UNIT would likely be an 8 input, 8 output multi-zone video tuner with one remote to operate any zone at any time or all zones at once....

No, it does not exist, nor will it ever exist.

The annual sales of such a product would be ONE, to you... and then what about next year??
What manufacturer is going to R&D, and then tool up manufacturing for that kind of steady volume??

Nobody.

This is where CUSTOM comes in, and why you are asking this question in the CUSTOM installer's lounge.

Stew was kind enough to lay out the control for you,
but you still need 8 video tuners and possibly a matrix if you want to ever see different items on different screens...

Questions you SHOULD be asking and determining...

Should you use the tuners in the individual TVs??
(not if you're going HD someday, keep it external and make it simple)

Should you use 8 identical VCRs instead and set up a matrix switcher??
(yes, because you can swap out the VCRs for the HD Cable boxes someday)

What happens when you want to switch service and subscribe to DirecTV or Dish Network??
(doesn't matter what boxes are there, the matrix will switch them)

Even if you find all the answers to "what should I buy", and you can get the answers at places like this, setting this up isn't for the faint-hearted.

If you want a super basic "all sets, same picture" set up, you will not need a matrix switcher.
I would recommend installing component video cables (for HD future use) to each set from an area deemed to be the equipment location.

Today it will be just a VCR or cable box, and an audio system (below) but tomorrow it might be a full blown matrix with multiple HD sources.
Use the ONE of the leads of the component as a composite feed and split it to the various locations from a video distribution amp (DA).
Later, you can replace the composite video DA with a component video DA, and replace the VCR with the HD cable box of the day, or put in the matrix if it makes sense then.

As for sound, don't use the TV sound AT ALL.
Send the audio to a stereo receiver and put speakers throughout the space. Use a speaker selector for impedance matching, preferably one with VCs to tailor the volume in each area, and the receiver's volume will set the overall volume.

This message was edited by 2nd rick on 02/15/05 01:25 ET.