Audio Video News

Set-top box (STB) maker Scientific-Atlanta reached its lowest stock price in almost four years on Friday, October 18, after posting quarterly results well below expectations. The company's stock closed at $11.45, a drop of 14%, making it one of the biggest losers on the New York Stock Exchange that day.

An agreement signed October 17 by <A HREF="http://www.panasonic.com">Panasonic</A> and <A HREF="http://www.cablelabs.com">CableLabs</A> will make Panasonic the first manufacturer to build digital television receivers capable of directly accepting high-definition signals from cable providers.

<I>Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Benicio del Toro, Kevin Pollack, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite, Suzy Amis. Directed by Bryan Singer. Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital 5.1. 106 minutes. 1995. MGM 27616 87481. R. $24.99.</I>

Within a year or so, EchoStar and DirecTV may not be the only satellite broadcasters over North America. <A HREF="http://www.cablevision.com">Cablevision Systems</A> may join them.

Steven Stone takes the <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?52">Marantz SA-12S1 multichannel SACD/DVD-Video/CD player</A> out for a spin or two and asks, "Is the SA-12S1 worth its lofty price tag of $3800? Welcome to the wonderful world of early adoption."

<I>Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D'Onofrio, Rip Torn, Tony Shaloub, Siobhan Fallon, Mike Nussbaum, Jon Gries. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. Aspect ratio: 1.85: 1 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital 5.1. 98 minutes. 1997. Columbia TriStar 43396 08771. PG-13. $19.99.</I>

October 7, 2002 - <A HREF="http://www.runco.com"> Runco International</A> has recently acquired the assets of Vidikron and Projectavision. Both brands had hit the skids due to serious marketing and management difficulties, and both will be revived as independent brand names under the Runco umbrella, according to a September 27 announcement.