Digital Cable Heads-Up

High-definition television's rollout has experienced many dips, turns and intrigue since it began in 1998 with broadcasts from TV networks and the first sets at retail.

From negotiations, and battles, between the various industries involved in its development and with the help, and barriers placed, by government regulatory agencies, the rollout has had more hair-raising antics than any summer adventure blockbuster from Hollywood.

There have been plenty of disparate opinions, contradictory information and old-fashioned horse-trading between the industries involved and government regulators. Some of it has reached and confused the public. But one look at an HDTV broadcast on a big-screen digital TV usually overwhelms the viewer, mutes all the industry spin, and transfixes the viewer, forcing him or her to whisper, "I want one."

With availability of digital cable boxes at retail this year, and the eventual, but late, approval from the Federal Communications Commission of the cable interoperability agreement reached between the CE and cable industries, this rollout is undergoing another fundamental change this year. This change is for the better. Not only will retailers be able to sell these new cable boxes and programming, more HDTV content will be available on cable — the way most Americans watch television today.

Maybe this will get HDTV to the promise land — that is, major household penetration. But since we are talking about HDTV, to get from here to there may require all of us to go through another round of negotiation, recrimination, regulation, et. al., from all concerned. (Let's hope not.)

These are but a few of the reasons why today's issue of TWICE is featuring a paperwide special report, "Retailing Digital Cable." Whenever you see the logo above, you will read special coverage of this phenomenon. As you will see in this issue, which contains coverage from many of TWICE's product and retailing experts, retailing digital cable will not only change retailers' video departments, the newest HDTV development will change audio, communications and computer businesses in ways we can only make educated guesses at right now.

Due to this development, cable providers may be involved in providing home phone service sooner rather than later. More interactive shopping and research services may be performed through the family HDTV than previously thought possible. And the introduction of these HDTV services in the home could quickly broaden acceptance of home networking. (And that's only for starters.)

In the spirit of the story on p. 27, "Retailer Planning For Cable Is Key," we humbly hope that our special coverage of cable's entry into retail will spur preparation at your stores or, hopefully, increase the momentum of planning and training. As HDTV is poised for even more dramatic growth, the only ways to take advantage of it are preparation, education and training. And as this technology continues to evolve and morph in ways we can't even guess right now, you can be sure that TWICE will be there to provide you with an overview of the latest news and trends.