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Gold/Mining/Energy : Tri-Vision & The V-Chip -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JayPC who wrote (3718)	8/10/1998 10:11:00 AM
From: coyote	Respond to of 5743

has SI quit posting CDN stock values

To: JayPC who wrote (3718)	8/10/1998 10:20:00 AM
From: fewbucks26	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 5743

To All: In the Sunday supplement in yesterday's paper, there was an advertisement for the V-gis decoder. The flyer was a 10-page insert for H.H. Gregg. This is an electronics retailer with about 20 locations in 5 or 6 states in the Midwest U.S. The ad is about 1/3 of a page, and is listed with other ad's for cable and VCR products. One thing that I think is significant about using H.H. Gregg is that this is a well-established multi-location regional player in the Midwest that has survived the attempted encroachment of such national chains as Fretters and Highland (which went out of business). The ad is full color, includes a picture of the decoder box, which is dominated by the same picture of the little boy in front of the TV that you see on TVL's web site. The trademarked "V-gis" logo is prominently shown in the middle of the ad. The header states " Now At H.H. Gregg!", and under the V-Gis logo is the phrase "This Is The V-CHIP TECHNOLOGY You've Been Hearing About!" (upper and lower case as shown). The model shown is listed for $79.00 (that's U.S. dollars folks). That makes the selling price a little over C$ 120.00 at current exchange rates. I think it's also interesting to note the claims on the front of the box, which is shown in the ad. Listed in bullet point fashion are the following: * Enables parents to choose what programs and movies are appropriate for children. * Only V-gis reads both TV and MPAA rating codes. * Only V-gis can also monitor programs by specific subject matter. I have not compared these claims to the claims on the PG box, but will do so and let you know. They sound AWFULLY SIMILAR. The text of the ad states "Only V-gis allows you to block out programs by TV codes, movie codes, or specific content. V-gis is easy to use, and it works on and TV set. Set it once, and it's on guard 24 hours a day on any channel." Incidentially, this particular electronics chain also offers a "Double the Difference" price protection clause. If you find any product advertised for less, they'll double the price difference. That tells me that U.S.$79.00 is probably as low as you'll see it (initially!). In my mind, it is only now that we will start to get some indication of whether all this sweat and toil has been worth beans. I'm certainly releaved that they have the product out on retail shelves during the "back-to-school" shopping season. I'm also encouraged that the U.S. consumer is still spending at a strong pace, according to the latest data. Combined with the rash of shool kid violence over the past few months down here, I don't think you could find a better environment to start marketing this product. The Fall should prove interesting. I'm continuing to add to my position at these levels. I'll pass along more as I see it.