I hardly ever see anything on their partner,Sarnoff, so I thought I'd pass this along:
When Will We See HDTV? This Year, Experts Say
PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 19, 1997--
High-Definition Broadcasts Will Hit Satellites, Networks in Fall; HDTV Sets Will Be in Stores Before Christmas
Wide-screen digital televisions with theater-quality pictures and sound are on track for delivery by the end of the year. They'll be backed with new high-definition broadcasts in the Fall, say the experts at Sarnoff Corporation. Digital high definition television (HDTV) is shaping up as the hot topic for the April 6-9 National Association of Broadcasters.
Sarnoff predicts a strong product introduction, with many different HDTV models to choose from. The company was a member of the Grand Alliance that originally developed the new U.S. HDTV system. Sarnoff also pioneered the original black-and-white TV system in 1942 and color TV in 1946.
"The U.S. is going to have the best TV system in the world," said Glenn Reitmeier, Sarnoff Vice President for High Definition and Multimedia Systems. "And we will be the first country in the world with digital HDTV."
When It Will Happen, What it Means
The schedule for introducing digital television (DTV), including HDTV, was locked in place by the FCC almost a year ago. Here, according to Sarnoff, are the implications of the latest developments in that schedule.
Programming arrives in the Fall
-- DirecTV(r) subscribers in most areas of the country will
have access to two channels of HDTV programming this Fall.
-- For regular (terrestrial) broadcasters, the FCC has
mandated a strict four-year schedule for introducing DTV:
November 1998: First commercial DTV stations go on the air
May 1, 1999: The four major networks each build one DTV
station in the nation's top 10 markets, for a total of 40
stations, providing DTV broadcasts to 30% of the
population
November 1, 1999: The networks reach 50% of the population
with one DTV station each in the top 30 markets (120
stations total)
May 1, 2002: All commercial stations must be providing DTV
service
May 1, 2003: All stations, public and commercial, must
provide DTV
The DTV standard allows broadcasters to use each digital channel for one HDTV program or up to four programs in standard definition (SDTV). Many experts predict they will do both: broadcast multiple SDTV programs during the day, for example, and run HDTV for prime time and sports shows.
Digital TVs Arrive at the Same Time
Manufacturers have already begun showing retailers digital sets in various price ranges. Early models could be expensive. The two main categories:
-- Full large-screen HDTV sets with movie-like clarity and
CD-quality surround sound. Models include front
projection, rear projection, and picture tube models.
Early price estimates range from $5,000 up, though this is
expected to drop steadily as production increases.
-- Standard definition TV (SDTV) sets priced at around $2,000
and up, about the same as current high-end TVs. These sets
will offer such DTV features as wide-screen video and
surround sound, but will display all programs (including
HDTV) at standard resolution, about the same as today's
best satellite pictures.
You Won't Need a Digital TV...
If your current TV works fine, don't worry. Standard analog broadcasts will still be available at least until the end of 2006-and the FCC may extend that deadline under certain specified conditions. Even when analog disappears, your old set can receive digital and HDTV through an adapter, similar to a cable converter box, which may sell eventually for about $200. The picture won't be wide-screen, and it won't match the detail and clarity of true HDTV, but it will be digital quality, free of snow and ghosts. By the time "old reliable" finally stops working, prices on the new SDTV and HDTV sets should be more affordable.
...But You Will Want One
According to Reitmeier, people who see HDTV in one of Sarnoff's demonstrations never ask how much it costs-they ask when they can get it. "Until you see it you don't understand it," he said. "I predict that once the public gets a taste of HDTV, it will replace analog television the way the compact disc replaced the LP record. The difference is that spectacular."
And the sets are priced better than the original color TVs. According to Reitmeier, the first color TVs cost as much as a new car. Even the earliest HDTV sets will be only a fraction of a new-car price. And although no one can predict how low prices will go, CD players dropped from $1500 at introduction to $150 today, while features and performance actually improved.
"We're convinced HDTV will be a landmark success in consumer entertainment," Reitmeier said. "And we're working on receiver electronics with Motorola right now to make the new digital TV sets affordable, high-performance, and feature-rich."
CONTACT:
Further information:
Tom Lento
Sarnoff Corporation
(609) 734-3178
FAX (609) 734-2040
tlento@sarnoff.com
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