Case 2---DTV´s development in U.S.
cctv.com 11-17-2004 14:27
Digital TV did not appear like a bolt from the blue. Rather, it reflects the rigorous efforts of many forward-thinking people in the laboratory, marketplace and public policy arena.
1934 Federal Communications Commission created to regulate all broadcasting
1935 First public demonstration of television at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia
1950 FCC adopts color TV standard
1953 53 percent of U.S. households have TV
1954 CBS and NBC begin regular color broadcasts, despite the fact that only one in 100 U.S. households own a color TV set
1968 NHK (Japan's national TV network) begins work on a new TV standard, later known as High-definition Television (HDTV)
1988 A coalition of broadcasters form the Advanced Television Test Center (ATTC) perform unbiased testing of new, potential television broadcast systems
1989 International Telecommunications Union establishes first HDTV standards
1990 FCC announces preference for simulcast broadcasting and challenges the contenders to deliver HDTV in a single 6 MHz broadcast channel
1994 Tests conducted at the ATTC result in the selection transmission standard
1995 The HDTV system prototype is delivered to the FCC for testing
1996 WRAL, Raleigh, N.C. is the first local TV station on air with a digital broadcast
FCC approves the standard for Digital TV; sets a firm timetable for transition
Congress passes the Telecommunications Act
1997 FCC allocates channels for the digital transmission
1998 First Digital Television sets introduced to consumers 22
"early-builder" stations in top 10 U.S. markets begin digital broadcasting
FCC Must Carry Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) adopted WFAA in Texas was the first TV station to broadcast HDTV on a VHF signal, broadcasting the nation's first high-definition local newscast
2000 ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS all offer shows in HDTV 61 percent of nation now covered by DTV signal
2001 April One-millionth Digital TV product sold (integrated sets and displays)
December 31 1.5 million Digital TV units sold since January 1, 2001, surpassing CEA's unit sales estimate for the year.
2002 January The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) launches national campaign to promote consumer adoption of DTV.
April 4 FCC Chairman Michael Powell introduces a voluntary plan for stimulating the DTV transition
August 2 FCC mandates integration of Digital TV tuners into new television sets with screens of 36 inches or larger by July 2004
December 19 National "plug-and-play" standard established between Digital TV products and digital cable systems to help speed the Digital TV transition
December 31 Total number of DTV sets sold in 2002 - 2,487,502 - units surpasses projections by almost 500,000
2003 June/July The networks - ABC, CBS, NBC and WB - release their Fall TV schedules.
Sports & primetime programming in HD format reaches 2,500 hours.
September 2 The number of stations broadcasting a digital signal breaks 1,000 bringing the total number of DTV stations on air to 1,011 in 201 markets serving 99% of U.S. TV households
September 10 FCC adopts "plug and play" standard established between Digital TV products and digital cable systems to help speed the Digital TV transition
End of transition December 31, 2006 or when 85 percent of U.S. TV households have the capability to receive Digital TV signals (whichever is later)
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