CEA Sets Schedule For HDTV Update Meetings

ARLINGTON, Va.— Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) said its HDTV Update meetings would be conducted in six markets starting this February to bring retailers, broadcasters and cable representatives up to date on the state of the analog to digital television (DTV) transition.

The meetings are designed to provide a national perspective on where the transition is heading and give local parties an opportunity to discuss ways of working together to achieve greater consumer awareness of the best of DTV — high-definition television (HDTV), according to CEA.

The six markets, selected based on a strong retail HDTV presence as well as the breadth of DTV broadcasters, are Dallas (Feb. 25), Atlanta (Feb. 26), Tampa/St. Petersburg (March 25), Miami/Ft. Lauderdale (March 26), Seattle (April 29) and Phoenix (April 30). The morning presentations will be hosted by Jim Barry, CEA media spokesperson, and are free of charge.

Topics to be covered include HDTV sales results and projections and market research data compiled by CEA. "We have received tremendous feedback from attendees at past meetings, particularly regarding bringing the local players together so they can work in cooperation to facilitate this transition," said Gary Shapiro, president/CEO of CEA. "When we complete this next series of meetings we will have convened the movers and shakers of the HDTV transition in nine of the top ten, and 14 of the top 15 television markets."

The HDTV Update meetings are open to anyone in the retail, broadcast, cable and content or programming industries, involved in the HDTV transition. Anyone interested in attending these programs should contact Bob Loder, Golden Loder Associates, (908) 889-8300 x121, or bloder@goldenloder.com.