http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080513-150907 The studio looks to awaken the high-def disc format.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 13, 2008) -- Disney plans to stuff several interactive features in the October Blu-ray release of Sleeping Beauty, including local weather conditions and customized video messages.

That's according to an article by USA Today.

The publication reports that Disney will use 'BD Live' to add interactivity to the Sleeping Beauty disc. BD Live is a new technology that enables owners of later model Blu-ray players to download content over the Internet.

According to USA Today, the Blu-ray Sleeping Beauty will include a menu backdrop of the film's castle which can be customized to reflect the weather in the viewer's hometown.

Blu-ray owners will also be able to chat with fellow viewers on the movie screen, using a laptop or BlackBerry, and they will be able to insert video messages in the movie and send them to friends via e-mail.

Other interactive features will include trivia games and ringtones.

"(Sleeping Beauty) will revolutionize the way people will interact with and view movies in the home," Bob Chapek, president of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, told USA Today. "We pulled out all the stops in launching this technology."

While some industry observers dispute whether home viewers will want to interact with their TVs, Disney has been a consistent and strong supporter of the ITV component. The studio believes that the interactive Blu-ray discs will generate more interest in the format.

However, the ITV features will only be able on the Sony PlayStation 3 and the later model Blu-ray players which support BD Live.

Sony recently released two films with BD Live features -- The Sixth Day and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080513-071546 The cable operator says it's increasing 'HD choices.'
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 13, 2008) -- Charter Communications said yesterday that its HD and/or DVR subscription have jumped 50 percent in the last year.

The company made the disclosure in an analysts call following the release of its first quartet report.

Charter did not reveal how many subscribers are getting the advanced services, nor did it breakout the specific HD and DVR numbers.

The cable operator credited the increase, however, to what it calls a "robust" HD programming lineup, although it offers less than 30 high-def channels in most markets. Charter emphasized that it has expanded its On Demand service, which includes high-def movies and TV shows.

"Our video product is more robust than ever and we will continue to aggressively expand our HD and on-demand offerings which now include nearly 200 HD viewing choices..." said Charter president Neil Smit.

Charter also said that it will implement a new technology called Switched Digital Video in most systems by year's end, which will expand high-def capacity.

"We currently are trialing it in LA, have had good success there and also we continued to migrate analog to digital. We cleared up on the HD side, we currently have about 22.5 (HD) channels so as we continued to migrate analog to digital we free up bandwidth and dedicate it to HD," Smit said.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080513-050806 The satcaster has threatened to remove the entire 15-channel suite.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 13, 2008) -- Dish Network last night trimmed the Voom High-Definition programming package from 15 channels to five.

The satcaster's decision to drop 10 Voom channels comes just hours after it added 20 other high-def channels.

The satcaster did not issue a press statement announcing the decision, but the channels were suddenly dropped last night. Dish's web site and programming lineup now lists just five Voom HD channels: Monsters, Rush, Equator, Kung Fu, and Rave.

And on Dish's channel 9472, the following statement appears:

"As of result of these additions (20 new HD channels), we removed some channels that are less popular with our customers. These channels are not available with any other satellite provider."

The decision to reduce the number of Voom channels is not unexpected. The Supreme Court of New York last month denied Voom's request for a preliminary injunction to block Dish Network from terminating its agreement to carry all 15 high-def channels.

The satcaster informed Voom last year that it would move the 15 HD channels to a less watched programming tier. Voom objected to the plan, saying it would reduce its programming fees and jeopardize its business. Following a series of negotiations, Dish informed the programmer that it planned to terminate the agreement entirely, which led to the court battle.

Although the Voom channel reduction is not unsurprising, the timing is. Dish Network yesterday announced it was adding 22 high-def channels this week, starting with the 20 on Monday. In the announcement, the company said the new channels means that Dish would now have "over 95 HD channels."

However, the Voom reduction now would appear to lower that number to the mid-80s.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080512-140502 The players reportedly are manufactured by Funai.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 12, 2008) -- Wal-Mart is reportedly selling a $299 Blu-ray player in select stores, roughly $100 off the previous entry-level price of the high-def disc player.

According to the web site, Blu-ray.com, $298 Blu-ray players are showing up on shelves of certain Wal-Mart stores under brand names such as Magnavox and Sylvania.

However, the players apparently are coming from manufacturer Funai, which has been rumored for months to be working on a low-cost Blu-ray player.

Funai, a Japanese company, is known for manufacturing low cost electronics products, which often pressure the industry to lower prices for name brand devices.

A message thread at Blu-ray.com says the $298 player supports the new Profile 1.1 BD, which offers Picture-in-Picture features.

Sony and other well-known Blu-ray manufacturers have said their prices will likely stay around $399 for now. However, the introduction of a $298 Blu-ray player could change that in the coming months.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080512-055447 The satcaster says it will offer 95 high-def channels.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 12, 2008) -- Dish Network says it will add 22 High-Definition channels this week, starting with 20 today.

The satcaster says the launch will expand its high-def lineup to 95 national channels, roughly the same number as offered by rival DIRECTV.

The new channels that will be added today are:

ABC Family HD; Biography HD; Bravo HD; Cartoon Network HD; Cinemax 5 Star HD; Cinemax HD West; CNBC HD; CNN HD; Disney HD East; ESPNews HD; Hallmark Movie Channel HD; MGM HD; Sci-fi Channel HD; Smithsonian HD; Tennis Channel HD; Toon Disney HD; Travel Channel HD; USA Network HD; Weather Channel HD; and World Fishing Network HD.

Dish Network says it will also add Comcast Sports Network Bay Area HD and Comcast Sports Network New England HD on Wednesday, May 14.

"We are excited to extend our competitiveness in HD by enhancing our already comprehensive HD lineup with these 22 channels, bringing our total HD lineup to over 95 channels,'' said Eric Sahl, senior vice president of Programming for DISH Network. ``These launches, along with other recent additions such as the New England Sports Network (NESN) HD, reinforce our commitment to offer the best in entertainment.''

Dish Network said in January that it would offer 100 national HD channels -- and local high-def channels in 100 markets -- by year's end.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080509-074837 The network is vague, according to a report.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 9, 2008) -- CBS may not broadcast all National Football League games in High-Definition this season, according to HD Sports Guide.

The web site, which compiles listings of sports programs in high-def, says a CBS official tells it that the network's coverage "will most likely be in the neighborhood of 6-7 games/week in HD."

The network, which airs up to seven American Football Conference games a week, last season provided 5-6 games a week in high-def, often airing one or two games in standard-def.

The decision irked many football fans, particularly those in cities which received the SD broadcasts.

CBS said in 2006 that it hoped to provide all games in high-def by the 2008 or 2009 season. Fox has committed to airing all National Football Conference games in HD this season.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080509-050043 Feds: We Could Re-Issue Digital TV Coupons
But the agency refuses to commit to doing so.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 9, 2008) -- Meredith Baker Attwell, acting chief of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said yesterday that her agency has the authority to allow Americans to reapply for Digital TV converter coupons.

However, Attwell refused to say whether the agency would actually do so, according to an article by Broadcasting and Cable Magazine.

On February 17, 2009, all full-powered local stations must switch their analog signals to digital which means viewers will need a Digital TV, a digital converter box or a pay TV subscription to watch television.

The feds are offering two $40 coupons for consumers to buy the converter boxes, which cost around $60. The boxes will enable an analog TV to display the new digital signals. However, consumers must use the coupon within 90 days after receiving them.

Several senators have urged the NTIA to allow consumers to reapply for the $40 coupons if they fail to use them in the 90-day period. The lawmakers are concerned that millions of people will lose their TV signals because they won't have converter boxes.

Although the first converter coupons issued by the NTIA will expire in the next several weeks, Attwell said her agency first needs to study whether the 90-day period should be extended.
“We can change it," she said, according to B&C, "but there would have to be a notice and comment period."

Attwell said the NTIA wants to examine how many people have redeemed the coupons to date.

Commentary:
Although the Digital TV transition is less than 300 days away, the acting NTIA chief is acting more like it's 300 years. Many consumers will soon see their converter coupons expire and Attwell will only say, in effect, 'Yes, we could allow you to reapply, but, sorry, we can't tell you whether we will.'

I understand that consumers should redeem the coupons now, but folks, we're talking about human nature here. People don't do anything until they have to. Many Americans, particularly seniors, will wait until the eve of the transition before trying to redeem those coupons. But the NTIA won't say whether they will allow them to do so.

Attwell's remarks are typical of the federal government's lack of urgency on this issue. If the feds really want this transition to work, it better change course and soon.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080508-045609 The satcaster says its new high-def satellite will be ready in the third quarter.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 8, 2008) -- DIRECTV says that seven million customers now subscribe to a High-Definition and/or Digital Video Recording service.

That number represents 41 percent of the satcaster's total audience of 17.04 million subscribers. DIRECTV reported a year ago that approximately 30 percent of its audience was subscribing to an HD and/or DVR service. (DIRECTV does not break out statistics for individual high-def and DVR subscribers.)

The rise in 'advanced service' subs can be credited to DIRECTV's decision to expand its high-def programming lineup. The satcaster last fall had just nine national HD channels, but has since increased that total to 95.

DIRECTV HD and DVR customers spend nearly $100 per month on programming packages, which is more than 50 percent greater than a non-HD/DVR customer, according to DIRECTV CFO Patrick Doyle.

DIRECTV made the subscriber disclosure yesterday in an investors call following its first quarter report which showed a net increase in subscribers of 275,000.

In addition, the company's U.S. revenues rose 14 percent in the first quarter to $4 billion and the average monthly revenue per subscriber increased 8.6 percent to $79.70.

In other HD-related remarks during yesterday's investors call:

Refurbished Set-Tops
* DIRECTV has increased the number of 'refurbished' set-tops in its HD and DVR lease program, allowing the company to reduce spending on the set-top program.

New HD Satellite
* DIRECTV's new HD satellite, which was launched in March, will be ready in the third quarter. At that time, DIRECTV says it will have the capacity for 150 national HD channels.

More HD/DVR Subs
* By 2010, 70 percent of its audience will subscribe to an HD and/or DVR service. "I think things like a DVR will become just like a VCR or a DVD player was in a home and become a mainstream part of an experience, as will HD," said DIRECTV CEO Chase Carey.

Video On Demand
* DIRECTV's new Broadband-enabled Video on Demand program is years away from having an impact on the average revenue per subscriber (APRU). "I think VOD continues to be probably a longer term proposition...I think VOD will continue to grow but I think it will grow over a longer timeframe. Customers need to understand and start to use it."

TiVo
DIRECTV is "not doing a lot" in regard to expanding its relationship with DVR service TiVo, says CEO Carey. The executive said the company is now focused on deploying company-owned DVRs for new services, such as VOD and home networking. (DIRECTV pulled the plug on its marketing relationship with TiVo a few years ago, but still offers service for existing TiVo/DIRECTV set-tops.)

"I think we have a constructive relationship (with TiVo)," said Carey. "We are not doing a lot in all honesty but I think we have an honest dialog that I think is sincere about seeing if there are things that make sense for us."
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080507-172525 The broadcasters group urges the president to get involved in consumer education.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 7, 2008) -- The National Association of Broadcasters is urging President Bush to help inform Americans about next year's Digital TV transition.

On February 17, 2009, all full-powered local broadcasters must switch their analog signals to digital which means viewers will need a Digital TV, a digital converter box or a pay TV subscription to continue watching television.

However, congressional leaders and industry analysts have expressed concern that millions of Americans are still not aware of the transition and therefore could lose their signals when the switch occurs.

In a letter sent yesterday to the president, NAB CEO David Rehr reminded Mr. Bush that the Digital TV transition is now less than 300 days away.

He urged the president to consider several new DTV educational initiatives such as the creation of a Digital TV postage stamp and including DTV transition flyers along with Social Security checks.

Rehr also suggested that the president, or Vice President Dick Cheney, participate in a TV ad spot on the DTV switchover.

"We are respectfully requesting your assistance in informing American households about the transition," Rehr said in the letter.

The NAB chief added that technology companies worldwide spent billions of dollars to ensure that the Y2K changeover went smoothly in the year 2000.

"We will need a similar effort of such scale for the DTV transition to succeed," he told the president. "The DTV transition will fundamentally change the way the American people get news about their communities, emergency situations and entertainment. We want to enlist the help of the federal government and the Administration to ensure that happens as seamlessly as possible."

Swanni Sez/Commentary:
The fact that we're less than 300 days away from the transition and the NAB chief now feels compelled to urge the president to get involved speaks volumes about how serious this problem is. It also underscores just how poorly the government has prepared for the transition. Rehr's letter reads as if he not's certain that President Bush himself is aware of the switchover.

Good luck to us all on February 17, 2009.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080507-105435 The company releases its first quarter report.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 7, 2008) -- DIRECTV today credited an expanded High-Definition programming lineup with increasing its revenue and subscriber totals in the first quarter.

The satcaster, which has increased its national HD lineup from nine to 95 channels in the last eight months, said net subscribers jumped 275,000 in the first quarter; that's a 17 percent increase from last year's first quarter.

DIRECTV now has 17.04 million subscribers, a five percent increase from this time last year.

In addition, the company's U.S. revenues rose 14 percent in the first quarter to $4 billion and the average monthly revenue per subscriber increased 8.6 percent to $79.70.

DIRECTV also said its first quarter monthly 'churn rate' was 1.36 percent, the lowest in 10 years.

"The increased demand for DIRECTV services was primarily driven by our industry-leading content, HD, DVR and interactive services, as well as strong results from our direct sales channel," said DIRECTV CEO Chase Carey.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080507-061012 The company executives say $300 players are coming soon.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 7, 2008) -- Disney's top executives yesterday said that Blu-ray high-def disc player sales will begin to rise when prices start to fall.

In an investors call yesterday following the company's first quarter report, Disney CEO Robert Iger said the penetration of Blu-ray players is still "relatively modest." (Industry reports indicate that fewer than 10 million U.S. homes now have Blu-ray players, even when you include the Play Station 3, which has a Blu-ray player inside.)

But Iger added that the company sees Blu-ray "growing nicely, particularly as the cost of the players comes down."

The lowest-priced Blu-ray player is now $399, but Iger said "you'll be seeing a lot more $300 (players) and less inventory in terms of player costs of the shelves."

He added: "The real impact from Blu-ray will be felt down the road...We're believers because of the quality of the experience but it is going to take some time for the platform to penetrate the marketplace."

Blu-ray makers were offering some players in the $300 range during the 2007 holidays when the high-def format war against HD DVD was ongoing. However, after Toshiba pulled the plug on HD DVD, the companies raised Blu-ray entry-level prices back to $399.

Disney CFO Thomas Staggs predicted yesterday that Blu-ray will start to have a serious impact on studio revenues after the 2008 holidays. The company plans to release several blockbuster movies on Blu-ray this year, including Nemo and Sleeping Beauty.

"Overall, total (Blu-ray disc sales) are going to be probably more in the low-single-digit range because less Blu-Ray (is) on catalog sales right now but...we think that’s going to continue to grow and especially as you get passed the next holiday season, it can be a more important component of the whole thing," Staggs said.

Iger hinted that Blu-ray disc prices could come down as more people buy players.

"The cost of the Blu-Ray DVD in the market or on the shelf to the consumer is running a few dollars higher (than standard-def DVDs) and that obviously bodes well for us, although as it penetra
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080506-063857 The move follows a similar decision by DIRECTV.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 6, 2008) -- Dish Network today will begin requiring subscribers to view a PPV movie within 24 hours after they order it on a Digital Video Recorder.

That's according to an article by Multichannel News.

The new policy will apply to both high-def and standard-def movies.
The 24-hour clock will start the minute the film is ordered, meaning that a subscriber will be unable to watch it a day later.

However, you can still record a PPV movie on a DVR without ordering it at the time of the recording. This allows you to order it only when you decide to watch it; the 24-hour clock starts after the customer purchases the movie.

Dish Network's 24-hour limit follows a similar action last month by DIRECTV, which said the studios have demanded the change due to piracy concerns.

DIRECTV says that special PPV events, such as sports, will not be affected by the new policy.

]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080506-061502 The high-def programming suite loses an injunction against the satcaster.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 6, 2008) -- The Supreme Court of New York last month denied Voom's request for a preliminary injunction to block Dish Network from terminating its agreement to carry its 15 high-def channels.

That's according to court documents obtained by the web site, DBSTalk.com.

The decision leaves Voom's fate on Dish Network in doubt. While Dish Network is now offering Voom in its 19-channel Ultimate HD package, court papers show that the satcaster intended to remove Voom from its lineup entirely before the lawsuit was filed.

Dish contends that Voom has failed to spend $100 million annually on the 15 high-def channels as stated in their affiliation agreement. Based on that contention, the satcaster informed Voom last year that it would move the 15 HD channels to a less watched programming tier.

Voom objected to the plan. Following a series of negotiations, Dish informed the programmer that it planned to terminate the agreement entirely. That's when Voom decided to file the lawsuit and injunction request, which the court rejected on April 23.

The court said Voom failed to show that it satisfied the spending requirement in the affiliation agreement.

It is uncertain if Voom will appeal last month's court decision. The programmer said in court papers that Cablevision is the only other TV provider that carries its 15 channels, adding that DIRECTV's "business plan" does not call for the addition of its 15-channel block.

EchoStar, the sister company of Dish Network, actually owns Voom's satellite and has an equity stake in Voom's 15-channel programming suite which includes several niche channels on subjects such as horror films, international sports and antiques.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080505-150337 The company denies plans for a Blu-ray player, but it can't really be believed.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 5, 2008) -- Microsoft has denied the latest report that it's planning to add a Blu-ray player to its XBox 360 video game console.

That's according to an article by the web site, GamePro.

Economic Daily News reported last week that Pegatron Technology has received an order from Microsoft to manufacture XBox 360 consoles with Blu-ray players inside. The report said the new consoles would be shipped in the third quarter.

Microsoft was a strong supporter of HD DVD -- Blu-ray's rival in the high-def disc format war -- and even sold a HD DVD player attachment for the box.

However, since Toshiba announced in February that it was pulling the plug on HD DVD, occasional rumors have surfaced that Microsoft would put a Blu-ray player in a future XBox console. And Microsoft has denied each rumor, including, now, the most recent one.

"As we have stated, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-ray drive for Xbox 360," a Microsoft official said in an email to GamePro on Monday. "Games are what drive consumers to purchase game consoles, and we remain focused on providing the largest library of blockbuster games available."

Sales of the Sony-owned Play Station 3 has risen since Toshiba's exit from the HD DVD business. The PS3 has a Blu-ray player inside.

Commentary:

It's not surprising that Microsoft is denying the rumor, but the denial is not credible. Since the advent of the high-def format war, Microsoft has issued numerous statements which have been in conflict with each other. For instance:

* For nearly two years, Microsoft said HD DVD would win the format war because of its technological superiority. But in January 2008, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates suddenly said the company was "actually neutral" in the format war. This statement came after Warner Bros. decided to endorse Blu-ray over HD DVD.

* In January 2008, a Microsoft XBox group manager told EETimes that it might consider adding a Blu-ray player if HD DVD pulled out. The company later reversed that by saying the remarks were taken out of context.

* Aaron Greenberg, a different XBox group product manager, told Reuters in March that there were no plans to offer Blu-ray with the XBox and that the companies were not in discussions for a Blu-ray device. But Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told an industry conference a few days later that the company would support Blu-ray "in ways that make sense."

* In March 2007, Neil Thompson, Microsoft's European senior regional director, said the XBox could support Blu-ray at some point. “Whatever format wins it is highly likely we will offer a solution," Thompson said in an interview with the BBC. "The only debate is if you want to watch Blu-ray movies and pay the extra money for that feature. We prefer to offer the consumer choice.”

As you can see, Microsoft has been all over the map on this topic, saying what appears to be most convenient and helpful at the time. That doesn't mean with certainty that it will add a Blu-ray player to the XBox 360. But it does mean that the company can not be believed no matter what it says.

At this point, it's wise for Microsoft to deny the Blu-ray rumors. Some people might wait to buy an XBox until the new Blu-ray console is introduced. And Microsoft doesn't want people hesitating about buying an XBox -- particularly now with PS3 sales rising.

So, with Microsoft, it's best to wait and see -- with the word, "see" being the most operative one.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080505-075607 The channel will feature crime programming.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 5, 2008) -- A friend of mine loves his High-Definition TV, particularly when watching movies. So you would think he would be a likely buyer of a new Blu-ray high-def disc player.

Think again.

"I've been collecting DVDs for almost 10 years," he says. "I'm not going to spend money replacing them with a new format. You can forget it."

I've explained that he can watch his standard-def DVDs on a Blu-ray player. In fact, the Blu-ray's upconverting feature will improve the picture. But that's not the point.

"They're always trying to get you to spend money on something new, making what you have obsolete. I'm tired of it," he said.

Industry analysts, including yours truly, often note that Blu-ray's biggest obstacle to success is the standard-def DVD player. Millions of people have one and have yet to see a compelling reason to buy a Blu-ray player to watch movies at home, particularly with Blu-ray player prices at $399.

In time, that barrier will start to come down when people experience the Blu-ray picture, perhaps at a neighbor's home or at the local electronics store. Lower prices and that picture, which is dramatically better than a SD DVD image, will trigger serious sales.

But I suspect there's a deeper emotional reason for why some people will cling to their SD DVD players for years to come -- even when Blu-ray player prices fall to $200 or lower.

They are simply tired of being jerked around; tired of constantly being told they must buy the next new thing because their current device will soon be obsolete. They've invested considerable time and money in that device, but the industry is telling them that it will soon be a big waste.

In the case of Blu-ray, the current premium price for new movie releases -- usually $10-15 more than SD DVDs -- just reinforces this resentment.

"You're telling me that I have to replace my old DVDs with new discs -- and they cost more?" my friend says in disbelief.

Of course, again, he doesn't have to replace his new movies, but it's the principal. In his mind, the industry is just trying to force him to pay more -- more for the player and more for the discs themselves. That's a tough sell, particularly in a sluggish economy.

As Blu-ray companies expand their efforts to replace the SD DVD, they might want to keep that in mind.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080502-152056 It appears that my observations have created quite a stir.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 2, 2008) -- Five years ago this month, I called TV Week Managing Editor Tom Gilbert to get his advice on a column idea. (I was then writing a weekly column for the trade magazine.)

Tom, I said, I want to write about how some Hollywood celebrities look horrible in high-def. The picture is so clear, I explained, that you can see them as they look in real life -- and many simply don't look very good.

At the time, no one had written about this odd angle, in part because so few people had high-def sets at the time. So I half expected Tom to reject the idea on grounds that it would be a bit crass, perhaps even a bit cruel if I mentioned which actors and actresses did not fare well under the unforgiving HD lens.

But Tom said, "Sure, go for it."

And so I did.
Click to read Swanni's original TV Week column

Five years later:

* My observations on how celebrities look in high-def have been featured in (literally) thousands of publications and on countless television and radio shows;

* Celebrities have spoken openly about how they are frightened of appearing in HD and news reports say some stars simply won't show up for a live high-def broadcast.

* Cosmetic companies have sprung up, offering HD make-up solutions;

* Perhaps hundreds (perhaps more) of local broadcasters and actors have crammed doctors' offices in search of Botox treatments and various facial surgeries, saying HD is the reason.

* And the TV networks have invested heavily in camera filters and other tricks to try to soften the stark reality of HD.


Based on Swanni's comments, Cameron Diaz is often cited in media reports as a celebrity who fares poorly in high-def.

Now, I am not lobbying for a Pulitzer or anything, but it appears that my writings have created quite a stir. The issue of celebrities in HD arguably has become the most talked about topic in the category.

But is that a good thing?

People often ask me that question, along with, "Don't you feel bad writing about how people look bad?"

They ask that a lot.

But the answer to both is: Yes and no.

I would argue that many Americans (particularly women) first heard about high-def by reading a story in their local paper about celebrities in HD. It probably piqued their interest and perhaps led to them buying a new set.

I think it's also helpful for people to know that not all "beautiful" people are actually that beautiful. Over the years, celebrities have used air brushed photos and fuzzy analog cameras to create the perception that they are flawless.

This perception, I submit, has contributed to some insecurity issues, particularly among young women who have tried to measure up to that manufactured ideal.

Knowing that they might look just as good as their favorite stars should give them some comfort.

However, speaking of insecurity, having lived in Los Angeles for five years, I know that many actors and actresses are extremely insecure and they probably have been hurt by my comments about their skin imperfections and other flaws. In fact, since the initial TV Week column, I have occasionally been contacted by agents and, yes, actors complaining about my descriptions.

And I'm human so I do feel their pain, if you will. But at the same time, I try to remind everyone that my remarks are purposely excessive to entertain the reader. People shouldn't take them personally, or too seriously. It's a humor piece, albeit based on my factual observations.

But the bottom line is that I'm just a writer who enjoys telling the world what I see. For that reason, the odds are good that five years from now, I will be writing about the 10th anniversary of my TV Week column -- and how some actress looks worse in high-def than you might think.

See, Tom Gilbert, it's your fault.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080502-050429 Movies will be released the same day as the DVD.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 2, 2008) -- Time Warner has decided to release all Video on Demand titles on the same day they are available on DVD in video stores.

The VOD titles will include some movies in High-Definition.

Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes made the disclosure Wednesday in an investors call following the company's first quarter report.

The company has tested 'day & date' video releases on Comcast and its cable unit, Time Warner Cable. Bewkes said the experiment has been so successful that it's time to make it across the board.

The decision is likely to be controversial with video retailers claiming it would hurt their business. Without the head-start traditionally given to DVD releases, consumers may opt to buy the VOD movie instead, particularly if it's available in high-def.

Bewkes, however said DVD sales were up during the 'day & date' trial, albeit slightly, suggesting that some VOD purchasers are buying the hard disc after watching the movie at home.

Time Warner must work out some 'day & date' with cable and satellite providers before it's implemented so Bewkes did not give a launch date.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080502-043757 New report says the order has been placed.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 2, 2008) -- Microsoft has placed orders for an XBox 360 console with a Blu-ray disc drive, according to the Chinese-language Economic Daily News.

The newspaper says the console is expected to ship in the third quarter of this year.

Microsoft was a major supporter of the Blu-ray rival, HD DVD, in the high-def disc format war, offering an HD DVD player attachment for the popular XBox.

However, since Toshiba announced in February that it was pulling the plug on HD DVD, rumors have persisted that Microsoft will include a Blu-ray player inside a new XBox edition.

Economic Daily News writes that Microsoft has placed orders with Pegatron Technology to build the Blu-ray XBox.

Microsoft has denied past reports of an upcoming XBox with Blu-ray, but there was no comment on this new article from the Economic Daily News.

If the report is true, the new XBox could dramatically help boost sales of Blu-ray discs. XBox's gaming rival, Sony's Play Station 3, now has a Blu-ray player inside.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080501-121315 Colonial Heights cable viewers have to install off-air antennas for high-def channels.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2008) -- Comcast has been battling with DIRECTV and Dish Network over which TV provider offers the best High-Definition programming lineup.

However, in the town of Colonial Heights, Virginia, population 16,897, the battle is already over without a shot being fired.

Why?

Comcast does not offer one high-def channel in its programming lineup in Colonial Heights, which is located near Richmond. Not a local network. Not HBO. Not ESPN. Not a single one.

Consequently, Comcast subscribers in Colonial Heights must install antennas to at least get their local channels in HD.

Comcast does provide HD programming in Chesterfield County, which is just north of the small southeastern Virginia town. But nothing in Colonial Heights.

In the channel 200s, where Comcast usually positions HD channels, Colonial Heights residents can choose from a variety of premium movie channels, all in standard-def.

TVPredictions.com was alerted to the Comcast HD shutout in Colonial Heights by an area reader. He had read our article earlier this week on Comcast's efforts to expand its high-def lineup in Northern Colorado from 14 channels to 29.

"I read your article about N. Colorado adding HD channels to their line-up. Well I live in VA, and Comcast in my area offers 0 HD channels, no VOD, nor digital voice," he wrote. "Upon numerous calls to Comcast, no one knows if/when we'll ever get them. Stop feeling sorry for small towns who only have 14 channels.. give me a break."

TVPredictions.com confirmed his account by calling Comcast's office in the Colonial Heights area. A woman who answered the telephone said she didn't know when -- or why -- the cable operator did not offer high-def channels to its Colonial Heights subscribers.

Contacted yesterday by TVPredictions.com, Comcast national spokeswoman Jenni Moyer said in an e-mail that she would have to look into it. She has not responded back since that message.

The reader who contacted us said: "Phone operators just say not available, technicians I've seen on the street say something about a 'plant re-build', for at least a year and a half now."

The lack of HD channels in Colonial Heights is more evidence that high-def is still in its infancy in many parts of the U.S. Some cable operators, particularly small ones, have yet to invest in serious upgrades to expand capacity for HD programming or, in the case of Colonial Heights, even offer HD programming.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080501-045227 NPD Group says sales fell from January to February.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2008) -- Despite the end of the format war, Blu-ray standalone players have not generated much enthusiasm from consumers.

That's according to a report from the NPD Group, as reported by the Associated Press.

Toshiba announced in mid-February that it would pull the plug on HD DVD at the end of March, ceding victory to Blu-ray in the high-def disc format war.

But NPD says sales of standalone Blu-ray players (not including Play Station 3 consoles) fell 40 percent from January to February in the U.S. Blu-ray sales increased two percent from February to March. (The AP reports that NPD did not release exact sales numbers.)

"When we surveyed consumers late last year, an overwhelming number of them said they weren't investing in a new next-generation player because their old DVD player worked well and next-generation players were too expensive," said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis at NPD. "It's clear from retail sales that those consumer sentiments are still holding true."

The lowest-priced Blu-ray player now retails for around $399, compared to

However, sales of the Play Station 3, which has a Blu-ray player inside, almost doubled in March, compared to last year's sales totals.


Commentary:
Despite some wide-eyed, open-mouthed reports today from the media, the NPD Group's report is not surprising at all for three reasons:

1. Most consumer electronics products experience declining sales from January to February. If you so desired, you could say that almost any CE product is suffering from declining sales -- if you only used sales figures from those months.

2. Following HD DVD's exit, Blu-ray manufacturers decided to raise standalone player prices to $399 or more. (During the format war, some retailers were offering them at around $300.

They did so because of limited supplies and a general sentiment that prices had fallen too fast during the format war. In my view, the decision was dumb -- it served only to depress interest and stifle Blu-ray's momentum following the format victory. But, nonetheless, that's a major reason why standalone players have not jumped after the HD DVD defeat.

3. Sales of the PlayStation 3, which has a Blu-ray player inside, have boomed since HD DVD's exit, further depressing standalone player sales. Many consumers who decided to buy a Blu-ray player after the HD DVD exit probably decided to buy a PS3, which retails for $399, the same as the standalone player.

So when you add it up, it's not surprising that standalone player sales have not jumped. Prices have gone up; February and March are not strong CE sales months; and the standalone player is competing with the now incredibly popular PS3.

It's also silly to suggest that Blu-ray somehow is not kicking into gear. Home Media Magazine reports that Blu-ray jumped 351 percent in the first quarter, compared to last year's first quarter. And, again, the PS3 is on fire.

Plus, I predict that Blu-ray player prices will start to fall again in the fall and during the 2008 holiday season. That's when Blu-ray will really start to take off.

Yes, it will be years before it replaces the standard-def DVD -- but that day will come.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080430-132338 The cable operator says the first quarter sub increase set a company record.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 30, 2008) -- Time Warner Cable says it now has 3.4 million High-Definition subscribers, representing 41 percent of its digital cable audience.

The cable operator made the disclosure today in an investors call following the release of its first quarter report.

Time Warner said HD customers increased by 418,000 in the first quarter, the highest increase ever for the company in one quarter.

Company CEO Glenn Britt also said that Time Warner Cable now offers more than 50 high-def channels in some markets and that capacity will soon no longer be an obstacle to expanding local HD lineups.

Time Warner is installing a new capacity-increasing technology called "Switched Digital Video."

"Once we have switching we can essentially add all the HD channels we can get our hands on," Britt said. "And so the gaiting factor is how many HD channels are really available as opposed to various marketing hype. Are they really available in a way that we can give them to customers? Then we have to have contracts for them and then launch them. So I think you should assume capacity is not the constraint -- it’s getting channels and signing contracts."

Britt added that some high-def channels may not be "terribly attractive" to consumers so Time Warner will not add them. He did not name specific channels.

"We are going for programming that we think consumers want," Britt said. "So since we are not trying to market by bragging about the number of channels, we’re going for quality, you may see a difference in our advertising versus some other competitors. But rest assured we are going to have everything that people really want."

Britt's comment was an apparent reference to DIRECTV's marketing campaign which says the satcaster has the most high-def channels with 95.

Time Warner COO Landel Hobbs said the company expects that 50 percent of its digital cable customers will subscribe to high-def by year's end.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080430-052214 The high-def channel will launch tomorrow.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 30, 2008) -- Fox News Channel will launch a HD simulcast channel tomorrow and it would seem that DIRECTV would be a top candidate to carry it.

Afterall, the satcaster's former corporate parent, News Corp., owns the Fox News Channel and a DIRECTV official privately told TVPredictions.com last year that the company would carry Fox News Channel HD when it launched.

However, in yesterday's announcement from Fox, the network said Time Warner Cable would carry the new high-def channel in parts of New York and Texas.

There was no mention of DIRECTV. Zero. Zilch. (There was also no other TV provider mentioned.)

So, what gives?

Well, things have changed since last year when DIRECTV was rolling out dozens of new national HD channels, eventually bringing its total to 95. Despite boasts of having more HD capacity than cable, DIRECTV is now running out of satellite space.

That's why the satcaster has added just a handful of new HD channels this year -- and it's why it's careful not to discuss adding more channels until a new satellite is operational this fall.

The capacity problem was dramatized earlier this year when DIRECTV and Crown Media Holdings, the parent company of the Hallmark Movie Channel, announced that the satcaster had secured the rights to carry the new high-def version of the movie channel.

However, although Hallmark Movie Channel HD launched on April 2, DIRECTV has yet to add it.

So, as much as DIRECTV would like to add Fox News Channel HD, it would not be surprising if the channel is missing from the satcaster's high-def lineup for some time to come.

Final note: DIRECTV last year made several pre-launch announcements for new HD channels. But this year, the company has been mum about new channels until they are actually launched.

Times have changed.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080429-142334
You couldn't blame Hollywoodians for repeating Clark Gable's famous line from Gone With the Wind after last night's 'Scarlet' hoax perpetuated by LG Electronics.

Over the last few weeks, the CE company has planted rumors of a hot new TV show called Scarlet that would star model Natassia Malthe as a sexy secret agent.

LG ran ads at several web sites, started a web site, and even bought billboards in Los Angeles and Paris, according to the Associated Press. The company was not mentioned in the online ads or the billboards.

The secret behind the mysterious show was supposed to be revealed last night at an invitation-only screening at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles. Celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton packed the venue to catch a sneak peek.

However, as it turns out, Scarlet is actually the name that LG is using for its new superslim LCD flat-screen set. The screening was for a commercial starring the television.

“We’re obviously trying to fool people, but it’s done in a fun and engaging sort of way,” Tim Alessi, LG director of product development and advertising, told the AP.

However, one message board poster at Yahoo! Answers may have echoed the comments of last night's attendees:

“I think that it's terrible to trick people to sell something,” said the poster, according to AP.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080429-125851 The research firm doesn't have a good track record on the high-def industry.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 29, 2008) -- On January 24, 2007, ABI Research said LG Electronics' new $1199 dual-format HDTV DVD player would end the war between Blu-ray and HD-DVD.

"We believe that universal players will come to dominate the High-Definition DVD player market," said Steve Wilson, ABI's principal analyst of consumer electronics.

ABI, a research company based in New Yori, forecast the sale of 2.4 million dual format players in 2007, rising to a whopping 55 million in 2011.

On January 24, 2007, this is what I wrote here at TVPredictions.com in response to ABI's report:

"ABI's forecast is way too optimistic. At $1199, the LG player is cost prohibitive for most Americans and it's unlikely that the price will fall 'dramatically' for a few years at least. And when prices actually reach the $200 level, the marketplace may have already determined a winner in the format war, which would make the dual player all but obsolete."

I bring this information to your attention because ABI has done it again. The company today issued a press release saying that it will 12-18 months before the Blu-ray "kicks into gear."

"Consumer electronics manufacturers need to introduce full-featured (Blu-ray) players and then get prices down to the $200 level," ABI said. "Until then, non-HDTV owners will certainly favor standard definition DVD players. A depressed economy in the United States could also lead HDTV and prospective HDTV owners to opt for upconverting standard players as they delay buying higher-ticket CE items. In addition, Blu-ray packaged media comes at a heavy premium over standard DVDs, although studios have brought prices down to the low $20-range for some titles."

ABI's facts are not in dispute here. But its timetable is. The Blu-ray industry is already "kicking into gear" with sales up 351 percent in the first quarter of 2008. Millions of consumers who were waiting for an end to the format war are now contemplating buying a Blu-ray player.

Additionally, Blu-ray player prices will likely approach the $200 level this holiday season, which will give the high-def disc format another major sales boost.

While I agree that Blu-ray is years away from replacing the standard-def DVD, the process has begun.

Like other research firms such as Screen Digest and Adams Media Research (both of whom predicted in 2007 that both Blu-ray and HD DVD would be around for years; I predicted in 2006 that Blu-ray would win the format war relatively quickly), ABI doesn't have a strong track record of forecasting the high-def disc industry.

You might want to keep that in mind when you need guidance on this industry.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080429-081204 The high-def format winner has left some bitter foes behind.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 29, 2008) -- When two sides engage in a long and contentious battle in which only one can win, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of the ultimate loser.

Don't believe it. Well, just ask Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

As the two Democratic presidential challengers escalate their fight for the nomination, many supporters of both tell pollsters that they will vote for Republican John McCain if their favorite winds up losing.

That prospect has Democratic party leaders desperately searching for a way to sooth hard feelings and heal the rupture between the two forces. If the Clinton and Obama camps fail to unite in the fall, the GOP candidate could capture a surprisingly easy victory.

The supporters of the Blu-ray high-def disc format could learn a lesson from the Obama-Clinton race.

From the spring of 2006 to February 2008, Blu-ray and rival HD DVD locked horns in an expensive and often bitter battle to become the leading high-def disc format. Company executives supporting each side frequently traded stinging criticisms that sometimes bordered on the personal.

Blu-ray and HD DVD backers such as Sony, MIcrosoft and Toshiba, invested hundreds of millions in seeing that their format would win. And finally, many company executives put their career tracks on line by aggressively supporting one format over the other.

However, the fight came to an inglorious conclusion in February when Toshiba finally decided to end its financial bloodbath and pull the plug on HD DVD. (Toshiba last week said its profits fell 95 percent due to the failed HD DVD business.)

While Blu-ray is now the clear winner, the victory could be a Pyrrhic one unless it does something to heal the wounds with the HD DVD camp. For instance:

* Toshiba now refuses to manufacture Blu-ray players and even suggests that digital downloads will be the future, not hard disc media.

* Microsoft, while less bitter about the defeat, still hasn't committed to including Blu-ray in its product line, including the XBox 360 video game console.

* HD DVD owners now fill Internet message boards with hateful comments about Blu-ray and the future of high-def discs. (These are HDTV owners who once were solidly behind the concept of the HD disc.)

Blu-ray's victory has left the HD DVD forces feeling bruised and resentful. It's human nature. When you're defeated, you instantly harbor ill feelings about your opponent. Unless...

Unless that opponent immediately takes steps to make you a teammate rather than a combatant. And unless that opponent goes out of its way to be graceful in victory.

I submit that the Blu-ray team has failed on both fronts. Company executives have been a little too busy engaging in victory laps and self congratulatory board meetings.

If the Blu-ray supporters want to win, it needs Toshiba, Microsoft and the hundreds of thousands of HD DVD owners on their side. And today, not tomorrow.

Blu-ray backers, such as Sony, should offer HD DVD owners discounts on Blu-ray products -- and they should offer Toshiba and Microsoft some substantial financial incentives to become Blu-ray companies.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080429-052836 The telco is promising 150 high-def channels this year.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 29, 2008) -- Verizon said yesterday that it added 263,000 FiOS TV customers in the first quarter, bringing its overall total to 1.2 million.

Fueled by aggressive marketing efforts, Verizon's FiOS has added 850,000 subscribers over the past year. And the telco is now challenging cable operators in several top markets with promises of 150 High-Definition channels by year's end. (Verizon now offers less than 40 HD channels.)

Verizon has also claimed in a TV commercial campaign that its high-def picture is better than cable and satellite, a statement often challenged by its competitors.

However, Verizon FiOS has also suffered from growing pains and has acknowledged difficulties in delivering some promotional items such as free Sharp LCD HDTVs and an inability to meet demand for high-def set-tops.

Company officials yesterday said in an investors call that they have "pretty much caught up" in supplying the HD set-tops to customers who have requested them.

According to the Associated Press, Verizon says the average FiOS customer now spends $129 a month on service. The telco added that it expects to raise some video programming prices later this year when it adds more high-def channels.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080428-042107 The company says it's expects a surge over the next five years.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 28, 2008) -- Samsung says that worldwide annual sales of Blu-ray players will hit 51 million by the year 2012.

That's according to an article by the Associated Press.

Samsung, which produced both Blu-ray and HD DVD/Blu-ray combo players, says that Blu-ray sales will now soar following Toshiba's decision to exit the HD DVD business.

Jun Dong-soo, chief of Samsung's digital audio-video business, said in a press release that he believes the worldwide market will grow at least 80 percent over the next five years, according to the AP.

The executive forecast that five million Blu-ray standalone players would be sold this year -- three times the amount sold last year.

"Our own Blu-ray product sales should increase to ($402 million) this year and surpass ($1 billion) by 2010," he stated.

Samsung last week unveiled its fourth-generation Blu-ray player, which is expected to be available for sale this summer.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080425-073120 Retailers report that consumers are balking at high prices.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 25, 2008) -- Retailers and studios are confused over how to price Blu-ray titles with reports that consumers are balking at premium prices.

That's according to an article by Video Business.

In most stores, new Blu-ray releases cost from $5-10 more than their standard-def counterparts. For instance, Video Business notes, the Blu-ray edition of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, is $43.95, $14 more than its standard-def two-disc special edition.

Older titles are also priced higher than standard-def versions.

But while industry officials note that consumers are wary of the higher prices, they are reluctant to lower them because of declining profits in the DVD industry as a whole.

“I don’t think studios have found the right price that works best yet on Blu-ray,” Don Rood, director of business development at wholesaler VPD, told Video Business. “But I don’t think they will until the demand is there for the format. More consumers will need to adopt before studios can see what really is working. We just don’t want to see a race to the bottom.”

Lionsgate is one studio that has lowered the price on some older Blu-ray titles from $29.99 to $19.99, such as Devil’s Rejects, Stir of Echoes, Total Recall and Terminator 2. Some industry officials say that this will spur Blu-ray sales.

“This is a nice entry price, and Lionsgate is more of a catalog-centric label, so this is good stuff,” Newbury buyer Ian Leshin said. “When consumers see that gap (between Blu-ray and SD prices), they will consider a lot longer how much they need to have the high-def product. It would make me think twice if I can get the other version for a third of the price.”

]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080425-045914 The company reports a 95 percent drop.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 25, 2008) -- Toshiba today reported that its net profit fell a whopping 95 percent in the first quarter thanks to its failed HD DVD business.

Toshiba announced in February that it was pulling the plug on the high-def disc format at the end of March, ceding victory to rival Blu-ray.

The company has said the exit could create up to $1 billion in losses. However, the damage done by HD DVD's defeat could be even more staggering, according to a Reuters report.

Toshiba today said its first quarter net profit was 1.25 billon yen ($12 million), compared to 26.17 billion yet in last year's first quarter.

And the company was not shy about revealing why.

"Our net profit sharply fell due to the end of HD DVD business," Toshiba spokeswoman Hiroko Mochida said.

The spokeswoman said that HD DVD caused $580 million in losses in the first quarter alone.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080424-072017 But a published report says SES wants to sell it to the government.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 24, 2008) -- SES Americom is trying to sell a failed satellite that Dish Network planned to use for HDTV to the Department of Defense.

That's according to a report from SpaceDaily.

The SES AMC-14 satellite was launched in March, but has been declared a failure because it can't reach its proper orbit. Dish Network had planned to lease space on the satellite to expand its high-def programming lineup.

SES had planned to ditch the satellite, but now is trying to sell it to a DOD agency, SpaceDaily reports. The company wants to get rid of the satellite before a SES competitor or a Dish Network sister company can buy it from an insurance underwriter, the report says.

Dish might believe that it can still place the satellite in proper orbit if it could purchase it. SES apparently believes that would either be too costly or legally risky.

Space Daily writes that the DOD agency could also move the AMC-14 to its proper orbit for purposes unclear.

SES is concerned that EchoStar, a Dish Network sister company, might buy the satellite because it has plans for a similar satellite business.

"They would specifically like to prevent the vehicle from being bought by Echostar, the customer that originally intended to lease AMC-14 from SES," sources told SpaceDaily.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080423-142301 The telco's TV service is setting an alarming track record of over-promising and under-delivering.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 23, 2008) -- Verizon said in February that it was "hopefully finishing" negotiations to bring Major League Baseball's 'Extra Innings' package to its FiOS TV subscribers.

“This is a popular service, and we want to be able to offer that to FiOS customers,” Verizon senior vice president of media relations Eric Rabe said at the time.

However, Multichannel News reports today that Verizon still hasn't signed a deal with MLB -- nearly one month into the 2008 season. This despite the February assurance that the agreement would be reached "soon."

"We gave you (in February) the best information we had at the time," Rabe said in a recent blog entry at Verizon's web site, "but TV content negotiations are complex and often take many months to complete. We still expect to begin providing MLB EI during the 2008 baseball season but, as I said before, it will not be available in all markets as soon as the ink is dry on the contract."

The discrepancy could be easily dismissed if it weren't for the fact that Verizon seems to have a track record of promising one thing and delivering another when it comes to its TV service.

To wit:

* Verizon last year included a free Sharp LCD HDTV in a promotional offer for FiOS. However, after signing up a large number of new subscribers, the telco said it suddenly ran out of free Sharp TVs. Dow Jones reports that Verizon instead offered new customers a less attractive Magnavox set or a $200 Best Buy gift card as an alternative.

* Verizon said last November that it would offer 150 HD channels by year's end. However, the telco now offers fewer than 40 HD channels and has yet to say exactly when those 150 networks will be added.

* Verizon is running a TV ad campaign saying that CNET.com has said that its FiOS TV service is "near flawless." However, as it turns out, CNET actually never said that; the technology web site published an article saying that it was important for Verizon to offer a "near flawless" TV experience, given the intense competition in the TV category.

In our view, the telco is exhibiting a 'fast and loose" approach to the facts when promoting High-Definition TV and related TV services. We realize that as a relative newcomer to the field, Verizon must be aggressive in marketing its service as it tries to peel away longtime cable and satellite subscribers.

However, there's a line between aggressive and misleading and Verizon seems all too willing to cross that line.

]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080423-102826 But the company does not reveal the price.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 23, 2008) -- Samsung today said it will introduce its fourth-generation Blu-ray player, the BD-P1500, this June.

However, the company said that the player's price will be determined at a later date.

The issue of Blu-ray player prices has become a thorny one in the high-def community since HD DVD's exit from the high-def disc format war. Some Blu-ray players, which were available online for close to $300 before HD DVD's departure, now cost $399.

In addition, Philips disclosed to TVPredictions that its new Blu-ray player, scheduled for launch this month, will now cost $399, although it said at the Consumer Electronics Show in January that it would cost just $349.

Samsung said the P1500 will include 'BD Profile 1.1 Bonus View' and is BD Live Ready, meaning it can support the latest interactive features.

And with a built-in Ethernet connection and USB input, owners can upgrade the BD-P1500 with the latest firmware to retrieve future updates over the Net.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080423-060341 He also says Blu-ray disc prices will fall.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 23, 2008) -- Blu-ray players will be in roughly 25 percent of U.S. homes in three years.

That's according to a new report from Bernstein Research analyst Michael Nathanson, as reported by Reuters.

Nathanson says Blu-ray players will be in approximately one percent of U.S. households at the end of this year, suggesting the high-def disc format will experience a boom over the next three years.

To help fuel that growth, the analyst estimates that the average price of a Blu-ray disc will drop from $28.50 this year to $24.43 in 2011. He says overall Blu-ray revenue will jump from $260 million this year to $4.24 billion in 2011.

However, despite the rosy projections, Nathanson says many Blu-ray owners will buy only about 6-10 Blu-ray titles.

"We have a hard time understanding why consumers will rush out to Best Buy to pick up the Blu-ray version of Caddyshack or Sleepless in Seattle," he said, according to Reuters.

But due to the higher profit margin for Blu-ray discs, compared to standard-def DVDs, the analyst says that 6-10 titles for each Blu-ray owner would give the home video industry a major boost.

Thanks to Blu-ray, Nathanson says the home video industry might net a 2.4 percent annual growth rate in revenue over the next three years. Without Blu-ray, he says, the industry would have lost 2.2 percent each year.

Nathanson's report says there were about 3.5 million Blu-ray players in U.S. homes at the end of 2007, including Play Station 3 consoles. He predicts that a sudden rise in Blu-ray sales will occur when the player price drops from around $399 to under $200, probably not until next year.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080423-042701 The satcaster has two leased satellites scheduled for this year.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 23, 2008) -- Dish Network has hired Space Systems/Loral to build a new satellite which is scheduled for launch in 2010, the companies announced yesterday.

The new satellite will be used to expand Dish's programming lineup. Dish also has leased space on two satellites scheduled for launch this year to offer more High-Definition programming.

The satcaster suffered a setback last month when a third satellite it planned to use for HD programming failed to reach its proper orbit and was declared a failure.

Unlike the three satellites scheduled for 2008, the Loral satellite will be built specifically for Dish Network.

"Space Systems/Loral's record of reliability and their high powered platform are very important to our business," said Rohan Zaveri, vice president of Space Programs for DISH Network. "We are pleased to add another Space Systems/Loral-built satellite to the DISH Network fleet."
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080422-114438 The online DVD rental service raises Blu-ray prices because it says it can.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 22, 2008) -- NetFlix yesterday said it would soon raise monthly subscription fees for Blu-ray high-def disc rentals.

And the online DVD rental service couldn't have been clearer as to why it will hike those prices.

High-def owners are accustomed to being charged more than the average consumer.

"Consumers are used to paying more for High-Definition content in every other channel, including video rental stores, video-on-demand, and cable channels," explained Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

In other words, Hastings is saying that it's okay to gouge the high-def owner a bit because he/she is used to being gouged a bit.

The executive was referring to the fact that HD VOD movies usually cost $1 more than standard-def VOD films; that most cable and satellite operators charge an extra monthly fee for HD programming packages; and that the HDTV itself cost far more than a non-HD Digital TV.

While Hastings is unusually honest about his feelings on the subject, he is not alone. In March 2006, Peter Chernin, president of News Corp., told a financial conference that his company was talking to cable and satellite operators about charging $25-30 to watch a movie in HDTV 60 days after its theatrical release.

Asked if the $25-30 cost seemed high, The Hollywood Reporter quoted Chernin as saying that some high-def owners would be "desperate consumers" because there is relatively little HDTV programming available on cable and satellite.

To date, Chernin and News Corp. has not followed up on their plan. But Hastings' remarks indicate that the industry's belief that it can take the high-def owner for a ride has not changed.

However, one thing can change.

If you're a NetFlix subscriber, you can decide to change your DVD rental service.

In fact, Blockbuster recently announced that it would increase the number of stores carrying Blu-ray rentals to about 5,000. When NetFlix reveals its new Blu-ray subscription price, I suggest that you check out your local Blockbuster -- and Blockbuster's online service.

And, if Blockbuster offers a better deal, take it.

That would be better than just "taking it" from NetFlix.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080422-044228 The company says the increase will be "modest."
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 22, 2008) -- NetFlix says that later this year it will add a "modest premium" to monthly subscription fees for Blu-ray customers.

The online DVD rental service made the disclosure in an investors call following its first quarter report.

NetFlix CEO Reed Hastings 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."

"As you are aware, purchasing Blu-Ray DVDs costs more both at retail and wholesale than standard definition DVDs, and consumers are used to paying more for high-definition content in every other channel, including video rental stores, video-on-demand, and cable channels," Hastings said. "Because of the higher cost of Blu-Ray and the consumer expectations around high-def content, we are planning on implementing a modest monthly premium for access to Blu-Ray some time this year."

Hastings said that the percentage of NetFlix subscribers who rent Blu-ray discs is now in the single digits. But he said Blu-ray's victory over HD DVD in the high-def disc format war increases the chances that the DVD market will "remain enormous for many years into the future."

"Over the coming years, Blu-Ray DVD players will fall in price and become more widespread," he said.

Hastings also said the increase in Blu-ray rentals is necessary because the company plans to invest to expand its inventory of available titles.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080421-102055 The networks' decision to offer widescreen, non-HD broadcasts continues to fool viewers.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 21, 2008) -- Last week, I noted here in an article on ABC's This Week going high-def that network rival Fox News Sunday is not in HD.

Well, you would have thought that I had said the Pope isn't Catholic. Readers flooded my e-mail box with letters saying that Fox News Sunday has been in high-def for months.

"Hate to be nitpicking, but Fox News Sunday has been in HD for at least a year now," said one reader.

A few even said that I must be a liberal because I was purposely lying about the Fox news program, which is hosted by Chris Wallace.

There was just one problem with the complaints: They were all wrong. Fox News Sunday is broadcast in widescreen digital, which fills the HDTV screen but lacks the clarity and detail of a high-def picture.

Generally speaking, on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being HD, the widescreen digital picture would be about a 6 -- better than a 4 x 3 analog picture but far short of an HDTV picture.

The effect, however, can fool the casual HD viewer into thinking that the image is high-def because real HD shows are in widescreen. Fox uses the same technique for other shows, such as Cops and Hell's Kitchen.

But Fox is not the only network to practice this sleight-of-hand with your picture. NBC, for instance, convinced millions last summer that its widescreen enhanced broadcast of Wimbledon was actually in high-def. And several basic cable networks such as A&E, TBS and The History Channel air much of their lineups in widescreen, but not real HD.

Network executives usually say they broadcast in widescreen when the show isn't in HD as a service to owners of widescreen sets. They say the viewer would rather have the show fill the entire screen.

But that's nonsense. The networks know that many HD owners will think the show is in HD, which makes it more likely that they will tune in. Rather than spend the money to deliver a real HD picture, they are trying to trick their customers.

Today, I am calling on all networks to end this fraud immediately. If a show is not in HD, the networks should not broadcast it in widescreen -- unless it flashes an occasional on-screen message telling the viewer that the show is not in high-def.

HDTV is confusing enough for the average person. The networks don't have to add to that confusion by purposely manipulating the technology for the benefit of their ratings.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080421-042508 The service could start this summer.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 21, 2008) -- Sony is planning to launch an online video service on its Play Station 3 video game console.

That's according to an article by The Los Angeles Times.

The service, which the Times says could start this summer, would compete with the XBox 360's online service which offers both High-Definition and standard-def TV and movie downloads.

Sony declined to comment on the report, but the company has posted a blog entry at a Play Station site that seems to confirm it.

"Many of you have been hearing rumblings about a video service that will allow you to download full-length TV shows and movies via PlayStation Network for North America," stated Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "While I don't have any new announcements . . . it's already been confirmed that we'll be offering a video service for PS3 in a way that separates the service from others you've seen or used."

The Times article does not say whether Sony's online service would include high-def movies and shows. Sony is also the biggest backer of the Blu-ray high-def disc format, which arguably is a competitor to digital downloads.

The newspaper writes that Sony is now negotiating licensing rights with studios to offer content on the PS3.

In addition to the XBox, Apple, Vudu, TiVo, NetFlix have all also started download services or plan to in the coming months.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080420-154430 Meet the Press is expected to switch in 2009.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 20, 2008) -- Fox News Sunday is scheduled to begin broadcasting in High-Definition this August, according to Politico.com.

When the switch occurs, Fox News Sunday will be the second morning Sunday news show to go high-def on a weekly basis. ABC's This Week made its HD debut today.

Fox's Sunday newscast, which is hosted by Chris Wallace, now airs in widescreen digital, which some people mistake for high-def. But the real HD debut will not come until August, the Politico writes.

The web site also says NBC is not expected to begin offering Meet the Press in high-def until 2009.

In addition, CBS' Face the Nation says it doesn't have any high-def plans.

ABC execs tell the Politico that although This Week is now in high-def, the picture may not always be as sharp as HD viewers have come to expect. The show will use camera filters to soften the picture for certain guests who may not look as good in high-def.

“We want an attractive show, so we’re aware of it in terms of what filters we use and how the cameras are set,” a show producer said.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080420-052957 The switch will come this September.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 20, 2008) -- Syndie gossip shows Entertainment Tonight and The Insider will begin broadcasting in High-Definition on September 8.

That's according to an article by Broadcasting and Cable Magazine.

TVPredictions.com reported last October that Entertainment Tonight would switch to high-def in 2008, but this is the first time a launch month has been revealed.

B&C notes that the September debut will mark the first two entertainment newsmagazines to go high-def. Only a handful of syndicated shows are now available in HD.

"We know now from watching sports that High-Definition really enhances the moment,” Terry Wood, president of creative affairs and development at CBS Television Distribution, told the publication. (CBS owns the two programs.) “When you watch a football game or any sport in high-def, you feel like you are there. Making the viewers who tune in to what we do every day feel like they are on the red carpet or at the Oscars with us is a really important experience for them.”

Both Entertainment Tonight and The Insider feature interviews and 'up-close-and-personal' features on Hollywood celebrities, some of whom have been known to shy away from the candid HD cameras.

Linda Bell Blue, executive producer for both shows, acknowledges that HD will create a new set of demands for the show's staff.

“High-def is a whole new ball game,” Bell Blue told B&C. “The makeup is different, the lighting is different, even the way we shoot is different. We really are blazing a trail here.”

She added: "Everything is so much bigger and brighter and jumps off the screen in High-Definition. Everything from the colors of the actresses’ dresses on the Oscar red carpet to the facets of the diamonds in their rings and necklaces will be more brilliant.”
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080418-160658 The satcaster now has 79 national high-def channels.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 18, 2008) -- Dish Network today added Sci-Fi Channel HD and USA Network HD to its High-Definition lineup.

Rumors have circulated for weeks that the satcaster was about to add the two channels. With today's additions, Dish now has 79 national HD channels.

Dish's high-def expansion plans suffered a setback this month when a satellite it planned to use to increase its HD capacity was declared a failure.

But Dish said yesterday in a regulatory filing that it's still "on track" to offer 100 national HD channels by year's end, which it promised in January.

Dish said there are still two more satellite launches scheduled this year which will give it the capacity for additional national and local channels.

The satellite service added CNN HD earlier in the week.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080418-050536 The satcaster says a failed satellite will not affect expansion.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 18, 2008) -- Dish Network yesterday said that its plan to offer more High-Definition programming in 2008 is still on track.

The statement, which was made in a regulatory filing, was the first comment from Dish since a new satellite it planned to use to increase its high-def capacity was declared a failure.

The satellite failed to reach its proper orbit shortly after launch; Dish had planned to lease space on the satellite for national and local HD channels.

But the satcaster noted yesterday that two more satellite launches are scheduled in 2008.

Dish said in January that it will expand its national HD channel count from around 75 to 100 by year's end. The satcaster added CNN HD this week, the first high-def channel addition in weeks.

Dish also said in the regulatory filing that it will not incur any financial liability from the failed satellite because it was insured, Reuters reports.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080417-110547 The telco's TV ad campaign for its high-def picture is highly misleading and should be investigated by the feds.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 17, 2008) -- For the past few months, Verizon has been running a TV commercial saying that CNET has called its FiOS TV service "near flawless."

Verizon has even added a page to its web site using the "flawless" theme -- verizon.com/flawless.

Problem is, CNET never said that the FiOS TV picture is "near flawless." What the technology's news site, News.com, did say in a news article is that the fierce competition among TV providers stresses the importance for Verizon to "offer a near-flawless TV experience."

See the difference? CNET said Verizon needs to offer a near-flawless experience, not that it currently offers one or that CNET's product reviewers have judged that the picture is near-flawless.

But from that little morsel, Verizon has built an entire advertising campaign saying its FiOS TV experience is "near flawless." The telco has created the perception that a respected web site has judged that its HDTV picture is "near flawless" and, consequently, better than its cable and satellite competitors.

CNET has raised its objections with Verizon, saying the "flawless" comment was taken out of context.

"Nowhere does the News.com article give any opinion, implied or overt, about FiOS TV's actual picture quality. And CNET Reviews has not evaluated FiOS TV," the site states.

The site has also requested that the ad be pulled. Verizon has agreed to pull the ad, but not before May 15 when the campaign is scheduled to end.

But even if Verizon had the decency to take the ad down today, that's not enough. This ad is shameless, highly misleading and -- in my opinion -- should be investigated by the Federal Trade Commission.

Verizon has purposely tried to fool consumers into thinking that its high-def picture is somehow better than every other TV provider.

]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080417-053239 The studio will issue 'same day' releases.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 17, 2008) -- Universal Studios this summer will begin releasing all new videos on Blu-ray on the same day they are released on standard-def DVD.

That's according to an article by The Hollywood Reporter.

Universal was arguably the top studio supporter of HD DVD before Toshiba pulled the plug on the high-def disc format last month, ceding victory to Blu-ray.

While the studio said that it would support Blu-ray following Toshiba's announcement, it has not offered release details until now.

Universal's decision to issue new videos on Blu-ray the same day they are released on standard-def DVD is a significant victory for Blu-ray supporters and indicates that Universal believes the high-def format can compete with the SD DVD.

The Hollywood Reporter writes that Universal will announce today that the studio's Blu-ray schedule will begin in the summer with the release of Doomsday.

The publication adds that Universal is expected to release about 40 Blu-ray titles in the second half of the year. The list includes American Gangster (already released on HD DVD), Knocked Up, Miami Vice and The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080417-043947 The cable news network switched to high-def last fall.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 17, 2008) -- Dish Network yesterday added CNN HD to its lineup of High-Definition channels.

The addition gives the satcaster a total of 77 national HD channels. Dish has promised to offer 100 national high-def networks by year's end.

CNN HD was added on Wednesday at channels 200 and 9436. Dish yesterday did not issue a press release announcing the addition and the satcaster did not return phone calls and e-mails asking for comment.

Dish has also not commented yet on last week's news that a new satellite it planned to use to increase its high-def capacity has been declared a failure. The satcaster has said previously, though, that it has two more satellite launches scheduled in 2008.

CNN HD offers a mix of standard-def and high-def programming. The cable news network, which launched the high-def simulcast last fall, has renovated its New York studios to accommodate HD productions there. However, some Washington, D.C.-based shows, such as The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer, are not in HD.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080416-042832 The cable operator says they were picked by their customers.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 16, 2008) -- Charter Communications, which has been under fire for its high-def lineup, says it will add eight new HD channels on May 15 in St. Louis.

The new channels will be: AMC-HD, CNN-HD, The Learning Channel HD, Animal Planet HD, The Science Channel HD, Smithsonian Channel HD, TBS HD and The Movie Channel-HD.

Many Charter subscribers have complained in Internet message boards and in e-mails to TVPredictions.com that the cable operator has been slow to add high-def channels.

Charter Communications COO Michael Lovett said last month that his company offers more "HD choices" than any other competitor.

But Charter offers less than 30 high-def channels in most markets. For instance, in St. Louis, the company's headquarters, Charter now offers just 22 national and local high-def channels. (The new group of eight will make 30.)

DIRECTV, the national leader in high-def channels, now carries 95 national HD channels while some cable operators such as Time Warner and Cablevision offer around 40.

According to the St. Louis Business Journal, Charter spokeswoman Anita Lamont said the new list of eight HD channels were selected in a recent customer survey. Subscribers were polled and asked which channels they would like to see added, she said.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080415-053950 The satcaster says it now has 43 markets for local high-def.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 15, 2008) -- Dish Network says it has added local High-Definition channels in four new markets.

The new markets are: Cleveland/Akron, Ohio; Milwaukee; Richmond-Petersburg, Virginia; and Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida.

With the additions, Dish Network says it now offers local HD channels in 43 markets, which represent 58 percent of U.S. TV households.

However, Dish did not reveal which local channels were added in each of the four 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’s local HD market rollout continues as we charge toward our goal of reaching 100 local HD markets by the end of 2008,” stated Eric Sahl, Dish Network’s senior vice president. “We are excited that Dish Network customers in these new HD markets can enjoy their favorite primetime programming in stunning High-Definition."

Dish has also not commented publicly yet on a report that a new satellite it planned to use to expand high-def programming has been declared a failure. ]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080415-045256 The cable operator says it now offers 36 high-def channels there.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 15, 2008) -- Comcast today said it has added six new High-Definition channels in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The new channels are: Sci-Fi Channel HD, Food Network HD, Animal Planet HD, The Learning Channel (TLC) HD, CNN HD and AMC HD.

The cable operator says it now offers 36 HD channels in the San Francisco area.

Comcast said the new HD networks will launch on its 'Digital Starter HD' service level in the vast majority of Bay Area communities, but will not be available in portions of Santa Rosa, Hayward, San Leandro, Sunnyvale, Los Gatos and Saratoga.

Although Comcast trails satcaster DIRECTV, which has 95 national HD channels, the cable service said its Video on Demand offering gives its subscribers more HD "choices."
With Comcast HD service, it's a matter of choice...We're providing more than 400 HD On Demand choices, including 36 HD channels, and are quickly moving to our goal of having up to 1,000 HD choices available to our customers at any time," said Elaine Barden, vice president of product marketing for Comcast in California.
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080415-043822 New report advocates raising the price of high-def films.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 14, 2008) -- The studios could generate $5 billion more in home video revenue by closing the DVD release window and raising the price of High-Definition VOD movies.

That's the conclusion of a study from consulting firm Oliver Wyman, as reported by Video Business.

Studios normally release a movie on cable and satellite Video on Demand 30-45 days after it's released on DVD, although there has been some experimentation with 'same day' releases in the year.

But in a new report from Oliver Wyman called "At the Digital Crossroads: The Future of Home Video,” the company says consumers would pay $7-9 for a high-def movie on demand if it was available at the same time as the DVD release.

Most HD VOD movies now cost around $4.

Oliver Wyman adds that the higher HD VOD fee would increase sales of DVDs because more people would buy the disc rather than purchase the pay movie at home, Video Business reports.

The firm says consumers would buy three more HD VOD movies a year on average if they were available on the same day as the DVD release, generating an extra $5 billion to $10 billion a year.
“This research reveals a clear opportunity for the industry to introduce new offerings that tap unmet consumer demand, while fitting well with existing movie distribution channels,” said Oliver Wyman's Mark Teitell. “Ultimately, the consumer will benefit the most—and be willing to pay for those benefits—from the additional choice and consumption options.”
]]> http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/index.php?entry=entry080414-053515 The executive says satcasters will introduce it.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 14, 2008) -- Tandberg TV CEO Eric Cooney predicts that satellite TV services will introduce 1080p HD programming within three years.

That's according to an article by the web site, Rapid TV News.

While 1080p HDTVs have been around for a few years, the only high-def content available in 1080p are Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. The networks and cable channels broadcast in either 1080i or 720p.

Most industry experts say 1080p offers a sharper picture than 1080i or 720p, although some say the average person can not see the difference.

Cooney, whose company provides picture compression services, says satcasters are most likely to introduce 1080p because they have more system space than the cable operators.

"Today’s broadcasters have concentrated on 1080i or 720p and this will change. The Holy Grail is to shift to 1080p at 50/60 Hertz. Our current partners are asking us for this additional functionality in order to deliver a superb customer experience and operational advantage," he told Rapid TV News.

Cooney added that he has "no doubt" this will occur in three years.

"Operators are asking us these questions today, and this keeps our R&D technicians busy. I see this happening in the next three years, without doubt," he said. "My guess is that it will be satellite that first offers these high-end services. It isn’t difficult to see the reasons why. Satellite, helped by further compression, could deliver these services as a distinct competitive advantage over cable and IP.”
]]>