Washington, D.C. (January 4, 2009) -- Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will give the pre-show keynote address Wednesday night kicking off the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Although Ballmer will likely focus on new PC-based technologies, many attendees during the week will be watching for major developments impacting the High-Definition TV industry.
In the last several years, high-def has dominated the annual gadget fest and this year is expected to be no different. (Thursday's keynote from Sony chief Howard Stringer should serve up more substance for the high-def enthusiast.)
So, as you make your way to the City of Lost Wages, here are 10 big HDTV questions that could be answered during the conference.
1. Will Dish Network Explain Its HDTV Shortage?
Dish Network said last July that it would offer 150 HD channels by the end of 2008. However, by year's end, the satcaster was over 100 HD channels, but far short of the 150 HD mark. Dish has a press briefing scheduled on Thursday? Will company CEO Charlie Ergen explain what happened to the missing high-def channels and/or reveal new HD channel launches for 2009?
2. Will the High-Def DVD Recorder Be Unveiled?
Companies have been selling high-def DVD recorders in Japan for several years, but have been shy about plans to introduce them elsewhere. Maybe this year at CES we will get some hint as to when they will be available here.
3. Will Larger-Screen OLED HDTVs Be Introduced?
At last year's CES, Sony introduced the first OLED TV, an 11-inch prototype, which later went on sale for a whopping $2,499. (The set, which is based on the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology, is just one-eight of an inch thick, compared to today's Plasma and LCD flat-screen sets which measure up to four inches thick.) Samsung also displayed a 31-inch OLED at CES, but it's not been available for sale.
So, will TV makers this year finally offer larger-screen -- and affordable -- OLED sets?
4. Will Blu-ray Makers Offer Lower Prices?
Blu-ray player prices dropped dramatically in 2008, with some available for under $200 during the holiday season. However, some analysts say prices need to fall even more to generate mass sales. So, will a Blu-ray manufacturer step up this year and announce plans for a $149 Blu-ray player? A $99 Blu-ray player? And, will a studio or two commit to lower prices for Blu-ray movies?
5. Will Sony Cut PlayStation 3 Prices?
Sony's PlayStation 3 video game console, which includes a Blu-ray player inside, has lagged in sales behind Microsoft's XBox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. Some have urged Sony to drop its entry-level price from $399 to $349 or lower to stimulate sales, but the company denies a price cut is planned. However, CES could produce a surprise here. If so, it would further stimulate interest in Blu-ray.
6. Will Net TV Devices Improve HD Service?
Netflix, TiVo, Microsoft's XBox and Apple's Apple TV all offer high-def downloads over Net TV devices. However, the video quality and download speed still leaves much to be desired. Will CES 2009 be the year that HD digital downloads gets a technological breakthrough and finally interests the average consumer?
7. Will CE Companies Reach a 3-D Consensus?
On Thursday at CES, Fox will sponsor a 3-D HDTV broadcast of the BCS college football championship between Florida and Oklahoma. However, despite growing interest in 3-D movies in theaters, home viewing has been slowed by battles over standards and specs. Perhaps the Fox broadcast will serve as a forum for industry companies to announce a common standard for the delivery of 3-D video in the home.
8. Will DIRECTV Make HDTV News?
Unlike rival Dish Network, DIRECTV currently does not have a press briefing scheduled at CES. However, the nation's top satcaster could use the conference as a forum to announce new channel launches for 2009.
9. Will TiVo Make a Splash?
In previous years at CES, many attendees awaited eagerly for TiVo's latest innovation to be announced, or perhaps, news of a merger with another company. However, TiVo has been relatively quiet in recent months, except for occasional press statements regarding its ongoing patent battle with Dish Network. Perhaps TiVo has been saving up something good for CES 2009.
10. Will More HDTVs Come With Blu-ray Player Inside?
Sharp last year introduced a 52-inch High-Definition set that comes with a Blu-ray player inside. Will more TV makers (who happen to be Blu-ray manufacturers as well) introduce combo HDTV/Blu-ray players as a way to boost the Blu-ray business?
That's my top 10 questions. Tune in to TVPredictions.com this week for complete coverage of the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, live from Las Vegas.
Comment on this article!
Although Ballmer will likely focus on new PC-based technologies, many attendees during the week will be watching for major developments impacting the High-Definition TV industry.
In the last several years, high-def has dominated the annual gadget fest and this year is expected to be no different. (Thursday's keynote from Sony chief Howard Stringer should serve up more substance for the high-def enthusiast.)
So, as you make your way to the City of Lost Wages, here are 10 big HDTV questions that could be answered during the conference.
1. Will Dish Network Explain Its HDTV Shortage?
Dish Network said last July that it would offer 150 HD channels by the end of 2008. However, by year's end, the satcaster was over 100 HD channels, but far short of the 150 HD mark. Dish has a press briefing scheduled on Thursday? Will company CEO Charlie Ergen explain what happened to the missing high-def channels and/or reveal new HD channel launches for 2009?
2. Will the High-Def DVD Recorder Be Unveiled?
Companies have been selling high-def DVD recorders in Japan for several years, but have been shy about plans to introduce them elsewhere. Maybe this year at CES we will get some hint as to when they will be available here.
3. Will Larger-Screen OLED HDTVs Be Introduced?
At last year's CES, Sony introduced the first OLED TV, an 11-inch prototype, which later went on sale for a whopping $2,499. (The set, which is based on the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology, is just one-eight of an inch thick, compared to today's Plasma and LCD flat-screen sets which measure up to four inches thick.) Samsung also displayed a 31-inch OLED at CES, but it's not been available for sale.
So, will TV makers this year finally offer larger-screen -- and affordable -- OLED sets?
4. Will Blu-ray Makers Offer Lower Prices?
Blu-ray player prices dropped dramatically in 2008, with some available for under $200 during the holiday season. However, some analysts say prices need to fall even more to generate mass sales. So, will a Blu-ray manufacturer step up this year and announce plans for a $149 Blu-ray player? A $99 Blu-ray player? And, will a studio or two commit to lower prices for Blu-ray movies?
5. Will Sony Cut PlayStation 3 Prices?
Sony's PlayStation 3 video game console, which includes a Blu-ray player inside, has lagged in sales behind Microsoft's XBox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. Some have urged Sony to drop its entry-level price from $399 to $349 or lower to stimulate sales, but the company denies a price cut is planned. However, CES could produce a surprise here. If so, it would further stimulate interest in Blu-ray.
6. Will Net TV Devices Improve HD Service?
Netflix, TiVo, Microsoft's XBox and Apple's Apple TV all offer high-def downloads over Net TV devices. However, the video quality and download speed still leaves much to be desired. Will CES 2009 be the year that HD digital downloads gets a technological breakthrough and finally interests the average consumer?
7. Will CE Companies Reach a 3-D Consensus?
On Thursday at CES, Fox will sponsor a 3-D HDTV broadcast of the BCS college football championship between Florida and Oklahoma. However, despite growing interest in 3-D movies in theaters, home viewing has been slowed by battles over standards and specs. Perhaps the Fox broadcast will serve as a forum for industry companies to announce a common standard for the delivery of 3-D video in the home.
8. Will DIRECTV Make HDTV News?
Unlike rival Dish Network, DIRECTV currently does not have a press briefing scheduled at CES. However, the nation's top satcaster could use the conference as a forum to announce new channel launches for 2009.
9. Will TiVo Make a Splash?
In previous years at CES, many attendees awaited eagerly for TiVo's latest innovation to be announced, or perhaps, news of a merger with another company. However, TiVo has been relatively quiet in recent months, except for occasional press statements regarding its ongoing patent battle with Dish Network. Perhaps TiVo has been saving up something good for CES 2009.
10. Will More HDTVs Come With Blu-ray Player Inside?
Sharp last year introduced a 52-inch High-Definition set that comes with a Blu-ray player inside. Will more TV makers (who happen to be Blu-ray manufacturers as well) introduce combo HDTV/Blu-ray players as a way to boost the Blu-ray business?
That's my top 10 questions. Tune in to TVPredictions.com this week for complete coverage of the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, live from Las Vegas.
Comment on this article!
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