The holiday season was a big one for the Digital Versatile Disc. VideoScan, which tracks the sales of more than 16,000 video retail businesses, reports that almost three million DVDs were sold in the five weeks leading up to the New Year, accompanied by equally brisk sales of players. The new format entered its second official year as the fastest-growing new medium in history.
Panasonic AVC American Laboratories, Inc. (PAVCAL) announced December 18th that it has completed development of the world's first single-chip device that will be able to decode digital television video signals and format them for display when America's new, all-digital broadcasting service begins in the fall of 1998.
D<I>VD Farley Granger, Ruth Roman, Robert Walker, Leo G. Carroll. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Aspect ratio 4:3. Dolby Digital. Two sides: Side A, Hollywood Version, 101 minutes; Side B, British Version, 103 minutes. 1951. Warner Home Video 15324. Hollywood version: not rated; British version: PG. $24.98.
Did you know that William Shakespeare, with 329 film titles to his credit, is the most prolific screenwriter of all time? Neither did I. Did you know that Mel Blanc---the voice of Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Tweety Bird, etc.---is the most prolific film actor of all time, with an astounding 672 titles to his credit? Neither did I. Did you know that D.W. Griffith's total of 545 films makes him the most prolific director ever? Neither did I. Did you know he was also the third most prolific screenwriter, with 222 scripts? Did you know that silent-film star Mary Pickford appeared in more movies (238) than any other actress? Have you ever even <i>heard</i> of Julia Caesar, whose 135 film appearances make her the 20th most prolific screen actress of all time? Neither had I.
L<A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/shownews.cgi?42">ast week</A> we predicted the skid of Divx, the plod of HDTV, and the advance of the home-theater computer. This week we add three more prognostications to the list:
Enough DVD movies have been sold this year to compile a top-ten list. <I>VideoScan</I> reports that <i>Twister</i>, the big-budget thriller in which no-name actors chase tornadoes and get chased in turn by tumbling barns and flying cows, was the best-selling DVD through November 30. The film, on disc, is hugely popular; a surplus of spectacular visual effects apparently compensates for its mediocre acting, clunky dialog, and almost total lack of story.
Pre-show publicity for the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show indicates that most major manufacturers will be making a big push with High-Definition Television. If all goes according to the FCC's plan, by this time next year most large urban areas will have at least one digital transmitter in operation. By the turn of the century, most broadcasters will be equipped to send digital signals alongside their analog counterparts. Signal sources---terrestrial broadcasting, satellite transmission, cable feeds---will proliferate.
On December 4, Intel executives announced plans for future digital television products. Noting that, as we move toward a digital TV broadcast model, there will be 230 million TVs to replace, Intel has targeted the heart of nearly 100% of American homes.
This is the year that the computer industry and the home-theater companies start to seriously rub edges, and the sparks are set to fly. But fear not---we have seen the future, and it looks (and sounds) pretty good for the folks at home. At least, it will be fun to watch.