Audio Video News

Some of the most welcome news to come out of the 2004 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was Sumiko's announcement of BARCO's return to the North American market. BARCO has long been a leader in professional and industrial DLP and CRT products, and has now developed a new line o f consumer-oriented DLP projectors called CineVERSUM.

Ever wonder why your cable rates keep climbing? Take a peek behind the scenes at what cable providers have to pay for programming: With only three months remaining on its current contract, ESPN, the sports network, and Cox Communications are still negotiating future annual affiliate rate increases&mdash;which are currently projected at 20%. Merrill Lynch analysts estimate that Cox pays ESPN (and parent Walt Disney Company) approximately $400 million per year, costs that are passed on to subscribers. Cox is seeking a reduction in fees, a move that could become a model for other cable companies and satellite services. Similarly, Fox Sports Net reportedly asked the Cox organization for a 35% increase for use of its 12 regional sports networks. Affiliate fees account for more than 10% of total annual revenue for big media companies like Disney, TimeWarner, and Viacom, according to <I>The Hollywood Reporter</I>.

Joel Brinkley checks out the <A HREF="/accessories/1103panasonic">Panasonic TU-DST52 digital receiver</A>, noting that this is the latest generation DTV unit from the company that created the very first model released in the US. "These products have been among the best. This latest incarnation is no exception."

Always seeking cost-effective improvements in home theater sound, Norwood, MA-based Atlantic Technology has introduced a subwoofer controller that the manufacturer claims "can dramatically improve the sound quality of any subwoofer by fine-tuning its interaction with the acoustic characteristics of the listening room."

Fujitsu has added an impressive 50"-diagonal plasma display panel to its monitor line.

End of the year sales show that flat screens are the hottest new video display technology this season, but pricing and performance still hold them back. Michael Fremer explains why the <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?74">Hitachi 42HDT20 16:9 plasma television</A> is a step in the right direction, and how it changed his opinion about plasma's future.