Decisionmark Announces CheckHD.com: Complete Digital TV Consumer Education Resource.WASHINGTON -- Powered by Decisionmark's Patented Technology, Free Site Helps Consumers Get Informed and into the DTV (Digital TeleVision) Transmitting TV using digital signals. The major DTV standards are ATSC (North America), DVB (Europe) and ISDB (Japan). All three use MPEG-2 video compression and Dolby Digital audio compression. DVB and ISDB also include MPEG audio compression. Retail Store Decisionmark Corp. announced today that a cross-industry supported digital television (DTV) education site, on the Internet at www.CheckHD.com, is now available for consumer use. While the digital broadcast signals reach just over 100 million American households, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Decisionmark, consumers are often unclear about the benefits and availability of digital and high-definition television high-definition television (HDTV) Any system producing significantly greater picture resolution than that of the ordinary 525-line (625-line in Europe) television screen. Conventional television transmits signals in analog form. (HDTV (High Definition TV) A set of digital television (DTV) standards that offer the highest resolution and sharpest picture. Although some HDTV sets are available in standard (rather square) screen sizes, the overwhelming majority of sets are wide screen, which eliminates ). With today's launch of CheckHD.com, consumers can easily find straightforward, accurate answers to these fundamental questions: What is digital TV?, Can I get digital TV?, and What do I need to get digital TV?, helping the industry move more Americans closer to purchasing a digital television. This announcement comes on the heels of a separate announcement today by Federal Communications Commission Federal Communications Commission (FCC), independent executive agency of the U.S. government established in 1934 to regulate interstate and foreign communications in the public interest. Chairman Michael Powell regarding a major FCC (1) (Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, www.fcc.gov) The U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications including wire, cable, radio, TV and satellite. The FCC was created under the U.S. consumer education campaign. "A successful transition to the world of high-quality, digital television requires a combination of efforts from both industry and the government. Websites like this one, and the FCC's own site, will help consumers learn more about the content and availability of digital programming," Chairman Powell said. A number of other organizations ranging from broadcast networks and associations to the consumer electronics companies are in full support of CheckHD.com. (See attached list of Quotes from Supporting Industry Leaders.) The site is loaded with clear DTV information, including a comprehensive guide for DTV and HDTV channels and programming broadcast to a consumer's exact location, which only Decisionmark patented technology can provide. "Once consumers realize the vast amount of HD and DTV programming available to them in over-the-air broadcasts, cable and satellite, they'll be more likely to invest in the new technology," said Jack Perry, President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Decisionmark. "Part of the struggle up to this point has been getting consumers to a place where they can find out if and when the digital and HD content is available to them. CheckHD does that," he added. CheckHD provides a one-of-a-kind, interactive, printable print·a·ble adj. 1. Capable of being printed or of producing a print: printable negatives. 2. Fit for publication: printable language. Buyer's Guide that consumers can take to their local retailers, a great research tool in the DTV shopping process. The Buyer's Guide comes complete with customized information on the channels received, products of interest, local retail locations and antenna recommendations. Once in hand, the Buyer's Guide serves as a concise set of answers that the retailer and consumer can review together, answers they wouldn't find in any other single resource. Completing the site is a guide to HDTV provided by the Consumer Electronics Association. The section also includes high-definition and digital TV Frequently Asked Questions, along with terms and definitions. These information resources (1) The data and information assets of an organization, department or unit. See data administration. (2) Another name for the Information Systems (IS) or Information Technology (IT) department. See IT. together allow a consumer at any stage of the digital TV conversion process, from just interested to wanting to buy a set, to access the information they need. Mr. Perry says the intent of CheckHD is to help accelerate the digital transition. "Our goal for CheckHD is simple. It's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a to go digital, and CheckHD is going to make sure that the 105 million American households do it right." CheckHD Quotes from Industry Leaders Capitol Broadcasting Co., Inc. "CheckHD is what broadcasters have been waiting for to reduce viewer confusion about digital TV. Leave it to Decisionmark to pull off the impossible task of bringing cross-industry leaders to the table for the good of the American viewer," stated John L. Greene, V.P. Special Projects, Capitol Broadcasting Co., Inc. CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. "Check HD holds promise for reducing significantly viewer confusion about high-definition and digital TV," stated Martin D. Franks, Executive Vice President, CBS. "Check HD should help accelerate the growing momentum among consumers to become a part of the transition to digital television." Consumer Electronics Association "Consumer education has been one of the highest hurdles to clear in the HDTV transition," said CEA CEA carcinoembryonic antigen. CEA abbr. carcinoembryonic antigen CEA (Carcinoembryonic antigen) President and CEO Gary Shapiro. "CheckHD incorporates the efforts and materials of many into one consumer-friendly site that will help push the country to the DTV transition See digital TV transition. finish line." The Fox Television Network "This year is a big year for FOX HD programming. The timing is perfect for us to have CheckHD for our viewers' many DTV questions," said Ed Wilson, President of The Fox Television Network. "CheckHD addresses the HD and digital TV channel and programming availability issues in a superior manner," he added. National Association of Broadcasters "Broadcasters have pioneered the transition to digital and high definition television," stated NAB President and CEO Edward O. Fritts. "Collectively, stations have spent billions upgrading to the next generation of TV. The challenge now is to overcome consumer confusion, and we endorse creative initiatives like CheckHD.com aimed at educating Americans on the benefits of this technology." NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. "NBC and Telemundo are delighted to be engaging with CheckHD to help our viewers learn more about digital television," stated Bill LeBeau, Senior Regulatory Counsel, NBC. Pegasus Broadcast Television "Pegasus gives its full support to CheckHD.com because we are committed to making the digital transition a success in our markets. It is obvious to Pegasus that this tool will help convert more viewers into digital viewers with its amazingly complete DTV answers," stated Mark Pagon, Chairman and CEO, Pegasus Broadcast Television. Sinclair Broadcast Group The Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBG) NASDAQ: SBGI is the operator of the largest number of local television stations in the United States with a total of 59 stations across the country in 38 primarily small and medium markets, many of which are located in the South and , Inc. "The promotion of free over-the-air HDTV is very important to Sinclair, and that's why we are on-board with CheckHD.com." commented Del Parks, VP of Engineering Operations at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. "CheckHD helps take the viewer from the couch to the PC and on to the retailer," added Parks. Winegard Company "It's great to see CheckHD.com helping dispel consumer confusion regarding digital and HD broadcast TV reception," said Robert Howell, Director, Signal Distribution/Off-Air Antennas for Winegard Company. "We're pleased that our new SquareShooter(TM) digital antenna is a part of the CheckHD solution, as will our newest HD antennas to be released at CES 2005," he added. High resolution screen shots of CheckHD, the CheckHD logo and executive photos are available for download at: www.checkhd.com/press About Decisionmark (www.decisionmark.com) Decisionmark is the foremost online software and information provider to the broadcast industry, delivering the most accurate, complete, real-time information anywhere regarding signal coverage, reception, programming and viewers. For consumers, Decisionmark offers the only real-time household-level online programming guide, TitanTV.com. Decisionmark is a profitable, privately held company privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. , based in Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, city (1990 pop. 108,751), seat of Linn co., E central Iowa, on the Cedar River; inc. as a city 1856. The second largest city in Iowa, it is named for the surging rapids in the river. , Iowa. |
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