New recorded film format draws critcism from rivals
Article Abstract:
The national rollout is under way for Divx, a disk-based recorded movie format intended to compete with rental videocassettes and the emerging DVD digital disk format. In June, Circuit City Stores Inc., the consumer-electronics retailer that is the primary backer of Divx, began selling the players and the recorded movies in San Francisco and Richmond. The consumer appeal is supposed to be that the disk does not need to be returned after viewing, since it will not play after an initial 48-hour period unless the consumer pays additional fees via a telephone line to have it reactivated. Every movie studio but Dreamworks issues movies in the DVD format, and most also issue Divx disks. Time Warner and Sony studios, both stakeholders in DVD, are not cooperating with Divx. Cirsuit City offered all of the sutdios large cash advances to join the Divx fold. Circuit City is also planning a national launch for Divx, primarily using newspaper ads.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1998
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Defining TV's and computers for a future of high definition
Article Abstract:
The broadcast-television standard agreement reached during the last week of Nov 1996 will have an enormous impact on consumers. The fundamental shift in technology to digital television will offer crystal clear picture resolution and surround-sound, as well as modems which will either come as standard equipment or early available add-on options. The new digital televisions, which will be priced at $1,000 to $1,500 above a traditional set, feature many similarities to computers. The computer industry, therefore, feels threatened by the development of digital televisions. Imminent competition with digital television producers has prompted the computer industry to pledge the inclusion of television receivers in PCs by the time digital televisions are scheduled to be available in 1998. Digital television makers will also fuel the rivalry by featuring interactive services with future products.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1996
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Survey shows viewers want interactive HDTV options
Article Abstract:
Executives of the consumer electronics industry meeting for a conference on digital television discovered that consumers are just as interested in using digital television for interactive services as they are for watching high-definition television programming, according to a survey by the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association. These findings come as sales of HDTV sets lag behind manufacturers' expectations. An estimate finds that no more than 20,000 of these sets have been sold since appearing on the market beginning in August 1998.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1999
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