Comcast, DirecTV Settle Lawsuit Over HD Claims

While the terms of the settlement are confidential, Comcast will be able to continue to cite results of a study in which consumers expressed a preference for Comcast's HD picture quality over satellite's.

Cablevision Finally Adds ESPN2 HD

Cablevision, which is the New York City-area's largest cable provider, announced late yesterday that it has added ESPN2 HD to its high-def lineup. The company now offers 45 HD channels.

I honestly have no idea what took Cablevision so long. It has been the cable industry's leader in the number of high-def channels offered for a few years now and it makes no sense that ESPN2 HD has been carried on tiny cable systems you've never heard of for the last two years while one of the nation's most prominent hasn't offered it.

Then again, just look at the ongoing dispute between the NFL and Time Warner Cable over carriage of the NFL Network and it's pretty clear that common sense and concern for the customer often don't prevail in these discussions...

What I'm Watching

I got DIRECTV installed two weeks ago so I could sample the 70-odd HD channels now offered and compare them and the overall service to my local cable provider, Time Warner (more on that tomorrow). Periodically, I'm going to highlight some cool HD programming that's on or upcoming (similar to the Tonight's HD Picks feature I used to run) since there are so many more high-def channels now than even just 3 months ago. Without further ado...

Right now I'm flipping back and forth between the Science Channel's "Fearless Earth: Grand Canyon" and the NFL Network's Steelers-Rams game. Talk about two genres made for HD...nothing pops quite like travel/nature programming and football. The Grand Canyon episode is fascinating and replays at midnight ET/9PM PT tonight.

DIRECTV Inks Deal for PBS HD

DIRECTV revealed yesterday that it has reached an agreement to offer PBS channels in HD in markets where it offers local HD broadcast stations. The satellite provider currently offers local HD programming in 68 markets, representing more than 72 percent of U.S. TV households, and those markets will begin to receive PBS in high-def starting next year.

DIRECTV Now Offering HD Lakers Games in L.A.

DIRECTV announced this morning that it has added KCAL/Channel 9 to its stable of local HD channels in the Los Angeles DMA, a move that enables that satcaster to show L.A. Lakers pro basketball games in high-def.

DIRECTV now offers 7 local L.A. broadcast channels in HD: KABC, KCBS, KNBC, KTTV/FOX, KTLA/CW, KCOP/MNT and now KCAL.

Matsushita/Panasonic to Make Big Push Into LCD?

Matsushita, the parent of U.S. brand Panasonic, has been the industry leader in plasma displays for some time, all but eschewing LCD flat-panel TVs (it does offer a token three LCD models). There are rumors, however, that the company is in serious discussions with Hitachi about an LCD partnership that would include a nearly $3 billion Matsushita investment in a new Japanese LCD plant. More from Reuters.

Sony Offering Analog TV Trade-In Program

Sony announced a recycling program for old analog TVs yesterday that gives consumers a $100 coupon towards the purchase of a new Sony BRAVIA HDTV at Sony Style retail stores, online at sonystyle.com or through the company's toll-free telesales line. In conjunction with Waste Management, Sony has set up 79 eCycling centers throughout the U.S. to which consumers can bring their old TVs from any manufacturer and receive the $100 coupon. However, brands other than Sony may incur a recycling fee.

More details are at http://www.sony.com/recycle or http://www.wm.com/sony.

Industry Insider: Joseph D'Antoni, Origin Labs CEO

Challenges in Cleaning Your New Flat-Screen TV

So you got a new HDTV for the Holidays . . .

The flat-screen television has become more than just the “must have” gadget du jour; it has become a mainstay of the modern home. The sharp high-definition images, the environmentally-friendly power consumption, the sleek design, and, of course, the remarkable space savings all progressively make flat screens the definitive center of your home’s communal spaces.

We often marvel at our high-tech technology toys without understanding that keeping them clean can also be a high-tech challenge. High-definition television, computer and handheld devices contain screens which bring us a vivid world of crisp and colorful images, but eventually, that amazing view can get tarnished by dust, dirt and fingerprints. The real issue now becomes “how do you clean it?”

Using the wrong cleaning solutions or methods can permanently damage your screen. Here are the reasons why cleaning your screen properly makes a big difference on the picture quality and ultimately the longevity of your viewing investment.

Do’s and don’ts about cleaning!

1. Use Organic or Green products whenever possible.
   
2. Do NOT use any cleaners containing alcohol, ammonia, glycerin, or other solvents.
   
3. Only use a clean, soft, lint-free cloth. Microfiber cloths can be ideal for this purpose as they don’t produce lint. Make sure your cloth has not been used with other cleaning chemicals, as these chemicals may already be embedded in the cloth. Also, when cleaning the cloth, do not use fabric softener when washing, as fabric softener may remain in the cloth afterwards.
   
4. Only use as much cleaner as needed on the screen. Spray solution on a cloth and wipe in circular motion.
   
5. If you have a persistent problem, lightly spray the cleaner directly on the screen, waiting about 3-4 seconds before wiping. Do NOT soak the problem area. Multiple light applications are better and safer than a single heavy one. If problems persist, consult your electronics professional.

AT&T U-verse Adds 8 More HD Channels

AT&T said this morning that it has added eight new high-def channels to its U-verse IPTV service. The new entrants are: Animal Planet HD, CNN HD, Discovery HD, Science Channel HD, Starz Kids & Family HD, Superstation WGN in HD, TLC HD and Versus/Golf Channel HD.

In related AT&T news, U-verse has launched in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

Additionally, AT&T is running a newspaper ad campaign in areas served by Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications and Suddenlink highlighting AT&T's inclusion of the NFL Network in its U-verse channel lineup. Those three cable companies do not yet offer the NFL Network.

Today's High-Def Headlines

Charter Adds WealthTV’s HD Shows On Demand - MCN
WealthTV said its high-definition programming lineup has become available to Charter Communications customers on demand nationwide. WealthTV also has some full-time carriage, in standard- and high-definition formats, on Charter systems, according to network officials.

DirecTV, Cox Settle HDTV Lawsuit - MCN
DirecTV and Cox Communications settled the false-advertising lawsuit the satellite operator filed over Cox’s assertion that “HD looks better with cable,” a claim the cable company has removed from its Web site. In the suit, filed in October, DirecTV alleged Cox made “false and misleading statements” in citing a Comcast-commissioned survey regarding the quality of Cox’s HDTV service compared with DirecTV’s. Since DirecTV filed the lawsuit Oct. 17, Cox has removed references to the Magid survey from its site. The only benefit the operator now touts over satellite services' HDTV services is that Cox customers have “no ugly dish or extra equipment to buy” to receive HD programming.

Verizon FiOS TV Hits Oregon - MCN
Verizon said it launched its FiOS TV service in Portland, Ore., Thursday, challenging incumbent cable TV operator Comcast. The telephone company said FiOS TV is available to 152,000 households in the greater Portland area, representing 410,000 potential viewers. (edit. note: Verizon offers 27 HDTV channels, compared to 24 from Comcast.)

VIZIO and Pro Football MVP LaDainian Tomlinson Bring Crystal Clear Holiday Cheer To Dr. Phil Show, Families and Firefighters Affected by So Cal Fires
In the true spirit of the holiday season, VIZIO, America's number one LCD HDTV company, and reigning pro football league MVP, LaDainian Tomlinson have joined forces to benefit and honor the individuals, families and firefighters affected by the tragic fires that ravaged the Southern California area during recent months. This afternoon, Tomlinson appeared on the Dr. Phil Show, addressing the studio audience and announcing that through his Tomlinson Touching Lives Foundation, VIZIO and his foundation would donate VX32L 32-inch LCD high definition televisions to every member of the studio audience, comprised solely of families and individuals whose homes and possessions were lost in the fires. In addition, on Tuesday afternoon, Tomlinson hosted a special event at Kit Carson Park in San Diego to pay tribute to firefighters, sheriffs, doctors and nurses who risked their lives battling the fires.

New DIRECTV Survey Gives Holiday Shoppers the Inside Scoop on What Looks Best on Their New HDTV
With the many decisions plaguing shoppers this holiday season, DIRECTV wants to give HD buyers a sneak preview of what they will enjoy once they take the HD plunge.
In a recent survey commissioned by DIRECTV, 400 HDTV owners were asked to reveal their favorite reasons for choosing HD. Some of the more unique findings included:
-- The Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman boxing match held in Africa ranked as the top sports moment most would want to see in HD if it were possible, followed by Hank Aaron's 755th home run,
-- Rachel Ray takes the lead position in the kitchen with the best-looking holiday turkey in HD, followed by fellow chef Emeril Lagasse,
-- The best Superbowl beer ad ranks above football as the most important thing to see when watching sports in HD

DIRECTV Adds Local HD Nets in Tucson

DIRECTV said today that it is now offering local HD programming to customers in the Tucson, Ariz. designated market area. The following broadcast networks are available in HD: KGUN/ABC, KOLD/CBS, KMSB/FOX and KVOA/NBC.

With the addition of Tucson, DIRECTV now offers local HD broadcast channels in 68 cities, representing more than 72.6 percent of U.S. TV households. DIRECTV's rollout of local HD channels in Tucson is part of a nationwide expansion of HD programming that includes plans to offer up to 100 national HD channels by year end.

Travel Channel HD Prepping for Launch

Last week the head of Discovery Networks revealed that his company will launch two new high-def channels in January, although he declined to name them. I suspected one would be the Travel Channel, as it's hard to imagine a network that benefits more from an HD makeover than one focused on world travel -- as well as the fact that HD Theater (formerly Discovery HD Theater) already runs some Travel Channel content in high-def.

Well I happened to be on the Cox San Diego website yesterday and ran across this nugget:

We are pleased to announce that New HD channels will be soon available for customers in select areas with minimum of Cox Standard Cable service and HD service.

Discovery HD - 724
CNN HD - 731
TLC HD - 736
Versus/Golf HD - 751
HGTV HD - 753
History Channel HD - 755
Travel Channel HD - 760
Food Network - 767
NFL Network HD* - 772 (available now in all areas)
NHL Network HD* - 773
Cinemax HD** - 780
Science Channel HD - 782
Starz HD** - 790

All 13 HD networks will soon be available to customers in the Cox serviceable areas of Chula Vista and Vista, and will be launched in additional Cox San Diego serviceable areas soon afterward.

Today's High-Def Headlines

Toshiba Shelves Plan to Sell OLED TVs in 2009-10 - Reuters
Japan's Toshiba said on Tuesday it had shelved plans to sell ultra-thin TVs with organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays in 2009-10 because of the cost of mass production. Toshiba will stick to its plans to commercialize smaller OLED displays for cell phones next year, and will watch markets and technological developments to see whether making OLED TVs is commercially viable later, Toshiba spokesman Keisuke Ohmori said.

Comcast Media Center Packs In More HD - MCN
Comcast Media Center has developed a way to fit three high-definition TV signals into one 6-Megahertz carrier, which is ordinarily enough space to fit just two HD channels without sacrificing picture quality. To preserve quality while boosting quantity, the cable operator’s Denver-based digital-media services unit is using a “second-pass” MPEG-2 encoding system from startup Imagine Communications, according to people familiar with the project.

AT&T Brings HDTV over IPTV to St. Louis - MCN
AT&T is now offering U-verse TV in parts of 18 communities in the St. Louis area, touting a lineup of more than 30 high-definition channels, as it looks to siphon customers away from incumbent cable operator Charter Communications. The telco is offering service in parts of the city of St. Louis, as well as the surrounding suburbs of Ballwin, Bridgeton, Chesterfield, Clayton, Creve Coeur, Florissant, Kirkwood, Maryland Heights, Mehlville, Oakville, Olivette, Sappington, Shrewsbury, St. Charles, St. Peters, University City and Webster Groves.

Cablevision Launches HD Promotional Campaign - MCN
Cablevision Systems Corp. today launched a promotional campaign trumpeting the 44 high-definition channels it offers to its digital-cable customers in the New York metro area free of charge. Via its “44 Days in HD, on iOTV” effort, the cable operator will salute a different HD service weekdays through the first week of February, minus Christmas and New Years Day. The networks will be spotlighted during the countdown through daily press releases, banners on iO TV’s guide on channel 14, and the Optimum.net consumer Web portal and other tactics.

LG Ships 2nd-Gen. Super Blu Player - TWICE
LG Electronics is now shipping its second-generation “Super Blu” combination HD DVD/Blu-ray Disc player. Model BH200 ($999 suggested retail), which the company introduced at the September CEDIA Expo event, provides access to between 50 percent and 70 percent more high-def movie titles than single-format players, the company said.

DirecTV, HDNet Settle Lawsuit

In what must be the quickest and most amicable settlement to an HD-related lawsuit in recent memory, DirecTV and HDNet have settled the latter's complaint over being moved to a separate HD tier available on DirecTV. The settlement results in the main HDNet channel remaining on the standard DirecTV HD packages while HDNet Movies will move over to the add-on $5.99 a month HD Extra Pack. HDNet owner Mark Cuban described the resolution as a "win-win" for both companies. More from Multichannel News.

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.

Shoppers Eyeing HDTV Above All Other Gadgets

If a new HDTV tops your list of holiday wishes, you're not alone: a report from In-Stat says that 20% of consumers want an HDTV, ahead of 17% who want a new PC and 15% who prefer a digital camera (last year's most wanted gadget).

Most of you aren't planning to give an HDTV as a gift though -- according to In-Stat's research, you'd prefer to buy smaller ticket items like cameras and iPods for others and buy a new flat-screen for yourself. Nice!

Cox, Bresnan Expand HD Lineups

Cox Communications has upped its HD channel count in Northern Virginia by 11, for a total of 31, by adding History Channel HD, The Science Channel HD, Animal Planet HD, CNN HD, Versus/Golf HD, TBS HD, Food Network HD, HGTV HD, TLC HD, Discovery HD and NHL Network HD.

Bresnan, a smaller cable company serving parts of the Rocky Mountain states, has added 9 new HD channels to its lineups. The additions include The Movie Channel HD, Food HD, HGTV HD, TBS HD, The History Channel HD, USA Network HD, The SciFi Channel HD, Lifetime Movie Network HD and HDPPV, which includes GameHD and TeamHD.

Cablevision Adds HGTV, Food; BIO Up for DirecTV

Cablevision said this morning that it has added HGTV HD and Food Network HD, bringing to 43 the number of high-def channels it offers its New York-area customers.

In related new channel news, DIRECTV yesterday added BIO HD to its ever-expanding lineup of high-def nets. The satcaster now offers somewhere around 60 national HD channels, not counting PPV and sports packages.

HD DVD Sales Reach 750,000

Following some nice price cuts and relatively aggressive Black Friday promotions, the HD DVD Promotional Group reports that 750,000 HD DVD players have been sold, a figure that includes Xbox 360 gaming consoles with add-on HD DVD modules.

Rundown of New HD Programming

USA Today runs a nice piece today highlighting some new high-def channels like Smithsonian HD and the programming they're producing. World's Finest Cars looks fantastic, as does Stories From the Vault.

WealthTV Gains Charter Carriage in Louisiana

WealthTV said yesterday that it has inked a carriage deal with Charter Communications in Louisiana to distribute its HD programming. WealthTV offers a variety of lifestyle and aspirational content.

WealthTV is also in the news for a filing against Time Warner Cable that it made with the FCC, complaining of discrimination by the cable giant in its dealings with independent programmers such as Wealth.

HD Compression & Upconversion

Multichannel News has a couple of interesting pieces this morning on how much HD content is actually "high-definition" (hint: it's less than you'd like) and how cable, satellite and telco video providers are handling the issue of HD video compression. The articles aren't too technical and offer good insight into what happens to your HD video signal before it actually reaches your television.

Black Friday Brings More Shoppers Spending Less

Initial estimates from retail's Black Friday haul over the weekend suggest that while more of you were out shopping the day after Thanksgiving than last year, you didn't spend as much money as you did in '06. And fewer of you bought flat-panel TVs than a year ago. Read the National Retail Federation's report on TWICE.

I ventured out on Friday to see what was going on at the local Circuit City and while the lines were astronomically long, the prices didn't really seem all that more aggressive than normal sales. Furthermore, what was on sale tended to be older models that the Circuit was clearly trying to get off its store shelves. So I don't blame consumers for not spending more -- the only reason to stand in those ridiculous lines is if the deals are fantastic enough to make it worth your time. This year -- especially compared to last -- they weren't.

Charter Cable Planning Big HD Expansion

Charter Communications is planning to double its high-def channel offerings by the end of next year, from about 20 to over 40. Much of the increase will come via the previously reported implementation of switched digital video technology. More from Multichannel News.

VIZIO Maintains LCD TV Lead: iSuppli

Market research firm iSuppli has released data showing that upstart VIZIO continues to lead the North American LCD TV market, accounting for 13% of unit shipments in the third quarter. Samsung is number two at 12.8% and closed the gap between itself and VIZIO substantially since the second quarter of the year. Sharp rounds out the top three at 12%.

This is somewhat interesting because it contradicts data that iSuppli rival DisplaySearch released two weeks ago showing Sharp at number one, followed by VIZIO and Samsung. Near as I can tell, the discrepancy lies in the fact that iSuppli measures TVs shipped while DisplaySearch counts TVs sold.

Verizon Offering Free LCD TV With FiOS Sign-Ups

Verizon is offering new customers of its FiOS TV service a free 19" Sharp Aquos LCD TV. The promotion, which began last month in the New York metro area, has been expanded to include Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia and Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

To get the free Sharp Aquos, customers must sign up for Verizon's triple play offer that includes TV, phone and Internet services, and must agree to a two-year contract. Customers can opt for a $200 Best Buy gift card in lieu of the LCD TV.

Black Friday Looming Large

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, kicks off the holiday shopping season and is both highly anticipated and seriously dreaded in the retail community. Most stores are promoting some signficant sales in connection with the annual event, including this latest missive from Wal-Mart that expands Black Friday to include Thanksgiving Day as well, at least online.

It's somewhat funny that in Wal-Mart's press release, the retail giant highlights specials on Polaroid HDTVs because five minutes earlier, I received a press release from the Home Theater Specialists of America (HTSA) discouraging people from buying low-end brand HDTVs like Polaroid. From that release I quote:

"Even more disturbing is the poor or non-existent warranties on many less expensive models. Flat panel TVs are still high technology. Consumers who shell out $599 and $699 for a large flat panel are expecting manufacturers to stand behind their product if a problem arises. With these cheap models, though, the consumer is often on their own even within the limited one year warranty period. With Polaroid's HDTVs, for example, they will not repair them after the warranty period expires. So buy a Polaroid today, have a problem 366 days from now, and it's a good as junk. "

Now HTSA may have a point about the warranty issue. The problem is the model lines they encourage people to buy are all at the higher end of the brand spectrum, specifically "Sharp D92, LG Opus, Hitachi V Series & Director Series, Pioneer Kuro and Sony XBR 4 and 5." Not that these aren't great HDTVs because they are, but many people can't afford them. When faced with the choice between a lesser brand HDTV and no HDTV at all, I would vote for the non-brand name HDTV every time.

Charter Expanding HDTV in L.A. Via SDV

Charter is hooking up with BigBand Networks' switched digital video (SDV) technology to increase its HD offerings in the Los Angeles area. SDV essentially allows cable operators to send out a digital video signal just to customers requesting a particular channel rather than to all customers, as is the case with traditional cable broadcasting. Most of the cable companies are utilizing SDV in some way to expand their channel lineups without a large increase in coax network upgrades.

DIRECTV Keeps Adding More HD Channels

DIRECTV has added a slew of new high-def channels this week, including six national channels and 13 regional sports offerings. The newest additions to the HD lineup are:

• Biography HD
• Country Music Television HD
• MTV HD
• Nickelodeon HD
• Spike TV HD
• VH1 HD

In the regional sports department, DIRECTV now offers:

• Altitude HD
• Comcast Sports Net New England
• FSN Arizona HD
• FSN Bay Area HD
• FSN Cincinnati HD
• FSN Florida HD
• FSN North HD
• FSN Northwest HD
• FSN Ohio HD
• FSN Rocky Mountain HD
• FSN South HD
• SportsSouth HD

In related news, DIRECTV was hit with a temporary restraining order by a federal district court judge that prevents the satellite provider from moving HDNet and HDNet Movies to an HD tier on Dec. 15 as it planned.

DTV Not a Concern for 22% of Analog TV Owners

The Consumer Electronics Association has released the results of a survey it conducted showing that 22% of analog TV owners plan to "do nothing" when the Feb. 17, 2009 analog broadcast shutdown occurs. The government is planning to launch a coupon program next month to help subsidize the purchase of digital-to-analog converter boxes for analog TVs still in use, but this CEA data shows that there is still quite of work to be done to help educate folks who will be impacted by the transition.

More from Multichannel News.

This was my 700th post on this blog since I started it a couple years back. Thanks to all who keep reading!

Verizon FiOS TV Adds Discovery Channel HD

Verizon has launched Discovery Channel HD in all of its FiOS TV markets and will add TLC HD, Animal Planet HD and The Science Channel HD next year. Verizon FiOS TV now offers about 30 HD channels in each market it serves.

AT&T Launches U-verse in Austin; Ohio on Deck

AT&T announced this week that its U-verse IPTV service boasting 30 HD channels is now available in Austin, Texas. U-verse has steadily made its way throughout the Lone Star State, launching initially in San Antonio last year before expanding to Houston, Dallas and now Austin.

In a related development, the state of Ohio has granted AT&T a statewide video franchise, the first of its kind in the Buckeye State. AT&T already offers U-verse in the Cleveland area and now appears poised to launch it in the greater Columbus region.

HDNet Suing DIRECTV Over High-Def Tier

Mark Cuban's HDNet has filed a lawsuit against DIRECTV over the satcaster's plan to move HDNet and HDNet Movies to an optional $4.99 HD tier next month. The tier, which is currently free on a trial basis, consists entirely of specialty HD channels that aren't simulcasts of other SD channels and also includes MGM HD and Smithsonian HD. You can read more details about the suit, including comments from both sides, at Multichannel News.

By my count this is the 8,371st lawsuit filed against DIRECTV this year, although I may be off by one or two. Just kidding, but it does seem like pretty much everyone in the industry is taking aim at the company. I can see HDNet's point here -- I've always been against high-def tiers because plenty of consumers aren't even aware they exist and cable/satellite sales reps often do a poor job of communicating the need to add them separately in addition to the free ones you get with the HD receiver.

I also see DIRECTV's point though, which is that without a corresponding linear SD channel, DIRECTV has no additional revenue source by which to pay HDNet, MGM, Smithsonian et al their monthly carriage fees. Having an HD tier enables customers who want these specialty channels to pay for them separately, while those who don't, don't.

That said, DIRECTV already charges a $9.99 HD access fee. Is it really necessary for them to charge an extra five bucks for HDNet and the handful of HD-only channels? I'm not so sure...let me know what you think.

Cablevision Adds CNN HD

Cablevision announced today that it has added CNN HD to its high-def lineup, bringing to 42 the number of HD channels it offers in the New York metro area.

Cox Cable has also been rolling out CNN HD in a number of its markets. The news channel made its HD debut on DIRECTV last month.

Charter Inks Deal for Weather Channel HD

Charter Communications has reached an agreement to carry the Weather Channel HD. According to CED Magazine, the company plans to offer 100 HD "viewing options" (includes video on demand titles) by the end of this year.

Verizon Planning 150 HD Channels for FiOS TV

Verizon said last week that it will roll out 150 HD channels to FiOS TV customers next year, in addition to 1,000 HD On Demand titles. The telco will start by more than doubling the number of HD channels next spring, to more than 60 including additional sports channels.

According to the company, Verizon does not compress the HD signals it gets from content providers before sending them to subscribers, unlike some cable and satellite competitors. This practice of non-compression will continue as the 125+ new HD channels are rolled out.

Sharp, Samsung Reclaim Top Positions in TV Sales

DisplaySearch has come out with new data showing fast-growing Vizio has slid back into second place in the LCD sales battle, having been outpaced by Sharp -- which reclaimed the top spot for the first time in 2 1/2 years. Sharp now has 11.3% of the North American LCD market share with Vizio right behind at 10.9%.

Panasonic retained the number one position in the plasma display market that it has owned for as long as anyone can remember, although it was down somewhat from 32.8% in Q2 to 30.0% in Q3. Samsung is second in plasma market share at 19.8%, up significantly from 15.7% in Q2.

Overall, Samsung is the flat-panel TV industry leader with an 11.8% market share. Vizio is second at 10.2%, followed by Sharp at 10.0% and Sony at 8.6%.

I love this kind of data -- thanks to DisplaySearch for making it available for all of us to digest.

DIRECTV Adds NHL Network HD

DIRECTV said late last week that the NHL Network is now available in both HD and SD to DIRECTV customers subscribing to CHOICE XTRA and above programming packages, as well as those with a subscription to NHL CENTER ICE.

NHL Network will broadcast 50 live regular-season games this season all in HD in addition to its daily live signature show, NHL on the Fly, classic games, documentaries, instructional shows, highlights and more.

L.A., NYC Are the HD Capitals: Nielsen

Nielsen released some HD penetration data today showing that Los Angeles and New York City lead the nation in the percentage of homes with an HDTV and corresponding high-def tuner. Overall, nearly 14% of U.S. TV households have an HDTV (15.5 million) and over 11% actually receive at least one high-definition channel (12.7 million).

More from Multichannel News.

AT&T Not Worried About HD Over DSL

At the recent VON conference, AT&T U-verse honcho Jeff Weber told attendees that he has no concerns about the scalability of his company's approach to IPTV, specifically as it relates to HD. AT&T plans to soon be able to offer two streams of high-def programming using VDSL2, and Weber says that right now, AT&T has the highest HD penetration of any provider in the industry.

More from Telephony Online.

Comcast Launches New 5 HD Nets in Portland

A reader has alerted me to the fact that Comcast in Portland has added A&E HD, HGTV HD, History Channel HD, NFL Network HD and USA Network HD to its high-def lineup. I didn't see any official announcement from the cable behemoth, but its online channel lineup in Portland confirms the addition. Comcast now offers 24 HD channels in the City of Roses.

DirecTV, DISH Add NBA TV HD

Just in time for the new basketball season that tipped off tonight, NBA TV HD can now be found on both DirecTV (channel 601) and DISH Network (channel 402). The roundball network offers more than 72 games in HD as well as other NBA programming in HD, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

HD Internet Video Gets Boost from Akamai

Online content delivery specialist Akamai has created "The HD Web", a portal that will act as a programming guide to HD video on the Internet, according to the company. Participating content providers include Apple, CBS, the NBA, the NHL, BBC, Adobe and Weather Central.

Akamai says that a minimum of 1.2 Mbps Internet connection is required for HD video. Both MPEG-4 and VC-1 compression are supported, as are high-def resolutions of 720p, 1080i and 1080p.

7 More HD Channels for Comcast Houston

Comcast in Houston has added seven new high-def channels, bringing the total number it offers there to 30. The new ones are: A&E HD, CNN HD, Food Network HD, HGTV HD, History Channel HD, National Geographic HD and USA HD.

Fire > Blogging

I've been out of action this week thanks to the wildfires here in San Diego...got evacutated on Monday and just came back home today. Will try to catch up on the HD news now...

ESPN to Launch ESPNews HD in March

ESPN honcho Bryan Burns told attendees at the DisplaySearch HDTV 2007 Conference last week that his company is gearing up to launch ESPNews in high-def next spring. Bryan also provided a demo of the new network, which is set up so that about two-thirds of the widescreen is taken up with video highlights while the left side -- dubbed the HD Sideline -- contains news, scores and other information. More from TVWeek.

Distribution deals are already in place with DirecTV, Comcast and Time Warner Cable.

DISH Adds NHL Network HD

DISH Network yesterday evening announced the launch of NHL Network HD, adding to its growing number of high-def channels. To my knowledge, DISH is the first HD service provider to launch NHL Network HD. According to the company:

NHL Network is the first national network dedicated entirely to hockey giving viewers unprecedented 24-hour access to the most comprehensive hockey coverage, both on and off the ice. NHL Network will broadcast 50 live regular-season games in addition to classic games, documentaries, instructional shows, highlights and more.

Subscribers to America's Top 100 package (or above) with DishHD receive NHL Network HD free on Channel 403. NHL Network HD is also available to NHL Center Ice subscribers on Channel 559.

More HD Ad Lawsuits: DirecTV Goes After Cox

Multichannel News is reporting that DirecTV has sued Cox Communications over an item on the cabler's website that cites a Comcast-sponsored research study showing that two-thirds of consumers surveyed preferred Comcast's HD picture quality to DirecTV's. The satellite giant's argument against Cox is that the study pertained to Comcast, not Cox, and just because those consumers preferred Comcast over DirecTV doesn't mean they also would have preferred any cable company's HD quality over DirecTV's.

DirecTV probably has a point here but I sure am getting sick of these lawsuits. The Comcast-DirecTV spat is still pending in the courts and I'm not sure that these suits and countersuits actually accomplish much of anything. I suppose if nothing else they keep busy the armies of lawyers these companies employ...

Verizon FiOS TV Adds 2 New HD Channels

This week's been a busy one for new HD channel distribution deals. Following on the heels of DirecTV, DISH, AT&T U-verse and numerous cable companies, Verizon added two new high-def nets to its FiOS TV service on Monday: the newly-launched FOX Business Network HD and A&E HD.

FOX Business Network HD is now available on DirecTV and Verizon FiOS TV.

Sony's Cheaper PS3 to Debut in 2 Weeks

Sony's newly-announced 40GB PlayStation 3 will hit store shelves on Nov. 2 at a price point of $400 in an effort by the electronics giant to better compete with the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox. More from Reuters. I don't usually spend too much time analyzing video game platform developments, but this one is somewhat significant because the PS3 includes a Blu-ray disc player and at $400, it's basically the cheapest BDR player you can buy. In fact, the bulk of the Blu-ray players that have been sold so far have been PS3's.

The other reason this news interests me is that I'm currently deciding which of these gaming consoles to buy. The Wii is the cheapest of the three at $249 but it isn't high-def. As any of you who have played the Wii know, the attraction with it is the interactivity, particularly with the Wii Sports games (baseball, tennis, bowling, etc.). The graphics clearly aren't as good as those on the PS3 or Xbox but the Wii offers more than just the standard couch-potato gaming experience.

So I'd say at this point I'm leaning towards the Wii since I'm more interested in swinging a virtual baseball bat than I am in the stunning HD graphics of, say, Spider Man 3. I'll let you all know what I end up with...in the meantime, let me know what thoughts you have on the three options.

DirecTV Continues New HD Channel Binge

DirecTV today added a new crop of HD channels to its ever-expanding lineup, bringing its total to somewhere between 52 and 70, depending on how you do the counting. (In its marketing campaigns touting 70 HD channels, DirecTV counts 8 pay-per-view channels along with another 8 Distant Network Signal local channels, both of which are a bit of a stretch to count as real HD channels.)

The new high-def networks are: Bravo, Cartoon Network, Cinemax East, Cinemax West, CNBC, Food Network, Fox Business Network, Fuel TV, FX, HBO West, HGTV, MGM, MHD, Sci-Fi, Speed Channel, Starz West & USA Network.

The full HD lineup is available here.

AT&T U-verse Adds 2 More HD Channels

AT&T U-verse today added History HD and Lifetime Movie Network HD to its high-def lineup, which when counting the recent inclusion of TBS HD, brings to 30 the number of HD channels AT&T now offers.

Time Warner Cable Customers in SC Get Lucky

I've been up at the DisplaySearch HDTV Conference in L.A., so sorry for the lack of posting this week. Here's an interesting tidbit I just picked up on:

Never would have pegged Columbia, South Carolina as a hotbed of HD activity, but Time Warner Cable there has just launched 9 new high-def channels, bringing the total number available to a very impressive 34. The new ones are:

• Cinemax HD
• CNN HD
• Food Network HD
• Golf/Versus HD
• HGTV HD
• History Channel HD
• Lifetime Movie Network HD
• TBS HD
• TMC HD

Great news for the good folks of Columbia - and I'm jealous. Time Warner here in San Diego only offers 25, which isn't bad but is a far cry from 34. Hopefully we'll be getting some of those newbies here soon...

TBS HD Picks Up Carriage on DISH, AT&T

Securing the rights to telecast the Major League Baseball playoffs was the best thing that could have happened for TBS in rolling out its HD simulcast, as the superstation picked up two more carriage agreements today -- with DISH Network and AT&T U-verse. TBS HD already has distribution on many of the largest cable and systems, including DirecTV, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Cox Communications, although not all of each of those companies' customers can actually watch TBS HD just yet.

In addition to airing all of baseball's opening-round divisional playoffs, TBS will also telecast the National League Championship Series (NLCS) between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies.

Discovery Rebranding HD Theater

Now that Discovery Channel HD has launched, Discovery Networks has answered the question of what it will do with Discovery HD Theater, one of the pioneers of HD broadcasting. The channel is now known as simply "HD Theater" minus the Discovery, and features a new logo:

Today's High-Def Headlines

DirecTV Rolls 11 With HD - MCN
DirecTV’s high-definition channel rollout continued apace today, with the nation’s leading satellite service adding 11 more enhanced services to its lineup. Six of the new adds were national services, three apiece from the NBC Universal and HBO camps, while five were the HD feeds for regional sports networks. Among the former category, DirecTV today launched Bravo HD, Sci Fi Channel HD and USA Network HD, as well as Cinemax HD East, Cinemax HD West and HBO HD West. The distributor now offers 40 national HD services.

L.A. Gets HD Baseball on TBS - MCN
Time Warner Cable engineers in Southern California scrambled to enable the regional system to activate TBS HD, announcing at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 3 that it had managed to add TBS’s high-definition channel in time for the region to watch the Los Angeles Angels in their first play-off game against the Boston Red Sox in the American League divisional play-off. Time Warner, which serves the majority of Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties, is offering three ways to watch the local team in the play-offs: in standard definition on TBS’s usual channel placement, in HD on Channel 413, or as a simulcast on CNN en Espanol on Channel 305 with play-by-play commentary by CNN senior sports anchor Diego Bustos.

LCD & Plasma TVs: One Plasma Hits a New High - Consumer Reports
The best sets are better than ever. The Panasonic TH-50PZ700U had the best picture of any flat-panel TV we’ve ever tested. One of the new breed of 1080p plasma sets now hitting stores, it combines “full HD”--1920x1080 native resolution, the highest currently available--with the characteristic strengths of plasma technology. Its ability to reproduce the finest detail, plus its rich, vibrant colors and deep blacks, lend an almost three-dimensional look to images.

JVC Demos 180Hz LCD Technology - TWICE
Victor Company of Japan (JVC) unveiled at CEATEC its new LCD TV technology that offers a 180Hz “panel operation frequency” rate, improving upon current 120Hz models. JVC's 180Hz technology was said to use a proprietary algorithm enabling the panel to “predict, produce and insert” two additional frames of images every second in a standard 60 fps video stream, according to a report in Nikkei Business news.

Sharp Demos Super-Thin LCD - TWICE
As Sony launches onto the Japanese consumer market an 11-inch OLED TV measuring just 0.11 inches thick, Sharp is demonstrating at CEATEC a 12.1-inch LCD panel with just about the same thickness. The new LCD panel was said to be three-times thicker than Sharp’s previous LCD versions.

TV Rivals Muscle Up for a High-Def Duel - Sacramento Bee
If high-definition is the new front in the battle for TV viewers, it appears that DirecTV is seizing the high ground -- at least for now. Fortified by new satellite capacity, DirecTV added 21 high-definition channels to its lineup last week, bringing its total to 30. It expects to double that by the end of October and offer up to 100 channels by year's end, although some of those will be pay-per-view, not new channels.

Cox Communications and Turner Bring High Definition Programming to Customers
Cox Communications and Turner Networks announced an agreement Wednesday that will allow Cox to offer TBS in HD and CNN HD in Cox markets.

HDTV Customers Are Happy With Picture Quality, Less Enthusiastic About Programming Options, Nielsen Finds
High definition (HD) television owners are much more satisfied with the picture quality of HD television than they are with the amount or selection of HD programming, The Nielsen Company reported today. According to Nielsen Media Research's 2007 High Definition Survey, 85 percent of HD owners gave a 4 or 5 rating (with 5 meaning "excellent" and 1 meaning "poor") for picture quality but only 39 percent provided the same rating for programming selection.

Today's High-Def Headlines

Baseball Fans and News Junkies Cheer as Comcast Launches TBS and CNN in HD
Comcast, the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services, today announced the simultaneous launches of TBS and CNN in High-Definition (HD), adding two more of the most popular cable channels to its already extensive HD lineup in Massachusetts and most of New Hampshire. The launch of TBS in HD will deliver Major League Baseball fans a front row seat to all 27 potential games of the American and National League Division Series and National League Championship Series.

Matsushita to Launch Advanced Blu-ray Recorders - Reuters
Panasonic maker Matsushita Electric Industrial said it would launch new Blu-ray optical disc recorders in November that allow more hours of full high-definition recording on a single disc than any others available. Matsushita, along with Sony, promotes the Blu-ray technology, which competes with the HD DVD format backed by Toshiba and Microsoft.

Big Ten Network Inks RCN Deal - MCN
As expected, RCN signed a deal to distribute Big Ten Network in metropolitan Chicago and in Pennsylvania. The deal reached Friday evening enabled RCN customers to watch the network’s lineup of college football action this past weekend.

Hitachi Shows Hybrid LCD Panel/Projector Technology - TWICE
Hitachi is demonstrating at the CEATEC show here a 47-inch hybrid LCD panel/LCD projector display that can produce a dark room contrast ratio of 8,000,000:1. The hybrid monitor technology uses a projector as a back-light system on an LCD panel, the company said.

Today's High-Def Headlines

Sony to Begin Selling OLED TVs - WSJ
Sony Corp. said Monday it will begin selling the world's first ultra-thin flat-screen television based on organic light-emitting diode technology in December, as the race to develop next-generation televisions heats up. The technology, known as OLED, uses organic chemicals that can emit light. That means the new TV set doesn't require a backlight like conventional liquid-crystal display televisions.

TBS HD Plays Subscriber Gains - MCN
Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks Friday joined Cablevision Systems and Comcast in launching TBS’ HD channel in time for the network’s Major League Baseball postseason coverage. A Time Warner Cable spokesman said the operator will offer the HD simulcast of the TBS, beginning Oct. 1. The spokesman, however, would not say how many of the operators systems will actually launch the service in time for TBS’ exclusive coverage of baseball’s Divisional series, which are scheduled to begin Oct. 3.

Speed Readies HD Network - MCN
While many networks have taken their position on the track in recent weeks, Speed plans to enter the high-definition race next February during its coverage from Daytona Speedway.
Speed in HD plans to come out of the gate with more than 100 hours of NASCAR coverage from the Daytona Speedweeks, which begin next year on Feb. 7 and lead up to the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17.

Sharp To Cut Prices On 6 Aquos Models - TWICE Sharp is the first among several manufacturers to make pre-holiday flat-panel price cuts, confirming that it has dropped suggested retail pricing by $300 on three 52-inch Aquos LCD TVs and by $100 on three 37-inch models, effective Oct. 1. Models receiving new lower prices include the 52-inch LC-52D92U (which drops $4,499 to $4,199), LC-52D82U (drops from $4,099 to $3,799); and the LC-52D64U (drops from $3,799 to $3,499).

Big Ten Network, WideOpenWest Strike Carriage Deal - TV Week
The Big Ten Network signed a carriage deal with WideOpenWest, an alternative cable provider that operates in the Midwest. WOW serves markets such as Chicago and Detroit also covered by Comcast, the nation’s biggest cable operator, which does not carry the Big Ten Network.

AT&T Hovers Over EchoStar - Forbes
The universe is rapidly aligning for EchoStar Communications. On Thursday, an Oppenheimer analyst upgraded the satellite television company to "buy" and said it was ripe for an AT&T takeover. EchoStar is undergoing a swift metamorphosis.

Today's High-Def Headlines

DirecTV Adds 21 HD Networks - MCN

Executives at Smithsonian HD were right: The channel and 20 other high-definition TV services launched this morning on DirecTV, raising the satellite TV provider’s national HDTV service array to 31 channels. DirectTV's Web site lists the services, which also include newbies CNN HD and TBS HD (ahead of the Major League Baseball playoffs on that service) and sports outlets Big Ten Network and NFL Network HD.

Scripps, Comcast Unveil Carriage Deal - MCN

Scripps Networks and Comcast officially announced Wednesday that they had reached a broad multi-year carriage agreement that includes the right to distribute HGTV HD and Food Network HD. Comcast already has launched the networks in Boston and parts of New Jersey, and will continue to expand availability to markets over the coming year.

Comcast Adds 5 HD Networks in Philly - MCN

Comcast said that Tuesday it has added A&E HD, Food Network HD, HGTV HD, National Geographic HD and NFL Network HD in most of its hometown market and surrounding counties. Comcast, which like other cable TV operators is facing an HD-centric marketing onslaught from satellite-TV provider DirecTV, said the five HD networks have joined the lineup in Philadelphia and nearby Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties and in New Castle, Del.

High-Definition TBS Feed Should Please Red Sox Fans - Boston Globe

Comcast Corp. is giving Red Sox fans a bonus next week, adding the TBS network to its high-definition lineup on Tuesday, a day before Major League Baseball's playoffs start. TBS signed a seven-year deal with Major League Baseball last year, for a reported $110 million annually, to broadcast the first round of the playoffs and share the second round of the playoffs with the Fox network, which will continue to air the World Series.

Sharp's Blu-ray Recorder to Reach 1 Terabyte - Reuters

Sharp plans to launch a Blu-ray recorder with a 1-terabyte hard drive, as it competes with the HD DVD camp. The model will have the largest storage capacity of any Blu-ray player thus far. The 1-terabyte model, capable of recording 127 hours of high-definition digital programming, will go on sale December 1 in Japan for about $2,615 (300,000 yen).

FAQ: What Does the Digital-TV Switch Actually Mean? - CNET News

Federal officials say American households will have plenty of time to make sure their gadgets are ready for the congressionally mandated switch to all-digital broadcasts after February 17, 2009. The key is knowing what your options are. As the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Federal Communications Commission stage back-to-back public events here this week, CNET News.com has compiled a list of questions and answers designed to ward off a DTV D-Day.

Today's High-Def Headlines

Best Buy: Consumers baffled by HDTV - CNN Money
As Best Buy gears up for its important high-definition TV sales months, a new survey from the No. 1 electronics retailer reveals that almost 90 percent of Americans still don't understand HDTVs - and close to 50 percent underestimate the cost of buying one. This is especially troubling for Best Buy as the retailer is banking on flat-panel HDTV purchases to fuel a big chunk of its fourth-quarter profit and sales.

Blu-ray or HD DVD: Which Side Are You On? - WSJ
It's becoming a holiday tradition: The two competing high-definition DVD formats are gearing up for the Christmas season, each hoping to consign the other to the dustbin of consumer electronics and declare victory. And just as last holiday season, Santa isn't going to declare a winner yet. In fact, a vexing contradiction has settled into the marketplace that is likely to prolong the fight between the Toshiba-backed HD DVD and the Sony-backed Blu-ray formats.

Sling Media Acquired by EchoStar - Yahoo/Macworld
Sling Media announced on Tuesday that it has been acquired by EchoStar, owner of the Dish Network satellite network. The deal, valued at $380 million, will be paid in cash and EchoStar options. Sling Media is best known for its Slingbox and SlingPlayer. The Slingbox allows you to watch your home television from anywhere with a fast Internet connection.

AT&T Jumps Into TV Competition - Akron Beacon-Journal
On the first day it was allowed under a new state law, AT&T Ohio applied for a 10-year statewide franchise to expand its video services in competition with cable television. The new franchise legislation, which took effect Monday, was signed into law in June by Gov. Ted Strickland.

HDTV Insights Poll Results - Westinghouse press release
Imagine the day when finding favorite TV programming is as easy as saying "TV, tune in the Super Bowl, please" or "TV, please find me a great action movie to watch!" Voice recognition is just one of the gee wiz features that top consumer wish lists according to a new poll conducted by HDTV leader Westinghouse Digital Electronics, one of the top four LCD TV manufacturers in the U.S. Respondents came up with a wide variety of coveted features when asked, "If you could design a TV yourself, what would you add?" Top answers included: Voice recognition, Touch Screen, 120hz Refresh Rate, Wireless, Energy Conservation, Built In DVR, Built In DVD, Bluetooth.

Today's High-Def Headlines

National Geographic Bolsters HD Library - MCN
National Geographic Digital Motion has inked partnership and acquisition deals that will expand its high-definition offerings by more than 170 hours. The digital film archive, which contains images from more than 40 years of National Geographic Television and documentary film production, has acquired partial collections from Pawl Achtel and Bernd Proschold. It has also secured licensing agreements with BlackLight Films, Giorgio Oldani Editore, Glusic and J. Michael Media.

TBS Steps To Plate For MLB Playoffs - MCN
TBS will pitch to baseball fans a comprehensive package of on-air and online coverage of Major League Baseball’s divisional playoff series, beginning Oct. 3. On-air, TBS’s coverage of the four divisional playoff series will be buttressed by extensive pre- and post-game shows and will feature an roster of veteran baseball announcers such as Atlanta Braves play-by-play man Chip Caray, veteran sports announcer Dick Stockton, and MLB Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.

DirecTV Curates Smithsonian - Hollywood Reporter
Smithsonian Networks has inked a carriage agreement with DirecTV that marks the first for its new high-definition channel, which is set to launch this week. Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between Showtime Networks and the Smithsonian Institution, is set to begin broadcasting its original programming on a new linear channel, dubbed Smithsonian Channel, on or around Wednesday.

DisplaySearch Slates HD Conference - TWICE
DisplaySearch’s Fifth Annual HDTV Conference on Oct. 10-11 will bring representatives of some of the high-definition TV industry’s biggest companies together for combined sessions on all sources of HD content and hardware. The event will take place at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City. In addition to presenting insights from leading executives, DisplaySearch, The NPD Group, Wedbush Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Kersey Strategies will present findings from HD-related market intelligence reports valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to educate attendees on segments of HD penetration and future growth opportunities.

Today's High-Def Headlines

Cox Adds Four HD Discovery Networks to Cable Lineup - TV Week
Cox Communications on Wednesday announced it will be adding four high-definition networks from Discovery Communications. High def simulcasts of Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet and the Science Channel will be rolled out on a market-by-market basis, the company said. Customers will be able to see such shows as “Deadliest Catch,” “Dirty Jobs” and “Meerkat Manor.”

The Weather Channel Secures Cable Carriage for HD Service - B&C
The Weather Channel said its new high-definition service is now ready to go and has secured carriage with one major cable operator in addition to satellite-TV operator DirecTV, which will offer the new channel as part of its dramatic HD ramp-up. The Weather Channel HD is now being pumped via fiber to DirecTV headquarters in California, spokeswoman Connie Malko said, although DirecTV hasn't yet begun broadcasts from its new DirecTV 10 satellite.

Dish Offers HD Customer Discounts on Sharp LCD TVs - MCN
In yet another salvo in the HDTV wars, EchoStar’s Dish Network is offering HD subscribers a discount on Sharp Aquos LCD TV sets, officials said Thursday. Through Jan. 31, 2008, both current and new qualifying Dish Network DishHD customers may enjoy up to $800 of savings on a variety of Sharp’s most popular line of flat panel HDTVs.

Sony Shines Blu-ray on PS3 Sales Campaign - Financial Times
Sony is to step up its marketing campaign for the PlayStation 3 and emphasise that the games console is a Blu-ray disc player. The move is aimed at boosting both the PS3 and the Sony-backed DVD format ahead of the Christmas holiday sales season. Kaz Hirai, president of the games unit, told the Financial Times his division was working closely with Sony Pictures and Sony Entertainment to “get the Blu-ray message out”. It was a delicate “balancing act” for Sony Computer Entertainment.

NPD: HD Disc Launch Slower Than Expected - TWICE
Among those who currently own HDTVs, 52 percent are familiar with the availability of high-definition DVD players, but only 11 percent expressed strong intentions to buy one in the next six months, according to a new survey released by The NPD Group. In addition, 73 percent of HDTV owners surveyed said their current traditional-format DVD player still works well for them, so they do not need to replace it, while 62 percent said they are waiting for the prices of high-definition players to fall.

GAO: No One In Charge of DTV Transition - MCN
Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin Martin rejected charges made Wednesday on Capitol Hill that his agency and the Bush administration have failed to take command of the national conversion to all-digital TV broadcasting in early 2009. “There is no confusion at the [FCC]. We are committed to putting polices in place to ensure a smooth transition,” Martin said through a spokeswoman. “Last week, the [FCC] unanimously adopted rules to ensure that analog cable subscribers can still view broadcast stations after the transition.”

Sharp Invests In Pioneer To Jointly Develop Products - TWICE
Sharp and Pioneer have agreed to form capital and business ties, with plans to join forces on the development of next-generation consumer electronics products. Pioneer said it will issue 30 million new shares to Sharp for $357.3 million on Dec. 20. The private placement will make Sharp the top shareholder of Pioneer, with a 14.28 percent stake.

Today's High-Def Headlines

No sign yet of the new DirecTV HD channels that were rumored to launch today...

MGM Launching HD Channel on DirecTV - Reuters
Film and television studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc unveiled plans on Tuesday to launch a high-definition television channel this fall on the DirecTV satellite service with a mix of movies and original programs. The channel is MGM's first stand-alone HD service in the United States and it marks a major expansion for the studio.

MGM HD Eyes Comcast Launch - MCN
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios is in talks with one of its owners, Comcast, as well as other distributors about carrying its new domestic HD channel, which will launch on DirecTV. MGM doesn’t have a final carriage deal with Comcast yet for MGM HD, “but we’ve been talking to them all along,” said Douglas Lee, MGM’s executive vice president of Worldwide Digital Media. “They’ve always been supporters of this channel. We expect that we’ll get carriage, because we think we’re a good proposition.”

Did Studios Trade HD DVD Backing for Cash? - Reuters
Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger says he's disappointed by some studios' recent decision to back the HD DVD format and accused them of taking "easy money" for their decision. Iger, who made the comments Tuesday when he spoke to investors at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference, did not name the studios to which he was referring. Disney backs Sony's Blu-ray format, which had appeared to be pulling ahead of Toshiba's HD DVD in the format war before Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG signed exclusivity deals in August to distribute next-generation films on HD DVD for the next 18 months.

Harry Potter HD Discs To Arrive Dec. 11 - TWICE
Warner Home Video will release the first five “Harry Potter” movies in the high-definition Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats on Dec. 11, in addition to a limited-edition gift set featuring the movies and interactive extras in a choice of standard DVD, high-definition HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc formats. The announcement includes the new release of the fifth installment of the series -- "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

TI Kicks Off $100M DLP Ad Campaign - TWICE
Texas Instruments has kicked off its 2007 DLP integrated advertising campaign, which includes television spots on "Monday Night Football," NCAA football games and Nextel Cup NASCAR racing. The $100 million effort will also employ billboards, radio and will expand online advertising, targeting sites used for consumer research before making HDTV purchases, as well as on banner ads and spots on ESPN.com.

MTV to Launch First Pan-European HD service - C21Media
Viacom-owned broadcast group MTV Networks International (MTVNI) has announced plans to launch the company's first-ever pan-European high-definition TV service in 2008. The launch is designed to provide MTVNI's audiences with music and kids entertainment across platforms. The firm will achieve this by drawing upon its library of content across brands including MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon.

Today's High-Def Headlines

Online Music Show Goes High-Def - MCN
Starting Monday with a concert from Rascal Flatts, online music series Nissan Live Sets on Yahoo! Music will also air on MTV Networks’ MHD: Music High-Definition channel. Each month, one artist performance from the Web series will be selected to air on MHD as a 30-minute concert that includes a fan question-and-answer segment. Both MHD and Yahoo! Music will cross-promote the series on their respective outlets.

Matsushita to Double Plasma Capacity at Latest Plant - Reuters
Panasonic parent company Matsushita said it will double output capacity at its latest plasma panel plant in western Japan as early as year's end, in a move to cut costs and solidify its position as the No.1 plasma TV maker. Matsushita Electric Industrial is bringing new production equipment into the plant, its fourth plasma panel factory in Japan, with an eye to boosting its capacity to the equivalent of 360,000 42-inch panels a month from the current 180,000 panels, a Matsushita representative said.

NFL Kicks Dirt At Comcast, Other Cable Operators - MCN
The National Football League, which rakes in $3.7 billion a year in TV revenue alone, is accusing the cable industry of favoring channels it owns and discriminating against unaffiliated channels such as the NFL Network through less favorable economic terms and channel positioning.
“[Cable operators] commonly disadvantage independent services by forcing them to accept inferior compensation or channel placement – or both,” the NFL Network told the Federal Communications Commission in a Sept. 11 filing related to cable system carriage of independently owned program networks.

DirecTV Celebrates HDTV Launch with Emmy Party - MCN
DirecTV is kicking off its high-definition expansion this month by hosting its first annual Emmy party, which promises to be a star-studded event at the West Hollywood Municipal Park. The nation’s largest satellite provider will hold the soiree, the DirecTV 100 HD Emmy Party, immediately following the 59th Emmy Awards Sunday.

Comcast Touts HD Offerings via New Web Site - TV Week
Comcast Monday launched HiDefHigh.com, a new Web site aimed at educating consumers about the company’s high-definition offerings. The new site, which has been in development for a couple of months, uses a Flash graphic of a talking parrot, in addition to visuals of other animals, to narrate and guide visitors through the site options and features, including TV schedule listings, pricing and installation information.

FCC Rules on Dual-Carriage - CED
The Federal Communications Commission yesterday issued rules that direct cable operators to provide a viewable signal for every must-carry channel after the digital transition for their own analog customers; and extended for another five years the ban of exclusive contracts between vertically integrated programmers and cable operators. The must-carry decision gives operators a choice "to either: (1) carry the digital signal in analog format, or (2) carry the signal only in digital format, provided that all subscribers have the necessary equipment to view the broadcast content." As a practical matter, cable operators can either transmit at least two versions (analog and digital) of every must-carry channel, incurring expense and consuming precious bandwidth, or buy a converter or new set-top for each and every one of their analog customers, also incurring expense.

Warner Remains Loyal To Dual HD Formats - TWICE
Despite reports that Warner Home Video has been offered lucrative payments to follow Paramount’s path and become an exclusive HD DVD high-definition disc provider, the company’s president Ron Sanders told TWICE at CEDIA Expo that the company has enjoyed strong sales in both formats and will likely continue to support both until that changes. Sanders also revealed that Warner will be releasing all four “Harry Potter” movies on high-definition discs in time for the holidays, and confirmed reports that Warner’s plans for its TotalHD flipper disc remain on hold.

DirecTV Readying HD Tier of New Channels

The first signs of the coming HD tidal wave are upon us.

According to media reports, DirecTV will next week launch an HD programming tier comprised of both existing and start-up high-def channels that are not simply simulcasts of existing cable networks. Examples of the new HD programmers are MGM HD and Smithsonian HD, while existing channels like HDNet, HDNet Movies, MHD and Universal HD would also be included in the $4.99 per month "HD Extra Pack."

Multichannel News reports that while the details of which specific channels will be included in the tier are still being finalized, DirecTV spokesman Darris Gringeri has confirmed the tier's impending launch. According to the company, the introduction of a $4.99 tier on top of the regular $9.99 HD fee is due to the fact that the new channels are unique without any standard-def siblings and thus carry unique costs.

Today's High-Def Headlines

Several HDTV Nets Remain Down Following Fire - MCN
Two HDTV networks were back on the air, but two others remained down Tuesday in the wake of a fire at a Stamford, Conn., building that houses facilities for several programmers and a company that does uplinking for them. A&E Network HD, The History Channel HD, YES Network HD and NFL Network HD were initially knocked out of service following an early morning fire Monday at 250 Harbor Drive in Stamford.

Dish to Televise Avalanche, Nuggets in HD - MCN
EchoStar Communications’ Dish Network and Altitude Sports & Entertainment will televise 40 Colorado Avalanche and 40 Denver Nuggets regular-season games in HDTV, officials said Tuesday. Dish Network’s HD broadcasts of Avalanche and Nuggets games, including pre- and post-game shows, will be available on Channel 360 to customers throughout Altitude’s 10-state home territory. Altitude will present the games in the 080i HD format, along with Dolby stereo sound.

Sony Unveils Blu-ray Recorders to Fight HD DVD - Reuters
Sony said it will launch four models of new Blu-ray high-definition optical disc recorders in November in Japan, as its format battle with the HD DVD camp heats up. Sony, along with Panasonic maker Matsushita Electric Industrial, promotes the Blu-ray technology, which competes with the HD DVD format, backed by Toshiba and Microsoft.

Digeo Prepares Pre-Holiday Retail Launch - TWICE
Digeo is readying the launch of its Moxi digital media receivers (DMR) for what is expected to be a pre-holiday launch through select retailers across the country. Michael Fidler, Digeo CEO, attended the recent CEDIA Expo, here, to give installers and A/V specialists a glimpse of his company’s forthcoming Moxi set-top boxes, which now include the addition of home automation control using ControlPoint technology from partner 4HomeMedia.

NME Readies New HD Disc Format - TWICE
New Medium Enterprises (NME) attended the recent CEDIA Expo to brief dealers and the press on its new low-cost red-laser high-definition optical disc format for the global market, called HD Versatile Multilayer Disc (HD VMD). The company plans a formal launch in October of its first NME-branded players through its own Web site and through several e-commerce partners including www.Amazon.com and www.PCRush.com.

New Knowledge Networks Study Shows How High-Definition TV Reception Changes Viewing Habits; No Effect on Advertising Avoidance
According to a just-released Knowledge Networks study, access to high-definition television (HDTV) programming -- one of the key digital technologies being embraced by mainstream consumers -- significantly affects viewing behavior, making users more selective about what they watch and more likely to plan viewing in advance. High-definition (HD) reception does not seem to make consumers more likely to watch commercials, though; while they find HDTV ads more "relevant," they are just as likely to click away from them as regular ads.

Today's High-Def Headlines

A High-Definition Fight Scene in Slow Motion - Los Angeles Times
Raging in the backrooms of Hollywood this summer has been a battle that will play out in the aisles of Wal-Mart and Target.Until recently, it had appeared that the two camps vying to set the standard for next-generation DVDs would settle the score this holiday season. But last-ditch maneuvering in recent weeks has all but assured that the format war will extend well beyond December, keeping many home-movie buffs from laying their money down until a winner is declared.

Upstart Maker Tops in Flat-Panel TVs - AP
Upstart American TV maker Vizio has been nipping for three years at the heels of household names such as Sony and Samsung. Quietly selling its affordable line of flat-panel sets in wholesale-club stores instead of electronics retailers, it knocked its foreign competitors from the top spot in the second quarter to become the largest seller of flat-panel TVs in North America.

Cox Cable Bolsters Its Equipment in Tucson - Arizona Daily Star
Cox Communications is upgrading its data network in Tucson as it faces increased competition from satellite TV providers who are offering more high-definition television programming.
The $25 million upgrade for Southern Arizona will increase Cox's bandwidth from 750 MHz to 1 GHz, allowing the company to provide more HDTV channels and video-on-demand choices.

Comcast Media Center Unveils HD Six-Pack - Light Reading
The Comcast Media Center (CMC) has hooked up with SES Americom on a high-definition television (HDTV) package tailored for HITS Quantum cable affiliates. Initially, the CMC's HITS Quantum service will offer six linear hi-def nets: A&E HD, HGTV HD, Food Network HD, National Geographic Channel HD, Starz HD, and Universal HD.

FCC Sends Signal on Dual Must-Carry - Hollywood Reporter
Federal regulators will vote Tuesday whether to approve a requirement -- long-sought by broadcasters -- that would force cable operators to carry analog and digital TV signals transmitted by some local stations. The dual-carriage requirement pushed by FCC chairman Kevin Martin is intended to ensure that millions of analog cable homes don't abruptly lose access to local TV signals when U.S. broadcasters make the switch to digital TV in 2009.

"World's Highest Resolution'' HD Surgical Cameras Used in National Geographic Channel's "Inside the Living Body''
KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc., a world leader in endoscopy and advanced video imaging technologies, is proud to announce that its Image 1(R) HD technology was used to provide key high-definition (HD) video footage highlighted in the upcoming National Geographic Channel (NGC) premiere, "Inside the Living Body." The production used several KARL STORZ Image 1(R) HD video cameras to capture highly detailed video images to underscore key aspects of how our bodies function throughout our lifetimes and will include HD video footage previously unseen on television.

Today's High-Def Headlines

TiVo Intros $299 HD DVR - TWICE
TiVo is showing CEDIA dealers its latest TiVo HD cable receiver carrying a more mainstream $299 suggested retail price. The set-top digital video recorder, which started shipping last month, is a less pricey version of the Series 3 HD unit introduced last year.

NCTA DTV-Transition Campaign Wins Plaudits From Lawmakers - MCN
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association earned broad support from lawmakers and interest groups for its TV campaign promoting cable services in advance of the February 2009 digital-television transition, while the National Association of Broadcasters objected that the industry’s claim it will make the DTV switchover “seamless” is at odds with cable opposition to so-called dual must carry. The NCTA’s four initial 30-second segments, ostensibly public-service announcements, emphasize that cable will “work just fine” after the DTV transition date, when TV broadcasters will be forced to stop sending out analog signals. The association committed $200 million in spending on broadcast ads and cable airtime over the next 18 months.

Samsung's Duo Gets Re-Priced - TWICE
Looking to stay competitive with LG’s recently announced second -generation dual-format HD disc player and other premium Blu-ray players, Samsung is announced at this week’s CEDIA Expo that it has reduced the price of its forthcoming first dual-format Blu-ray HD DVD player from the original $1,049 to a $999 street price. The BD-UP5000 Duo HD player, which still has a vague “fourth-quarter” estimated time of arrival, will feature all of the mandated and many of the voluntary standards in both the Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats, including HDi-based Web-enabled interactivity on the HD DVD side.

KEYT Santa Barbara Goes HDTV
KEYT is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement with Comcast and Cox Communications to provide their HD subscribers to access KEYT, ABC News, Sports and entertainment programs in HDTV. KEYT High Definition programs are available on Cox Cable Channel 703, and Comcast Cable Channels 214 and 241.

Today's High-Def Headlines

DIRECTV is Home for 2007 MLB Postseason in HD
DIRECTV HD fans across the country will have the best seats in the house to every Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason game this fall. To date, DIRECTV is the only national multichannel video provider committed to carrying both FOX and TBS's exclusive postseason HD broadcasts. TBS in HD is scheduled to launch on DIRECTV in September and for the first time ever will feature exclusive broadcasts of the MLB Division Series and National League Championship Series. DIRECTV will also offer FOX Sports' coverage of the American League Championship Series and the 2007 World Series in HD.

Big Ten Network Dishes Up Deal - MCN
Big Ten Network, which gained national prominence with its coverage of Appalachian State’s monumental upset of Michigan last Saturday, scored big on the distribution front today, notching an agreement with EchoStar Communications Corp. This Saturday, Dish Network will broadcast two BTN games in high-definition on channel 9467: Akron at Ohio State (noon ET) and Syracuse at Iowa (8 p.m ET). The No. 2 DBS provider will officially launch the HD simulcast of the BTN the following week.

CNN HD Debuts - TV Week
CNN on Saturday launched CNN HD, a high-definition simulcast of its existing network, which will feature original series shot in HD as well as regular news programming. DirecTV has confirmed it will carry CNN HD, with launch scheduled for mid-September. CNN would not comment specifically on other carriage deals, but did say it was in negotiations.

DirecTV Preps ‘Pro’ High-Def DVR - MCN
DirecTV hopes to broaden its appeal to home-theater installers with a high-definition digital video recorder set-top -- called the HR21 Pro -- whose key features include storage for up to 100 hours of MPEG-4 HD content, twice the capacity of the operator’s current HR20 HD DVR. The box, manufactured by Samsung Electronics, is scheduled to begin production toward the end of October. Distributor and retail pricing has not yet been set, according to DirecTV director of public relations Robert Mercer.

Digital Cable Alert Is On -- for $200 Million - Hollywood Reporter
In an effort to ensure a smooth transition to digital TV in 2009, the cable industry announced the launch of a $200-million ad campaign to assure their customers that their TV sets will still work.The campaign includes four 30-second spots to be aired on broadcast and cable networks. Ads began airing in the Washington, D.C., market this week.

Aquos Blu-Ray Disc Player Launches - TWICE
Sharp used a pre-CEDIA press conference Wednesday to take the wraps off of its first Blu-ray Disc player for the U.S. market. The player is the first non-LCD TV to carry the Aquos sub-brand. The slim-profile Aquos BD-HP20U ships this month at a $549 suggested retail. It will output full HD 1080p/24 fps video and includes built-in HDMI 1.3 digital inputs.

Toshiba's HD DVD Pot Gets Sweetened - TWICE
In addition to unveiling its new super-narrow-bezel LCD TV line, Toshiba announced several offers to entice consumers to pick up one of its new third-generation HD DVD players.
Jodi Sally, Toshiba digital audio/video products marketing VP, revealed that Toshiba will continue to offer coupons to redeem five free HD DVDs with the purchase of a HD DVD player, and has expanded the list of titles from which player purchasers may select their free discs.

JVC D-ILA PJ Pair Unveiled - TWICE
JVC helped to kick off CEDIA Expo with a joint press conference from its consumer electronics and professional electronics groups. The company revealed a pair of 1080p three-chip D-ILA projectors, one from each business unit. Both feature three 1,920 by 1,080 D-ILA chips and 30,000:1 native (not dynamic) contrast ratios.

Today's High-Def Headlines

There's a ton of news coming out of CEDIA today, so without further ado:

Panasonic Adds Two Entry-Level 1080p Plasmas - TWICE
Panasonic is using CEDIA Expo to present two “more affordable” 1080p models in its 2007 plasma TV line. The new plasma sets comprise the 77 model series and include the 42-inch TH-42PZ77 ($1,799 suggested retail) and the 50-inch TH-50PZ77 ($2,799), both of which are scheduled to ship to dealers this month.

Toshiba Unveils Thin Bezel LCDs At CEDIA - TWICE
Toshiba travels to CEDIA Expo this week to unveil a pair of “super narrow bezel” Regza 1080p LCD TVs, and to demonstrate its recently announced third-generation HD DVD player lineup. The new Regza models include the 40-inch ($1,899 suggested retail) and 46-inch ($2,499) screen sizes, and are designed as a mid-step line, below Cinema Series models.

Sony Focuses On Blu-ray At CEDIA - TWICE
Sony brings Blu-ray Disc to CEDIA Expo in a big way, unveiling two new players and its first 200-disc Blu-ray Disc home server with 25GB Blu-ray Disc burning capability. The company also is presenting new Bravia 1080p SXRD video projectors, including the VPL-200, which packages the advanced features of the former Qualia 004 model with a sleeker form factors.

Second Elite Blu-ray Player To Bow - TWICE
Pioneer will unveil at CEDIA Expo its second Blu-ray Disc player, which will be sold in October under the Elite badge at a $1,000 suggested retail price. The Pioneer Elite BDP-95FD Blu-ray Disc player offers increased bandwidth capacity affording internal decoding of high resolution audio formats for: Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital+Plus, and DTS-HD as well as bit-stream output for all advanced audio formats including DTS-HD Master for 7.1 surround sound performance.

Sharp Adds 19” 768p Aquos TV, D43 Series At CEDIA - TWICE
Having just unveiled its new D64 entry 1080p Aquos LCD TV line, Sharp is using CEDIA Expo 2007 to unveil a new line of 768p Aquos sets and the company’s first 19-inch 768p SKU. The new Aquos D43U Series will include the 52-, 46- and 42-inch screen sizes, all of which offer 1366 by 768p resolution, Sharp’s Advanced Super Video LCD panel, a 7,500:1 dynamic contrast ratio and Quick Shoot video circuitry for a 6ms response time and 176-degree viewing angle.

NEC Adds New PDP, LCD Lines
NEC Display Solutions of America returns to the residential plasma TV category at CEDIA Expo, where it is unveiling a restructured residential display direction, including LCD and plasma display lines. The company has recombined its LCD TV and plasma TV business units, and is once again targeting retailers and resellers in a consumer distribution strategy. The company began to distance itself somewhat from consumer plasma TV after selling its plasma panel manufacturing operations to Pioneer.

Hitachi To Show Reel60, BD Camcorder - TWICE
Hitachi ventures to CEDIA to unveil its recently announced Blu-ray Disc camcorder and its new flat-panel TV lines featuring its proprietary “Reel60” technology. The camcorders are billed as the world’s first Blu-ray Disc high-definition models and include a hybrid model that will be capable of recording HD video to both Blu-ray discs and a 30GB hard disk drive.

Proton Shows CS LCD TVs - TWICE
Precision video display manufacturer Proton will be bringing dealers to its suite at the Westin here at CEDIA this week to show its new high-performance-value CS series LCD TV line up.
The line includes the 32-inch ($899 suggested retail), 37-inch ($1,099), 42-inch ($1,699) and 47-inch (price to be announced) screen sizes.

Discovery, NASA Partner for Space Program's 50th Anniversary - B&C
Discovery Communications and NASA are teaming up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the space program. The announcement was made Wednesday evening at a premiere screening of In the Shadow of the Moon at the Museum of Natural History here. The partnership will span multiple platforms, with never-before-seen archival footage and special programming, beginning in the spring of 2008 and continuing through the summer.

Today's High-Def Headlines

I hope everyone enjoyed the long holiday weekend, which for me ran into yesterday. Here's what's going on in the world of HD:

DISH Network Launches the History Channel HD
EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network satellite TV service today launched The History Channel HD, making DISH Network the first major multichannel distributor to provide the network to viewers. The addition will bring DISH Network's total national HD channel lineup to 39 -- the most in the pay-TV industry.

LG Adds Features, Cuts Price of Dual HD DVD Player - Reuters
South Korea's LG Electronics Inc. introduced on Wednesday an updated version of its high-definition DVD player that supports both Blu-ray and HD DVD, offering a possible solution to the format war. But at about $1,000, the BH200 "Super Blu Player," while 16 percent less than the model LG unveiled in January still costs twice as much as stand-alone Blu-ray or HD DVD players.

Panasonic Sees Steady Demand for Plasma - Reuters
Panasonic expects demand for large plasma televisions to slide in the next two years but to hold steady after that at about 30 percent of the total market for large, flat-screen TVs, an executive said on Thursday. "Plasma can keep 30 percent of the market in TVs of 37 inches and above," said Hiro Wada, who is in charge of product planning for visual products and display devices at Panasonic. He said plasma currently had 40 percent of that market.

AT&T Planning More HD Channels By End of Year
AT&T U-verse TV will soon launch new content, including more High Definition (HD) channels. This expanded lineup builds on AT&T's already robust channel offerings. New channels scheduled to be added by the end of this year include Lifetime Movie Network HD, History Channel HD, Animal Planet HD, TBS HD and Versus/The Golf Channel HD.

Pioneer Unveils Kuro Ad Campaign - TWICE
Pioneer will give its Kuro flat-panel TV line a major push in the next phase of a coordinated advertising and marketing campaign designed to protect and promote the premium nature of Pioneer’s products while communicating the emotional impact delivered by their enhanced picture and sound quality. Russ Johnston, Pioneer Electronics USA marketing and product development senior VP, said the company developed a coordinated advertising campaign with roughly triple the total budget investment spent in the past, including more than double its expenditure on “traditional media.”

It's Not Your Grandpa's 3-D as Technology Expands - Hollywood Reporter
You've got your popcorn and a drink, your main squeeze is by your side, and you're settling in to watch the latest hit movie. You slap on your 3-D glasses and fixate on the big screen.You're in your living room. Sound odd? It might not be that far off.

Reports of Plasma's Demise Premature, Makers Say - Washington Post
Plasma television technology has a bright future despite an onslaught on its home turf from rival LCD (liquid crystal display) TVs, makers of plasma screens told Reuters at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin. Last year, four times as many LCD TVs as plasma TVs were sold, according to research firm iSuppli, which predicts that ratio will leap to seven to one this year, as LCD encroaches on plasma's traditional territory of larger screens.

HD DVD Camp Touts Advanced Features, Low Cost - TWICE
Not to be outdone by the Blu-ray Disc Association, the HD DVD Promotions Group held its own press conference at IFA, today, to laud the HD DVD format. HD DVD is strong in Europe, representing 75 percent of all studio HD releases, said Ken Graffeo, HD DVD Promotions Group co-chair and Universal Studios strategic marketing executive VP. In addition, in stand-alone players, the format has a 70 percent share and a 4-to-1 attach rate of movies to hardware sales, seven times that of Blu-ray, Graffeo said.

Division Over Next-Generation DVDs Deepening - Reuters
Hollywood studios are becoming deeply divided over which high-definition technology will replace the DVD, increasing prospects that it will be years before next-generation players become standard equipment in U.S. households. Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation signed exclusivity deals to distribute their next-generation discs on Toshiba's HD DVD format for the next 18 months, a move that evened a contest in which Sony's Blu-ray Disc appeared to be pulling ahead.

Panasonic Signs Official Worldwide Olympic Partnership Agreement
Panasonic, the leading brand by which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is known, announced today it has signed an agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to renew its Official Worldwide Olympic Partnership for another eight years through to the 2016 Olympic Games. The signing ceremony, held at The Banqueting House in London, was hosted by IOC President Jacques Rogge, and Fumio Ohtsubo, President of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Launches 'Living in High Definition' Nationwide Truck Tour
Panasonic, a leader in High Definition flat panel TVs, started the ignition today on the Living In High Definition Nationwide Tour -- a multi-truck tour that will travel the country to bring consumers a hands-on experience with its suite of High Definition products including its industry-leading line of 1080p Plasma HDTV's, Blu-ray Disc Players and Home Theater Systems, HD Camcorders and LUMIX Digital Still Cameras.