LATEST ADDITIONS

High-definition broadcasting is here, if the marketing problems are ever solved. Hi-def playback is here in the 480p native format of the Digital Versatile Disc. What's missing? Hi-def recording technology for consumers.

Another DVD hurdle is jumped: 10 million DVD-Video players have now officially shipped to market, according to the <A HREF="http://www.dvdinformation.com">DVD Entertainment Group</A> (DVDEG). The announcement was made last week at the annual DVD Forum meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Onkyo continues to carve a name for itself as a maker of affordable home theater receivers. The company's new THX Select-certified TX-DS787 is the only 6.1-channel Surround EX receiver in the under-$1500 price class. The receiver's suggested list price is $1099.95.

High-Definition Television is getting a big boost this season, thanks to a partnership between <A HREF="http://www.panasonic.com/">Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company</A> and the <A HREF="http://www.cbs.com/">Columbia Broadcasting System</A>. Seventeen of the network's 18 weekly comedy and drama shows will appear in the new format, according to a schedule released Wednesday, September 27. A sponsorship from Panasonic is making possible an almost-complete schedule of primetime HDTV programming from CBS, a unit of media conglomerate <A HREF="http://www.viacom.com/">Viacom, Inc.</A>