Review: Zenith DTT900 digital TV box

The Zenith DTT900 is one of the digital TV boxes that shoppers can buy with a $40 DTV converter box coupon from the U.S. government, and it's worth a serious look. On arguably the most important features - reception and video quality - the DTT900 performs strongly, outperforming the other boxes we've looked at so far.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10, very good

The good: Solid video quality and reception; easy-to-use design, especially for digital TV amateurs; good aspect ratio controls for handling widescreen programs on standard TVs; attractive design; remote can control the TV's power.

The bad: Program guide is very basic; small remote control buttons aren't ideal for seniors; audio quality is subpar.

The bottom line: The Zenith DTT900 DTV converter box has an easy-to-use design and solid video quality, but buyers should be aware of cheaper - and possibly better - alternatives coming in the future.


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Now, the two mavericks are determining the futures of DirecTV and Dish Network, the two satellite providers, with roughly 31 million subscribers between them.

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DIRECTV ROLLING

DirecTV, the nation's second-largest pay TV provider with 17 million subscribers, is basking in strong subscriber growth. DirecTV gained 275,000 subscribers in the first quarter, an increase of 17%. Its winning formula has been: Focusing on upscale customers; growing its lineup of national HD channels, now at 95; and aggressive marketing.


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LOS ANGELES Fox is shaking up the commercial TV model with "Remote-Free TV."

At its upfront presentation Thursday, the network announced it will air two new drama series, J.J. Abrams' Fringe and Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, with dramatically reduced commercial breaks.

"It's a simple concept and potentially revolutionary," Fox Entertainment chairman Peter Liguori said. "We're going to have less commercials, less promotional time, and less reason for viewers to use the remote. We're going to redefine the viewing experience."

Both shows would have network commercial loads of about five minutes per hour, about half the usual. The commercial pods would also be shorter and they would have about half the promo load as well.

In an interview after the presentation, Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly acknowledged that "Remote-Free TV" was a risk but there needed to be a "paradigm shift" in network TV.



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