Washington, D.C.
(January 15, 2007)
-- Click
Winners
to see Part One.
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Losers
Blu-ray and HD-DVD
The format war continues despite a flurry of announcements from each side saying they are winning. But no one is winning this war, except perhaps the media which is filling web sites and newspapers with stories chronicling the debacle.
EchoStar
EchoStar's Dish Network has more than national HDTV channels than any other provider. But DIRECTV's "100 HDTV Channels In 2007" proclamation left EchoStar gasping for air. EchoStar's announcement that it will offer free HD DVRs was all but ignored.
TiVo
Comcast announces that it will finally launch TiVo's HD DVR (and non-HD) service -- in the spring. The delay is another setback for the DVR pioneer.
E! Entertainment; Fox News; MSNBC, etc.
DIRECTV announced that a slew of high-def channels will launch this year, including CNN, TBS, the Sci-Fi Channel and USA Network. Unless E!, Fox News and MSNBC and other basic cable networks follow suit, they risk losing the rapidly growing high-def audience.
Porn Producers
Blu-ray production facilities apparently are turning up their noses at adult film studios who want to make copies of their films on the new DVD format. Consequently, several porn execs said last week that they will have to back HD-DVD because they have no other choice. Only Vivid Entertainment's Steve Hirsch said he was able to get a Blu-ray facility to cooperate.
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Losers
Blu-ray and HD-DVD
The format war continues despite a flurry of announcements from each side saying they are winning. But no one is winning this war, except perhaps the media which is filling web sites and newspapers with stories chronicling the debacle.
EchoStar
EchoStar's Dish Network has more than national HDTV channels than any other provider. But DIRECTV's "100 HDTV Channels In 2007" proclamation left EchoStar gasping for air. EchoStar's announcement that it will offer free HD DVRs was all but ignored.
TiVo
Comcast announces that it will finally launch TiVo's HD DVR (and non-HD) service -- in the spring. The delay is another setback for the DVR pioneer.
E! Entertainment; Fox News; MSNBC, etc.
DIRECTV announced that a slew of high-def channels will launch this year, including CNN, TBS, the Sci-Fi Channel and USA Network. Unless E!, Fox News and MSNBC and other basic cable networks follow suit, they risk losing the rapidly growing high-def audience.
Porn Producers
Blu-ray production facilities apparently are turning up their noses at adult film studios who want to make copies of their films on the new DVD format. Consequently, several porn execs said last week that they will have to back HD-DVD because they have no other choice. Only Vivid Entertainment's Steve Hirsch said he was able to get a Blu-ray facility to cooperate.