Audio Video News

There may be more than 220 <A HREF="http://www.imax.com">IMAX</A> theaters operating in 28 countries around the world, but videophiles still love to get their hands on IMAX videos, long acknowledged to be some of home theater's finest demo materials. Favorites among the dozen IMAX DVDs already available include <I>Super Speedway</I>, <I>Everest</I>, and <I>The Magic of Flight</I>. Now, more are on the way.

Last week, TiVo found itself the focus flurry of unwanted media attention as a new <A HREF="http://www.privacyfoundation.org/privacywatch/report.asp?id=62&action=0"... was released by the <A HREF="http://www.privacyfoundation.org/">Privacy Foundation</A> detailing at length how the TiVo system collects personal data. The report also reveals what the Privacy Foundation found while comparing a TiVo PVR's actual behavior under test with the company's stated privacy policy. The Foundation says that it and University of Denver Privacy Center have recently completed a fourth independent investigation of the TiVo device.

The third corporate makeover in three years begins April 1 at <A HREF="http://www.sony.com/">Sony Corporation</A>. The electronics and media giant announced March 30 that it will create a new top-level management group to be called the "Global Hub," with responsibility for coordinating all of Sony's vast empire, including entertainment, electronics, games, and financial and Internet services. "We'd like to make it a highly efficient group headquarters," explained Sony chairman Nobuyuki Idei.

Michael Powell, the newly appointed chairman of the <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov/">Federal Communications Commission</A>, announced March 29 to the House Telecommunications Subcommittee that his agency will soon begin reviewing ownership caps on broadcast television and other forms of media.

Twenty-five years of research and development by Canada's Energy Speaker Systems have culminated in the company's new Veritas series loudspeakers. Refinements have been made in every aspect of their design, from driver materials and cabinet construction to power handling and dispersion.

Audio and video retailer <A HREF="http://www.tweeter.com/">Tweeter Home Entertainment Group</A> announced last week that it has reached an agreement in principle to acquire Big Screen City, located in the greater San Diego and Temecula, CA areas. Big Screen City is a four-store specialty consumer electronics retailer with annual sales over $15 million, and has been in business in the San Diego market for 20 years. The companies say that they expect to complete the transaction on or about May 1, 2001.

Last week, the <A HREF="http://www.hrrc.org">Home Recording Rights Coalition</A> (HRRC) issued a statement condemning the encryption of terrestrial broadcast television programming, which the organization says will threaten established home recording rights. The HRRC made its comments in a letter sent to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael Powell in response to issues raised in a letter sent to Chairman Powell last week from members of Congress. In its letter, the HRRC expressed concerns that television programming producers may decide to provide content only to channels with strong copy protections.