Home Electronics Industry News - September 2001

NOTE: This page is an archive for previously posted news stories from September 2001 - Since most of the links are now inactive, they have been removed. However, the headlines and summaries are still posted to historically document the news headlines from the dates listed.

09/30/01
DirecTV Launches In Uruguay
Satellite TV is everywhere, including 28 countries in Latin America. Uruguay is the latest addition to the DirecTV Latin American network, which offers 150 channels.

09/29/01
A PVR in every pot
Owners of personal video recorders (PVRs) - which record video on a computer hard drive, rather than tape - see the units as the ultimate video recording convenience.

09/28/01
DVDLabs Produces Landmark DVD-Audio Discs For Worldwide Distribution
The DVD-Audio format gets a big boost as DVDLabs takes on the task of engineering and mastering recordings to the new format, including re-mastering the famous Telarc recording of the 1812 Overture.

09/27/01
First Satellite Radio Hits U.S. Airwaves
After being delayed by the WTC attack, Satellite Radio finally reaches the U.S. as XM Satellite Radio quietly begins its monthly service this week.

09/26/01
While ABC Television Network To Broadcast Its Primetime Entertainment Series In HDTV
ABC will be the first network to broadcast all of its prime-time entertainment programming in the 720p HD format, with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio.

09/25/01
While Consumers Slowly Return, Retailers Anxious About Future
With the WTC disaster, may CE retailers were closed the day or day after the attack and experienced understandably sluggish sales for the remainder of the week as the nervous public refrained from venturing away from their homes and TVs.

09/24/01
Denon Introduces...High Performance Audio/Video Components At CEDIA EXPO 2001
Denon rolled out a whole new line of AV components at the now concluded CEDIA 2001, including AV Receivers with Dolby Pro-Logic II decoding, a five disc DVD-Audio changer equipped with bass manangement, and two standard two-channel stereo receivers featuring multi-room capability.

09/23/01
Video Surges Amid Stock Sell-offs
Despite the massive downturn of the stock market, the value of video rental/retail business stocks has actually increased.

09/22/01
New HDTV Displays Show Their Faces At CEDIA
Just before the tragic events of Sept 11, this year's CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) Expo in Indianapolis showcased a phlethora of new video display products based on LCD, Plasma, DLP, and other technologies. Such innovations are changing the way we integrate TV and video display functions in both work and home environments.

09/21/01
Industry Gives Contributions For Recovery
In the wake of the WTC attack, consumer electronics retailers and manufacturers, including Radio Shack, Best Buy, Panasonic, Kodak, and others are collecting and making financial contributions to the Red Cross and other organizations assisting with disaster relief.

Japan Wary Of Terror's Aftermath
Major Japanese CE manufacturers, already suffering from lessening profits before the WTC attack are not sure what the immediate future holds in the U.S. consumer market.

09/20/01
Renters Flock To Video Stores
As the fallout from last week's WTC disaster continues, consumers are flocking to video stores for home entertainment relief from all the news coverage. Most in demmand: Comedies and videos dealing with the prophecies of Nostradamus.

09/19/01
Terrorist Attacks Change Several CE Events, Affect Some Retailers
As the dust begins to settle (but not the anger) in New York after the WTC attack, the full impact on the CE industry is beginning to come to light.

09/18/01
Columbia Tri-Star Bows Superbit DVDs
The DVD format continues to evolve as Columbia/Tri-Star debuts a new Superbit encoding process that delivers higher video and audio resolution on standard DVD discs. The discs are still playable on current DVD players.

09/17/01
Consumer Electronics Sales at Risk, US Shuns Luxury
In the wake of the WTC attack, it is feared that U.S. consumers may feel guilty about indulging in "luxuries" such as DVD players and Big Screen TVs.

09/16/01
Product Could Be Slowed By Air Traffic Shutdown
Upcoming video and DVD title releases could be delayed as a result of this week's turndown of commercial air traffic in the U.S.

09/15/01
Summer Sales Slumped At CE Chains
With just a few exceptions, most CE retailers suffered decreased sales in August. Best Buy, WalMart, and COSTCO sales figures are up, while Circuit City and Good Guys had a sales downturn.

09/14/01
Terror Outside Our Window
An eyewitness report on the NY attack as experienced by the staff of TWICE (This Week In Consumer Electronics), whose offices are near the former World Trade Center site.

09/13/01
Attack Death Toll Hits Tech Sector Hard
The high-tech industy is affected by the NY terrorist attack. For more details, check out the above report by EE Times.

09/12/01
First A/V Receivers Featuring DTS 96 kHz/24-Bit High Resolution Surround Sound Announced
DTS, in partnership with Denon and Pioneer, is about to expand the quality of surround sound technology with the introduction of AV Receivers equipped with 96KHZ/24-Bit high resolution audio reproduction.

09/11/01
Blockbuster to Eject Some Tapes for DVDs
As demand for DVD movie rentals keeps increasing, Blockbuster, the largest video rental chain, is moving quickly to meet demand by derreasing its VHS rental inventory by 25% to make room for more DVD titles. In addition, Blockbuster is also planning to sell DVD players at some of its outlets.

09/10/01
DirecTV Launches HDNet Channel
In an effort to promote and further expand HDTV broadcast offerings, DirecTV is launching a new channel devoted to HD programming that will expand both sports and entertainment offerings in the high resolution format. This new channel will replace its current HDTV demo channel.

09/09/01
What’s New At CEDIA Expo
A host of audio component manufacturers are debuting new products at this year's CEDIA conference. Multi-zone receivers and amplifiers seem to be trending stronger, as well as lower prices for THX-Surround EX and DTS-ES equipped receivers.

09/08/01
Sony Unveils Video Lineup At CEDIA Expo
Sony previews its upcoming lineup of LCD and Plasma Flat Panel monitors, Flat Tube Direct View TV sets, and a new LCD front projector at the CEDIA 2001 conference, currently in session in Indianapolis.

09/07/01
Dolby Laboratories Shows Pro Logic II at CEDIA 2001
Dolby Labs continues its Dolby Pro Logic II push with demonstrations throughout this year's CEDIA convention in Indianapolis. Also shown will be Dolby Digital DTV products and Dolby Headphone.

09/06/01
Infinity Steps Up With Newly Designed CAS Series
With in-wall surround sound speakers becoming more popular, Infinity introduces an improved version of its in-wall speaker system for home theater applications.

09/05/01
Bertelsmann Steps Up CD Security Efforts
The race for a standard in anti-copy CD technology is getting closer to reality as more copy-protected CDs are released into the world market.

09/04/01
Matsushita, Sony See Promise In Smarter, Smaller Digicams
In order to combat softening demand in the camcorder market, SONY and Matsushita (parent of Panasonic) are hoping that miniturization and more features, such as a detachable still camera capability, more audio recording options, and a smaller tape format (dubbed "MicroMV")will appeal to consumers.

09/03/01
First European Showing By Vestel Of Large-Screen Table Top TV Based On DLP Technology At IFA
In a harbinger of things to come soon, a prototype table-top DLP projection set was demonstrated at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin recently. Measuring only 18" deep, weighing only 75 pounds, and with a projected price of about $3,000, this type of unit could be an alternative to both bulkier CRT projection sets and PLASMA screens.

09/02/01
Hitachi Announces Lay Offs
Hard times continue to fall on the major Japanese consumer electronics manufacturers with Hitachi the latest to lay off a signifigant portion of its workforce amid a $1 billion loss for the year.

09/01/01
Catalog DVD Prices List Downward
As DVD continues its unbated assault on the consumer market, studios as cutting prices on DVD releases of "classic" and other catalogue titles to retailers. It is hoped that the lower priced titles will increase porfits by enabling retailers to sell-through more rapidly.

For additional News Stories check out my Home Electronics Industry News Archives.