Concerns About The Future Of High-Definition Television
Dear Gary: As a proponent of digital television and high-definition television, I am extremely concerned about Preston Davis’ announcement to abandon broadcast of ABC’s Monday Night Football in high-definition [720p] this year, and the impact it might have on the promotion and acceptance of HDTV. With broadcasters beefing up their lack of support of 8VSB by proposing further changes to the standard, and an abysmally low rate of increase in HD content from broadcasters, my optimistic nature is giving in to the concern that HDTV may be a lost hope. Sports is undoubtedly the ideal application for high-definition with a huge audience begging for the outstanding quality that HD can offer. Monday Night Football fans in HDTV-enabled sports bars across the country will be extremely disappointed this season, as well the many others who have spent thousands on equipment. Public mediums like sports bars and informal gatherings in households are the definitive answer to promoting HDTV to consumers, and without this as a means of awareness I fear its future will be extremely inhibited by ABC’s decision. Because of a woeful lack of knowledge in electronics stores regarding DTV and HDTV, the consumer is not being made aware of the outstanding quality that this advanced technology can deliver to their households. Equipment manufacturers should step up the quality of education they provide to retailers so that we can be assured that the money we spend on equipment is well-spent. The average floor salesperson knows absolutely nothing about DTV and HDTV, except for rumors they might hear in gym class. Many local stations now have the ability of delivering content, and the major broadcasts have the capability of providing the content. It is beyond me why they do not take advantage of this as a means of increasing the audience they have lost to cable and digital satellite. The demographics alone of those who can afford the high prices of today’s high-definition solutions speak strongly for the advocation of increased HD content. OK, I am now off my soapbox. I wanted to give you a small background of my concerns. I am of the opinion that our voices can make a difference in this, and we need avenues to make the major networks and providers aware of our concerns—a lack of commitment on their part to deliver more high-definition programming. I have been visiting your Web site for awhile now, and find it an excellent resource. I already subscribe to too many technical publications—regretfully I do not subscribe to yours. I was hoping that you might consider running an article regarding these issues, and would like to ask that you assist us in our concerns by becoming a more active voice for the frustration that many consumers now feel about the future of HDTV. Postings to forums are a great way of learning and venting frustration, but it is going to have to be respected sources that our voices must ultimately come from. Many of us are ready and waiting, but we seem to do more waiting than anything.
Jody Carbone
Editor Gary Reber Comments: We all fear that without sponsorship from equipment manufacturers (in this case Panasonic of ABC’s Monday Night Football) and an apparent lack of interest in taking the lead from the major networks, HDTV advancement will now be ground to a standstill. In short, we fear the worst for rapid acceptance and acceleration of HDTV in our homes. Further, with the debate wide open for changing the H/DTV standard set by the FCC (actually the “non-standard” that had no teeth), I think the main cause for concern is delay, and what the environment for digital TV will do during that inevitable time. The greater majority of viewers with HDTV-capable DTVs are pleased in the extreme with their HDTV viewing, though limited. They enjoy programs which never caught their eye in NTSC. They say they are watching more using their HDTVs than they have been with NTSC sets. It has proven to be such an enjoyable experience. I don’t think we can expect consumer TV manufacturers to endless carry the financial burden to subsidize HDTV programming. We are seeing that scenario now falling apart. If the networks are not willing to front the HDTV programming costs, then the future of over-the-air HDTV looks dismal. I think long-term that DVD in a backward compatible HD format will have to be the HD carrier. We will have more discussion of this opportunity in future issues of WSR. In the meantime, I agree that consumers and industry leaders must take a more advocate role in advancing HDTV if it is to at all succeed.
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