Audio Video News

Harmon gets tough: In legislative hearings over the stalled rollout of digital television last week in Washington, Rep. Jane Harmon, (D-CA.), took broadcasters to task for what <I>TV Technology</I> called their "sense of entitlement." Having received 6MHz of free bandwidth for digital transmissions, broadcasters have been reluctant to return their analog licenses, a provision that was part of the deal from day one. "They somehow seem to feel they deserve compensation," Harmon told reporters. She has asked her congressional colleagues to adopt the Homeland Emergency Response ("HERO" Act) to enforce a 2006 analog shut-off deadline, with no loopholes. That date is now only 18 months away.

DVD: Field of Dreams Two-Disc Anniversary Edition—Universal
Video: 4
Audio: 4
Extras: 4
In one of those creative masterstrokes that elude most of us, the resurrection of Shoeless Joe Jackson is used as a foil to re-examine the American experience of the 20th century, first in the book and later in the movie Field of Dreams, wherein ex-hippie/farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) risks everything by plowing under his crop to give Jackson and others a place to play.

The Home Entertainment 2004 East Show, held in New York City, May 20&ndash;23, at the New York Hilton & Towers, gave Show attendees a memorable weekend filled with live music, educational seminars, a special movie night, and a grand concert&mdash;all included with the price of admission to the Show.

Add "Texas Instruments 2K DLP microchip" to your technophile lexicon.

The Home Entertainment 2004 East Show, held in New York City, May 20–23, at the New York Hilton, gave Show attendees a memorable weekend filled with live music, educational seminars, a special movie night, and a grand concert—all included with the price of admission to the Show.

DVD: Popeye 75th-Anniversary Celebration Collector's Edition—Koch Vision
Video: 1
Audio: 2
Extras: 0
Cartoon connoisseurs are to be forgiven if they foolishly believe that a three-disc package entitled Popeye: 75th-Anniversary Celebration Collector's Edition might contain a minute or two of archival-worthy, eye-popping Popeye animation. After all, the beautifully designed case jacket proclaims the set offers "85 of the original King Features Syndicate cartoons" that have been "Digitally Remastered with Enhanced Audio and Visual Quality!" You'd also be excused if you didn't immediately realize that the eight hours of 4:3 video accompanied by glorious Dolby Mono sound was culled from those two watershed years of made-for-TV Popeye creativity: 1960 and 1961.