Advanced TV Systems Committee (ATSC) and CableLabs signed agreement to harmonize their technical specifications for interactive TV, organizations said. Harmonization is critical for advanced interactive services, they said. ATSC and CableLabs will work with other standards organizations to achieve global standardization, they said.
Scientific-Atlanta said it was shipping its Explorer 4200 set-top boxes this month. Box is designed to receive HDTV programming in any ATSC standard format and communicate with headend and Internet through DOCSIS cable modem, it said.
In decision delayed for more than year by broadcast economy and terrorist attacks, MSTV board is expected to cast favorable vote Oct. 21 on establishment of broadcast technology center, we're told. MSTV Pres. David Donovan, who developed plan along with Victor Tawil, senior vp- engineering, has been busy selling idea to major TV groups and consumer electronic manufacturers. Reaction has been generally “supportive,” including from at least 2 TV networks, Donovan said. We also have found wide support for lab from major TV groups, with some saying they would probably support project but haven’t been asked yet. Only one major group executive expressed disapproval. None have been asked for, or pledged, money.
Advanced TV Systems Committee said it approved new standard for enhanced and interactive DTV services. DTV Application Software Environment standard is to ensure that applications and data will run uniformly on all DTV receivers, ATSC Pres. Mark Richer said.
FCC Chmn. Powell will keynote MSTV’s 16th annual “DTV Update” Oct. 22, Park Hyatt Hotel, Washington. Scheduled panelists include Daniel Brenner of NCTA, Mike Petricone of CEA, Mark Richer of ATSC. Update will be proceeded by meetings of MSTV Engineering Committee Oct. 20 and Assn.’s board Oct. 21.
Sony isn’t barrier to DTV transition but believes it has been among its “stronger proponents and advocates,” said Sony spokesman responding to allegations by John Lawson, pres. of Assn. of Public TV Stations, that Sony was potential “barrier” to delivery of over-air DTV reception to consumers if it didn’t drop opposition to FCC’s DTV tuner mandate (CD Aug 21 p4). Without DTV content and distribution through cable and satellite compatibility, Sony spokesman said, “the majority of consumers would not be able to receive HDTV service or get the benefit of their ATSC television.” Like FCC, Sony is committed to “the quick acceptance and usage of high-definition DTV” by consumers. But he said company believes “the only true measure of success” in DTV transition is achieving cable and satellite compatibility, without which risks development of “an over-the-air market segmentation situation” that would benefit neither broadcasters nor consumers. Spokesman said Sony looks forward “to the FCC addressing -- as it said it would -- the key issues of cable compatibility and must-carry, which we think are very, very important.”
Dearth of extenuating circumstances makes it unlikely CEA will petition FCC for reconsideration of Aug. 8 order mandating DTV tuners in TVs (CD Aug 9 p1) and other NTSC receiving devices by 2007, CEA Pres. Gary Shapiro told us Mon. He said lack of new evidence on DTV tuner mandate would make reconsideration petition virtually “fruitless.”
In one of most significant steps FCC has taken to transition to DTV, commissioners voted 3-1 Thurs. to force CE manufacturers to include over-the-air DTV tuners in virtually all TV sets by 2007. Move had been expected (CD Aug 8 p3). Broadcasters applauded decision, with NAB Pres. Edward Fritts calling it “an important first step” in ensuring all Americans would have access to over-the-air broadcast DTV after they returned highly valuable spectrum to govt. CEA vowed challenge either by seeking reconsideration or by filing lawsuit in federal court on behalf of CE manufacturers who must comply with Commission’s order.
CEA has vowed to use all legal means possible, including seeking injunction in U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., to challenge FCC’s authority to mandate that DTV tuners be installed in all TVs if Commission so acts at agenda meeting today (Aug. 8) in Washington. Core of any CEA court argument will be that FCC “lacks statutory authority” to set tuner mandates under 40-year-old All-Channel Receiver Act (ACRA), CEA said in White Paper distributed to members July 23.
Thomson and Mitsubishi are squaring off in DTV debate, with former backing proposed FCC mandate requiring tuners gradually be included in analog sets, while latter opposes requirement. In separate ex parte filings with FCC, Thomson proposed extending deadline for fully integrating DTV tuners in sub-35” TVs 1-2 years to 2007-2008, while Mitsubishi Mktg. Vp Robert Perry said proposed mandate “should not be the next step in DTV transition” since it would result in “fundamental resource misallocation.” Earlier in week, Zenith weighed in, arguing that phased integration of tuners would be best means for providing “consumers with cost-effective products while achieving the national policy objectives” (CD July 31 p9).