About.com TV / Video

Super Bowl Breaks TV Records

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:20:30 +0000

Everyone already knew that people (particularly men) love to watch sports on TV, but that fact was underscored by Super Bowl XLIV. Sunday's broadcast of the game, between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, became the most-watched program in U.S. television history on Sunday, beating out the series finale of "M*A*S*H*," which had held the record since 1983.

How many people had to watch the game to give it the TV title? Roughly 106 million. I'm sure Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was already upset by his fourth quarter interception, but think how much it must hurt knowing that more than 100 million people were watching when he threw it. Ouch! That's why I'm not a professional quarterback. Well, that and the fact that I can only throw a football about 30 yards on a good day.

No doubt TV broadcasters and manufacturers are bummed that they'll have to wait another year for the next big game. The Super Bowl has become such a cultural phenomenon that it actually drives TV sales, as retailers tend to offer great deals in the weeks leading up to the game.

Super Bowl Breaks TV Records originally appeared on About.com TV / Video on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 20:20:30.

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TV of the Week: NuVision NVU37FX5

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:04:32 +0000

Screen Size: 37"

Aspect Ratio: 16:9

Actual Dimensions: 36" X 26.8" X 12.9" (including stand)

Television Type: LCD

Native Resolution: 1920 X 1080p

Refresh Rate: 120Hz

Internet Enabled: No

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price: $1,499

Official Web Site: NuVision.com

HDMI Inputs: 3

Antenna/Cable Input: 1

Component Video Inputs: 2

Composite Video Inputs: 2

S-Video Input: 1

VGA Input: 1

Digital Audio Out: 1

Analog Audio Out: 1

Audio Output Power (Watts): 2 X 10W

Speakers: 2

Photo © Forrest Hartman

TV of the Week: NuVision NVU37FX5 originally appeared on About.com TV / Video on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 01:04:32.

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CNET: Panasonic Admits to Black Level Changes on Plasma Televisions

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:55:07 +0000

If you are considering the purchase of a plasma television, you'll do well to read a new report from CNET's HDTV reviewer, David Katzmaier. In the story, Katzmaier says Panasonic admitted to him that the background brightness on its plasma sets will adjust over time. Sadly, he says, the company offered few additional details.

This has the potential to be a big deal because one reason a consumer might opt for a plasma TV over an LCD is the generally better black levels that plasma can offer. If, indeed, the black level changes on Panasonic sets are significant, it could make them a less desirable choice than plasmas by other manufacturers ... or even high-end LCDs.

Katzmaier says he was tipped to the issue by people complaining of a problem at the AVS forum, and their comments do seem troubling. I have been generally pleased with the black levels on Panasonic sets, but I have never done a long-term test on one. Katzmaier says he is currently in the process of doing just that and promises that he'll report on what he finds.

Needless to say, I'm very curious to see how this plays out, and all of you plasma TV fans should be as well.

Photo © Panasonic

CNET: Panasonic Admits to Black Level Changes on Plasma Televisions originally appeared on About.com TV / Video on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 19:55:07.

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Beyonce Making Vizio Debut During Super Bowl

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:04:28 +0000

Love Beyonce? Love your Vizio TV? Then you'll probably want to check out the manufacturer's latest commercials, which are set to air Feb. 7 during
Super Bowl XLIV.

The company announced last week that Beyonce will make her debut as its celebrity spokeswoman during the championship football battle, an apt time considering all the eyes that will be glued to that particular game.

For some time, Vizio has been viewed as a budget TV manufacturer because its sets are often less expensive than those manufactured by the likes of Sony and Samsung. One wonders if a campaign led by such a high-profile celebrity will alter the way people look at the brand. For what it's worth, I'm generally impressed with Vizio TVs, particularly when considering the value one gets for his/her money. For reference, you can check out my review of the company's SV370XVT. It's also worth noting that Vizios tend to score well in testing by the well-respected Consumer Reports.

It will be interesting to see what Vizio has in store for us during the big game.

Beyonce Making Vizio Debut During Super Bowl originally appeared on About.com TV / Video on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 01:04:28.

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Consumer Reports Gives Thumbs Up to Fiber-Optic TV Service Providers

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:24:07 +0000

In its February, 2010, issue, Consumer Reports magazine provides the results from a survey in which customers rated TV, Internet and phone service providers in a variety of categories. The big news for TV is that fiber-optic providers Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-Verse outscored Dish Network, DirecTV and all the major cable companies. In fact, the only provider to beat Verizon and AT&T in the Consumer Reports rankings was Wow, a small cable company operating in parts of Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

Although Wow was ranked best of all TV service providers, Verizon and AT&T were close behind. Since they offer service in far more areas than Wow, they seem to be the top choice for much of America.

For a complete look at the Consumer Reports rankings and an interesting article on how to save money by bundling TV, Internet and phone service, pick up an issue of the magazine on newsstands.

Also, I'd love to hear what you think of your TV service provider. Like it? Hate it? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.

Photo © Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports Gives Thumbs Up to Fiber-Optic TV Service Providers originally appeared on About.com TV / Video on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 05:24:07.

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Study: Most Americans Own an HDTV

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:16:59 +0000

A new study by the Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) indicates that 62 percent of American consumers already have an HDTV in their home and that another 12 percent want to purchase one within the next two years. If the study is accurate, it seems to indicate that high-definition television has finally come into its own. That said, a BBC article that I reported on in December stated that many people in the UK are watching standard-definition TV even though they own HD sets. So, who knows what these figures really mean?

For me, the most interesting finding in the ORC study is that a huge percentage of consumers associate Sony TVs with high quality. Brands like Samsung, Panasonic and Vizio got some nods, but the study painted Sony as the unquestioned leader in terms of consumer perception. So, it seems like Sony's marketing department deserves one giant pat on the back.

Another interesting note? The study asked about 3D TV and it seems that consumers have a high awareness of the emerging technology. But only five percent of them say they plan on buying a 3D set in the next two years. That seems like bad news for all the manufacturers touting 3D as the next big thing in home entertainment.

If you've got any thoughts, I'd love to hear them. Post whatever comes to mind in the comment section below.

Photo © Creative Specialties International

Study: Most Americans Own an HDTV originally appeared on About.com TV / Video on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 01:16:59.

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TV of the Week: Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 7-55

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:20:04 +0000

Screen Size: 55"

Aspect Ratio: 16:9

Actual Dimensions: 55.5" X 34.5" X 7.3" (without stand)

Television Type: LCD with local dimming LED backlighting

Native Resolution: 1920 X 1080p

Refresh Rate: 120Hz

Contrast Ratio: 4,000:1

Integrated Blu-ray player with BD Live: Yes (optional)

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price: $18,700 (including motorized stand and speaker system)

Official Web Site: Bang & Olufsen

HDMI Inputs: 4

Antenna/Cable Input: 2

Component Video Inputs: 2

S-Video Input: 1

VGA Input: 1

Composite Video Inputs: 5

Projector Out: 1

Speaker Outputs: 7 X Power Link

Speakers: Specially designed speaker setups can be ordered separately

Built-in Surround Sound Decoding: Yes

TV of the Week: Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 7-55 originally appeared on About.com TV / Video on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 01:20:04.

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Apple's iPad Will Connect to TVs

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:26:50 +0000

Everybody seems to be writing about Apple's newly announced iPad, so I figured I had better get in on the action. In case you've been wondering, Apple says it will sell a docking accessory allowing you to play video from the iPad on your TV.

If you have a VGA input on your set, you will be able to play content at resolutions as high as 720p. If you don't have VGA, you'll be able to connect using component or composite video cables, but the resolution will be lower.

If you'd like to know more about the iPad, About.com has plenty of resources. Portables Guide Jason Hidalgo produced a first look at the device and an image gallery, so you can see what it's all about.

Also, Tom Nelson, About's guide to Macs, has written on the subject. Finally, Sam Costello, guide to the iPod and iPhone, also has a story. Check out these pieces and you'll sound like a tech genius at weekend cocktail parties.

Apple's iPad Will Connect to TVs originally appeared on About.com TV / Video on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 14:26:50.

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Are Outdoor TVs Worth the Price?

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:09:52 +0000

At the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show I had the opportunity to talk to a gentleman from SunBriteTV, a company that designs sealed, outdoor televisions that can resist rain, snow and extreme temperature changes.

While I am impressed by the functionality of the sets, which have solid specifications and can run even while water is being dumped over the top of them, I found myself wondering if I could ever shell out the money to buy one. Because the TVs are a niche item that clearly required engineering expertise, they aren't cheap. SunBrite's 46-inch 4610HD sells for about $5,500.

I live in Northern Nevada where summer evenings are often 70 degrees and gorgeous, so I admit that part of my brain saw these sets and went, "How great would it be to watch movies on the patio with the family next July?" At the same time, the cheapskate part of my brain went, "$5,500. Not so great."

Clearly, there are great commercial applications for outdoor TVs, but the SunBrite representative I talked with told me it's consumers who are driving sales. I imagine there's only a select group of folks willing to pay that much money to have a TV outside, but the SunBrite folks tell me they're around.

As always, I'm curious about your thoughts on the matter. Do you have an outdoor TV installed at your house? Would you pay a premium to have one? Or, do you think the price is just too high for the benefits? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.

Are Outdoor TVs Worth the Price? originally appeared on About.com TV / Video on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 13:09:52.

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UK Sees Record TV Sales

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:29:31 +0000

The Telegraph in England reported this week that a a record 10 million TVs were sold in the UK in 2009. The article sites research from GfK indicating that sales were driven by falling TV prices, the digital TV transition and the popularity of video games. This isn't particularly surprising because the same factors are driving TV sales in the United States.

Any article about positive sales these days seems to contain a phrase like, "despite the recession," and the Telegraph story is no exception. This makes sense because one wouldn't necessarily expect high-dollar items, like TVs, to do well when times are tight. I'm not surprised, though.

Historically, entertainment enterprises have done relatively well during tight financial times. The movie industry has had good numbers in the U.S. throughout this recession, and TV gives you even more bang for the buck. One can pay $500 for a television and $35 a month for a cable or satellite subscription and the whole family can enjoy hours of entertainment each day. That puts the cost of a year's entertainment at less than $1,000, and it can be even cheaper if you choose to get your programming over the air (eliminating the need for cable or satellite charges). I've noted in the past that an increasing number of people seem to be embracing over-the-air TV .

That means you could spend as little as $400 or $500 for daily entertainment for a year. By comparison, it would cost a family of four about $2,000 a year to go to the movies just once a week. And that's just counting the ticket prices. The cost of going out to dinner once a week could be even higher. So, even in a recession, TV is one of our great entertainment bargains.

Any thoughts? Post them in the comments section.

UK Sees Record TV Sales originally appeared on About.com TV / Video on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 01:29:31.

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