Audio Video News

One of the longest-running nightmares for home entertainment fans could one day come to an end, thanks to a new standard announced in late July by the Home Networking Committee of the <A HREF="http://www.ce.org">Consumer Electronics Association</A> (CEA).

Hollywood studios, independent production companies, and video store owners are whistling all the way to the bank, thanks to a resurgence in rentals driven by the increasing popularity of the DVD format. Rental revenue increased 4% during the first six months of 2003, according to figures recently released by the Video Software Dealers Association (<A HREF="http://www.vsda.org">VSDA</A>) (VSDA). The upswing is the first for rentals in years. According to research conducted by the <A HREF="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com"><I>Hollywood Reporter</I></A>, in the first half of the year, the home video industry has exceeded $10 billion in revenue and should top $22 billion by December 31.

Plasma screens have not taken over the market yet, as Michael Fremer notes in his review of the <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?135">Hitachi Ultravision 65XWX20B rear-projection CRT HDTV</A>. "If space is a constraint," says MF, "be prepared to spend at least twice as much for a smaller screen" with plasma. If you've got the room, then according to MF, the Hitachi may be the way to go.

Canon, Sharp, Sony and JVC have teamed up on proposed specifications for high definition digital videocassette tape.