Listen as Washington Post columnist Tom Shales reviews a film he describes as confusing, but cool. This week the first personal video recorder is rolling out for consumers. Just program your television and watch away. Similar to the established WebTV, ReplayTV and TiVo, a device made by a company also named TiVo, store programs on an internal hard disk for viewers to watch when they're ready. Both devices connect to a telephone line, which downloads commands from the personal video recorder companies to the set-top boxes.
Analysts say the systems are going to change the way people watch television.
But Forrester Research predicts that too will change. President David Westin said Tuesday. Jennings will be stationed in a new studio ABC is building in New York's Times Square. In addition to following the New Year's celebrations, news organizations will be watching closely to see the immediate effect, if any, of the Y2K computer bug. CBS, NBC and Fox representatives had no comment Tuesday on how their networks will mark the special night.