HDTV Forum 2004 to Explore Consumer HDTV Front Projection

HDTV Forum 2004 is organized by Insight Media, the leading source for information on the microdisplay industry and DisplaySearch, the worldwide leader in flat panel display (FPD) market research and consulting. The three-day conference is designed to bring together the entire TV food chain including representatives from TV and cable networks, government agencies, satellite and cable providers, retailers, distributors, TV brands, TV OEMs, panel/tube/engine manufacturers and IC manufacturers. The much-anticipated event boasts 17 sessions and over 60 speakers.

Session 11: Front Projection TVs: Niche or Mainstream taking place on August 26 at 8:30AM, this session features these speakers:

Scott Hix, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Americas Business Unit, InFocus

• Steve Medina, Senior Manager, Product Planning and Development, Mitsubishi
• Bob Hana, President, Runco
• Jon Herron, National Director of Product Training, Tweeter
• Chris Chinnock, President, Insight Media, will moderate a panel discussion with the speakers and the audience following individual presentations.

Some of the key issues that are holding back the consumer front projection market are:

• Consumer awareness of the front projection option
• Retailers finding a way to properly sell front projectors
• The more complex system integration and installation problem
• Image washout in ambient lighting

The speakers in Session 11 have been chosen to discuss these and other key topics, and they will present views of the markets from several different perspectives. For example, InFocus is a leading manufacturer of home theater projectors and is offering products in various price points. Speaker Scott Hix will examine how his company is approaching the market, where they see opportunities and how they see the market evolving.

Mitsubishi, known for their expertise in color technology, mainly targets the middle part of the market with its projectors. However, Steve Medina will direct his remarks at ways to move from a niche market to a mass market.

Runco offers premium home theater solutions for the mid to high-end of the market, and Bob Hana will discuss why Runco has been so successful in their part of the market and the prospects for creating a mass consumer segment.

Tweeter is a specialty retailer and speaker Jon Herron will offer his views about what is working and not working with home front projection in their selling environment.

Overall, the HDTV Forum will bring together the entire TV food chain. Keynotes include HDNet's Mark Cuban and ESPN's Bryan Burns. Participating companies include 16x9 Productions, ABC, Brillian, Canon, China DTVIA, Circuit City, Dell, Delta Electronics, DisplaySearch, Discovery HD Theater, DivX Networks, the European Commission, Genesis Microchip, HDTV Magazine, HDVision Studios, Hollywood Digital Imaging, Indiana University, InFocus, Intel, Insight Media, Joe Kane Productions, LG.Philips LCD, Mitsubishi, National Semiconductor, Oplus Technologies, Pacific Growth Equities, PamAmSat, Panasonic, Pixelworks, Premier Retail Network, Roku, Samsung Electronics, Samsung SDI, Sharp, Sharp Labs, Silicon Image, Silicon Optix, Syntax Groups, Texas Instruments, TiVo, Toshiba America, Tweeter, Warner Bros., The WB, Westar Display Technologies, and Zoran.

For a full conference agenda, please visit: http://www.insightmedia.info/HDTVConference/HDTV04AGENDA.htm

Corporate Sponsors of the event include:

• Gold Sponsors: LG.Philips LCD, Samsung LCD Business, Texas Instruments and Zoran
• Silver Sponsors: Delta Electronics, DivX Networks and Syntax Groups
• Bronze Sponsors: Brillian, InFocus Corporation, Intel and Pixelworks
• AV Sponsors: InFocus

The event is also supported by CustomRetailer, Dealerscope, HDTV Magazine, HighDef Magazine, Home Toys, Residential Systems, USDC, and Widescreen Review.

About Insight Media
Insight Media ( www.insightmedia.info ) is a full-service market research company specializing in microdisplay-based products in the projection and near-to-eye segments. It tracks the full supply chain, finished products and distribution of these microdisplay-based products through its various newsletters, technology reports, forecasts, conferences and custom consulting activities. Headquartered in Norwalk, CT, Insight Media has a core of 8 analysts and associates to cover the microdisplay industry in a comprehensive manner.

About DisplaySearch
DisplaySearch is the worldwide leader in market research and consulting for the flat panel display (FPD) industry. Founded in 1996, DisplaySearch serves a growing multinational client base, with an extensive array of market intelligence reports, advisory services, and global business conferences. The firm surveys the entire display industry food chain, including component and equipment manufacturers, display producers, OEMs, distributors and retailers. From this comprehensive vantage point, DisplaySearch prepares a valued suite of market forecasts, technology assessments, studies and analyses, and produces influential industry events worldwide. The firm serves more than 1,000 clients in over 30 countries, and is comprised of a core team of 19 analysts, located in Japan, Korea, North America and Taiwan. DisplaySearch is headquartered in Austin, Texas, with regional operations in Chicago, Houston, Richmond, San Jose, Seoul, Taipei, Tempe, and Tokyo, and the company is on the web at www.displaysearch.com .