Maxent and Olevia fined for trafficking analog TVs

by Ben Drawbaugh, posted Jun 7th 2007 at 9:50PM

Every HD fan knows that you can't sell analog TVs anymore, but evidently some manufactures just don't get it. The FCC has notified Regent U.S.A. and Syntax-Brillian that there is an "apparent liability for forfeiture" (read fine) for $63K and $2.9M, respectively, for "willful and repeated violations." Sure, budget TVs are great and all, but not if that means we have to explain to our parents why their brand new flat panel TV doesn't work with bunny ears after the analog shutoff.

Filed under: Industry, Regulatory, Maxent, Olevia

Tags: FCC, Tuner Mandate, TunerMandate

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Jesse @ Jun 8th 2007 10:55AM

One of my main reasons for buying my Olevia 332H was for this very reason... actually mine didn't even have a tuner, saving me ~$150.

Olevia provides people in the market for an HDTV a budget option. In the future, the ATSC boxes will be fairly cheap considering you can buy ones for you computer for ~$80 now. Plus most people looking for HD content use Cable or Satelite and those require boxes.

Budget TVs like these are like Hondas... they are cheap and reliable and as you get money and more into the game, you can customize it to your own needs... tuners, HD Players, Recievers, etc...

I think it sucks that the FCC feels they need to go to this extreme if the boxes say what standards work...

Neutral

Ben @ Jun 8th 2007 10:58AM

If a company can sell a stand alone ATSC STB for $80 including manual, power supply, remote, etc. What makes you think it would knock $150 off the price of a TV?

It shouldn't be more than $50 for this TV and considering the average person, there is no reason not to include it on any TV. In fact you can buy 13-inch TV's with ATSC tuners for less than $150.

Neutral

Jesse @ Jun 8th 2007 11:20AM

I don't doubt anything you say. There is no way a ATSC tuner costs a company $150.

however, I paid $450 for my 32" HDTV... brand new. The next closest price I've seen was $500 refurbished... and $600+ for new. Those TVs came with tuners, mine didn't, but I didn't have a need for one since I have an HTPC. I was able to save $150 on a new HDTV. I was able to put equiptment of my choosing into a TV with just the bare minimum. My Reciever has all my Video/Audio connections I need and my HTPC takes care of my Tuner and HD Movie needs.

So in the end, I think companies shouldn't be forced to put things like tuners into their equiptment as long as the price reflects the missing features.

Neutral

Siva @ Jun 8th 2007 12:16PM

It is not illegal to sell a TV without ATSC tuner. It is illegal only if it contains an NTSC tuner but no ATSC tuner. So, if they sell a HD monitor with no tuner, it is perfectly legal. So, if these guys are complaining about costs, then they should just forgo the NTSC tuner and be done with it. Anyway, I bought a HANNspree Xv 37" HD LCD (720p) with built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner and 3 HDMI inputs for $685 (free shipping, no tax) from buy.com back in March and it has been great as a second TV.

Neutral

jkorobow @ Jul 20th 2007 12:58AM

Talking about regulatory things (FCC, UL, CSA) - I have been led to believe that HannStar/HannSpree is actually sourcing their HDTV sets from a 3rd party. (WOW.) I suspect TPV, but haven't been able to find out anything to confirm my general curiousity. Could you check the rear labels of your XV please and see if there is a UL file number, FCCid, or other code(s) that could help determine the original manuacturer? Thanks!

Neutral

Geoff Gibson @ Jun 8th 2007 1:47PM

I have an Olevia 37" and I got it for $500 w/ tax. The TV is great and I haven't had a single problem with it. It displays up to 1080i and makes my HD DVDs and Xbox 360 games look great! I couldn't be happier.

As for having an analog tuner...who cares? I don't watch TV but if I did, I'd get an HD cable or satalite reciever. Olevia provides cheap, good HDTVs for the masses, let them continue doing what they do. Albiet they should have to mark their products as such.

Neutral

Mike @ Jun 9th 2007 12:13AM

I work at Best Buy and we have a few TVs that don't have ATSC tuners in them. The FCC always tells us, though, that we need to put notices on them so customers know that they'll need a decoder box to go along with the TV once the analog shut-down happens.

Neutral

Ken @ Jun 10th 2007 8:51AM

Again - it is fine to sell a TV with no tuner. The issue here is they are selling TV's with ONLY analog tuners, and no digital.

Either you have NO tuner, or an analog AND digital (and soon to be just digital) tuner.

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