Digital TV more than a pretty picture

By ROBERT W. STEARNS

Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service

Recently, Japan made a startling announcement. After more than a decade promoting the adoption of an analog standard for high-definition television, it was abandoning that effort completely.

Turning around 180 degrees in its vision for the future of television, Japan conceded at last, as the United States has recognized since the early 1990s, that the future belongs to the digital domain.

Although Americans may wish to claim victory on this issue, it's unfortunately a bit premature.

We are currently in the midst of a decision-making process regarding digital television that raises the possibility that the United States, like Japan, may get caught behind the technology and marketplace demand curve.

Last December, following weeks of talks between the television and computer industries, the Federal Communications Commission approved a standard that allows for the digital transmission of broadcast television signals.

The FCC did not mandate any specific video formats, properly hoping to leave it open to the free market to decide. That's where things stand today.

Many of those who will be most affected by what type of digital television standards will be adopted are too young to "vote." That's unfortunate, because for today's seven-year olds and their siblings, technology isn't a distant, intellectual thing.

Indeed, they embrace PCs, CD-ROMs, video game machines and VCRs with open arms.

They use these devices to create compelling, enriching and personalized experiences that seem to draw upon virtually every communications, entertainment and information source.

For many participants in today's television industry, their vision of the future of TV, like the Japanese, is primarily "a bigger, better picture with great sound." That's not bad, just rather limited.

Our vision of the future of TV is markedly different. We believe that digital TV must include both the "great picture and sound" aspect and computer-style graphics, fonts and the near-infinite amount of Web-based content, much of it interactive - and all available without requiring sophisticated computer skills.

Why? Because today's Digital Age consumers, especially those reared on e-mail, chat rooms, MTV and, of course, the Internet, crave exciting and unlimited choices.

While there are many viewpoints regarding how digital TV will develop, one absolute certainty can be stated - namely, that television and PC technology is converging at an astonishing rate.

If we ignore this reality, akin to Japan's stubborn insistence that the future would be governed by the analog technology of old, the United States will be constructing its own roadblock to compatibility between computers and television sets.

The current thinking of certain television and consumer electronic companies is a serious obstacle to the notion of convergence.

By continuing to rely on interlaced video display formats, the ability to satisfy consumer demand for compelling video and Web-based content will be severely limited. The future belongs to the progressive video formats.

Our national interest coincides with the interests of consumers. We now have the opportunity to join forces across traditional industry lines (broadcasting, cable television, computer companies and the like) to ensure that the exciting future of digital TV will span generations and a variety of customer segments, from the couch potato to the video game buff.

The past lessons from Japan, and the future visions of our 7-year-olds, demand that we get it right. The clock is ticking on our last, best chance to make digital television something that everyone in the world will want to have.