Today's High-Def Headlines

FCC Yields To DirecTV, Dish On HD Carriage - MCN
DirecTV and Dish Network have won major concessions from the Federal Communications Commission on the carriage of local TV signals in HD format following completion of broadcasters’ digital transition early next year, FCC and industry officials said Wednesday. DirecTV and Dish Network struck a deal with the FCC that was far better than the HD carriage rules the FCC imposed on all cable operators, regardless of size, last September. The FCC decided to give DirecTV and EchoStar until 2013 to carry all stations in HD within any market where they have elected to carry any station's signal in HD format.

Verizon Stocks VOD Shelves with HD - MCN
Verizon Communications announced the availability of a string of new and recently added video-on-demand titles, in deals with partners including CBS, Discovery Channel, Smithsonian Channel and Ovation TV. Its HD VOD service is currently available over the FiOS TV systems in Richmond and Virginia Beach, Va.; Tampa, Fla.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Burlington, Mass.; and Rhode Island. The telco said HD VOD is coming soon to all remaining FiOS TV markets. Verizon has said that it expects to increase its HD VOD titles to more than 1,000 by the end of the year.

FSN Southwest to Televise First Ever Regular-Season NBA Game in 3D HD
DALLAS, Mar 19, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- FSN Southwest and the Dallas Mavericks will provide a look into the future of sports television on March 25 when they team with PACE, the leader in digital 3D productions, to produce the first-ever NBA regular-season game live in 3D HD secured through PACE Fusion 3D and the third ever live sporting event presented in the innovative format. The March 25 game against the Los Angeles Clippers from the American Airlines Center will be beamed across town via satellite into Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's Magnolia Theatre in Dallas' West Village where an invitation-only audience will watch unforgettable images through special 3D glasses using Sony's SXRD 3D Projection System on an 18x42-foot screen, making it feel as if you're sitting courtside.

DIRECTV Satellite Launch Sets the Stage for Delivery of Up to 150 National HD Channels
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., March 19, 2008 - A powerful, new DIRECTV satellite, launched successfully today from the Pacific Ocean-based Sea Launch platform, will further boost DIRECTV's HD capacity, enabling the industry's HD leader to deliver up to 150 national HD channels when the satellite goes into service this fall. With the additional capacity, DIRECTV will also expand its delivery of local HD channels to more than 100 markets, representing 84 percent of U.S. TV households. DIRECTV will launch another satellite in 2009 that will enable the nation's leading satellite TV service to offer consumers up to 200 national HD channels.