Quick Hits

Comcast Plans HD Channels

Philadelphia —Comcast is creating two separate HDTV networks for The Golf Channel and Versus, as well as launching a standalone HDTV service for E! Entertainment Television in December, officials said last week.

Comcast's sports services, Versus and The Golf Channel, since January 2007 have shared a single HDTV channel. The Versus HD network will offers fare such as National Hockey League games and the Tour de France, while The Golf Channel HD offerings will include some PGA Tour events.

In the case of the E! HDTV simulcast, its programming schedule will includes shows such as Living Lohan and its trademark red-carpet awards events.

Comcast is talking to distributors about securing carriage for the three HDTV networks, according to a spokesman for the cable operator.

Voom Takes HD Overseas

Bethpage, N.Y. — Voom has launched on-demand offerings in high-definition for its internationally distributed Voom HD and Rush HD services. The HD VOD offerings will provide distributors with five hours each month for each channel.

Glenn Oakley, Voom HD Networks' senior vice president of global operations and business development, said that as far as he knows, it is the first time a U.S. programmer has launched an HD VOD offering in international markets.

The company has yet to launch an HD VOD service in the U.S. and Oakley declined to reveal its domestic timetable.

The company has had an HD VOD offering in Singapore for about a year for its WorldSport HD service. But that product was never designed to be distributed outside Singapore, Oakley said. In contrast, Voom is actively selling the new Voom HD and Rush HD VOD packages throughout international markets.

Voom is also planning to make some of the content available on standard-def.