Audio Video News

Last week, the <A HREF="http://www.ce.org">Consumer Electronics Association</A> (CEA) reported that in January 2000, for the fourth consecutive month, factory-to-dealer (not through to consumers) sales of digital television (DTV) products surpassed the 20,000-unit mark. The CEA's figures reveal that January's total of 21,008 units brings the total sales since the introduction of DTV in August 1998 to 155,410 units.

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.cbs.com/">CBS</A> and <A HREF="http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com">Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America</A> (MDEA) announced that they have entered into an agreement by which MDEA will sponsor high definition coverage of the semi-finals and finals of the 2001 US Open Tennis Championships. It is the third consecutive year MDEA has sponsored CBS's HDTV coverage of the US Open. According to CBS, this year's coverage will feature the HD primetime broadcast of the Women's Final on Saturday evening, September 8.

Astute observers have long predicted that the computer industry would beat consumer-electronics manufacturers to the finish line in the race for affordable high-definition television. That prediction could prove correct, if a recent press release from Austin,Texas- based <A HREF="http://www.hdtv.net/">TeVCA Technologies</A> is to be trusted.

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.ti.com/dlp">Texas Instruments</A> announced that its Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology has received the "Golden Note" award from <A HREF="http://www.avacademy.com">The Academy for Advancing High Performance Audio & Video</A>. The award recognizes DLP as "The Most Innovative Video Technology," and was received at the Academy's Award Banquet at the Indianapolis Westin Hotel.

Rumors of the demise of HDTV football may have been greatly exaggerated. <A HREF="http://www.cbs.com/">CBS</A> has announced that this year's Thanksgiving Day <A HREF="http://www.nfl.com/">NFL</A> game between the New England Patriots and the Detroit Lions will be broadcast in 1080I HDTV. The digital broadcast, sponsored by <A HREF="http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/">Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America</A> (MDEA), will be produced separately from the standard NTSC version.