LCD Panel Prices Dropping: iSuppli

Market researcher iSuppli said yesterday that 42-inch LCD panel prices dropped below $1,000 for the first time, and hit $950. The firm predicted that holiday shoppers could see 42-inch LCD flat-panel TVs for $2,500 -- which would make it extremely competitive with similar sized plasma displays. Read more here:

http://news.com.com/LCD+television+prices+set+to+drop/2100-1041_3-5809065.html?tag=nefd.top

Manufacturer Roundup: Panasonic Healthy, Sony Hurting

Sony and Panasonic parent Matsushita both reported corporate earnings this week, with Panasonic posting strong demand for flat-panel TVs (mostly plasmas) while Sony said that it would cut more jobs in its TV division as it struggles to change its focus from CRTs to flat-panel LCD displays. Sony's TV division lost $348 million in the June quarter. Sony's problems extend from CRT to LCD, however, as the company lowered by 17% the number of LCD displays it expects to ship this year.

According to Reuters, Matsushita/Panasonic now has a commanding 40% share of the U.S. plasma market, and an amazing 70% share of the Japanese market.

Read the full story here:

http://news.com.com/Sony+posts+loss,+Matsushita's+profit+up/2100-1047_3-5808694.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e433

HDTV vs. EDTV

I was interviewed last week by Bill Lammers, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer's tech columnist, for a piece he was writing on HD vs. ED. Specifically, a reader wanted to know if an EDTV (enhanced-definition TV) was money well-spent. In my opinion, it used to be but probably isn't anymore, and here's why.

Let's use the example of Panasonic plasmas, since they happen to be the market leader. Panasonic's 42-inch EDTV plasma (model TH42PD50U) retails for about $2,250 at CircuitCity.com, while the 42-inch HDTV (model TH42PX50U) goes for $3,325 -- 48% more than the ED model. The picture resolution on the ED unit is 480 progressive lines (480p) compared to 768 progressive lines (768p) on the HD -- which equates to 60% more lines. Now will your eye be able to tell that the resolution is 60% better? Maybe not. And resolution is certainly not the only criteria to examine when deciding what to buy.

However, consider that the industry trend is toward even better resolution --1,080 progressive lines (1080p) -- which will be the industry standard for next-generation DVDs and eventually, for broadcast programming. Also consider that whatever you buy, you should plan on having it for awhile. $2,000 or $3,000 for a television is no small purchase, and I'd advise you to future-proof it as much as possible. Many plasmas these days are rated at 60,000 hours, which means that if you watched them for 5 hours a day, they'd last for 33 years. You'd probably want a new one before then due to the advent of better technology, but it's like buying a PC -- you'll never regret buying the one with the bigger hard drive, upgraded memory or faster processor.

Bottom line -- buy the best digital TV you can afford, and if you can justify spending $2,500 for a luxury item like this, you can probably spend a little more to get something that you'll be happy with for years to come.

Read Bill's full column here:

http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1122543360121290.xml&coll=2

HDNet, CinemaNow Team Up for HD VOD

CinemaNow, the online video on demand service, announced Wednesday that has inked a deal with HDNet. From the release:

"CinemaNow, Inc., the leader in video-on-demand for broadband, today announced an agreement with HDNet, the leading high-definition television network,to make several unique titles from HDNet's original high-definition library available on a download-to-own basis via the CinemaNow Web site (http://www.cinemanow.com/). This marks the first time that HDNet has made its distinct library of high-definition programming available on-demand via an online broadband service.

"Among the content being made available on CinemaNow are over 100 episodes from HDNet's vast library of original series, including "Across America," "Get Out!" and several other HDNet specials. As part of the agreement, users of CinemaNow will be able to download permanent copies of HDNet's programming for unlimited playback on the device they download it to. The high-definition versions will be available in Windows Media Video HD."

Is the Game in HDTV?

HD Sports Guide is a good reference for anyone looking for information on which sporting events are offered in HD on which networks. Check it out: http://www.hdsportsguide.com

Sony Shipping New LCDs

Sony said Monday that it is now shipping two new LCD flat-panel displays: The KLV-S32A10 and KLV-S26A10 models round out Sony's "S" series, which also includes models ranging in size from 15 to 23 inches already on the market. According to the company, the picture performance is supported results from a panel resolution of 1366 x 768. The chassis has a high performance, one-chip video processor, Sony's Dynamic Picture® processor circuitry, and CineMotion® Reverse 3:2 Pulldown technology to insure a bright, crisp, high contrast image.

MSRP is about $2,000 for the 32-inch model and $1,500 for the 26-incher.

We're Back!

After spending much of the summer on vacation in Europe and evaluating various business models for my BuyingHDTV.com site, I'm happy to announce that the 1080eye blog is now online again. Please send any feedback on topics you'd like to see covered to mark@buyingHDTV.com.

Hitachi Takes Wraps Off New RPTV, Flat-Panels

Hitachi announced today the introduction of its 2005 model line, which includes three new LCoS, seven new LCD rear-projection, eight plasma displays and four LCD flat-panels. You can read about all the specs and pricing here.

Plasma Sales Up 87% in Q1

DisplaySearch has released data showing that total plasma display panel (PDP) sales were up 87% in Q1 '05 vs. the same quarter last year. Total shipments in the period were 904,000.

The firm also reported that average street prices of plasma displays are down 25% from last year, to $3,080. The decline was 7% in the last quarter alone as compared to Q4 '04.

Panasonic retained its number one position in worldwide plasma market share, followed by LG Electronics, Samsung, Philips and Pioneer. The latter displaced Sony for the #5 spot.

79% of all new plasma displays sold were in the 42-43" size range. Notably, 56% of all plasmas sold were 42" ED models, with 42-43" HD units comprising just 23% of the market.

The full release is here.

Toshiba to Up Plasma Investment

Toshiba is increasing the investment in its new plasma manufacturing plant by nearly $100 million in an effort to increase efficiency and production. Reuters has the full story here.

Pics of Samsung's New OLED

CNET has posted photos of Samsung's prototype OLED.

Arizona Diamondbacks Now in HD

The Business Journal of Phoenix reports that a 17-game package of the Arizona Diamondbacks' home games will be shown this season in high-def via Fox Sports Net Arizona on Cox Cable, beginning Wednesday night against my San Diego Padres.

Glad to see the D'backs jumping on board the HD train. For the record, all of the Pads home games the last two seasons have been shown in high-def, as well as select road games against NL West rivals like Arizona.

Toshiba Intros 1080p DLPs

Toshiba announced at its dealer in Albuquerque show the launch of its new 1080p DLP models. The new Cinema Series and TheaterWide product lines will feature three DLPs featuring the TI HD4 chip with full 1080p resolution, in addition to three models with the existing 720p chip. The 1080p DLPs will be available starting this summer in 56-, 62- and 72-inch versions. MSRPs will range from $3,499.99 to $5,299.99. The full release is here.

ABC's "Good Morning America" to Go HD

The New York Post is reporting that ABC's "Good Morning America" program will debut in high-definition this fall, becoming the first major nationwide news program to make the HD leap. Read the full story here.

This is obviously just the first of what will be a major transformation in the network news business. CNN is rumored to be seriously working on such a transition and given the declining number of viewers who watch the "Big Three" network anchors, it's only a matter of time before we see the smiling mugs of Peter Jennings, Brian Williams and Bob Schieffer in HD.

Verizon's FiOS TV Gets Wealth-y

WealthTV announced today that it has inked a carriage deal with Verizon for the telco's upcoming FiOS TV service. From the news release:

"WealthTV, the premiere lifestyle and entertainment network, today announced an affiliate agreement for linear programming carriage on Verizon’s FiOS TV service when it launches later this year. Under the agreement, Verizon’s high-definition programming lineup will include WealthTV in HD as well as standard digital service. In addition, WealthTV will make signature programs available through Verizon’s video on demand product offering.

"The Verizon announcement comes on the heels of a string of successful launches that include Charter Communications, Armstrong, Davidson, Metrocast, Service Electric, US Cable, Wide Open West, and until recently, Voom. WealthTV features a wide range of family-friendly, aspirational programming from exotic travel to entertaining and educational shows all designed to have broad appeal."

Sony Takes Wraps Off New HD Camcorder

Sony announced Monday that it has released what it is calling the world's smallest and lightest high definition consumer camcorder with full HD resolution based on HDV 1080i. Sony also says that it is one of few camcorders, in fact, the only HD one, that allows you to record high-definition video and take a 1-megapixel digital still image at the same time. The new HD camcorder will go on sale in July; check out the above link for the full specs and details.

Best Buy Cuts Price of HD TiVo by 30%

In its Sunday circular this week, Best Buy is advertising the high-def TiVo from DIRECTV for $699, a $300 savings off the regular list price of $999. The price cut takes effect tomorrow (Tuesday the 17th) and also includes three months free of DIRECTV's HD programming package, which is normally $10.99/mo.

It's about time the price started to come down on this device. For hardcore TiVo lovers, it's a must-have if you're into high-def, but with competing HD-DVRs from cable companies going for $10 or $15 a month with no upfront purchase required, it's getting tough to justify an HD TiVo for several hundred bones. This also puts DIRECTV more in line with DISH Network's HD-DVR, which goes for $699 as well.

CEA Cuts DTV Sales Forecasts; Blames FCC, Broadcasters

Consumer Electronics head Gary Shapiro in a letter to Congressman Joe Barton today expressed strong support for a hard analog cut-off date, citing among other factors the low percentage of Americans who rely on over-the-air broadcast signals for their primary TV viewing. Here's just a tidbit of what Shapiro said; you can read the rest here:

"Of the nearly 110 million American homes with at least one TV, 68% receive a cable signal and 22% receive a DBS signal. Our research shows that roughly 3% receive both cable and DBS. In total, 87% of American homes will have access to cable or satellite (and thus network and local feeds). This means that if the cut off occurred today, less than 13% of the population of 110 million TV households would not have access to a broadcast signal through cable or satellite (though they could certainly start subscribing)."

Interestingly, Shapiro managed to get in swipes at both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the nation's broadcasters, blaming both for the slow transition from analog to digital TV. As such, the CEA has actually cut its DTV/HDTV sales forecasts, now estimating that 14.8 million DTV sets will be sold in '05, slightly more than double the 7.1 million that were sold last year. According to Shapiro, "we had based those [earlier] projections on early FCC action on the tuner mandate petition and extensive promotion of cablecards, neither of which came to pass." Slow moving bureaucrats!

CEA's newly downward-revised sales projections are based on three factors, one of which is that "National Groups for Local Broadcasters Will Continue to Do Little or Nothing to Promote Free Over the Air Digital Television." Take that, NAB!

I encourage those of you with any interest in the politics and policy of DTV and HDTV to read the full letter. It is obviously biased towards the interests of the nation's electronics manufacturers that the CEA represents, as is anything the CEA, NAB or NCTA sends to a lawmaker or regulatory body. Remember that you have to take it with a large grain of salt and once in awhile you can actually learn something -- about the attitudes of the debate's biggest stakeholders, if nothing else.

Federal Budget Analysts Wary of '06 DTV Switch

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is apprehensive that a Dec. 31, 2006 cutoff from analog to digital television broadcasting may lessen the amount of revenue generated by a sale of the analog spectrum to wireless telecom carriers. That revenue, which a deficit-ridden federal government would very much like to maximize, could also be used to partially subsidize analog-to-digital converters for low-income and/or rural consumers who utilize over-the-air TV signals rather than cable or satellite but who won't have yet upgraded to HDTV or have digital broadcasts available in their area.

Multichannel News reports that Senate Commerce Committee majority staff director Lisa Sutherland told attendeees at the Cable Television Public Affairs Association conference last week that "just from purely a budget perspective, [the CBO said] the later the digital transition occurs, the more funding would be made available to the federal government through the auction process."

Verizon Teams Up with NFL Network for FiOS

Verizon said last week that its FiOS fiber video group has reached a carriage agreement with the NFL Network for that channel, NFL on Demand and NFL Network HD. FiOS now has high-def carriage deals in place with Universal HD, Showtime HD, Starz HD and the NFL Network HD.

Sampo Intros LCDs, Plasma

Sampo on Monday announced the availability of three new flat-panel HDTVs: a 26-inch and 32-inch LCD and a 50-inch plasma. Here are some of the details from the company:

"The Sampo Professional family of LCD and plasma displays incorporates a host of innovative features that add versatility and function to support the often demanding video display requirements of users in the commercial, government and education sectors. In addition to standard RS-232 control ports, the new LME-26X8 and LME-32X8 displays are the first in the industry to incorporate a Web server and an RJ-45 Ethernet control port to provide additional network control options. When connected via Ethernet or wirelessly to an existing or standalone network infrastructure, multiple network-addressable Sampo Professional displays can be controlled individually or collectively from a single computer or PDA.

The LME-26X8, LME-32X8 and PME-50X7, which are covered by Sampo Professional's industry-leading two-year onsite warranty, are available now through value added resellers nationwide at list prices of $1,499, $1,999 and $4,499 respectively."

Kreisen Unveils 32" LCD

Kreisen announced last week the availability of their newest 32-inch LCD flat-panel HDTV, the KR-321T. The new model retails for $1,499 and replaces the previous KR-320T. According to the manufacturer:

"Featuring a slim new design, the KR-321T is enclosed in a lustrous silver casing with black inlays. The dramatic modern styling and sleek edges beautifully complement any décor. Behind the new skin is an LG-Philips 32-Inch LCD panel that sports a remarkable 1200:1 contrast ratio and an extremely bright high-quality picture (600 cd/m2). With new electronics, the new KR-321T has an enticing 8 millisecond response time and a plethora of built in features like picture in picture, 3D comb filter, built in tuner, and enough inputs for even the most avid home theater aficionado."

More info is at www.kreisen.com.

Panasonic Kicks Off Plasma Price War

Panasonic has told the retailers that sell its plasmas that it is cutting its prices by 25% to 36% in an effort to boost market share and increase sales. Here are the details:

• The price of the 37-inch HD plasma has been cut to $3,000 from $4,000 (25% decrease)
• The price of the 42-inch HD plasma has been cut to $3,500 from $5,500 (36% decrease)
• The price of the 50-inch HD plasma has been cut to $5,000 from $7,000 (29% decrease)

Investors Business Daily has the full story here.

Plasma and LCD prices have been on a steady decline over the last year or so, but these price reductions from Panasonic are by far the most aggressive we've seen, particularly from a major manufacturer with a good reputation for quality plasma displays. If you're in the market for a new PDP, the Panasonics at these reduced price points are certainly worth close consideration.

UPDATE: DISH Network Charging $5 Add'l for VOOM Nets

As an update to a piece I wrote earlier this week, it turns out that DISH Network is charging $5 a month for the 10 VOOM HD channels that it announced it was carrying late last week. A prospective customer had told me that it was $15 a month, but it turns out that figure included the $10 (actually $9.99) for the regular DISH HD Pak.

So just to clear things up, DISH is charging $9.99 for its HD Pak and an additional $5 a month for the 10 VOOM channels. It's also running a special where new HD customers get the first 6 months of the HD Pak free (but not the VOOM channels).

I apologize for the error...

LG Intros First Plasmas With Integrated HD-DVR

LG Electronics said this morning that it has launched the industry's first plasma TVs with integrated high-definition DVRs. Available in 50- and 60-inch models, the plasmas feature a 160 GB HD-DVR built into the cabinet that is capable of recording up to 13 hours of HD programming or 63 hours of digital standard-def programming. The DVRs incorporate an automatic time-shift feature, which continuously records in one-hour intervals. Other features include slow motion rewind and forward capabilities and instant replay. Viewers are also able to organize recorded programs and set up repeat recordings of their favorite show.

The plasmas feature LG's fifth-generation ATSC VSB/QAM tuner, which receives terrestrial digital HDTV and unscrambled digital cable, as well as analog broadcast and cable tuners. They are also digital cable ready through the use of CableCARDs. Another feature is an integrated 9-in-2 multi memory card reader, allowing users to view still images and listen to digital music, such as MP3 files, through the display. Combined with the DVR, users can store digital photos or music from their digital camera or MP3 player onto the hard drive via nine different formats of memory cards, files that can further be organized and saved for future viewing and listening. The DVR also is capable of creating a music photo album, allowing for stored photos to be accompanied with music in a slide show.

The new plasmas, models 50PY2DR and 60PY2DR, utilize LG's proprietary XD engine technology that the company says takes the low resolution of analog signals to near high-definition levels by improving brightness, contrast, detail and enhancing color as well as reducing signal noise. They are built to last 60,000 hours and come with a 5000:1 contrast ratio and 1000 cd/m2 of brightness, in addition to HDMI inputs.

MSRP is $14,999 for the 60-inch model and $7,999 for the 50-inch.

DISH Network Charging Extra for VOOM HD Channels

Not included in its announcement that it is now offering 10 of the former VOOM 21 high-def channels is the fact that DISH Network is charging subscribers an extra $15 a month to receive that programming. A customer who just ordered DISH Network HD service yesterday told me that the $15 a month for the VOOM channels is in addition to the regular DISH HD package that costs $9.99 a month and offers channels such as ESPN HD, HDNet and TNT HD.

It will be interesting to see how many customers jump at the chance to receive more HD programming at an additional monthly fee. I understand that VOOM no doubt needs to recover the license fees it is paying to Rainbow Media to carry the VOOM channels, but $15 a month seems rather steep considering that most DISH customers have never seen or heard of the specific HD channels brought to market by VOOM. In my opinion, the well-known brands like ESPN HD and TNT HD offer more value than the likes of RUSH HD and Gallery HD, so $5-7 a month would seem a more reasonable fee. Time will tell if I'm right...

DISH Network to Carry 10 VOOM HD Channels

EchoStar Communications said today that its DISH Network satellite TV service will expand its high-definition channel lineup by adding 10 of the original VOOM HD networks, expected to be available May 1. The 10 VOOM HD networks added will include RUSH HD, Gallery HD, Rave HD, Ultra HD, Equator HD, Monsters HD, Animania HD, Majestic HD, HD News and Guy TV HD.

DISH is currently running a promotion in which new customers receive six free months of HD programming (regularly $9.99 a month) with a one-year contract. Existing VOOM customers are also guaranteed next-day installation.

With the addition of the 10 VOOM networks, DISH now offers 17 high-def channels in addition to HD pay-per-view, which will vault it ahead of cable competitors (and DIRECTV) in most markets.

In a related announcement, Rainbow Media Holdings said this morning that it will license the VOOM 21 to any cable or satellite provider that is interested, and that DISH is expected to add the remaining 11 channels of the VOOM 21 sometime in 2006.

HDNet Films Inks Deal with Director Soderbergh

2929 Entertainment and HDNet Films announced this morning that they have entered into a partnership with Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh to direct six high-definition films that will be released simultaneously across theatrical, TV and home video platforms. HDNet pioneered this new distribution strategy with "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" and is planning "to mine its diverse holdings" to produce the new films in HD.

Soderbergh will have creative control over the films' content, the first of which is called "Bubble" and is a murder-mystery set in a small town in Ohio. Soderbergh has directed such notable films as "Erin Brokovich," "Traffic," "Solaris," "Ocean's Eleven," "Ocean's Twelve," and "Sex, Lies, and Videotape."

2929 Entertainment was created by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner and now owns Rysher Entertainment, Landmark Theaters, Magnolia Pictures Distribution, an interest in Lions Gate Entertainment, 2929 Productions and HDNet Films, along with HDNet and HDNet Movies.

HP Unveils New Line of HDTVs

HP took the wraps off its new line of plasma, LCD and DLP HDTVs at the Home Entertainment Expo Thursday, unveiling a total of 10 new models under the brand HP Pavilion. The TVs all include new HP Visual Fidelity technologies that the company says provide enhanced image quality and color. In the LCD and plasma displays, Visual Fidelity technologies provide information about a room's ambient lighting to the TV which then enhances sharpness and color that best complement the room. In the DLPs, HP says that Visual Fidelity double the pixel resolution.

HP's new DLPs are the company's first foray into microdisplays and are available with both 1080p and 720p TI chips. The 1080p models are 65-inches and 58-inches, while the 720p versions are 58- and 50-inches. All will be available for purchase this summer. The DLP models feature a lighted front-connection panel designed with a slot under the TV so audio/visual cables can be easily connected from the front and hidden from view.

HP Pavilion plasmas are 50" and 42" that the company says use next-gen phosphors to create images that are 10 percent brighter than conventional panels. The flat-panel LCDs are available in 37-, 32- and 26-inch models and like the plasma and DLPs, will hit retail in late summer. Both the LCD and plasma models come with a piano-black finish and curved-edge design.

All of HP's new HDTVs are CableCARD ready.

The company also announced the availability of three new models of standard and high-definition HP Digital Entertainment Centers - devices that allow consumers to personalize and manage their TV viewing, movies, music, photos and videos using one remote control. New functionality on certain models includes the ability to record over-the-air high-definition programming and store up to 55 hours of HD content.

Cablevision Says YES to Yankees in HD

Cablevision and the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network (YES) announced this week that YES HD will be available to Cablevision's digital cable customers with an HD box at no additional charge. In addition to broadcasting all of the NY Yankees home games from the Bronx in HD, YES also will show a few Yanks road games against the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox and the cross-town rival NY Mets. All home games of basketball's New Jersey Nets are also broadcast in HD on YES.

Cablevision now offers an industry-leading 17 channels in HD.

Samsung and Microsoft Team Up for Xbox HD

Samsung and Microsoft said today at the Home Entertainment Expo in New York that they have formed an alliance in conjunction with the launch of the new Xbox gaming console, which is HD-capable. Microsoft has chosen Samsung as its exclusive HDTV worldwide marketing partner for the HD Xbox, and to promote the launch, the two companies will place 25,000 Samsung 23-inch LCD HDTVs in Xbox retail kiosks around the world. That particular LCD (model LNR238W) offers what Samsung says is a "super-fast" 12 millisecond pixel switching speed that enables intense action while overcoming any motion artifacts. In addition, Samsung says its Fixed Pixel Device is designed to eliminate scan lines, helping gameplay to be smooth and free of flickering.

The marketing alliance will include cinema, POS, television, print, on-line and various other media efforts.

Comcast Adds 428K HD/DVR Subs in Q1

Comcast said today that it deployed 428,000 HD and/or DVR boxes in the first quarter and now has 1.6 million such set-tops deployed throughout its service territory. The company plans to spend an additional $200-300 million this year on capital expenditures, a decent chunk of which will be used to acquire more high-def DVR boxes that are currently on back order in many of its markets.

NBC's 'Conan' Now in HD; 'SNL' to Follow This Fall

NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" began broadcasting in high-def Tuesday night, joining "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" as the only late-night programs offered in HD. NBC's mainstay comedy program "Saturday Night Live" will be shown in high-def beginning this October, giving NBC a formidable lineup of variety-type programming in HD. The New York Post reports that "The Late Show With David Letterman" will be in high-def "sooner rather than later," although an exact timetable has not been released.

I have to say that personally, the main reason I watch Leno over Letterman is because Leno is in HD and has been for a number of years now. Letterman is oftentimes funnier, but Leno's show looks great in high-def and really contrasts well when compared to Dave's. I'm usually not up late enough often enough to watch Conan, but would be much more inclined to DVR it now that it's in high-def. (I generally find Conan to be more amusing than either Leno or Letterman, anyway.)

Likewise, "SNL," which is a lot less funny today than it was when I was growing up, should benefit from the upgrade to HDTV. I've said it before: HD can make otherwise average programming seem much better than it otherwise would (or really is), just because the picture and sound are of such higher quality than standard TV.

Sharp Reports Strong LCD Sales

Sharp Corp. reported in its annual earnings that it experienced record LCD sales in the last fiscal year, a key factor in its 27% increase in profits over the previous year. LCD television sales were up 78% from the year prior and are expected to rise by another 29% this year. The electronics maker also stated that it plans to hike its capital spending by 3.3% this year, most of which will be spent on an eighth-generation plant where it will make a much greater number of 40-inch LCD panels. That facility is expected to be online by the fall of 2006.

You can read the full Bloomberg story with all the financial details here.

Silicon Valley CEOs Support Hard Cutoff Date for Analog TV

The CEOs of nine leading high-tech companies sent a letter to Congressman Joe Barton, chairman of the House Commerce Committee, today expressing their support of a hard cutoff date for the transition to digital television. In the letter, the heads of Intel, IBM, HP, Dell, Motorola, Applied Materials, NCR, Unisys and EMC said that they favor a "date certain" for the analog cutoff, although they did not address when specifically that date should be. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the letter also stated the CEOs' support of using a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the analog spectrum to subsidize the purchase of analog-to-digital converter boxes for people who currently utilize over-the-air broadcasts rather than cable or satellite service (about 15% of the TV population).

DIRECTV Launches New HD Satellite

DIRECTV this morning successfully launched its new high-def satellite into orbit, the first step for the satcaster in bringing HD local channels to American consumers. The new satellite, dubbed Spaceway F1, is the first of two Ka-band satellites that will launch this year (the other goes up in June). With these two new birds, DIRECTV will be able to begin offering additional HD channels like ESPN2 HD as well as HD local channels in the top 12 U.S. markets. Two more satellites, DIRECT 10 and 11, will are scheduled to launch in 2007. Combined, the four satellites will provide additional capacity to deliver more than 1,500 local HD and more than 150 national HD channels and other advanced programming services to consumers.

The first group of markets to receive local HD channels via Spaceway F1 includes New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, Houston and Tampa. These markets represent nearly 36 million homes or 32.8 percent of all U.S. TV households.

Discovery HD Theater to Simulcast "Alien Planet"

Discovery HD Theater will air "Alien Planet" May 14th in the high-def network's first ever simulcast done in conjunction with the Discovery Channel. According to DHDT, the theme of "Alien Planet" is what happens when we find life outside our own planet. Through computer generated imagery, animation and special effects, viewers are taken on a virtual mission to a planet called Darwin IV, which is 6.5 million light years from Earth. There is also in-depth scientific commentary from luminaries such as Stephen Hawking and George Lucas.

DHDT will also premiere "The Science of Star Wars" on May 18. This original series consists of three hour-long episodes: "Man and Machine," "Space Cowboys" and "War, Weaponry and The Force."

Verizon Adds Showtime HD to FiOS TV Lineup

Verizon announced today that it has reached a carriage agreement for its FiOS TV service with Showtime Networks that includes Showtime HD and The Movie Channel HD. Both high-def networks will be available to Showtime and TMC subscribers at no additional charge.

Verizon has been busy over the last few weeks, having inked agreements with Showtime HD, Starz HDTV and Universal HD, in addition to their non-HD counterparts. FiOS TV is Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises initiative that will launch later this year in select markets.

TNT HD Launches on Comcast

UPDATE: This deal was officially announced by the two companies Monday.

It hasn't been officially announced, but posters to several Internet message boards are reporting that TNT HD launched on Comcast late last week in time for the first round of the National Basketball Association's playoff games. Comcast HD subscribers in Atlanta, Detroit, Indianapolis, Nashville and Washington, D.C. report being able to watch TNT HD, which in addition to the NBA also airs programming such as "Law & Order," professional golf and theatrical movies in high-def.

TNT HD is now carried on Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks on cable, and DISH Network on satellite. I was personally a little surprised that DIRECTV didn't reach a carriage deal by the start of the NBA playoffs, which DISH did a year ago. Two more basketball games air tonight, with the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics facing off at 7:00pm EDT and the Dallas Mavericks taking on the Houston Rockets at 9:30pm EDT.

Discovery HD Theater to Launch in Canada

Discovery Communications has filed a joint venture application with the Canadian government to offer Discovery HD Theater by the end of this year. In a statement, Discovery said that after it gains approval, DHDT will become Canada's first 24-hour high-definition specialty service. Programming, however, will differ somewhat from what DHDT offers in the U.S., with a focus on original Canadian productions and live programming events in addition to traditional DHDT fare originating from the U.S. and around the world. When it launches, Discovery will offer it free of charge for a period of time as a way for viewers to sample the service.

HDNet to Air Dallas Mavs Playoff Games in HD

HDNet said Friday that it will air Games 2 through 5 of the Dallas Mavericks' playoff series versus the Houston Rockets. The telecasts will only be available to viewers in Texas, who are likely the fans most interested in the in-state rivalry. HDNet and the Mavs are of course both owned by billionaire Mark Cuban.

DISH Network Offering Deals to VOOM Customers

DISH Network, like DIRECTV, is reaching out to VOOM customers about to lose their service at the end of this month. According to the company, DISH will provide next-day installation and 6 months of free HD programming with proof of VOOM subscribership.

DIRECTV, as we previously reported, is offering a $200 mail-in rebate towards the purchase of a new HD system.

Discovery HD Theater to Take Mother's Day by Storm

Discovery HD Theater said this week that it will premiere "RISK TAKERS: HURRICANE HUNTER" and "SUPERVOLCANO," two rather un-motherlike programs on Mother's Day, May 8th. According to the network:

"RISK TAKERS is an exclusive Discovery HD Theater series which explores the real lives, real events and real chances involved in some of the world's most dangerous professions. On Mother's Day the premiere episode will be HURRICANE HUNTER, a profile of an extreme weather journalist who travels across the USA photographing nature's deadlist storms...and trying to keep himself out of harm's way. SUPERVOLCANO was the hit 2-hour docudrama which aired on Discovery Channel 10 days ago and was the highest rated primetime program of all ad supported cable networks -- over 5 million viewers."

Hitachi Promoting Plasmas with Hollywood's Help

Hitachi is partnering with Paramount Pictures to promote its plasma TVs in the upcoming Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg picture "War of the Worlds." Based on the H.G. Wells novel, the movie is set for release June 29. Hitachi said Thursday that the campaign will include global advertising, marketing and product placement as part of its "The Ultimate Visual Experience" initiative. Kazuhiro Tachibana, Hitachi's Consumer Business Group general manager, said that “We are thrilled that our high-quality products will not only be seen in the film, but will also be leveraged for a global promotion.”

Hitachi said in a release that it is wrapping its summer ad campaign around what is expected to be among the biggest blockbuster films of the year because there are no other events with real worldwide appeal -- like soccer's World Cup or the Olympics -- this year.

DIRECTV Reaches Out to VOOM Customers

DIRECTV said today that it is offering displaced VOOM customers a $200 mail-in rebate on DIRECTV high-def equipment, including HD receivers and HD DVRs with TiVo. To receive the rebate, VOOM customers have to purchase a DIRECTV HD system before June 30th, subscribe to any Total Choice programming package for one year and also sign up for the HD programming package (which costs $10.99 a month but is currently free for 3 months). VOOM customers can get a DIRECTV HD system installed for as low as $99 after rebate or can instead use the rebate towards the purchase of the $999 HD TiVo. The rebate form is available along with more information at www.directv.com/VOOM.

This promotion won't a huge moneymaker for DIRECTV, because even if it signed up every one of VOOM's customers, the satellite giant would only add fewer than 50,000 new customers -- a small blip for a company that currently has nearly 14 million subscribers. Nevertheless, this is an attractive option for VOOM customers who are facing the imminent shutdown of their beloved service at the end of this month.

Adelphia to be Acquired by Time Warner and Comcast

While it's a bit ancillary to the HD industry, a big shakeup in the cable industry occured this week as Adelphia agreed to be acquired by Comcast and Time Warner Cable, the two largest cable providers in the U.S., for $17.6 billion in cash and stock. When the transaction is completed in 9 to 12 months, Time Warner will receive about 3.5 million Adelphia customers, including those in Los Angeles, Cleveland, upstate New York, the Carolinas and Maine, which are all complementary with current Time Warner cable systems. Multichannel News reports that Time Warner will also take over Comcast's systems in L.A. and Orange County, making Time Warner the dominant cable provider in the lucrative Southern California market. Time Warner will also receive Comcast's 600,000 subscribers in Dallas.

For its part, Comcast will pick up Adelphia's operations and subscribers in Florida, Boston, Pittsburgh, Hartford (Conn.), Colorado Springs and Vermont. According to Multichannel News, it will also take over Time Warner Cable's operations in Minneapolis, Memphis, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida (Cape Coral and St. Augustine). Comcast's subscriber base will increase by 1.8 million, to a grand total of 23.3 million.

Time Warner plans to spend $650 million in the next three years to upgrade Adelphia's operations in certain markets. Currently, 85% of Adelphia's systems have already been upgraded to 750-megahertz or better. This is good news for Adelphia customers in areas where advanced services like HD and DVR are not yet available, and probably means that Time Warner will accelerate Adelphia's development and deployment of Voice Over IP (VoIP) services, which Time Warner has already rolled out in all of its markets.

Compromise on High-Def DVD Standard in the Works

As a follow-up to the piece I ran last week regarding a potential thaw in the relations between the backers of Blu-ray and HD DVD, it appears as though progress is being made towards a compromise. In fact, Reuters and The Nihon Keizai Business Daily are reporting that a Sony source says an agreement could come yet this month.

This is a tremendous development in the advancement of next-generation DVDs, which will be capable of recording and playing high-definition content. Apparently the two groups have decided that yet another standards battle in the consumer electronics industry is a lose-lose proposition for all concerned.

HDMI Reports Adoption Milestone

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) has now been adopted by more than 200 companies worldwide, HDMI Licensing LLC announced at a tradeshow in Shanghai this week. HDMI adopters include cable/connector, semiconductor, system and test equipment vendors in the United States, Asia-Pacific, China, Japan and Europe. Hollywood studios, cable operators and satellite operators also support HDMI.

The FCC has mandated that after July 1st of this year, all 36-inch and larger and half of all 25-inch to 35-inch "Digital Cable-Ready" (i.e. those with CableCARD) TVs must feature an HDMI-HDCP or DVI-HDCP input. Additionally, all cable HD set-top boxes must feature HDMI or DVI output.

This raises a notable point, which is that just because various devices feature HDMI or DVI inputs or outputs, doesn't necessarily mean that they are functional. For example, the high-def DVR set-top boxes that were installed by my cable provider have DVI ports on the back but the cable company hasn't yet activated them. My plasma has DVI inputs, but they are useless right now without the corresponding outputs from the HD-DVR box. (The box also has a DOCSIS cable modem and ethernet port, also neither of which are currently enabled.) So while HDMI and DVI offer better picture quality (and sound quality in the case of HDMI) than traditional component video, they're of little use if the cable or satellite provider chooses not to make use of the more advanced technology.

Analog Cutoff Looking Increasingly Less Likely in '06

Key congressional lawmakers are increasingly vocalizing their opposition to an end of 2006 cutoff of analog broadcasting, leaving an extension of that deadline to 2007 or beyond as the most viable option. Senator Conrad Burns of Montana told the National Association of Broadcasters convention this week that he has to protect the citizens of his state who utilize over-the-air antennas to receive free broadcast programming but haven't yet upgraded to digital TV/HDTV. According to Multichannel News, Senator Burns also said that he doesn't see much support in the Senate for a hard cutoff date next year. Reps. Greg Walden of Oregon and Eliot Engel of New York echoed Sen. Burns' sentiments, with Rep. Walden saying that "“I don’t want to be the one in my office on New Year’s Day of 2007 when everybody starts calling saying, ‘Why did you turn off my TV?"

In contrast, Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, who chairs the House Energy & Commerce Committee and is leading the charge for a 2006 analog cutoff, told the NAB gathering that he doubts opponents of his soon-to-be-introduced legislation have enough votes to block its passage. Rep. Barton did say that he would be open to extending the deadline as long as it wasn't several years down the road.

Microsoft and Warner Bros. to Hook Up for HD DVDs

Microsoft and Warner Bros. are teaming up to utilize the software maker's Windows Media Video 9 technology to offer high-definition DVDs. The Hollywood Reporter says that Warner Home Video will begin using the products in Q4 of this year, although there's no word yet on specific movie and television titles that will be released as part of this project. According to Warner's chief technology officer Chris Cookson:

"Warner Bros. has evaluated the video quality of VC-1 and found it to be outstanding, making it an ideal format for the delivery of high-definition content. By releasing a wide range of titles in VC-1, we are creating great new opportunities to bring high-definition video to consumers."

WMV 9 is Microsoft's version of the industry standard VC-1.

CNET Reviews New Samsung DLPs

If you're in the market for a DLP and are considering Samsung, check out CNET's initial reviews of several of the latest '05 models which feature TI's 1080p DLP chip. Full reviews will appear later when the units hit retail in early summer.

For the record, when it comes to HDTV reviews my top 3 picks for reviewing publications are (in no particular order) Sound & Vision Magazine, Home Theater Magazine and CNET.

Verizon Inks Deal for Universal HD on FiOS TV

Verizon announced Monday that it has reached an agreement with NBC Universal Cable for carriage of a number of NBC Uni cable networks, including Universal HD, on its forthcoming FiOS TV service. For the unitiated or unaware, FiOS TV is Verizon's venture into the video services business utilizing fiber-to-the-premises technology. Verizon has been aggressive in inking these carriage deals, having last week signed one for Starz HDTV. Here's the official description:

"Verizon FiOS TV will offer customers a competitive alternative to cable or satellite. In addition to the NBC Cable and Broadcast channels, FiOS TV will also deliver hundreds of other digital video channels, high-definition programming, video-on-demand content, music channels, an interactive programming guide and other customer-friendly features via the company's fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband network. Verizon is already constructing FTTP networks in half the states where it offers landline communications service. Customers will be able to buy FiOS TV as a stand-alone service or packaged with voice and FiOS high-speed data services, which are already available in some areas."

CEA, Broadcasters Continue War of Words Over DTV

Consumer Electronics Association head Gary Shapiro said yesterday that the nation's broadcasters need to stop focusing on government regulation and embrace the transition to digital television. In a speech to the National Association of Broadcasters, Shapiro lambasted the group for what he called its misleading attack on the CEA's efforts to accelerate the DTV transition by encouraging the FCC to advance the deadline for manufacturers to include digital tuners in all TVs 25 to 36 inches from July 1, 2006 to March 1, 2006. In exchange, CEA wants the FCC to eliminate the July 1, 2005 deadline that currently requires half of all TVs 25 to 36 inches to include digital tuners. The CEA believes that the NAB is falsely accusing the electronics industry of delaying the DTV transition.

The constant bickering among the consumer electronics manufacturers, the broadcasters and the cable operators with regards to the DTV transition is getting rather tiresome. These groups all have different goals with respect to digital television to be sure, and I can appreciate their respective associations' needs to feel like they are adequately representing their memberships' views to policymakers in Washington, D.C. However, I believe that consumers would like to see three things with respect to DTV: lower prices, more options and no forced obsolescence of their existing analog TVs in the near future. Reasonable people can disagree about the steps needed to attain these goals, but all sides in this debate would benefit if the rhetoric were turned down just a bit.

EchoStar to Buy VOOM Programming?

EchoStar may be keen to buy VOOM's 21 HD channels in addition to its Rainbow-1 satellite, according to CEO Charlie Ergen. The head of the DISH Network said this week that his company is debating whether or not to acquire the VOOM 21 that is currently operated by Cablevision subsidiary Rainbow DBS. According to the Long Island Business News and the Sky Report, Ergen made the comments during his monthly "Charlie Chat" broadcast on the DISH Network.

At this point, I would imagine that Cablevision would be willing to part with the VOOM 21 for a fairly cheap price. It has already entered into an agreement to sell the VOOM satellite to EchoStar for $200 million, and apparently has no desire to actually air the Rainbow DBS programming as part of Cablevision's HD package (which I suppose gives some indication of what Cablevision thinks about the quality of the content). I would caution EchoStar about overpaying for the VOOM 21, but there's no need. Charlie Ergen is as shrewd a negotiator as you'll find in this business, and he's no fool when it comes to spending his company's money.

Verizon Brings Starz HDTV on Board for FiOS TV

Verizon announced this week that it has signed a carriage agreement with Starz Entertainment Group for Starz premium movie channels including Starz HDTV and Starz On Demand. Verizon's fiber-based FiOS TV is set to launch later this year and will offer Starz HDTV at no additional charge for Starz subscribers (essentially the same deal as is offered to Starz customers on existing cable and satellite platforms).

Verizon also stated that it is in the process of negotiating with other premium services for FiOS TV.

INHD to Air Three MLB Games Next Week

Cable high-def network INHD said Thursday that it will air three nationally televised Major League Baseball games next week, beginning with Sunday's matchup between my San Diego Padres and the rival Los Angeles Dodgers at 4:10pm ET. On Monday, INHD will show the Detroit Tigers against the Baltimore Orioles at 7:05 ET, while Tuesday's game will feature the Minnesota Twins vs. the Chicago White Sox at 8:05 ET.

INHD said that it will show at least three MLB games in high-def each week of the regular season, which I believe is great for the fans and for the industry. Sadly, INHD isn't available on my cable system yet, but there's always hope they'll get a deal done soon.

Sony Open to Blu-ray and HD DVD Discussions

The Sony exec in charge of the company's foray into next-gen Blu-ray DVDs said this week that his company is open to discussions with the backers of the competing HD DVD about the development of a single standard. However, no efforts have yet been made by either side towards such a goal. Sony's Yukinori Kawauchi told Reuters in an interview that from a consumer perspective, "one format is better than two."

This is perhaps the first real sign that there may be a thawing in the cold war between Blu-ray and HD DVD. Up to this point, it has essentially been a battle of press releases as backers of the rival technologies scramble to bring on board Hollywood studios and other technology companies like Apple to show support for their format. What's clear, however, is that a future with both technologies won't be a victory for anyone, consumers especially. (Just ask the SACD and DVD-Audio crowd how well two standards work.) The industry needs to settle on a single format that can be brought to market as quickly and affordably as possible. I've said it before and I'll reiterate my position: HD DVD may be the better short term solution, as it appears to be more compatible with existing DVD technology and will probably be less expensive for consumers to purchase. Long term, Blu-ray will probably win out because of the additional storage capacity it offers.

Here's hoping that the two sides can get together and work out some kind of settlement that aids the cause of both HD DVD and Blu-ray while ultimately focusing primarily on the consumers who will be the ones adopting next-gen DVD technology.

Consumers Want National Georgraphic Channel in HD

The National Geographic Channel released results of a Beta Group study this week showing, among other things, that consumers rate it the network they would most like to see in high-def. Study respondents also rated NatGeo the second most distinctive cable and broadcast network and third in high quality of programming.

It's not surprising to me that consumers would want to see the National Geographic Channel in HD, as the type of programming it offers is perfect for the medium. Just look at the popularity of Discovery HD Theater among HDTV owners for confirmation of that theory. However, releasing those kind of survey results only makes sense if the debut of NatGeo in HD is imminent, and I have not heard anything suggesting that is the case. If consumers want to see it in HD, give it to 'em in HD! (I realize it's not quite that simple, but hopefully you see my point.)

"Little 500" Bicycle Races to Air Live on HDNet

HDNet will show the Little 500 bicycle races at Indiana University Friday and Saturday. The Little 500 is the largest collegiate cycling event in the nation and is attended by more than 20,000 people. The broadcast of the women's race begins at 5pm ET Friday, while the men's race begins 3pm ET Saturday. HDNet founder Mark Cuban is an alum of Indiana.

Cox Inks Deal for NFL Network HD

Cox Communications said Monday that it has reached a deal with to carry the NFL Network HD, which it will launch late this summer in time for the league's preseason. This past season, the NFL Network aired one "Game of the Week" each week in high-def. Cox joins Comcast and Adelphia in signing distribution deals with NFL Network HD, although not every Comcast and Adelphia system actually carries the network as of now.

1080p DLP Chips Shipping Now: TI

Texas Instruments said Monday that it's 1920 x 1080 HD DLP chips have been fully qualified and are now in production shipment to customers. DLP TVs from manufacturers like LG, Mitsubishi, Samsung and Toshiba are expected to be at retail as early as July. Mitsubishi intro'd five new 1080p DLP models -- ranging in screen size from 52 inches to 73 inches -- at its dealer show on Monday. According to TI, the new 1080p chips offer better sharpness, enhanced colors, darker black levels and improved contrast ratios (above 5000:1) over the previous generation of 720p DLP chips.

I have to say that the 1080p DLP models I saw at CES from the above manufacturers did offer an absolutely stunning picture quality. Here's an easy prediction: they'll sell quite well once they hit retail this summer, and will give plasma and LCD a much more serious competitive threat.

Mitsubishi Intros New Plasma, DLP and LCD Lines

Mitsubishi said Friday at its dealer show that it has launched a series of new plasma, LCD flat-panel, DLP and LCD rear-projection HDTV displays. The new DLPs run on TI's 1080p chip and include either a 160 GB or 250 GB hard disc drive for up to 16 to 25 hours of digital video recording. They also come with two tuners so that users can watch one HD program while recording another, and are Digital Cable Ready using CableCARD. Two HDMI inputs and a nine-format memory card reader are also standard equipment.

Mitsubishi's new plasmas come in either 42- or 50-inch models and feature 12-bit color processing along with the company's BrightCell plasma technology that Mitsubishi says produces sharper, more detailed picture quality. The 42-inch model has 1024 x 768 resolution while the 50-incher comes in at 1365 x 768, and HDMI is standard on both, as are bottom-mounted speakers and a height-adjustable stand.

The company's new line of

VOOM to be Shut Down April 30th

Cablevision said in an SEC filing this morning that it has decided to shut down its fledgling VOOM satellite HD service following the March 31st termination of an agreement with chairman Chuck Dolan and Rainbow DBS CEO Tom Dolan to keep the company alive. Cablevision's board said that it will begin advising customers that VOOM will officially cease providing service on April 30th and that the company's management has already begun implementing shut down steps.

Cablevision is in the process of analyzing whether the VOOM 21 HD channels can be marketed to other satellite and cable providers as part of the Rainbow programming operations.

It's a sad day in the media business when an innovative competitor is lost, because although it only had fewer than 50,000 customers, VOOM was far ahead of the rest of the industry in delivering HD content. With a programming lineup that includes stalwarts like ESPN HD and HBO HD but also the less-carried Universal HD, TNT HD and WealthTV HD, among others, VOOM was truly on the cutting edge of HDTV. Unfortunately, given the consolidation that has taken hold in the media industry as of late, along with the economies of scale that come with being a multi-billion dollar player, there just isn't room for start-up service providers anymore.

Not that VOOM is without fault in this saga, however. Its network of installers seemed ill-trained on the intricacies of many parts of the installation process, most notably the over-the-air antennas needed to pull down local broadcast channels in HD. The company began its retail distribution strategy by inking a deal with Sears, which seemed illogical considering at the time VOOM was touting itself as a premium satellite service and backing that up with a premium $750 price tag for the equipment. The company spent heavily on marketing, but over the last year was losing customers as fast as it was signing them up.

With a few exceptions I never found the VOOM 21 to be all that compelling. In fact, I would be surprised if it gains any carriage deals with larger cable and satellite providers given the difficulty much more established brands like Universal HD and TNT HD are having in doing the same. However, in the final analysis, VOOM did one thing really well and that was deliver HD programming. VOOM made it its mission to seek out new HD networks and bring them on board as quickly as possible, and that is a lesson I hope the other cable and satellite providers will take to heart.

Discovery HD Theater Spending Big on "Atlas HD"

I sat down with Discovery HD Theater chief Clint Stinchcomb at the NCTA National Show to talk about "Atlas HD," his network's ambitious world culture anthology program set to debut next spring. He told me that the first installment of the series will focus on China and will introduce viewers to Chinese topography, culture, politics and sports. Countries to follow in 2006 include Brazil, Australia and Italy, with France, India and Egypt slated for '07. There will be one new country each quarter, with simulcasts airing on the Discovery Channel in non-HD format. The series was originally slated to begin this year, but Discovery execs decided that it needed to be less encyclopedic and more narrative. Total cost of the 30-country series is expected to run about $65 million.

Universal HD Exec Talks Strategy with 1080eye

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

HDNet to Show Pope's Funeral In HD

HDNet said that it will cover the funeral of Pope John Paul II in high-def as part of its World Report news series. "Honoring the Pope's Life and Legacy" will air Wednesday night at 9:45pm EDT and "The Funeral of Pope John Paul II" will be broadcast Sunday at 8pm EDT and 11pm EDT. HDNet appears to be the only news organization with plans to show the funeral in HD, which given the backdrop of St. Peter's Basilica and the throngs of crowds, will no doubt look amazing in high-def.

Canon Looking at Entry Into HDTV Market

Japanese electronics giant Canon wants a piece of the flat-panel TV business and may buy a smaller company like JVC as a means of entering the fray. The company is already working on SED technology (surface conduction electron emitting display) with Toshiba, which some in the industry believe will eventually replace LCD and plasma displays, but Canon's CEO may want a quicker means of entry into HDTVs. He told Reuters in an interview that his company is not yet seriously pondering an acquisition, but that it prefers to manufacture its own products and as of now has no facilities that can churn out televisions.

NASCAR, HDNet Announce '05 Race Schedule

HDNet and NASCAR announced this week the schedule for the second season of NASCAR's high-definition television package on HDNet. This year, HDNet will feature 20 live telecasts from the NASCAR Grand National Division, a tier of NASCAR's regional racing series which includes the Busch North Series and West Series.

"NASCAR Grand National Division on HDNet" coverage began Jan. 30 from Phoenix International Raceway, and continues Saturday, April 9, with a West Series race, the Lucas Oil 150 at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif. The first Busch North Series race on HDNet will be at Thompson International Speedway on Sunday, June 12. HDNet's coverage will also feature select races from NASCAR's AutoZone Elite Division.

NY Yankees in HD on Comcast and DIRECTV

I missed this last week, but Comcast and DIRECTV have reached agreements to broadcast New York Yankees games in high-def this season on the regional Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network (YES). 64 home games will be shown in HD, in addition to five games away from the Bronx when the Yanks travel to Boston to the play the Red Sox. One game against the New York Mets will also be aired in HD. Multichannel News reports that YES will show all 70 Yankees HD games in 1080i.

Panasonic to Produce Nearly 5 Million Plasmas Next Year

Panasonic said this week that it expects to churn out 4.8 million plasma displays by next year, one-third of which will be sold in the U.S. The company also said that this fiscal year, sales of plasmas and LCD flat-panels would exceed CRTs for the first time. Panasonic is also doubling its marketing budget for digital products such as plasmas.

Moxi Gets Comcast Trial, New Deal With Samsung

Digeo announced during the cable industry's National Show in San Francisco this week that it has reached a deal with Comcast for a field trial deployment of its Moxi DVR software platform in the cable giant's Huntsville, Alabama system. Moxi is the software behind the Motorola Broadband Media Center (BMC) that has already been deployed by Charter Communications in various markets and Adelphia Communications in Southern California.

Comcast is showing a fair amount of initiative in DVR lately, having inked a deal with TiVo last month and now with Moxi. It already has deployed Motorola high-def DVRs in the majority of its markets.

Samsung and Digeo also said that they have developed "Moxi II," which is essentially an upgraded, cheaper version of the current Motorola BMC with Moxi. The Moxi II from Samsung will also allow for multi-room high-def DVR capabilities using Mini Moxi II's, an upgrade over the also just-announced Mini Moxi that does not support HD. Adelphia and Charter will launch the Moxi II this fall.

WealthTV HD Launches on Charter

Charter Communications has begun broadcasting WealthTV in HD in Reno, Nevada and San Luis Obispo, California systems, WealthTV president Charles Herring told this blogger at the cable industry's National Show in San Francisco. His company now has carriage deals with "16 or 17" cable operators and the new agreements are in many markets being promoted with radio spots. WealthTV also used the National Show to showcase its original programming, including "The Empire's New Clothes," a profile of present-day Russia that draws on the country's history to show the strides it has made in culture, government and economy.

Consumers Demand CableCARDS: CEA

The Consumer Electronics Association said this week that its internal research shows consumers are demanding Digital Cable Ready HDTVs with built-in CableCARD technology. The report was released at the cable industry's big annual convention in San Francisco, where the CEA said that 7 in 10 consumers say their next TV will be Digital Cable Ready. 3 million HDTVs with CableCARD technology will be sold this year, up from 1 million in '04 after the technology was introduced mid-year.

2007 DTV Transition Date Looking More Likely

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are apparently warming up to the nation's broadcasters' position that a Dec. 31, 2006 deadline for the transition to digital TV is too soon, and an extension of that deadline for another year is looking increasingly likely. Congressman Joe Barton, the chairman of the House Commerce Committee and the most vocal supporter of a hard deadline at the end of '06, plans to introduce legislation soon governing the DTV transition, but will negotiate with other members of his committee before deciding when the deadline should be. Multichannel News reports that many members of Congress consider the DTV transition to be a high priority and vow that it will be dealt with this year.

HDNet to Premiere Enron Movie April 22nd

HDNet announced that the theatrical premiere of "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" will coincide with its debut on HDNet Movies on Sunday April 22nd at 8pm and 11pm EDT. After its one-day premiere on TV, it will be offered in traditional PPV, VOD and DVD windows. HDNet also said that production will begin in April on "One Last Thing..." starring "Sex and the City's" Cynthia Nixon and Michael Angarano from "Will and Grace."

One-Quarter of Adults to Buy HDTV in the Next Year: Poll

A new survey from Harris Interactive says that 27% adults are likely to buy an HDTV within the next year, the highest percentage of purchase interest among the seven electronic devices tested. Not surprisingly, when informed of the prices of HDTVs, the interest in purchasing decreases. Likelihood to purchase an HDTV that costs between $1,500 and $5,000 is just 19%.

Other interesting factoids: members of the so-called Echo Boomer generation (ages 18 and 27) are both the most interested in HD and also the least price sensitive, as there is only a dropoff of three percent in purchase likelihood when respondents were told of HDTV pricing (32% vs. 29%). Baby Boomers are much more price sensitive, with an eleven-point dropoff (28% vs. 17%) that surpasses even the eight-point dropoff of the "Matures" (ages 59+). Looking at the data a different way, digital cable customers are nearly price insensitive when compared to satellite customers (a one-point dropoff for cable compared to eight points for satellite). This is obviously good news for cable companies and something of a concern for satcasters, and may be why Dish Network has gone out of its way to offer relatively low-cost HDTVs that it bundles with its HD service.

Incidentally, Gen Xers are the most likely to buy high-def DVD players when they are introduced, both with (23%) and without (29%) price consideration.

Discovery HD Theater Prepares for Masters Tourney with Golf Marathon

Discovery HD Theater will run a six-hour marathon of its "Golf Escapes" program prior to the final round of the Masters Tournament on Sunday, April 10th at 9am Eastern. Each half-hour episode of the first season will air in its entirety during the period, with highlights including the Big Island of Hawaii, Lake Las Vegas in Nevada, Jack Nicklaus-designed courses in Tennessee and a salute to Pete Dye.

Chuck Dolan Prepared to Spend $400M on VOOM

Cablevision chairman Charles Dolan said in an FCC filing yesterday that he is in the process of lining up $400 million in financing to fund VOOM's continued operations, various news outlets are reporting. The elder Dolan also is attempting to block the proposed sale of VOOM's Rainbow-1 satellite from Cablevision to EchoStar on the grounds that it would hurt competition and leave VOOM's 46,000 customers without service.

Chuck Dolan's opposition to EchoStar's purchase of the Rainbow-1 satellite is hardly unexpected given what will likely happen to VOOM's customers if the sale goes through. Without the satellite, an independent VOOM would be hard-pressed to continue offering service to current or future customers given that EchoStar would likely balk at leasing any capacity back to VOOM. EchoStar is facing tremendous pressure from DIRECTV, which is utilizing two new satellites for local HD channels in the top 12 U.S. markets by the end of this year. EchoStar has not announced any plans for HD locals, which will soon put it at a tremendous competitive disadvantage to its larger rival. EchoStar needs this bird, and won't give it up without a fight.

HDNet Unveils May Lineup

HDNet released its programming schedule for May...highlights include Major League Soccer and NASCAR racing, as well as the premieres of new series "Designing America Season 3" that showcases celebrity homes, "The Benefactor Finale," Mark Cuban's reality series that originally aired on ABC last fall, and "Rick Steves' Europe," a travel show that this month focuses on Ireland and Germany.

FCC Commish Wants to Revisit Multicasting

Democratic Federal Communications Commissioner Michael Copps said this week that his agency should take a second look at rules favoring cable companies is a dispute with broadcasters over the carriage of multiple feeds of digital TV transmissions. In the 4-1 vote last month, Copps voted against must-carry multicasting, but he now says that he would favor it if it were coupled with public-interest rules that would impose requirements of educations programming and free airtime for political candidates. Multichannel News reports that Copps made the comments at a luncheon meeting of the Federal Communications Bar Association.

Universal HD to Launch "Monk" in HD

Universal HD announced that it will premiere "Monk" in high-definition on April 3rd. The debut show will be part of a nine-hour "Monk" marathon running in April. Universal HD is also debuting "Far and Away" starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman on April 9th, and will hold a Vegas Night on April 23rd with "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas" and Martin Scorsese's "Casino." Finally, "Twelve Monkeys," starring Bruce Willis, will air on April 24th.

WealthTV Picks Up VOOM Carriage

WealthTV announced that it has struck a carriage agreement with VOOM for its HD offering, boosting to 40 the number of high-def channels now available on the fledgling (and troubled) satellite provider. WealthTV is a lifestyle channel that is dedicated to personal enrichment -- not just riches. Programming includes International News, The Ray Lucia Show, Giving Back, Wealth on Health, Karma Trekkers, Let's Shop, World of Wealth, Etiquette 101, The Empire's New Clothes and Butler Boot Camp.

Sharp, Mitsubishi License DTV Technology from Zenith

Zenith Electronics, a unit of LG Electronics, has licensed its digital TV reception technology to Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America and Sharp Corp., although specific terms were not released. According to the company, Zenith's 8-VSB (eight-level Vestigial Side Band) technology is part of the ATSC's DTV Standard adopted by the FCC regarding the operation of over-the-air digital TV receivers. FCC requirements for DTV tuners include the 8-VSB demodulators; hence, the licensing deal with Sharp and Mitsubishi.

A New Entrant in the HD-DVR Biz

Pace Micro said Monday that it will unveil a high-def digital video recorder (HD-DVR) at the cable industry's big annual confab in San Francisco next week. The new dual-tuner digital set-top box is dubbed "Tahoe" and comes equipped with a 160 GB hard-drive as well as a DOCSIS 2.0 cable modem. Comcast and Time Warner Cable customers will be the first to see it, although there is no actual release date yet for deployment of the new box.

Dell, HP Turning Up Heat on Asian TV Manufacturers

BusinessWeek's Bruce Einhorn has a great in-depth piece this week regarding the challenge that Asian TV manufacturers like Sony, Sharp and Samsung face from North American companies like Dell and HP. Essentially the crux of the story is that these two U.S. PC makers have the buying and distribution clout to drive prices down quickly and establish market share, and are in fact largely responsible for the recent decline in LCD and plasma prices that I and others have reported. It's a good read.

Flat-Panel Prices Keep Falling

PC World examines the issue of falling flat-panel display prices, finding that LCD prices dropped 27% in 2004 from $1500 for a 27-inch HD-ready LCD TV to under $1,100 today. Similarly, plasma prices have declined by 23% over the last year. The average price of a 42-inch plasma is now just over $2,200 as of January. The data comes from research firms DisplaySearch and NPD Group, and the article cites several examples of models that come in well below those averages.

For what it's worth, I would advise against buying the cheapest plasma or LCD you can find. Sure, you'll save a few bucks, but after your house and car, this is likely the biggest purchase you'll make this year. With HDTVs, like anything else, in many respects you get what you pay for. Now I'm not suggesting that everyone rush out and plunk down $10,000 or more on a top of the line Runco plasma (although if you do, you won't be disappointed). There are some less well-known companies that make quality products, and you can't assume that just because a product has a certain label on it that it's automatically better than one from a company you've never heard of. However, with any purchase this large, quality has to be at least as important as price. Make sure that you've read up on the HDTV you're about to buy and that you're happy with its picture quality. Then factor in the price to ensure that you're not overspending just because of a brand name and that you're not going too cheap in a way that sacrifices quality.

World's Largest HDTV Debuts in Atlanta

Mitsubishi put out a release yesterday crowing over its 5,600 square foot HDTV that will debut at Atlanta's Turner Field next month. The 71-feet high by 79-feet wide Diamond Vision monster weighs in at 50 tons and has more than five million LED lights. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it's the largest outdoor high-definition display in the world (which would seemingly make it the largest HD display period, or so one would think). The 400,000-watt screen will be cooled by 10 fans and will show replays, highlights and video animations to Atlanta Braves baseball fans during home games.

"Baseball Tonight" Makes Season Debut in HD

For all you baseball fans undeterred by the recent steriod controversy, a quick check of ESPN HD's program guide shows that "Baseball Tonight" will debut next Tuesday in high-def at 12:17am EST. It will also air Wednesday and Friday at the same time.

WealthTV Picks Up Carriage in New England

WealthTV announced yesterday that it has signed a carriage agreement with MetroCast, a mid-size cable operator in New Hampshire in Maine, for its HD and SD broadcasts. WealthTV also has carriage deals with WideOpenWest and Charter Communications (only in certain markets). Programming includes International News, The Ray Lucia Show, Giving Back, Wealth on Health, Karma Trekkers, Let's Shop, World of Wealth, Etiquette 101, The Empire's New Clothes and Butler Boot Camp.

CEA: Consumer Acceptance of HDTV on the Rise

The Consumer Electronics Association reported this week that nearly half of all consumers plan to make their next TV purchase and HDTV. CEA projects that total digital TV sales will outpace analog TV sales for the first time this year (although dollar sales of DTVs surpassed analog TVs in '03).

According to the survey results, awareness of DTV terminology has sky-rocketed in the past 18 months. Nine out of 10 adults are now aware of at least one term used to refer to high-definition television, such as "digital television" or "HDTV." Seventy-six percent of U.S. adults say they are familiar with details about the new TV sets. In addition, the percentage of adults who are not familiar has fallen by half, from 42 percent in 2003 to 22 percent today. Finally, 84 percent of consumers have seen an HDTV somewhere in the last 12 months, whether it was in a retail store or in their own home.

CEA also surveyed consumers' reaction to the eventual analog cut-off. When consumers who receive television signals, in part or in whole, via antenna on their primary TV were asked what they would do if they could no longer receive these signals with the antenna they currently use, 52 percent (up from 46 percent in 2003) said they might buy a digital to analog set-top box converter and 66 percent (up from 57 percent in 2003) said they might subscribe to a cable or satellite service. Among those homes that receive television signals only via antenna (12 percent of homes, according to this survey), the figures are 48 percent and 56 percent, respectively. Only 21 percent of antenna-only households are very likely to "do nothing."

Kreisen Unveils New Line of LCDs

Kreisen said early this week that it has launched its full line of HD-ready LCD TVs, expanding on its 37- and 40-inch models that were announced last month. Kreisen now offers 26-, 27-, 30-, 32-, 37- and 40-inch LCD flat-panels through retailers such as Amazon and Target. The company utilizes LCD panels from Samsung and LG.Philips, which it says enables it to offer top-quality products at prices one-third lower than its competitors.

Repackaging Cable HDTV

Repackaging Cable HDTV
By Mark Kersey, President
BuyingHDTV.com
Originally published in March edition of The CTAM Magazine (Cable & Telecom Assoc. for Marketing)

If there is one thing that cable operators, programmers, broadcasters and the consumer electronics industry can all agree on, it’s that the HDTV revolution – which is still very much in its infancy – is the most significant advancement of the television industry in at least a generation. Not since the transition from black-and-white to color has the TV itself been so squarely in the middle of such a dramatic transformation. The move from analog to digital technology impacts literally every facet of the video services business, but it has so far produced many more questions than answers on issues such as must-carry, digital rights management and the future of the now ubiquitous set-top box.

All of which are far too complex to address in this space. What I would like to focus on is how the cable industry – specifically operators and programmers – can get ahead of the HD revolution by offering content in a way that transcends past traditions.

Let’s start with what we already know. Of the roughly 16 million digital televisions the Consumer Electronics Association says have been sold since 1998 (including 7.2 million last year), we know that many of them are not receiving HD service from a cable or satellite provider. It’s difficult to say exactly how many choose to receive their digital signals over-the-air – or just use their new big-screen to watch DVDs – but most estimates conclude that fewer than half of all HDTV owners subscribe to HD service. That’s a substantial missed opportunity for HD service providers and programmers, and unlike a year or two ago, the gap cannot be blamed on HD service availability, as the NCTA reports that high-def programming is available to 90 million cable homes passed in 177 of the nation’s 210 TV markets.

One of the factors often cited in consumers’ slower-than-anticipated transition to digital television is the lack of HD content available for viewing. However, BuyingHDTV.com’s research shows that there are 25 national HD networks available through cable, along with a host of smaller regional channels such as sports networks and independent broadcasters. While the quality of the content varies widely, there is plenty of good programming available on networks such as Discovery HD Theater, ESPN HD, HDNet, INHD and others.

Our research shows that ESPN HD and HBO HD are the most-carried cable channels in high-definition, with 100% of the cable companies in the top 25 U.S. markets offering those two channels in HD. NBC is carried in high-definition on 98% of the cable systems in the top 25 markets, while FOX is on 96% and Discovery HD Theater is on 94%. Several channels available in high-definition are carried on fewer than half of the cable systems in the top 25 markets, including HDNet and HDNet Movies (44% each), TNT HD (18%), Universal HD (10%), The Movie Channel HD (2%) and Encore HD (0%), indicating that the industry still has considerable work ahead of it in delivering a full slate of HD channels to its customers.

What MSOs need to do is rethink the way they package their HD offerings. Most cable companies charge an HD set-top box monthly lease fee of $5 to $10, which includes a number of HD networks, typically the local broadcast stations. However, many MSOs also offer a separate HD tier that often include channels such as Discovery HD Theater, ESPN HD, HDNet/HDNet Movies and INHD/INHD2. Premium channels such as HBO HD and Showtime HD are available if a customer also subscribes to that premium channel’s multi-screen packages.

The problem with this tiered approach is two-fold: First, it nickel-and-dimes consumers who have just spent thousands of dollars on a new HDTV. Second, it assumes that even if they’re willing to pay for the HD tier, consumers know to ask for it. As an example, my cable company – Adelphia – offers ESPN HD on a separate tier for $1.50 a month. However, to actually subscribe to ESPN HD, I have to physically call an Adelphia service rep and have the channel added to my package. I’m all for customer choice, but I believe that most customers who have an HDTV and are willing to pay $9.95/mo. for the HD set-top box would be perfectly happy if the lease fee were just raised a few bucks to include all the best HD channels available.

The other problem with the tiered approach is that many cable customers are not even aware that a separate HD tier exists. Again using anecdotal evidence, I have a friend who uses Time Warner Cable’s HD service but didn’t subscribe to the HD tier featuring ESPN HD, FOX Sports Net HD, HDNet and INHD. The issue wasn’t that he and his wife didn’t want these channels or that the extra $6 a month would break the proverbial bank; they just had never made the call to Time Warner to get them added. After some encouragement from me, they ordered the HD tier. Time Warner and the other MSOs should include all the HD channels standard by eliminating separate HD tiers (and increasing the monthly HD service fee by $3 to $5 a month if necessary). Comcast is setting an example by including all HD channels except premiums with its standard HD set-top lease, and the rest of the industry should follow its lead.

In the final analysis, we are just at the beginning of the HDTV revolution and there is much more to be learned about what consumers expect from their HD service providers. The good news is that there is plenty of time for the industry to experiment with different pricing and packaging options, and clear winners will emerge over time. Odds are that the most successful HD marketing strategies will be those that require little effort from consumers; in other words, those that minimize complexity and maximize value. As is often said, keep it simple. Your customers will thank you, most likely with their wallets.

Charter Cable Finds HD Success in Retail

CableWorld describes cable provider Charter Communications' success in demonstrating its HD service in the retail channel. According to a company exec, Charter has produced a cross-channel spot to emphasize the basics of HD:

Step 1 -- Buy an HD set
Step 2 -- Get HD service from Charter
Step 3 -- Order Charter's HD tier

In my mind, there's a small problem with these steps -- they require too much action on the part of the customer. Steps 2 and 3 should be merged to take into account customers who don't even know there is an HD tier. Check out the post above, which was a piece I authored for a cable industry marketing magazine. And please, let me know what you think.

HD Developments Abroad

For any of you interested in how the rest of the world is doing with HDTV rollouts, here are three interesting pieces for you to chew on:

The BBC Online has the story of confusion regarding HD in Great Britain, particularly with respect to flat-panel displays being sold as HD-ready that are in fact only capable of displaying EDTV. Sound familiar?

South Africa's version of the BBC, the SABC, updates us on that country's plans to broadcast the 2010 soccer World Cup in HD, despite the fact that South Africans themselves won't be able to actually watch the action. High-def isn't expected to arrive in South Africa until 2014 due primarily to delays in upgrading the nation's broadcast facilities for digital transmission.

Finally, Asia Pulse tells of China's migration to DTV and the efforts of Zhang Haitao, vice-minister of the State Administration of Radio, Film and TV (SARFT), who is "maybe China's most enthusiastic proponent of DTV." The link is courtesy of CED Magazine, which picked up the story from LexisNexis.

Discovery HD Theater to Air "Mission HD: Behind the Lines" Tonight

Tonight Discovery HD Theater premieres three shows that they're packaging as "Mission HD: Behind the Lines" in a Hi-Def Tech theme night. It will be a 3 hour event (8 - 11 pm) consisting of:

BLUE ANGELS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE (ep 1- Becoming Blue) @ 8 pm
DELTA COMPANY (ep 1 - The Push To Baghdad) @ 9 pm
DELTA COMPANY (ep 2 - A New Era in Baghdad) @ 10 pm

All three are network premieres in high-definition on Discovery HD Theater. Both BLUE ANGELS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE and DELTA COMPANY were shot in native HD, and premiered in SD on the Military Channel last week.

VOOM Not Getting Satellite Back From EchoStar

EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen told analysts and investors last week that he will keep possession of the Rainbow-1 satellite his company acquired from Cablevision last month for $200 million in cash. There has been much speculation that Chuck Dolan would attempt to buy it back from EchoStar in his quest to keep VOOM alive, but Ergen quashed such notions when he said that "The only thing that would prevent us from acquiring the satellite would be if we don't get FCC approval."

Newsday reports that Ergen did not rule out the possibility of leasing satellite capacity back to VOOM, although he didn't embrace it either.

This development makes Chuck Dolan's job all that more difficult, because he can't very well operate a satellite TV provider without, say, a satellite. He could lease capacity from EchoStar, but the odds that EchoStar would willingly work to ensure the survival of one of its competitors seem fairly slim, even if it were making a few bucks in monthly lease payments off the deal. The Cablevision-imposed March 31st deadline for Chuck Dolan to line up financing is looming large, and Mr. Dolan's options seem to be narrowing...

Lawmakers Speak of Compromise in DTV Transition Debate

Congressional lawmakers with jurisdiction over the transition to digital television appear open to a compromise on the issue, with a hard deadline looking more likely. Senator John McCain, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, said this week that he will probably introduce legislation in his committee that would be identical to that proposed by Congressman Joe Barton, chairman of the House Commerce Committee, that would establish Dec. 31, 2006 as the absolute deadline for the DTV transition. However, Senator John Ensign, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee's subcommittee on Technology, told attendees at the Consumer Electronics Association's HDTV Summit that while a compromise on a hard deadline may be reached, he seriously doubted that his colleagues would accept a deadline of the end of next year. ABC News and MediaWeek have the full stories.

Panasonic Signs On for Two-Way CableCARDS

Panasonic said today that it has entered into agreements with CableLabs that allow it to implement OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP) middleware on its cable-ready digital TVs, set-top boxes, and other products to support two-way, interactive cable services. The agreements, available to any interested consumer electronics manufacturer, grant certain intellectual property rights required for building interactive devices in compliance with the CableLabs OpenCable hardware and software specifications.

OCAP allows retail devices to run OCAP applications or services delivered by cable operators, as well as applications provided by consumer electronics companies, program networks and third-party applications developers. With OCAP middleware, CE manufacturers can build digital cable-ready products capable of using interactive program guides delivered by cable operators, as well as premium services ordered on-screen, such as video-on-demand (VOD).

Optoma Debuts Sub-$10K Front Projector

Optoma has launched the $9,999 H79 front projector home theater system that utilizes TI's DLP and DarkChip3 technology. The H79 features 4500:1 contrast ratio, native 720p resolution and a 1000 lumens ratings. The H79 offers a proprietary 5x, 8-segment DVE (Dark Video Enhancement) color wheel technology with additional dark segments for near dither-free deep levels of black. Optoma provides a two-year warranty and a Zero Dead Pixel policy on the H79, which allows consumers to return the unit for free repair if any one of its 921,600 pixels stops working properly.

HDNet to Show U.S. vs. Honduras Soccer Match

HDNet will show an international friendly match of soccer between the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team and that of Honduras this Saturday at 4pm EST. The match will take place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is considered an important preparation match for the U.S. as it continues its quest to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup next week with games against Mexico on March 27 in Mexico City and against Guatemala on March 30 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Comcast, Sinclair Finally Ink Carriage Deal

The Baltimore Sun reports that Sinclair Broadcasting and Comcast have finally come to terms on a long-term carriage agreement for Sinclair’s local FOX affiliates in high-def. You may recall that the two media giants reached an accord for temporary FOX HD carriage in the days prior to the Super Bowl, but the honeymoon ended quickly and the affiliates were pulled off of Comcast systems in Baltimore, Charleston, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Richmond and Paducah, Ky. late last month.

It’s unclear what the terms of the long-term pact are, but it appears that in lieu of the cash payments Sinclair wanted for HD broadcast retransmission, Comcast may have acceded to multi-casting instead. That would enable Sinclair to provide Comcast’s customers with multiple digital feeds of a local network. For example, in addition to the regular broadcast network, there might also be a 24-hour local news or weather channel, all of which would be digital.

TV History Repeating Itself

Alex Pham of the L.A. Times ran an interesting piece yesterday on a recent phenomenon brought on by the HDTV revolution that may not be new after all: house calls by TV technicians. In the 1950s and 60s, techs would visit people’s houses to deliver the just-purchased TVs and help install and adjust antennas. Today, techs from organizations such as the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) command four-figure fees to calibrate your HDTV in order to optimize picture quality. Needless to say, it’s a growth industry.

Hockey Team Paints Ice Blue for HDTV

The Buffalo Sabres have decided that the cure for hockey’s current problems might just be HDTV, and that large expanses of white ice on the screen need to eliminated to make the game more interesting. They can’t get rid of the ice, so they decided to paint it blue for their minor league affiliate, the Rochester Americans. USA Today has the full story. Predictably, hockey purists aren’t happy.

Tampa Cable Customers Finally Get NBC

The Tampa Tribune reports that Bright House Networks cable customers in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area will finally be able to watch the local NBC affiliate in HD. The carriage agreement comes after three years of negotiations.

CEA Names Best in DTV

The Consumer Electronics Association earlier this week handed out the awards for achievement in digital TV. Drumroll, please:

Best DTV Over the Air Network - CBS
Best DTV Cable System - Comcast
Best DTV Cable or Satellite Service - DirecTV
Best DTV Satellite Programmer - ESPN
Best DTV Sporting Event - CBS Super Bowl XXVIII
Best Original DTV Material - CBS for CSI and ESPN's HD SportsCenter (two-way tie)
Best DTV Journalism - HDTV Insider
Best Industry DTV Leadership - Mr. Peter Fannon, Panasonic Corporation of North America Best Government DTV Leadership - The Honorable John McCain, United States Senate
Best Retail DTV Leadership - Best Buy

In related news, the CEA said late last week that 3 million CableCARD digital TVs will be sold this year.

Malone Says VOOM’s Prospects Are Bleak

Cable industry mogul John Malone, recently named to Cablevision’s board by chairman Chuck Dolan, told investors and analysts on a conference call that he doubts VOOM can survive as a standalone satellite provider. Reuters reports that Malone said of financing VOOM, “I wouldn’t do it with my money,” and “We were offered on a number of occasions an opportunity to participate in a third satellite competitor and we declined because we didn't think the risks were warranted by the potential returns.” Malone went on to say that in his opinion, the only way VOOM can survive is if it is acquired by DirecTV or EchoStar and merged into their operations.

Taking a contrarian view, the New York Post ran a piece on Sunday saying that Malone is interested in investing in VOOM. Here’s an excerpt:

“Industry watchers say a chunk of that financing will come from Malone, predicting that Malone and Dolan will team up for a joint venture to acquire VOOM from the Cablevision stable. Sources say Dolan will likely borrow against his shares, and Malone, who’s worth $2 billion, will tap his deep lines of credit. Malone, a tech savvy cable pioneer who sees the same potential riches in VOOM, is ready to invest billions, industry sources say.”

Maybe the Post needs to check its sources a little better...