Red Sox Fans Angry at Verizon & Charter
The two TV providers are not providing high-def coverage of the baseball playoffs.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 5, 2007) -- TBS HD this week began its high-def coverage of the 2007 Major League Baseball playoffs. That's dandy --- if your local TV provider offers TBS HD.
The Boston Globe reports that many Boston Red Sox fans are furious because two local TV providers -- Charter and Verizon's FiOS -- have yet to add TBS HD to their high-def lineups.
Consequently, Sox fans this week must watch their hometown heroes in standard-def as they take on the Los Angeles Angels.
"Boston's pretty wealthy, we're first movers," Justin Bullion, who has Verizon, told the newspaper. "Not being able to see the Red Sox in HD is just a big corporate mistake."
It's unclear how many Red Sox fans are being affected by the decision. Verizon is available in 470,000 homes in Massachusetts and Rhode Island while Charter has more than 200,000 subscribers in Massachusetts, the Globe reports.
Charter says it hopes to add the channel, but has been unable to finalize carriage negotiations with Turner Broadcasting, the parent of TBS.
"This is a service business, we're not out to anger our customers," Charter said, according to the Globe. "But legally, we can't (offer TBS) until they let us do it."
Several other cable operators, including Comcast and Time Warner, have added TBS HD this week. Comcast's subscribers in Massachusetts can now watch TBS HD.
Verizon's new telco FiOS service said flatly that it will not add TBS HD for the playoffs, according to its statement.
"We're a new system and adding channels all the time, but unfortunately won't have TBS HD for the baseball playoffs," Verizon spokesman Phil Santoro said in an e-mail to the Globe. "But we expect to continue adding dozens of new channels including HD channels in the coming months."
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DIRECTV to Add MHD
The high-def network is from MTV Networks.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 4, 2007) -- DIRECTV today is expected to add MHD, the High-Definition music channel from MTV Networks.
MHD, which will be on DIRECTV's channel 332, offers a mix of music videos and concert footage in high-def.
While the channel was not available yet this morning, DIRECTV has included it in its "HD Channels Currently Available" list on channel 77, its on-screen guide to new HD programming.
The addition now gives DIIRECTV 41 national High-Definition channels, including the four major broadcast networks, which are available in most markets.
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Nielsen Study: HD Owners Want More HD
Consumer survey shows that high-def owners believe content is lacking.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 3, 2007) -- High-Definition TV owners are happy with their picture, but believe there should be more channels available in high-def.
That's according to a new consumer survey from Nielsen Media Research.
The company says 85 percent of high-def owners rate their HD picture as either "excellent" or "above average."
However, only 39 percent said their selection of HD channels was either excellent or above average.
Criticism of the high-def lineup found on most cable and satellite systems is not new, but it reflects the growing demand for more channels among high-def owners. And it's a critical reason why satellite and cable operators are investing heavily to expand their HD capacities.
Nielsen added that women are slightly more likely to say the HD picture is better than men. But cable and satellite operators do not differ on picture quality satisfaction.
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DIRECTV Adds Six HD Channels
The satcaster now has 37 national high-def channels.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 3, 2007) -- DIRECTV today added six new High-Definition channels, bringing its total to 37 national HD channels.
The new channels added today are:
USA Network HD (channel 242)
Sci-Fi Channel HD (channel 244)
Bravo HD (channel 272)
HBO West HD (channel 504)
Cinemax HD (channel 512)
Cinemax West HD (channel 514)
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HD DVD to Include Online Shopping
Evan Almighty disc will include link to Universal's online store.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 3, 2007) -- Universal Studios will announce today that next week's HD DVD release of Evan Almighty will include an online shopping feature.
That's according to an article by the Associated Press.
Evan Almighty, a comedy which stars Steve Carell as a modern day Noah, will be the first HD DVD to include an online shopping component.
The disc will include a Web browser that can connect to Universal's online store where viewers can buy products related to the movie such as a rain barrel for $135 and recyclable toilet paper.
HD DVD supporters, led by Microsoft, have said the format's interactive features will distinguish it from rival Blu-ray in the high-def disc war.
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Illegal Aliens Can Get $40 Digital TV Coupons
The federal government will issue the coupons next year for digital converters.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 3, 2007) -- The federal government in January will begin issuing $40 coupons to help Americans purchase Digital TV converter boxes so they can keep watching TV when the nation switches to all-digital signals in 2009.
And a Bush administration official said yesterday that illegal aliens will be allowed to get the $40 coupons just like everyone else.
"We don’t have any restrictions on the program with regard to any classification, whether it’s immigration status or economic status ...” said NTIA chief John Kneuer, according to Multichannel News.
Kneuer is a Commerce Department official who runs the National Telecommunications & Information Administration, which oversees the coupon program.
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Panasonic: Blu-ray Close to Victory
CE executive downplays Paramount's endorsement of rival HD DVD.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 2, 2007) -- A top Panasonic executive today said Blu-ray could defeat high-def disc rival HD DVD by the end of the year.
That's according to an article at CNET.com.
Kazuhiro Tsuga, who runs Matsushita's home electronics unit, says Blu-ray manufacturers will soon sharply cut player prices and launch a major promotional effort for the format. (Matsushita is the parent of Panasonic.)
The two actions will give Blu-ray a wide lead over HD DVD by the end of the holiday season or by the end of the first quarter, he said, according to CNET.
Apparently, according to Tsuga, HD DVD backers, led by Toshiba, would then be forced to either drop out of the battle or negotiate an agreement with the Blu-ray forces for a single format.
"The BD (Blu-ray disc) companies will try to do our best to promote Blu-ray," he said. "The studios want us to put money in to promote it...By the end of the year, you will see good products with very good promotion."
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Will Cable Offer 100 HD Channels In 2007?
Cable operators have boasted of higher capacity.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 2, 2007) -- DIRECTV says it will have 70 HDTV channels this month and 100 high-def channels by year's end. (It now has 31 national HD channels).
So, will your cable TV provider be able to match it?
Short answer: Not likely.
Top cable operators earlier this year boasted that they would have as much high-def capacity as DIRECTV. And some went as far to say that their HD lineups would be "as compelling" as DIRECTV.
"I'm 100 percent confident that we will have as compelling a HDTV lineup as DIRECTV," Melinda Witmer, Time Warner's chief programming officer, told TVPredictions.com last March.
Witmer added that Time Warner would have the capacity for 100 high-def channels by year's end. And Time Warner Cable CFO Landel Hobbs told an investors conference in June that the cable operator would have "virtually unlimited" capacity for high-def by year's end.
But Time Warner, which now has around 30 HD channels in some markets, was not the only cable operator talking a good game earlier in the year.
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Swanni's 10 HDTV Predictions For 2008!
Set prices will stabilize; the Digital TV transition will face more obstacles; and the HD 'arms race' between cable and satellite will increase.
By Allison Moore
HD Diva
Washington, D.C. (October 1, 2007) -- Editor's Note: Phillip Swann, president of TVPredictions.com, is scheduled to reveal his 10 HDTV predictions for 2008 at today's annual Iowa Digital TV Symposium in Des Moines.
Below are Swanni's 10 predictions for high-def for the coming year -- and excerpts from his prepared remarks at the Iowa conference.
To see his 2007 predictions for HDTV, click: 2007.
1. Digital TV Becomes a Political Football
"As we get closer to the February 2009 transition date, look for Democrats to escalate their charges that the Republican administration is not doing enough to educate Americans on what they need to do to keep watching TV when the nation switches from analog to digital.
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DIRECTV: More HD Channels This Week?
Online guide listings show new additions.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 30, 2007) -- DIRECTV this week added 21 new High-Definition channels en route to its goal of offering 100 HD channels by year's end.
But when will the satcaster add more high-def channels?
DIRECTV has said it will provide 70 HD channels by the end of October, adding this month such networks as Bravo HD, Fox Business Channel HD, Cinemax HD, Food Network HD, NBA TV HD and Sci-Fi HD among others.
However, there are some signs that the satcaster will add more HD channels sooner than later. For instance, Zap2It.com, which offers online TV listings, is already showing MHD in DIRECTV's listings.
MHD is the high-def network for MTV Networks.
In addition, Zap2It.com lists the National Geographic Channel as being in high-def on DIRECTV.
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Microsoft TV: One Good Flop Deserves Another
The company will now push an Apple TV-like device to stream video from the PC to high-def sets.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 27, 2007) -- Well, they say that misery loves company.
Following a Forbes Magazine article this week that reports that Apple TV has been a bust, Microsoft today is expected to launch its own version of a PC-to-HDTV streaming device.
Called a Media Center Extender (catchy, huh?), the retail product will enable a Media Center PC owner to send his video and audio files from the PC to his High-Definition TV.
Although Apple TV's dismal sales -- less than 250,000 sold, says Forbes -- would seem to suggest that Americans are not interested in buying a separate set-top to stream video from a PC to a TV, Microsoft is bullish on the concept.
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DIRECTV & HD: What's Next?
New channels are expected shortly.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 27, 2007) -- DIRECTV finally began its High-Definition expansion yesterday by launching 21 new high-def channels.
But lost in the noise was the omission of several HD networks that were expected to be added in the satcaster's initial rollout.
For instance, The Cartoon Network HD, Food Network HD, Cinemax HD, HGTV HD, MHD and National Geographic HD were not added yesterday.
Earlier this month, DIRECTV customer service reps provided lists of HD channels that would be launched this month and they included the above channels.
With DIRECTV saying it will have 70 HD channels in October, it's likely that the channels mentioned above will be included in the next rollout, which should be in the next week or two.
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EchoStar Adds 4 HD Sports Networks
The satcaster says it now has 74 high-def channels.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 26, 2007) -- EchoStar's Dish Network today launched four new regional sports networks in High-Definition.
The four new HD channels are:
1. Altitude Sports and Entertainment (ch. 360), which broadcasts the games of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche.
2. Comcast Sports Net Mid-Atlanta (ch. 374), which airs Washington, D.C. area professional sports.
3. Comcast Sports Net West (ch. 359), which airs Sacramento Kings games.
4. Fox Sports Ohio (ch. 375), which has both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Columbus Blue Jacket games.
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DIRECTV Launches 20 HD Channels
The satcaster finally kicks off its high-def expansion.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 26, 2007) -- DIRECTV this morning launched 20 new High-Definition channels, including CNN HD and TBS HD.
The launch is the beginning of DIRECTV's plan to offer 100 high-def channels by year's end. With today's addition, the satcaster now has 30 national HD channels.
DIRECTV says it will have 70 HD channels in October.
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DIRECTV & HD: Here We Go Again?
The satcaster may be eying Wednesday as the kickoff for its high-def expansion.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 25, 2007) -- DIRECTV may be preparing to launch its HDTV expansion tomorrow.
But haven't we heard that before?
The satcaster, which says it will begin adding high-def channels this month until it reaches 70 in October, was set to begin the rollout last Wednesday.
But sources say that DIRECTV ran into a technical glitch, causing it to put the expansion in a holding pattern.
However, there's evidence that DIRECTV is back on track and is now targeting tomorrow as the big day. For instance:
* Since early Sunday morning, the satcaster has been periodically testing some of the new HD channels on channels 9300 and 9301.
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Forrester: Blu-ray-HD DVD War Will Continue
Study says Blu-ray must cut its player prices.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 25, 2007) -- The Blu-ray-HD DVD high-def DVD format war is likely to continue for another 18 months.
That's the conclusion of a new report from Forrester Research, as reported by Reuters.
The research firm also urged Blu-ray supporters to cut its player prices or risk an "upset defeat" by the HD DVD format.
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MTV Yanks Britney's Flop From MHD Schedule
The network makes a last minute scheduling change, but denies any pressure from the singer.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 24, 2007) -- MHD, MTV's High-Definition channel, last week abruptly cancelled an encore broadcast of Britney Spears' musical meltdown at the 2007 Video Music Awards.
However, the network denies that the singer pressured it to drop the show from its scheduled time, which was Saturday (September 22) at 9 p.m. ET.
The MHD broadcast would have been the first time that MTV had repeated the September 9 VMAs, which opened with Spears' controversial and lackluster performance of her new single, Gimme More.
On Saturday night, MTV replaced the 3-hour VMAs with a 90-minute VMA "Best Of" show, which included extended performances from the program. However, the "Best Of" performances did not include Spears' opening number.
Asked today if Spears pressured the network to not repeat her performance, Mariana Agathoklis, a MTV spokeswoman, said: "No, not that I'm aware of. It was just a last minute scheduling change."
But she added that MTV now has no plans to air the 3-hour VMAs on MHD or the standard-definition MTV.
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Home Theater Group Backs Blu-ray
Organization says installers are favoring the high-def format.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 24, 2007) -- Home Theater Specialists of America is endorsing Blu-ray over HD DVD in the high-def disc format war.
That's according to an article by TWICE Magazine.
The HTSA, which represents Home Theater installers and high-end CE stores, says a survey of its members found that 92 percent of their high-def player sales have been Blu-ray players.
The remaining eight percent were HD DVD players or combo units that playback both formats.
TWICE reports that the HTSA believes its endorsement of Blu-ray will "strengthen retailer commitment to providing more (Blu-ray)-based devices to meet growing consumer demand.”
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DIRECTV to Add Smithsonian HD
But will the satcaster offer the channel this week with its HD rollout?
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 24, 2007) -- DIRECTV has agreed to carry the new Smithsonian HD channel, perhaps as early as Wednesday.
That's according to an article by the Associated Press.
DIRECTV is scheduled to begin its much-anticipated HD expansion this month, going from 10 high-def channels to 70 in October.
However, the satcaster's initial rollout of HD channels was delayed last week due to technical glitches.
The Associated Press reports that DIRECTV will begin airing Smithsonian HD on Wednesday, the date that some DIRECTV customer service officials are giving as the new launch date for DIRECTV's initial HD rollout.
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DIRECTV Tests 2 New HD Channels
The satcaster has been plagued with a technical glitch.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 23, 2007) -- DIRECTV early this morning tested two new High-Definition channels on channels 9300 and 9301.
The channels, National Geographic HD and Discovery HD, are scheduled to be added when DIRECTV kicks off its high-def expansion this month.
DIRECTV tested the channels for about three hours before turning the signals off.
DIRECTV, which now has 10 HD channels, is scheduled to begin adding more high-def channels this month and offer 70 in October. The company launched a new satellite in July to expand its high-def capacity.
However, the satellite service has been plagued this month with a technical glitch that has prevented the launch of the HD expansion.
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Why Is DIRECTV Quiet On HDTV?
Subscribers are demanding answers on the upcoming high-def expansion.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 21, 2007) -- DIRECTV this week missed an internal deadline for launching its much-anticipated High-Definition channel expansion, according to several sources.
The satcaster has been tight-lipped on the reason why. (Sources say it's a minor but persistent issue with integrating customer accounts with the new channel lineup.) There has been no press release stating an exact launch date or an explanation of what's going on.
The lack of response from DIRECTV headquarters is stirring anxieties and causing speculation and rumors about the real cause of the delay.
This has led countless DIRECTV subscribers to call the satcaster's Customer Service department with complaints and/or simple inquiries.
Additionally, many of those customers have filled Internet message boards with laments about why DIRECT couldn't simply issue a statement explaining what's going on.
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DIRECTV Launches HD 'Customer Care' Channel
But the screen is dark for its premiere.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 21, 2007) -- DIRECTV's on-screen guide today lists a new channel dedicated to information about its "imminent" expansion of High-Definition channels.
However, today at 6 a.m. ET -- when the new channel was scheduled to begin -- the screen was dark and remains so at the time of this writing.
The channel's title is: "Customer Care Broadcast." The program descrption says: "Executive Broadcast. Suranyi, Filipiak, Brown and Olsen deliver the latest information on the imminent HD rollout."
The names apparently are of DIRECTV marketing executives.
The on-screen guide says the channel will remain on from today at 6 a.m. ET to October 5.
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News & Commentary
Microsoft HDi Logo Added to HD DVDs
The symbol promotes Microsoft's interactive features.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 20, 2007) -- Microsoft today said its HDi logo will soon appear on all Toshiba HD DVD players and HD DVD discs from Universal and Paramount.
The HDi logo means that Microsoft's Interactive TV features are available on the devices and film releases.
Microsoft's HDi technology in HD DVD players enables viewers to re-edit movies, download trailers and participate in online polls among other activities.
The features are available on such HD DVD titles as 300, Miami Vice and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
"With Microsoft's HDi technology, Toshiba is able to offer consumers a consistent movie-watching experience in a way that simply isn't possible with today's DVDs or available with any other format right now," Jodi
Sally, Toshiba's vice president of marketing said today in a press release.
"As the market for High Definition evolves, consumers will want more out of the next generation of DVD than just superior picture and sound -- they'll also want to personalize their experience and tap into fan communities for their favorite movies and TV shows," added Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president of Microsoft's consumer media technology.
Commentary:
Microsoft has now been trying to shove Interactive TV down our throats for 10 years, investing billions of dollars on this foolish folly. But people simply don't want it. Time and time again -- whether it's WebTV, MSN TV, cable TV, you name it -- consumers have shown no interest in interacting with their televisions. They want to watch TV, not interact with it!
If Toshiba and Microsoft continue to deliver the message that HD DVD is ITV, the format will fail. The companies should be emphasizing HD DVD's great picture and sound, not the ability to go shopping or play a game on your TV.
Of course, Toshiba may not have an option here. Microsoft is investing heavily in the HD DVD format. Toshiba probably can not afford to tell Microsoft that it wants to downplay the ITV stuff. So, expect more.
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DIRECTV HD: Is Tomorrow the Big Day?
Several signs point to Wednesday as the day the satcaster begins its high-def expansion.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 18, 2007) -- Are we getting close?
DIRECTV has teased HD owners for several months now with promises of offering up to 100 high-def channels. But there are several indicators that the satcaster will finally begin its HD expansion tomorrow, September 19:
* DIRECTV's customer service representatives have been telling callers that new HD channels will be added on Wednesday.
While CSRs are often misinformed about the company's plans, roughly 25 TVPredictions.com readers have reported that their CSR have cited the September 19 date. It would appear that the customer reps are getting that information from a central source: likely DIRECTV's corporate office.
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Swanni's 2007 'Best & Worst' HDTV List!
Britney Spears might want to hide in the studio while Angelina Jolie's HD picture is worth a thousand looks.
By Phillip Swann
Editor's Note: The High-Definition TV picture is so clear that aging signs and skin imperfections are dramatically visible. Phillip Swann, president of TVPredictions.com, has generated international media attention for his 2004 list, 2005 list and 2006 list of the 10 celebrities who look better -- and worse -- under the unforgiving lens of high-def. Now, Swanni has named his 2007 'Best and Worst' in HDTV. If you're a member of the media and would like to interview Swanni about HDTV and/or "The List," call 703-505-3064 or e-mail: swann@tvpredictions.com.
1. Britney Spears
Brit has put on so much weight that Oops, I Did It Again needs to be remixed as Oops, I Ate It Again. The singer was once known as a pop tart, but now it looks like all she does is eat Pop Tarts. Her new single is called, Gimme More. In her glory days, that title would have carried a sexual connotation. But now Gimme More could be her cry for seconds at Ruby Tuesday.
And in high-def, she looks about a decade older than she really is. Her face is already showing excessive wrinkling around her lips and eyes. Overall, she looks like she belongs in a biker bar. What happened to her?! Yeech!
See more at the article.
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