Component audio is coming on strong, says the Consumer Electronics Association. The trade group's 2010 figures show component audio contributing to a 6.2 percent increase in overall home audio sales. A further 11.9 percent increase is forecast for 2011.

While CEA's definition of home audio includes components, compact systems, HTiBs, multiroom, MP3 speakers, and radios, only component audio and MP3 player related speakers showed increases, buoying the entire audio category.

The merger of the Sirius and XM satellite radio networks will move forward thanks to compromises that have attracted approval from Kevin Martin, chair of the Federal Communications Commission.

Internet radio broadcasters may get a reprieve from Congress. A bill surfaced last week that would reverse the recent royalty rate hike that net radio outfits say would have doomed them to extinction.

Analog TVs are obsolete. Yet, shockingly, most major retailers still carry them. Some folks in Congress would like to see archaic displays labeled this way: "This TV has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after Feb. 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts." If that seems reasonable, then you're in agreement with Reps. Joe Barton (R-TX), Dennis Hastert (R-IL), and Fred Upton (R-MI), who are brewing up legislation to require the warning. I would add something along the lines of "Aren't you a little embarrassed even to be looking at this thing?" but hey, I'm not an elected official. According to TV Week: "Besides the warning, the legislation would require cable and satellite service providers include information in bills notifying customers about the upcoming digital transition, would require broadcasters to file regular reports detailing their consumer education efforts and would require the Federal Communications Commission to create a consumer outreach effort and also file regular updates about how many consumers had redeemed coupons for converter boxes."