ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 27, 1996 TAG: 9611270015
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: RORY J. O'CONNOR KNIGHT-RIDDER/TRIBUNE
THE AGREEMENT between computer and TV industries marks the end of a decade-long process.
The computer industry and TV broadcasters agreed to compromise standards for digital television broadcasts late Monday, a decision likely to hasten the arrival of razor sharp digital television in American homes.
The agreement, the culmination of a decade-long process, means that digital television ``is less than two years away,'' said Reed Hundt, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. ``I'm pleased as punch with the agreement we've managed to facilitate.''
It also assures that the next generation of TV signals will work on either personal computers or TV sets, hastening the merging of computer and TV technology.
Combining the technology means it will be possible to do things like watch a digital TV program and browse the Internet at the same time on the same device, said Donald Norman, vice president of research for Apple Computer Inc., one of the industry's lead negotiators.
``I've always thought about watching a nature show, and being able to browse the Internet at the same time for more information about that bird,'' Norman said.
Consumers will almost certainly be able to see digital TV broadcasts ``by the end of the decade,'' said Dennis Wharton, a spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters.
TV set makers have pledged to manufacture digital TV sets by 1998, and several TV stations across the United States are already broadcasting experimental digital TV signals.
But the agreement means more than just better-looking and sounding TV pictures.
Experts have predicted such a merger would spawn a wave of new information and entertainment services for consumers at home, as well as a huge new revenue stream for business.
``What I've wanted all along was enough flexibility to accelerate the evolution of PC-TV,'' Hundt said. ``The door is now open for that.''
The agreement ends a bitter dispute between the TV industry and computer manufacturers over the technical details of how to send digital video signals over the airwaves.
It appeared the standoff would seriously delay the introduction of digital TV broadcasting, and make either new TV sets or new PCs much more expensive.
Under the proposed compromise, consumers might not even have to junk their existing TV sets to watch digital programs when they become available. They will likely be able to purchase inexpensive ``converter boxes'' that could decode the digital broadcasts and display them on the more than 250 million TV sets now in use in the United States.
But the best pictures will come on new, digital sets or on personal computers outfitted to receive the signals. Norman predicted the new agreement would make it possible to build such computers ``without much impact on the price.''
Consumers as well as broadcasters, though, will have to choose what technology they want to use to receive their digital television. Because the standard doesn't define things like ``resolution'' - the number of tiny dots used to display a TV image - and the shape of the screen, consumers will have more choices than in existing TV market. But they face the risk of choosing a potentially obsolete technology, such as the Beta videotape format.
Just three weeks ago, the dispute seemed intractable, despite attempts by the two sides to negotiate a settlement.
But mounting public pressure and constant drum beating by the FCC appears to have greased the skids. Negotiators worked feverishly over the past weekend and into Monday afternoon to craft an agreement in principle, Wharton said.
``We made an offer last Friday night to the computer industry, and had discussions through [Monday], and the computer folks agreed to the proposal,'' he said.
``I like to think sweet reason prevailed,'' Hundt said. ``That and jawboning, elbow-twisting and a fair bit of huckstering. Once people understood this was important to the FCC and we asked them to put down the weapons, they did.''
The text of the agreement must be delivered to the FCC, which will then decide whether to approve it, a step that now appears likely.
LENGTH: Medium: 82 linesby CNB