Audio Video News

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.panasonic.co.jp/">Matsushita Electric Industrial</A> and <A HREF="http://www.quantum.com">Quantum Corporation</A>'s Hard Disk Drive Group announced that they have developed what they describe as the world's first audio/video hard-drive subsystem that records and plays back digital content with random-access digital video recording (DVR) functionality over IEEE1394 (aka FireWire).

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.semiconductors.com">Philips Semiconductors</A> (a division of Philips Electronics) announced the first in a new family of silicon chips that they claim "will revolutionize the way we use television." The company says its pnx8500 Nexperia Home Entertainment Engine will enable the combination of digital video, audio, graphics, and Internet content into "highly interactive" program material and will allow cable and satellite service providers to add new digital subscriber services to their existing TV program offerings. At the same time, Philips also announced Samsung's support for the new chip in its next-generation consumer set-top box.

Federal Communications Chairman Michael Powell isn't the only powerful figure in Washington who is working toward a solution to the digital television impasse. Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA) is doing his part, too.

Jamie Kellner, the <A HREF="http://www.tbs.com">Turner Broadcasting System</A> chairman, who proclaimed that viewers have a "contract" with broadcasters to watch commercials, has predicted that digital video recorders could spell the end of free television programming. Kellner has been widely quoted as saying that viewers who "take too many bathroom breaks" are "stealing the programming."

The <A HREF="http://www.cema.org">Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association</A> (CEMA) this week expressed concern over cable provider TCI's plans to transmit only signals that fall below the threshold of HDTV.