Audio Video News

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Audio Video News
HD DVD's End Reported Near
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 15, 2008  | 
A Hollywood trade publication suggests that the end may be near for HD DVD, quoting a combination of on- and off-the-record sources. Update: That report has been confirmed by two other news outlets. See last graf.
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Audio Video News
How Much More Can HD DVD Take?
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 15, 2008  | 

It's been less than a week since we <A href="http://www.ultimateavmag.com/news/208badhd/">reported</A> that Netflix will stop renting HD DVDs in favor of Blu-ray discs and Best Buy will promote only Blu-ray, even though it will still carry HD DVD products in its stores. Now, an <A href="http://checkoutblog.com/entries/2008/2/15/wal_mart_chooses_a_hi_def_plat... blog</A> by some Wal-Mart Associates reveals that the &#252;ber retail chain will carry Blu-ray discs and players exclusively as of June, 2008. As blogger Susan writes, "If you bought the HD player like me, I'd retire it to the bedroom, kid's playroom, or give it to your parents to play their John Wayne standard-def movies."

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Audio Video News
DTV Coverage May Lose Viewers
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 14, 2008  | 
Will the differing dispersion patterns of digital television broadcasts affect viewers? Yes, and as many as six million of them may lose reception of some channels, according to a study by Centris, an LA-based market research firm.
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Audio Video News
Another Bad Day for HD DVD
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 12, 2008  | 

Despite Toshiba's attempts to keep HD DVD alive by cutting prices on their players, the format received two crushing blows today. First, Netflix announced it would drop its support for HD DVD and offer only Blu-ray titles to those seeking to rent high-def discs. The existing stock of HD DVDs will continue to be made available until their life cycle is over.

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Audio Video News
Best Buy Says Go Blu, Young Man
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 12, 2008  | 
Blu-ray is Best Buy's "preferred format," the megachain said yesterday in a press release. Though HD DVD won't disappear from the shelves, the retailer will "prominently showcase" BD hard- and software in both brick-and-mortar and virtual stores.
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Audio Video News
Netflix Vows to Be True Blu
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 11, 2008  | 
Netflix will drop HD DVD and stock its virtual shelves exclusively with Blu-ray discs, the rental service announced today. From now on it will buy new stock only in Blu-ray and will phase out existing HD DVD stock by year-end.
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Audio Video News
Cable Ops Unveil Same-Day DVD Movie Schemes
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 08, 2008  | 
Two cable systems are trying new methods of movie distribution in an attempt to achieve same-day parity--or better--with DVD release and on-air broadcast dates.
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Audio Video News
Cable Nets Hit FCC on Dual Channels
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 07, 2008  | 
Will dual digital and analog versions of local broadcast TV stations push small cable networks out of cable systems? That's what some cable networks fear. And they're voicing their fear by suing the Federal Communications Commission.
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Audio Video News
Kaleidescape to Turn Blu
user  |  Feb 06, 2008  | 
Kaleidescape, the world-beating home video server system, will soon support Blu-ray discs, according to information passed from the company to the Kscapeowners website.
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Audio Video News
NHT Goes Independent
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 05, 2008  | 
NHT is out of the woods. The very reputable speaker manufacturer has endured a long series of acquisitions since it was founded in 1986. Its latest owner finally sold the company to its employees and it will be known as NHT Audio LLC.
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Audio Video News
Cable Networks Sue FCC
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 05, 2008  | 

When analog over-the-air (OTA) broadcasting shuts down on February 17, 2009, analog cable subscribers probably won't notice thanks in part to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is requiring cable operators to carry local stations in both analog and digital format for three years after the OTA cutoff date. This has many major cable networks, such as C-SPAN, Discovery Communications, A&E, and The Weather Channel concerned that they will be pushed off cable systems to make room for the dual carriage. As a result, these and other cable programmers are suing to block the FCC from implementing the mandate.

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Audio Video News
JVC and Funai Team Up on LCD
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 04, 2008  | 
Add JVC and Funai to the growing list of companies partnering to make the best of the booming but volatile flat-panel TV market.
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Audio Video News
Apple Delays Movie Rental Upgrade
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 02, 2008  | 

At MacWorld Expo last month, Apple CEO Steve Jobs promised that an upgrade of the Apple TV software to allow online movie rentals would be available by the end of January. But, as with so many things tech, the release of that software will now be delayed by "a week or two" according to a company statement issued on January 31. The software will be made available as a free download to existing Apple TV customers when it's finally deemed ready.

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Audio Video News
Sharp Buys Big Stake in Pioneer
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 01, 2008  | 
In a possibly momentous move, Sharp acquired a significant stake in Pioneer late last year. Sharp's $358 million investment bought it 14 percent of Pioneer, making it the latter's biggest shareholder. Pioneer also acquired 0.9 percent of Sharp.
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Audio Video News
Blu-ray Prospers
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 31, 2008  | 
It took only a week after Warner defected to the Blu-ray camp for the latter to establish a more commanding position in the market, according to the NPD Group.
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