TCI blasts CEMA remarks on HDTV approach

Electronic News, Feb 2, 1998 by Peter Brown

Englewood, Colo.--In an effort to clarify disparaging remarks about its digital television (DTV) roadmap, cable giant Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI) last week issued a statement angrily blasting the Consumer Electronics Manufacturing Association (CEMA) for allegedly issuing false information about TCI's approach to high definition television (HDTV). Apparently, CEMA claims that TCI customers will never have the chance to view HDTV because the company plans on down converting its HDTV signals to a 480 progressive (480-P) resolution format rather than the 1080 interlace (1080-I) resolution format commonly associated with HDTV signals. According to TCI, these claims are false and the company's digital set-top boxes will be able to pass through HDTV signals or any other proposed HDTV format selected by broadcasters. "CEMA's information is incorrect, and it was extremely irresponsible of them to mislead the public. The truth is, TCI has provided for additional choices and flexibility for all involved," Leo J. Hindery, Jr., president of TCI, said in the statement. "The technology in TCI's advanced digital set-top devices allows a television signal in any HDTV format to be transmitted to a customer's high-definition television set. Secondly, customers who do not own a high-definition television set can receive 480-P HDTV signals, translated into a standard definition format, with the set-top device as currently configured. As the market for HDTV evolves, TCI will continue to respond to the needs of its customers. Any accusation that we are impeding this process is dead wrong."

Progressive And Interlaced Formats

The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) DTV broadcast standard gives TV stations the option of using and switching between any of 18 different television formats that combine different screen ratios (16:9 'wide-screen' or 4:3 analog TVs), numbers of horizontal and vertical lines of resolution, and scanning methods (either 'interlaced' scanning, like analog TV displays, or 'progressive' scanning, like computer monitors). Progressive is said to offer a lower resolution picture while conserving bandwidth for other uses, such as the Internet or interactive services.

The TCI statement comes hot off the heels of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that showcased HDTVs from numerous television manufacturers, including Sharp, Sony, RCA, Mitsubishi, Samsung, Philips and more (EN, Jan. 12). Each vendor promised to deliver their HDTVs by the end of this year, some as early as 3Q98.

However, industry observers believe these TVs will be sitting on the shelves. At the price point well above $8,000 and with only the 10 major U.S. broadcasting markets delivering limited signals for HDTV, the attractiveness of these sets could be nonexistent. This is TCI's contention, at least. The cable company said for the moment and for the foreseeable future that HDTV will be in demand by only a few customers--only the real die-hard technology buffs. Until the market moves toward solid sales and respectable content, TCI is taking a wait-and-see attitude about making a full pledge to the 1080-I format.

"Our support depends upon what our customers request and the availability of these new TVs," said LaRae Marsik, director of media relations, for TCI. "If these TVs are not well received, then we won't be implementing any kind of 1080-I formats for a while. The market will determine what direction we as a company will take."

By the fall of 1998, the 10 major broadcast cities in the U.S. are required by the Federal Communications Commission to have digital content available. These include areas around Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Francisco. This represents more than 35 percent of the entire U.S. By May of 1999, 30 cities will be required to have digital signals. This accounts for more than 50 percent of the coverage in the U.S.

Microsoft's HD-0

According to Jonathan Cassell, analyst at San Jose, Calif.-based Dataquest, TCI is siding with Microsoft's interactive HDTV plan, dubbed the HD-0. HD-0 is Microsoft's attempt to move into the HDTV realm with Windows CE. Developed in cooperation with Intel and Compaq Computer, the HD-0 scheme features progressive scanning rather than interlaced scanning which is more associated with HDTV. In theory, by using progressive and not using the entire bandwidth for a crystal clear picture, TCI or another cable company could use the remaining bandwidth for more standard definition channels in the same space or more digital and interactive services, which Microsoft is heavily focused on.

"When I think of HDTV, I think of the 1930x1080 format for the highest resolution possible, but other definitions have come out that have blurred that," said Mr. Cassell. "TCI already said it would be using Windows CE with its HDTV solution, which is why they partnered with Microsoft a while ago. By using Windows CE it is clear that TCI is heading more in the direction of data and interactive rather than the highest quality of picture. But that's not to say they couldn't do full high-definition TVs, it just seems they will get more out of the signal if they go (the interactive) way."