Q&A
 DirecTV's Chang Dishes Out the High-Def
DirecTV executive vice president of content strategy Derek Chang on the operator’s plans for HD and the role it plays in the competition between satellite, cable and the telcos for new subscribers. more » » »
BRIEFING ROOM
- Hi-Def At Sea
Get ready to splash around the world in high-definition. The Volvo Ocean Race, which pits a fleet of high-performance 70-foot sailboats in a race around the globe, has stepped up to high-definition for the 2008-2009 edition of the event, which starts Oct. 4 in Alicante, Spain. To deliver high-quality footage from the boats and achieve maximum value for sponsors of the eight race teams, race organizers are taking advantage of advances in small-format (HDV) high-definition cameras, video compression and IP-based satellite transmission technology. more » » »
- Entertainment Studios Makes HD Push with Verizon
Entertainment Studios, an independent producer and distributor of first-run syndicated television programming for broadcast-TV stations, created six targeted HD networks aimed at multichannel operators and gained initial carriage with Verizon Communications’ FiOS TV service. The six HD networks, currently planned to launch on FiOS TV later this year in its basic HD tier, are Cars.TV, Pets.TV, Comedy.TV, MyDestination.TV, ES.TV and Recipe.TV. more » » »
- IBC Rides the Hi-Def Wave
This wrap-up of the IBC show in Amsterdam reports on some of the significant developments in new HD technologies and sales from a variety of vendors. While the economic news from the U.S. was bleak during IBC as the investment banking community fell into turmoil, the overall mood in Amsterdam was upbeat. Major broadcast vendors declared that sales were strong, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, driven by the adoption of high-definition sports and news production. more » » »
- LG to Star at Emmys
HD plasma and LCD flat-panel displays from LG Electronics played a major role in the telecast of the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. As the “Official HDTV of the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards,” LG provided 60-inch plasma screens that both flanked the Emmy stage and served as teleprompters for the hosts and presenters. Also, 50- and 42-inch LG plasmas were used throughout the production, while LG 37- and 19-inch LCD HDTVs were deployed in key backstage production locations. more » » »
- NBC Sets Multiplatform HD Fall Premiere
NBC will preview its new and returning fall 2008-09 series via a variety of platforms, including full episodes in HD. Besides making the shows available on a variety of online sites, the video-on-demand services of Comcast, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Dish Network and Verizon Communications’ FiOS TV will present full episodes of the series’ season premieres or debut episodes, in HD, for one week prior to their network airings. more » » »
AROUND THE WEB
- AT&T Chooses DirecTV As Satellite TV Partner
Dow Jones Newswires reports that AT&T Inc. chose DirecTV Group Inc. as its satellite television provider, ousting former partner DISH Network Corp., because DirecTV's high-definition content and sports packages made it a more attractive partner. The new agreement starts in February. It marks another victory for DirecTV and the latest setback for DISH. It fell behind DirecTV in the race to provide high-definition channels, and now finds itself losing customers to DirecTV and the cable companies, the article contends. The telcos, meanwhile, are spending billions to roll out TV services, and are taking share as well. more » » »
- Officials Test HD Replays During Trojan Loss
The Los Angeles Times reports that during ESPN’s HD coverage of Oregon State upsetting the top-ranked Trojans, 27-21, the Pacific 10 Conference tested HD replays. “The NFL switched to high-definition replays last season,” the articles notes. “But the Pac-10 could be a year or more away from such a change, in part because of finances. The cost of equipment and infrastructure could exceed six figures in each of the conference's stadiums, officials said.” more » » »
- Slingbox PRO-HD Reviewed
PC Magazine reviews the new Slingbox PRO HD, which is an update of its multiple-input Slingbox PRO from 2006. “The PRO-HD, along with the company's SlingPlayer 2.0 software, is notable for some impressive new features, such as the ability to stream high-definition video over the Internet, a Program Guide that probably beats the one built into your cable or satellite box, and a TiVo-like ability to pause and time-shift live television within a 60-minute buffer,” the reviewer notes. Overall, “the Slingbox PRO-HD earns our Editors' Choice for the best media extender.” more » » »
- Verizon Adds HD Channels in Va. And Md.
The Washington Business Journal reports that “Verizon Communications Inc. has added 39 new channels to its Verizon FiOS TV lineup in Maryland and Virginia with 19 new high-definition channels including a Big Ten college sports network and 20 new multicultural content stations. The additional channels bring Verizon’s total lineup to more than 540 high-definition options for viewers that include at least 49 HD channels and more than 500 HD video-on-demand titles offered each month,” which beats Comcast Corp.’s and Cox Communications’ offerings, the article notes. Comcast currently has more than 500 HD options and more than 40 HD channels, while Cox has more than 130 high definition options with about 30 HD channels. more » » »
- Verizon Upgrades HD DVR Software
PC Magazine reports that “Verizon FiOS fiber-based TV service is taking another major step into the interactive TV game this fall, with a significant upgrade of its HD DVR software. During an informal party inside Verizon Communications CIO Shaygan Kheradpir's swank, Manhattan apartment, Verizon execs demonstrated new tools that will let FiOS TV customers use applications tied to live television shows. They included Internet widgets that access online news and interactive accounts on Facebook,…the ability to digest endless YouTube videos, technology that automatically discovers media content for all networked PCs within the home, community-based content filtering and the ability to remotely control the DVR via a cell phone.” more » » »
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