Looks like we get Interlace, HDTV, in 6 weeks.(Video Technology News)
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Computer Threats Crumble; ATV Likely To Be Interlace
Pro video executives worried about whether to invest resources in interlace or progressive high-definition technology can put those worries aside. It appears that the industry is putting its chips behind the 1080i format, despite warnings from the computer industry that an interlace service will shut out millions of potential PC viewers.
The question over interlace vs. progressive is a crucial one for broadcasters and cable programmers who are working up business plans for the coming year and for manufacturers trying to gauge which technology will be in demand when purchases of hi-def equipment heat up in the next two years. Decisions made within the next six months will affect equipment development and purchasing patterns on gear ranging from cameras and editing/graphics system to processing gear to servers and playout devices -- in short, the entire span of professional video gear.
Interviews with broadcasters, cable networks and manufacturers over the past two weeks reveal that most executives are confident that 1080-interlace will be the format adopted by most video organizations, at least for the initial ATV rollout period.
"That seems to be our take on it right now," said Bob Estony, spokesman for Ikegami. "1080i seems to be the system of choice."
That feeling was bolstered several weeks ago after a New York Times article quoted leading computer hardware manufacturers - namely Dell [DELL], Gateway [GATE], Hewlett-Packard [HWP], IBM [IBM] Packard-Bell and Sony, saying they have no plans to add TV reception equipment to their models. The revelations were a blow to Micosoft [MSFT], Compaq [CMPQ] and Intel [INTL], who are counting on a rising tide of PC viewers to sway the video industry to supporting a progressive-scan approach.
No Time for Progressive
With the apparently hollow threat of broadcast advertisers jumping the interlace high-definition ship over a lack of PC eyeballs, broadcasters say they feel more comfortable putting interlace on the air, given the time constraints for ATV rollout imposed by the federal government.
"We still believe progressive scanning is a better technology, especially in the long run," said David Elliott, vice president of engineering services at ABC. "We're still in the process of evaluating whether or not it is possible to move to progressive in the time frame we have to initiate ATV, but there is a real question as to whether equipment will be available."
The FCC has given network affiliate stations in the top 10 markets until May 1, 1999 to get ATSC on the air, with the top 30 under the gun for November 1, 1999. Although development of progressive systems is certainly achievable in that time frame, they are unlikely to be as advanced or cost-effective as their interlace bretheren.
"(High-definition) interlace products are already out in a lot of areas; switchers, routers..." Elliott said. "They've been available for 10 years in analog and for the past year in digital."
Officially, only one network, CBS, has stated publicly that it will begin high-def broadcasting in interlace. The other three majors and the handful of cable networks that have vowed to offer HDTV have not made a final decision on transmission and production formats.
Manufacturers like Chyron Corp. [CHYR] say they are operating under the assumption that interlace will emerge as the initial format, although they say they can quickly ramp up progressive products if there is sufficient demnd.
"It would take about six months' lead time," said Ron Witko, vice president of North American sales at Chyron. "We've got the infrastructure. The frame buffer is done. It's just a matter of changing the output."
Chyron showed a prototype iNFiNiT! HD in 1080i mode at NAB.
It's the Network that Counts
Still, broadcasters and cable networks considering progressive vs. interlace have to consider the likelihood of a full high-definition network architecture emerging within the FCC timeframe. There is already some question as to whether key network technologies, such as program interchange and commercial insertion, will be available in interlace, and little hope at all that widespread compression solutions will arise.
"Everybody is missing certain infrastructure products," said ABC's Elliott, referring to turnkey companies like Sony and Avid Technology [AVID] that strive to provide all-in-one solutions in the analog NTSC realm, but are now having to piecemeal systems together using technology from numerous other vendors.
The question of exactly how broadcast signals will be displayed in the home has become less of an issue.
"We are looking at what is the best solution overall, not whether it's displayed on a computer or traditional TV set," Elliott said. "We are certainly not willing to accept 720-progressive only at film rates (24 fps, as the Microsoft coalition suggested).
"We just need to understand where progressive is achievable. Now that we're hearing that the consortium of computer manufacturers is less than solid in its stance, it is even more questionable than before as to the actual number of viewers that want a TV experience on a PC."
Elliott added that the industry will have to make firm decisions soon, or risk having to rush through the specification and installation phases of ATV buildouts.
"It's got to be within the next few months," he said. "We can only go to a certain point before we have to get into the specifics." (ABC, 212/456-7777; Ikegami: 201/368-9171; Chyron, 516/845-2041)
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