U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., turned down request for stay on implementation of video description rules. Request was made by MPAA, NAB, NCTA. Court denied request March 29, but still pending is groups’ petition seeking to overturn rules. Oral argument in that case is set for Sept. 6, and decision is expected in late 2002 or early 2003. Because motion for stay was turned down, FCC’s rules went into effect Mon. Rules require major broadcast and cable networks to add video descriptions to 50 hours of prime-time or children’s programming per quarter. In video description, narrator describes action and environmental aspects of program during pauses in dialog, and those descriptions are broadcast over Secondary Audio Programming channel. American Council of the Blind is major supporter of rules. FCC also turned down MPAA, NAB and NCTA request for postponement, saying it wasn’t in public interest to delay. Industry groups argued that rules impinged on First Amendment and would cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars to comply.

Aiwa will deliver TV with 15” LCD screen this week in Japan, press reports from Tokyo said. One feature of models in new Encore is pause function that enables viewer to freeze onscreen image with remote control. Set will be priced at about $800 and produced at rate of 7,000 monthly. Company also announced plans for 20” model and 15” combo with DVD player.

MPAA, NAB and NCTA asked FCC to stay rules for video descriptions for blind. They said in filing that Commission should stay rules, scheduled to take effect April 1, until U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., ruled on their petition seeking to overturn them. Oral argument in that case is set for Sept. 6, and decision is expected in late 2002 or early 2003. Rules would require major broadcast and cable networks to add video descriptions to 50 hours of prime-time or children’s programming per quarter, starting April 1. In video description, narrator describes action and environmental aspects of program during pauses in dialog, and those descriptions are broadcast over Secondary Audio Programming channel. Hollywood groups said FCC should grant stay because their court case was “likely to succeed on the merits” and because “the Commission clearly lacks statutory authority to adopt video description rules.” Groups said Communications Act empowered FCC to adopt only closed- captioning rules, and video description rules impinged on First Amendment. Groups said if rules went into effect they would have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for equipment and programming costs to abide by rules that they said were likely to be overturned by court, and that complying would mean interference with Spanish language audio. American Council of the Blind (ACB) “categorically condemned” entertainment industry trade associations for their filing and asked them to “stop this senseless attack on the need and right of blind people to know what is going on during TV and movie presentations.” ACB said it believed “vast majority” of individual members of those Hollywood trade assns. agreed with ACB. Earlier this week, FCC reminded TV, movie and cable industries of upcoming deadline.

MPAA, NAB and NCTA asked FCC to stay rules for video descriptions for blind. They said in FCC filing that Commission should stay rules, scheduled to take effect April 1, until U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., ruled on their petition seeking to overturn them. Oral argument in that case is set for Sept. 6, and decision is expected in late 2002 or early 2003. Rules would require major broadcast and cable networks to add video descriptions to 50 hours of prime-time or children’s programming per quarter, starting April 1. In video description, narrator describes action and environmental aspects of program during pauses in dialog, and those descriptions are broadcast over Secondary Audio Programming channel. Hollywood groups said FCC should grant stay because their court case was “likely to succeed on the merits” and because “the Commission clearly lacks statutory authority to adopt video description rules.” Groups said Communications Act empowered FCC to adopt only closed- captioning rules, and video description rules impinged on First Amendment. Groups said if rules went into effect they would have to spend thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars for equipment and programming costs to abide by rules that they said were likely to be overturned by court, and that complying would mean interference with Spanish language audio. American Council of the Blind (ACB) “categorically condemned” entertainment industry trade associations’ for their filing and asked them to “stop this senseless attack on the need and right of blind people to know what is going on during TV and movie presentations.” ACB said it believed “vast majority” of individual members of those Hollywood trade assns. agree with ACB. Earlier this week, FCC reminded TV, movie and cable industries of upcoming deadline.

TiVo fired back at rival Sonicblue, filing patent infringement suit alleging latter’s ReplayTV personal video recorder (PVR) violated broad patent it received last May. TiVo, which filed patent application in 1998, was granted coverage for method for simultaneous playback and recording of TV programs. Patent had 56 claims with others relating to methods of processing various multimedia streams such as audio and video at low cost and storage format that allows user to pause and scan through live TV broadcast. TiVo filed suit in U.S. Dist. Court, San Francisco, in Jan.

TiVo fired back at rival Sonicblue, filing patent infringement suit alleging latter’s ReplayTV personal video recorder (PVR) violated broad patent it received last May. TiVo, which filed patent application in 1998, was granted coverage for method for simultaneous playback and recording of TV programs. Patent had 56 claims, with others relating to methods of processing various multimedia streams such as audio and video at low cost and storage format that allows user to pause and scan through live TV broadcast. TiVo filed suit in U.S. Dist. Court, San Francisco, in Jan.

ESS Technology said it would offer encoder chip for MPEG audio and video in 2nd quarter. Company said chip was intended for digital set-top boxes, DVD players and digital video recorders and enables set-tops to delay, pause, record and search live video broadcasts. Chip supports hard disc drive and optical media-based applications, ESS said.

Ill. became 2nd Ameritech state to suspend operation support system (OSS) testing because test administrator KPMG Consulting complained it lacked confidence in validity of Ameritech’s raw input data on OSS performance. Ill. Commerce Commission (ICC) “paused” Ameritech test until Jan. 3 so agency could look into situation. Pause was in response to KPMG project managers’ complaints to ICC earlier this month that Ameritech was making “inadequate” efforts to provide accurate data on how well its systems were handling CLEC service orders.

SonicBlue escalated battle with rival TiVo Wed., saying it would file suit for patent infringement in U.S. Dist. Court, San Francisco. CEO Kenneth Potashner said it was “no longer acceptable” for TiVo “not to enter some kind of relationship with us.” He said companies had been discussing possible licensing agreement for 3 months and SonicBlue, which purchased ReplayTV earlier this year, gave rival “one last chance in good faith to negotiate with us.”

TiVo said it received patent for technology that controls streaming media in digital device and connects devices to home network. TrickPlay patent covers functions that allow subscribers to pause live TV as well as rewind and fast forward and provides for storing, editing and manipulation of video, company said. Home Networking patent covers technology to ease use of its current product and service to digital entertainment that can be enjoyed throughout home, TiVo said.