Todays Kmart catalog in Brisbane has an ad for a $199 Sansui SD STB in which the ad claims:

"Dolby digital surround sound. Multi-camera angle views. Closed captioning and on-screen TV guides."

For heavens sake DBA, how are they allowed to claim this?! Has anybody ever seen DD "surround sound" on a SD broadcast? I'm pretty sure that there has never been a "multi-camera angle" broadcast *anywhere* in Oz (well, at least in the last 2 years - apparently 10 trialled it for motor racing a couple of years ago). On screen TV guides are a joke and the stations don't bother to sync the time. Whatever happened to "truth in advertising" in the modern world.

I don't blame Kmart, this is the typical of the spin we see in the DTV market. The ad does refer to www.dba.org.au from where this material is probably sourced and I think DBA should either correct retailer advertising or pressure the networks to show more commitment to DTV.

The ABC has done DD 5.1 a couple of times on SD.

Technically, you could argue that Dolby Surround (Prologic) is technically digital when being transmitted over SD, and that is used extensively by most networks; I wouldn't call it "Dolby Digital" though - that's a different beast entirely.

While I'm at it, SBS has had multi-channel coverage of soccer and cycling in the past few months, so it's more than just theoretical.

And "on-screen TV guides" doesn't necessarily mean NaN or extended NaN - it could mean VPGs, which most of the main networks now have in (some) mainland capitals.

Stretching the truth, yes, but not really lying either.

- Miles.

And the ad implies that the receiver can receive those features....... which it can as long as the broadcasters broadcast it.

Just because those features aren't available now, doesn't mean they will never be available.


Evan :->

C'mon, the ads were saying the same things 2 years ago when I bought my stuff. If anything, DTV has gone backwards in that time

There have been plenty of bolder claims by manufacturers that have been left unfulfilled by broadcasters. My STB can cope of multiple audio streams and bit-mapped subtitles, but very little of the former and none of the latter are broadcast.

Hi
On the KMART theme, how long before we see them selling Plasmas?, my mail is once they drift under the $2000 wholesale price which would mean sometime mid to late 05. Megamart(Sydney) did the Teac Plasma with STB for $2999 last weekend so 2005 is shaping up as interesting year for Display Devices and HD PVR's.

Regards

Basil

Kmart at Broadbeach have been selling a TEAC Plasma for the past 6 months at least (I think it's the same plasma.... no one's bought it yet). Costs just under $4k. I think most people would have a problem spending $4k at a place like Kmart.


Evan

[QUOTE]Kmart at Broadbeach have been selling a TEAC Plasma for the past 6 months at least (I think it's the same plasma.... no one's bought it yet). Costs just under $4k. I think most people would have a problem spending $4k at a place like Kmart.

Hi
Just an aside, not a topic to wate time over but i meant as a instore
product like the current batch of 68cm Panasonics they are flogging.

Regards

Basil

Hi
Last word from me on this topic, received Email from member, who is unable to Post because of Forum rules, to the effect that Sanyo will have LCD TV's (up to 32") for sale in K-Mart before Easter 2005 at substantially lower prices than currently available.
We'll see!

Regards

Basil

Sorry, Basil, if your story is right about the lower prices of Sanyo's LCD TV's at K-Mart, I can't see how you will have the last word...