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A D V E R T I S I N G
F E AT U R E
Not all
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As consumers enter the high-definition age, misinformation, confusion abound
is created equal
ike millions of other Americans, Rick Hansen has joined the HDTV revolution. The South Carolina pharmacist purchased his first big screen, high-definition television a year ago. The sleek, 63-inch Toshiba hasn’t failed to deliver. “It is fantastic,” says Hansen, who notes that the life-like images set his three dogs to barking whenever they see one of their kind pictured on the screen. HDTV sales are growing steadily as viewers become more enchanted with its clear, vivid images. About one of every three new televisions purchased nationwide today is in the HD format, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.
And those sales are revolutionizing the way Americans watch — and think — about home entertainment. But with this revolution come waves of misinformation, leaving many consumers feeling technologically adrift. Pat Hayes, Charter Communications regional director of technical operations, is among those cautioning the public to be informed and savvy. “Everything (Charter) advertises as high definition is true high-definition content,” he says. That isn’t always the case with traditional cable’s competitors, who sometimes overstate the availability of true high-definition programming. For example, satellite dish providers [ c o n t i n u e d o n pag e 2 ]