C-Cube guidence was for Q1, '99, flat with Q4, '98. First call is at $.31. VCD may surpise. If that market grew any units, it should show this Q, or, the market is declining in units. C-Cube also faces roll out delays in other markets................................
multichannel.com
March 03, 1999:
NAB Fears Digital-Rollout Stall
Washington -- A senior broadcasting official said Tuesday that small-market TV stations might have a tough time meeting the digital-rollout timetable established by the Federal Communications Commission.
Under FCC rules, every commercial TV station is required to be transmitting a digital signal no later than May 1, 2002. Broadcasters expect the conversion to digital to cost as much as $10 billion.
"That schedule is way too ambitious, given the pace of the rollout and the pace of the equipment and all of the other issues," said Chuck Sherman, executive vice president of television for the National Association of Broadcasters.
Sherman, speaking at a digital-TV forum organized by digital-equipment manufacturers, said the digital rollout could stall in areas located outside of the top 50 markets.
Decker Anstrom, president of the National Cable Television Association, told the same forum that cable operators were spending $8 billion to upgrade their systems to offer digital TV and other services.
Anstrom said the cable, satellite and broadcast industries should refrain from extolling the glories of digital TV in order to avoid inflating consumer expectations. He cited compatibility between cable set-tops and digital TVs as one example of a possible snag.
"We are still in the foundation-building process here," Anstrom said, adding that he didn't expect the consumer retail market to take off until the fourth quarter of 2000.
- 3/2/99
|
