NBC's Zucker: Who Needs HDTV?

TV Predictions.com ^ | 10-26-06 | Phillip Swann

[kinoxi]

I like Wink. I just laugh at NBC.

[MCH]

The neo-luddites are out in full force on FR this evening. I suppose it's an indication of the age of the average FReeper :).

[Hildy]

1) Cost. Why pay $3,000 for a tv set when you can get a great standard tv for $300?

Why pay $40,000 for a car when you can get one for $11,000? Why pay $50 for a sweater, when you can get one for $9.99. IT'S THE QUALITY. Some of us are willing to spend the money we earn on some of the nicer things in life.

[B Knotts]

The real problem is that there is virtually no one left in Hollywood who can still write scripts.

They used to crank 'em out by the bushel years ago (particularly in the radio/serial days), but it's largely a lost art.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Oh, we watch all that, too... also H&G, but we like CSI, our nephew works for Amazing Home Makeover at ABC, we like House and Bones on Fox, etc...

[Moonman62]

That depends. I was in a Magnolia AV store last night and saw a horrible site: Keith Richards in HD!

They should have some type of "parental" control to block that sort of thing.

[Moonman62]

I looked him up on IMDB. It mentioned that recording and that he was a boyhood friend of Elvis.

[Poser]

"You have obviously never really seen a true HD picture. Comparing a 17 inch $200 set and picture to $2000 big screen HD picture and set is like saying that there is no difference between looking out a dirty window and opening the window. I have both a 26 inch SDTV and a 47 inch HDTV hooked up to DTV and there is no comparison between the picture quality and sound."

Did I say 17"? I thought I said 27".

I have seen every kind of HD picture known to Best Buy and Circuit City. Yes, the picture quality is better, but not enough better to make me spend a few grand so that 15% of my viewing can be a little better.

I'm not dissatisfied with my regular TV, DirecTV, DVR setup. It works great and looks good. I really don't like "theater" sound for most viewing. It sort of like the Betamax vs. VHS thing. Beta was better, but not enough better to justify the cost. I think that's why the HDTV adoption rate has been slow. The new technology has to be enough better to make people dissatisfied with what they have.

[Positive]

If you were watching the World Series on FoxHD right now, you would realize that High Definition is really something worth knowing.

[Poser]

"Why does it have to be "the same height"?"

Um... So the image is the same size? The HDTV picture is wider, but not taller.

Let's say I'm watching a baseball game and the batter is taking up the height of the screen, about 16.5". If I take the same size HDTV, measured diagonally, the height of the screen is considerably shorter, making the image of the batter that much shorter. Yes, I can see the dugout on the side, but the parts of the image common to both the regular and HDTV can only be equivalent if the height of the HDTV screen is the same as the height of the regular TV screen.

That means to see equivalent size images on the 27" 4:3 TV and the HDTV, I have to get a 34" HDTV at well over $1000 for LCD or plasma.

[Positive]

"As I've written before, my 17" color TV with DirecTV has a good picture and I'm in no hurry to spend a couple of thousand bucks for HDTV.

It appears that I am not alone. $200 with a good picture vs. $2,000 with a slightly better picture... It looks like it's going to be a good long while before I get HD.

Two points; The FCC has mandated that all broadcasts be in HD by 2007...this has been postponed a couple of times...but when it comes, you will definitely have to "invest" in some new DirecTV equipment just to continue using your 17" TV.

Second point, I bought a very nice Magnavox LCD 32" thin HD TV for $1000 about 18 months ago. I would guess that that price has declined somewhat since then. Of course you can find some bigger screens, with more bells and whistles for a lot more money, but a move from a 17" standard definition picture to a 32" widescreen HD picture would really impress you.

[mission9]

you are the man, that is what I'm seeing.

[tarheelswamprat]

Football is completely awesome in HD!

So is a nighttime NASCAR race.

[Richard Kimball]

Are talk shows or news shows any better when you can see people's age spots and warts more clearly?

You love the idea! Admit it!

[Poser]

"Two points; The FCC has mandated that all broadcasts be in HD by 2007...this has been postponed a couple of times...but when it comes, you will definitely have to "invest" in some new DirecTV equipment just to continue using your 17" TV."

I meant to write that I have a 27" TV. I'm sorry for the confusion. I would need at least a 34" HDTV to get the same size images.

I strongly suspect that the 2007 deadline will pass without happening.

[auboy]

A nighttime NASCAR race is awesome in HD.

Bump to that!

[Global2010]

Agree.
We don't enjoy sports on a small screen either.

Come tommarrow night at 6:30 are 61 incher is going to arrive.

Merry Christmas to my family!

[Global2010]

I talked to our local Cable company and they told me the FCC is requiring them to offer HDTV.

Isn't that govt. forcing it?

[Global2010]

60 inch screen is not meant to be watched at 5 ft.

10ft is the recommended distance.

[packrat35]

I just started watching the first season of 24 on DVD. I quit watching regular TV shows years ago. Everybody has been telling me 24 was good so we picked it up and so far, I like it. I just finished episode 4 when the lady cop got killed.