Tuesday, September 24 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM Session D: HDTV Report: From Broadcasters to Home Use One of the major benefits of digital television will be its ability to carry substantial amounts of auxiliary data, both program-related and otherwise. This is a result of both the maturing of broadcast television technology as well as the increasing sophistication and demands of audiences. In this regard, TV data broadcasting can be considered the zero-point toward convergence of computing and broadcasting, allowing the embrace of an interactive television experience to be delivered over a diverse range of platforms. This panel will serve as an overview report of the DTV and HDTV industry as a whole, from the transformation of the TV station and it’s preparedness in delivering digital to the home market and how both the idea DTV is being accepted by the consumer as well as the reality of the consumer purchase Robert P. Seidel, Vice President, Engineering, CBS, New York Randall Paris Dark, President, HD Vision Studios Jack Perry, President & CEO, Decisionmark Robert Perry, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Sean Wargo, Senior Industry Analyst, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), Moderator Hosted by the Consumer Electronics Association Sean Wargo, Senior Industry Analyst, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA): Sean Wargo is a Senior Industry Analyst with the Consumer Electronics Association, where he writes and speaks about current trends in consumer electronics based on consumer research and manufacturer shipment data. Wargo possesses over 5 years of experience in CE, covering a variety of electronic entertainment categories, including digital media, video games, PCs, and the Internet. Before joining CEA, he was employed at PC Data/NPD Intelect as Senior Analyst developing in-depth market reports and newsletters based on Internet tracking, survey, and POS retail sales data. Wargo has appeared in a variety of media, including CNET, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal. Wargo graduated from the University of Vermont and is currently an MBA candidate at George Mason University. Randall Paris Dark, President, HD Vision Studios: An undisputed pioneer in the HDTV industry, Randall Paris Dark is the creative and marketing force behind HD VISION. His 15 years of work exclusively in the High Definition Television medium have distinguished him as both an artistic and technological visionary. As a writer, director, and producer with over 375 HDTV productions to his credit, Dark is able to offer an artist's point of view while demonstrating the technological advantages of High Definition. Recognized globally as an enthusiastic speaker who tells it like it is, Randall has spoken about High Definition Television to audiences at events such as: the Tokyo International Film Festival, the National Association of Broadcaster's Convention, the International Electronic Cinema Festival, NATPE, CES, World Television Forum, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, to media and telecommunications investors at Bear Sterns and to members of the New York Bar Association. In October of 2000, Randall was inducted into the Consumer Electronic Association's Academy of Digital Pioneers, a select group of the top DTV visionaries from around the world; and at their first annual Digital Pioneers Award Ceremony HD Vision took home the award for Best DTV Original Content. On May 19, 2000, Randall was presented with one of the International Electronic Cinema Festival's top honors: The Pioneer Award. This honor was bestowed upon Randall for his extraordinary contributions to the success of HDTV. Dark was also honored for his efforts by Baylor University, which instated him as an Honorary Alumnus in 1999. Recently Dark was asked to be an International Jury Member for the Electronic Cinema Festival in Japan. Programs directed by Dark have also received awards from CEA, Telly, IECF, Communicator, Aurora, Axiem, Videographer, Summit, and Cinema Chicago. In addition to his experience in High Definition, Randall is a theatrical director/producer and published playwright, with memberships in the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, and the Playwrights Union of Canada. Jack Perry, President & CEO, Decisionmark: Jack Perry was the lead inventor in the development of the Company's now-patented Geneva technology, a technology allowing consumers to determine broadcast signals received in the home. Geneva is the basis for several of the Company innovations, including TitanTV.com. A second patent was awarded to the Company under his leadership for its Air-to-Web Broadcast Replication (AWBR) technology. ProximityTV.com is an online service used by virtually every broadcast station in the U.S. It offers a suite of online products that provide market analysis, true signal coverage information and internal and external communication tools. Mr. Perry is also a respected figure inside the beltway for educating legislators and members of the FCC on digital and satellite broadcast issues. Robert P. Seidel, Vice President, Engineering, CBS, New York: Robert Seidel graduated from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a minor in Economics. At the university Bob served as Chief Engineer for the university's AM/FM and TV stations. After graduation, Bob worked for the United States Department of Defense in Electronic Countermeasures and joined CBS Engineering as a Design Engineer in 1976. Bob was promoted to Associate Director of Systems Development during which time he co-authored the North American Data Broadcasting Standard (NABTS) and conducted market trials in St. Louis and Los Angeles. As Director of Satellite Engineering at CBS, Bob supervised the installation of the CBS Satellite Management Center used to control the 200 affiliate earth stations. He was also involved in the design of the CBS Newspath SNG Coordination Center and specified CBS’ second generation of satellites used to distribute sports, news and entertainment programming. In 1989 Bob was promoted to Vice President, Television Engineering during which time he directed the design and installation of the CBS Broadcast Origination Center that can generate twelve simultaneous program streams under the control of 120 distributed process computers. Bob is currently Vice President of CBS Engineering and Advanced Technology. He is responsible for the HDTV/DTV transition for CBS Television and the UPN Television Network. Bob has been instrumental in making CBS the industry leader in High Definition Television program production. In 1993 Bob received an Emmy award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his pioneering work in portable satellite uplink systems used for worldwide newsgathering. Bob is a Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and a member of the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers. Most recently, Bob headed up the engineering team that made broadcasting history when WRAL-HD, CBS affiliate in Raleigh, NC, became the first television station to transmit HDTV on July 23, 1996.