Washington, D.C.
(April 13, 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 new column called, "Ask Swanni!"
Q. Now that NBC's Nightly News is in high-def, will they go HD with Meet the Press? -- Tommy R.
Quite likely -- and sooner than later. The Sunday morning interview show hosted by Tim Russert would be a perfect addition to the network's HD news lineup. Don't be surprised if you see it go high-def this year.
Q. I heard that EchoStar will soon add Cinemax HD. True? I love movies in HDTV! -- Cathie K.
I asked EchoStar today and a spokeswoman would neither confirm or deny the rumor. So we'll see. The rumor is that it will be added in the next few weeks.
Q. When will Time Warner add National Geographic HD in my area? I live in upstate New York. -- David R.
Time Warner says it has the rights to offer the channel, but it's up to the local TW system to decide whether to carry it. You might want to let your local Time Warner office know that you want it today!
Q. In your poll regarding which HDTV offers the best picture, you didn't mention a front projector. How come? I have one and the picture is great. -- Sam P.
I wanted to restrict the poll to high-def sets which are the overwhelming choice of most consumers. Nothing against the front projector, though. Many Home Theater enthusiasts think its capacity to display high-def images on a 100-inch screen is heaven on earth. (By the way, our poll of TVPredictions.com readers found that Plasma has the best HD picture with LCD a close second.)
So, from time to time, I will publish my responses here in this new column called, "Ask Swanni!"
Q. Now that NBC's Nightly News is in high-def, will they go HD with Meet the Press? -- Tommy R.
Quite likely -- and sooner than later. The Sunday morning interview show hosted by Tim Russert would be a perfect addition to the network's HD news lineup. Don't be surprised if you see it go high-def this year.
Q. I heard that EchoStar will soon add Cinemax HD. True? I love movies in HDTV! -- Cathie K.
I asked EchoStar today and a spokeswoman would neither confirm or deny the rumor. So we'll see. The rumor is that it will be added in the next few weeks.
Q. When will Time Warner add National Geographic HD in my area? I live in upstate New York. -- David R.
Time Warner says it has the rights to offer the channel, but it's up to the local TW system to decide whether to carry it. You might want to let your local Time Warner office know that you want it today!
Q. In your poll regarding which HDTV offers the best picture, you didn't mention a front projector. How come? I have one and the picture is great. -- Sam P.
I wanted to restrict the poll to high-def sets which are the overwhelming choice of most consumers. Nothing against the front projector, though. Many Home Theater enthusiasts think its capacity to display high-def images on a 100-inch screen is heaven on earth. (By the way, our poll of TVPredictions.com readers found that Plasma has the best HD picture with LCD a close second.)
__________________________________________
____________________________________________
Q. Any news on whether CBS will air more than three NFL games a week this season in high-def? -- Wayne P.
Wayne, that's a great question and I am putting it on my list to find out. For those of you who don't know, CBS last season broadcast just three National Football League games each week in HD, compared to six or more by Fox. A CBS executive told me last November that the network would review the policy following the 2006 season.
Q. Will cable show the Extra Innings baseball games in HD? I haven't seen any yet. -- Roy T.
In Demand, which provides the games to cable TV operators, says the Extra Innings package will include at least five games each week in HD. So stay tuned.
Q. Why do you think Samsung is bringing out a dual format HDTV DVD player? Does this mean it thinks the format war will go on forever? -- Aaron P.
Maybe not. Samsung says it hopes to launch the dual format player, which will display both Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs, by the holidays. A lot can happen between now and then.
Q. Do you know when the Weather Channel will start in HD? -- Summer S.
September.
Q. Do you think HDNet will hire Don Imus like they did Dan Rather after he left CBS? -- Eddie I.
I don't think anyone will be hiring Imus anytime soon. Plus, do you really want to see the "I-Man" in high-def?
Comment on this article!
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
____________________________________________
Advertisement
_______________________________________________________
____________________________________________
Q. Any news on whether CBS will air more than three NFL games a week this season in high-def? -- Wayne P.
Wayne, that's a great question and I am putting it on my list to find out. For those of you who don't know, CBS last season broadcast just three National Football League games each week in HD, compared to six or more by Fox. A CBS executive told me last November that the network would review the policy following the 2006 season.
Q. Will cable show the Extra Innings baseball games in HD? I haven't seen any yet. -- Roy T.
In Demand, which provides the games to cable TV operators, says the Extra Innings package will include at least five games each week in HD. So stay tuned.
Q. Why do you think Samsung is bringing out a dual format HDTV DVD player? Does this mean it thinks the format war will go on forever? -- Aaron P.
Maybe not. Samsung says it hopes to launch the dual format player, which will display both Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs, by the holidays. A lot can happen between now and then.
Q. Do you know when the Weather Channel will start in HD? -- Summer S.
September.
Q. Do you think HDNet will hire Don Imus like they did Dan Rather after he left CBS? -- Eddie I.
I don't think anyone will be hiring Imus anytime soon. Plus, do you really want to see the "I-Man" in high-def?
Comment on this article!
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
____________________________________________
Advertisement
_______________________________________________________
Phillip Swann is
president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in
dozens of publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox
News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The
Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The Associated Press and The
Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com
or at 703-505-3064.
Click TVPredictions.com to read more news and features on TV
technology.