Sony dropped price of UltimateTV PVR/DirecTV satellite receiver to $249 after $200 in manufacturer and UltimateTV mail- in rebates. Price includes keyboard, and Microsoft’s UltimateTV service carries $9.95 monthly fee in addition to cost of DirecTV programming package. Microsoft has rebranded former WebTV service as MSNTV, but has kept same $24.95 monthly fee. Recent Circuit City ad carried Philips brand MSNTV set-top box at $99 after $50 mail-in rebate and included 2 months of free service. Latter offer has several requirements, including that service be activated by Feb. 28, that customer remain subscriber for at least month and return promotional coupon by March 31. Offer also is available only to new subscribers who buy Classic WebTV or Plus WebTV receiver. Philips is last manufacturer offering WebTV product. Sony discontinued product earlier this year.

Amazon.com launched Amazon Access -- alternative version of its Web site designed for visually impaired customers. E-tailer said new site was designed to make online shopping easier for customers using screen access software, with site offering less text and graphics. But Amazon said new site -- www.amazon.com/access -- provides access to company’s full line of products and personalization features.

XM and Sirius won’t pose “any kind of revenue threat” to AM and FM radio, so traditional radio stations shouldn’t be concerned about running ads for satellite radio service, industry analysts and radio executives said. Some radio chains, including Cox Radio and Buckley Bcstg., have refused to run XM ads because of concerns they may be helping future business rival. “It’s like any competitive arena,” Buckley spokesman said: “GM isn’t going to advertise Ford.” Cox Pres. Bob Neil agreed: “We're not going to allow them access to our air to try to further their cause, which is to put us out of business.”

Westwood Studios said 4 iGames affiliated videogame centers in U.S. would host multiplay beta test of Command & Conquer Renegade, PC game being published by Electronic Arts under EA Games brand that will ship Feb. 26. Open sign-ups for beta test were held last week and Westwood said it since had picked 1,500 applicants to participate. Four game centers are hosting beta test through Dec. 23.

Without notice to consumers or CE makers, studios have installed DVD Parental Control Levels (PCL) on top-selling children’s titles Shrek and Dr. Suess’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas. As result, DVD player manufacturers have been fielding complaints from hardware customers unable to play discs.

As Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) named Philippe Erwin vp-interactive entertainment, company indicated it had every intention of playing role in current and next-generation videogame platforms. But at our deadline it was unclear whether company planned to move beyond licensing role in game arena to developing and publishing, as Hollywood competitors including Fox, Sony and Universal had done. WBCP said Erwin would be responsible for guiding overall sales and marketing initiatives related to use of Warner Bros.’ content in interactive media. Erwin team also will be responsible for managing development and production approval processes for each partner, company said. WBCP said Erwin would work with company’s New Media Div. to extend Warner Bros. interactive gaming strategies to online, wireless, other digital platforms. Erwin previously worked at Activision and, most recently, Universal Interactive Entertainment.

Better-than-expected store traffic over Thanksgiving holiday weekend helped provide bounce in steps of major CE retail chains that Thurs. reported sales for Nov. and 3rd fiscal quarter. Virtually all said sales improved progressively in quarter, with digital products providing momentum for rebound.

Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display will double monthly production capacity to 80,000 units in 2002, Japanese news reports said, to focus on smaller 32W and 37W screen sizes. Fujitsu thus far hasn’t announced plans for 32W and instead has moved ahead with plans for 50W. Hitachi, which markets 42W in U.S., hasn’t finalized plans for smaller sizes here, Mktg. Vp Leo Delaney said. It sells 32W and 37W displays in Japan, which have 1,024x852 and 1,024x1,024 resolutions, respectively. At same time, Delaney said, Hitachi has no plans to add new version of 55W rear-projection TV based on Texas Instruments’ DLP technology next year and any new models won’t arrive until 2003 at earliest.

IBM’s digital set-top box (STB controller will be extension of 4000 series and will have processor operating at 257 MHz, Digital Video Products Mktg. Mgr. John Sixsmith said. Controller is being designed as part of STB that will contain NDS’ XTV personal video recorder (PVR) and VideoGuard copy protection software and be manufactured by Sagem. STB is expected to ship worldwide by mid-2002. IBM controller will be built using 0.18- micron process and 200mm wafer fabrication line. IBM is gearing up to shift to 0.13-micron process and 300mm line in 2002. IBM also is weighing introduction of enhanced DVD chip that would conform to standard being finalized by DVD Forum, Sixsmith said, declining to release details. Several companies, including Cirrus Logic, which recently purchased MPEG-2 chip supplier Stream Machine, and Vialta, also are developing similar ICs.

Konami of America (KOA) updated its game release schedule. It said only scheduled Dec. title at this point is Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams for Xbox Dec. 18, although KOA admitted title could be delayed until Jan. 8. Jan. slate includes: ESPN NFL Prime Time 2002 for Xbox (early Jan.); ESPN Winter X Games Snowboarding for Game Boy Advance (GBA), PS2, Xbox (Jan. 17); ESPN Winter X Games Snocross for PS2 (Jan.17); ESPN International Winter Sports for GameCube, GBA, PS2, Xbox (Jan. 29). Slated for Feb. are: ESPN NBA 2 Night 2002 for PS2 and Xbox (Feb. 5); Yu Gi Oh! Dark Duel Stories for Game Boy Color (early Feb.); Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars (formerly called ZOE: Testament) for GBA (Feb. 12). March titles will include WTA Tour Tennis (formerly Power Pro Tennis: WTA Tour Edition) for GBA and PS2 (March 5); ESPN MLS Extra Time 2002 for GameCube, PS2, Xbox (March 26); Motocross Maniacs Advance for GBA (March 26); ESPN Winter X Games Snocross for Xbox (March 26).