Washington, D.C.
(January 18, 2007)
--
I get scores of e-mails
every week from readers asking everything from whether
they should buy a new HDTV to when will their TV
provider add new high-def channels.
So, from time to time, I will publish my responses here in this column called, "Ask Swanni!"
Q. Do you have any special tricks for improving my HDTV picture? -- Cindy W.
For starters, get a HDMI cable if you are currently using Component cables to connect your cable or satellite set-top to your set. The HDMI cable won't produce dramatic results, but it should give the picture a 5-10 percent improvement. Second, try changing the picture settings on your set. Some HDTV owners have their TVs set to "Vivid," which is too bright for some rooms. If the picture seems too bright, change the setting to "Standard," "Custom" or "Cinema." I think you'll find the picture will look more realistic.
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Q. When is Cox Cable going to add more HDTV channels? I'm losing patience -- and I'm considering the dish! -- David F.
You'll see more this year, probably up to 50 percent more in some markets. But Cox -- and all cable operators -- need to re-build their systems before they can expand. It takes up to five times as much bandwidth to transmit a HD channel. The cable ops need more space to add more HD channels.
To create that space, they will likely remove some standard definition channels in the short term -- and rebuild their infrastructure in the long term. Also look for some cable operators, such as Comcast, to expand their HD Video on Demand lineups so they can offer more high-def programming. HD VOD doesn't take up as much system space as a regular HDTV channel.
Q. Do you think it's time for DIRECTV to recall the HD DVR? -- Karl M.
I've written extensively about the software bugs in DIRECTV's new HR20 high-def recorder. The device often won't record and the Pause and Fast-Forward buttons will sometimes freeze the picture. However, I wouldn't recommend a recall. Many HR20 boxes are working fine, which would suggest that DIRECTV will eventually solve the problem in all. But we'll see.
Q. Do you think that the adult industry will ultimately determine who wins the Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD battle? -- Marty B.
No. In the 1980s, many adult film studios sided with VHS over Beta, which helped VHS win the VCR format war. Adult fans purchased VHS players so they could watch their favorite porn performers at home. However, this is 2007 and adult films are available everywhere from video to cable to the Internet to even mobile devices. I don't see millions of adult viewers running out to get a HDTV DVD player just so they watch Jenna Jameson in high-def.
Q. Why did you criticize the White House on the Digital TV transition? Are you some liberal Democrat? -- John B.
No. In fact, I am neither a Republican or a Democrat. But I believe the current administration is not doing enough to educate consumers on the 2009 transition from analog to Digital TV. The transition may be two years away, but it's not too early to start letting people know that they will need a new Digital TV or a converter box if they want to keep watching TV in 2009. Also, let me say that the Democrats now control the Congress. There's no excuse for them to just sit back and be critics. They should be holding hearings, press conferences, you name it, to bring more attention to this issue.
Q. Whose side do you take in these disputes between cable and the local stations over HDTV signals? -- Barry C.
In dozens of cities, local stations are not permitting the cable operators to carry their high-def feeds unless they pay an extra fee. I think this is insane. For years, local stations have happily let cable and satellite operators carry their signals so they can reach more people, improve their ratings and, therefore, sell more advertising.
But now some independently-owned stations are trying to generate additional revenue by demanding fees for their HDTV signals. Why are they doing this? Because Nielsen has yet to begin publishing ratings for HDTV viewers. So the local stations do not see an immediate benefit of letting cable operators offer their HD channels for free. If more people watch their HD signals, they probably won't be able to translate that into more advertising. So they are demanding programming fees.
Instead of holding the HDTV viewer hostage with their demands, the local stations should be pushing Nielsen to measure the high-def audience. Then they can use HDTV to generate revenue the way they're supposed to.
Q. Do you think Liberty Media and DIRECTV will buy Voom? And if they do, will they force EchoStar to take Voom off the air? -- Harvey C.
I think it's likely that DIRECTV will add Voom's 15-channel HDTV lineup before year's end. Whether Liberty Media, which will take control of DIRECTV later this year, buys Voom is another issue entirely. Cablevision's owners may need extra cash to go private and the sale of Voom would certainly help. However, if DIRECTV gets control of Voom, I doubt seriously that it would force EchoStar not to carry it.
Q. What's the best HDTV to watch the Super Bowl on? -- Jennifer C.
There's no special high-def set for the Super Bowl, or any other big game. However, get the biggest screen your living room can handle. You -- and your significant other -- will appreciate it.
So, from time to time, I will publish my responses here in this column called, "Ask Swanni!"
Q. Do you have any special tricks for improving my HDTV picture? -- Cindy W.
For starters, get a HDMI cable if you are currently using Component cables to connect your cable or satellite set-top to your set. The HDMI cable won't produce dramatic results, but it should give the picture a 5-10 percent improvement. Second, try changing the picture settings on your set. Some HDTV owners have their TVs set to "Vivid," which is too bright for some rooms. If the picture seems too bright, change the setting to "Standard," "Custom" or "Cinema." I think you'll find the picture will look more realistic.
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Q. When is Cox Cable going to add more HDTV channels? I'm losing patience -- and I'm considering the dish! -- David F.
You'll see more this year, probably up to 50 percent more in some markets. But Cox -- and all cable operators -- need to re-build their systems before they can expand. It takes up to five times as much bandwidth to transmit a HD channel. The cable ops need more space to add more HD channels.
To create that space, they will likely remove some standard definition channels in the short term -- and rebuild their infrastructure in the long term. Also look for some cable operators, such as Comcast, to expand their HD Video on Demand lineups so they can offer more high-def programming. HD VOD doesn't take up as much system space as a regular HDTV channel.
Q. Do you think it's time for DIRECTV to recall the HD DVR? -- Karl M.
I've written extensively about the software bugs in DIRECTV's new HR20 high-def recorder. The device often won't record and the Pause and Fast-Forward buttons will sometimes freeze the picture. However, I wouldn't recommend a recall. Many HR20 boxes are working fine, which would suggest that DIRECTV will eventually solve the problem in all. But we'll see.
Q. Do you think that the adult industry will ultimately determine who wins the Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD battle? -- Marty B.
No. In the 1980s, many adult film studios sided with VHS over Beta, which helped VHS win the VCR format war. Adult fans purchased VHS players so they could watch their favorite porn performers at home. However, this is 2007 and adult films are available everywhere from video to cable to the Internet to even mobile devices. I don't see millions of adult viewers running out to get a HDTV DVD player just so they watch Jenna Jameson in high-def.
Q. Why did you criticize the White House on the Digital TV transition? Are you some liberal Democrat? -- John B.
No. In fact, I am neither a Republican or a Democrat. But I believe the current administration is not doing enough to educate consumers on the 2009 transition from analog to Digital TV. The transition may be two years away, but it's not too early to start letting people know that they will need a new Digital TV or a converter box if they want to keep watching TV in 2009. Also, let me say that the Democrats now control the Congress. There's no excuse for them to just sit back and be critics. They should be holding hearings, press conferences, you name it, to bring more attention to this issue.
Q. Whose side do you take in these disputes between cable and the local stations over HDTV signals? -- Barry C.
In dozens of cities, local stations are not permitting the cable operators to carry their high-def feeds unless they pay an extra fee. I think this is insane. For years, local stations have happily let cable and satellite operators carry their signals so they can reach more people, improve their ratings and, therefore, sell more advertising.
But now some independently-owned stations are trying to generate additional revenue by demanding fees for their HDTV signals. Why are they doing this? Because Nielsen has yet to begin publishing ratings for HDTV viewers. So the local stations do not see an immediate benefit of letting cable operators offer their HD channels for free. If more people watch their HD signals, they probably won't be able to translate that into more advertising. So they are demanding programming fees.
Instead of holding the HDTV viewer hostage with their demands, the local stations should be pushing Nielsen to measure the high-def audience. Then they can use HDTV to generate revenue the way they're supposed to.
Q. Do you think Liberty Media and DIRECTV will buy Voom? And if they do, will they force EchoStar to take Voom off the air? -- Harvey C.
I think it's likely that DIRECTV will add Voom's 15-channel HDTV lineup before year's end. Whether Liberty Media, which will take control of DIRECTV later this year, buys Voom is another issue entirely. Cablevision's owners may need extra cash to go private and the sale of Voom would certainly help. However, if DIRECTV gets control of Voom, I doubt seriously that it would force EchoStar not to carry it.
Q. What's the best HDTV to watch the Super Bowl on? -- Jennifer C.
There's no special high-def set for the Super Bowl, or any other big game. However, get the biggest screen your living room can handle. You -- and your significant other -- will appreciate it.