Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD this evening.

1. NBA Basketball: Cleveland @ Detroit - TNT HD 8:15/5:15
2. The 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee - ABC HD 8:00
3. Planet Earth: Desert - Discovery HD 8:00
4. NASCAR Coca Cola 600 - HDNet 8:00/5:00
5. Clear & Present Danger - HDNet Movies 8:05/5:05
7. Music in High Places: Goo Goo Dolls - MHD 9:00/6:00

More on Plasma vs. LCD

It's a slow news day but I did pick up an interesting tidbit from DisplaySearch by way of the Consumer Electronics Association:

"Plasma TVs are expected to grow 83% to 16.9 million units in 2009, while LCD TV sales are expected to nearly triple to 112 million in that year."
That's a pretty interesting statistic when you think about it. Most industries would be pretty happy with an 83% growth rate over the next couple of years, but when your primary competitor is tripling its own growth rate in the same period of time -- and outselling you by nearly 100 million units -- it's enough to cause a plasma company executive many a sleepless night.

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD tonight:

1. NBA Basketball: Utah @ San Antonio - ESPN HD 9:00/6:00
2. MLB Baseball: Indians @ Red Sox - ESPN2 HD 7:00/4:00
3. Extreme Engineering: Space Tower - Discovery HD 8:00/5:00
4. Supervolcano - Discovery HD 9:00/6:00
5. Cathedrals of the Game: Petco Park - MOJO HD 8:30/5:30
6. The Show - MOJO HD 10:00/7:00
7. MTV Live: The Foo Fighters - MHD 5:00/2:00

VIZIO Intros LCD TVs in Wal-Mart

I read a statistic the other day that something like 90% of Americans have shopped at a Wal-Mart, which is something of an amazing fact (if true). VIZIO must have read the same thing because this morning the upstart flat-panel TV manufacturer announced the launch of its line of LCD TVs in Wal-Mart stores. The arrangement is a win-win for both companies as VIZIO gets distribution in the world's largest retailer while Wal-Mart can now offer one of the fastest-growing brands in the business.

I referred to VIZIO as an upstart -- which they are when compared to consumer electronics pioneers like Sony, Panasonic and, well, Pioneer -- but the company's flat-panel market share numbers are impressive. According to DisplaySearch data, VIZIO is the industry leader in the 37", 42", 47" and 60"+ flat panel market segments. This from a company most people had never heard of just a year or two ago.

Now that's an amazing statistic.

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD tonight:

1. House (season finale) - FOX HD 9:00
2. NBA Basketball: Detroit @ Cleveland - TNT HD 8:15/5:15
3. MLB Baseball: Giants @ Mets - ESPN HD 7:00/4:00
4. 2007 French Open - ESPN2 HD noon/9:00am
5. Anatomy of an FA-18 - Discovery HD 6:00/3:00
6. Cathedrals of the Game: Wrigley Field - MOJO HD 5:00/2:00
7. Is It Real? Life on Mars - National Geographic HD 8:00

SED: RIP?

Toshiba and Canon, which have been working on a new flat-panel technology called surface-conduction electron-emitter display for what seems like forever, said last Friday that the first SED TVs will not ship by the end of this year as previously planned. The development and production of SED TVs on a large scale has been the hang-up, and with prices of LCD and plasma TVs falling by as much as 40% last year, the SED production process needs to be made more efficient if Canon hopes to be price-competitive with the flat-panel displays currently in the market.

No word yet on when the SED TVs might be available, or if they ever will. More from TWICE.

This Weekend's HD Picks

There's a lot going on this holiday weekend in the world of HD programming, so here are my top picks:

FRIDAY
1. 1000 Places to See Before You Die: Cambodia - Discovery HD 8:00
2. The Matrix Revolutions - HBO HD 7:45
3. Star Wars: Episode III - Cinemax HD 8:00
4. Star Wars: Episode IV - Cinemax HD 10:00
5. VH1 Storytellers: Dave Matthews Band - MHD 10:00

SATURDAY
1. Baseball: Phillies @ Braves - FOX HD 3:55/12:55
OR
1. Baseball: Cubs @ Dodgers - FOX HD 3:55/12:55
2. NBA Basketball: San Antonio @ Utah - ABC HD 8:30/5:30
3. Discoveries...Spain - HDNet 9:00am
4. NASCAR Busch Series at Charlotte - ESPN2 HD 8:00
5. Mission: Impossible III - Showtime HD 9:00
6. The 40-Year Old Virgin - HBO HD 10:30

SUNDAY
1. Indianapolis 500 - ABC HD noon/9:00am
2. NBA Basketball: Detroit @ Cleveland - TNT HD 8:30/5:30
3. MLB Baseball: Cleveland @ Detroit - ESPN HD 8:00/5:00
4. NASCAR Nextel Cup Coca-Cola 600 - FOX HD 5:00/2:00
5. The Shawshank Redemption - Cinemax HD 10:00

MONDAY
1. NBA Basketball: San Antonio @ Utah - ESPN HD 9:00/6:00
2. Cathedrals of the Game: San Diego's Petco Park - MOJO 5:00

C-SPAN Gets in on HDTV Action

If you've ever watched a session of Congress on C-SPAN, you probably came to the same conclusion I did: this would be really riveting stuff if only it were in high-def. Well, the good folks at C-SPAN have felt your pain, although you won't be seeing Teddy Kennedy or John McCain in HD anytime soon (for that we should all give thanks).

C-SPAN's 107-minute documentary The Capitol will be available to cable companies nationwide to offer on their free HD On Demand platforms. The ten-hour series features the architecture, art and history of our national legislature's home, and was C-SPAN's first programming ever shot using HD cameras when it debuted last summer.

More from Multichannel News.

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD this evening.

1. NBA Basketball: Cleveland @ Detroit - TNT HD 8:15/5:15
2. VH1 Rock Honors: 2007 - MHD 9:00
2. The Green Land - Discovery HD 9:00
3. Planet Earth: Caves - Discovery HD 8:00
4. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Racing - HDNet 9:00/6:00
5. Cobb - HDNet Movies 6:05

ESPN HD Now Free to Time Warner Customers

Time Warner Cable customers nationwide no longer will have to subscribe to a separate HD tier for $5-10 a month to get ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD under terms of the new contract between ESPN parent Disney and Time Warner. The HD tier Time Warner offers will now feature four channels: HDNet, HDNet Movies, MOJO HD and Universal HD. Multichannel News has the full story.

This is great news for consumers. I've never been a fan of the HD tier because in my opinion it adds one more layer of confusion to the HD buying process. Many customers don't realize they need a special HD set-top box from their cable or satellite provider to watch actual HD programming on their new HDTVs, and even fewer know that they need to subscribe to a separate tier of service to get all of the HD channels their cable company offers. My personal wish would be for HD tiers to be eliminated altogether -- and if Comcast can live without them, so can the rest of the cable industry.

However, if I'm running HDNet, MOJO or Universal, I'm not very happy with the transfer of ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD to the basic HD package. I haven't seen any specific research addressing this issue, but my guess is that a large percentage of people who subscribe to the $5-10 HD tier from Time Warner do so because that's the only way to get ESPN HD. With that element removed from the equation, I'm betting that many consumers will no longer subscribe to the HD tier since HDNet, MOJO and Universal are unfamiliar brands to consumers just becoming acquainted with high-def.

Hopefully this move by Time Warner will be the first step towards eliminating the HD tiers entirely.

Versus/Golf HD Teeing Off On Cablevision

New York City-area cable provider Cablevision said today that it is adding Versus/Golf to its high-def lineup. Coming in time for the NHL's Stanley Cup Finals between the Ottawa Senators and the Anaheim Ducks, the addition of Versus/Golf HD also means that Cablevision customers will be able to catch a number of PGA Tour golf tournaments in high-def as well.

Samsung Still the Top HDTV Brand Worldwide

DisplaySearch released the results of its Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report showing that Samsung remains the world's biggest HDTV maker in terms of both revenue and units shipped. There's a slew of great data in here so I'd advise checking out the link above to read more, but here are some of the HD highlights:

"By brand, Samsung was #1 on a unit basis for the third consecutive quarter with a 12% share on 37% Y/Y growth, as shown in Table 1, and was also the #1 brand on a revenue basis for the fifth consecutive quarter with a 16% share on 34% growth, as shown in Table 2. By technology on a revenue basis, it was #1 in LCDs, #2 in MD RPTVs and PDPs and #3 in CRTs. Samsung also remained #1 in HD (720p/1080i) units and revenues. By region, Samsung was

#1 in Eastern and Western Europe and in North America in both units and revenues
#1 on a revenue basis and #2 on a unit basis in Asia Pacific
#2 in Middle East/Africa in both units and revenues
#3 in Latin America in both units and revenues.

LGE was the #2 brand on a unit basis for the third consecutive quarter and rose from #4 to #3 on a revenue basis. By technology, LGE was #1 in CRTs in units and revenues, was #2 in PDPs on a unit basis and #3 in revenues, and was #5 in units and revenues in LCD TVs. By region, LGE was

#1 in units and revenues in Latin America and Middle East/Africa
#1 on a unit basis and #2 on a revenue basis in Asia Pacific
#2 in both units and revenues in Eastern Europe
#4 in units and revenues in Western Europe

Sony remained #1 in 1080p TV units and revenues. It was also #1 in MD RPTV units and revenues and was #2 in LCD TV units and revenues, slightly behind Samsung on a revenue basis. By region on a revenue basis, Sony was in the top five in every region excluding China:

#2 in Japan and North America
#3 in Western Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East/Africa
#4 in Latin America
#5 in Eastern Europe"

Panasonic & Hitachi in Plasma Deal

Leading plasma display manufacturers Matsushita (parent company of Panasonic) and Hitachi said today that they have formed a venture that will enable them to supply each other with very large plasma panels. Under terms of the alliance, Matsushita/Panasonic will supply Hitachi with 103-inch panels while Hitachi will sell its 85-inch panels to Matsushita/Panasonic.

An interesting trend towards cooperation has developed recently among HDTV manufacturers you would ordinarily think of as competitors. LG and Samsung announced a similar initiative last week, while LCD makers Sony and Samsung have been in cohoots for some time now. LG and Philips also collaborated to form LG.Philips LCD Co.

With flat-panel TV prices falling as much as they have over the last few years, it's really no wonder that companies like these feel forced to get in bed together. Call it a marriage of convenience, or perhaps survival...

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD tonight:

1. Lost (season finale) - ABC 9:00
2. MLB Baseball: Red Sox @ Yankees - ESPN HD 7:00/4:00
3. Extreme Engineering: Big Easy Rebuild - Discovery HD Theater 8:00
4. Cathedrals of the Game: Camden Yards - MOJO HD 8:00
5. Cathedrals of the Game: SBC Park - MOJO HD 8:30

DIRECTV Inks Deal for 11 More HD Channels

DIRECTV said today that it has agreements in place with 11 additional HD networks to launch this September after its new satellite is in place. The new channels are:

Animal Planet
CNBC
Chiller
Discovery Channel
TLC
The Science Channel
Starz East
Starz West
Starz Edge
Starz Comedy
Starz Kids & Family

This is great news for HD owners everywhere because either you're with DIRECTV and you'll get a slew of new channels in high-def, or you're with one of their competitors who will feel the need to add to their own HD channel lineups to stay competitive. Either way, we all win.

Two questions, however that I'll try to get answered: 1] What exactly is "Chiller in HD" and 2] What does the impending launch of the Discovery Channel HD simulcast and the other three Discovery networks (Animal Planet, Science Channel, TLC) mean for Discovery HD Theater?

Comcast Launching A&E HD, Food HD, HGTV HD

Comcast has added A&E HD, Food Network HD and HGTV HD in its Boston cable system and is in the process of launching those high-def nets in other markets such as San Francisco.

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD tonight:

1. NBA Basketball: Utah @ San Antonio - ESPN HD 9:00/6:00
2. NHL Hockey: Detroit @ Anaheim - Versus HD 9:00/6:00
3. HDNet World Report - HDNet 9:00/6:00
4. American Idol (season finale part 1) - FOX HD 8:00
5. Wild Spaces: Secret Yosemite - National Geographic HD 10:00

Comcast to Launch Portland Sports Net

Comcast announced yesterday that it has partnered with pro basketball's Portland Trailblazers to launch Comcast SportsNet Northwest this fall. The new regional sports net will carry 28 of the Blazers home games in HD (out of 36 total).

Comcast SportsNet operates eight sports networks that televise more than 1,600 live sporting events annually and deliver local and national sports news, analysis and commentary to more than 27 million cable and satellite homes. Comcast SportsNet's networks are: Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Comcast SportsNet West, SportsNet New York, The Mtn. - MountainWest Sports Network, CSS, and Comcast Local Detroit. These networks provide live game coverage of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, and Chicago Blackhawks; the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls, and Sacramento Kings; and MLB's Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and New York Mets; as well as a comprehensive mix of college and minor league sports events.

Additionally, last month Comcast announced that it will acquire Cablevision's stakes in FSN New England and FSN Bay Area. Following the completion of those transactions, which are anticipated to close later this year pending regulatory approval, Comcast SportsNet will manage those two networks, home to the NBA's Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors, MLB's San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics, the NHL's San Jose Sharks, and other sports programming.

Sharp Opening AQUOS Lounges in Shopping Malls

Sharp said today that it has signed a deal with the Taubman Centers developer of shopping malls to create "AQUOS Entertainment Lounges" in ten shopping centers around the country. Each lounge will have one to three 42" to 65" 1080p LCD flat-panel displays playing various types of HD programming.

The malls are the Beverly Center, Los Angeles; Cherry Creek, Denver; Dolphin Mall, Miami; Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, Va.; International Plaza, Tampa, Fla.; Northlake Mall, Charlotte, N.C.; The Mall at Short Hills, Short Hills, N.J.; Twelve Oaks Mall, Novi, Mich.; Woodfield Shopping Center, Schaumburg, Ill.; and The Shops at Willow Bend, Plano, Texas.

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD tonight:

1. Baseball: Red Sox @ Yankees - ESPN HD 7:00/4:00
2. NBA Basketball: Cleveland @ Detroit - TNT HD 8:15/5:15
3. 24 (two-hour season finale) - FOX HD 8:00
4. Heroes (season finale) - NBC HD 9:00
5. The Science of Star Wars - Discovery HD 6:00

Smokin' Hot LCD Flat-Panel Deal

Normally I don't shrill for a particular manufacturer or service provider's product, but occasionally I will alert you all to a particularly good deal. One found its way into my inbox this morning, courtesy of Buy.com - it's a 32" VIZIO VX32L widescreen LCD HDTV (refurbished) for the ridiculously low price of $439.99. Yes, it's a refurb, but for just north of $400, this would be a great TV for a secondary room like a home-office, a kids playroom or a master bedroom.

Check it out for yourself here.

Round 3 in DIRECTV vs. Cable HDTV War

First, Time Warner Cable sued DIRECTV over its television ads promoting the satellite provider's alleged HD superiority over cable HD. Then Comcast came out with a third-party study showing that consumers in some unspecified area preferred Comcast's high-def picture quality to that of both DIRECTV and DISH. Now DIRECTV is suing Comcast over the results of that study, alleging "false advertising and deceptive trade practices."

Ugh. Would it be too much to ask that all these companies just launch as many high-quality HD channels as quickly as possible and forget about the litigation? Yeah, I suppose it would...

This Weekend's HD Picks

There's a lot going on this weekend in the world of HD programming, so here are my top picks:

FRIDAY
1. NBA Basketball: Cleveland @ New Jersey - ESPN HD 7:00/4:00
2. Baseball: Roger Clemens Makes First Start - ESPN2 HD 7:00/4:00
3. 1000 Places to See Before You Die: Nepal - Discovery HD 8:00
4. NBA Basketball: Phoenix @ San Antonio - ESPN HD 9:30/6:30
5. Clear & Present Danger - HDNet Movies 6:05
6. NASCAR Minnesota 150 - HDNet 11:00

SATURDAY
1. Baseball: Yankees @ Mets - FOX HD 3:55/12:55
OR
1. Baseball: White Sox @ Cubs - FOX HD 3:55/12:55
2. 1000 Places to See Before You Die: S. Africa - Discovery HD 8:00
3. Planet Earth: Mountains - Discovery HD 5:00
4. Married to the Mob - HDNet Movies 8:15/5:15 & 11:45/8:45
5. The Preakness - ESPN HD 2:00/11:00

SUNDAY
1. Indy 500 Bump Day - ABC HD 10:00am
2. NBA Basketball: Utah @ San Antonio - ABC HD 3:30/12:30
3. The Simpsons (season finale & 400th episode) - FOX HD 8:00
4. Sunday Night Baseball: Mets @ Yankees - ESPN HD 8:00/5:00
5. The Sopranos - HBO HD 9:00
6. Desperate Housewives (season finale) - ABC HD 9:00
7. Entourage - HBO HD 10:00
8. The Tudors - Showtime HD 10:00

Tonight's HD Picks

There's a whole crop of season finales on tonight (which will make my job a lot tougher come next week), so below are my top picks for what's on in HD this evening.

By the way, for those of you reading this who may have just purchased your HDTV, remember that to get the HD channels listed below you'll need a cable or satellite HD box, or an over-the-air antenna with digital tuner. And keep in mind that the channel numbers will be different, so if your local NBC affiliate is channel 4, on cable HD it might be 204, 704 or 904. Drop me a line if you have any questions and I'll help you sort it out.

1. The Office - NBC HD 8:00 (season finale)
2. NBA Basketball: Detroit @ Chicago - ESPN HD 8:00/5:00
3. Grey's Anatomy - ABC HD 9:00 (season finale)
4. Scrubs - NBC HD 9:00 (season finale)
5. Planet Earth: Fresh Water - Discovery HD 8:00
6. NHL Hockey: Detroit @ Anaheim - MOJO/Versus HD 9:00/6:00

HP Wades Into 1080p LCD TV Waters

HP, which initially unveiled its 1080p LCD TVs at this year's CES, today announced their retail availability. From TWICE:

"The 720p lineup will include the 32W-inch LC3272N ($899 suggested retail) and 37W-inch LC3772N ($1,199) LCD TV models, and the 42W- LC4272N ($1,399) and 50-inch ($2,099) plasma models.

"Step-up 1,080p LCD TV models include the 42W- LC4276N ($1,899) and 47W-inch LC4776N ($2,499). Both will include 1,200:1 contrast ratios and 6 ms response times."

LG.Philips Expects Falling LCD Prices to Stabilize

Anticipating strong consumer demand and a reduced supply of inventory, LG.Philips LCD executives said yesterday at an industry panel that they believe LCD panel prices will decline about 15% in 2007, half of the 30% decline experienced last year. LG.Philips is the second-largest manufacturer of large LCD flat-panels, behind Samsung.

LCD flat-panel TVs are largely winning the battle with rival plasma displays in the sub-50 inch category, while plasma still holds a large lead in 50-inches and bigger.

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD tonight:

1. Lost - ABC 10:00
2. Wednesday Night Baseball: Detroit @ Boston - ESPN HD 7:30/4:30
3. NBA Basketball: New Jersey @ Cleveland - TNT HD 8:00/5:00
4. NBA Basketball: San Antonio @ Phoenix - TNT HD 10:30/7:30
5. Extreme Engineering: Biggest Warship - Discovery HD Theater 8:00
6. Cathedrals of the Game: Busch Stadium - MOJO HD 8:00
7. Cathedrals of the Game: Dodger Stadium - MOJO HD 8:30

Major Launch: ABC Planning Online HD Channel

The major broadcast networks have been tripping over themselves to offer their primetime programming online over the last year or two, but the experience of actually watching a TV show in a small window on your small PC screen has been underwhelming, particularly for HDTV owners used to something a little more, well, watchable. ABC feels our pain and said today that it will launch an online streaming HD channel this July with content from its most popular shows like Lost, Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives. When the fall season starts in September, even more shows will be available online in 1280x720 HD.

Kudos to ABC for jumping ahead of its rival networks in embracing HD online. With a properly equipped router that can stream from your PC to your TV, you might even be able to time-shift your TV viewing on your big screen without the use of a DVR, which would be very cool. (I've got one now that I'm getting ready to review.)

Any wagers on how quickly CBS, NBC and FOX will follow suit?

The 4 C's Meet HDTV

With plasma and LCD TV prices falling precipitously over the last couple of years, the hyper-competitive market has forced manufacturers to come up with new ways to stem the tide of increased sales that actually result in lower profits. To that end, you can now buy a solid 24-karat gold 71-inch plasma TV from LG Electronics for a cool $80,000. (The standard version of that model carries a pricetag of $15,000.)

If you're thinking that a solid gold plasma just isn't quite as ostentatious as your style demands, an Italian company called Keymat Industrie may have your number. How does a diamond-encrusted 40-inch flat-panel sound to you? If you've got 130 grand, you too can mount this beauty above your fireplace.

More from Forbes.

Sony LCD Growth Can't Offset PlayStation Losses

I won't get into too much detail here because frankly, I'm not sure how many of you care about company earnings results. Sony said today that although its sales were up nearly 13% in the fourth quarter thanks in large measure to Bravia LCD TVs, the company reported an overall loss of more than half a billion dollars due in part to price competition for PS2 and PS3 gaming systems.

If you want to read more, check out TWICE.

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD tonight:

1. NBA Basketball: Chicago @ Detroit - TNT HD 8:00/5:00
2. House - FOX HD 9:00
3. NBA Basketball: Golden State @ Utah - TNT HD 10:30/7:30
4. Tank Overhaul: The Sherman - Discovery HD 8:00
5. American Idol - FOX HD 8:00

Four New HD Networks on Tap at Discovery

Discovery Networks, parent company of a number of cable channels, is planning to launch TLC, Animal Planet, The Science Channel and The Discovery Channel in HD this fall, according to a report in TV Week. As most of you know, Discovery HD Theater has been around for several years and is essentially a compilation of top-rated programming from Discovery's various networks, inlcuding the four aforementioned, the Travel Channel and a few others.

Discovery is also planning two more HD networks for the first quarter of 2008, although no word yet on which two those will be. (I'd wager good money that one of them is the Travel Channel.) It is also unclear what will happen to Discovery HD Theater once many of the networks from which it gets its programming go high-def themselves.

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD tonight:

1. Baseball: Chicago Cubs vs. NY Mets - ESPN HD 7:00/4:00
2. NBA Basketball: Cleveland vs. New Jersey - TNT HD 7:00/4:00
3. 24 - FOX HD 9:00
4. Heroes - NBC HD 9:00
5. NBA Basketball: Phoenix vs. San Antonio - TNT HD 9:30/6:30

Mitsubishi Debuts New LCD & DLP Models

Mitsubishi unveiled a slew of new LCD flat panel and DLP HDTVs, all 1080p. From the release:

New LCD Flat Panel Models at a Glance
The 133 Series 1080p LCD flat panel HDTVs include the 40-inch LT-40133 (Suggested Value Price $2699), 46-inch LT-46133 (Suggested Value Price $3399) and 52-inch LT-52133 (Suggested Value Price $4499) and offers a high contrast picture with x.v.Color(TM), PerfectColor(TM), Easy Connect(TM), and three rear HDMI(TM) 1.3 Inputs. The 40-inch 134 Series LT-40134 (Suggested Value Price $2899) includes PerfectColor(TM) and PerfecTint(TM), and adds NetCommand(R) and a side HDMI(TM) 1.3 input. The 144 Series which includes the 46-inch LT-46144 (Suggested Value Price $3899) and 52-inch LT-52144 (Suggested Value Price $5099) offers PerfectColor(TM) and component side input and adds Smooth120Hz(TM) for true 120Hz 1080p LCD flat panel performance. Smooth120Hz(TM) enables the display of more fluid and smoother fast-moving images, free from motion blur. The Diamond LT-46244 (Suggested Value Price $4499) and Diamond LT-52244 (Suggested Value Price $5699) round out the new models and feature the full complement of 133 Series features plus Smooth120Hz(TM), PerfecTint(TM), a CableCARD(TM) slot, TV Guide Daily(R), NetCommand(R) and a side HDMI(TM) input.

New DLP Models at a Glance
Mitsubishi's 733 Series 1080p DLP(R) HDTVs come in the 57-inch WD-57733 (Suggested Value Price $2499), the 65-inch WD-65733 (Suggested Value Price $2999) and the 73-inch WD-73733 (Suggested Value Price $4699), and each offers the 6-Color Light Engine(TM); x.v.Color(TM), PerfectColor(TM); Easy Connect(TM); three rear HDMI(TM) 1.3 inputs; and a front HD component input.

The 734 Series comes in the same sizes: the 57-inch WD-57734 (Suggested Value Price $2799), the 65-inch WD-65734, and the 73-inch WD-73734 and includes all of the 733 features plus Dark Detailer(TM) for deep blacks and rich dark scene detail. The 734 models also boast PerfecTint(TM); DeepField(TM) Imager for dynamic contrast adjustment within an image; SharpEdge(TM) for stunning picture precision and crisp, sharp object edges; a front HDMI(TM) input; and NetCommand(R) for easy on-screen home theater control and set-up.
Three Diamond models, available in the 57-inch WD-57833 (Suggested Value Price $3399), the 65-inch WD-65833 (Suggested Value Price $3999) and the 73-inch WD-73833 (Suggested Value Price $5899), offer the ultimate HDTV experience. The 833 Series includes some key features above and beyond the 734 Series including Smooth120Hz(TM) for more fluid and smoother moving images free from motion blur; TV Guide On Screen(R) 9.0; Game FX - 3D game capability; IEEE1394; and an RS232C input.

This Weekend's HD Picks

There's a lot going on this weekend in the world of HD programming, so here are my top picks:

FRIDAY
1. 1000 Places to See Before You Die: Italy - Discovery HD 8:00
2. NBA Basketball: Utah @ Golden State - ESPN HD 9:00/6:00
3. Mission Impossible III - Showtime HD 9:45/6:45

SATURDAY
1. Indy 500 Pole Day - ABC HD noon
2. NBA Basketball: Cleveland @ New Jersey - ESPN HD 5:00/2:00
3. NBA Basketball: Phoenix @ San Antonio - ABC HD 5:15/2:15
4. Destination HD: Naples - Discovery HD 8:00
5. Boxing: De La Hoya vs. Mayweather (replay) - HBO HD 10:00

SUNDAY
1. NBA Basketball: Detroit @ Chicago - ABC HD 12:30pm/9:30am
2. Sunday Night Baseball: Detroit @ Minnesota - ESPN HD 8:00/5:00
3. The Sopranos - HBO HD 9:00
4. Desperate Housewives - ABC HD 9:00
5. Entourage - HBO HD 10:00
6. The Tudors - Showtime HD 10:00

Is Cable Embarrassed About Its HD Efforts?

Sometimes in life, what isn't said is more important than what is. Case in point: the big Cable Show earlier this week in Las Vegas. You would think that with all of the focus other industries are placing on HDTV, cable would want to highlight its efforts as well. To the contrary...not only were there absolutely zero breakout sessions devoted to cable HD, virtually none of the high-powered panelists in the general sessions even uttered the word HDTV. Contrast this lack of HD content with the countless sessions about topics such as OCAP, DOCSIS 3.0, interactive advertising and online video. Seemed a little odd to me, so I started asking people about it.

For those of you who haven't attended, the Cable Show is an opportunity for programming networks and equipment vendors to showcase their wares to cable company representatives who wander around the show looking for the coolest tchotchkes or celebrities to get their photos taken with. So as an example, the new Big Ten Network (owned by Fox Cable Networks) featured college basketball coaches Thad Matta of Ohio State, Tom Izzo of Michigan State and Bruce Weber of Illinois, along with former Wisconsin football coach Barry Alvarez, signing autographs to promote the upcoming launch of the Big Ten Network.

I asked a number of executives from HD programmers why there was such a lack of interest in high-def from the cable industry at the show. Off the record, several told me that the general perception right now among programmers is that the satellite companies and telcos are innovating while the cable providers are litigating, a reference to the Time Warner Cable lawsuit against DIRECTV's HD ads. Having panels at the Cable Show about HDTV would merely highlight cable's apparent insecurities about its current HD positioning against its competitors.

When you consider that in many U.S. markets the local cable company only offers 15-20 HD channels compared to 27-31 from the local telco and up to 40 from satellite, it's little wonder some HD programmers feel like they're getting the short shrift from cable. When DIRECTV begins offering 100 national HD channels later this year after the launch of its new satellite, the disparity will be exacerbated even further.

Now I tend to be technology-agnostic when it comes to HDTV. Every provider has its challenges, whether they come in the form of network bandwidth, signal compression or service deployment. From a consumer perspective, I'd be happy connecting two empty toilet paper rolls and a piece of dental floss to the back of my plasma TV if it could get me 50 HD channels. However, when cable refuses to talk about HDTV at its biggest event of the year, and programmers who deal with them express serious doubts about cable's willingness to innovate, it seems to me that speaks volumes about the state of the industry today.

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD tonight:

1. The Office - NBC 8:42 (not a typo)

2. Grey's Anatomy - ABC 9:00

3. NBA Basketball: Detroit @ Chicago - ESPN HD 9:00/6:00

4. My Name Is Earl - NBC 8:00 (season finale)

5. Planet Earth: Mountains - Discovery HD 8:00

Flat-Panel Supply Chain Highlights Global Economy

USA Today has an interesting piece detailing how the construction of a flat-panel TV at what have become cut-rate costs requires an increasingly global supply chain. Most of you reading this blog realize that the vast majority of HDTVs are produced at least partially in Asia, but often the assembly is done somewhere else, like Mexico, before the TVs arrive in the U.S. for sale.

This story also features a brief history of flat-panel displays, including why there are very few American companies doing much of anything in this fast-growing space.

New Pioneer Plasmas Promise Better Black Levels

Pioneer today unveiled its new lineup of plasma displays that the company says will feature the best black levels of any TV you can buy. The eight new PDPs (four Pioneer, four Pioneer Elite) will begin appearing on store shelves in June. The 42" models will be priced at $2,700 and $3,200 (Elite) while the 50-inchers will go for $3,500 and $4,500 (Elite).

Pioneer's new 50" 1080p plasmas will debut in September at a suggested retail price of $5,000 and $6,000 (Elite). The 60-inch 1080p displays will cost $1,500 more.

History Channel HD to Debut on DIRECTV in Sept.

History buffs out there (like me) will appreciate the fact that The History Channel will launch in high-definition this September on DIRECTV. A&E HD will also be added to the DIRECTV HD lineup at that time. From the release:

"The History Channel HD™ will simulcast the entire The History Channel lineup of original, non-fiction series and specials. The HD experience will serve to create a stunning new dimension for the compelling content and powerful storytelling that only The History Channel can provide. THC HD will feature a diverse range of programming including hit series Lost Worlds, Dogfights, Digging for the Truth, Cities of the Underworld, and Mega Disasters, and the recently announced Ice Road Truckers, The Universe and Human Weapon as well as thought-provoking specials such as Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed, The Lost Book of Nostradamus, The Hunt for John Wilkes Booth and Stalking Jihad."

Back from The Cable Show

I've been out in Vegas at the big annual Cable Show the last couple of days -- hence the lack of blogging on this page. There were some interesting announcements made at the show, which I'll detail in a minute, and I also was able to convince a few additional HD execs to come on board as part of our "Industry Insider" series of guest bloggers.

If you have any questions about anything that went on at the show, use the comments feature to ask.

DISH Adds Cinemax HD, 2 Regional Sports Nets

DISH Network said today that it has added Cinemax HD to its national high-def channel lineup as well as Sun Sports HD and SportsSouth HD to its regional lineups in the southern U.S.

Movies playing on Cinemax HD this summer will include X-Men: The Last Stand, Superman Returns, Lady in the Water, Miami Vice and The Departed.

DISH added seven other regional sports networks (RSNs) to its high-def lineup last week.

This Weekend's HD Picks

There's a lot going on this weekend in the world of HD programming, so here are my top picks:

FRIDAY
1. NBA Basketball: Toronto @ New Jersey - ESPN HD 8:00/5:00
2. 1000 Places to See Before You Die: France - Discovery HD 8:00
3. Gold Fever (Documentary) - MOJO HD (f/k/a INHD) 8:00

SATURDAY
1. Boxing: De La Hoya vs. Mayweather - HBO PPV HD 9:00/6:00
2. NBA Basketball: Utah @ Houston - TNT HD 9:30/6:30
3. Destination HD: Croatia - Discovery HD 8:00

SUNDAY
1. The Sopranos - HBO HD 9:00
2. Entourage - HBO HD 10:00
3. The Tudors - Showtime HD 10:00
4. Sunday Night Baseball: Philly @ San Fran. - ESPN HD 8:00/5:00
5. Desperate Housewives - ABC HD 9:00

3D HDTV Could Come This Month

A couple months back I reported that the National Basketball Association experimented with 3D HDTV technology at the NBA All-Star Game festivities. Now word comes from Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic that if the Phoenix Suns make the Western Conference finals, the team is hoping to showcase at least one of the games (presumably a road game) in 3D HD on a 40' x 60' screen at the U.S. Airways Center.

Read Bickley's piece here for yourself to get the details.

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD tonight:

1. The Office - NBC 8:36 (not a typo)
2. Grey's Anatomy - ABC 9:00 (2 hours)
3. NBA Basketball: Houston @ Utah - TNT HD 8:00/5:00
4. NBA Basketball: Dallas @ Golden St. - TNT HD 10:30/7:30
5. Planet Earth: From Pole to Pole - Discovery HD 8:00

The Planet Earth episode is a repeat now that the entire 11-part miniseries has run its course, but it was the best of the 11 in my humble opinion, and now that the series became the most-watched non-sports or news event in cable TV history, here's your chance to catch it the second time around.

It's Comcast vs. DIRECTV in HD Quality Dispute

You've undoubtedly seen the various DIRECTV HD ads that have been running for the past year or so featuring stars like Jessica Simpson, Charlie Sheen, William Shatner and soon, Pam Anderson reprising their past roles in "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Major League" etc. Time Warner Cable sued DIRECTV based on the satcaster's claim that it offered the best-quality HD picture, to which DIRECTV responded by inserting the word "soon" in its latest ads. A judge then ruled in DIRECTV's favor, saying that by claiming it will "soon" offer more and better HD channels, the satellite provider was in the clear.

Comcast has decided to up the ante, taking the fight from the courtroom to the, well, lab room. The cable giant enlisted the services of a TV research firm called Frank N. Magid Associates to compare the HD picture quality of a Comcast cable signal to DIRECTV and DISH Network on identical HDTVs. Consumers were then asked to say which picture they preferred. According to Magid, 66% of the 309 consumers preferred Comcast over DIRECTV; 70% preferred Comcast to DISH.

When asked for comment by TV Week, a DIRECTV spokesman questioned the methodology used in the study. According to Magid, the HD signals were rotated among the HDTVs to eliminate set bias, and consumers were also shown a variety of different high-def programming from different genres and channels.

The results of this study look a tiny bit self-serving to me. The biggest flaw I see in this study is that the research firm could only use the cable signal from one Comcast system at one location. We don't know whether or not the cable system in question is representative of a typical Comcast system or whether the one Magid used has been completely upgraded, thereby offering more bandwidth and better-quality HD pictures.

The issue with cable is that there are a number of factors that determine the quality of picture you'll get from your local cable company -- like whether it has invested a significant amount of money in upgrading its local system and whether it's is in the middle of a digital simulcast transition to reclaim analog bandwidth. Comcast, as the biggest cable provider of them all, has fairly wide variations among its local systems in what it is able to offer.

Don't get me wrong -- satellite has issues too, specifically with regards to bandwidth and signal compression. My recommendation is that you take all of these factors into consideration when making your cable vs. satellite buying decision.

I'd like to hear from readers as to why they chose cable or satellite HD service and whether they had one before switching to the other.

Discovery's "Planet Earth" Sets Ratings Records

Arguably the most spectacular production ever made for television, Discovery HD Theater's Planet Earth was also one of the most watched. Over 65 million people watched the 11-part miniseries, which became the highest-rated natural history program ever on cable TV. Excluding sports and news, Planet Earth was the most-viewed program in cable history.

If you watched any of the series, you like me are probably not surprised at this report. Every single HDTV owner should have been watching this series, and judging by the numbers, I'd say most of them were.

More from Multichannel News.

LG Spending $25M on 1080p Ad Campaign

LG Electronics said today that it will spend $25 million in the U.S. and even more globally to highlight its "Full HD" line of 1080p LCD flat-panel and plasma displays. The theme of the campaign is "Don't Just Watch It, Live It."

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD tonight:

1. Lost - ABC 10:00 ET/PT
2. Wednesday Night Baseball: Philly vs. Atlanta - ESPN HD 7:30/4:30
3. NBA Basketball: Denver vs. San Antonio (Suns up 3-1) - TNT HD 8:00/5:00
4. NBA Basketball: L.A. Lakers vs. Phoenix (Spurs up 3-1) - TNT HD 10:30/7:30
5. Extreme Engineering: Mega Tunnel - Discovery HD Theater 8:00 ET/PT

Sopranos Star to Pitch Toshiba LCDs and HD DVD

Toshiba said today that it has developed a new marketing campaign to promote its LCD flat-panel REGZA line as well as its HD DVD players. The ads will feature "The Sopranos" star Michael Imperioli, who plays Tony Soprano's nephew Christopher Moltisanti (he's actually Tony's wife Carmella's cousin but Tony essentially adopted him as his nephew when Christopher's dad was killed).

The LCD TV print campaign will include publications such as Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, Entertainment Weekly, Wired and Men's Journal while the HD DVD ads will appear in print and online publications including TWICE, Sound & Vision, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, Wired and Men's Journal.

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD tonight:

1. House - FOX 9:00 ET/PT
2. NBA Basketball: New Jersey vs. Toronto (Nets lead 3-1) - TNT HD 7:00/4:00
3. NBA Basketball: Golden State vs. Dallas (Warriors lead 3-1) - TNT HD 9:30/6:30
4. Bloody Sunday - HDNet Movies 10:35/7:35
5. American Idol - FOX 8:00 ET/PT

I stopped watching American Idol several weeks ago after it became clear that this season's group of contestants quite frankly just aren't as good or interesting as in years past. Nevertheless, someone's still watching it...

AT&T Brings 27 HD Channels to Los Angeles

AT&T confirmed recent industry speculation by announcing today that it has launched its U-verse IPTV service in parts of the Los Angeles area. Part of the attraction of U-verse is its 27 HD channels, which are now available in parts of Altadena, Anaheim, Burbank, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Glendale, Laguna Niguel, Orange County, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Simi Valley (Ventura County) and Tustin. In addition, parts of the city of Riverside, County of Riverside, Corona and Norco have U-verse available now as well.

For those of you who live in the L.A. area, you know too well the problems that dominant cable provider Time Warner has been experiencing with the integration of the former Adelphia and Comcast properties into its cable system. My guess is that with AT&T U-verse and Verizon FiOS TV now available throughout much of L.A., Time Warner Cable will be forced to implement some fairly major changes quickly if it hopes to stay ahead of its competition.

Here's the official announcement.

Starz to Launch 3 New HD Channels

Starz Entertainment announced today that the East Coast feeds of Starz Comedy, Starz Edge, and Starz Kids & Family will be available in high-def by the end of this summer. They will join the East and West feeds of the primary Starz HD channel, as well as Starz On Demand HD and Encore On Demand HD.

Some of the movies to be shown in HD include Cars, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

This is good stuff. I'm always happy to report on new HD channel launches, although it will be interesting to see how easily Starz is able to secure carriage deals for its 3 new HD channels.