News & Commentary
Comcast Adds MTV's HD Channel
The high-def music network offers concerts and music videos.
By Phillip Swann

Washington, D.C. (July 10, 2006) -- Comcast is adding  MHD, MTV's High-Definition TV network, in selected cities, TVPredictions.com has learned.

The high-def music network, which airs concerts, music videos and other music-related programming, will be available to Comcast subscribers in the Philadelphia area around August 1. The cable TV operator is expected to add the HD network in other Comcast cities at that time or soon thereafter. (Where the local system has space available for additional high-def channels.)

Comcast subscribers in Boston and Chicago have had MHD for a few weeks.


Britney Spears and Madonna at MTV's Music Video Awards.

MHD, which launched last January, is targeted to 18 to 34-year-olds, according to MTV officials.

Swanni Sez:
With most HDTVs priced at more than $1,000, many potential MHD viewers won't be able to watch because they can't afford the sets. Consequently, in the early days, MHD will struggle for viewers.

But as young people become aware of MHD -- and HDTV prices continue to fall -- the channel's ratings should begin to climb. Young people traditionally are quicker to embrace new technology -- if the price is right; and it will soon be.

By 2008, MTV could emerge as one of the top rated high-def networks.

Click TVPredictions.com to see the rest of today's Swanni Sez.

 © 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 Financial Times, The Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com or at 703-505-3064.

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