DTV Momentum Builds;CEMA Reports 13,176 Digital TVs Sold to Date
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Television (DTV) momentum is building, as evidenced by sales of 13,176 units just weeks after the launch of digital broadcasts on November 1, according to Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA) President Gary Shapiro. Speaking yesterday at a DTV Supersession at the 1999 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), running here through Sunday, consumer electronics manufacturers demonstrated the consumer electronics industry's broad commitment to DTV, reporting extensive DTV product lines and strong early sales to dealers. The Supersession also featured a panel of speakers from the broadcast and retail industries, and a keynote from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Susan Ness. Shapiro and New York Times technology correspondent Joel Brinkley moderated the session panels.
Shapiro cited CEMA statistics released yesterday on digital television sales to dealers. CEMA is tracking industry sales of DTV.
"Momentum is building quickly on DTV. All of the major manufacturers have stepped up to provide a variety of products and retailers and consumers are demonstrating real enthusiasm for the technology. This is no longer a chicken and egg debate over products and programming -- on the manufacturing side, this technology is hatched and is being served up to consumers all over the country," said Shapiro. He cautioned, however, that the transition will be gradual.
FCC Commissioner Susan Ness spoke with enthusiasm about the successful launch of digital television, applauding the multi-industry effort that has made DTV a reality: "It has taken a collective effort to coordinate the DTV launch," Ness said. "It will continue to take cooperation to win the hearts and pocket books of consumers."
A panel of retailers and broadcast representatives -- featuring Tom Campbell of Dow Stereo/Video, Joseph Flaherty of CBS, Stanley Hubbard of USSB, Saul Shapiro of ABC, Terry Shockley of Shockley Communications, and Peter Smith of NBC -- reviewed the introduction of DTV and discussed plans for programming.
The manufacturer panel featured Jeffrey Gannon of Zenith, Mark Knox of Samsung Electronics America, Robert Minkhorst of Philips Consumer Electronics North America, Stephen Nickerson of Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc., Jim Palumbo of Sony Electronics, Inc., Gilbert Ravelette of Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc., and Frank DeMartin of Sharp Electronics Corp.
When Shapiro asked the manufacturer panelists what percentage of digital sets sold in 1999 would be standard definition v. high definition, the response was unanimous that at least two thirds of all sets sold would be HDTV sets. When asked how the industry would define success in 1999, manufacturers stressed the importance of educating retailers and consumers to eliminate confusion about DTV.
For further information on CES and to check out the most up-to-date news, conference sessions, exhibitors and press conferences, visit CESweb.org .
CEMA is a sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), the 75-year-old Arlington, Virginia-based trade organization representing all facets of electronics manufacturing. CEMA represents more than 500 U.S. manufacturers of audio, video, accessories, mobile electronics, communication, information and multimedia products that are sold through consumer channels.
CEMA sponsors and manages the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's largest annual trade event showcasing consumer technologies. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, product promotion, engineering standards development, market research, and governmental and legal affairs support.
Upcoming Events
-- CEMA Engineering Forum
February 16-19, 1999, Point Clear, AL
-- DTV Summit
March 2, 1999, Tysons Corner, VA
-- The 10th Annual Digital Engineering Conference
March 23-24, 1999, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
-- EIA/CEMA Spring Conference
March 28-April 1, 1999, Washington, DC
-- Retailing & the Internet
May 18, 1999, Dallas, TX
-- 1999 CEO Summit
June 23-25, 1999, Colorado Springs, CO
-- Handling Distressed Goods
September 28, 1999, Dallas, TX
-- EIA/CEMA Fall Conference
October 24-28, 1999, Palm Springs, CA
-- The 2000 International CES
January 6-9, 2000, Las Vegas, NV
SOURCE Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association
CO: Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association
ST: Nevada
IN: CPR
SU:
01/09/99 21:21 EST prnewswire.com
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