NewsNet Services
Digital seems to be the buzz-word lately.
It is everywhere. You see it on cellular phones, on video-cameras and even on computers. It isn’t just a fancy term for moving merchandise anymore. It is actually a new method of doing things.
According to marketers, digitizing is cleaner, easier and more fun for the consumer.
Digital video cameras for instance, allow the user much more freedom than conventional cameras would. Editing and shooting can be done in the field much easier. The picture is much sharper than we are used to.
Even KBYU has decided to make the switch to digital. Digital cameras and editors will be used at BYU to help ease the burden of student reporters. The speed that a reporter can tape and edit a story will be greatly increased.
Once the full potential of the cameras is realized they will be able to be connected directly to computers which will allow the user to upload not just still pictures, but also full motion video to news web sites. NewsNet at BYU which currently allows students access to stories will be even more complete.
Digital Television is a new and upcoming trend. This not only means the television sets, but it also means that the way of broadcasting the signal has changed.
HDTV is a new digital standard that television stations are moving toward. It will have incredible picture and sound. HDTV is very expensive though. Most stations are currently considering whether they should spend the money on straight digital TV or consider another option called multicasting(Broadcasting & Cable).
Multicasting allows the television station to send out multiple channels at the same time. This sacrifices the razor sharp image of the single channel of HDTV, but then allows the provider to send out more than one program simultaneously. This allows for a greater number of the viewing audience to be captured.
Imagine viewers being able to choose amongst their three favorite rerun shows of all time! According to Nicholas Negroponte, director of MIT’s media lab, most people are more attracted to the sound of a television program rather than the picture quality. Digital sound may come with that digital picture, but is it worth the cost to stations wishing to upgrade?
Digital Satellite service could be the most interesting proposal. Through a small 18-inch or 24-inch dish and receiver, users can get over 200 channels of programming that includes major networks, local programming-which is just now becoming available as well as digital music channels.
Music is categorized and then only those type of songs are played. Instead of being able to just play Top 40 as a category, the programmers will eventually be able to have group specific channels such as the Beatle Channel or even the Rolling Stones channel for example. Is there a market for such a thing?
Some say that there is, once air time and channel space become cheap enough to be available in abundance. According to Greg, a salesperson at Circuit City, these are the hottest thing since sliced bread. Sales over Christmas holiday were higher than expected.
They even had to order more in from other stores to keep up with demand. Time will tell whether or not something like this will become accepted by the masses. Cable may still have an advantage in that cable wires are already in place in many homes throughout America.
With one simple telephone call people can have someone come out and give them almost instant access to the world of TV, assuming the house is pre-wired. Satellite will have a while to go before that can happen. Some prognosticators say the future home will come with satellite antennas built in.
