A coalition of Canadian broadcasters is seeking to permanently shut down <A HREF="http://www.icravetv.com/">iCraveTV.com</A>, a website that until recently had been retransmitting US and Canadian TV programming over the Internet. The site was on the receiving end of an <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/shownews.cgi?629">American lawsuit</A> filed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania late in January by a group of television networks, film studios, and professional sports leagues.

Looking for the ultimate computer monitor or a very thin home-theater display? <A HREF="http://sharp-world.com/">Sharp Corporation</A> has just announced the launch of the world's first television with a liquid-crystal screen and onboard decoder of direct satellite broadcasts. The 30"-diagonal screen is only 2.4" thick, making it the world's largest LCD television, according to Sharp executives.

Showtime Networks has begun offering its East and West Coast feeds in high-definition video mode with Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound. <A HREF="http://www.showtimeonline.com/">Showtime</A> is the first premium cable network to do so, the company claims.

Last week, Gemstar International Group announced that its subsidiary, <A HREF="http://www.StarSight.com/">StarSight Telecast</A>, had filed a patent-infringement suit against <A HREF="http://www.tivo.com">TiVo</A> in Federal District Court, Northern District of California. According to Gemstar, the suit claims "that TiVo willfully infringed certain Gemstar intellectual property by virtue of TiVo's deployment, marketing, offers to sell, and sale of personalized video recorder devices containing an unlicensed interactive program guide." Gemstar, which markets VCR Plus+, says it is seeking an injunction and monetary damages.