Plug-and-play agreement reached

[Gregg Lengling]

John M. Higgins
Broadcasting & Cable
12/18/2002 4:47:00 PM
   The cable and consumer-electronics industries plan to announce a final agreement on "plug-and-play" standards that would allow digital set-top box features to be incorporated into high-definition TV sets.

The deal has been pushed by government officials, who want to spur adoption of digital TV and make the cable set-top something that can be readily -- and cheaply -- sold through the likes of Circuit City and Wal-Mart, rather than leased by cable companies.

MSOs have been avoided that push because of worries about various technology and security issues.

The National Cable Television Association and the Consumer Electronics Association of America (composed primarily of companies based in Asia and Europe) have scheduled a press conference to announce the deal Thursday morning.