LATEST ADDITIONS

How much responsibility should broadcasters be required to take in serving the public interest? On December 16, the <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov/">Federal Communications Commission</A> launched an inquiry into the subject with a call for comments from the very people who will be served best, or worst, by the dawning age of digital television&mdash;the viewing public.

It's the ultimate chicken-or-egg television question: Which will come first, Internet over TV or TV over the Internet? Last week, <A HREF="http://www.broadwing.com">Broadwing</A> gave a nod to the latter when it announced that its subsidiary ZoomTown.com has unveiled <A HREF="http://www.intertainer.com">Intertainer</A>, which the company describes as "a new video-on-demand service" for customers with high-speed, high-bandwidth ADSL online connections. Broadwing says that ZoomTown customers will be among the first in the nation able to receive the service in early 2000. Subscribers will pay the normal monthly fee for DSL service, and will then be charged for their video selections on a pay-per-view basis.

Francis Ford Coppola wants to make you an offer you can't refuse: the five-time Academy Award-winning writer/director and winemaker says he is now turning his creative talents to the Internet and e-commerce. His Napa Valley winery, Niebaum-Coppola, has recently launched a new <A HREF="http://www.niebaum-coppola.com">website</A> that proffers videos, food, and wine, along with contests for movie items from Coppola films.

Every few months we receive news that someone else is trying to bring 3D TV to consumers (see previous stories <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/shownews.cgi?408">1</A> and <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/shownews.cgi?362">2</A>). Last week, <A HREF="http://www.ddd.com">Dynamic Digital Depth</A> announced that it will preview its version of 3D cable television, delivered through a <A HREF="http://www.gi.com">General Instrument</A> DCT-5000+ advanced interactive digital consumer terminal, at the Western Show this week in Los Angeles.