Now Available: Tech Talk Podcast with Scott Wilkinson, Episode 19 Click here for details.
Some broadcasters and viewers are starting to meet in the middle, thanks to TV manufacturers' subsidizing HDTV broadcasting costs. ABC, for example, is moving toward airing almost all of its shows in HDTV formats. |
Originally posted by BondDude The article mentions two shows on NBC in HD. Is this an error or is there another show besides Leno that NBC broadcasts in HD? |
From: Scott Gammans Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 4:12 PM To: '[email protected]' Cc: '[email protected]' Subject: Comment on "Price of HDTV Falls From 'Yikes!' Level" article in 10/19/01 edition of The Washington Post To The Editors: I would like to comment on a statement made by Mike Musgrove in his article, "Price of HDTV Falls From 'Yikes!' Level", which appeared in the Friday, October 19, 2001 edition of The Washington Post. Mr. Musgrove states that "ABC... is moving toward airing almost all of its shows in HDTV". In fact, ABC is already broadcasting most of its prime-time lineup in high definition. Unfortunately, Washington-area viewers cannot see these broadcasts because our local ABC affiliate, WJLA-TV, only broadcasts in standard definition. All of the other local network affiliates for CBS, NBC and PBS broadcast in HDTV, but thus far WJLA-TV has neither jumped on the high definition bandwagon nor made any public statements as to when (or if) they will begin broadcasting ABC programming in HDTV. Local viewers who wish to watch ABC shows in HDTV must erect tall mast antennas to pull in the high definition signal from WJLA's competitor in Baltimore, WMAR-TV. Scott Gammans Washington, DC 20001 |
As a member of the growing number of HDTV owners in the D.C. area, I was pleased to see some exposure of this technology in the article, "Price of HDTV Falls From 'Yikes!' Level." The article mentions: "ABC, for example, is moving toward airing almost all of its shows in HDTV formats." Although this should be good news, it brings up a source of contention that most D.C. area HDTV owners have with WJLA, Washington's ABC affiliate. WJLA is the only major television station in the area that doesn't transmit an HDTV signal. Currently, area HDTV owners can enjoy high definition programming on CBS, PBS, NBC and FOX, but not ABC. Plenty of ABC affiliates all around the country in much less populous areas have already decided that HDTV is of interest to both the station and its viewing public and have upgraded their equipment accordingly. However, WJLA, in one of the most important and influencial cities in the world--in the FCC's own back yard, no less--has decided to ignore the technology. Hopefully, WJLA can be pressured into providing an HDTV feed to its viewers as the news concerning its lack of initiative becomes more widespread. Until then, many HDTV owners in the area are either tuning into Baltimore's more forward-thinking ABC affiliate or not watching ABC at all. |
"This is really starting to take off as the prices come down," said Schelley Olhava, an analyst with IDC. The research firm projects that 1.2 million digital TVs will be sold this year, bringing total sales to 2 million. |