|
ND Broadcasters Fight Liberty-DirecTV Deal
(Multichannel News) _ A group of commercial TV stations in North Dakota is fighting Liberty Media's $11 billion takeover of DirecTV http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6413132.html because the direct-broadcast satellite provider hasn't initiated local TV service in the Minot-Bismarck-Dickinson market. "A failure by Liberty to provide full 210-market local-into-local service would directly harm both the North Dakota broadcasters and those residents of North Dakota who cannot now receive any local Click for the lowest price on dmnobieblanktelevision');" onMouseOut="hideAd();" class=Hotlink>television programming from DirecTV," the broadcasters told the Federal Communications Commission in a filing Thursday to deny the merger. The broadcasters, located in the 158 th-largest market, said DirecTV should not be allowed to devote channel capacity to Click for the lowest price on dmnobieblankhdtv');" onMouseOut="hideAd();" class=Hotlink>HDTV service in big markets before providing local TV service in all 210 markets.
Samsung, Metalink, STMicroelectronics Develop STB Supporting ...
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. of Korea, STMicroelectronics of Italy and France and Metalink Ltd. of Israel have jointly developed the "SMT-H6155" set top box (STB) product featuring WLAN capability in compliance with the IEEE802.11n draft specification and HDTV signal processing capability. The three companies reportedly demonstrated video transmission using the product at the "CeBIT2007" trade fair held in Hannover, Germany. The SMT-H6155 is an STB, which supports "IPTV" capability that transmits TV image signals using IP (Internet protocol). Its key feature is HDTV image signal transmission via WLAN. The STB is equipped with STMicroelectronics' "STi7109" decoder LSI, which is able to decode video data in MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) and Microsoft Corp.'s "VC-1" formats, and Metalink's "WLANPlus" chipset supporting the IEEE802.11n draft specification.
Pioneer's 50-inch plasma a top performer
As the first 50-inch plasma display to have a native resolution of 1080p -- in other words, 1,920x1,080 pixels -- it understandably costs a mint ($8,000 list). As a monitor, as opposed to a "true" TV, it lacks niceties such as built-in speakers, a tuner (ATSC or otherwise), or even an included stand. And as a member of Pioneer's "Elite" subbrand, it includes picture-centric features, such as user-menu color temperature and primary color adjustments, which most users won't know what to do with. But if you're willing to pay top dollar for the best 50-inch plasma on the market right now, look no further. Compared to the Panasonic TH-50PF9UK, the other current 50-inch 1080p plasma, the Pioneer delivers slightly better picture quality at a more-than-slight price increase.
DTV Tuner Availability Will Ease Transition to Digital TV
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®) celebrates the arrival of the next phase of the historic digital television (DTV) transition this Thursday as all products shipped with analog television tuners will also include a DTV tuner. The milestone marks the final phase-in of DTV tuners and comes as DTV industries and consumers prepare for all-digital broadcasting in February 2009.
"The finish line for the transition to digital broadcasting is less than two years away, and the consumer electronics industry has reason to celebrate this latest milestone on the pathway to a successful transition," said Gary Shapiro, CEA's president and CEO. "As of March 1, any product shipped with an analog TV tuner will also include a DTV tuner, making access to the benefits of DTV a reality for more American consumers as these shipments reach the retail store shelf."
Shapiro explained that consumers are not required to purchase a new television in order to continue receiving programming after the DTV transition; owners of analog sets will be able to view broadcast television with a digital-to-analog converter box or through cable or satellite service.
| 