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Why should they care?
Well, according to the FCC, by July 1, 2007, the USA will be ready for digital-HD formatting and will order that the analog ports be shut off from showing high resolution HD content. Yes, shut off. So, when this happens, the HD component output will no longer carry anything higher than 480p resolution video. In other words, the native 720p and 1080i HD formats won?t work at all ? unless, of course, you use the digital DVI or HDMI ports. You see, these digital ports can?t be copied so Hollywood supports this transition as it virtually eliminates content pirating/theft.
Simple enough -- just switch the output ports, right?
Well, not so easy. Sure, if your TV?s HD satellite or cable box is directly connected to the TV with a single cable, all is OK. But, if you?re connected like most sports bars are where signal routing is done via component HDTV distribution amplifiers and switchers and lots of high resolution coax cable, no way.
In fact, their system design will have to be overhauled completely. Every DA, every switcher, every cable and every connector will have to be re-installed and changed to DVI or HDMI for anything other than 480p -- enhanced definition television (EDTV) -- to be displayed. And, who wants to look at EDTV when you can get HDTV?
So, what?s the message here?
Well, if you?re an AV systems integrator designing systems using digital cable, satellite TV or any sort of HD format, you need to be future-thinking and have a plan for how you?re going to go back later and change out what you?ve put in there and make it true, digital HDTV. Or, at the very least, fully disclose to your clients what?s happening in just a couple of years. Or they?ll come back to you complaining that you didn?t.
If you?re a customer: beware. Not every AV integration firm realizes that we are in the midst of this transition to digital TV. Sure, everyone knows it?s happening, but the extent to which this affects TV viewing may not be apparent. HDTV will eventually ONLY be digital.
Finally, if you?re a consumer ? don?t go out and buy an old-technology analog format TV. Buy the new generation HDTV format displays and take the time to look on the back and make sure there?s either an HDMI or a DVI connection for truly digital HDTV display.
Gary Kayye, CTS is Chief Visionary at Kayye Consulting, Inc., a Chapel Hill, NC-based marketing consulting firm that serves the ProAV and Home Theater markets. In addition to strategic marketing consulting, Kayye Consulting, Inc. is also a training development company. Gary can be reached via e-mail at gkayye@kayye.com or through his Web site at www.kayye.com.
Gary Kayye, CTS is Chief Visionary at Kayye Consulting, Inc., a Chapel Hill, NC-based marketing consulting firm that serves the ProAV and Home Theater markets. In addition to strategic marketing consulting, Kayye Consulting, Inc. is also a training development company. Gary can be reached via e-mail at gkayye@kayye.com or through his Web site at www.kayye.com. Related Sites: Creative Mac , Digital Producer , Digital Video Editing , Audio Video Producer , BN - Broadcast Newsroom , HD Issues , Presentation Master , Oceania , CEN - HomeTheatre , BN - HD , BN - Hardware
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