Audio Video News

DisplaySearch, a major flat-panel display (FPD) market-research and consulting firm, it holding its third annual HDTV Conference at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on August 23 and 24, 2005. A special conference room rate of $175/night is available for a limited time and may be reserved by calling the hotel directly at (310) 274-7777.

Participants will include representatives from TV and cable networks, satellite and cable companies, set-top box manufacturers, retailers, TV brands and OEMs, TV panel and imager suppliers, and display electronics producers. Companies expected to join in the sessions include HP, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, and Syntax.

Mark Cuban, co-founder and president of HDNet, will keynote a session on expanding current and next-generation HD (1080p) content. Another keynote session to discuss the HDTV market outlook will include Jeff Cove, vice president of technology and alliances at Panasonic; Jim Sanduski, vice president of marketing for the Visual Display Products Group of Samsung Electronics; and Greg Gudorf, vice president of marketing for the Home Products Division of Sony.

UAV's own Pete Putman will participate in a session titled "Distributing HD Content—Challenges and Opportunities," together with representatives from EchoStar, ABC, and moderator Gary Merson of the HDTV Insider.

Other items on the agenda include sessions addressing the future outlook for HDTV content, distribution, technology, resolutions, and sales channels as well as the future for various types of displays, including LCDs, plasmas, and rear-projection TVs. A full agenda can be found here. This year's event, which Primedia is co-sponsoring, will also be recorded for broadcast on HDNet in the fall.