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HDTV Expert - "Antenna" Digital TV: When All Else Fails...

Terrestrial digital TV proved its resilience during a severe ice storm in southeastern Pennsylvania, where a three-antenna home setup covering roughly 55 channels in the Philadelphia metro market delivered uninterrupted broadcasts while Comcast cable, Verizon mobile data, and VoIP all failed simultaneously. A TiVo HD DVR with a built-in terrestrial DTV tuner remained fully functional, underscoring the practical advantage of maintaining an over-the-air setup alongside subscription services. The experience also frames the ongoing FCC UHF spectrum auction debate, questioning whether reallocating broadcast frequencies to mobile carriers is wise given how reliably the one-to-many broadcast model performs when cellular networks collapse under disaster-driven traffic loads.

Pete Putman •
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3DTV 4K Ultra HD Cable HD

Cox Communications brings Masters Golf Tournament to customers in 3D on ESPN 3D

Cox Communications launched ESPN 3D channel 896 for Cox Advanced TV Plus customers in Virginia, delivering stereoscopic Masters Golf Tournament coverage from April 11-14, 2013 using 6-9 dedicated cameras with 3D-specific graphics and commentary. Viewers require a 3D-compatible television manufactured March 2010 or later, Cox HD service, and an HD/DVR Trio receiver with HDMI output to access the channel. Customers without 3D hardware can still watch full Masters coverage on standard ESPN, making the 3D tier an optional upgrade rather than a replacement broadcast.

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Politics & Policy Sports Laser TVs

One in Five Owners Bought an HDTV to Watch the Super Bowl, According to CEA Study

A CEA Sports and Technology Study V found that 22 percent of U.S. HDTV owners purchased their sets specifically to watch the Super Bowl, making it the single biggest sporting event driver of TV sales. Of the 70 percent of online U.S. adults planning to follow the game, 53 percent intended to watch live in high-definition, while 10 percent planned to engage via social media. CEA projections for 2013 forecast 3D-capable TV sales rising 39 percent to 5.7 million units and internet-connected displays reaching 12.3 million units, signaling that sports viewership is a meaningful catalyst for consumer electronics adoption.

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3DTV Politics & Policy Sports

HDTV Expert - Watching the Olympics in 3D: 'DNF'

Comcast channel 981 carries the 2012 London Olympics in side-by-side frame-compatible 3D, viewable on active-shutter displays such as the Samsung UN46ES7500 46-inch LCD. Gymnastics events proved more compelling in stereoscopic 3D than diving, with close camera positioning creating genuine depth, though viewer fatigue set in after 30 to 60 minutes of continuous glasses-on viewing. Intrusive pop-up ads appearing as frequently as every 3 minutes 50 seconds and blocking 15% of the screen undermine the experience enough that switching back to standard 2D coverage becomes the practical choice.

Pete Putman •
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3DTV LED TVs OTA HD & Antennas

NBC Olympics & Panasonic Announce Nearly 80 Percent Of U.S. TV Households Will Receive High-Definition 3D Broadcast Feed Of The London 2012 Olympic Games

NBC Olympics and Panasonic are delivering the first-ever 3D broadcast of the Olympic Games to nearly 80 percent of U.S. TV households, with approximately 242 hours of Full HD 3D content distributed across major cable, satellite, and telco providers including Comcast, DirecTV, and Verizon. Captured using Panasonic's twin-lens Full HD 3D camera recorder systems, the next-day-delay programming covers 12 hours daily and spans events from gymnastics to track and field. Viewers with compatible 3D televisions can relive Olympic highlights in a format previously unavailable for the Games.

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Mobile HD Politics & Policy LED TVs

HDTV Almanac - More U.S. Households Rely on TV Broadcasts

Over-the-air television reliance in the U.S. has grown to nearly 18% of TV households, with a GfK Media study showing approximately 7 million additional viewers dropping subscription services, bringing the exclusive over-the-air audience to more than 20 million. The shift is attributed to a combination of consumer cost-cutting and migration toward broadband-based streaming alternatives. Any FCC spectrum auction or reassignment must account for this substantial population that depends on free broadcast signals for access to information.

Alfred Poor •
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Projection HD Streaming HD Politics & Policy

HDTV Almanac - Strawberries and Cream Over the Top

Livestream is partnering with Wimbledon to deliver free HD live coverage of the tennis tournament, including player interviews, press conferences, and match highlights streamed directly through Wimbledon.com. This follows a broader trend of over-the-top streaming expanding sports coverage beyond traditional broadcast limits, as demonstrated by the 2,000-plus hours of online Olympic coverage from China. For viewers, connecting a browser-capable device to a big screen now offers a viable alternative to linear TV for major live sporting events.

Alfred Poor •
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Mobile HD Politics & Policy LED TVs

HDTV Almanac - Supreme Court Throws Out FOX and ABC Sanctions

The Supreme Court struck down FCC sanctions against ABC and FOX, including a $1.2 million penalty against ABC for nudity in an 'NYPD Blue' episode, ruling that the agency failed to provide fair warning about its 'fleeting expletive' enforcement rules before the incidents occurred. The narrow ruling leaves First Amendment questions unresolved and may also invalidate the FCC's half-million dollar fine against NBC stemming from the Janet Jackson Super Bowl halftime incident. With a backlog of 1.5 million indecency complaints and ongoing tension between broadcast and subscription-based cable standards, further Supreme Court review appears likely.

Alfred Poor •
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Projection HD Streaming HD Politics & Policy

HDTV Almanac - Boys of Summer Go Mobile

MLB At Bat 12 surpassed 3 million downloads in just eight days, with the $15 full-season app delivering pitch-by-pitch animation, live radio, and video streams averaging over 800,000 daily plays. On April 11 alone, fans logged more than 1 million live streams, a figure representing 6% of the average 16.6 million television viewers who watched the 2011 World Series. For fans outside their home team's broadcast footprint, this app offers a cost-effective, digitally clear alternative to traditional over-the-air radio and TV coverage.

Alfred Poor •
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Projection HD Streaming HD Politics & Policy

HDTV Almanac - March Madness Online: No More Free Ride!

NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament streaming, covering all 67 games, moves to a paid model in 2012 at a one-time fee of $3.99. The service supports multi-platform playback across computers, iPads, and iPhone and Android smartphones, with a built-in Boss Screen feature for desktop viewers. At under four dollars for full tournament access, the low price point makes cord-cutting a practical option for fans who want flexibility without a cable subscription.

Alfred Poor •
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Mobile HD Politics & Policy IPTV

HDTV Almanac - We Control the Channel! (Well, We're Trying)

Panasonic, Samsung, LG, and Sony have each announced Minimum Sale Price (MSP) policies targeting premium and select mid-tier television models, moving beyond traditional Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) agreements to enforce actual transaction floors. Retailers who violate these pricing floors risk losing wholesale purchasing rights, a significant enforcement mechanism that could tighten margins across the retail channel. Shoppers hunting for discounts on flagship models should verify authorized dealer status carefully, as manufacturer warranties may be voided on units purchased through unauthorized discounters.

Alfred Poor •
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4K Ultra HD Cable HD Mobile HD

HDTV Almanac - Retransmission Saga Continues

A retransmission dispute between Madison Square Garden channels and Time Warner Cable was resolved after nearly two months, requiring intervention from New York's governor and attorney general. Meanwhile, LIN TV is threatening to pull its Fox, CBS, and CW affiliates from Cox in Rhode Island and Pensacola, leveraging relaxed FCC multi-ownership rules to strengthen its negotiating position after a severe drop in ad revenues. For pay-TV subscribers, escalating retransmission fees represent a real cost pressure that could ultimately trigger regulatory review of FCC ownership and retransmission policies.

Alfred Poor •
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4K Ultra HD Cable HD Digital Cinema

HDTV Almanac - FCC to Revisit "Must Carry" Rules

The FCC is preparing to revisit 'must carry' rules as a three-year waiver, which permitted cable operators to downscale high-definition digital broadcast signals for analog distribution networks, approaches its June expiration. If the waiver is not renewed, cable companies may face pressure to accelerate costly infrastructure upgrades to all-digital systems, requiring converter boxes for subscribers without digital tuners. For consumers, the outcome could reshape which local broadcast channels remain accessible and whether smaller-audience stations survive on pay-TV platforms.

Alfred Poor •
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LED TVs OTA HD & Antennas Politics & Policy

HDTV Almanac - Shed Some Light on Sports Blackouts

FCC sports blackout rules, which allow NFL teams to block over-the-air local broadcasts when games fail to sell out, are under scrutiny after the Cincinnati Bengals blacked out a game in markets including Cincinnati, Dayton, and Lexington. The Bengals' stadium cost taxpayers over $450 million, fueling debate over whether publicly subsidized teams owe communities free broadcast access. The FCC is accepting public comments until February 13, giving consumers a direct opportunity to influence whether these blackout policies are revised.

Alfred Poor •
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Mobile HD Politics & Policy LED TVs

HDTV Almanac - Cable and Satellite Complaints Rise

FCC complaint data for Q3 2011 shows cable and satellite service complaints rose more than 15% quarter-over-quarter, with Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act complaints surging nearly 44%, signaling growing friction over retransmission rights. Broadcasters are withholding local content from subscription TV providers to extract higher licensing fees, a tactic that can leave subscribers without channels for weeks or months. The dispute drew political attention when DirecTV customers in Boston faced a potential SuperBowl blackout, and the issue is expected to remain contentious through 2012.

Alfred Poor •
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