HDTV minimum requirements from EICTA

HDTV has come after the HD-Ready logo, but it seems that there isn't any controversy this time... Good! You'll be able to select your nice TV easily, thanks to the logo that most brands will place on the device. Much needed i these days of technical (r)evolution...   "EICTA, the European Industry Association for Information Systems, Communication Technologies and Consumer Electronics, today announces its Minimum Requirements for “HDTV” High Definition Television Receivers and the associated logo.

The EICTA “HDTV” Minimum Requirements for HD Television Receivers aim to create a clear market specification of what constitutes a receiver capable of receiving HD television transmissions either via satellite, cable or terrestrial broadcast channels.
The application of the logo to receiving devices will guarantee consumers that the device is capable of delivering a genuine HD signal over a compatible interface to an “HD ready” display device.

The specification applies to free-to-air and PayTV HD television receivers. The specification requirements cover fully integrated HD digital TVs, HDTV receivers without a display that can be connected to “HD ready” display devices and HD television receivers with recording capability.
Rudy Provoost, President of EICTA and CEO of Philips Consumer Electronics, speaking at the IFA trade show in Berlin, said:
“HDTV is going to be the biggest thing to hit the consumer electronics industry since the advent of colour TV more than 30 years ago. We believe HDTV is going to acquire critical mass in 2006, which is why it is so important that EICTA has created these specifications and the logo program now. By working together the consumer electronics industry is removing the obstacles to a new generation of digital electronics and services that everyone will be able to enjoy.” Daniel Sauvet-Goichon, Chairman, European Broadcasting Union Technical Committee, said:

“High Definition is the future of television. Europe begins its HDTV age with a running start because of the care and dedication of the EICTA specialists, and those who have worked with them to agree the HD label for receivers. The HD receiver and D-ready display labels are guides of tremendous value to the European public.” Ferdinand Kayser, CEO of SES ASTRA, commented:
“We are proud to have been instrumental in bringing all interested parties together to provide consumers with clear, consistent information about which products in the market are truly ready for High Definition TV. Consumers are already benefiting from the “HD ready” logo for display devices. The EICTA release of the specification and logo artwork for HDTV receivers sets another milestone and from now on, consumers can be similarly confident about the HD set-top devices they buy.”

This initiative builds upon the minimum requirements EICTA developed for “HD ready” display devices (e.g. televisions). The EICTA “HD ready” and “HDTV” logo programs are the result of a concerted effort from the European digital technology industry, the European public and private broadcasters, infrastructure and service providers, as well as national HDTV related initiatives.
EICTA is confident that the Minimum Requirements for “HDTV” HD Television Receivers will provide the industry and consumers with the certainty and clear information that they have demanded regarding interoperability between “HD ready” display and HD receiving devices.
The respective logo programs will be based on a self-certification regime, and technical details can be obtained via EICTA’s website. EICTA encourages manufacturers of HD television receivers to introduce products compliant to the announced EICTA minimum requirements.

About EICTA:
EICTA, founded in 1999 is the voice of the Eu ropean digital technology industry, which includes large and small companies in the Information and Communications Technology and Consumer Electronics Industry sectors. It is composed of 52 major multinational companies and 34 national associations from 25 European countries. In all, EICTA represents more than 10,000 companies all over Europe with more than 2 million employees and over EUR 1,000 billion in revenues.

The membership of EICTA:
Direct Company Members:
Accenture, Adobe, Agilent, Alcatel, Apple, Bang&Olufsen, Blaupunkt, Brother, Bull, Canon, Cisco, Corning, Dell, EADS, Epson, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, IBM, Infineon, Intel, JVC, Kenwood, KonicaMinolta, Lexmark, LG Electronics, Loewe Opta, Lucent, Marconi, Microsoft, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Nortel, Océ, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sanyo, SAP, Sharp, Siemens, Sony, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, Texas Instruments, Thales, Thomson, Toshiba.

National Trade Associations:
Austria: FEEI; Belgium: AGORIA; Czech Republic: SPIS; Denmark: ITEK, ITB; Finland: SET, FFII; France: ALLIANCE TICS, SIMAVELEC; Germany: BITKOM, ZVEI; Greece: SEPE; Hungary: IVSZ; Italy: ANIE, ASSINFORM; Ireland: ICT Ireland; Latvia: LITTA; Lithuania: INFOBALT; Malta: ITTS; Netherlands: ICTOffice; Norway: ABELIA, IKT Norge; Poland: KIGEIT, PIIT; Slovakia: ITAS; Slovenia: GZS; Spain: ETIC; Sweden: IT Företagen; Switzerland: SWICO, SWISSMEM; United Kingdom: INTELLECT; Turkey: ECID, TESID; Estonia: ITL."