Audio Video News

<I>Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aim&#233;e, Sandra Milo, Barbara Steele, Guido Alberti. Directed by Federico Fellini. Aspect ratio: 1.85:1. Dolby Digital mono (Italian, English subtitles). Two DVDs. 138 minutes. 1963. The Criterion Collection 140. NR. $39.95.</I>

While the music business is experiencing harrowing declines in CD sales (12% down in the first quarter of 2002, compared with last year), DVD movie sales are growing at a fantastic pace. According to figures released by the <A HREF="http://www.dvdinformation.com">DVD Entertainment Group</A> (DEG), more than 120 million DVD movies and music videos shipped in the first three months of 2002, which represents an impressive 74% increase over the same quarter last year.

The <A HREF="http://www.ce.org">Consumer Electronics Association</A> (CEA) has reacted strongly to a recent federal court order that would force consumer electronics manufacturer <A HREF="http://www.sonicblue.com">SonicBlue</A> to develop and install information-gathering software in its ReplayTV personal video recorders (PVRs).

Plans by the entertainment industry to control the distribution of digital programming could have dire consequences for consumers, a <A HREF="http://www.philips.com">Philips Electronics</A> executive told US congressmen in late April.

New Year's Day, 2003 may be a day of special celebration for sports and movie fans. Ten of the nation's biggest cable providers have pledged to begin delivering digital signals by then, according to a May 2 report by Bill McConnell in the trade journal <I>Broadcasting and Cable</I>.

<A HREF="http://www.showtimenetworks.com/">Showtime Networks</A> must be on an HDTV roll. On the heels of its recent announcement about adding its high definition offerings to the DirecTV service, the premium channel broadcaster announced more HDTV programming this week, along with an audio upgrade.

Russ Herschelmann (<I>Stereophile Guide to Home Theater</I>'s "Home Theater Architect") will be conducting a special two-day intensive home theater workshop on Saturday and Sunday, June 29&ndash;30, 2002, in Napa, California. For more information concerning what will be covered during the two-part event, go to <A HREF="http://www.home-theater-guy.com">www.home-theater-guy.com</A> and click on "Workshops."