On a lighter note,...Tri-Vision's V-Chip may do well by new U.S. TV ratings system
Tri-Vision International Ltd TVL
Shares issued 48,577,396 Aug 30 close $1.60
Tue 31 Aug 99 News Release
Mr. Blair Qualey reports
A three-year moratorium on changes to the United States television ratings
system expires next year. Recent public surveys, such as the one conducted
by the Kaiser Family Foundation, have indicated strong public support for
rating TV programs and dissatisfaction with the current rating system. The
TV Monitoring Board, a government agency formed to assess public opinion on
the rating system and propose changes as required, will be submitting its
report later this year. Changes ratified will be implemented as early as
July, 2000.
Against this backdrop, according to the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers
Association (CEMA), a number of TV manufacturers are installing V-chip
blocking capabilities that will not be able to adapt to these changes.
Without incorporating Tri-Vision's V-gis v-chip, these TVs offer no
flexibility to handle rating changes. Consumers will effectively be
stranded with an obsolete product if a rating change occurs. And, as TVs
have a life span in excess of 10 years, this limitation will not only
constrain consumers for the lifetime of their children, but it will also
limit legislators and regulatory bodies.
Confirming this information, CEMA, in a July, 1999, news release and on the
CEMA Web site (www.cemacity.org), noted that changes to the program rating
system, "would render obsolete all v-chip equipped TVs already in use."
Fortunately, television sets incorporating Tri-Vision's patented V-gis
v-chip technology are able to adapt to any future ratings changes in the
U.S., as well as television ratings systems in other countries.
Tri-Vision's V-gis v-chip technology is the only known and tested v-chip
technology, available to TV manufacturers and consumers, which is able to
automatically reconfigure in the field. This unique feature provides TV
manufacturers, parents and legislators with the peace of mind that any
planned changes to the U.S. TV ratings systems will not render new TVs,
using Tri-Vision's patented technology, obsolete.
On March 12, 1998, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a
report and order that approved the TV Parental Guidelines, the television
program ratings system designed specifically for the v-chip, and the
technical requirements for v-chip blocking. In the report, the FCC strongly
recommended that TV manufacturers provide for rating changes, and noted
that manufacturers will be driven by the market to meet any consumer
demands to accommodate additional rating systems.
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