It Took Decades to Arrive: High Definition Television Finally Comes to a Retailer Near You

It has taken almost two decades for the technology to be designed, approved and manufactured. Many skeptics thought the day would never arrive when a High Definition Television (HDTV) set could be found in a retail store. On Thursday, October 8th, Mitsubishi plans to be the first to hit the Triangle market with an HDTV 50-inch rear-screen projector on display at NOW! Audio Video on Glenwood Ave in Raleigh. Mitsubishi's Director of Marketing Bob Perry will be at NOW! Audio Video to talk about their new HDTV receiver and the industry developments we can expect to see in the near future. An expert on the new HDTV technology, Perry was also a chairman of the industry committee that defined HDTV standards. He will address HDTV issues on a national level while John Greene, Vice President of Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC), will talk about the progress being made here in the Triangle. CBC is the owner of WRAL-HD, the first commercial station in the country to transmit an HDTV signal.

For the past two and a half years, WRAL-HD has operated as a test bed for all major manufacturers that produce everything from receivers to modems to antennae. Without experimental stations, such as WRAL-HD, major television manufacturers would not have any place to test their product and its reception.

"In order to speed the transition to HDTV, we must work together as an industry -- promoting the new technology, inviting people to see it and answering questions", says James F. Goodmon, Chief Executive Officer and President of Capitol. "WRAL-HD is doing everything it can to make people aware of HDTV and its superior quality."

On Thursday the 8th, the HDTV programming that will air on NOW! Audio Video's new Mitsubishi HDTV receiver will be broadcast on channel 32 - home to the WRAL-HD. Two presentations are scheduled in the evening for 6:00pm and 7:30pm. Space is limited, call 644-2344 to reserve a seat.