Commentary
Blu-ray Owner to Netflix: Clean Up Your Act!
The movie rental business is charging me $1 per month for Blu-ray rentals, but I'm not getting better service for my money.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 30, 2008) -- I now pay $18 a month for my Netflix subscription, which allows me to have three different discs out at the same time.
Netflix recently raised my bill $1 a month because I rent Blu-ray high-def movies as part of my service. So, you would think that for $18 a month, including the $1 surcharge for Blu-ray, I would have no problem renting the latest Blu-ray releases anytime I want. Right?
Wrong!
Since Netflix instituted the $1 a month fee, I would estimate that at least 50 percent of my Blu-ray picks were listed in my 'Queue' as either 'Long Wait' or 'Very Long Wait' when they were first released.
For instance, I couldn't get the Blu-ray edition of Iron Man for two weeks after it was first available. The cult film Dark City sat in my Queue for three weeks before it was available. And last Tuesday, The Incredible Hulk was labeled "Long Wait" immediately upon release and it's still not available this morning.
So, what am I getting for my extra dollar, Netflix?
Frustrated. That's what I'm getting.
Netflix estimates that roughly 500,000 of its subscribers are Blu-ray renters. That means that Netflix will start pulling in around $500,000 a month in extra fees thanks to the Blu-ray audience.
You would think that the company would use some of that money to purchase more discs so they would be available upon release.
But I see no evidence of it, which makes me wonder if it's simply going straight to Netflix's bottom line.
Well, Netflix, guess what? You have 30 days to prove me wrong and get your act together. On December 1, if Netflix's Blu-ray service has not improved -- and I mean dramatically improved -- I will write another commentary here urging everyone to dump Netflix and find another source for your Blu-ray rentals.
Netflix, the ball is in your queue.
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Verizon FiOS to Add NHL Center Ice In HD
The telco will also add the NHL Network.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 29, 2008) -- Verizon's FiOS TV service says it will add both the NHL Center Ice pay package and NHL Network in High-Definition in the coming days.
The NHL Center Ice package includes up to 40 out-of-market games each week and select games from the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Verizon says it will broadcast every NHL Center Ice game in high-def that the package offers in HD.
The Center Ice package costs $169 for the entire season.
Additionally, Verizon says it will add the NHL Network, which airs 75 live regular-season games in high-def.
"There's no better way to experience sports than on FiOS TV, and there's no better way to catch NHL action than with NHL Center Ice and NHL Network," said Terry Denson, vice president of FiOS TV content and programming. "The unrivaled, stunning picture-and-sound quality that FiOS TV delivers will make fans feel like they're in a rink-side seat."
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PTV Attacks CBS' Survivor For 'Indecent' HD Display
The watchdog group says the network purposely showed a male's private parts.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 28, 2008) -- The Parents Television Council has filed a complaint with the FCC that charges CBS with purposely displaying contestant Marcus Lehman's genitals during the High-Definition debut of Survivor.
That's according to an article by Townhall.com.
The PTC, a non-partisan watchdog group founded by conservative activist Brent Bozell, charges that the network featured a scene in the September 25th season debut of Survivor that shows a contestant's genitals falling out of his shorts as he ran.
The group says that it was impossible for CBS not to have caught the visual gaffe because the show was displayed for the first time in high-def. Additionally, the PTC suggests that CBS knew about the slip-up, but ran it anyway.
"The irony surrounding this broadcast is it was the first-ever High Definition broadcast for CBS of this show in primetime," PTC President Tim Winter said in a press release. "So what more tongue-in-cheek action could you take if a High-Definition show is going to premier than to have something like this happen?"
TownHall.com reports that the FCC has yet to act on the PTC's Survivor complaint or several other complaints filed by the group regarding language and visual displays on other network programs such as NBC's My Name Is Earl and ABC's Good Morning America.
There was no comment from CBS in the article.
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Mitsubishi's Laser TV Now Available In Stores
The 65-inch set will cost $6,999.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 28, 2008) -- Mitsubishi today announced that the world's first Laser TV, a 65-inch model, is now available at select retail stores for $6,999.
Mitsubishi, which is billing the set as 'LaserVue,' said it will revolutionize the high-def industry by offering crisper pictures and more vivid colors. The television, which uses a laser light engine to display images, will consume one-third of the power of a Plasma HDTV.
"LaserVue not only delivers two times the color of many of today's HDTVs, but it also uses exponentially less power than LCD and plasma TVs," the company says in a press release.
While the release says the set is now being sold at "select specialty stores nationwide," it does not name the stores. In earlier statements, Mitsubishi said the set would likely be available in "A/V specialty stores" such as Frey's Electronics and Ken Cranes.
Crutchfield.com is now selling 'pre-orders" of the set at the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
"With operating power at approximately 135W, LaserVue is environmentally friendly, consuming approximately one-third the power of today's LCD TVs, and one-fourth of plasma TVs. Living in today's green-conscious environment, consumers can enjoy this color-brilliant, ground-breaking home entertainment product while being mindful of energy consumption at the same time," added Frank DeMartin, vice president of marketing for Mitsubishi.
The company says LaserVue's technology is unprecedented because its laser beams provide "an extensive range of rich, complex colors, along with truly distinct clarity and immersive depth of field."
The LaserVue set, which is 10 inches thin, is also equipped with 3D-ready capabilities.
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AT&T U-Verse to Add 30 HD Channels
The additions will give the telco a total of 75 high-def channels.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 27, 2008) -- AT&T announced today that it will add up to 30 new high-def channels next week at no additional charge to customers' current HD service package.
The telco says the new channels will give it more than 75 HD channels, exceeding the high-def lineups of most cable operators. DIRECTV and Dish Network both say they offer 100 or more HD channels.
The new channels include several regional sports networks, premium movie channels and basic cable networks. AT&T's HD service is available for $10 a month in addition to the monthly cost of any basic U-Verse programming package.
"Our U-verse HD channel expansion comes as consumer demand for HD content reaches an all-time high and cable companies fall further behind," said Dan York, executive vice president of content and programming for AT&T Converged Services. "We're again expanding our channel lineup so AT&T U-verse TV customers can always find the content they enjoy -- whether that's HD, SD or in-language networks -- and watch that content when and where they want."
The new channels that will be added on November 3 are:
@Max HD
5StarMax HD
ActionMax HD
Comcast SportsNet Chicago HD
Comcast SportsNet New England HD
Encore HD
Fox Business Network HD
Fox News Channel HD
FSN Detroit HD
FSN Florida HD
FSN Midwest (Kansas City) HD
FSN Midwest (St. Louis) HD
FSN Ohio (Cincinnati) HD
FSN Ohio (Cleveland) HD
FSN Prime Ticket HD
FSN South HD
FSN Southwest (Dallas) HD
FSN Southwest (Houston) HD
FX Network HD
FX Network HD - West
Hallmark Movie Channel HD
HBO Latino HD
HBO Signature HD
HBO Zone HD
HBO2 West HD
Lifetime Television HD
Lifetime Television HD - West
MoreMax HD
Outdoor Channel HD
OuterMax HD
Planet Green HD
QVC HD
Showtime 2 HD
Showtime Extreme HD
Showtime Showcase HD
Speed HD
SportsSouth HD
SportsTime Ohio HD
Starz Comedy HD
Starz Edge HD
Sun Sports HD
The Travel Channel HD
ThrillerMax HD
TMC Xtra HD
Weather Channel HD
Wmax HD
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MSNBC's HD Election Gaffe
The cable news network ignores high-def at its own peril.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 24, 2008) -- CNN has been in high-def for more than a year. Fox News' High-Definition channel launched last spring -- just in time for the general election campaign for the 2008 presidential race.
But MSNBC? Well, the third entrant in the basic cable news network war has yet to offer a high-def simulcast channel. And now, network officials tell Multichannel News that it likely won't until the second quarter of 2009.
“Look, I’d love to be in HD right now,” said MSNBC president Phil Griffin. "The idea of the announcement before the election appealed to me. I pushed our guys hard.”
But, apparently, not hard enough. The news network, which is owned by NBC and features such iconic personalities as Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann, says it couldn't convert a second control room in time for the election. (One HD-ready control room was ready to go.)
“We don’t want to do it in parts. We want to be fully ready,” Griffin told Multichannel News.
Sorry, Mr. Griffin, but that doesn't pass the smell test. Come on, you couldn't get a single control room ready so you could offer high-def coverage of arguably the most historic presidential race in decades?
That's even more farfetched than your typical plot of Knight Rider.
If NBC wanted MSNBC to be in high-def this year, it would have spent the money necessary to make it happen. But there's a reason it didn't -- the same reason that MSNBC regularly finishes third in the cable news ratings.
The network is led by the cheapest man in town.
Namely NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker.
That's right. Zucker. The same guy who once said he didn't think that high-def was very important; that viewers would probably watch a show whether it was in HD or not.
Yes, Zucker. The same guy who was involved in the network's decision to wait until 2006 before airing the Olympics live in high-def (Ex NBC Cable President David Zaslav had a big hand in on that one, too.)
Zucker. The same guy who kept Wimbledon, the world's premiere tennis tournament, in standard-definition until 2008.
And, yes. Zucker. The same guy who litters his summer primetime lineup (and sometimes the fall) with cheaply-produced SD reality programs such as Last Comic Standing, Nashville Star and America's Got Talent.
NBC was considered a pioneer in the HDTV industry, launching The Tonight Show in high-def back in 1999. But after Zucker began taking important positions at the network -- and eventually becoming president and CEO -- the network has taken a hit-and-miss approach to HD.
For example, NBC was the first to go high-def with its evening newscast (last year) and the network's 2008 Olympic HD coverage was both breathtaking and comprehensive.
But then you see the network's primetime schedule still featuring SD programs -- and now MSNBC ignoring HD for the 2008 election -- and you have to wonder if the network is yet fully committed to high-def.
Well, one thing you won't have to wonder is whether MSNBC's decision to sit out the 2008 election as far as high-def is concerned will hurt the network in the long run.
Answer: It will.
While MSNBC's ratings are up this year (and so are CNN and Fox's ratings, thanks to the election), I suspect that they are down in the high-def audience, an audience that's growing fast. (High-def viewership is still not categorized by Nielsen.) Depending upon their political allegiances, high-def owners are picking either CNN or Fox News to watch this year's election coverage because they are in HD.
And when MSNBC eventually switches to HD next year (assuming Mr. Zucker doesn't veto it for economic reasons), it may be too late to bring those viewers back.
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Dish Network Adds Local HD to 6 Markets
The satcaster now offers local HD in 76 markets.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 23, 2008) -- Dish Network today added local High-Definition channels to six more markets, the satcaster announced in a statement.
The new markets are: Columbia-Jefferson City, Mo.; Des Moines-Ames, Iowa; Lincoln and Hastings-Kearney, Neb.; Omaha, Neb.; Quincy-Hannibal-Keokuk, Ill.; and Waco-Temple-Bryan, Texas.
The launch means that Dish now offers local high-def channels in 76 markets, which represents roughly 72 percent of U.S. TV households.
Dish did not reveal which local channels were added in the six markets. Satellite and cable TV services sometimes do not offer all major broadcast networks in local high-def due to carriage disputes with the local affiliates.
Dish Network plans to offer local HD channels in 100 markets by year's end.
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Netflix Signs Movie Deal With Samsung
The streaming service will be available over the Net via devices.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 23, 2008) -- Netflix has signed an agreement with Samsung to deliver its movies from the Internet to television through various Samsung products, including its Blu-ray player.
The online DVD rental service, which has partnered with LG Electronics on a similar Blu-ray/Netflix movie streaming set-top, is hoping that Americans will embrace the concept of watching films instantly over high-speed Internet connections.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Samsung will let owners of its BD-P2500 and BD-P2550 Blu-ray disc players to stream Netflix films using the Net-enabled service. Since the products are already on sale, users will have to download new software that will enable the Netflix service to operate. (For Netflix subscribers, the service will be free.)
In a press statement, Netflix and Samsung suggested they would also include Netflix's video streaming service in other Samsung products, but they did not name them, although televisions would be the most likely choice.
Although the LG and Samsung Blu-ray players can play high-def discs, they will not be able to play Netflix films in HD at this time.
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Digital TV Study: 3 Million to Stop Watching TV
The ABI Research says they will let their sets 'go dark' on transition day.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 22, 2008) -- On February 17, 2009, full-powered local TV stations will switch their signals from analog to digital, meaning viewers will need to get a Digital TV, a digital converter box or a pay TV service to keep watching television.
However, a new ABI research study says roughly 20 percent of Americans who use off-air antennas to watch broadcast television will do nothing on the transition day and simply let their TVs ' go dark.'
If true, that means that approximately three million viewers could stop watching their local channels, which would have a serious impact on local TV ratings and their advertising rates. (And The Wall Street Journal reports today that overall viewing for the major broadcast networks, which are affiliated with the local channels, is declining again this season.)
ABI estimates that 15 percent of Americans now use off-air antennas to watch TV. This is the group that will need to act before February 17, 2009 if they want to keep viewing. (Pay TV subscribers will continue to get their signals when the transition occurs.)
According to a consumer survey, ABI says 70 percent of off-air viewers will get a converter box; 10 percent will switch to cable or satellite; while 20 percent will do nothing, letting their TVs go dark.
"Our survey data suggest that the net result of consumers' choices after analog switch-off will be a drop in overall terrestrial viewing. Terrestrial viewers tend to be more likely to use alternative video entertainment forms such as DVD rentals and broadband video and the transition may push them further in that direction," says Steve Wilson, ABI's principal analyst.
Nielsen recently estimated that nine million Americans are still unprepared for the digital transition.
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Steve Jobs: Apple TV Is Still a 'Hobby'
The Apple chief downplays the emerging set-top business.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 22, 2008) -- Apple CEO Steve Jobs yesterday said that his company's TV set-top business, Apple TV, is still just a "hobby."
Apple TV, which now retails for $229, is a device that sends audio and video files (including high-def shows) from your PC to a High-Definition TV.
Jobs referred to Apple TV as a hobby when the company launched the service in March 2007. However, several Wall Street analysts and tech pundits have hailed the set-top as the future of television, suggesting it would replace traditional TV providers such as cable and satellite.
But Apple TV sales have fared poorly, according to retailers, and the company has refused to even release sales figures. Yesterday, Jobs seemed to downplay that Apple TV -- or its set-top competitors such as Vudu and LG/Netflix -- would experience success in 2009, either.
“Well, again, I think the whole category is still a hobby now—nobody has succeeded at it,” he told financial analysts during a conference call. “Given the economic conditions, the venture capital outlook, I think it will continue to be a hobby in 2009."
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Netflix: Blu-ray Players Will Replace DVD Players
But the online rental service says its number of Blu subscribers is now "relatively small.:
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 21, 2008) -- Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said yesterday that he believes that the Blu-ray high-def disc player will ultimately replace the standard-def DVD player.
Hastings made his remarks in a Wall Street analyst call following the release of the company's third quarter report.
"As prices come down, people who even are just DVD watchers are going to get a Blu-Ray player because the prices are low and it upscales the DVD very nicely," Hastings said. "So we really pretty optimistic, as prices come down, on Blu-Ray players replacing DVD players."
Best Buy recently reduced the price of its Insignia-branded Blu-ray player to $199 and other manufacturers are now offering players below $300. Most analysts believe that prices will fall even further when the holiday shopping period begins next month.
Despite Hastings' upbeat forecast on Blu-ray, the Netflix executive also revealed yesterday that he expects that roughly 500,000 of its 8.7 million subscribers at quarter's end will be Blu-ray owners. He called that number a "relatively small percentage."
But Hastings, whose company recently added a $1 monthly surcharge for Blu-ray subscribers, said the high-def disc is starting to pick up steam.
"Player prices are falling; They (Blu-ray makers) are starting to get some volume," he said. "It’s the same cycle that we really have seen on DVD."
In addition to offering Blu-ray rental discs via its web site, Netflix has partnered with LG Electronics to introduce a Blu-ray player that permits instant viewing of Netflix movies over high-speed Internet connections. (However, Blu-ray movies are not yet available on the LG/Netflix service.)
"Part of our long-term strategy is to get our streaming client embedded in as many Blu-Ray players as possible. LG Electronics was our first such partner and we’ll announce more Blu-Ray partnerships as they are ready for consumers," Hastings said.
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Best Buy Drops Blu-ray Player to $99?
The Insignia brand now retails for $199 and comes with a $100 coupon book.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 20, 2008) -- Best Buy has lowered the price of its Insignia-branded Blu-ray player by $30 to $199.
The player, model NS-BRDVD, is the first Blu-ray player officially listed at under $200. Some web sites, including Amazon.com., have occasionally sold a Sony Blu-ray player for $194, but the manufacturer's suggested retail has stayed above $200.
In addition, Best Buy's web site says the Insignia Blu-ray player comes with a $100 coupon book inside the box which can be redeemed for Blu-ray movies at the store. (Note: Insignia is Best Buy's private label for numerous electronics.)
The Best Buy price drop is expected to be followed by similar discounts from other Blu-ray manufacturers as the holiday season gets closer.
On Best Buy's web site, the retailer advertises the $199 Blu-ray player under a header that reads, "Blu-ray Price Drops!" The page then includes links to three other Blu-ray players, two priced at $299 (Sony and Samsung) and one priced at $399 (Samsung.) Best Buy was selling the Insignia player for $329 last July.
The Insignia Blu-ray player is a 'Profile 1.1 player' meaning it does not include new interactive features except for picture-in-picture.
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News Analysis
Why the Economy Will Change (Not Kill) HDTV Sales
Consumers will just seek out smaller price tags.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 20, 2008) -- Multichannel News today is running a story under the headline, "HD: Will Economy Unplug Set Sales?" The article quotes the usual suspects -- Wall Street analysts -- as predicting that there will be a big drop in HD sales during the 2008 holiday season.
The Wall Street Journal last week ran a similar article, forecasting gloom and doom for high-def sales during the 2008 holiday season.
Let me explain why the analysts are wrong, as they usually are.
1. Digital TV Transition
First, there's this little thing called the Digital TV transition, scheduled for February 17, 2009. On that day, full-powered local stations will switch from analog to digital signals, meaning you will need a Digital TV, a converter box or a pay TV subscription to keep watching television.
Many people are either convinced that they need a Digital TV or they are baffled by the converter box process. Consequently, if they haven't already purchased one, they will look for an affordable Digital TV in the coming weeks.
2. Prices Are Falling
Despite what some economists seem to be saying, consumers won't stop shopping entirely. But they will shop more carefully, seeking out bargains and/or products with lower prices.
High-def set prices are falling, as consumers know, with some 42-inch Plasma sets now around $750. During the holiday season, those prices will fall even further and consumers will take careful note.
3. TV Makers Will Promote Smaller-Screen Sets
TV manufacturers can read the headlines just like everyone else. They know that consumers have fewer dollars to spend. So, they -- and their retail partners -- will spend more money promoting smaller-screen HD sets (32-inch, 37-inch etc.) that also come with smaller price tags.
The message will be that you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on a new Digital TV. You can get a 32-inch HD set for less than $500 -- sets smaller than that for even less. This will appeal to consumers who are concerned about their jobs and their stock portfolios but who still want to buy a new set for the holiday.
So, bottom line: Millions of consumers will still buy high-def TVs this holiday season, but they will be smaller -- both in screen size and price.
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Why the Economy Won't Slow Blu-ray Sales
Player prices will drop to lower levels.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 20, 2008) -- Some analysts are predicting that the U.S. economic slump will kill Blu-ray sales in the fourth quarter and perhaps beyond. For instance, Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Technologies Associates, is forecasting a "dramatic" drop in Blu-ray sales.
But Kay and his fellow doomsayers are ignoring what's taking place in the marketplace. Blu-ray player prices are dropping fast with several models now available at retail and online for under $250.
Additionally, I predict that some Blu-ray players will be available for $129-149 by Christmas, just a few dollars more than your average standard-def DVD player. At those prices, high-def owners, who have more disposable dollars available than the average consumer, will find the Blu-ray player all but irresistible.
But I suspect that analysts who are calling for Blu-ray's demise are banking that consumers will find new Net-based video services irresistible. They believe -- somehow -- that millions of Americans will suddenly rush to the store to, no, not buy a Blu-ray player, but buy a different set-top that delivers movies over the Net.
Of course, this contradicts their argument that the economy will hurt Blu-ray sales. If consumers don't have the money for Blu-ray, they won't have the money for those Net-enabled set-tops, either, from companies such as Apple, Netflix and Vudu.
"If you can get movies over the wire on demand and have an entire library at your disposal on the screen a la Netflix, that's the way you're going to go," Kay told the San Francisco Chronicle, apparently referring to Netflix's new set-top partnership with LG Electronics.
Some analysts, though, are saying that consumers will simply order films from On Demand services on cable and satellite. But they seem to ignore that satellite's On Demand service (at least from DIRECTV) requires a high-speed Broadband connection that's more trouble to connect that it's worth.
Cable's On Demand service is much easier to use and has plenty of HD titles to choose from -- if you happen to be a subscriber to a major cable service. Many smaller cable operators' On Demand lineup pales in comparison to the majors.
So, in the view of this analyst, Blu-ray will have a strong holiday season, perhaps even stronger than previously anticipated because the tough economy will force retailers and Blu-ray makers to lower prices earlier than planned.
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Sharp to Unveil LCD With Blu-ray Recorder
But it's unclear if the combo device will be available here.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 20, 2008) -- Sharp has announced that it will introduce a LCD HDTV with a Blu-ray recorder inside. However, it is unclear if U.S, stores will carry sets with a player inside or a player/recorder.
Company officials said the combo LCD/Blu-ray recorder would be available in Japan on November 20. However, Reuters quotes a Sharp executive as saying that overseas models will "mainly' come equipped with a Blu-ray player.
That would suggest that some models here might include a Blu-ray recorder, which would be a first in the United States. Until now, standalone Blu-ray recorders have only been available in Japan and CE officials have cast doubt on their introduction in the U.S. due to copyright concerns and a perceived lack of consumer interest.
If Sharp introduced some models of a LCD/Blu-ray combo recorder in the U.S., it might suggest that manufacturers are finally ready to offer Blu-ray recorders here.
Sharp said the LCD/Blu-ray combo would be available in North America by year's end.
"By launching them in the year-end shopping season, we are aiming to do our best in fighting sluggish consumption, a slowing economy, an adverse business environment and fierce competition," a Sharp spokesman said.
The Japanese model, which will include a 32-inch screen, is expected to sell for roughly $2,000.
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News
DIRECTV to Add Fox News Channel HD
The high-def debut is expected on Friday.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 16, 2008) -- DIRECTV is scheduled to add Fox News Channel HD on Friday, according to industry sources.
The channel, a simulcast of Fox News' standard-def channel, has been long awaited by DIRECTV subscribers. By example, TVPredictions.com readers have sent dozens of e-mails and posted numerous message board comments demanding that the channel be added.
Fox News' Megyn Kelly will now be in HD on DIRECTV.
However, DIRECTV has been focused lately on adding local high-def channels in more markets across the country. The satcaster has added just a handful of new high-def networks in recent weeks, although it did add nearly 20 Pay Per View channels in HD.
DIRECTV already carries several news channels in high-def, including CNN, Fox Business Channel, CNBC and The Weather Channel. Fox News Channel HD will be on DIRECTV's channel 360.
DIRECTV says it now offers 130 HD channels, more than any other TV provider.
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Comcast Hits 1,000 HD VOD 'Choices'
The cable op says it offers more high-def than anyone.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 15, 2008) -- Comcast today said that it now has more than 1,000 High-Definition viewing 'choices' in its HD On Demand lineup.
Over the last year, the cable operator has heavily promoted its HD On Demand service rather than marketing its carriage of 24-hour linear HD networks. Comcast offers less than 40 full-time linear HD channels in most markets, compared to more than 100 or more offered by DIRECTV, Dish Network (and Verizon's FiOS in several markets.)
But Comcast says the On Demand lineup gives their subscribers more high-def 'choices' than any other TV provider.
"Consumers can't get enough HD, so we’re now offering over a thousand HD choices, five times more than last year. However, it's not just about HD volume, but about having the highest-quality content consumers really want, whether they want to watch live or on their schedule," said Derek Harrar, Comcast's General Manager and Senior Vice President of Video Services, said in a statement.
Comcast COO and President Steve Burke last February told an investors group that a "typical" local Comcast system will carry between 50 and 60 full-time HDTV channels by year's end.
Asked yesterday if the company will still meet that goal, a spokeswoman yesterday said: "I know we’re at 30-40 now, and haven’t heard any different on this (50-60 channels by year's end)."
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Sony to Stream Hancock In HD On Bravia
The movie will be available prior to the Blu-ray release.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 15, 2008) -- Sony is allowing owners of Net-connected Bravia HDTVs to download a high-def edition of Will Smith's Hancock prior to its Blu-ray or DVD release.
The studio said the movie would be available for rent for a 24-hour period for $9.99 from October 28 until November 10. The film will not be available on DVD or Blu-ray until November 25.
To download Hancock and other Net-based videos, a $300 Internet Video Link module must be attached to the back of the Bravia set, enabling Net access.
However, for Bravia owners who download the film, Sony is throwing in a free Blu-ray disc of the movie by mail after it's released on November 25. The Blu-ray edition will retail for $39.95.
Sony says Hancock will be available in 720p HD for owners with high-speed connections and two different standard-def versions for lower speed homes. The Blu-ray disc will be available in 1080p, which offers a sharper picture.
The company said it's considering streaming other films on the same day they are released on DVD. The decision to bypass DVD rental stores and TV providers such as cable and satellite operators is guaranteed to stir controversy and spark speculation that Sony is not fully behind Blu-ray.
However, Sony said in a statement that the Hancock streaming offer "demonstrates Sony's unique ability to combine its innovative hardware with content created by its own movie studio."
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Could the Economy Hurt HDTV Sales?
Some analysts say retailers and TV providers could be hurt.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 14, 2008) -- Will the stock market decline and talk of a deep recession finally force consumers to stop buying HIgh-Definition TVs?
The high-def set has reached more than 30 million U.S. homes to date, but some analysts are telling The Wall Street Journal today the sagging economy could bring sales to a halt.
Additionally, TV providers, such as DIRECTV, which has relied heavily on promoting expanded HD services, could also be hurt.
"It's not a coincidence that signs of a real turn in HD sales date to the middle of September, when the story of the stalling economy jumped from the business page to the front page with the collapse of Lehman Brothers," Craig Moffett, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co, told the newspaper. "Consumers are justifiably scared and the wide-screen TV is among the most discretionary of purchases."
Moffett says a report issued last week by MasterCard revealed that spending in the electronics category fell by 14 percent in September, compared to September 2007. In the previous two months, sales fell just three and six percent respectively.
Thomas Eagan, an analyst at Collins Stewart, said many consumers are wary of buying any large-ticket item now.
"Given the economic circumstances, the next leg of customers may be slower to adopt HD services," said Eagen.
If high-def sales slows, it could be bad news for DIRECTV, which has invested heavily in marketing and infrastructure to offer more than 100 HD channels. The satcaster's advantage over rival operators such as Dish Network and the cable TV service could become less important.
And, finally, a sales decline could be bad for current HD owners who might find their TV providers slower to add new HD channels.
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G4 Eyes HD Channel In December
Video game channel executive says more young males are watching high-def.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 13, 2008) -- G4, the video game channel, will launch a High-Definition channel on December 8.
That's according to an article in TV Week Magazine and the web site, ComcastNetworks.com.
G4 is owned by Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator, which also owns E! Entertainment, Versus, Golf Channel and the Style channel. The Comcast web site says all four networks will switch to high-def on December 8.
The cable operator announced last June that the E! Entertainment Television network would switch to HD this December. Comcast also said Versus and The Golf Channel would get their own high-def channels in December. (The two networks now share one HD channel with golf programming available during the day and Versus' lineup of hockey and other sports on at night.)
However, until now, an exact launch date had not been announced for the high-def channels. Additionally, Comcast had not said G4 would switch to HD until now.
But G4 President Neil Tiles said company research indicates that more young males are watching high-def; G4's primary audience is young males. And with the network's viewership dropping 36 percent in the third quarter, Tiles said G4 can read the handwriting on the wall.
“As of December we’ll be moving towards an HD offering that will allow us to bridge that gap,” he told TV Week.
Tiles said the channel has acquired the rights to movies such as Fight Club and Road Warrior to enhance its lineup of video game-themed shows. G4 will also expand its X-Play program to an hour.
Of course, finding a place in a cable or satellite lineup could be difficult for the new high-def channels. Most cable operators are lacking space for new HD channels and even satcasters DIRECTV and Dish Network have been slow to add new high-def offerings in the last few months.
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Study: Blu-ray Player Sales to Hit 40M In 2012
The increase would be 800 percent worldwide.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 10, 2008) -- Parks Associates, the Dallas-based research firm, says worldwide Blu-ray player sales will jump 800 percent over the next four years to 40 million.
That's according to an article by Video Business.
Parks estimates that standalone Blu-ray player sales (not including the Sony Play Station 3, which has a Blu-ray player inside) will hit five million worldwide this year, compared to 800,000 in 2007.
But Kurt Scherf, Parks' principal analyst, says standalone sales will jump to 40 million annually in four years.
Video Business notes that the NPD Group said last month that Blu-ray player sales will triple this year and double again next year.
"As a category, it's going to outpace a lot of other consumer electronics sales, because we see Blu-ray players complementing what's happening with HDTVs overall," Scherf told the publication.
He added that Blu-ray sales will be driven in part by a dramatic expansion in new titles from the Hollywood studios.
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Netflix Adds $1 Surcharge For Blu-ray Subs
The extra fee per month will go into effect next month.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 8, 2008) -- Netflix has confirmed that it will raise prices for Blu-ray subscribers by $1 per month.
In an e-mail sent today to subscribers, Netflix says the additional charge for unlimited Blu-ray access will be automatically added to their next billing statement on or after November 5th, 2008.
"As you may know, Blu-ray movies are more expensive than standard definition movies. As a result, we're going to start charging $1 a month (plus applicable taxes), in addition to your monthly membership charge, for unlimited access to Blu-ray movies," the e-mail states.
NetFlix CEO Reed Hastings hinted as early as April that the company would charge more for plans that include Blu-ray rentals.
The executive defended the increase by noting that Blu-ray discs cost more at retail -- and he opined that high-def owners are used to "paying more."
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DIRECTV Admits HD DVR Problem; Advises Rebooting
The satcaster says the boxes has undergone a "temporary technical glitch."
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 8, 2008) -- DIRECTV has sent e-mails to customers suggesting they reboot their HD DVR if their receiver "is not responding to your remote control or front panel commands."
In the e-mail, DIRECTV does not specify any problems that HD DVR owners may be having. However, at satellite message boards such as SatelliteGuys.us, posters have complained of everything from the set-top suddenly erasing 'Favorites lists' to changing the picture resolution to 480i to posting incorrect clock times.
It appears that the problems began occurring on Monday of this week.
DIRECTV's e-mail says any issues can be resolved by pressing the red 'Reset' button located inside the front right corner of the HD DVR. The satcaster advises waiting 15 minutes for the receiver to complete the re-setting process.
However, the re-setting comes with a catch:
"Once completed, your picture will return automatically. Unfortunately, any show you may have scheduled to record yesterday will not be available on your DVR," the e-mail states.
Satelliteguys.us posters say the rebooting does seem to fix the problem, but some complain of having to reboot multiple times.
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Dish Loses TiVo Case; Will Pay $104 Million
But satcaster says its current DVR are not in violation.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 6, 2008) -- Dish Network today said it would issue $104 million in damages to TiVo after the U.S. Supreme Court today refused to consider its appeal of a patent judgment.
TiVo sued Dish Network in 2004 for DVR patent infringement and a Texas jury in April 2006 found in TiVo's favor. The verdict has since been tied up in appeals court, but the satcaster says the Supreme Court's decision now ends the dispute.
"Because of the Supreme Court’s decision, we will pay TiVo approximately $104 million (the amount the jury awarded in 2006 plus interest). The money is in an escrow account and will be released to TiVo in the next few days.”
However, in a press statement, Dish maintained that its current DVRs are not in violation of TiVo's patents. The company says a software update has fixed the issue, although a court has yet to reaffirm that position.
TiVo has rejected Dish's contention that the satcaster's DVRs no longer violate its patent. Today's decision by the Supreme Court could spark a new legal battle or negotiations between the companies for licensing fees.
Commentary:
Okay, this has gone on long enough. Dish Network and TiVo should settle this thing once for and all. And the way to do that is for Dish to either pay TiVo a licensing fee for its DVR software -- or begin offering TiVo as a DVR alternative service, as DIRECTV plans to do next year. The latter makes more sense and probably will save Dish money in the long run. Dish subscribers could choose Dish's DVR service or TiVo's DVR service when signing up.
By now, it should be clear to even Dish's top executives that they are not going to win this battle in court -- and their contention that its current DVRs are not in patent violation will likely lose, too.
Just settle this thing, guys. Settle it now.
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Comcast Raising Rates On November 1
Subscribers receiving notices by mail.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 6, 2008) -- Comcast has alerted subscribers that it will raise rates on November 1 for a host of services including digital and basic programming packages, premium movie channel subscriptions and DVR service.
The cable operator has sent a flier to subscribers notifying them of the change. It's unclear this morning if the price hike will go into effect in each Comcast market on November 1. However, subscribers in several cities have reported receiving the fliers.
In the Comcast flier sent last week to Maryland subscribers, the cable operator says it will raise its monthly programming prices by roughly $4-6. For instance, the top-priced "Digital Premier and Sports Entertainment Package will go from $131.25 to $137.90 a month while the 'Standard Service' will rise from $56.40 to $60.
Digital Video Recording service (per outlet) will jump from $13.95 to $15.95 while individual subscriptions to HBO, Showtime, Starz, Cinemax and The Movie Channel all will rise $1 each to $15 a month.
A High-Definition Digital Converter Box will still cost $7.50 a month if you also subscribe to Comcast's 'Digital Classic' programming package, which will now start at $80.90 a month. The high-def box's monthly cost will rise to $9.80 if you don't subscribe to a Digital Classic package.
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