Audio Video News

Mid-July witnessed the introduction of the new RCA Scenium line of digital television products from Thomson Multimedia. The French-American technology conglomerate says the series embodies "the most advanced technologies and the most expressive designs" ever offered to upscale consumers. The new products are claimed to offer exceptional brightness, contrast ratio, and clarity.

In a move the companies are calling a major step toward "realization of the digital home entertainment environment," the <A HREF="http://www.dtcp.com">Digital Transmission Licensing Administrator</A> (DTLA), Warner Bros., and Sony Pictures Entertainment announced last week that they have entered into long-term license agreements to promote the all-digital home transmission and display of motion pictures and other video content using DTLA's Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP).

<A HREF="http://www.echostar.com">EchoStar Communications</A> has posted some positive numbers in the wake of its recent announcement of a joint HDTV venture with CBS.

Projectors still rule the high-definition market, but plasma display panels (PDPs) may eventually displace them. Versatility and ease of installation are among the flat screen's biggest selling points, but size limits (the typical plasma screen is 42" diagonally) have hindered their acceptance.

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.dolby.com">Dolby Laboratories</A> announced that Home Box Office's primary channel will debut programming in Dolby Digital 5.1 with the pay network's premiere of <I>The Perfect Storm</I>. Dolby claims that the movie, which begins airing Saturday, July 14, is the first of many films and other programming to be broadcast by HBO in Dolby Digital 5.1-channel audio.

The <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov">Federal Communications Commission</A> announced July 11 that it will postpone indefinitely its much&ndash;discussed auction of the analog broadcast spectrum. Many observers interpreted the decision as evidence that the 2006 deadline for converting the nation's television system to digital will not be met.

High definition television will get a big boost this fall, thanks to an agreement announced July 12 by <A HREF="http://www.dishnetwork.com">EchoStar Communications Corporation</A> and <A HREF="http://www.cbs.com/hdtv">CBS Television</A>, a unit of <A HREF="http://www.viacom.com">Viacom Inc</A>.