A Reality Blog
The High-Def Life: HDTV News In Los Angeles?
Today's stars: Johnny Sack of The Sopranos, U2's Bono and KABC-TV.
By Phillip Swann

Editor's Note: Phillip Swann, a.k.a. 'Swanni' and the president of TVPredictions.com, is writing a diary in 2006 on how High-Definition TV is changing lives, including his own  Below is episode 13. To read future episodes, click Here.

January 17, 2006 (Episode 13)
Is KABC-TV Ready for High-Def News?
Rumors are flying in Los Angeles that KABC-TV, the ABC affiliate in Tinseltown, will soon broadcast its news programs in high-def. One TV Predictions reader says a station anchor said on the air recently that they are building a HDTV studio in preparation for the launch.
A KABC spokesman told me today that the station is looking at HD news, but there are no launch dates as of now. There are approximately six local stations in the U.S. that are now doing the news in high-def, including WUSA-TV, the CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C.

Reader Comment:
"Re: Los Angeles news, Air 7 HD is already a big draw for me. I watch their feed all the time to see if they have it running for cool stuff like traffic chases and bad landing gear landings at LAX." -- James  (Note: KABC provides high-def feeds from its news helicopter.)

U2 Gets Vertigo
I'm not a big U2 fan, largely because lead singer Bono seems more interested these days in a Nobel Prize than a Grammy. But on January 29 HDNet will broadcast a concert from the band's "Vertigo" tour in beautiful HDTV. The fun begins at 9 p.m. ET.


Who's the Boss?
People often ask me if I ever hear from the actual celebrities I joke about in my HDTV show reviews. Well, yes I do. For instance:

Last year, in my review of HBO's The Sopranos, I said Vince Curatola's face (who plays New York crime boss Johnny "Sack") is so scary in high-def that I needed an Audience Protection Program. A few months later, I received an anonymous e-mail that said: "You are not on the invitation list for our (Sopranos) screening at Radio City in March of 2006. That tells us one thing, You`re nothing in the media."

The response seemed a bit personal so I did a Google search of the e-mail address. And guess what? It was Mr. Curatola himself.

Not wanting to personally offend anyone in the Mob -- even an actor who's only portraying a mobster -- I e-mailed him back to say that he shouldn't take the joke personally or seriously. I told him that I basically make fun of everyone.

He seemed to understand in his e-mail response. In fact, he seemed like a great guy. He didn't say, "Fuhgetaboutit," but I think he forgave me.

Best of luck this season to Mr. Johnny Sack and the entire Sopranos team. But, no, I still haven't gotten that invitation to the March screening.

What's On Tonight?
Looking for a good show in high-def tonight? How about the season debut of Fox's American Idol at 8 p.m. (all times Eastern); the horror film Saw on Showtime at 8 p.m.; or The Tonight Show on NBC with guest Heidi Klum at 11:35 p.m.

Snoopy, the HDTV-watching cat, says her top pick for the night is Discovery HD Theater's Wild Nights, which looks at jungle creatures along the Maroni River in the Amazon.

Click The High-Def Life to read the latest in high-def!

© TVPredictions.com

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Phillip Swann is president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com or at 703-505-3064.

And click TVPredictions.com to read more news and features on TV technology.