European sofas brace for HDTV starting within the next year

August 14, 2004

In Europe,
while some estimate that HDTV will never come to the European Market,
broadcasters on the other hand have definite plans for a change over. HDTV is already being broadcast in the 5
continents including the
US,
Canada,
Japan,
Australia and
South Korea,
while Europe is just beginning to start rolling it
out. The TPS television package in
France expects
to launch HTDV channels in 2005 followed by Sky Digital Satellite in the
UK in 2006. The BBC plans its full changeover in
2010.

At the end of 2003, there were 50,000 households with HDTV in
Europe and Datamonitor research forecasts this to
increase to 4.6 million in 2008 once pricing starts to fall. It will like be much like the change
over from B&W to Colour in the 1950's to 1960's. The first colour TV by RCA only sold
1,000 sets back in 1956 and colour penetration only reached 3% by 1956, mainly
due to the high cost of colour TVs ($ 500 - $ 1,000) and the lack of colour
programming.

Now we
have the same story with HDTV in Europe. While HDTV has much a superior picture
quality (1280x720 progressive / 1920x1080 interlaced) compared with standard TV
(720x576 interlaced), the lack of HDTV content and high HDTV-set costs will
initially hinder sales. However
Datamonitor predicts all European broadcasts will be HDTV-only 20 years from
now.

Momentum for HDTV is now building. Broadcasters have announced definite deployment plans and the consumer electronics industry is a-buzz over this new market. Some observers said that HDTV would never come to the European market, but this year it has arrived and James Healey, Datamonitor's senior media and broadcasting technologies analyst, says that it is here to stay...

New Datamonitor research forecasts that there will be 4.6 million high-definition TV (HDTV) households in Europe by 2008, up from 50,000 at the end of 2003. Germany, the UK and France will lead the European rollout. In the beginning high prices will hinder sales but those who do buy will be in the top-tier of the ABC1 advertising super-group, with large disposable incomes.

HDTV - the cinema show at home
The most accurate comparison to HDTV is the introduction of the simple color TV in the 1950s in America. The similarities are striking: the picture quality was noticeably superior to the old generation of black and white TVs, there was little color content initially and the prices were sky high. The first TV, produced by RCA, cost $ 1,000. It is estimated only 1,000 were sold in the first year (1956). Even by 1964, penetration had climbed to only 3 per cent. Color TVs cost $ 500-1,200, while black and white versions retailed for $ 150-300.

Today, it's HDTV. Already being broadcast
in the US, Australia, Japan, Canada and South Korea, European consumers
will be able to benefit from improved picture clarity and surround sound
like at the movies (referred to as 5.1 in technical terms). HDTV
introduces new terms: 720p and 1080i. Televisions in Europe today display
576 lines, but HD video increases this line count (thus the improved
picture quality) to either 720 or 1080 (depending which standard is
selected by the broadcaster).

Read the full story
here.

Recently, Europe launched one HDTV channel
named Euro1080 that was free-to-air up until May. It broadcasts various sport and music
events in the 1080i and could easily be picked up on a reasonably quick PC
(2.4GHz+), a basic FTA DVB card and a dish pointing to Astra 19.2E.

Unfortunately, Euro1080 decided to go mostly encrypted in
May, now only showing demo broadcasts Free-to-air and is expected to be
fully encrypted beginning 2005.
This means that in order for the consumer to watch this channel, they now
need to fork out for a fairly expensive DVB card with a CI slot, an Irdeto CAM
not to mention another €200 for the viewing card.

Currently, the best way to see HDTV content in action would be to get
hold of Microsoft's HDTV demo trailers or a DVD with a 2^nd disc in
Windows Media HD. Feel free to discuss and find out more about HDTV on our
Satellite, HD-TV, Blu-ray and HD-DVD
Forum.

Source: The Register - Personal