Audio Video News

Sharp yesterday announced a new line of 70" Aquos Quattron LED-backlit LCD TVs, responding to market research indicating that their target market of 35 to 45 year old men-even those already owning 60"-plus sets-felt a "need to go bigger." The new LC-70LE732U (shipping now at an MSRP of $3,799) is truly immense; the launch event-also a fundraiser for Japan earthquake/tsunami relief-featured the

A plan by <A HREF="http://www.blockbuster.com/">Blockbuster Inc.</A>, the world's #1 video chain, to turn its major rival's stores into Blockbuster franchises, has been blocked by the <A HREF="http://www.ftc.gov/">Federal Trade Commission</A>, the <A HREF="http://www.wsj.com/"><I>Wall Street Journal</I></A> reported December 10. Blockbuster had planned to put its name on Hollywood Video's approximately 1500 stores.

Plasma displays have taken a big leap toward affordability. On June 10, <A HREF="http://www.plasmavision.com/">Fujitsu General America Inc.</A> announced a major reduction in the price of its Plasmavision 42 at the InfoComm International '99 confab in Orlando, Florida. The new price of $6995 is a 30% drop from the former suggested retail of almost $10,000---and half the price of the 42's predecessor, which was introduced at CES in 1997.