A Reality Blog
The High-Def Life: Pressing the Flesh?
Today's stars: Las Vegas strippers, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and those idiots who carry luggage carts everywhere they go.
By Phillip Swann

Editor's Note: Phillip Swann, a.k.a. 'Swanni' and the president of TVPredictions.com, is writing a diary in 2006 on how High-Definition TV is changing lives, including his own Called "The High-Def Life," the blog includes the latest HDTV news and gossip -- and a peek at what's going on behind the scenes in the high-def industry. It also includes Swanni's now famous observations on how celebrities (and other things) look better or worse in HDTV. And, finally, Swanni will share with his readers what's going on in his own life, particularly as it relates to high-def.
Below is episode six of The High-Def Life. To read past and future episodes, click Here.

January 6, 2006 (Episode six)

Pressing the Flesh?
Getting drunk and stumbling into a strip club has long been a male (and sometimes female) ritual at the Consumer Electronics Show. Wearing a cloak of anonymity, attendees from Tulsa to Tokyo lineup to stuff dollar bills in the G-strings of long-legged women.

Naked long-legged women.

Of course, having once dated a stripper (and I'll have to tell you that story someday), I have been a willing participant in these annual excursions. In fact, I recall fondly once being fondled -- by two blonde twins named Cathy and Kathy. (At least, that's what they said their names were; my ex-girlfriend used a stage name so I assume they all do.) You never know what will happen in a Vegas strip club.

However, after another long day pressing the flesh at the convention, I don't think I will be joining my male colleagues tonight in looking at the flesh. (Or, in some cases, gawking at the flesh.) At my age, the idea of bedding a stripper has less appeal than getting to bed on time. (Comment?)

FCC's Martin: More HDTV Programming, Please
Why aren't more Americans buying Digital TVs? One reason, according to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, is the relatively small number of HDTV channels available on most cable and satellite systems. No kidding, Kev. If you would spend less time talking about so-called decency on TV and more time urging TV providers to expand their high-def lineups, you might find more Americans buying high-def sets. (See interview below with "Tom" and "Michael."

Martin made his remarks today in a conference interview with Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association.

Samsung: Hold On, Toshiba!
Toshiba this week announced it would launch its new HD-DVD players in March, with an entry price of just $499. That's hundreds of dollars less than the expected price for the Sony-backed Blu-ray player, which may not be available until summer. However, Samsung said today that it would introduce a Blu-ray player in April, although the price will still be twice as much as the low-end HD-DVD set-top. Samsung execs said Toshiba dropped the expected price on its entry-level player because it was "desperate." Before this year is over, the Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD war may be the industry's most contentious battle of the year.

Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas
Here are some random thoughts from the CES show floor:
* CES' motto should be 'no pain, no gain.' I think I've walked about 15 miles during the last two days to see the hottest exhibits. My legs feel like Joe Pesci from Casino has taken a baseball bat to them.
* And speaking of hot exhibits, Sony's Blu-Ray booth is red hot. Attendees were elbowing each other to get a better view of the new high-def DVD player in action. (Well, it will be new when it's launched this summer.) And, it looked sensational.

* I'm uncertain about the death penalty, but I might make an exception for the idiots who walk in crowded areas carrying a luggage cart behind them. I've seen four people trip over those things while trying to get around the hall.
*  High-Definition TVs are everywhere and I don't mean just the show floor. Plasma TVs are hanging from the ceiling in hotel lobbies; shopping malls; restaurants; the airport terminal. It's amazing. There might be more HDTVs in Vegas today than in the rest of the nation combined.
* DIRECTV has made a lot of noise here with launches of new portable video and on-demand services. However, the nation's largest satcaster has blown an opportunity to position itself as a HDTV leader. DIRECTV has made zero announcements regarding new HDTV channels while rival EchoStar yesterday said it was adding seven new HD channels. Some days I wonder about DIRECTV's executives.
* After listening to industry officials talk over the last two days, I will scream if I hear the following phrases ever again:

 "It's a win-win..."
"This platform is robust..."
"At the end of the day..."
"Our company is a unique ecosystem..."
"We must monetize the service..."

No wonder consumers can't understand new technology devices. Technology companies can't speak English! (Comment?)



More War Stories From the Front Lines
Do they look like High-Definition TV owners to you?

That's a good question. Afterall, what does a HDTV owner supposed to look like? Many newspaper stories suggest that high-def is still just a rich man's toy. But Tom (left) and Michael (right) are working behind the counter this week in a Harley Davidson store in the Las Vegas Convention Center, the site of CES. And they both have HDTV.

However, Tom has some buyer's remorse.

"The kids watch it," he says. "But I don't. There's not that much (HDTV programming) on."

So why did he buy it?

"The wife wanted a big-screen TV," he says. "It didn't matter whether it was HDTV or not. She just wanted one."

Michael, however, couldn't be happier about high-def. "Watching sports in HD is like being there," he says. (Comment?)

Click The High-Def Life to read the latest in high-def!

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Phillip Swann is president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com or at 703-505-3064.

And click TVPredictions.com to read more news and features on TV technology.