Comments on: Hey Obama: Rethink Digital Television

By: Joseph Chiang

Joseph Chiang — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:48:43 +0000

Westinghousedigital and Visio HQs are all in US. They are 100% USA company, though their owners are Taiwanese American ( Not Chinese). They are not Chinese companies at all. They has even no office in China. Westinghousedigital does have IPO office in Taiwan.

By: Rob Glidden

Rob Glidden — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:31:12 +0000

The thrust of the CUT FATT filing is not about particular vendors overplaying their American-ness (or lack of it) to the FCC which they certainly have not, rather it is that these excessive fees are ultimately passed on to American consumers.

The article diplomatically states “Both are actually closely tied to Asian suppliers” and links to a Wiki that discusses the question of the Westinghouse’s actual ownership.

Indeed, eyebrows have raised at their US self-descriptions, “headquartered in Irvine, California” says Vizio’s website and “one of the leading LCD manufacturers in the U.S.” says Westinghouse’s PR. A related discussion is in the WSJ is at:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120820684382013977.html?mod=hpp_us_pageone

BTW the “American-ness” of US digital TV technologies has an interestingly checkered history, see for example:

http://tech.mit.edu/V122/N54/54hdtv.54n.html

By: Aldo

Aldo — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:23:43 +0000

“VIZIO and Westinghouse are the only US-based companies…”?

Correction: these companies are both headquartered in China.

By: Eunsang Yun

Eunsang Yun — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:56:33 +0000

I like your insight and perspective. Actually the patents have blocked new ideas and business opportunities. It would be the government that can handle the undesirable outcomes of the patent-based market domination and illusion. But who is going to wake up the government? Rob?

By: Luiz Maluf

Luiz Maluf — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:36:10 +0000

It is really surprising to realize that United States is very close to the Analog-to-DTV migration deadline, scheduled for early second-half of February, and this problem was not solved. It really undermines all the efforts of NTIA to subsidize those who have no resources to acquire a DTV setop box.