PBS HDTV update:
weta.org
I recall at the CES that John Taylor said it is important for HDTV manufacturers to develop partnerships with local broadcasters and dealers (most profound remark I've heard from John).
What's very interesting at this point is that there are going to be broadcasters throughout the US which will be "early adopters" to HDTV VSB broadcasts. These include stations in Dallas, North Carolina, Seattle, Oregon, Milwaukee, Boston, NYC and DC. Also, it should be noted that the VSB transmissions reach out to a full 70-mile length and there is absolutley no degradation of signal. You either receive it in full Dolby 5.1 and 1080 vertical lines of visual or your screen is blank.
Each one of these local HDTV "early adopters", for civic pride, etc., wants to be the first metro or regional area to deliver HDTV. However, the dilemma is no consumer has a HDTV receiver. This is where Taylor's partnership idea comes in. Zenith develops a partnership with each of these "early adopters" and a few chosen local Zenith dealers to widely distribute HDTV sets at the local malls, sports bars and other public areas (as well as at the Zenith dealers' showrooms).
The press will jump all over this. As soon as the residents of Dallas get HDTV, don't think that the residents of Houston won't demand the same (or even better/bigger, we're talking Texas!).
Zenith has a tremendous opportunity to lead the digital TV age. Look out RCA, we're coming first!!! |
