Phillips Hdtv

By Rodney L. Pringle, rpringle@phillips.com

Broadcasters and the FCC continue to squabble over digital television programming and standards, but industry leaders insist high definition television (HDTV) could become a hot item - if only someone else would do what they're supposed to do.

Lots of issues surrounding the future of HDTV are unclear, including who will take the leading role in providing the service to the public.

Michael Petricone, vice president of technology policy for the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association said the chief obstacle for HDTV sales remains a lack of diverse digital programming from broadcasters.

"With the exception of CBS and TBS, there has just not been much HDTV or DTV [digital television] programming to sell the product," he said.

But Jeff Bobeck, a spokesperson for the National Association of Broadcasters, said the broadcast industry is doing everything it's supposed to do, and has complied with the FCC's deadlines for providing digital television.

The FCC set a May 1999 deadline for all network-affiliated DTV stations in the top ten television markets to have DTV facilities. It also said all network affiliate DTV stations in the top 30 TV markets were to be constructed by November 1999. The remaining commercial DTV stations are to be constructed by May 1, 2002, and all non-commercial stations are to be constructed by May 1, 2003.

Bobeck said 166 stations in 57 markets are now broadcasting digital signals. In other words, two-thirds of the nation's homes can receive a digital signal. Of course, whether they will be able to access this service is up to the cable companies, he said.

"Until the cable companies carry our signals and the cable industry manufacturers get together to develop standards for cable ready sets, it will be hard for consumers to get good digital programming," he added.

For now, manufacturers and programmers have agreed upon a 8-VSB (vestigial side band) DTV standard. Earlier this year, the FCC ruled against a company that wanted to implement a COFDM (coded orthogonal frequency division multiplex) standard. It said the 8-VSB technology would better ensure consumers receive free, over-the-air television service. The United States currently uses the HDTV formats and transmission methods set by the Advanced Television Systems Committee.

Dale N. Hatfield, chief of the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology, told the commission earlier this year that the broadcast industry "has done an admirable job embarking upon this [digital television] challenge."

However, he did say that government and the involved industries need more of a commitment to ensure its rapid transmission.

The Bottom Line

Expect the FCC, and Chairman William Kennard in particular, to lean on the cable and broadcast industry to bring about more diversified digital programming for the consumer.

COPYRIGHT 2000 Phillips Publishing International, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group

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