integrated receiver/decoder and displayed on a high definition television monitor. PanAmSat is also providing bit error rate analysis to measure HDTV transmission quality.
The satellite transmissions complied with MPEG-2/DVB, the latest international video standard for compressed digital video services.
The HDTV satellite transmissions were accessed again at Napa, demodulated and decoded into HDTV format using the vendor's integrated receiver/decoder and displayed on a high definition television monitor. PanAmSat is also providing bit error rate analysis to measure HDTV transmission quality.
According to a recent magazine story, Japanese digital TV broadcaster DirecTV is losing customers to its rival SkyPerfecTV, causing industry analysts to worry about DirecTV's competitive edge.
Some analysts believe the weak customer response could mean that neither of the digital pay-TV platforms will be successful in Japan, where analog satellite services are prospering and have already penetrated 11 million households.
DirecTV, which is partly owned by Hughes Electronics Corp. of the United States, launched a multi-channel pay-TV service with much fanfare in December last year in Japan, more than a year after rival SkyPerfecTV.
But industry circles say customer response to DirecTV's service has been slow and has fallen since May, when Rupert Murdoch's Sky Broadcasting and Japan's PerfecTV merged to create SkyPerfecTV.
DirecTV has promised to give free tuners and dishes to about 100,000 subscribers of its partner satellite broadcaster SkyPort, which will terminate its analog service at the end of September.
The Japanese monthly magazine "Foresight" reported in its June issue that about 30,000 to 40,000 viewers who were given free DirecTV tuners and dish sets chose instead to join SkyPerfecTV by purchasing hardware costing nearly 60,000 yen.
SkyPort and DirecTV declined to confirm the figures given in the magazine.
Israel's Digital Cable
Harmonic Lightwaves, Inc. announced in late July that Golden Channels and Co., Israel's largest cable television operator, has chosen Harmonic's TRANsend digital headend to deliver digitally-based video and data services to its 420,000 subscribers throughout Israel.
Golden Channels is currently upgrading its nationwide network as part of its ambitious to provide subscribers with an array of interactive services. Initially the upgrade will allow the delivery of more channels with higher-quality pictures, with high-speed Internet access, Near-Video On Demand (NVOD), Electronic Program Guides (EPG), home shopping, home banking and other advanced services to follow shortly.
In mid-July, PanAmSat Corporation convened more than a dozen top broadcasters and the leading developers of high definition television (HDTV) technology in a live demonstration of multiple HDTV systems via satellite. During the two-day forum, HDTV vendors conducted tests of their HDTV systems from PanAmSat's Napa teleport over the PAS-2 Pacific Ocean Region satellite. Broadcasters and programmers viewing the HDTV demonstrations included CBS, Disney, HBO, NBC, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Turner Broadcasting, Univision and Viacom.
HDTV vendors conducting system demonstrations were Mitsubishi-Tektronix, NDS, NEC, Sony,
Tiernan and Thompson. Each demo began with high
definition source material at a 1.5 gigabit per second
data rate. Using the vendor's HDTV system, the
material was encoded into a post production quality video
signal at 45 megabits per second or
distribution-quality video signal at 19.3 megabits per second. The
video was then uplinked from the Napa facility to PanAmSat's PAS-2 satellite in either the 1080I or
720P high definition formats. The satellite
transmissions complied with MPEG-2/DVB, the latest
international video standard for compressed digital video services.
Mark Booth, Chief Executive of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc the UK-based pay-television broadcasting group, announced at the end of July that Sky's Digital Satellite service will be launched to new customers on October 1st.
This will ensure that Sky is the first company to launch digital television services and will benefit from the key Christmas selling season. Existing Sky customers will be offered the opportunity to upgrade from analog to digital services at an earlier date.
Sky also unveiled a series of deals and initiatives to enable it to derive maximum advantage from the digital age. These cover the key aspects of the Sky Digital proposition: the hardware, the programming and the packaging of channels.
Matsushita recently put the first digital-television sets on sale in U.S. electronics stores, and the first American to buy was Sandor Hasznos of Denver, CO who purchased the set, due for delivery the second week of August, at Ultimate Electronics, Inc. Matsushita's North American subsidiary has just started shipping its Panasonic-branded model with a 56-inch, high- definition, cinema-style wide screen, from its factory in Tijuana, Mexico. The sets can sell for $5,500 to $6,000.
Though Panasonic is the first to get a digital TV out of the lab and the factory, the set by itself can't pick up the digital signals that stations will begin to transmit in November. The company is selling a digital receiver, or set- top box, separately. The first of which will go on sale in October, with an expected price between $1,400 and $1,700, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Most other manufacturers have said they will roll out digital TVs this fall, but none has given a firm shipping date.
By November, Panasonic also intends to sell a $1,700, 32- inch model and a $3,000, 36-inch model. Both will be traditional, tube-based TVs, while the 56-inch model is a projection system, the newspaper said.
Manufacturers and retailers forecast sales of
only 10,000 or so digital TVs by the end of the year, a
tiny drop among the 23 million TVs U.S. consumers
will buy this year.
Vol 13, No 1
On July 23, Faroudja, Inc. announced revenues of $3,353,000 and a net loss of $754,000, or $0.06 per share on 12.1 million diluted shares for the second quarter ended June 30, 1998. For the second quarter of 1997, Faroudja posted revenues of $4,279,000 and net income of $285,000 or $0.03 per share on 9.3 million diluted shares.
For the six months ended June 30, 1998, Faroudja recorded revenues of $6,711,000 and a net loss of $746,000, or $0.06 per share on 12.1 million diluted shares. For the comparable period last year, the Company reported revenues of $7,864,000 and net income of $534,000, or $0.06 per share on 9.2 million diluted shares.
More on Faroudja...
Yves Faroudja, founder and chief technical officer of Faroudja, Inc., received the prestigious Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at the Engineering Awards Presentation in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The Engineering Emmy was given to Faroudja for the development of key patents in the arena of NTSC processing, encoding, decoding, enhancement and noise reduction. Mr. Faroudja was instrumental in developing the Sony U-matic, S-VHS and Hi-8 video recorders, and the product applications of his inventions enjoy wide recognition by broadcasters and production houses.
EchoStar Demonstrates HDTV Broadcast Technology
At the Nashville Satellite Trade Show held in July, Consumer Electronics retailers were able to witness a live HDTV satellite broadcast demonstration during the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association's (SBCA) retail convention. EchoStar broadcasted high-definition television programming at the DISH Network(TM) booth at the SBCA trade show onto a 16:9-ratio HDTV screen. This HDTV channel is currently broadcast on a 7 x 24 H basis.
Unlike other DBS providers, EchoStar will continue to offer its high-definition format on the high-powered, convenient 18-inch dish. In anticipation of broadcasting HDTV formats, EchoStar has developed a separate, next-generation set-top box that can receive HD satellite programming.
Tiernan Communications, Inc. has been selected to provide high-performance digital encoders and decoders that will enable a major US television network to meet their 'on-air' target for delivery of 720p HDTV services in November 1998.
Tiernan's THE-1 Modular DTV Encoders process both HDTV and SDTV services. The TDR6 Modular IRD can be configured to support HDTV and SDTV services and can be operated in either satellite or terrestrial networks. The modular design of Tiernan products enables them to be configured in a 'Plug-and-Play' manner to provide the required video, audio and data services. As a result, the initial investment is protected and the cost of meeting future requirements is minimized.
Tiernan Communications has also announced that its Encoders and Decoders, supporting both 1080i and 480p, will be ready in time for the scheduled on-air date beginning November 1, 1998.
From In July the Delaware Valley was given the opportunity to preview the future of digital as the DTV Express, a 66-foot, 18-wheel road show featuring the latest digital television equipmen, paid its only visit to Philadelphia on the Drexel University campus.
The vehicle features DTV demonstrations and scenarios of the living room of tomorrow, the classroom of the future and a digital television station. Philadelphia was the ninth stop on a 40-city national tour.
Questions that will be answered at the show include:
What will DTV mean to the average Delaware Valley viewer? What impact will DTV have on education?
How soon can the viewer expect DTV? Will the
viewer be able to receive DTV on their current TV or will
they need special equipment? What is the reaction to
digital television of those touring the DTV Express?
Vol 13, No 1
For the quarter, revenues increased at DirecTV by 42.5% to $401.5 million from $281.7 million in the second quarter of 1997. The increase resulted from continued strong subscriber growth and average monthly revenue per subscriber, as well as low subscriber churn rates. Domestic DIRECTV propelled this growth with quarterly revenues of $368 million, a 49% increase over last year's second quarter revenues of $247 million. With 227,000 net new subscribers in the second quarter, total DIRECTV subscribers grew to 3,755,000 in the United States as of June 30, 1998. The Company's Latin American DIRECTV subsidiary, Galaxy Latin America (GLA), had second quarter revenues of $32 million compared with $13 million in 1997. With the addition of 49,000 net new subscribers in the second quarter, total DIRECTV subscribers in Latin America were 387,000 as of June 30, 1998. In addition, DIRECTV Japan(TM), a 32% owned equity affiliate, had a total of 140,000 subscribers by the end of the second quarter.
The segment operating loss in the quarter was $40.2 million compared with an operating loss of $47.9 million in the second quarter of 1997. The lower operating loss in 1998 was principally due to increased subscriber revenues that more than offset higher sales and marketing expenditures. The second quarter 1998 operating loss for the domestic DIRECTV business was $7 million compared with $21 million last year, and GLA's second quarter operating loss was $32 million compared with $33 million last year.
In mid-July, the Ortel Corporation announced its system solution for the transmission of direct broadcast satellite (DBS) services in multiple dwelling units (MDUs)Ortel's LightLink.
Ortel's LightLink incorporates linear fiberoptic links into a highly flexible architecture that offers a simple, cost-effective method to provide DBS services to a large number of subscribers from a single antenna. In addition, Ortel's LightLink family of products enables both satellite and local channel signals to be transmitted over fiber from the antenna site, eliminating the need for a coax overlay for "off-air" channels.
Alternative fiberoptic MDU solutions currently offer limited flexibility in their architecture and installation design. Ortel's LightLink provides its customers with the option to purchase a system solution or simply the core fiberoptic products.
ers with the option to purchase a system solution or simply the core fiberoptic products.
For those customers with installation experience and access to Ortel qualified ancillary equipment, they may find it more cost-effective to simply buy Ortel fiberoptic products. For those customers who desire a system solution, Ortel can provide it, with a detailed installation guide.
Beginning this month, Digital Cable from Comcast will be offered to Comcast subscribers in parts of Middlesex, Union, and Essex counties. Innovations offered by fiber-optic technology and Digital Cable from Comcast include over 150 digital and analog channels with sharper video images, CD-quality audio and a host of other services such as an on-screen Interactive Program Guide; 40 commercial-free music channels in a variety of formats; and a wide array of premium and Comcast Home Theater pay per view options.
Comcast, the fourth largest cable operator in the nation, and the largest in the state of New Jersey can offer digital television service because its upgraded cable distribution system includes advanced fiber-optic technology. Comcast has deployed hundreds of miles of fiber optic cable throughout central and northern New Jersey.
According to company execs, those who choose Digital Cable from Comcast will pay only a few dollars more each month than they pay for their current premium cable package. No expensive equipment...such as a satellite dish...must be purchased up-front. The signal is fully compatible with current analog television sets.
Needs of Consumers
Sharp Electronics Corporation, announced in early
July the creation of a new sales and marketing group,
the Digital Products Division (DPD). DPD, which is
comprised of product planning, marketing and sales,
will focus on future digital consumer electronics
products, including the further development of Sharp's
digital television products (DTV) for the U.S. market. The
first of these DTV products will be branded under the
innovative, technologically advanced SharpVision line.
DPD was formed by merging key members of the Consumer Electronics Group's Marketing
Department, the Multimedia Development Center and
the SharpVision Consumer Sales Departments. DPD, which will be a part of the Consumer
Electronics Group (CEG), will be headed by Bob Scaglione,
Associate Vice President, who will report to Doug Koshima, Executive Vice President, CEG.
SharpVision DTV products, including the TU-DTV1000 DTV decoder and the newly announced 64-LHP5000 rear projection HDTV set, will be distributed to regional retailers and audio/video specialist dealers nationwide. Purchasers of SharpVision products will have access to a high level of customer service and benefits, including custom design and in-home installation (from authorized SharpVision dealers). In addition, the SharpVision salesforce will provide tailored training to retailers and dealers, and a dedicated toll-free number for consumer inquiries will be established shortly.
The Open House presentation of post-production
solutions and HDTV workflow, including
demonstrations of film-to-HD data transfer via the Spirit DataCine,
HD editing and compositing with Discreet Logic's fire
and inferno, and a comparison of 1080i and
720p, covers the entire realm of film, video,
animation, visual effects production and post-production.
The International Teleproduction Society (ITS) recently honored Panasonic Broadcast & Digital Systems Company (Secaucus, N.J.) with its 1998 Monitor Award for Special Achievement in Engineering Excellence for the development of the D-5 High Definition (HD) recorder.
The ITS is the prestigious trade association of the worldwide professional community of businesses providing creative and technical services in pictures and sound.
The D-5 HD Recorder was the industry's first full-bandwidth high-definition recording system. Panasonic is the sole recipient of the 1998 Engineering Excellence Award.
The D-5 format combines advanced intra-field 4:1 compression with high-density recording technology to produce 8-bit or 10-bit HD digital recordings on compact 1/2-inch cassette tapes. Panasonic offers a family of D-5 HD recorders: the switchable AJ-HD2700 1080I/720P VTR; the AJ-HD2000 1080I VTR; the portable AJ-HD2200 1080I VTR; and a two-piece system consisting of an external AJ-HDP500 high-definition processor connected to the standard AJ-D580 D-5 recorder.
More on Panasonic...
Complete Post Selects Panasonic D-5 HDTV System for Its High Definition Editing Panasonic Broadcast & Digital Systems Company (PBDSC) announced recently a sale to Complete Post, Inc., a Hollywood, CA post production facility, for the purchase of a complete Panasonic HDTV post production editing and effects system.
Complete Post will purchase six AJ-HD2700 1080 Interlace/720 Progressive switchable D-5 High Definition VTRs with AJ-DFC2000 480P down converters; an AV-HS3100 1080I post production switcher (complete with Digital Video Effects, Keyer, Chroma Keyer, Shadow Generator, Frame Memory Card, 525I/625I board and analog output options; one AT-H3015W 30" master HD monitor, and three versatile DT-M3050W 30" 16:9 multi-format monitors.
Wiztec Solutions Ltd., a leading provider of Subscriber Management Systems (SMS) for pay television and convergence companies, announced recently that it had signed a multi million dollar contract with British Digital Broadcasting (BDB) to provide its WIZARD Subscriber Management and Billing System to support all customer care and billing services for the upcoming launch of BDB's Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) services in the last quarter of this year.
In addition, Wiztec Solutions also announced that it has signed an agreement to provide the WIZARD system to an existing multi-national Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) operator. This second agreement includes the delivery of the WIZARD system for the customer care and billing services for all subscribers of this operator in more than 5 different countries of operation. Revenues from this project are expected to exceed 2 million dollars over a three year period.
Discreet Logic, The Tape House Companies and
Silicon Graphics recently teamed up to hold a high
definition (HD) Open House in New York.
TARGA HD makes it possible for PC-based media servers to acquire multi-channel video and audio in a wide range of compressed and uncompressed formats and simultaneously distribute that content scaled to a variety of client formats and target
bandwidths. Workstations will benefit from TARGA HD's processing power in non-linear editing, compositing, paint, and effects applications.
During a recent live online question and answer session hosted by Unity Motion, approximately 24,000 people logged onto the company's Web site to learn about high definition television (HDTV). Those interested asked questions of a panel of experts consisting of Unity Motion's chief of special operations, 3+Maurice Weilbacher; Unity Motion's chief technical officer, Yoshi Asahi; and Turner Engineering president, John Turner.
Questions from site visitors ranged from wanting to know about technical aspects of HDTV to seeking information on the kinds of programming Unity Motion will be broadcasting when it moves to 24 hour service this fall.
Interestingly, the Q & A was cut short when lightning struck the building at Washington University in St. Louis that houses the Internet server used by Unity Motion. However, the session was so successful that Unity Motion plans to hold similar live, on-line Q & A sessions on its Web site in the future.
Text of the Q & A is available on Unity Motion's Web site and can be accessed by going to the site and clicking "Q & A Archives." The Web site address is www.unitymotion.com.
American International Industries Inc. (formerly Energy Drilling Industries Inc.) announced in late July that it is acquiring Electronic Pictures California Inc. (EPC). EPC, a California corporation, will capitalize on the emerging market for high definition television (HDTV) programs.
EPC's plans are to specialize in the conversion of 35mm film to HDTV as well as the production of original HDTV documentaries and programs. Currently, EPC is working in conjunction with Cinema Research Corporation to develop a CRC HDTV production department. EPC is engaged in discussions with a number of documentary production companies about joint productions and is developing programs for NHK and other broadcasters.
Tiernan Communications confirmed its leadership in HDTV encoders and decoders at the demonstration of High Definition Television Technology, hosted recently by PanAmSat at their Napa teleport. The event showcased encoding and decoding equipment from six companies, operating with various modulation schemes (QPSK, 8PSK and 16 QAM) as applied to satellite distribution of HD signals.
Tiernan successfully demonstrated its equipment with QPSK at rates of 45 mbps and 19.39 mbps. Additionally, 16 QAM was demonstrated with two carriers side-by-side on one transponder at 19.39 mbps. Both signals were brought up, and the carrier levels were then reduced to show the effects on demodulation. The Tiernan THE1 Encoder and TDR6 Decoder/Receiver provided the most stable picture right down to
threshold. Unlike some rival products, the THE1 Encoder and TDR6 Decoder have been specifically designed for HD with a pathway for support of SDTV through the most advanced "plug-and-play" architecture.
Tiernan's THE1 Modular DTV Encoders process
both HDTV and SDTV services. The TDR6 modular
Integrated Decoder/Receiver (IRD) can be configured
to support HDTV and SDTV services, and can be operated in either satellite or terrestrial networks.
The modular design of Tiernan products enables them
to be configured in a "plug-and-play" manner to
provide the required video, audio and data services. As a
result, broadcasters' investments are protected and
the cost of meeting future requirements is
minimized. Further, Tiernan Encoders and IRDs are the
smallest and lightest weight such products on the market.
Their compact design allows them to fit into the
most crowded studio or mobile environments, while
their light weight makes them easy to handle and
install and reduces the gross weight of mobile systems.
Early this summer, "Shooters, Post & Transfer" will put Philadelphia on the forefront of high definition television (HDTV) production. By installing a digital/High Definition TV editing suite to work in concert with a film transfer system it acquired last year, Shooters gains the ability to produce high definition television programming and commercials. The company's level of capability will then be matched in just a handful of cities throughout the U.S.
The systems' technical abilities...online, non-linear, noncompressed digital and High Definition TV editing...enable an editor to put together images and create effects more quickly, more accurately, and more flexibly than any other technology.
The soon-to-be-installed system was chosen as Product of the Year in 1997 by the readers of Post magazine, a leading publication in the television industry.
Acquiring the new editing system is the latest among technological leaps Shooters has taken. Just about a year ago, the company boosted the area's digital television capability by installing a sophisticated all-digital film transfer suite, where film can be prepared for digital/High Definition TV broadcast. The suite's equipment includes a "telecine" or film scanner and a "color corrector" (which does what its name implies), but the Shooters models feature a technical level that's matched in few places in the U.S.
General Instrument Corporation recently reported record earnings per share on strong earnings growth for the second quarter, which ended on June 30, 1998. EPS grew 58% year over year to $0.19 (per diluted share) in this year's second quarter from $0.12 (per pro forma share before restructuring charges) in the second quarter of 1997. Net income for the second quarter was $30 million, compared to pro forma net income before restructuring charges of $17.6 million for the second quarter of 1997.
Operating income was $49.4 million in the
second quarter, compared to pro forma operating income
before restructuring charges of $32.2 million for the
same period last year. Operating margin of 10.1% in the
sec
ond quarter of 1998 compared to 7.1% excluding restructuring charges in last year's second quarter.
Sales were $489 million for the quarter, compared to $450 million in the second quarter of 1997. The sales increase reflects more than a tripling in digital cable TV revenues, partially offset by continued weakness in sales of private/commercial satellite products and the expected decline in basic analog product revenues.
Orders for the second quarter of 1998 totaled a record $550 million, up from $493 million in the second quarter of 1997 and $508 million in the first quarter of 1998. The Company's backlog on June 30, 1998 stood at $595 million, compared to $508 million a year ago. Cash generated from GI's operating activities during the quarter exceeded $100 million.
TV revenues, partially offset by continued weakness in sales of private/commercial satellite products and the expected decline in basic analog product revenues.
Orders for the second quarter of 1998 totaled a record $550 million, up from $493 million in the second quarter of 1997 and $508 million in the first quarter of 1998. The Company's backlog on June 30, 1998 stood at $595 million, compared to $508 million a year ago. Cash generated from GI's operating activities during the quarter exceeded $100 million.
A growing number of facilities are investing their HDTV future in Discreet Logic's award-winning advanced editing and effects systems, Fire and Inferno. Casablanca Finish, CBS Television, Charlex, Crawford Digital, GTN, The Tape House Companies, Toy Box, Nice Shoes, Video Post & Transfer, and Shooters are just a few of the high-end US facilities that have recently purchased combinations of Inferno and Fire to handle current NTSC jobs and the increasing demand for HDTV resolution work.
Fire and Inferno are currently the only editing and effect solutions to offer a fully integrated data interface to the Philips Spirit DataCine, as well as the unique capability of viewing the images during transfer for monitoring purposes. Discreet is also working closely with other key third party manufacturers, including DVS ProntoVision, Sierra Research and Pluto Technologies for HDTV DDR, YEM for a real-time HDTV output converter; and Viewgraphics for HDTV I/O.
Discreet Logic develops advanced systems and new media software used in the creation of digital imagery and serves three key markets: visual effects, editing and production. Discreet Logic products are used to
Truevision recently announced TARGA HD, its
third-generation TARGA architecture designed to meet
the demanding real-time, multi-stream processing
require
Insight Communications has signed an MSO-wide agreement with Source Media's Interactive Channel, and plans to launch a new Interactive Channel service that provides a local content package which will be a portal for local interactive and Internet-sourced content before the end of 1998. The Interactive Channel, a developer, and packager of local content in digital cable systems, also provides localized links to guides, addressable advertising, interactive multimedia as well as rapid access to the Internet itself for display on TV. Insight plans on using General Instrument's DCT family of digital set-tops beginning with the first generation DCT1000 already deployed in some Insight markets.
The Interactive Channel digital application will be deployed in Insight Communications' new digital cable service tier, serving as the electronic "on-demand" navigator for a wide variety of digital programming options such as digital audio channels, more pay-per-view channels, an electronic program guide, and additional 'plexes' of branded pay TV services.
version products (PC to TV, and HDTV to NTSC) for the high-end pro AV, and Broadcast marketplace.
The Company's first product, the HyperConverter, broke new ground as the first device capable of converting high resolution, true color S-VGA output to broadcast quality NTSC/PAL available for less than $5,000. Priced from $1395, it offered an affordable solution to the desktop video environment. After a successful first year, and in response to customer needs, the HyperConverter product line expanded to include higher resolution capability (up to 1280 x 1024) with full multi-platform compatibility (PC, Mac, Sun, SGI, HP, DEC, IBM, E&S, etc.) at a base price of $2995 (formerly the exclusive domain of $10,000 - $30,000 units.) Introduced in 1996 was DoubleScan, a line doubler that converts interlaced video input to a non-interlaced, flicker-free progressively scanned video signal, affordably priced from $1395. VIDisplay, released in 1997, is a Video Interface Display that shows full-motion, true-color, television-compatible composite (NTSC/PAL/SECAM) and Y/C (S-VHS) video as well as VGA, S-VGA XGA graphics on popular flat panels. Most recently released is the QuadScan line quadrupler. Currently in development are high resolution zooming and panning scan converters ZoomConverter and ZoomConverterHD (with HDTV capability.)
Located in Silicon Valley, PC Video Conversion also specializes in designing custom computer and video interface products. The Company's most recent project is the design of a video conversion device for Polycom's latest presentation product.
PC Video Conversion is a entrepreneurial corporation operating out of Morgan Hill CA, focusing on quality designed high-end professional video conversion products. PC Video Conversion sells to systems integrators, VAR's, and OEM customers in the North American Markets.
On August 4, Circuit City Stores, Inc. introduced New York City consumers to digital broadcasting by demonstrating a consumer high definition television and HDTV programming. Actor James Doohan, "Scotty" from television's original Star Trek, was on hand to discuss the digital technology and sign autographs.
Circuit City is teaming with the Philips Consumer Electronics Company to show high definition programming on a consumer-grade HDTV.
addressable advertising, interactive multimedia as well as rapid access to the Internet itself for display on TV. Insight plans on using General Instrument's DCT family of digital set-tops beginning with the first generation DCT1000 already deployed in some Insight markets.
The Interactive Channel digital application will be deployed in Insight Communications' new digital cable service tier, serving as the electronic "on-demand" navigator for a wide variety of digital programming options such as digital audio channels, more pay-per-view channels, an electronic program guide, and additional 'plexes' of branded pay TV services.
FOCUS Enhancements announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire the assets and liabilities of PC Video Conversion, Corp. from Morgan Hill, CA.
Founded in 1992, PC Video Conversion
Corporation is a developer of high quality professional video
con
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. announced recently that Comcast Cable Communications, Inc., will offer Charleston, S.C., consumers interactive digital services using Scientific-Atlanta's Explorer(R) 2000 advanced digital set-tops and interactive network. Comcast is the fourth-largest cable system operator in the United States, with 4.4 million subscribers.
The Charleston cable system, serving 80,000 homes, is the third Comcast system to deploy digital interactive services using Scientific-Atlanta's interactive network and advanced set-tops.
Comcast is also launching services using Scientific-Atlanta technology in its Baltimore, Md., and Chamblee, Ga., systems. Consumers in all three cities will be able to enjoy Internet access, video-on-demand and IP telephony via the TV when these applications become available.
Comcast expects commercial deployment beginning in the third quarter of calendar year 1998.
(See "Products" information, page XX for detailed description of Explorer 2000.)
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. announced early this month that the company is doubling its capacity to produce Explorer 2000 advanced digital set-tops at its manufacturing facility in Juarez, Mexico.
The facility is the first to support high-volume production of advanced digital set-tops. Advanced digital set-tops comprise a whole new category of home communications terminals featuring Internet Protocol-based technology and computer-like capabilities for instantaneous two-way interactivity.
DIRECTV Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp., and Thomson Multimedia recently announced that the two companies have signed a wide-ranging and long-term cooperation agreement.
The memorandum of understanding commits DIRECTV and Thomson Multimedia to the joint development and distribution of advanced direct broadcast satellite (DBS) receivers and integration of DIRECTV reception capability in Thomson digital televisions. The advanced devices will be released under the respective brands of Thomson and DIRECTV.
Williams Vyvx Services announced that it has acquired a permanent lease of 9MHz of capacity on INTELSATís 806 satellite located at 319.5 East. This strengthening of Vyvxís portfolio is a strategic diversification that will enable Vyvx to offer existing and future customers services for data communications, Internet and interactive VSAT, as well as its established video transmission services.
The INTELSAT 806 has an extensive global-style footprint that covers most of Western Europe, North America and Latin America. It can be uplinked to or downlinked anywhere within the beam, both regionally and internationally, and is the only satellite for the Americas with an Eastern European reach. The satellite boasts a strong existing Latin American broadcast community, and with reservations from both European and Latin American broadcasters looking for contribution/distribution of programming on both sides of the Atlantic, it provides a unique opportunity of cutting broadcastersí costs. Additionally the high-powered C-band transponder provides a transmission channel highly suited to data communications, Internet and interactive VSAT applications.
More On Williams...
NTL and Williams Vyvx Services (known in the UK as Vyvx International Ltd.), two of the world's leading video transmission services providers, announced recently an alliance to deliver comprehensive occasional video services to the global broadcasting community. The new alliance combines the best of European and North American infrastructure and expertise to offer instant end-to-end video feeds anywhere, anytimewith a single phone call. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
And More...
Williams Vyvx Services announced the opening of an office in Miami as a centre for international video transmission services to and from Latin America. Vyvx's operation in Latin America is headed by Carmen Gonzalez-Sanfeliu, who joins Vyvx from PanAmSat.
The market for broadcast and occasional-use
video transmission services to and from Latin America
is expanding rapidly due to de-regulation and liberalisation of the industry as a whole. Vyvx is
offering a portfolio of end-to-end video transmission
services using its range of international satellite
options, array of four U.S. teleports and 11,000 mile U.S.
fibre optic network, which is set to expand to 20,000
miles
On July 20, Microvision announced that it had successfully conducted its first demonstrations of a laser projection television display. The full color 17" image projected by the prototype system has the resolution of a VGA computer monitor and provides full motion video. With additional development, the company plans to increase the size of the projected image and to improve resolution to extremely high levels, exceeding high definition television (HDTV). Additionally, with advances in high powered miniature laser technology, coupled with Microvision's current miniature image scanner, the company ultimately envisions that the entire system could become pocket-sized.
A group of computer hackers claims to have cracked into a critical TV control systems at Time Warner Cable in the Los Angeles area, where they say they can move broadcast satellite downlink dishes and send text messages scrolling across home television screens.
The four "crackers" as the computer hackers are called, who go by the names of Optiklenz, "flemming," "tip," and "aphex", are members of a group called Legions of the Underground, also had help from an anonymous member of the group Masters of Downloading.
Local TV On Satellite Hires Jeffrey McIntyre as Vice President - Broadcasting
Local TV on Satellite, LLC (LTVS) announced recently that Jeffrey B. McIntyre, a broadcasting executive with 20 years of industry experience, will join the company as Vice President - Broadcasting, a new position.
Mr. McIntyre, 42, will work with the national broadcast networks, their affiliates, and all independent and public television stations nationwide to implement LTVS's plan to deliver all local television stations in the U.S. via satellite, giving consumers alternatives to their cable providers. He joins LTVS from Gateway Communications, where he was General Manager of WTAJ, Johnstown-Altoona-State College, Pa. Previously, in a career spanning two decades at CBS Television Network, Mr. McIntyre's positions included Vice President, Marketing of the Affiliate Relations Division, and Network Operations Supervisor. Mr. McIntyre holds a B.A. degree from Colgate University.
Randy Falco has been named President of the NBC Television Network. The announcement was made by Bob Wright, President and CEO of NBC, to whom Falco reports. Falco previously served as President of Broadcast and Network
Operations for NBC and begins his new assignment September 1, replacing Neil Braun. Falco will continue to serve as chief operating officer of NBC's Olympic broadcast group.
Falco became the President of NBC's Broadcast and Network Operations division in February 1993. In that position, he has overseen the facilities and operations of the NBC Television Network worldwide. Falco was responsible for overseeing the design and creation of the "Today" show's "Window on the World" studio, MSNBC's state-of-the-art broadcast facilities in Secaucus, N.J., and the digital conversion of the NBC Television Network.
Fujitsu Microelectronics and COCOM of Denmark, have announced a collaborative agreement to
develop the world's first Medium Access Control (MAC)
integrated circuit compliant with the DVB/DAVIC
standards. Co-operation between the two companies
will result in a PCI based MAC IC meeting the DVB/DAVIC standard, which serves as a basis for
European cable modem standards for fast Internet
connections and other data services up to 700 times the speed
of today's fastest conventional analog modems. The
new device is based on COCOM DVB/DAVIC compliant core modem technology, achieving highly efficient
silicon implementation and significant
cost-performance benefits demanded by consumer broadband
equipment manufacturers for cable modems, satellite
data modems, interactive cable and satellite set top boxes.
In early August, Leaders at Unity Motion announced at a news conference today in San Diego that the company will begin broadcasting high definition television (HDTV) programming nationwide 24 hours a day via satellite starting September 26.
Unity Motion will become the first company in the United States to broadcast high definition programming 24 hours a day. Unity Motion programming will be broadcast on one general entertainment channel. A high definition sports channel and a movie channel will be added later this fall.
Details on the 24-hour high definition programming will be announced by Unity Motion latersome at the Custom Electronics Design & Installers Association Expo in New Orleans, Sept. 9-13.
Good Guys/Best Buy Demo HD
In an attempt to prepare customers for the digital/HD transition, The Good Guys on Washington's Puget Sound, and Best Buy in Chicago have both demoed HD sets.
More on The Good Guys...
In addition, after years of anticipation over the arrival of high-definition television (HDTV), the wait is over! Consumer digital televisions became available for demonstrations and for sale at The Good Guys Beverly Connection store in Los Angeles on August 20. Additionally, The Good Guys will be doing to same in San Francisco, CA. True high definition content is being used to display the incredible sharpness of the new sets.
In the days ahead, additional The Good Guys stores will be displaying and selling the new sets. The Good Guys has also announced that this month they will be able to demonstrate HDTV full-time in all their stores with a proprietary programming system, affording them a capability few, if any, retailers will have.
Acrodyne Transmitter/KCPT-TV
Acrodyne Communications, Inc. recently
announced an agreement for the sale of a dual standard
UHF transmitter to Public TV 19, Inc. The agreement
requires the delivery and installation of an
Adjacent Channel Technology (ACT) Transmitter capable
of transmitting one analog channel and one digital
channel through the same high power output
amplifier. The sale is valued at approximately $750,000.
Acrodyne will install the transmitter at KCPT-TV in Kansas City, MO, to be on-air by November 1, 1998. The station presently broadcasts on channel 19 and has been allocated channel 18 for DTV. The Diacrode equipped UHF ACT transmitter is configured to deliver power outputs of 60kW NTSC and 3kW DTV to meet FCC ERP requirements. Using ACT, an Acrodyne exclusive, KCPT will broadcast two channels from one transmitter, through one antenna.
NetTV
NetTV recently announced its new low-cost digital entertainment system for home users: An all-digital system which includes a DVD player and PC