Technology360

DVRs poised to change advertising culture

Ars Technica: DVRs poised to change advertising culture Digital video recorders (DVRs) threaten to upend traditional TV advertising models with the ability to completely skip commercials with ease. Networks and advertisers have balked at DVR commercial skipping and have even sued to block the implementation of such features on copyright grounds. In a Forrester Research survey released Monday, time shifting is about to explode with DVR usage in over 30 million homes by 2009. In response, advertisers are planning to cut TV commercial spending 20 percent in the next five years.

BT broadband to reach almost all

BT broadband to reach almost all BT has announced it aims to make high-speed broadband services available to almost all homes and businesses in the UK by the middle of next year. ¶ It says it will install the latest broadband technology in 1,128 exchanges by summer 2005, making it accessible to 99.6% of households and businesses. [BBC]

The article doesn't state it directly, but it appears this is probably a "homes passed" availability rather than a "subscribed" availability. --Dennis

Digital Switch - BBC Report

Digital Switch - BBC Report [scroll down to story] The BBC has today published its first report on digital switchover, Progress Towards Achieving Digital Switchover, following its submission to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. ¶ The report states that digital switchover is challenging but achievable within the Government's timetable, given continued consumer enthusiasm and the right policy framework. [Waveguide]

The changing world of PBS

The changing world of PBS Funding is off, but viewer loyalty creates optimism in a 500-channel universe. ¶ It has been a rough three years for the Public Broadcasting System, even by the admission of the most ardent supporters of public television. ¶ In recent years, PBS has suffered through the same downturn in foundation, corporate and individual giving that has hit other non-profits. It has lost longtime program sponsors -- most notably Exxon Mobil, which had underwritten ``Masterpiece Theatre,'' one of PBS's signature series, to the tune of $300 million over 35 years. [snip] In Mitchell's mind, that PBS ``brand'' will also serve it well when the high technologies of digital television and video on demand become more commonplace. ``People are going to choose brands they trust. They're going to go for icon series that have been on the air for a long time,'' she contends. [snip] [San Jose Mercury News]

Digital TV prices to fall sharply

Digital TV prices to fall sharply A surge in household demand for digital televisions is forecast for next year as electronic firms expect to cut prices as much as by half beginning at the end of the year. ¶ Leading makers of digital televisions - Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. - said technological improvement will result in a sharp increase in digital television output and this should begin to affect prices toward the end of this year. ¶ According to an industry forecast, the price of a 40-inch digital television with a liquid crystal display screen should almost halve from current levels by the end of next year and fall to the 5 million won range. Likewise, a 42-inch plasma display panel television is expected to fall to the 3 million won range by the end of the year. [The Korea Herald]

BBC "considering" HDTV distribution

BBC "considering" HDTV distribution The BBC is "considering" rolling out High Definition TV (HDTV) in the UK. ¶ In a report on the state of progress towards digital switchover, the corporation said it was looking to take a key role in launching the service, which provides viewers with an extremely high quality picture. ¶ "As UK households adopt TV sets with ever larger screen sizes (a trend likely to accelerate as prices are dropping quite quickly), which expose the picture quality limitations of digital TV, demand for HDTV might be expected to emerge, for which consumers would need to invest in new receivers," said the BBC in its report. "Growing familiarity with the picture quality offered by DVD-Video could be expected to contribute to this."
[Digital Spy]

The Need For A More Complete Spectrum Allocation Policy

Techdirt Wireless The Need For A More Complete Spectrum Allocation Policy The arguments over licensed vs. unlicensed wireless spectrum often seems quite boring even to those within the wireless industry. However, there are some very important decisions to be made. While we don't think that (as some have advocated) we can simply get rid of the FCC and open up spectrum to everyone, it still seems that today's gradual adjustments on spectrum allocation may be problematic as well.

Also see the two related articles below. --Dennis

Bush: Wireless Key In Broadband Innovation

Bush: Wireless Key In Broadband Innovation President George W. Bush is again set to tout his Spectrum Policy Initiative as an important part for the country's economic future today in a speech to the American Association of Community Colleges. ¶ In remarks before the organization's Minneapolis convention, set for this afternoon, the president is expected to trumpet his spectrum policy approach as a keystone for future technological innovation. He will closely link development of future broadband services, wireless services and tax-free broadband access as possible key economic drivers. ¶ An executive summary of the speech obtained by Wireless Week this morning contains many other ideas that, according to the president, would spur "a new generation of American innovation," with wireless broadband being front and center among the issues central for technological innovation. [Wireless Week]

Make Room for Wireless Broadband

Make Room for Wireless Broadband Spectrum changes that would make fast, cheap wireless broadband Internet service a reality can't come fast enough. ¶ On April 15 the FCC took an important step toward expanding high-speed Internet access—particularly for customers in rural areas without cable or DSL—by proposing a rule change that would benefit the wireless delivery of broadband services. The proposed change would make more room in the electromagnetic spectrum for unlicensed devices by allowing them to operate in the 3,650MHz band at higher power levels than were previously allowed. [eWeek]

TV News Online: The Only Local News Worth Watching

TV News Online: The Only Local News Worth Watching WorldNow, whose network of news sites ranks among Nielsen//NetRatings' top 20, enables about 170 local broadcasters to air their news online to over 15 million monthly unique visitors and sells advertising on the Web properties. Most visitors (63%) are watching during the workday, when TV isn't an option, though increased broadband adoption may bring more home users into the fray. Nearly half (45%) access WorldNow via high-speed connections, according to a Frank E. Magid Associates survey of 39,000 WorldNow users in November 2004. [eMarketer]