HDTV Installations Accelerate as Hotel Operators Look to Current Needs, Future Opportunities
Sioux Falls, SD (ContentDesk) May 11, 2006 --
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: LNET), the worlds largest provider of interactive television and broadband solutions to hotels, today offered insights into the accelerating deployment of high-definition TV , HDTV,
solutions across the hospitality industry.??? If what were seeing is any indication, 2006 will be the year HDTV accelerates toward critical mass in the lodging industry, says Scott C. Petersen, President & CEO of LodgeNet, who notes that the companys current and pending customer agreements contemplate HDTV for more than 160,000 guest rooms. Petersen credits three factors for driving the move to HDTV: "???The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirement that digital TV tuners be built in to all TVs manufactured after March 2007
;"???The growing number of travelers who enjoy high-definition (HD) entertainment at home and are bringing those expectations into guest rooms; and,"???Brand standards mandating HDTV for hoteliers such as The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Starwood Hotels & Resorts (both of whom LodgeNet recently signed to long-term agreements), along with Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn and Hyatt Place. HDTV Driving a Differentiated Guest ExperienceHoteliers who have successfully migrated to HDTV have noticed positive results in terms of guest perception. Since we upgraded to HDTV, nearly all of our guests have remarked how impressed they are with our in room entertainment, says Paul Celnik, General Manager of The Iroquois New York, a LodgeNet customer.
It sets us apart from other properties on the street. The Iroquois timed its HDTV upgrade to coincide with the renovation of its guest rooms a strategy also employed by two more high-profile LodgeNet customers, The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California and the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Arizona. At The Iroquois and The Beverly Hilton, mounting HD flat panels on the walls also increased the usable floor space in the guest rooms a bonus for these landmark properties where physically enlarging the rooms was not an option. There were definitely challenges in attaching 80-pound plasma screens to walls that were built in the 1950s, says The Beverly Hilton's Michael Robertson, who coordinated with LodgeNet on the property's HDTV upgrade. But LodgeNet helped us work through them, as well as the cabling issues, so we could be the first hotel in our market to have flat panels in all of our guest rooms. Compatibility Crucial When Evaluating HD Solutions
Dave Bankers, LodgeNets Senior VP of Product & Technology Development, observes that TV manufacturers have ramped up their efforts to secure HD display orders that can represent hundreds of thousands of dollars. He points out that while more choices will eventually drive costs down, they cause confusion and frustration today.
There are plenty of HD models on the market, but not that many options as far as commercial grade displays that can interface with hotel video-on-demand (VOD) systems, he says. TV manufacturers are also at various stages of implementing Pro:IdiomTM, the industry-standard content security solution that enables providers to deliver HD premium satellite programming and still in theaters HD VOD movies to guest rooms. According to Bankers, Pro:IdiomTM implementation runs the gamut from companies who arent even thinking about it to those whose Pro:IdiomTM enabled displays are already installed in guest rooms. What you have are a lot of HD displays, a lot of installed VOD systems, and a growing universe of HD content, Bankers says. But if those pieces arent all coordinated, switching to HDTV can be fraught with expensive pitfalls and may actually be a step backward in the in room entertainment experience.
He adds that LodgeNet has established a vendor certification program aimed at simplifying the HDTV selection process for hoteliers.
Regulatory activity, guest expectations, competitive pressures and the availability of HD content are pushing HDTV to the top of more hoteliers to-do lists. At the same time, early HDTV adoptions have underscored the importance of thinking beyond the TV to consider how an HDTV solution will impact the hotels existing in-room entertainment choices and even the design of the room itself. Weve heard two major themes from hoteliers:
they want an easy HDTV solution, and they want to know their investment will pay off in a superior guest experience over the long term, concludes Petersen. We appreciate the opportunities our customers have given us to lead the guest room HDTV revolution, and we look forward to helping more of them make it happen. ???About LodgeNetLodgeNet Entertainment Corporation (www.lodgenet.com) is the worlds largest provider of interactive television and broadband solutions to hotels throughout the United States and Canada as well as select international markets. These services include on-demand movies, music and music videos, on-demand videogames, Internet on television, and television on-demand programming, as well as high-speed Internet access, all designed to serve the needs of the lodging industry and the traveling public.
LodgeNet provides service to more than one million interactive guest pay rooms and serves more than 6,000 hotel properties worldwide. LodgeNet estimates that during 2005 approximately 300 million travelers had access to LodgeNets interactive television systems.
In addition, LodgeNet is a leading innovator in the delivery of on-demand patient education, information and entertainment to healthcare facilities. LodgeNet is listed on NASDAQ and trades under the symbol LNET.CONTACTS:Ann ParkerDirector of Corporate CommunicationsLodgeNet Entertainment Corporation605-988-1000communications @ lodgenet.comJulie Keyser-Squires, APRSoftscribe Inc.Julie @ softscribeinc.com(404)256-5512http://www.softscribeinc.com.
Antennas Direct to be Featured at CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis
Wildwood, MO (ContentDesk) August 28, 2005 -- When the heavy hitters in the custom electronics industry gather in Indianapolis for the 2005 CEDIA Expo,
St. Louis-based Antennas Direct (www.antennasdirect.com) will be there to roll out their latest innovation, the Lacrosse HDTV antenna.The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) hosts the annual event to showcase the newest trends and technologies in custom electronics.
This year's expo is expected to draw more than 25,000 residential electronic systems contractors, manufacturers, distributors, media and other industry professionals to the Indiana Convention Center and RCA Dome September 7-11."This event is the Super Bowl of custom electronics," Antennas Direct President Richard Schneider said.
"I couldn't imagine a better venue to introduce the custom electronics community to the Lacrosse.
The inquiries we...
Hdtv > Antennas Direct to be Featured at CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis
XVD Introduces the NewsHoundSM “Go Anywhere” Solution for HD-SD Wireless DENG News Gathering and Remote Camera Applications
San Jose, CA (ContentDesk) July 24, 2006 -- XVD Corporation, the pioneer of XVD" digital media compression -- the most advanced real-time video compression technology -- has introduced the NewsHoundSM Lightweight Backpack, an advanced technology system that includes a battery-powered Encoder and DVB-T/COFDM Wireless Transmitter System for HD and SD Digital News Gathering (DENG) and other remote camera operations. Introduced at NAB 2006, with a version already in use by Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) for its @Human hit reality television show, the XVD NewsHound enables news crews to venture up to 3 miles from a DENG truck or other receiver site and stream encoded, real-time 1080i, 720p, 480i (NTSC) or 576i (PAL) content captured by any High-Definition or Standard-Definition television camera. The NewsHound features an HD-SDI input, and both Ethernet and ASI outputs.Solves the breaking news cant get there problem.Weighing only 12 pounds including Encoder, Transmitter/Antenna,...
XVD Introduces the NewsHoundSM “Go Anywhere” Solution for HD-SD Wireless DENG News Gathering and Remote Camera Applications
Hdtv > XVD Introduces the NewsHoundSM “Go Anywhere” Solution for HD-SD Wireless DENG News Gathering and Remote Camera Applications
Expert Guide to SOny's HDV camcorder
The Sony HD camcorder, the Handycam HDR-FX1 is being marketed by the company as ?world's first HDV 1080i consumer camcorder'. But at $3,700, it's price tag is stretching the consumer label somewhat.However, there's no doubt the the industry sees HD video as a consumer format and prices will come down over the next couple of years. This Sony HD camcorder is just the start of what is sure to be an avalanche of HD camcorders from electronics companies over the next few months.So, does this mean we can all look forward to shooting Hollywood-quality home movies in the future? Not quite. Although its true that some Hollywood fetaures, such as George Lucas' ?Star Wars: Attack of the Clones' are being shot in high definition video, its not the same high definition as is shot and recorded by these camcorders.If you look again at that Sony quote, you'll see the important label, 1080i. If you're familiar with HDTV, you'll know that 1080 refers to 1080 lines of vertical resolution and the ?i' means...
Expert Guide to SOny's HDV camcorder
Hdtv > Expert Guide to SOny's HDV camcorder
HDTV Antennas
HDTV televisions need special antennas to be able to catch the frequency. These televisions cannot receive the transmission from normal antennas used by any other brand of color television. Selecting the right HDTV antenna system is critical, and one should make use of a highly directional antenna designed for "Fringe Area" reception.? One objective that should be kept in mind while installing the antenna is that it should accept signals directly from the transmitting tower.
Some of the other considerations that one should keep in mind before buying the antenna is that one should check with the local homeowner's association, seeking permission to put up an antenna on the roof or any other exterior location.
One would also need to determine whether local channels are VHF, UHF, or both.
This would determine the type of antenna to buy.
The owner would also need to determine whether there is a clear line of sight to the station antenna.
Hdtv > HDTV Antennas
Expert Guide to Sony's HDV camcorder
The Sony HD camcorder, the Handycam HDR-FX1 is being marketed by the company as ?world's first HDV 1080i consumer camcorder'. But at $3,700, it's price tag is stretching the consumer label somewhat.However, there's no doubt the the industry sees HD video as a consumer format and prices will come down over the next couple of years. This Sony HD camcorder is just the start of what is sure to be an avalanche of HD camcorders from electronics companies over the next few months.So, does this mean we can all look forward to shooting Hollywood-quality home movies in the future? Not quite. Although its true that some Hollywood fetaures, such as George Lucas' ?Star Wars: Attack of the Clones' are being shot in high definition video, its not the same high definition as is shot and recorded by these camcorders.If you look again at that Sony quote, you'll see the important label, 1080i. If you're familiar with HDTV, you'll know that 1080 refers to 1080 lines of vertical resolution and the ?i' means...
Expert Guide to Sony's HDV camcorder
Hdtv > Expert Guide to Sony's HDV camcorder