Fox News to Launch HD Channel
DIRECTV has agreed to carry the new HD signal, multiple sources say.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 30, 2007) -- Fox News Channel is planning to launch a High-Definition channel and DIRECTV has agreed to carry it, TVPredictions.com has learned.
But it's unclear if the Fox News HD channel, which will be a simulcast of its standard-def signal, will be part of DIRECTV's initial HDTV expansion in September.
The satcaster is expected to add dozens of new HD channels over the next two weeks, reaching a lineup of 70 high-def channels by the end of September. (It currently offers about 10 national HD channels.) By year's end, DIRECTV says it will have 100 high-def channels.
Multiple sources close to the situation tell TVPredictions.com that the Fox News HD launch is in the works, but the specific launch date has yet to be determined.
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DIRECTV: HDTV Expansion Likely By September 16
The first rollout will be between 20 and 40 new high-def channels.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 29, 2007) -- DIRECTV told TVPredictions.com tonight that it will likely add from 20 to 40 new High-Definition channels by Sunday, September 16.
That date coincides with the 59th Annual Emmy Awards and DIRECTV has scheduled a post-awards party that night in Los Angeles to promote its new high-def lineup.
Asked tonight if the HDTV expansion will have taken place by the Emmy party, Eric Shanks, DIRECTV's executive vice president of entertainment, said "it will be real close" to that date.
DIRECTV launched a new satellite in July to expand its High-Definition capacity to 100 channels by year's end. (The satcaster plans to launch another satellite to increase the capacity to 150 HD channels next year.)
In an interview with TVPredictions.com, Shanks said DIRECTV will have added 70 new high-def channels by the end of the third quarter, which ends at the end of September. He said it will have the 100 HDTV channels by year's end.
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TiVo: We've Been Hurt By HDTV
But the DVR service hopes its new low-cost HD recorder will turn things around.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 29, 2007) -- TiVo said today that it added only 41,000 gross subscriptions in the second quarter compared to 74,000 a year ago.
And the DVR service blamed the decline on the growth of High-Definition TV. Until recently, TiVo's HD DVR cost $799, which even the company has acknowledged was too expensive to generate serious sales.
"As has been the case in recent quarters, gross subscription additions were impacted by the pace at which retailers moved to a High Definition sales focus," TiVo said in its second quarter report which was released today.
TiVo last month introduced a $299 high-def recorder called 'TiVo HD' and the company said it believes the new product will turn around their high-def efforts.
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Microsoft: We Didn't Pay Paramount for HD DVD Switch
The company's chief HD DVD official says reports of payment are unfounded.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 29, 2007) -- Kevin Collins, who runs Microsoft's HD DVD unit, says his company did not pay Paramount to exclusively back HD DVD in the high-def format war against Blu-ray.
Paramount and DreamWorks last week stunned the high-def industry by announcing that they will back HD DVD exclusively. Paramount had previously released films in both formats while DreamWorks had yet to pick a winner in the battle.
The news led Blu-ray supporters to quickly charge that the studios had been paid off by Microsoft and Toshiba, the leading companies behind HD DVD.
The New York Times last week quoted an industry official as saying the studios received $150 million combined to back HD DVD, although the newspaper did not say who paid the studios.
But in a post at the Home Theater Forum message board, Collins said he was interrupting his vacation to "go on the record stating that Microsoft did not provide any financial incentives to Paramount/Dreamworks' recent decision to support HD DVD."
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Is This the 'Cheap' Chinese HD DVD Player?
Canadian company says it will launch a low-cost HD DVD player this holiday season.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 28, 2007) -- Venturer Electronics said today that it will launch a HD DVD player this holiday season that will be "one of the lowest among entry-level HD DVD players."
Venturer is based in Ontario, Canada, but has a manufacturing partner in China. The partnership led HD DVD boosters at Internet message boards today to boast that Venturer is the low-cost Chinese HD DVD player that's been promised for months.
The HD DVD Promotional Group said in January that Chinese companies would introduce low-priced HD DVD players this year. The Toshiba entry-level HD DVD player is now $299, but the format's supporters have said the Chinese players could be as low as $99 for the holidays.
HD DVD backers have opined that their format's price advantage would be even stronger at that price. The lowest-priced Blu-ray player is now Sony's BDP-300 at $499 suggested retail.
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Swanni: I Can't Win the HDTV Format War!
I have predicted that Blu-ray will ultimately win the high-def disc format war against HD DVD. However, at TVPredictions.com, we are committed to providing all the news and views that come from the battle between the two forces. We have no favorites here; we just want to present the information.
For instance, earlier this month, we featured three videos from Microsoft's Kevin Collins on why his company believes that HD DVD is better than Blu-ray. After the videos were posted, I received several e-mails from Blu-ray supporters saying that we were biased in favor of HD DVD. After one Kevin Collins video remained on our Home Page for two weeks, I received some more e-mails suggesting a HD DVD tilt.
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Paramount's HD DVD Decision Is Anti-Consumer
By Robert Smith
HD Observer
Washington, D.C. (August 26, 2007) -- Hollywood legend has it that Louis B. Mayer offered to buy the negative of Citizen Kane from RKO to prevent Kane’s release. Fortunately, RKO refused, and the film now revered as the greatest movie ever made survives for us to watch.
Blades of Glory and Shrek the Third may not be Citizen Kane, but Paramount studios has apparently just taken a big payoff to deny some of their customers of these and other titles that Paramount had been promising.
According to the New York Times, HD DVD promoters are paying $150 million to Paramount/Dreamworks to pay for Paramount dropping its support of Blu-ray while retaining support of HD DVD.
Two years ago, Paramount announced that they would support both HD DVD and Blu-ray in the HDTV disc format war. Blu-ray has been selling two-to-one over HD DVD this year, and this includes Paramount titles. The last Paramount title shipped on both formats, Disturbia, had a 68:32 split in favor of Blu-ray in the most recent Videoscan survey.
The speed and violence with which Paramount dropped Blu-ray are stunning. Paramount had 5 titles already announced to retailers. Withdrawal notices were sent to retailers within hours. Blades of Glory, which was due this next week, was pulled back even though it had substantial preorders and reviewers had already received copies.
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Swanni: 3 Ways Blu-Ray Can Win -- Sooner Than Later
In a new video, Phillip Swann, president of TVPredictions.com, says Blu-ray can still win the high-def disc format war against HD DVD in the next 3-6 months if its supporters do three things.
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HDTV DVD Power Politics
By Mitch Davis
HD Observer
Washington, D.C. (August 21, 2007) -- Yesterday's announcement that Paramount, and its partner Dreamworks Animation, were going HD DVD exclusive means that all previously announced titles for Blu-Ray, such as Blades of Glory, will now only be released on one format.
Yes, to those who even had pre-ordered Blu-ray titles, you are not going to get them.
When only Universal had been exclusive to HD DVD, why did another studio shift? It's simple. Paramount and Dreamworks Animation got paid off by Toshiba. To the tune of $150 million for 18 months of exclusivity (according to some reports). Yes, there will be debate, but this is merely part of the hardball power play going on with large corporations.
The big problem is that the consumers are the ones who lose out. When the format war was closer to being dominated by one side, Blu-Ray, (BD has over 66 percent of title sales and gaining retail and rental
dominance), Toshiba decided to pay out even more money than it was paying Universal.
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News
Transformers Director Slams Paramount's HD DVD Call
Michael Bay vows not to make a Transformers sequel.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 21, 2007) -- Michael Bay, who directed this summer's smash hit Transformers for Paramount, is a bit miffed at the studio's decision to back HD DVD in the high-def DVD format war.
In fact, he's so upset that he's vowing not to direct a sequel to Transformers, which has made more than $300 million at the box office.
At his web site, Shoot For the Edit, Bay has posted a blistering attack on Paramount's action. The studio yesterday announced that it will only release films in the HD DVD format rather than both HD DVD and its rival, Blu-ray.
Under the header: "Paramount Pisses Me Off!," Bay wrote: "I want people to see my movies in the best formats possible. For them to deny people who have Blu-ray sucks! They were progressive by having two formats. No Transformers 2 for me!"
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Sony PR Firm Pushes Paramount HD DVD Payoff
Top public relations agency for Sony's Blu-ray interests tips reporters to blog item after Paramount backs rival HD DVD.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 20, 2007) -- Paramount announced today that it's dropping Blu-ray to back HD DVD exclusively in the high-def disc format war.
Soon after the announcement, GCI Group, a Los Angeles-based public relations firm, began calling reporters (including this one) to tell them that a Hollywood news blog ("Deadline Hollywood Daily") was reporting that HD DVD supporters gave Paramount $100 million in "promotional considerations" to dump Blu-ray.
GCI Group represents Sony, the leading supporter of the Blu-ray format, and jointly issues press releases on its behalf on Blu-ray issues.
The blog, written by Nikki Finke of the LA Weekly, added that DreamWorks Animation, which today said it would also support HD DVD exclusively, got $50 million in "promotional considerations."
Finke did not name her sources, say how many they were or even characterize them as coming from a specific company or industry.
Her blog item, which was posted shortly after today's Paramount announcement, also did not elaborate on the "promotional considerations."
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Paramount to Back HD DVD Exclusively
The studio had released films in both high-def formats.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 20, 2007) -- Paramount announced today that it's dropping Blu-ray to back HD DVD exclusively in the high-def disc format war.
The news is a major boost for HD DVD supporters who have seen their format fall behind Blu-ray in title sales in recent months. However, it's a setback for studio officials and retailers who have been pushing for a single format.
Paramount now joins Universal as studios that will only release titles in the HD DVD disc format. The studio's decision will also include movies distributed by DreamWorks Pictures (except for Steven Spielberg films, which are not exclusive to one format), Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films.
Four major studios -- Sony, Fox, Disney and MGM -- are backing Blu-ray exclusively. Warner Bros. will now be the sole major studio that will release movies in both formats.
Today's switch means that Paramount will release the upcoming Shrek the Third on HD DVD only. Paramount's first HD DVD only release will be Will Ferrell's skating spoof Blades of Glory on August 28.
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Court Backs Comcast In DIRECTV HD Suit
An Illinois court issues an injunction to stop the satcaster from running certain ads.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 17, 2007) -- A U.S. district court has approved Comcast request's for an injunction blocking DIRECTV from airing TV commercials saying TV installers prefer the satcaster's HDTV picture.
In its filing, Comcast accused DIRECTV of 'outrageous conduct" for running the installer ad, although the satcaster says it's discontinued the campaign. Comcast says the ad is false because the survey of installers was unscientific and misreported.
The court today also rejected DIRECTV's motion for an injunction to stop Comcast from running ads saying its high-def picture quality is better than satellite.
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ESPN Poker Host Mocks HD Broadcast
Norman Chad questions why the show is in high-def.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 19, 2007) -- ESPN recently began broadcasting its popular World Series of Poker program in High-Definition.
But WSOP host Norman Chad can't understand why.
"For poker?" Chad asked rhetorically this week in an interview with the Los Angeles Daily News. "We need to see high def on the queen of hearts? She looks good even in black and white."
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Disney Unveils Blu-ray 'Title Wave'
The studio announces several major Blu-ray releases in 2008.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 17, 2007) -- Walt Disney has announced that next year it's releasing several major film titles on Blu-ray including Sleeping Beauty.
Calling it a "Blu ray Title Wave," Disney says it will release The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, and The Witch and The Wardrobe in spring 2008, followed by National Treasure in the summer of 2008.
Then in the fall of 2008, it will launch Blu-ray editions of Finding Nemo and Sleeping Beauty.
Disney is backing Blu-ray exclusively in the high-def disc format war against HD DVD. The studio said the release of Sleeping Beauty and other major titles on Blu-ray could have the same impact on high-def disc sales that Pinocchio's release had on VHS and Snow White's release on the DVD industry.
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DIRECTV #1 In J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Study
The satcaster scores highest in three regions.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 15, 2007) -- DIRECTV has the highest customer satisfaction rating among cable and satellite providers in three of the four U.S. regions.
That's according to the 2007 J.D. Power and Associates Residential Cable/Satellite Satisfaction Study, which was released today.
The company said DIRECTV ranked highest in the East, West and South while WOW!, which offers cable TV service in a handful of states, was rated highest in the North Central region.
J.D. Power said cable and satellite companies were measured on several factors including overall customer satisfaction, performance and reliability; customer service; cost of service; image; billing; and offerings and promotions.
DIRECTV ranked highest in the East with an Index score of 690 out of a possible 1,000. EchoStar's Dish Network was second in the East with 661 while Cox was third with 648.
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Blu-ray Outselling HD DVD By 2-1
The Sony-backed format holds a commanding lead in 2007.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 15, 2007) -- Blu-ray High-Definition DVDs out sold rival HD DVD by a 2-1 margin in the first half of 2007.
That's according to Home Media Research, as reported by Reuters.
The research arm of Home Media Magazine said there were 1.6 million Blu-ray discs sold in the first six months of the year compared to 795,000 HD DVDs.
The Sony-backed Blu-ray format and HD DVD, led by Toshiba, are fighting for the new high-def disc audience. The two formats are compatible with each other, meaning one disc won't play on the other's machine.
This has led to a format war with four of the eight major studios backing Blu-ray exclusively and only one (Universal) supporting HD DVD exclusively.
Home Media Research says 3.7 million high-def discs have been sold since the two formats launched in the spring of 2006 -- 2.2 million Blu-ray discs and 1.5 million HD DVDs.
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Time Warner Expanding 'Start Over' DVR
But the service prevents viewers from skipping ads.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 14, 2007) -- Time Warner Cable is expanding a free service that permits viewers to watch High-Definition (and standard def) shows from the beginning if they tuned in late.
Called 'Start Over." the recording service was introduced in South Carolina two years ago but will be added to half of Time Warner's 23 markets by year's end, according to the Associated Press.
Like a Digital Video Recording device, Start Over permits viewers to pause, rewind and resume a program. However, although it will not require a monthly fee like a DVR, the Start Over feature may upset some longtime DVR users because it prevents you from skipping commercials.
Time Warner Cable is hoping to appease advertisers still concerned about DVR owners fast-forwarding past their TV spots.
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Time Warner & NFL Network Still Fighting
Time Warner customers denied access to high-def games.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 12, 2007) -- The NFL Network is broadcasting 34 pre-season games and eight regular season games in HD this season. But Time Warner Cable subscribers may not see any of them.
The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reports that the cable operator is still battling the NFL Network over programming fees and package rights. Consequently, Time Warner has not added the channel to its standard or high-def lineup.
At issue is Time Warner's insistence that it offer the channel in a separate sports tier which costs subscribers an additional $8.95 a month.
"There has not been any change or progress in our negotiations," Time Warner spokeswoman Vicki Triplett told the newspaper. "The cost (to carry the NFL Network) is a large amount, so what we want to do is make it to where people who are only interested in sports can pay for it, rather than make all customers pay for it."
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Ergen on DIRECTV's 100 HD Channels: 'Big Deal'
The EchoStar chief says there aren't 100 high-def channels worth watching.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 10, 2007) -- EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen suggested today that DIRECTV's upcoming 100 HD channel lineup is not that impressive.
“There’s not 100 channels of HD that I would watch,” Ergen told analysts during an investors conference call, according to Multichannel News.
DIRECTV yesterday disclosed that it will offer 70 HDTV channels by the end of September and 100 by year's end.
Ergen conceded that 100 HD channels "is a good round number to get people excited.” But he added that it's not important for a TV provider to have a certain number.
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DIRECTV today said it will carry 70 High-Definition channels by the end of the third quarter and 100 channels by year's end.
The satcaster made the disclosure in an investors call today following the release of its second quarter financial report.
DIRECTV CEO Chase Carey said the company has carriage agreements with 90 high-def networks, but many of them have yet to officially launch channels.
“It looks like we have 20 or 30 channels that are going to need a couple of months to get an HD feed online, which is why we’ll grow from 70 to over 100 in those few months” Carey said.
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EchoStar HD DVR to Add USB Storage
Software download will allow customers to store countless hours of high-def programming.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 8, 2007) -- EchoStar's Dish Network next week will begin offering High-Definition DVRs that can store extra HD programming on external USB hard drives.
EchoStar is downloading software to its ViP 622 HD DVR which will enable it to connect to a USB hard drive. The hard drive feature will be enabled on August 15.
The ViP 622 set-top currently can store 35 hours of high-def programming, but a EchoStar customer could store countless more hours on the external drives.
The USB hard drives must be purchased separately but the ViP 622 and a new model, the ViP 722, will be free to new subscribers.
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Cable and satellite TV providers are not likely to add adult networks in High-Definition anytime soon due to bandwidth issues.
That's according to an article by Multichannel News.
Playboy TV has launched a high-def channel and Hustler TV is considering one, but company officials acknowledge that TV providers lack the bandwidth to add them.
A high-def channel can take up to six times as much system space as a non-HD channel. At this time, the cable and satellite operators seem uninterested in using that valuable space for adult content.
Comcast spokeswoman Jenni Moyer tells Multichannel News that the cable operator has no immediate plans to add adult channels in high-def.
“Our customers have told us they want more mainstream movies, primetime shows and sports broadcast in HD,” she said.
Both cable and satellite operators are planning to add high-def capacity later this year, but the added space is likely to be used for new HD channels from basic cable networks and premium movie networks.
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Swanni TV: Microsoft On HD DVD's Interactive 300
Company's HD DVD evangelist demonstrates the picture in picture feature.
Washington, D.C. (August 3, 2007) -- Phillip Swann, president of TVPredictions.com, this week met with Kevin Collins, the HD DVD "evangelist" for Microsoft.
During the meeting, Collins explained why Microsoft thinks HD DVD will defeat Blu-ray in the high-def disc format war. He also demonstrated the Microsoft-backed interactive features for several HD DVDs, which he says gives the format a major advantage over Blu-ray.
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DIRECTV: TiVo HD DVRs Can't Get New Channels
The satcaster confirms that the current TiVo HR 10-250 will not be able to display new high-def channels.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (August 3, 2007) -- DIRECTV reiterated today that the DIRECTV-TiVo HD DVR.(HR 10-250.) will not be able to display the satcaster's new High-Definition channels.
Starting next month, DIRECTV will begin adding dozens of new high-def channels such as CNN HD, TBS HD and The Weather Channel HD.
But DIRECTV is planning to use a transmission system (MPEG4) that's not compatible with the HR 10-250.
"New high-def will be available only on MPEG 4-compatible boxes (H20, HR20, HR21) and the Ka/ku band dishes," DIRECTV spokesman Robert Mercer told TVPredictions.com today.
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