Panasonic Shows 3-D Plasma, 150” PDP - TWICE
Panasonic highlighted what it called “the world’s first 3-D full HD plasma theater system” and a 150-inch 1080p plasma display, billed as the world’s largest, at its CEATEC Show booth, at CEATEC in Japan on Tuesday. Panasonic, which officially will change its global corporate name from Matsushita Electric Industrial to Panasonic on Wednesday, the consumer electronics' company's 90th anniversary, used an enclosed theater setup in its booth to present 3-D images, viewable wearing special glasses, from a specially modified Blu-ray Disc player. The system presented movies and video sequences with dramatic high-resolution pictures and 3-D special effects.
Time Warner Adds HD Channels - Business First of Buffalo
For the second time in the past week, Time Warner Cable has added five new HD channels to its local system. With the additions, Time Warner has added 20 new HD channels in the past few weeks. The new HD channels are: The Learning Channel (Channel 736), Toon Disney (Channel 748), ABC Family (Channel 749), Sports New York (Channel 731) and National Geographic (Channel 734).
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
New High-Def Slingbox Available for $300
Slingbox, the EchoStar subsidiary that lets you access your home TV signal over the Internet, today said that its high-def box is now available for $300, roughly $100 less than what was expected. Initially announced in January, the Slingbox PRO-HD streams cable and satellite HD content in 1080i format remotely over the Internet as long as both ends have at least a 1.5 Mbps broadband connection. More from Multichannel News.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Today's High-Def Headlines
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios' MGM HD signed an agreement to be carried by Bright House Networks, giving the high-definition movie channel access to an additional 2.4 million U.S. households. The agreement with Bright House expands MGM HD’s reach to central Florida, Indianapolis and Detroit, among other regions.
Sony Ships Link Modules For Bravia TVs - TWICE
Sony Electronics said it is now shipping a trio of previously announced “set-back” link modules for its Bravia televisions including, the wireless link, DVD link and input link modules. Circuitry in the TV attachments integrates directly into the television’s menu system to deliver a variety of add-on applications, capabilities and services that are said to be easy to set up, find and use. Sony’s wireless link module (DMX-WL1), which ships in October at a street price of about $800, is a two-piece system that wirelessly transmits high-definition video (up to 1080i) and audio to compatible Bravia TVs.
DirecTV Expands Original Content Offerings - TWICE
DirecTV is expanding its role as a content provider this fall through its 101 Network, offering a selection of top-quality programming including the premiere of the third season of “Friday Night Lights” and its new companion show, “Live From Dillon.” The 101 network is also delivering a new season of returning shows, including “Supreme Court of Comedy” and “Rock & A Hard Place,” and a sneak preview of the new original series from Starz! Entertainment, “Crash.” All programming is presented commercial-free and in HD.
Dish, AT&T Agree To One-Month Extension On Reseller Deal - MCN
Dish Network and AT&T have agreed to extend their deal, under which AT&T markets the satellite operator’s services in certain regions, until Jan. 31, 2009. In July, the direct-broadcast satellite operator said the five-year-old agreement with AT&T would expire Dec. 31, 2008. Previously, the telco said it would offer Dish in all territories to customers where its U-verse TV service is not available, including the nine states where BellSouth had resold DirecTV.
Sony Electronics said it is now shipping a trio of previously announced “set-back” link modules for its Bravia televisions including, the wireless link, DVD link and input link modules. Circuitry in the TV attachments integrates directly into the television’s menu system to deliver a variety of add-on applications, capabilities and services that are said to be easy to set up, find and use. Sony’s wireless link module (DMX-WL1), which ships in October at a street price of about $800, is a two-piece system that wirelessly transmits high-definition video (up to 1080i) and audio to compatible Bravia TVs.
DirecTV Expands Original Content Offerings - TWICE
DirecTV is expanding its role as a content provider this fall through its 101 Network, offering a selection of top-quality programming including the premiere of the third season of “Friday Night Lights” and its new companion show, “Live From Dillon.” The 101 network is also delivering a new season of returning shows, including “Supreme Court of Comedy” and “Rock & A Hard Place,” and a sneak preview of the new original series from Starz! Entertainment, “Crash.” All programming is presented commercial-free and in HD.
Dish, AT&T Agree To One-Month Extension On Reseller Deal - MCN
Dish Network and AT&T have agreed to extend their deal, under which AT&T markets the satellite operator’s services in certain regions, until Jan. 31, 2009. In July, the direct-broadcast satellite operator said the five-year-old agreement with AT&T would expire Dec. 31, 2008. Previously, the telco said it would offer Dish in all territories to customers where its U-verse TV service is not available, including the nine states where BellSouth had resold DirecTV.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Today's High-Def Headlines
GE, Taiwan Firm Plan HDTV Venture - WSJ
General Electric Co. is getting back into the television-set business by forming a partnership with a Taiwan company to launch GE-branded high-definition TV sets. GE and Tatung Co. of Taiwan said they had formed a joint venture, General Displays & Technologies LLC, that plans to make two million HDTV sets annually, or 1% of the 200 million units sold world-wide, when it begins production in 2009. The companies hope eventually to capture 5% to 10% of the roughly $200 billion global TV-set market.
New Suite Of HD Nets Will Premiere on Verizon’s FiOS - MCN
Six start-up HD networks—with original programming about cars, comedy, pets, travel, food and entertainment—will debut later this year with launches on Verizon’s FiOS video service, according to officials. The new HD channels Cars.TV, Pets.TV, Comedy.TV, MyDestination.TV, ES.TV and Recipe.TV have been created by Entertainment Studios, which bills itself as the largest independent producer and distributor of first-run syndicated shows for TV stations.
Verizon Communications nearly tripled its high-definition lineup in the Philadelphia area, adding 56 HD channels to offer a total of 86 to FiOS TV customers in Comcast's backyard. The telco on Monday launched 76 new channels -- including the 56 high-def channels, which are mostly premium services -- for customers in parts of southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. Verizon noted that its HD offerings, which include more than 500 HD video-on-demand titles per month, are more than either Comcast or RCN.
The head of Circuit City Stores Inc. was forced out by the company's board Monday after months of lackluster sales and an aborted takeover effort by Blockbuster Inc. that cast doubts on the future of the nation's second-largest electronics retailer. Philip J. Schoonover, who served as chairman, president and chief executive officer, was brought in from industry leader Best Buy Co. four years ago to turn around Circuit City.
WiHD Products Expected At CES - TWICE
The chairman of the WirelessHD (WiHD) consortium expects suppliers to announce plans for products incorporating WiHD at International CES in January. WiHD technology is an in-room wireless technology that replaces wired HDMI connections among audio and video components. The technology, which delivers uncompressed copy-protected high-definition video at resolutions up to 1080p, would enable HD streaming among different-brand components within a room up to 10 meters away. The technology isn’t designed to penetrate walls to deliver multiroom video.
General Electric Co. is getting back into the television-set business by forming a partnership with a Taiwan company to launch GE-branded high-definition TV sets. GE and Tatung Co. of Taiwan said they had formed a joint venture, General Displays & Technologies LLC, that plans to make two million HDTV sets annually, or 1% of the 200 million units sold world-wide, when it begins production in 2009. The companies hope eventually to capture 5% to 10% of the roughly $200 billion global TV-set market.
Six start-up HD networks—with original programming about cars, comedy, pets, travel, food and entertainment—will debut later this year with launches on Verizon’s FiOS video service, according to officials. The new HD channels Cars.TV, Pets.TV, Comedy.TV, MyDestination.TV, ES.TV and Recipe.TV have been created by Entertainment Studios, which bills itself as the largest independent producer and distributor of first-run syndicated shows for TV stations.
WiHD Products Expected At CES - TWICE
The chairman of the WirelessHD (WiHD) consortium expects suppliers to announce plans for products incorporating WiHD at International CES in January. WiHD technology is an in-room wireless technology that replaces wired HDMI connections among audio and video components. The technology, which delivers uncompressed copy-protected high-definition video at resolutions up to 1080p, would enable HD streaming among different-brand components within a room up to 10 meters away. The technology isn’t designed to penetrate walls to deliver multiroom video.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Today's High-Def Headlines
AT&T CTO Banks On Better HD Compression - MCN
AT&T chief technology officer John Donovan stayed the course on the telco’s video-over-copper strategy, telling attendees at an investment conference here that more efficient MPEG-4 compression will allow it to boost the number of high-definition channels it can pipe into customers’ homes. Donovan, speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference Thursday, said improvements in video-encoding equipment will allow AT&T to deliver three live HD streams in 2009.
DirecTV Adds Local HD in Six Markets - MCN
DirecTV has added local HD service to six new markets, namely Syracuse, N.Y., Toledo and Youngstown, Ohio, Mobile, Ala.-Pensacola, Fla., Richmond-Petersburg, Va., and South Bend-Elkhart, Ind., officials said Wednesday. With the addition of these markets, the satellite provider now offers local HD broadcast channels in 91 cities, representing 81% of U.S. TV households.
DisplaySearch Retail Panel Expresses HDTV Concerns - TWICE
Retailers voiced concerns about consumer confusion and other issues revolving around HDTV during a panel at DisplaySearch’s sixth annual HDTV Conference in Hollywood on Wednesday. Increasing confusion over newer technologies coming to market, the inability of the industry to properly communicate the HDTV experience to end users, and the increasing commodity status of big-screen flat-panel TVs that is stifling the differentiation of A/V specialists were some of the issues addressed by panelists.
Panel: Analog TV Shut-Off Test Succeeded - TWICE
The recent analog TV shut-off test in Wilmington, N.C., provided valuable insights into how to prepare for the national DTV transition planned for Feb. 17, 2009. That’s what panelists said during the DisplaySearch HDTV Conference session on the digital television transition.
AT&T chief technology officer John Donovan stayed the course on the telco’s video-over-copper strategy, telling attendees at an investment conference here that more efficient MPEG-4 compression will allow it to boost the number of high-definition channels it can pipe into customers’ homes. Donovan, speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference Thursday, said improvements in video-encoding equipment will allow AT&T to deliver three live HD streams in 2009.
DirecTV Adds Local HD in Six Markets - MCN
DirecTV has added local HD service to six new markets, namely Syracuse, N.Y., Toledo and Youngstown, Ohio, Mobile, Ala.-Pensacola, Fla., Richmond-Petersburg, Va., and South Bend-Elkhart, Ind., officials said Wednesday. With the addition of these markets, the satellite provider now offers local HD broadcast channels in 91 cities, representing 81% of U.S. TV households.
DisplaySearch Retail Panel Expresses HDTV Concerns - TWICE
Retailers voiced concerns about consumer confusion and other issues revolving around HDTV during a panel at DisplaySearch’s sixth annual HDTV Conference in Hollywood on Wednesday. Increasing confusion over newer technologies coming to market, the inability of the industry to properly communicate the HDTV experience to end users, and the increasing commodity status of big-screen flat-panel TVs that is stifling the differentiation of A/V specialists were some of the issues addressed by panelists.
Panel: Analog TV Shut-Off Test Succeeded - TWICE
The recent analog TV shut-off test in Wilmington, N.C., provided valuable insights into how to prepare for the national DTV transition planned for Feb. 17, 2009. That’s what panelists said during the DisplaySearch HDTV Conference session on the digital television transition.
Today's High-Def Headlines
Despite the struggling economy, the U.S. flat-panel TV industry continues to flourish, according to research released at the DisplaySearch HDTV 2008 Conference in Hollywood. Paul Gagnon, DisplaySearch North American TV research director, said TV unit sales will continue to grow through the remainder of 2008, although a slightly lower pace than in 2007, causing the research firm to revise its forecasts slightly upward. However, accelerated declines in average selling prices (ASPs) will challenge dollar volume growth.
Hitachi to Clip Plasma Panel Production - Washington Post
Japan's Hitachi Ltd. said it will shrink production of plasma panels and buy them from Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. in a bid to cut losses on its flat TVs in a market dominated by rival LCD technology. The world's No. 4 plasma TV maker will buy fabricated glass panels -- the high-end part of a plasma TV -- from Matsushita in a step that some analysts say could be part of a slow withdrawal from the business.
Japan's Hitachi Ltd. said it will shrink production of plasma panels and buy them from Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. in a bid to cut losses on its flat TVs in a market dominated by rival LCD technology. The world's No. 4 plasma TV maker will buy fabricated glass panels -- the high-end part of a plasma TV -- from Matsushita in a step that some analysts say could be part of a slow withdrawal from the business.
New TiVo DVR Records 150 Hours of HD Fare - MCN
TiVo has launched a new digital video recorder, the TiVo HD XL, which can record up to 150 hours of HD content — the largest recording capacity of any DVR currently in the market. The new box, which retails for $599.99, works with CableCard technology in digital cable and telco households and in homes receiving digital over-the-air signals but does not currently allow satellite subscribers to record content in HD.
TiVo has launched a new digital video recorder, the TiVo HD XL, which can record up to 150 hours of HD content — the largest recording capacity of any DVR currently in the market. The new box, which retails for $599.99, works with CableCard technology in digital cable and telco households and in homes receiving digital over-the-air signals but does not currently allow satellite subscribers to record content in HD.
Obama And McCain On 60 Minutes, In HDTV - CBS News
America's most-watched news program takes a hard look at the presidential candidates on its 40th anniversary broadcast much as it did when its very first edition on Sept. 24, 1968, featured Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey. Forty years later, however, 60 Minutes will debut a vivid, new look thanks to digital technology that would have been science fiction in 1968. 60 Minutes' 40th anniversary program - a special broadcast in high definition and devoted entirely to interviews with Barack Obama and John McCain - will be broadcast this Sunday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
America's most-watched news program takes a hard look at the presidential candidates on its 40th anniversary broadcast much as it did when its very first edition on Sept. 24, 1968, featured Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey. Forty years later, however, 60 Minutes will debut a vivid, new look thanks to digital technology that would have been science fiction in 1968. 60 Minutes' 40th anniversary program - a special broadcast in high definition and devoted entirely to interviews with Barack Obama and John McCain - will be broadcast this Sunday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
Changes Seen In HDTV Adoption - TWICE
As penetration of HDTV sets reaches half of all homes in the United States, the second half of the adoption phase is likely to look a lot different than the first half, according to The NPD Group. Ross Rubin, The NPD Group industry analysis director, said this to attendees at the DisplaySearch HDTV 2008 Conference here Tuesday. Rubin said HDTV penetration levels are now at about 46 percent of U.S. households, with 34 percent of homes having only one HDTV and 13 percent owning multiple HDTVs.
As penetration of HDTV sets reaches half of all homes in the United States, the second half of the adoption phase is likely to look a lot different than the first half, according to The NPD Group. Ross Rubin, The NPD Group industry analysis director, said this to attendees at the DisplaySearch HDTV 2008 Conference here Tuesday. Rubin said HDTV penetration levels are now at about 46 percent of U.S. households, with 34 percent of homes having only one HDTV and 13 percent owning multiple HDTVs.
Comcast, HDNet Strike Carriage Deal - MCN
Comcast Cable will offer Dallas-based HDNet on its high definition programming lineup as part of a carriage agreement announced last week. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The agreement enables Comcast to provide both HDNet and HDNet Movies in many of its systems, according to HDNet.
Comcast Cable will offer Dallas-based HDNet on its high definition programming lineup as part of a carriage agreement announced last week. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The agreement enables Comcast to provide both HDNet and HDNet Movies in many of its systems, according to HDNet.
CES Continues Courting Content - B&C
The Consumer Electronics Association announced Wednesday that major content companiesNielsen, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, MTV Networks and Buena Vista Home Entertainment all secured exhibition space for the 2009 International CES, which runs Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas. For the past few years, the CEA has been pursuing major programmers, studios and cable companies to take a larger role in CES, which has traditionally been a tech-focused showcase for HDTV sets and other electronic gadgets.
The Consumer Electronics Association announced Wednesday that major content companiesNielsen, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, MTV Networks and Buena Vista Home Entertainment all secured exhibition space for the 2009 International CES, which runs Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas. For the past few years, the CEA has been pursuing major programmers, studios and cable companies to take a larger role in CES, which has traditionally been a tech-focused showcase for HDTV sets and other electronic gadgets.
DirecTV has expanded the deployment of Harmonic’s video-processing systems to support its high-definition national channel service. DirecTV upped its national HD roster to 130 channels in August. The satellite operator cited the high-definition service as driving subscriber growth in recent quarters: DirecTV had 17.16 million subscribers as of June 30, a 5% increase from 16.32 million a year earlier.
RCN To Roll Out All-Digital Cable In NYC - MCN
RCN will begin switching its New York City video service to all-digital starting next month, officials said Monday. RCN executives said the change, which the company has already enacted in Chicago and Boston, will enable it to reclaim existing analog channels, improve picture quality, make the network easier to maintain, and dramatically increase the number of standard and high-definition channels it can offer to subscribers, to more than 75 in HDTV.
RCN will begin switching its New York City video service to all-digital starting next month, officials said Monday. RCN executives said the change, which the company has already enacted in Chicago and Boston, will enable it to reclaim existing analog channels, improve picture quality, make the network easier to maintain, and dramatically increase the number of standard and high-definition channels it can offer to subscribers, to more than 75 in HDTV.
Digeo Looks To January Rollout Of Retail STB - TWICE
Cable TV set-top solutions manufacturer Digeo said it is preparing two Moxi digital set-top boxes for market including a version intended for retail distribution early in 2009. Greg Gudorf, Digeo president, said the first device to reach the market will be distributed through cable operator Charter Communications later this month to be followed shortly by "a second MSO." The device will incorporate an HD DVR and the Moxi integrated user interface.
Cable TV set-top solutions manufacturer Digeo said it is preparing two Moxi digital set-top boxes for market including a version intended for retail distribution early in 2009. Greg Gudorf, Digeo president, said the first device to reach the market will be distributed through cable operator Charter Communications later this month to be followed shortly by "a second MSO." The device will incorporate an HD DVR and the Moxi integrated user interface.
MASN Steps Up With HD Channel - MCN
Regional sports network MASN will step to the plate with a full-time high-definition channel next March. Building on the 40 Baltimore Orioles and 40 Washington National Major League Baseball games it offered this season in the high-definition format, MASN’s HD channel will air up to 200 of the clubs’ contest in the enhanced format next year. In addition, the HD service will present preseason Baltimore Ravens National Football League games, select college football, basketball and lacrosse contests, and ESPN News fare.
Regional sports network MASN will step to the plate with a full-time high-definition channel next March. Building on the 40 Baltimore Orioles and 40 Washington National Major League Baseball games it offered this season in the high-definition format, MASN’s HD channel will air up to 200 of the clubs’ contest in the enhanced format next year. In addition, the HD service will present preseason Baltimore Ravens National Football League games, select college football, basketball and lacrosse contests, and ESPN News fare.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Verizon Brings 98 HD Channels to Seattle Area
People who have Verizon FiOS TV tend to rave about it -- and now, those in the Seattle area can join in the fun. Verizon has launched its fiber-based TV service in Washington State and boasts 98 HD channels there, on par with what it offers in New York and New Jersey. 80,000 homes in Washington State can sign up for FiOS TV immediately with additional neighborhoods to come online in the next few months. More from Multichannel News.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Wilmington is All-Digital Today
The nation's first cutover to digital TV broadcasting occurred today in Wilmington, N.C., on schedule after Hurricane Hanna proved to be less destructive than some had predicted. Five full-power TV stations have ceased their analog broadcasts in a test to help the federal government uncover any issues that may crop up prior to the entire nation switching to digital TV next February 17th. More from Broadcasting & Cable.
Sony Lines Up Athletes for Latest TV Ad Campaign
Sony's new HDNA ad campaign for its Bravia LCD TV line will feature NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., CBS sportscaster James Brown and the San Diego Chicken (ed. note: huh?). More here.
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