DISH Network announced today that its new high definition DishPVR 921 satellite TV system was awarded top honors as the Best of Show in the Innovations Design and Engineering showcase in the Satellite Systems product category at the 2003 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The DishPVR 921 satellite TV receiver is a Personal Video Recording product with the ability to record both standard and high definition programming. DISH Network features five nationwide HDTV channels: CBS-HD, HBO-HD, SHOWTIME-HD, Discovery HD, DISH-On-Demand pay-per-view HD movies and a 24-hour HDTV demonstration channel. Using a massive 250 gigabyte hard drive, the DishPVR 921 is capable of recording up to 40 hours of high-definition programming, up to 250 hours standard definition programming, or any combination of the two. Other capabilities include the ability to record two programs at the same time while watching a third pre-recorded program, and picture-in-picture capabilities on any TV. More details including price and availability ...

SONICblue, parent of ReplayTV, today announced the availability of the ReplayTV 5040 digital video recorder (DVR) in major retail outlets throughout the United States including Circuit City, Best Buy, Good Guys, Amazon, The Wiz, Magnolia Hi-Fi, Ultimate Electronics and Tweeter for just$199* after rebates for a limited time.

SONICblue Incorporated announced the launch of the ReplayTV 5000 digital video recorder (DVR) series, the next generation of their ReplayTV product line. SONICblue's ReplayTV 5000 series offers consumers unique DVR functionality, including Commercial Advance which affords users the choice to playback recorded shows without advertisements.

Hollywood movie studios can clearly see the advantages of delivering feature films directly to your home theater in the not so distant future. They are even OK with you making a digital connection between your satellite or cable system and your video source but understandably, they want to protect the integrity of their property (movies, concerts etc…) with sophisticated encryption. Who could blame them? Movie piracy, especially overseas, is an epidemic that costs the studios dearly.

DIRECTV announced today that it now offers more than 20 channels in Dolby® Digital 5.1. Recently adding Dolby Digital 5.1 to standard-definition and high-definition premium movie channels, DIRECTV presents 10 pay-per-view movie channels and a special event channel with Dolby Digital scheduled on an ad-hoc basis.