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The Rise and Fall of High Definition Television: The Impact of European Technology Policy
Author(s) -
Dai Xiudian,
Cawson Alan,
Holmes Peter
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
jcms: journal of common market studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.54
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1468-5965
pISSN - 0021-9886
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-5965.1996.tb00567.x
Subject(s) - european commission , commission , broadcasting (networking) , digital television , high definition television , political science , media policy , telecommunications , public broadcasting , technology policy , business , public administration , international trade , engineering , law , european union , sociology , politics , computer science , computer security , social science
This article discusses the European attempt to revive the European consumer electronics industry by mobilizing resources in favour of High Definition Television (HDTV) technology. The policy was ultimately doomed, as digital technology and commercial broadcasters' actions undermined its viability and the public authorities, especially the European Commission, continued beyond the point at which failure was unavoidable. Nevertheless, the policy was not inherently unviable from the outset and not all the results and lessons from the programme are entirely negative. The Commission appears to be profiting from some of the lessons in its approach to digital broadcasting, and EU firms' activity in the US is benefiting from the IBA MAC research and development.