Things to make HDTV become popular

A resonable price for an HDTV ready TV. Until they start to get more in to
the sub $500 range, most people will just buy a regular TV.

I wonder how many ppl realize that any computer monitor is
'HDTV ready'? Granted, a regular TV set is better than a PC monitor,
but it allows a person to check out HDTV in their home for a minimal
cost. In my case, my total cost to get HDTV OTA is $250 including
antenna.

Jeff

On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 11:31:05 GMT, Bulk Daddy wrote:

Advertising of HDTV. Some of the networks are now putting something like
"in HDTV where available". But notice the lack of actual ads by many of the
broadcasters, cable and sat providers for HDTV?

Most of the cable providers don't avertise HDTV because they don't have
HDTV (and if they do, its in limited areas). The sat providers don't
advertise it because they're busy trying to get non-HD subscribers. The
broadcasters don't advertise it because HDTV viewers aren't taken into
account in the Neilsen ratings, so it makes it look like they're doing
worse.

But yes, education is a big problem. Ask people on the street what is
required for HDTV, and I'd be surprised if 20% could tell you that its
available over the air for free. The best advertising seems to be people
who have it; when friends find out that you can get it with just an
antenna, they're shocked. I've had it for a year and sometimes I'm still
shocked at the amazing picture I get over the air.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 11:31:05 GMT, Bulk Daddy wrote:

Advertising of HDTV. Some of the networks are now putting something like
"in HDTV where available". But notice the lack of actual ads by many of the
broadcasters, cable and sat providers for HDTV?

Most of the cable providers don't avertise HDTV because they don't have
HDTV (and if they do, its in limited areas). The sat providers don't
advertise it because they're busy trying to get non-HD subscribers. The
broadcasters don't advertise it because HDTV viewers aren't taken into
account in the Neilsen ratings, so it makes it look like they're doing
worse.

But yes, education is a big problem. Ask people on the street what is
required for HDTV, and I'd be surprised if 20% could tell you that its
available over the air for free. The best advertising seems to be people
who have it; when friends find out that you can get it with just an
antenna, they're shocked. I've had it for a year and sometimes I'm still
shocked at the amazing picture I get over the air.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

In article ,
BB wrote:
available over the air for free. The best advertising seems to be people
who have it; when friends find out that you can get it with just an
antenna, they're shocked. I've had it for a year and sometimes I'm still
shocked at the amazing picture I get over the air.

And even the salescritters in the electronics store are shocked, as I
discovered when I had to explain to the guy at Circuit City that our
area is in a great line of sight to the local transmitters, and that
you there is broadcast-network HD programming available for free.

But I think a BIG step would be an icon in the ubiquitous TV Guide
designating a HD program. The Los Angeles edition would also need
a separate listing for KCET-HD.

In article ,
BB wrote:
available over the air for free. The best advertising seems to be people
who have it; when friends find out that you can get it with just an
antenna, they're shocked. I've had it for a year and sometimes I'm still
shocked at the amazing picture I get over the air.

And even the salescritters in the electronics store are shocked, as I
discovered when I had to explain to the guy at Circuit City that our
area is in a great line of sight to the local transmitters, and that
you there is broadcast-network HD programming available for free.

But I think a BIG step would be an icon in the ubiquitous TV Guide
designating a HD program. The Los Angeles edition would also need
a separate listing for KCET-HD.

"BB" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 11:31:05 GMT, Bulk Daddy wrote:
The
broadcasters don't advertise it because HDTV viewers aren't taken into
account in the Neilsen ratings, so it makes it look like they're doing
worse.

Not true.

Kyle

"BB" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 11:31:05 GMT, Bulk Daddy wrote:
The
broadcasters don't advertise it because HDTV viewers aren't taken into
account in the Neilsen ratings, so it makes it look like they're doing
worse.

Not true.

Kyle

This has been a classic chicken/egg scenario. The networks have been somewhat
reluctant to make the programming investment because there were so few
receivers. The manufacturers had been reluctant to make many set models
available because there was so little programming. Now it seems we are
beginning to see enough of both that I think you will see HDTV take off in the
next year like DVD's did a few years ago.

Set prices are already coming down. More programming is becoming available all
the time. Cable is starting to catch up to satellite in distribution. DVD's
look and sound a lot better on HDTV sets and the proliferation of DVDs makes
and HDTV set much more attractive to many people.

I don't know what the current penetration of HDTV sets is in the US, but I'd
bet it will be more than 10% of US homes by this time next year. It will
probably double to 20% in 2005 and I'll bet it will be over 50% by 2008.

That's a good adoption rate for this kind of technology.

This has been a classic chicken/egg scenario. The networks have been somewhat
reluctant to make the programming investment because there were so few
receivers. The manufacturers had been reluctant to make many set models
available because there was so little programming. Now it seems we are
beginning to see enough of both that I think you will see HDTV take off in the
next year like DVD's did a few years ago.

Set prices are already coming down. More programming is becoming available all
the time. Cable is starting to catch up to satellite in distribution. DVD's
look and sound a lot better on HDTV sets and the proliferation of DVDs makes
and HDTV set much more attractive to many people.

I don't know what the current penetration of HDTV sets is in the US, but I'd
bet it will be more than 10% of US homes by this time next year. It will
probably double to 20% in 2005 and I'll bet it will be over 50% by 2008.

That's a good adoption rate for this kind of technology.

Jeff B ) wrote in alt.tv.tech.hdtv:
I wonder how many ppl realize that any computer monitor is
'HDTV ready'? Granted, a regular TV set is better than a PC monitor,

Most computer monitors are far better than even HDTVs. $600 LCD monitors
easily show every pixel perfectly up to resolutions like 1280x1024/75p.
There isn't an HDTV built that can handle more than 60p, and very few
that can give you perfectly readable text at very high resolutions.

But, you can't get a 60" computer monitor for anywhere near the price of
a 60" HDTV, so HDTVs are definitely more affordable for large-scale display
of HD.

--
Jeff Rife |
301-916-8131 | http://www.nabs.net/Cartoons/RhymesW...ienceFinal.jpg