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Sports fans watching NFL football games this past Sunday may have noticed something unusual among the dozens of commercials: an ad for a 42" <A HREF="http://www.gateway.com">Gateway</A> plasma television.

<I>Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, Charles Coburn, Eugene Pallette, Martha O'Driscoll, William Demarest, Eric Blore. Directed by Preston Sturges. Aspect ratio: 4:3 (full frame). B&W. Dolby Digital mono. 93 minutes. 1941. The Criterion Collection 103. PG. $39.95.</I>

Consumer interest in home theater has grown by almost 1000% in the past year, according to figures published by the Consumer Electronics Association. But how to make sense of the bewildering array of audio and video products out there? Which ones offer the best performance or most features?

EchoStar Communications Corporation and Hughes Electronics Corporation, parent company of DirecTV, are still hopeful of a merger, despite regulatory opposition. The two would-be partners are working on concessions that could win over officials at the Federal Communications Commission and the US Justice Department.