Audio Video News

By the first day of November, more than half the nation's television viewers—those within reach of the Columbia Broadcasting System's 40 major stations—will be in the "footprint" of HDTV broadcasting from CBS. The network has announced an ambitious production schedule for the fall season that includes at least 12 hours of prime-time HDTV programming each week.

Underwritten by Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Inc., the programming will be "the most extensive HDTV programming package ever presented on broadcast or cable television," according to CBS. Returning series to be broadcast in HD are Touched by an Angel, The King of Queens, Everybody Loves Raymond, Becker, JAG, Diagnosis Murder, Chicago Hope, Nash Bridges, Early Edition, and Martial Law. Two new HDTV programs debuted September 20: Ladies' Man and Family Law.

Judging Amy appeared on September 21; Work With Me will appear for the first time Wednesday, September 29; and Love or Money debuts Friday, October 8.

Working jointly with Mitsubishi, CBS recently broadcast the semifinals and finals of the U.S. Open Tennis Championship in hi-def. The electronics maker will get plenty of advertising in the fall lineup deal with CBS. At the beginning of each HD program, banner ads for Mitsubishi will inform viewers about Mitsubishi's sponsorship and products. Internet addresses (or URLs, "uniform resource locators") will help consumers learn more about the company. All the HD programming will also be simulcast as standard analog NTSC video.