Home Electronics Industry News -- September 2002
NOTE: This page is an archive for previously posted news stories from September 2002 - 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.
09/30/02
NAB Opposes Analog Return Bill
Tension between Congress and Television Broadcasters is increasing as pressure for TV Broadcasters to surrender their analog TV channel frequencies by 2006 is mounting. For more details, check out the above report from Stereophile Guide To Home Theater.
09/29/02
DTS To Target U.S. Cable, Broadcast Markets
Building on its success in home theater systems, DTS is executing a marketing strategy that it hopes will entice broadcast and cable TV networks to incorporate DTS surround technology as an option in its programming services.
09/28/02
Onkyo To Release DVD-A/SACD Combo Player
Move over Pioneer! Onkyo announces a moderately priced DVD-Audio/SACD combo player. The DV-SP800 is a THX-Ultra Certified player that also features progressive scan with 3:2 pulldown, MP3-CD playback and more; all for a price of $1,000. For more info, check out the above report from Audio Revolution.
09/27/02
CEDIA Launches: The Customary And Uncustomary
The annual CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association ) Expo is on.
09/26/02
ABC Unveils HD Super Bowl
In contrast to the FOX network's "chicken" approach to HDTV by NOT broadcasting last year's Super Bowl in HDTV, ABC has announced it will be broadcasting Super Bowl XXXVII, from San Diego, in 720p High Definition. In addition, ABC has committed to broadcasting next season's (2003-2004) Monday Nite Football games in the HD format as well.
09/25/02
Zenith Web Site Offers HDTV Program Listings
Demonstrating its continued committment to HDTV, Zenith is implementing an interactive online DTV schedule guide for consumers.
09/24/02
Intellikey Labs Completes First Independent Study For DVD Format Compatibility
After a comprehensive study of playback compatibility of consumer recordable DVD formats with standard DVD players, the winner seems to be the Philips DVD+R/+RW format. For all the details, check out the above report from DVDInsider.
09/23/02
MartinLogan Inks Deal To Display in 178 Tweeter Stores
In a strategic move that will expose more consumers to higher-end audio products, MartinLogan will marketing a cross-section of their highly acclaimed loudspeaker products in Tweeter, Sound Advice, and several other mainstream HiFi store chains. For more info, check out the above report from Audio Revolution.
09/22/02
Panasonic Launches Comprehensive Brand Initiative
From DVD Recorders to Robot Welders, Matsushita plans to promote its Panasonic brand name with a $100 million dollar advertising campaign in the U.S.
09/21/02
DVDs Cheaper From US Says Reports
U.K. citizens getting ripped-off by higher DVD prices. According to several reports, the same movie on DVD sells in the UK for more than it does in the U.S...
09/20/02
Pioneer Issues DVD Recorder Alert
The new DVD-R/-RW 2X and 4X speed discs may cause damage to Pioneer DVD recorders. As a result, Pioneer is providing a free software fix.
09/19/02
PC Squeeze Means DVDs For The Masses
If you are in the market for a new PC and you wish you could afford one with a DVD burner, your wish may come true as some PC makers will be including DVD burners in budget-priced PCs this upcoming holiday season. For more details, check out the above report from CNET.
09/18/02
SACD/DVD-A Combinations Proliferate
While many manufacturers are supporting either DVD-Audio or SACD (Super Audio CD) as the successor to the CD, some companies are embracing the concept of DVD-Audio/SACD combination players.
09/17/02
Consumers The Real Losers In DVD Format War
Recordable DVD is finally taking off with traditional early adopters, but as more mainstream consumers shop for DVD recorders, the several competing and incompatible formats may result in market confusion.
09/16/02
Warner Sees "Red" For Hi-Def DVD
First there was "Blu-Ray", then Toshiba and NEC revealed another blue laser format, now Warner is proposing a method of using a modified version of current red laser technology for high-def DVD. The race is certainly on to develop a High Definition DVD format, but will politics and turf wars get in the way?
09/15/02
HT-In-A-Box Takes Off
Although Home Theater purists may scoff at budget home theater products, there is no doubt that the popularity of the Home Theater-In-A-Box systems have introduced the average consumer to the home theater experience. For the latest news in this product category, check out the above report from Home Theater Magazine.
09/14/02
DTV Sales Up 81%
Despite conflict between the FCC and the CEA concerning the implementation of DTV/HDTV, it seems that consumers are buying digital TV products at an ever increasing rate over this same period a year ago.
09/13/02
Best Buy Launches Austerity Plan Amid Slower Sales
Although Best Buy has experienced phenomenal growth the past few years, it may have overextended itself with regards to its Musicland and Magnolia HiFi aquisitions. In response, the retail giant is rethinking some of its retail strategies.
09/12/02
College Sports Get HDTV Coverage
CBS, Sears, and Samsung team up to both promote HDTV and College Football. Sears is also devoting a lot of floor space and advertising dollars to promote the sale of Samsung HDTV products. For all the details Sears/Samsung alliance and for a schedule of collge football games that will be shown in HDTV, check out the above report from Stereophile Guide To Home Theater.
09/11/02
Pioneer Launch First ‘Universal’ DVD-Audio/SACD System
Based on the success of its moderately-priced Universal DVD-Audio/SACD player (DV-47A), Pioneer will be including the same technology in a new home theater-in-a-box system for the UK market. For all the specifics, check out the above report from High Fidelity Review.
09/10/02
Sony Attempts To Dash Rewritable DVD War
Leave it to SONY! In an unexpected surprise move that may result in settling the recordable DVD format war, SONY has unveiled a computer recordable DVD drive that can write DVDs in both the +R/+RW and -R/-RW formats. Sony is also expected to unveil a standalone DVD recorder with the same capability.
09/09/02
Hollywood To Have Last Word In DVD War
The future of DVD technology may not be in the hands of the manufacturers but in the hands of Hollywood. According to the chief technology officer of Thomson Multimedia, the large French electronics manufacturing giant, the film industry will not stand for confusion created by multiple DVD hardware platforms. For more details on this issue, check out the above report posted by CNET and REUTERS.
09/08/02
Circuit City Sales Up 10%
New advertising and store layout strategies seem to be helping as Circuit City experiences a 10% sales growth over this time last year.
09/07/02
Best Buy’s 2Q Sales Grow 20%
On the surface Best Buy appears to have had phenomenal sales growth in the second quarter, contrary to retail industry-wide trends, however, there is more to the story.
09/06/02
NCAA HDTV Schedule Announced
If you are a college football fan, now may be a good time to buy an HDTV as CBS (under Samsung's sponsorship), announces a full state of NCAA games to be broadcast in high definition for the coming season.
09/05/02
The Studios AD It Up For Big Fourth Quarter
With the success of summer blockbuster movies and the popularity of DVD continuing un-abated, the movie studios plan a huge marketing plan for DVD releases this coming holiday season.
09/04/02
DirecTV Cuts Fee For TiVo Service
In a strategic marketing move to increase satellite TV subscribers and expose consumers to the virtues of DVRs, DirecTV has decided to cut its price on TIVO part of its satellite TV service in half. For more details, check out the above report from CNET.
09/03/02
High-Def Format Proposed By Toshiba, NEC
While several manufacturers have embraced Blu-Ray HD-DVD as the successor to current DVD technology (which would entail new production facilities and infrastructure), Toshiba and NEC have come on the scene with a proposed HD-DVD format that will allow the use of existing DVD manufacturing facilities for duplication of HD-DVDs.
09/02/02
CBS To Broadcast Majority Of Primetime Schedule in HDTV
Thanks to sponsorship support from both Zenith and Samsung, CBS committs the majority of it prime-time programming to HDTV broadcasts. For the complete schedule, check out the above report from Audio Revolution.
09/01/02
BMG Rumored To Fully Support DVD-Audio
While the video world is battling over HDTV standards and implementation timelines, the audio world is battling over the successor to the audio CD. Up until now, SACD appeared to have the jump on the market with a proliferation of players and more plentiful software releases, but this may all change as BMG is rumored to announce its impending support for DVD-Audio, with Universal waiting in the wings. For more details on these possible developments, check out the above report from Audio Revolution.
For additional News Stories check out my Home Electronics Industry News Archives.
