SPONSORS:

- - - - - -

TOP STORY: WBFF Launches Baltimore’s First HD Newscast NEWS: --VOOM Launches HD VOD Service --Charter Uses Web to Promote HDTV Q&A: Bob Zitter, HBO Briefing Room: News from B&C, Multichannel News and TWICE Around the Web This twice-monthly e-mail newsletter is published by the editors of Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News and covers everything related to HDTV. If you are not interested in receiving this key source of information, click here to opt-out.

Sinclair Broadcasting Group’s Fox affiliate WBFF has launched Baltimore’s first local newscast in high definition. After a year long process of planning and rebuilding their operations, which included installing a new master control and building a new set, WBFF, or Fox 45, launched its HD newscast on June 2nd and is now producing about five and a half hours of local news in high def each weekday, notes general manager Bill Fanshawe.

For more…

[back to top]

For more…

[back to top]

For more…

[back to top]

Bob Zitter Executive VP, CTO HBO

Last summer HBO announced aggressive plans to offer all its 26 multiplexed premium networks in high definition. With the final networks now being transmitted in test mode and ready for launch at the end of June, HBO’s executive vice president and chief technical officer Bob Zitter spoke last week about the company’s HD strategies, and its decision to use MPEG-4 for the launch of the new channels.

For more…

--interviewed by George Winslow

[back to top]

Syndication's HD Hurdle
(From the June 9 issue of Broadcasting & Cable magazine)

With at least nine syndicated shows either already produced in high-definition or switching over this fall, TV stations face new fees and equipment upgrades. Some 1,400 commercial TV stations receive their standard-definition syndicated product via DG FastChannel-owned Pathfire. Moving to high-definition will require software upgrades to the Pathfire system to handle larger HD files, new licensing fees of up to $12,000, and integration work to facilitate playout.
For more…

Convention Coverage Goes HD
(From the June 9 issue of Broadcasting & Cable magazine)

When the Democrats hit Denver on Aug. 25, it will be the first political convention to be broadcast in high-definition and the biggest, remote political event any of the networks has ever covered in HD. Both conventions will be loaded with HD cameras, encoders, transmitters and digital audio consoles, providing the networks with the major challenge of moving all that equipment from Denver, where the Democratic convention ends on Thursday, Aug. 28, to St. Paul, where the Republic confab get underway on Monday, Sept. 1.
For more…

ABC Moving Nightline Jobs to N.Y.
(From the June 16 issue of Broadcasting & Cable magazine)

ABC is cutting one-dozen Nightline jobs in Washington, D.C., and moving the posts to New York, which will leave only a handful of producers as well as correspondent John Donovan and co-anchor Terry Moran to represent the show in Washington. Moran already spends much of his time anchoring from the Big Apple. A network source said one of the reasons for moving the jobs was ABC's switch to HD production in New York.
For more…

Dish Inks HD Carriage Deal with Tribune
(From a June 12 article at Broadcastingcable.com)

Satellite operator Dish Network signed an agreement with Tribune to carry the HD version of WGN America, the cable network from “superstation” WGN, as well as the HD signals of Tribune’s 23 stations in 19 markets. The stations will be added to Dish’s lineup of more than 80 HD channels. Dish said it will have 100 national channels and 100 local markets available in HD by year-end.
For more…

NAB: DBS Should Carry HD and SD Channels.
(From a June 5 article at Broadcastingcable.com)

The National Association of Broadcasters has asked the FCC to require satellite operators to carry both the high-definition and standard digital channels of all stations in any market where they carry one station in both formats. While satellite operators argue the carry one, carry all requirement is an undue burden, the NAB is arguing that the argument doesn't trump "the statutory ban on discrimination," which NAB says would be violated if the satellite operators were allowed to "cherry pick" major stations like network affiliates for special treatment.
For more…

Why Mpeg-4 Conversion Is Costly
(From the June 9 issue of Multichannel News magazine)

MPEG-4 compression promises to save programmers a lot of capacity but it imposes some hefty costs. Hallway talk still puts a $2,500 price tag on a three-stream MPEG-4 transcoder. Also, recoding HD master tapes to MPEG-4 is more expensive — by a factor of 4 to 1, some say. This is why the conversion to MPEG-4 is economically tricky for non-premium cable networks, the article explains. Programmers much weight the money they’ll save on the satellite transmissions, or the money required to go to MPEG-4?
For more…

Local Heroes Key In Olympic Effort
(From the June 16 issue of Multichannel News magazine)

NBC Universal will try to boost local ad sales for the Summer Olympics in 20 markets with a strategy that includes promotional spots for local stations featuring participants from their area, HD subscription retention and sales, related video-on-demand and broadband content and interactive fare. Affiliates will be provided with on-air, direct mail and bill stuffers to promote HDTV content sales, as well as material designed to retain current high-definition subscribers.
For more…

LIN, DirecTV Reach Retransmission Consent Pact
(From the June 9 issue of Multichannel News magazine)

DirecTV and LIN TV Corp. have reached a retransmission consent agreement for analog and high definition feeds for stations covering 15 DMAs. The agreement comes as LIN is engaged in a retransmission consent dispute with Charter Communications and the station group owner saying talks with the operator have broken down. LIN, which owns about 11 stations in seven markets in Charter territory, said its current deal with Charter is scheduled to expire June 30.
For more…

Verizon Teases Summer HD-Programming Splash
(From the June 9 issue of Multichannel News magazine)

Verizon Communications will turn up the heat on cable and satellite competitors this summer, adding more than 60 channels to the FiOS TV lineup, including more than 25 high-definition channels. FiOS TV's HD offerings will now range from 52 to 65 channels, depending on market, and Verizon reiterated its goal of offering 150 linear HD channels by the end of 2008.
For more…

Travel Channel Launches HD VOD Service
(From a June 4 article at Multichannel.com)

Travel Channel Media has announced the debut of its high-definition, video-on-demand service, giving viewers another way to access some of its most popular series including Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. The network has tabbed TVN Entertainment, a distributor that manages more than 8,000 hours of VOD content each month from 175 content partners, to be its exclusive HD VOD services provider.
For more…

Seven Bravia XBRs Top Sony's LCD Line
(From a June 16 article at Twice.com)

Sony expanded its Bravia high-definition LCD-TV lineup to more than 30 models, including derivatives, with the addition of seven TVs in the top-end Bravia XBR series. The introductions include the company's first two LCD TVs with local dimming, and they bring three-color LED backlight technology to lower price points, having been available before only in a 70-inch XBR priced at around $33,000.
For more…

Retailers Seek HD ‘Sizzle’
(From a June 9 article at Twice.com)

Retailers attending the recent DisplaySearch TV Supply Chain Conference said they have seen a strong early-take rate on the government-coupon eligible DTV converter boxes, which is making it easier to forecast demand in the final months of the digital TV transition. But the challenge for retailers going forward will be to sell “the HDTV experience” to keep the mainstream consumers interested in making an upgrade to a new digital set, retail execs note.
For more…

[back to top]

Operators Drop Analog Channels for More HD

The Boston Globe reports that cable companies battling for television customers are increasing their high-definition offerings by scaling back analog channels, in a move that means some customers will need additional hardware to tune in. Verizon Communications Inc. began to go all-digital in May, with plans to offer 150 HD channels by year-end and next month, RCN Corp. begins a nine-month shift to all-digital, dropping its lineup of analog channels in the Boston market to make room for more digital channels.
For more…

 

World’s Largest HDTVs Planned For Dallas Stadium

AOL Sports reports that the Dallas Cowboy’s new $400 million stadium will feature the world’s two largest high-definition television screens. The new stadium, which the Cowboys will play in beginning in 2009, is slated to have more than 3,000 video monitors. The two biggest of those, will be 160 feet by 70 feet, which makes them the two biggest HD screens in the world. The screens will show the game as its being played as well as some behind the scene action. The director of the stadium's construction project says “we think it will be a lot of years until any other new stadium tops us.”
For more…

 

Limited HD in L.A.

The Los Angeles Times slams the lack of HD programming on local cable systems in Los Angeles, a city that is home to studios that produce large quantities of movies, dramas and entertainment programming in HD for U.S. networks. “The entertainment capital of the world ranks last among the five biggest U.S. markets in the number of high-definition channels available to cable-TV subscribers,” the article notes. “New York, Chicago, Houston and Philadelphia all get far more, as do such smaller cities as San Diego and Charlotte, N.C.”
For more…

 

Digital Copy Use Grows

Video business reports that digital copy, which allows users to use content from a DVD or Blu-ray disk to other devices, has moved from being a novelty on a limited number of DVD new releases to something that is now being offering by nearly all the major studios. “If you buy Blu-ray with digital copy, it serves all potential needs for the household,” Steve Feldstein, Fox senior VP of marketing communications told the magazine. “You can watch it on the computer, on the iPod or on the big screen.”
For more…

 

Beijing Prepares for High-tech Olympics

PC World takes a look at the technology behind this year’s Beijing Olympics. The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad has an operating budget of 2 billion and the technology portion of the budget will top $400 million for 449 science and technology projects. “One technology that will get a run-out, albeit a limited one, during the Olympics is IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6),” the article notes. “It does a better job of supporting applications like videoconferencing and high-definition television than its predecessor, IPv4, and offers opportunities for lower-cost construction of security networks and monitoring devices.”
For more…

 

Sky Perfect In Japan to Launch HD Channels

Trading Markets notes that Sky Perfect in Japan is planning to start offering 12 high-definition TV channels in October. By 2011, the number is expected to be raised to nearly 100, roughly half the firm's TV channels. "We aim to become one of the top high-definition TV broadcasters in the world," said Chairman Masanori Akiyama.
For more…

[back to top]

You are receiving this e-mail because you have requested either a newsletter or a magazine from
Reed Business Information.


Subscribe to Broadcasting and Cable's e-mail newsletters   

Check out these other FREE e-newsletters. To subscribe CLICK on the newsletter of your choice.
Multichannel Newswire • HD Programming • Multicultural Newsletter • Friday First Read
HD Update • Telco-IP Television Update • Hispanic Television Update • Local Cable Ad Sales
B&C Today • TechTalk • NewsCentral

Update Your Information  |   Privacy Policy

QUESTIONS?
If you need further assistance with your newsletter subscription, please contact our Online support staff.
Send editorial questions about this newsletter to: pbednarski@reedbusiness.com
Send advertising questions about this newsletter to:Onlineads@reedbusiness.com

Reed Business Information 2000 Clearwater Drive Oak Brook, IL 60523
© Copyright 2008, Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier, Inc.