Mixed messages risk undermining German HD

摘要

You might have missed it - amid all the talk about devices, consumer warnings and common-interface slots - but this has been a rather good week for German HDTV.rnGermany has long been a laggard in high-definition television, so the commitment of its largest commercial broadcasters to start broadcasting in HD sends an overdue message to the market that German broadcasters are getting serious about the format.rnWhat isn't so good is that messages sent out to consumers on the subject have been somewhat less clear.rnManufacturers and broadcasters are right to be concerned that the latest attempt to launch a viable business model around HD channels from commercial broadcasters has become mired in a distracting debate about reception equipment.