Barry Willis

Televised sports are one of the primary drivers of the digital television revolution.

Cable customers have long complained about inexplicable, inflated fees on their monthly bills and requirements by cable suppliers that they rent set-top converter boxes and other equipment even when it wasn't needed or wanted.

Philips Electronics has thrown its weight behind "SmartRight," a digital content copy-protection technology developed by Thomson Multimedia, according to mid-December reports from Paris and Geneva. Originally called XCA, SmartRight is a smart-card–based technique that could allay Hollywood's fears about offering hit movies over the Internet or via high-definition broadcasts.

Warner Home Video president and DVD pioneer Warren Lieberfarb abruptly departed from the company Friday, December 20. No official reason for his resignation was given, but some industry insiders alluded to his dissatisfaction with upper management at media conglomerate AOL TimeWarner.