While thin, fashionable HDTVs look great hanging on the wall, the cords do not. After years of technical problems, the TV industry appears ready to introduce the ability to beam an HDTV signal to a wall-mounted HDTV, and do it with the blessing of content providers, according to the New York Times on Thursday.

Behind the move is a consortium that includes Sony, Panasonic, NEC, LG and Toshiba, and that’s considered unusual because computer related companies are better known for developing wireless technologies than TV makers. Last Thursday, however, Intel announced that it is joining the consortium, called "WirelesHD."

The technology will exploit an unused part of the radio spectrum at 60 GHz which will allow the systems to avoid radio interference and have a high data rate, according to John Marshall, chairman of WirelessHD. In order to assuage the MPAA, the power and rage of the transmitter box will be kept low so that signals don’t seep into TV sets close by. "What WirelessHD has done is that we’ve made sure that the technology can cover a whole room -- even a large room, up to 10 meters (30 feet) -- but we’ve used techniques that make sure that it can’t leak into the apartment next door," Mr. Marshall said.

Technical problems have delayed the product, but now systems will be demonstrated at CES next week. For now, the primary focus is retail and public displays. Later this year, if all goes well, consumer versions will be introduced.

Unfortunately, there’s still one cord that hasn’t been eliminated. That’s the power cord for the HDTV. We’ll still have to live with that one for awhile.