Lazy Friday...

As most summertime Fridays are. Here are a few items you may be interested in, that is if you're not taking the day off to stand in line to buy an iPhone right now...

-The U.S. Supreme Court ruling on minimum advertised prices could impact HDTV prices in retail.

-Five free Blu-ray movies with a qualifying Blu-ray Disc player purchase. Would you actually want any of these 20 freebies? I wouldn't. Not much of a promotion...

-More on the high-def DVD front -- Toshiba is adding network connectivity to its HD DVD players via a firmware update that will offer consumers access to "bonus content."

-Best Buy is going to build 400 new stores.

Comcast Offering A&E HD On Demand

Comcast is continuing to build up its HD video on demand library, announcing yesterday that it is now offering HD content from A&E on demand. Among the five hours of monthly HD VOD programming includes The First 48 and Gene Simmons Family Jewels.

Hitachi Dropping Rear-Projection TVs From Lineup

Hitachi said today as it was unveiling its new flat-panel HDTVs that it will no longer sell rear-projection TVs, focusing instead on its ten plasma and four LCD models. The company used its dealer line show to demonstrate its "Reel 60" 60Hz refresh rate, which it says produces smoother pictures using two interlaced fields of 60 frames per second material than LCD competitors using 1080p and a 120Hz refresh rate.

More from TWICE.

30% of U.S. Households Have an HDTV: CEA

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) came out with new data yesterday showing that 30% of American households have at least one HDTV. CEA predicts that 16 million HDTVs will be sold this year, bringing the total number sold to 52.5 million. Other notable findings:

• Almost one-third of HDTV households own more than one HDTV
• Just 44% of HDTV households receive HD programming, which for the majority of those who don't is a choice rather than due to confusion over how to get it
• One of the primary reasons consumers are buying HDTVs is not to watch television programming but rather to improve their movie and gaming experience
• Of those who get HD programming, 66% get it from their cable company, 27% from satellite, 8% from over-the-air broadcasts, 3% from a fiber-optic service and 3% from the Internet

More info is available from the CEA.

TBS Going HD on Sept. 1

TBS, the Atlanta-based superstation, will launch an HD simulcast of its East Coast feed on September 1st, in time for the Major League Baseball divisional playoffs and National League Championship Series (NLCS).

TBS also offers a few original series such as Tyler Perry's House of Payne as well as sydicated sitcoms like Seinfeld and Everybody Loves Raymond.

No word yet on carriage deals yet although you can bet Time Warner Cable will be among the first since both companies are owned by the same parent company.

Website Bundles HDTVs with HD Service

A website called HDTVspecialoffer.com has launched a promotion with Panasonic and three major cable companies offering consumers significant rebates when they bundle a Panasonic TV with cable HD service. A 42" plasma, for example, comes to $1,039.95 after rebates with Comcast cable service, which is $400 less than what the same model lists for at BestBuy.com today. Time Warner and Charter customers pay $100 more: $1,139.95.

LCD flat-panel and rear-projection TVs are also available.

This is a smart idea when considering the large number of HDTV households that don't subscribe to some form of HD service. If you're going to buy a Panasonic HDTV and get cable HD service, you should check this out and save a little green.

HD Video Cell Phones Coming Next Year

Due to ubiquitous TV ads and what appears to be a pretty cool device, the Apple iPhone is the most-anticipated new technology product of the year. However, you may want to wait until next year before plunking down $500 on your next mobile phone because by then, you should be able to watch HD video on it.

Texas Instruments is working on the third generation of OMAP processors and the two biggest features are items that a few years ago weren't even part of a cell phone: cameras and camcorders. In addition to 768p HD video capabilities, these new phones will also have 12 megapixel digital cameras with the option of a burst mode taking four 3-megapixel photos one right after another.

More from CNET News.com.

AT&T Brings 27 HD Channels to Cleveland & Akron

AT&T announced this morning that it has launched its U-verse IPTV service with 27 HD channels in parts of Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland and Akron. The dominant cable companies in Cleveland -- Time Warner and Cox -- offer 21 and 19 HD channels, respectively. Time Warner also serves Akron with 17 high-def nets.

More from AT&T and the Akron Beakon Journal.

Panasonic's 1080p Plasma Coming in July

LCD makers have beaten plasma rather soundly in the development of 1080p displays so plasma enthusiasts can look forward to July when Panasonic's 42" 1080p plasma TV hits retail store shelves. At a suggested price of $2,499 (Best Buy is already offering it for $2,249 online), the 1080p model carries a hefty 56% premium over the 768p model that can be had for $1,439.

Laser TVs

The NY Times ran an interesting piece over the weekend regarding the gradual replacement of bulbs in rear-projection DLP TVs with LEDs and lasers, both of which offer superior color display. Mitsubishi for one has invested heavily in laser technology and will demonstrate a laser HDTV at next year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

JVC Unveils New LCD TVs

JVC added four new 1080p LCD TVs to its model lineup, TWICE reports. The sizes are 37", 42" and 47" and come in two model lines ranging in price from $1,599 to $2,699.

Rumor has it that JVC and Kenwood are about to merge, as Kenwood has apparently agreed to take the somewhat flailing JVC off of parent company Matsushita's hands. The combined company would have annual sales of about $7.4 billion if the transaction closes sometime next year as Kenwood has proposed.

Cablevision Jumps On HD Capacity Bandwagon

Wow. No sooner did I hit the "Publish" button on the previous post than word came out that Cablevision has inked a deal to offer the VOOM suite of 15 HD networks beginning July 1. Not only that, but the company seriously upped the ante in the growing HD content war by saying it will have the capacity to offer 500 (not a typo) high-def channels by the end of this year over its fiber-optic network, according to Multichannel News.

500 HD channels are all well and good, but we know full well there won't be anything close to that kind of content available by year-end. Not unless Cablevision is counting HD On Demand offerings like Comcast does, which brings up an interesting question: does the average consumer consider on demand content to be equivalent to linear channels? Would consumers equate 150 HD channels from DIRECTV with 150 HD "viewing choices" from cable? Do consumers care?

The way Comcast counts "viewing choices," each HD program available on demand counts as a "choice." So CSI in HD On Demand is one "choice." CSI: New York is another "choice." And so on. If I'm a satellite or telco, wouldn't I argue that if we counted each HD program on the 150 or whatever HD channels, it would add up to way beyond 800? I suppose Comcast's counter-point would be that with on demand, viewers can pull up the content anytime they want, irrespective of the programming schedule -- which would be a fair argument.

Any thoughts from you all would be much appreciated.

Cox Cable Wants 50 HD Channels by End of Year

Ever since DIRECTV began blasting the airwaves with its HD marketing campaign featuring various celebrities touting the 150 HD channels DIRECTV will soon offer, cable companies have been making various statements playing up their own HD capacity. Time Warner said a few weeks ago that switched digital video technology would give it virtually "unlimited" capacity for new HD channels. Comcast came out a few days later and said that it would soon offer 800 HD "viewing choices" by the end of next year, the vast majority of which would be HD video on demand programs.

Now Cox Cable is getting in on the act, with its president telling attendees at a conference yesterday that he wants his chief technology officer to find the bandwidth for 50 HD channels by the end of this year. Using a combination of methods, such as the aforementioned switched digital video, bandwidth optimization and the elimination of some analog channels, Cox hopes to be able to technically offer 50 high-def channels -- but whether or not it actually does so is to be determined. According to the president, Pat Esser, "Whether we do or don’t offer that many channels, I want to have the capacity to do that."

Sharp Cutting Prices to Reduce Inventory

If you've got your eye on a Sharp AQUOS LCD TV but have been waiting for the price to come down, Sharp has good news for you. To get rid of existing inventory prior to the arrival of its new models in August, the company has reduced or eliminated altogether the Minimum Advertised Prices (MAP) of its current AQUOS models -- series D62U, D72, D82 and D92. The price savings range from $200 to $1,300 (!), up to 39% off the original MSRPs.

You can get all the details from TWICE. (I'm feeling lazy this morning and am not really up for rewriting their article...)

Olevia Intros 65-Inch LCD Flat-Panel

Olevia is showing off its new 65-inch LCD TV at the InfoComm show in Anaheim this week, available to consumers for a suggested price of $9,999 through specialty home theater shops and pro A/V dealers. More from TWICE.

Big Victory for Blu-ray Over HD DVD

In the ongoing battle between the Blu-ray and HD DVD camps, Blockbuster has loomed large as a potentially decisive determining factor in which standard wins out. After experimenting in 250 of its stores with offering DVDs in both formats starting last fall, the movie rental giant said yesterday that it will expand its Blu-ray offerings to 1,700 additional stores around the world by mid-July, electing not to offer HD DVD titles in those stores.

Blockbuster's rationale is that in the 250 test stores, Blu-ray titles are in significantly higher demand than HD DVD.

This is a big blow to HD DVD supporters because even though the rental king has lost market share to Netflix and even though it will continue to stock HD DVD titles at Blockbuster.com, the company is saying that given both options, its customers are choosing Blu-ray. I believe that if the situation were reversed, or if it changes, Blockbuster would absolutely expand its HD DVD offerings, which is another way of saying that I don't think Blockbuster has some kind of bias towards Blu-ray.

More from TWICE.

Mr. Plasma

Here's a great piece from Erica Ogg over at CNET about Larry Weber, a visionary who can claim as much credit as anyone for plasma displays going from the lab in 1964 to a mass-market consumer success story four decades later. The founder of Plasmaco, which he built from IBM's shuttered plasma display plant in 1987, Weber eventually sold his company to Panasonic and currently serves as president of the Society for Information Display.

Weber's current project is working to reduce the power consumption of plasma TVs. Even if you're an LCD fan, you should find this article an excellent story of innovation and perseverance.

More Lawsuits (Ugh)

I will spend no time detailing the case, but LG Electronics has sued Hitachi for allegedly violating seven LG plasma patents. You can get the full story over at Reuters/CNET.

Hey guys, how about you spend less time suing each other and more time worrying about how LCD is on the verge of completely eradicating your business model?

NBC HD Coverage Goes Awry at End of U.S. Open

I'm enjoying the last round of the U.S. Open golf championship on this Father's Day when on the third to last hole, NBC's HD coverage suddenly vanishes and every camera shot is in SD instead. It's unclear to me whether this is a nationwide problem with NBC or a local problem specific to my cable company (Time Warner). Up until now, the Open has looked fantastic in high-def, both on ESPN HD and NBC.

Did anyone else experience this?

UPDATE: After about 20-25 minutes of no Open in high-def, the SD picture just flipped itself over to HD with Tiger Woods on the 17th hole.

Sharp: Why 1080p Matters

I attended part of the DisplaySearch TV Supply Chain Conference in San Diego yesterday and paid particularly close attention to the keynote speech by Sharp's marketing head Bob Scaglione, one of the brightest minds in the business. Bob's presentation was part of a panel about how TV manufacturers can avoid the commoditization of HDTVs by emphasizing 1080p and other advancements.

In Sharp's view, 1080p is important because their data show that 90% of HDTV broadcast content is in 1080i, meaning that there is no scaling that needs to be done like there is with 720p. Displaying a 1080i broadcast signal on a 1080p television requires a relatively simple translation of interlacing to progressive scanning. By contrast, showing a 1080i program on a 720p/768p TV requires not just an "i" to "p" translation but also scaling 1080 lines of resolution down to 720 or 768, not exactly the ideal scenario.

Broadcast content that is native 720p, like on ABC, FOX and ESPN, works perfectly with 720/768p plasma or LCD displays.

In theory, what Bob Scaglione said makes complete sense. From a technical standpoint, he is absolutely correct that 1080i content should always look better on a 1080p TV than it does on a 720/768p television. In practice, however, I'm not convinced there is all that much discernible difference. On my 768p Panasonic plasma, my opinion is that the Discovery HD content -- which is 1080i -- looks better than a lot of the 720p programming I see on FOX. This afternoon, I'll test this theory some more and compare the U.S. Open golf championship coverage on ESPN HD (720p) to that of NBC HD (1080i) and see which looks better on my 768p plasma.

And therein lies the problem: there are so many factors at play when it comes to TV picture quality -- resolution, color gamut, contrast ratio, black levels, cable/satellite signal compression and receiver quality -- that it's difficult to say that 1080p TVs by default will display a better-looking 1080i signal than a 720/768p TV.

The reality of HDTV is that there are many factors to consider when purchasing your next TV, image resolution being just one. 1080p isn't the single most determining factor in HD quality any more than megapixels are with digital cameras.

Flat-Screen TV Makers Planning Internet TV Service

Sony, Matsushita, Sharp, Hitachi and Toshiba are working together on the launch of an Internet video on demand service for their flat-screen TVs. The joint venture is called TV Portal Service Corp. and is slated to go live this fall with a library that will grow to 2,000 programs by next spring. Not many details are available at this point but I would imagine that Sony will utilize its new Bravia Internet Video Link, a $299 add-on to its TVs, to enable the Internet VOD access.

More from Forbes/AFX.

HDTV Survey: Continued Consumer Confusion

Despite the best efforts of people like your trusty blogger, consumer confusion is perhaps as high as it's ever been when it comes to understand HD technology. Hitachi commissioned a survey that turned up some rather bleak results including:

• 66% of consumers are not comfortable explaining options such as 720p, 1080i and 1080p
• 62% are not comfortable explaining options such as DLP, LCD and Plasma

On the plus side, 78% of consumers are interested in purchasing HDTV for their next TV buy. 60% of those surveyed say picture quality is the most important factor in a new TV purchase; brand was second (11%) and screen size was third (9%).

To some extent, I think this is a marketing problem as much as anything. When TV manufacturers and retailers tout "1080p" as a selling point, how is a consumer expected not to be confused? It's really Marketing 101 -- sell benefits, not features. 1080p means nothing to most people yet it's probably the most overused term in HD marketing today.

I remember a TV ad campaign that one of the manufacturers (I think it was Samsung) ran several months back. The narrator ended with something along the lines of "get your 1080p L-C-D H-D-T-V now" (drawn out just like that) and it honestly seemed like they were trying to cram as many technical acronyms in one sentence as possible. How on earth they thought that would actually appeal to the average consumer is beyond me.

The good news is that despite not understanding all of the technical jargon, consumers definitely want to buy HDTVs. Now the industry just needs to do a better job of helping them figure it all out.

Philips Shows Off New HDTVs

Philips yesterday showcased its new line of plasma and LCD TVs at a "Holidays in June" media event in New York. On tap for the '07 models are more 1080p displays and of course more of Philips' proprietary "Ambilight" technology. More from TWICE.

HBO to Debut 22 New HD Channels

HBO, which already offers four HD channels, will soon roll out high-def feeds of all 26 of its multichannel HBO and Cinemax networks, the first 11 of which will appear on DIRECTV in September after the satcaster's new bird is launched. DIRECTV currently counts HBO East HD in its lineup; this fall it will offer:

HBO West HD
HBO2 East HD
HBO2 West HD
HBO Family East HD
HBO Family West HD
HBO Latino HD
HBO Signature HD
Cinemax East HD
Cinemax West HD
MoreMax HD

The other 15 HBO/Cinemax HD channels will launch by the end of Q2 next year. HBO HD was the first national cable HD channel when it debuted in 1999.

More from the release and Multichannel News.

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD this evening:

1. NBA Finals: San Antonio @ Cleveland - ABC HD 9:00/6:00
2. Dan Rather Reports: West Point at War - HDNet 8:00/5:00
2. Wealth on Wheels: Good Guys Del Mar - WealthTV HD 8:00/5:00
4. Inside the Green Berets - National Geographic HD 7:00/4:00
5. VH1 Storytellers: Dave Matthews Band - MHD 9:00/6:00

Sony Plans Unique LCD TVs for Wal-Mart & Target

I alluded to this development briefly yesterday morning but CNET confirms this morning that Sony is planning a unique TV line that it will sell in giant discount stores Wal-Mart and Target. This new LCD line will help avoid taking business away from established consumer electronics retailers and smaller specialty home theater shops.

If you've ever shopped for a household appliance like a dishwasher, you know that this new Sony strategy is a relatively standard practice for manufacturers when dealing with giant big-box retailers. For example, Home Depot often carries models of various appliances that are specific to Home Depot and can't be found anywhere else. Among other effects, this marketing strategy makes it substantially more difficult for consumers to comparison shop since they are forced to compare features rather than model numbers when going from store to store.

Toshiba Expects Lower HD DVD Sales

Toshiba honchos said yesterday that they've revised their estimates for North America HD DVD player sales down from 1.8 million to 1 million by the end of this year. According to Reuters, no real reason was given for the downward revision in projected sales, but all signs point to continued consumer uncertainty in the ongoing strife between Blu-ray and HD DVD, even with prices of each technology's players being cut recently.

The Sopranos: Saying Goodbye to an HD Pioneer

I don't know how many people watched the series finale of The Sopranos last night on HBO but I'm guessing many of you reading this did. After all, by my (unofficial) chronology, Tony and his crew were the oldest HD series on cable -- and essentially tied with Law & Order among all TV dramatic series (both made their HD first-run debuts in 2002). As many of you know, HBO was one of the first HD networks available nationwide and the majority of the 86 Sopranos episodes aired originally in high-def, beginning with Season 4 in September '02. (85 of the 86 were shot in HD, with the exception being the pilot.) The Sopranos represented a pioneering effort in HD content, one that undoubtedly helped spur the adoption of HDTVs in homes around the country over the last five years.

As for the series finale itself, many people -- myself included -- weren't happy with the ending in what was overwise a pretty good episode. For all the speculation about Tony getting whacked, anyone who read the director's comments about even a small possibility of a Sopranos movie at some point in the future could see that would be difficult to pull off with the lead character being dead. Difficult, not impossible. And what were the other options, that Tony would go into witness protection? That he would reconcile with Phil Leotardo and harmonize the NJ and NY families? That he would actually get convicted of a crime and put in jail like Johnny Sack? None of those would have worked to anyone's satisfaction. So while I didn't really like the ending -- I thought for a moment that the cable had gone out, which I suppose is the effect David Chase was going for -- I can't really envision a scenario in which I would have been happy with ANY ending.

No one liked the Seinfeld series finale either...

All in all, I'm thankful for six great seasons (okay, maybe five great seasons and one decent one) of a dramatic series that not only was unlike anything else on TV, but also redefined how great TV is made.

LCD TV Revenue Up 80% Over Last Year: NPD

Market research firm NPD released data showing that LCD TV sales revenue increased 80 percent from April '06 to April '07, the only TV category that didn't decline in revenue during that time. In fact, total TV revenue was down 3 percent over the last year. Rival plasma TVs experienced an 18 percent increase in units sold but a 20 percent revenue decline thanks to a 33 percent dropoff in average selling price.

32-inch models were the top selling LCD TVs in both units and revenue, with an average selling price of $860.

Wal-Mart Testing In-Store "HDTV Specialists"

As part of an effort to improve the consumer shopping experience, Wal-Mart is experimenting with "HDTV specialists" who will assist customers on showroom floors. The company is also working with Sony to bring some of that manufacturer's HDTVs to Wal-Mart supercenters this summer.

More from TWICE.

This Weekend's HD Picks

There's a lot going on this weekend in the world of HD programming, so here are my top picks:

FRIDAY
1. NASA Space Shuttle Launch - HDNet 6:00/3:00
2. Caddyshack - Cinemax HD 8:30/5:30
3. 1000 Places to See Before You Die: India - Discovery HD 8:00
4. Chiller on Universal HD 10:00/7:00
5. The Da Vinci Code - Starz HD 9:00/6:00
6. VH1 Storytellers: Pearl Jam - MHD 8:00/5:00

SATURDAY
1. Baseball: Mets @ Tigers - FOX HD 3:55/12:55
OR
Baseball: Astros @ White Sox - FOX HD 3:55/12:55
OR
Baseball: A's @ Giants - FOX HD 3:55/12:55
2. Destination HD: Bulgaria - Discovery HD 8:00
3. NASCAR Busch Series at Nashville - ESPN2 HD 7:00/4:00
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Starz HD 11:30/8:30

SUNDAY
1. The Sopranos (series finale) - HBO HD 9:00
2. The Tudors (season finale) - Showtime HD 10:00
3. John from Cincinnati (season premier) - HBO HD 10:00
4. NBA Finals Game 2 - ABC HD 9:00/6:00
5. MLB Baseball: Cubs @ Braves - ESPN HD 8:00/5:00
6. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Pocono 500 - TNT HD 12:30/9:30

Tonight's HD Picks

Here are my top picks for what's on in HD this evening:

1. NBA Finals: Cleveland @ San Antonio - ABC HD 9:00/6:00
2. Wealth on Wheels: Vintage Monterey - WealthTV HD 8:00/5:00
3. All The President's Men - HDNet Movies 5:35/2:35
4. Planet Earth: Ice Worlds - Discovery HD 8:00
5. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Racing - HDNet 8:00/5:00

New Digital-to-Analog Converters Unveiled

Most of you are aware that the nation's analog TV signals will be shut off on February 17, 2009. You may also know that the federal government has authorized a subsidy program to help consumers pay for the digital-to-analog converter boxes that will enable analog TVs not hooked up to cable or satellite to continue receiving over-the-air TV broadcasts. Each household will be eligible for two $40 voucher-gift cards starting early next year.



Yesterday the first two of these D2A (I just coined that -- maybe I should trademark it) box prototypes were unveiled by LG Electronics and Thomson/RCA. See pic above courtesy of the NY Times. The D2A boxes will likely retail for $50 to $70.

The Verdict on New HD Camcorders

Loyal readers of 1080eyes know that I don't do many product reviews, so I compensate by giving you links to those who do (CNET et al). In today's New York Times, uber-reviewer David Pogue takes on three new HD camcorders from Panasonic, Canon and Sanyo that also purport to take high-def still photos. His take? None of them is perfect and each requires a substantial compromise from the consumer in a key area.

Here's Pogue's review.

Sony Intros New Flat-Panel LCD TVs & SXRDs

Sony announced nine new flat-panel LCD TVs to its BRAVIA lineup, all of which are 1080p and some of which boast a 120Hz refresh rate. The nine new models are in three sizes: 52", 46" and 40". I'm not going to rehash all the details here so check out the release if you want more info.

Sony also intro'd five new SXRD microdisplay rear-projection models, all of which feature the 120Hz refresh rate and are 20 percent slimmer than last year's versions. The sizes are 50", 55", 60" and 70". Here's the info.

All of the new models in the line feature Sony's Digital Media Extender (DMeX), offering a digital connection for the BRAVIA Internet Video Link module (sold separately), which allows users to view select Internet video, including high-definition content, from the comfort of their living room from providers like AOL, Yahoo! and Grouper, as well as Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony BMG Music.

According to TWICE, Sony will launch a $100 million ad campaign to promote its new HDTVs.

MHD to Air "Concert for Diana"

MHD will broadcast the "Concert for Diana" live from Wembley Stadium Sunday July 1st at 11:00am ET/8:00 PT. Elton John, Duran Duran, Bryan Ferry, Lily Allen, Kanye West, Rod Stewart, Natasha Bedingfield, The Feeling, James Morrison, Orson and Status Quo, The English National Ballet, Joss Stone and Andrew Lloyd Webber are among the artists who have been personally invited by Prince William and Prince Harry to perform at the concert. Nelly Furtado, P. Diddy, Tom Jones, Take That, Will Young and the legendary voice of Supertramp Roger Hodgson have just been added to the lineup for the 6-hour event that will commemorate the late Princess's birthday.

More info at www.concertfordiana.com.

Sharp Planning $30 Million Ad Buy

Sharp Electronics, in an effort to recapture lost market share for its AQUOS LCD TV brand, said yesterday that it is embarking on a $30 million ad campaign that will run through September. Among other spots, Sharp AQUOS ads will appear in nationally televised baseball games, including the 2007 Major League Baseball All Star Game, the FOX “Saturday Game of the Week,” Sunday and Monday Night Baseball on ESPN and “Baseball Tonight," also on ESPN.

More from TWICE.

WealthTV to Air New Wine Series

WealthTV, which recently celebrated its third anniversary broadcasting in HD, will begin airing a new original series called “Divine Life”, scheduled to air beginning in July.

Shot entirely on-location in 1080i HD, Divine Life is a half-hour program showcasing the adventures of two wine lovers – Scott Henuset, an up-and-coming wine “guru”, and Karen McNeill, a domestic diva and self-confessed wine “rookie” – as they travel from vineyard to vineyard in search of the world’s best wines. In each episode, viewers get a sneak peek into the lifestyles enjoyed by the successful vineyard owners who live “the vine life”, which is the origin of the series name “Divine Life”.

Divine Life episodes also feature two “dining segments”. The first culinary segment demonstrates what wines go with the meal and why; the second features a more formal dinner setting to choose the appropriate wines to complement the flavors of each dish. Each episode opens and closes with our hosts engaged in an adventurous, fun activity unique to that specific destination. WealthTV will initially feature 26 episodes with additional episodes in production.

Dell to Quit Selling Its Own LCD TVs

Dell got into the HDTV business with a bang but is going out with a whimper. Company sources are quoted in a Bloomberg News story as saying that Dell with cease marketing its own LCD TVs, primarily because it's not selling any of them. According to research firm DisplaySearch, Dell isn't among the top 30 companies selling LCD TVs, and with about 6,000 units left in inventory, will quit contracting to have them made in favor of continuing to sell more established HDTV brands like Sony Bravia.

This news really shouldn't come as a big shock to anyone, as Dell's HDTVs were never seen as very high-quality and the LCD TV side of the business in particular has become so competitive over the last year or so. Dell bet that its brand name would be enough to establish a foothold in the HDTV industry, but with falling prices and so many choices, consumers are buying from either well-known TV brands like Sony, Panasonic and Samsung, or upstart brands like Vizio that offer cut-rate pricing along with a good-quality picture. Dell treated HDTVs as commodities like PCs with no real value-add to speak of, a strategy that flat-out just didn't work.

DISH Network Debuts New HD Box

DISH Network yesterday began selling its new ViP222, an MPEG-4 HD receiver with two tuners, one for HD and the other for SD in another room.

More from TWICE.

AT&T Brings 27 HD Channels to San Diego

AT&T yesterday launched its U-verse IPTV service in San Diego, enticing consumers in America's Finest City with 27 HD channels. By comparison, the two major cable companies here in San Diego, Cox and Time Warner Cable, offer 17 and 22 high-def channels respectively.

One major problem for AT&T that has historically plagued DIRECTV and DISH Network as well is that the regional San Diego Padres channel is owned by Cox and under the '92 Cable Act, Cox isn't obligated to let its competitors carry the Padres channel (Comcast uses the same provision to shut out satellite in Philadelphia). Satellite penetration in San Diego is among the lowest in the country, thanks to cable companies that tend to do a better than average job at keeping their customers happy, along with the aforementioned Padres issue.

In any event, 27 HD channels are welcomed wherever we consumers can get them...

New Technology Will Give Cable Add'l HD Capacity

Time Warner Cable exec Landel Hobbs told an investment conference yesterday that switched digital video (SDV) technology will give cable companies "virtually unlimited" HDTV channel capacity when it is deployed in about half of Time Warner's markets by the end of this year. SDV is a way of sending video signals as users request them rather than broadcasting all channels to all households at once, as is the case in the current cable architecture. SDV, by sending one signal at a time (which is how AT&T's U-verse IPTV service also works) in theory should allow for as many HDTV channels as for which there is demand.

Interesting, the Time Warner exec also acknowledged that DIRECTV has done a superior job of marketing its HDTV service compared to cable, and that cable must do better to win the mindshare of consumers.

More from Multichannel News.

Tonight's HD Picks

Most serialized dramas and comedies are reruns now, but there is some decent sports action on tonight.

1. Baseball: Yankees @ White Sox - ESPN HD 7:00/4:00
2. NHL Stanley Cup Finals Game 4 - NBC HD 8:00/5:00
3. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - HBO HD 10:00
4. With All Deliberate Speed - Discovery HD 9:00

Industry Insider: Discovery HD's Clint Stinchcomb

As part of our ongoing HDTV Industry Insider series of guest bloggers, Discovery HD Theater honcho Clint Stinchcomb is back to explain what the forthcoming launch of the new Discovery networks in HD means for DHD Theater. Enjoy!

Discovery HD Theater Remains the Crown Jewel Among Discovery’s HD Channel Offerings
By Clint Stinchcomb, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Discovery Emerging Networks Group

Last week DIRECTV announced the latest additions to its expanding HD channel lineup. In fact, the satellite TV provider has publicly declared that it will deliver more HD channels than any other multi-channel provider – 100 by year’s end.

This recent announcement included the September launch of four Discovery HD simulcast networks channels: Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet and The Science Channel. In addition, Discovery will offer two more channels yet to be named in 2008.

While great news for HD subscribers and fans of these Discovery networks, the news has raised some concern among HD enthusiasts and bloggers about the fate of Discovery’s pioneering high-definition service, Discovery HD Theater. Well, I’m here to set minds at ease and let you know that Discovery HD Theater is not only here to stay, it will be better than ever.

Discovery HD Theater was basic cable’s first 24-hour HD network, broadcasting all of its content in brilliant 1080i and 5.1 digital surround sound. Discovery is fully committed to the network’s ongoing growth and will continue to create and acquire programming that delivers on the Discovery HD Theater promise to provide the highest quality audio and video experience available on television. A destination for compelling stories and visually arresting imagery, Discovery HD Theater will remain a showcase for the types of programming that are best suited for the HD format including natural history, wildlife, adventure and world cultures.

In fact, coming soon to Discovery HD Theater are all new episodes of SUNRISE EARTH, filmed in locations selected by viewers as well as the premieres of two new original series, WILDLIFE MAN and ANTARCTIC MISSION, among many other new specials and series set to debut starting this Fall.

Discovery has long been a pioneering leader in the HD space, making considerable production investments in preparation for this day. We are absolutely thrilled that HD simulcasts of Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet and The Science Channel will be available to distributors this September and for the visually rich programming produced expressly for HD and the truly "lean back" theater experience, Discovery HD Theater will continue to be the HDTV enthusiast’s "home page."

JVC to Barnstorm for HD

JVC is planning a nationwide tour to showcase its HDTVs and camcorders this summer at county fairs, festivals and airshows -- a total of 50 events in 24 states over the next six months. The idea is to reach out to people who might not know much about JVC or who might be intimidated by technology by giving hands-on demonstrations of the company's products.

Two of the events JVC will be attending are here in San Diego (the county fair and the Miramar Air Show) so I'll try to make it to one of them and see what the response is like.

More from TWICE.

First Latino HD Channel to Launch Next Year

Si TV, a channel focused on the young and growing U.S. Latino market, announced this morning its plans to launch an HD network in 2008. Verizon FiOS TV has already signed up to carry the new high-def channel.

According to research cited by Si TV, 35% of English-dominant TV-viewing Latinos between the ages of 18-34 own an HDTV.

More about Si TV:

"Si TV is currently in production on two new high-definition series for 2008 that will exploit the benefits of the HD format. Past Port, in which young U.S. Latinos return to the countries of origin of their parents or grandparents, will feature scenic footage from a variety of stunning Latin American locations. Total Combat, a gritty reality series about a young Latino couple running a Mixed Martial Arts Fighting League, will bring the blood, sweat and in-your-face intensity of mixed martial arts vividly to life in high definition. Other new Si TV series for 2007-2008 -- including Flow & Tell and Home Page -- will also be shown in HD on Si TV-HD.

Si TV's lively, authentic content-which the network produces specifically for its 18-34 acculturated Latino audience-lends itself well to the HD format. The network already features more than 200 hours of original programming that were shot in HD, including: The Drop, Unacceptable Behavior, The Rub, Dating Factory, and Latino Laugh Festival: The Show."

Sony Begins Shipping $499 Blu-ray Disc Player

Sony said this morning that its new $499 Blu-ray Disc player is now shipping to retailers around the country. The BDP-S300 utilizes HDMI to showcase 1080p HD video content while delivering new features including the advanced Dolby(R) Digital Plus audio codec as well as BRAVIA Theatre Sync and CD playback.

This Weekend's HD Picks

There's a lot going on this weekend in the world of HD programming, so here are my top picks:

FRIDAY
1. 2007 French Open - ESPN2 HD 3:00/noon
2. 1000 Places to See Before You Die: Australia - Discovery HD 8:00
3. Chiller on Universal HD 10:00/7:00
4. Oasis Live at Manchester - MOJO HD 10:00
5. MTV Live: Coldplay - MHD 5:00

SATURDAY
1. Baseball: Yankees @ Red Sox - FOX HD 3:55/12:55
OR
1. Baseball: Cardinals @ Astros - FOX HD 3:55/12:55
2. NBA Basketball: Detroit @ Cleveland - TNT HD 8:30/5:30
3. Destination HD: Belize - Discovery HD 8:00
4. 2007 French Open - NBC HD 1:00/10:00
5. PGA Golf: The Memorial - CBS HD 3:00/noon
6. NASCAR Busch Series at Dover - ESPN2 HD 3:00/noon
7. NHL Stanley Cup Finals Game 3 - NBC HD 8:00/5:00
8. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - HBO HD 10:00

SUNDAY
1. The Sopranos - HBO HD 9:00
2. Entourage - HBO HD 10:00
3. The Tudors - Showtime HD 10:00
4. MLB Baseball: Yankees @ Red Sox - ESPN HD 8:00/5:00
5. 2007 French Open - NBC HD 1:00/10:00
6. PGA Golf: The Memorial - CBS HD 2:30/11:30
7. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup at Dover - FOX HD 1:00/10:00

The Secret to ABC.com's HD: Lots of Compression

I wrote on this page a week or two ago how ABC.com is planning to begin streaming HD video of its most popular programs like Lost and Grey's Anatomy this summer, with more programs expected in the fall. The way they plan to accomplish this, given the large bandwidth requirements of HD content, is via a generous use of compression technology. ABC.com will stream 720p video at 24 frames a second encoded at a rate of about 2 megs a second, compared to about 1.5 megs a second for the SD content already available at ABC.com.

For you techno-geeks out there, MPEG-4 is compressed at about 5 megs a second, while standard cable and satellite HD video in MPEG-2 is encoded at 12-19 megs per second. What this means is that you shouldn't expect the same quality HD video on your PC that you get on your TV -- probably not even close. And that's assuming your PC is capable of rendering HD-quality video, which for many people will require some amount of tweeking.

Still, considering the quality of much of the streaming video on the Internet today (YouTube, I'm looking at you), even greatly compressed HD should be a substantial upgrade.

More from Multichannel News.

Panasonic Wants to Help Dads

Panasonic has been operating a Concierge service for a year or so now, offering help to its plasma customers. This year for Fathers Day, the company is opening its toll-free help lines to anyone who wants assistance making a flat-panel TV purchase, Panasonic customer or not. Of course, I'm guessing which way they'll steer you in their advice.

To my female readers out there, if any of you out there are considering buying your dad or husband a flat-panel TV for Fathers Day, I offer this word of wisdom: Don't. A flat-screen TV purchase is a highly personal decision for a guy and while you might get lucky and buy him the one he wants, odds are that he would prefer to pick it out.

Think about it this way: would you want your husband or father buying you a purse for Mothers Day? I think not.