Dale Cripps of the HDTV Newsletter also recommends DBS as the initial model for introducing HDTV to the world. According to Dale:
"Direct Broadcast Satellite is, far and away, the most efficient method for reaching the largest geographic area. Currently, it uses digital compression technology to deliver multiple programs on a fixed number of transponders. There is no technical obstacle to placing full 19.2 Mb/s HDTV signals on these satellite transponders. There is no trick to receiving these signals in most homes. Even apartment dwellers are wired for reception, with some notable exceptions.
All of these high-powered satellites--22,300 miles over the equator--are able to reach over 70% of the earth's land mass. With some imagination, one can envision a global pioneering HDTV signal service which is owned and operated by the stake holders of HDTV. This would be a true HDTV delivery medium, with early-released motion pictures, and masterful cultural events, running 24-hours a day to all corners of the world... and would resolve the chicken and egg dilemma...."
This is the only transmission model, in the short term, allowing HDTV to effectively abort Bill Gate's DTV model (480p) in the womb. While ABC, NBC and Fox continue to waffle about HDTV; the HDTV content pioneers (HBO, PBS, CBS, Discovery Group, Turner Group) will be delivering HDTV content to Zenith's HDTV projection-set owners within the entire US and, eventually, the world via satellite broadcasts.
The battle won't be easy. Sony and the majority of the other CE companies appear to be lining up with Gates and the PC industry, favoring 480 lines of progressive scan.
It's critical, at this stage, for Zenith and the other 1080i HDTV proponents to offer at the CES a well-layed-out model demonstrating that consumers will receive the highest quality audio and visual entertainment experiences with HDTV and at affordable prices.
K.I.S.S. Capturing the "early adopter" is the key.... |
