Audio Video News

Sunfire Corporation has introduced the third generation of its Theater Grand surround sound processors. The new Theater Grand III supports all current surround formats, including Dolby Digital 7.1 Surround EX, and is software upgradeable via a watermarked CD.

Federal Communications Chairman Michael Powell isn't the only powerful figure in Washington who is working toward a solution to the digital television impasse. Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA) is doing his part, too.

Walt Disney's <A HREF="http://www.movies.com">Movies.com</A> won't be streaming any Fox Entertainment Group releases any time in the foreseeable future.

Would-be merger mates DirecTV and EchoStar Communications may not be the only television action in the Western sky if European satellite operator SES Global can win approval to beam its signals to American dishes.

High definition television has been slow to gain traction in consumer markets, partly due to ongoing struggles between the content providers and equipment manufacturers. Movie studios wish to restrict the consumer's use of an HDTV signal while manufacturers recognize that consumers will be slow to embrace any technology that becomes too cumbersome or restrictive to implement.

New broadband offerings, including high-speed Internet access and video-on-demand, may be coming soon, thanks to an April 18 decision by the <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov">Federal Communications Commission</A> (FCC).

When it comes to persuasive reasons to purchase an HDTV, nothing beats having compelling content&mdash;and lots of it. Add one more notch to the content totals: Discovery Communications announced last week that it will launch Discovery HD Theater. The company describes HD Theater as a new 24-hour network "which will transmit high-definition content in all the popular categories of entertainment offered by Discovery" including nature, history, world cultures, geographic explorations, science, education, travel, and a wealth of children's and how-to programming.