Universal HD Exec Talks Strategy with 1080eye

Universal HD said at the NCTA National Show this week that it has gained additional carriage agreements with cable companies Cox Communications and Charter Communications. Ron Lamprecht, director of new media for the network, told this blogger that Uni HD is now available in 26 million cable homes and that its goal is to feature the best HD programming available on the NBC Cable networks (USA, Sci-Fi Channel, etc.) and from Universal Pictures. Universal HD broadcast 66 hours of live U.S. Open tennis last September and also will broadcast the first two days of the Master's golf tournament this week in high-def. Other programming highlights include the Westminster Dog Show and "Battlestar Gallactica" from the Sci-Fi Channel. Universal HD is currently in discussions with all the major cable operators regarding carriage and has found that they are most concerned with quality of programming rather than quantity. Specifically, Lamprecht says that the cable operators want to see more sports, more big movies and more quality scripted series like "Law & Order: SVU." However, don't expect to see MSNBC or CNBC in HD anytime soon.