How Verizon Is Blowing High-Definition TV
The telco defends its high-def lineup, but needs to look in the mirror.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 22, 2007) -- Verizon says its FiOS TV service will add a "significant amount" of High-Definition programming next spring.
That's according to an article in Multichannel News.
The telco has drawn fire recently from some subscribers for being tight-lipped about its upcoming HDTV plans -- and its decision not to add TBS HD for the 2007 Major League Baseball playoffs.
Verizon's FiOS now carries 19 national HDTV channels and the local high-def networks.
But Shawn Strickland, vice president of video solutions for Verizon, says the telco is moving to add a "significant amount of HD content" next spring.
However, Strickland was vague about whether that meant more high-def channels or perhaps VOD content in high-def.
[ 20 comments ]
| Read Full Article
DIRECTV Raising Monthly Prices For HD
Customers will lose three channels until they pay $4.99 extra, says e-mail notice.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 18, 2007) -- DIRECTV has notified subscribers that they will lose three longtime HD channel favorites unless they pay an extra $4.99 a month starting December 15.
In an e-mail sent to customers this week, DIRECTV said HDNet, HDNet Movies and Universal HD will be moved to a new programming package called "DIRECTV HD Extra Pack."
The three channels have been available for years as part of the satcaster's basic $10 a month HD package,
However, on December 15, the HD Extra Pack, which will also include three recent channel additions (Smithsonian HD, MGM HD and MHD), will cost an extra $4.99 a month.
[ 64 comments ]
| Read Full Article
HD DVD Players For Under $200?
Internet rumors fly after a Wal-Mart employee posts evidence of $199 player for the holidays.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 18, 2007) -- An HD DVD player could be available for the new low price of $199 this holiday season.
Internet message boards are buzzing with the possibility after a Wal-Mart employee posted an upcoming store notice about a $199 Toshiba HD DVD player.
The price has not been confirmed by Wal-Mart or Toshiba, but the drop would not be surprising. Toshiba's entry-level player is now $299, but industry analysts have forecast that a sub-$200 player is likely for the holidays.
Additionally, Blu-ray manufacturers are expected to lower the price on its players. Sony's Blu-ray player is now the lowest with a suggested retail price of $499.
However, Sony announced today that it will launch a new Play Station 3 for $399 on November 2. The PS3 has a Blu-ray player inside.
Lower prices for both Blu-ray and HD DVD are expected as supporters of the two high-def disc formats battle it out during the holiday season.
[ 11 comments ]
| Read Full Article
Sony today said it will launch a $399 Play Station which will include a Blu-ray player inside.
The $399 player will be launched on November 2, in time for the holiday shopping season.
At $399, the new 40GB PS3 will be the lowest price Blu-ray player on the market. Sony's lowest-price standalone Blu-ray player now has a suggested retail price of $499.
Sony is hoping the lower-cost PS3 will boost sales of the game console which have lagged behind rivals Microsoft's XBox 360 and Nintendo's Wii.
But the company also hopes that a $399 PS3 will generate more interest in the Blu-ray high-def disc format.
Sony is the leading booster of Blu-ray which is competing with the Toshiba-backed HD DVD for the new high-def disc audience.
The $399 PS3 will come with a free Blu-ray disc of Spider-man 3.
[ 9 comments ]
| Read Full Article
Review: Comcast's HD On Demand
Cable operators say VOD can compete with DIRECTV's expanded high-def lineup, but Swanni says that's a challenge.
By Allison Moore
HD Diva
Washington, D.C. (October 16, 2007) -- DIRECTV and EchoStar have recently expanded their HD lineups, offering twice as many national high-def channels than most cable operators.
But the cable operators, such as Comcast, say their HD On Demand service provides more high-def entertainment than satellite.
So can cable's HD On Demand keep high-def owners from jumping ship and signing up with the satellite companies?
Phillip Swann, aka Swanni and president of TVPredictions.com, has just posted a video review of Comcast's HD On Demand service.
He says the feature is intriguing, but frustrating because of a limited amount of programming.
[ 16 comments ]
| Read Full Article
DIRECTV: What's Next For HD?
The satcaster doesn't have many channels left to add.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 17, 2007) -- DIRECTV has dramatically expanded its High-Definition lineup in the last three weeks, going from nine to 47 national HD channels.
The satcaster says it now offers more than 70 HD channels, if you could include regional sports networks and PPV channels.
However, the explosion of channels has left many high-def viewers still wanting more. In Internet message boards, including the TV Predictions Readers Forum, DIRECTV viewers are busily speculating over what the satcaster might do next.
Well, the bottom line is that DIRECTV doesn't have much left to do. At least for now.
[ 16 comments ]
| Read Full Article
DIRECTV HD: Not Everything Is HD
Some channels are stretching the definition of High-Definition, says Swanni.
By Allison Moore
HD Diva
Washington, D.C. (October 16, 2007) -- DIRECTV recently expanded its High-Definition lineup from nine to 47 national channels.
In addition, the satcaster says it now offers more than 70 high-def channels in total when you include regional sports channels and Pay Per View.
Phillip Swann, aka Swanni and president of TVPredictions.com, has just posted a video commentary on DIRECTV's new HD lineup.
He explains that although the DIRECTV high-def viewer has more to choose from, not everything that's called HD is actually HD.
[ 20 comments ]
| Read Full Article
Comcast Raising Monthly Rates
The cable operator notifies several markets of rate increase; high-def services cited.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 16, 2007) -- Comcast apparently will soon raise its monthly programming rates, in part due to added High-Definition services, according to newspaper reports.
The cable operator last implemented a monthly rate increase in January.
However, newspapers today in the states of Washington, Pennsylvania and Virginia are reporting that Comcast subscribers have been told their monthly bills will go up in November.
The rate increase ranges from 4.2 percent in the state of Washington to 7.5 percent in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, according to reports by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Lancaster Intelligencer Journal.
In Seattle, a Comcast spokesman says the rate increase is necessary because the cable operator spent $200 million on a new network and facilities.
[ 12 comments ]
| Read Full Article
Disney: 2 Blu-ray Movies For One
The offer comes as Paramount releases Transformers on HD DVD.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 16, 2007) -- Disney is now offering a 'Buy One Blu-ray Disc, Get One Free' offer at Amazon.com and some retailers.
At Amazon.com, the offer includes 39 movies including such hits as the first two Pirates of the Caribbean films, The Prestige, The Wild and Pearl Harbor.
The web site lists most films at the price of $24.45, meaning you can get two movies for that price. After choosing the first film, you then are given a choice of the 39 movies for your second film, which is free.
Amazon says the offer is for a limited time, but it surfaces as Paramount releases the much-anticipated HD DVD edition of Transformers.
[ 27 comments ]
| Read Full Article
DIRECTV: We're Over 70 HD Channels
The satcaster's list includes PPV channels and distant network signals that can only be seen in limited areas.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 15, 2007) -- DIRECTV says it now has more than 70 High-Definition channels, which would be more than any other TV provider.
However, the satcaster is including eight HD PPV channels and eight DNS (Distant Network Signals) channels in the list.
A DNS signal is a network feed (usually from network affiliates in New York or Los Angeles) that is sent to subscribers who can't get their local channels with an antenna.
At its web site, DIRECTV' has posted a new section on its HD lineup under the header, "DIRECTV has the most national HD channels in the known universe."
"DIRECTV now broadcasts over 70 of your favorite national channels in HD...And stay tuned. There's plenty more to come," the site states.
[ 24 comments ]
| Read Full Article
DIRECTV Adds 6 HD Channels
The list includes the new Fox Business Network; regional sports channels also added.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 15, 2007) -- DIRECTV today added four new national High-Definition channels to its rapidly expanding lineup.
The new channels are: Fox Business Network (channel 359); HGTV HD (channel 229-1); FX HD (channel 248); Speed Network HD (channel 607); Fuel HD (channel 612) and The Cartoon Network (channel 296).
DIRECTV's launch today now gives the satcaster 49 national HD channels. The company says it will offer 70 HD channels by month's end and up to 100 high-def channels by the end of the year.
DIRECTV today also added the following regional sports channels in high-def: FSN Southwest (channel 643); FSN West HD (channel 652); Fox Sports Pittsburgh HD (channel 653); and FSN Detroit HD (channel 636).
And, it added three channels in the 130s for high-def PPV movies.
The Fox Business Network, which just launched this morning, was created by Fox to compete with business channels CNBC and Bloomberg News.
[ 13 comments ]
| Read Full Article
Comcast Sued Over Video On Demand
Three Florida residents say it frequently doesn't work.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 15, 2007) -- Comcast has promoted its Video On Demand service as a major reason why viewers should subscribe to cable rather than satellite.
However, three Florida residents have filed a lawsuit against the cable operator, charging that Comcast's VOD frequently fails to operate due to system errors.
The residents say Comcast's promotion of the service as a reason to subscribe -- and the alleged inability to deliver that service -- constitutes breach of contract and deceptive trade practices.
That's according to an article by the South Florida Business Journal.
The publication reports that Comcast has yet to file a legal response to the allegation, which was filed in Duval County circuit court but moved to federal court at Comcast's request.
The newspaper added that Comcast refused to comment on the specific allegations other than to say it will "vigorously defend" itself.
[ 10 comments ]
| Read Full Article
CBS: Couric, Conventions In HD Next Year
Network executive makes disclosure at HD World.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 11, 2007) -- CBS will likely broadcast the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric in High-Definition by next summer.
That's according to CBS Director of Bureau Operations Mel Olinsky, as reported by Broadcasting and Cable magazine.
Speaking today at the HD World conference in New York, Olinsky added that the network will air both 2008 political conventions in high-def, too.
The CBS executive said the network is modifying its technical plant to prepare for the events, B&C reported. The Democratic National Convention will take place in Denver next August while the Republicans will convene in Minneapolis in September.
Olinsky refused to give a launch date for Couric's evening newscast in HD, but he said the show's control room should be ready by May. The cameras and set have been ready for some time, he added.
[ 3 comments ]
| Read Full Article
Comcast: TiVo Service Has Begun
The cable operator launches TiVo's HD and non-HD recording features in New England.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 9, 2007) -- Comcast has begun offering TiVo's HD and non-HD recording features in New England, the company said today.
The rollout announcement comes just three days after TiVo CEO Tom Rogers said Comcast's launch of its recording services was a "little behind" schedule.
But Comcast said today the New England launch occurred a few days ago, albeit to a small number of homes.
The cable operator refused to comment on specifics such as pricing and cities where the TiVo service is being offered.
[ 4 comments ]
| Read Full Article
HDTV: Why Are the Commercials Louder?
One exec says the industry needs audio standards.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 11, 2007) -- Ever noticed that the commercials on a High-Definition TV program sometimes seem louder than the program itself?
You're not alone -- and you're not imagining it. However, the cause of the problem is not what you probably suspect.
Charles Myers, vice president of distribution and technology for Discovery Communications, says the problem lies in the fact that the industry hasn't adopted audio standards for high-def transmissions.
[ 12 comments ]
| Read Full Article
Execs: High-Def Discs Will Prevail
Supporters of the two formats say consumers will eventually embrace the category.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 11, 2007) -- Blu-ray and HD DVD sales have been disappointing due to several reasons including consumer confusion and high prices. But supporters of the two high-def formats yesterday said consumers are finally starting to come around.
That's according to an article by Video Business.
At a panel discussion yesterday at the DisplaySearch HDTV conference in Los Angeles, officials backing Blu-ray and HD DVD said it's just a matter of time before Americans start buying high-def DVD players.
“The chances are pretty slim” that the category won't succeed," said Don Eklund, executive vice president for Sony Pictures, according to Video Business. Sony is the chief supporter of the Blu-ray format.
Eklund said that with high-def sets in 30 million U.S. homes -- and cable and satellite operators aggressively promoting HD programming -- consumers will eventually give high-def discs a try.
[ 9 comments ]
| Read Full Article
Industry Execs: HD Sets Lacking Picture Quality
Panelists at high-def conference say the picture often gets diluted in the transmission process.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 10, 2007) -- Several industry officials said today that the average HDTV owner is not getting the best possible picture on his set.
At a panel discussion today at the HD World conference in New York, officials from Scientific-Atlanta, Discovery, Motorola and SES Americom said the high-def signal gets diluted during the transmission process.
The corruption in image quality can be blamed on everything from the HD network's decision on how to transmit the signal to the consumer's often faulty display choices, the officials said.
Consequently, they added, the HD picture diminishes in quality once it's displayed on the consumer's home screen.
"Good HD quality -- I believe that people have never really seen it," Brian Morris, vice president of digital media for cable set-top maker Scientific-Atlanta, told HD World attendees. "But what we're seeing today is not good HD quality."
[ 12 comments ]
| Read Full Article
DIRECTV Adds 4 HD Channels
The satcaster's high-def expansion continues.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 10, 2007) -- DIRECTV today added four High-Definition channels, bringing its national HD channel total to 45 (including the four local networks).
The new channels are: MGM HD (channel 255); Food Network HD (231-1); National Geographic HD (276) and CNBC HD+ (355)
DIRECTV says it will offer 70 HD channels by month's end and up to 100 high-def channels by the end of the year.
[ 44 comments ]
| Read Full Article
HD DVD Claims Lead In Player Sales
The format's leading booster cites new research.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 10, 2007) -- Toshiba says standalone HD DVD players are once again outselling standalone Blu-ray players.
The company, which makes HD DVD players and is the leading supporter of the high-def disc format, is basing that claim on new research from NPD Group, according to Video Business.
Toshiba says HD DVD players began outselling Blu-ray set-tops in mid-September after several weeks of victories for Blu-ray.
[ 7 comments ]
| Read Full Article
TiVo: Comcast Deal Behind Schedule
The cable operator will offer TiVo's HD and non-HD recording features.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 9, 2007) -- TiVo CEO Tom Rogers says Comcast's rollout of its recording services is a "little behind" schedule.
That's according to an article by Reuters.
Comcast was expected to begin offering TiVo's HD and non-HD DVR service to New England markets in August. The two companies announced the marketing partnership more than two years ago.
But Rogers said today that Comcast is still testing the TiVo software in employee homes. Reuters reports that the software has been added to Scientific-Atlanta cable set-tops.
Despite the delay, Rogers expressed optimism that Comcast would launch the service soon.
"We're waiting for word any time now that the first non-Comcast employee will begin to get the service," Rogers said today at an industry conference, according to Reuters.
[ 3 comments ]
| Read Full Article
Comcast Adding USA Network HD
The cable operator alerts subscribers in New Hampshire.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 9, 2007) -- Comcast is adding USA Network HD to its lineup of High-Definition channels.
The cable operator has alerted subscribers in New Hampshire that it's adding nine new HD channels next month.
The list includes several channels already added to other Comcast markets such as MHD and The History Channel HD.
However, Comcast says it's also adding USA Network HD, which it has not announced previously.
USA Network HD, a simulcast of the standard-def USA Network, is owned by NBC Universal, and consequently, airs several NBC Universal-produced shows such as Monk.
[ 5 comments ]
| Read Full Article
DIRECTV: What's Next For HDTV?
The satcaster could be preparing to add more channels this week.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 9, 2007) -- DIRECTV has added 28 new High-Definition channels in the past few weeks.
But when will it add more? The satcaster has said it will reach 70 HD channels by month's end and it's now at the 41 mark.
However, there are some signs that DIRECTV will further expand its high-def lineup this week.
Zap2It.com, an online listings guide, is now listing MGM HD and National Geographic HD at DIRECTV channels 255 and 276 respectively.
In the past few weeks, Zap2It has been a good barometer of DIRECTV's upcoming channel launches. Like all listings services, Zap2It must get its listings well in advance.
[ 17 comments ]
| Read Full Article
EchoStar: We Have 48 National HD Channels
The satcaster adds one channel, but increases its count by nine.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 5, 2007) -- EchoStar's Dish Network last Friday added TBS HD to its high-def lineup.
And today, it issued a press release saying it now carries 48 national High-Definition channels.
That's an impressive number of channels, more than any other TV provider. But what's even more impressive is that EchoStar said it had 39 national HD channels prior to the launch of TBS HD.
That's right. EchoStar jumped from 39 to 48 with a single new channel.
How did the satcaster perform this mathematical magic?
Starting today, EchoStar is counting its eight HD PP channels as national channels. So with the addition of TBS HD -- and the eight HD PPV channels -- the company says it has 48 national HD channels.
[ 42 comments ]
| Read Full Article
Fox Business Network: Real HD For Us
Rival CNBC will use non-HD pictures for its new 'HD channel.'
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 8, 2007) -- Fox Business Network will launch both a SD and HD channel on October 15. And network officials say the high-def channel will offer real high-def images.
That will be in contrast to business channel rival CNBC which plans to launch a new 'high-def' channel later this year called CNBC HD+.
The CNBC HD+ channel will actually display a standard-def, 4:3 image on the left side of the screen and fill the HD widescreen with graphics on the right.
According to Broadcasting & Cable magazine, Fox Business Network will be produced and transmitted in the 720p format, providing real high-def pictures.
DIRECTV has agreed to carry the high-def version at launch.
[ 6 comments ]
| Read Full Article
EchoStar: Still No TBS HD
The satcaster says it can't comment.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 5, 2007) -- EchoStar's Dish Network, the nation's second leading satcaster, still has not added TBS HD, leaving many baseball viewers frustrated.
TBS HD this week began high-def coverage of the 2007 Major League Baseball playoffs, offering three games on each of the two days of the playoffs.
The channel has the rights to broadcast first and second round action in baseball's annual elimination tournament.
Knowing that baseball fans with high-def sets would demand TBS HD, DIRECTV and several cable operators, such as Comcast and Time Warner, have added the channel.
However, some TV providers, such as Charter, Verizon's FiOS and EchoStar, still have not added TBS HD.
[ 19 comments ]
| Read Full Article
Back Next
TVPredictions.com Forum
Make your voice heard on High-Definition TV!
Archives
