Washington - Sony Electronics (NYSE: SNE) and six major U.S. cable TV providers have announced an agreement that will enable Sony to develop and sell televisions able to connect directly to cable TV services without the need of a set-top box. The agreement between Sony and cable providers Comcast (NASD: CMCSA), Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC), Cox, Charter (NASD: CHTR), Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) and Bright House Networks -- which collectively serve 82% of U.S. cable subscribers -- will allow "two-way" digital TVs and other devices to deliver both standard cable programming and interactive services like pay-per-view and video-on-demand.

Washington - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced an agenda for the Digital Television Consumer Education Workshop it plans to hold on Sept. 26 in Washington, which will discuss how to educate consumers about the pending transition from analog to digital television. Represented at the hearing will be senior citizens, low-income consumers, non-English speakers, people with disabilities, tribes and public interest groups for those in rural areas. Also in attendance will be the Consumer Electronics Association, National Cable Television Association, National Association of Broadcasters. The FCC plans to offer a live audio webcast of the hearing.