It was no mistake that the recent National Association of Broadcasters convention attracted a sizable contingent from Silicon Valley and Redmond. As the biggest television stations ready themselves to go digital in late 1998, many could choose a video format incompatible with computer displays. So Bill Gates & Co. have stepped in to push their digital TV concept to market first - all in a frantic effort to win broadcasters over.
Subtlety has never been Chairman Bill's hallmark. Microsoft chose the eve of the convention to swallow up Internet set-top box manufacturer WebTV for US$425 million. Then, as if that weren't enough to get the attention of television execs, Microsoft, Intel, and Compaq announced an enhanced data-layering standard for PC-friendly digital TV. Add to this IBM's announced digital broadcasting system, Logicast, and you have ingredients for the best high tech race since VHS faced off against Beta.
If all goes as planned, the computer industry's version of digital TV will go online by the third quarter of 1998. This time, the superior technology may win.
ELECTRIC WORD
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