Today's High-Def Headlines

Beta Survey: Discovery Channel is Favorite Network - MCN
The Discovery Channel is cable subscribers’ favorite channel, but the channel with the highest perceived value by consumers is ESPN2, according to a Beta Research study released Dec. 4. The Discovery ranking was based on the percentage of consumers who, unaided, named the channel when asked their five favorite basic channels in the research firm’s fall subscriber evaluation survey. 33% named Discovery, with ESPN second (30%); History Channel (24%), Food Network (18%) and Fox News Channel (17%) rounding out the top 5.

Blu-ray Players Top 2.7 Million - TWICE
The Blu-ray Disc Association is having a Blu – not blue – Christmas, according to sales figures it released Monday. The group reported Black Friday sales “were decidedly Blu” for both hardware and software, accounting for a total sell-in since launch of 2.7 million players in North American households as of Nov. 24.

Sharper Images Drive HD Sales: Magid Survey - MCN
Consumers may be buying HDTV sets, but they are buying them for sharp pictures, not because they think there is something compelling to watch that is only available in the high-definition format, according to new research from Frank N. Magid Associates.The research, “Consumers and High Definition Television: Attitudes, Awareness and Usage,” found that 13% of consumers said they are very likely to buy an HD set over the next 12 months. In 2006, only 9% said they were thinking of buying an HD set. Another 12% of respondents said they were shopping for a TV but unsure whether they would buy an HD set.

Charter Now Offers up to 44 High Definition Channels in Louisiana
Charter Communications, Inc. today announced it now offers up to 44 high definition channels in its Louisiana territory, more than doubling the number of available high definition channels in recent weeks. Over the course of the coming year, Charter plans to significantly increase the number of high definition channels in all its high definition markets. By implementing bandwidth-saving technologies, like switched digital, the Company aims to aggressively expand its high definition offerings in 2008 and beyond.

DIRECTV to Deliver Local HD Programming In 76 Markets by Mid-2008
Continuing its momentum for delivering the best quality HD programming available, DIRECTV will offer local HD broadcast networks in 76 markets, representing more than 75 percent of U.S. TV households, when it rolls out 11 additional local HD markets by mid-2008. DIRECTV began the rollout with the launch of HD local channels in the Flint, Mich. and Waco, Texas designated market areas last week. The 11 local markets to receive HD programming from DIRECTV include Albany/Schenectady/Troy, N.Y.; Paducah, Ky.; Cedar Rapids/Waterloo, Iowa; Tucson, Ariz.; Flint/Saginaw/Bay City, Mich.; Waco/Temple/Bryan, Texas; Lincoln/Hastings, Neb.; Wichita/Hutchinson, Kan.; Louisville, Ky.; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pa.; and Omaha, Neb.

HD Video-on-Demand Now Playing on Verizon FiOS TV
Just in time for the holiday season, Verizon is unwrapping high-definition video-on-demand in many of its FiOS TV markets. HD VOD is now available over the FiOS TV systems in Richmond and Virginia Beach, Va.; Tampa, Fla.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Pittsburgh. It is coming soon to the FiOS systems in the Washington, D.C., metro area, Massachusetts and Rhode Island; and to Verizon's remaining FiOS TV markets next year.