Audio Video News

Oppo is well known for making superb DVD players, and it looks like the company is about to do it again with the introduction of its first Blu-ray player, the BDP-83. Slated to be a truly universal player with the ability to play Blu-ray, DVD, CD, DVD-Audio, and SACD, the BDP-83 has been in beta testing for many months, and it's finally close to shipping.

Want to see your local cable operator choke on his martini? Just say two little words: "cord cutting." This is the new jargon for consumers who cancel their cable service in favor of other options, according to the Associated Press.

On Monday night, 36 percent of the nation's TV stations ceased analog broadcasting, leaving only digital signals on those channels. On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission (1-888-CALLFCC) received 28,000 phone calls.

When we last left the DTV transition saga, the DTV transition delay was kicking into high gear, with some stations proceeding on February 17 and others waiting till June 12. In the latest twist, the Federal Communications Commission is rattling its regulatory saber at some of the stations that are planning to cut off analog television broadcasts next week.

Pioneer has confirmed that it will exit the TV business altogether in the face of the global economic crisis. According to a press release issued today, "Pioneer will terminate any further in-house display product development after its products currently available on the market, and withdraw from the display business by March 2010. Recent market conditions have changed far more than initially anticipated, and Pioneer has decided to withdraw from the display business after concluding that there are no prospects for improving profitability under current conditions. However, the Company will continue to provide after-sales services even after the withdrawal.

Vizio has just announced it will get out of the plasma business altogether, due in large part to the overwhelming popularity of LCDs and the vanishing price gap between the two technologies. According to company co-founder Laynie Newsome, plasmas don't sell as well in big-box stores because LCDs look more impressive in brightly lit aisles, and the company must concentrate on products that move off the shelves the fastest.