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Charter trying to nab TBS HD prior to MLB playoffs

by Darren Murph posted Sep 30th 2008 at 3:46AM


While Verizon already secured TBS HD for its FiOS TV customers prior to the start of the MLB playoffs, Charter Communications subscribers may or may not be so fortunate. Particularly for Brewers fans in Wisconsin, the desire need to land this station in short order is crucial to their well being, and according to corporate spokeswoman Anita Lamont, the carrier is working hard to make it happen. Currently, the station isn't slated to go live until October 14th, but that's obviously far beyond the date baseball fans are hoping for. In somewhat related news, Charter Wisconsin is also scheduled to launch Animal Planet HD, Movie Channel HD and Smithsonian HD in mid-October, so even if the whole TBS thing doesn't happen on time, not all joy is lost.

[Image courtesy of DiamondHoggers]

Verizon FiOS adds TBS HD in time for the MLB playoffs

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Sep 23rd 2008 at 5:17PM

TBS HD
Although just about every FiOS TV market was about to add TBS HD within the next month, if you're a baseball fan it's likely it was scheduled to be added a little too late. Every self respecting MLB fan knows that the playoffs start next week, and with 20 out of the first 20 games in HD on TBS HD, it is a must have for baseball fans. We have to say that when it comes to sports Verizon always seems to find a way to deliver the HD in time. First it was CNBC HD and USA HD in time for the Olympics, and then it was ESPNU HD in time for the kick off of the College Football season -- one of the only providers to add it on launch day too -- and now this. So if you're in one of those FiOS TV markets that's still waiting on the HD expansion to come your way, go check out channel 849 to make sure you're ready to follow the playoffs in HD -- or maybe you just want to watch Seinfeld reruns in HD.

Seinfeld goes HD on TBS HD

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Sep 3rd 2008 at 10:36PM

Seinfeld HD screen shot
No, this isn't the usual stretch-o-vision we've come to expect from TBS HD, this is the real thing. Yesterday -- in a move that has been more than three years in the making -- TBS HD started broadcasting syndicated reruns of Seinfeld in HD. What's that you say, how could a show that was produced long before HD was invented be presented in HD? It is simple, film is eternal -- well almost -- and Sony spent the big bucks to go back to film for your HD enjoyment. Now, since this is TBS we're talking about here you know there has to be a catch, and that catch is that the show is cropped -- TBS, like Engadget is a Time Warner company. Everyone knows how much Turner hates black bars, and apparently 4x3 HD content isn't any different.

Poll: What's the most annoying form of advertising?

by Darren Murph posted Jun 6th 2008 at 12:00PM


We spotted something this week that really got our heads spinning: a fairly fail proof method to keep ad skipping (at least partially) at bay. During a re-run of Family Guy on TBS, Bill Engvall casually walked onto the bottom of the screen, paused Family Guy and proceeded to pimp his own show for a solid 15 seconds. Yeah, TBS is known for self-promotion, but this just feels downright slimy. It prompted us to fire up this poll, however, which beckons you readers to cast your vote for the most annoying form of advertisement. Feel free to chime in below with specific experiences if you feel led, and make sure to use the heck out of that DVR while you still can -- clearly, these guys are all too ready to institute workarounds to hinder ad skipping. The Bill Engvall violation video is waiting after the break.

What's the most annoying form of advertising?


Continue reading Poll: What's the most annoying form of advertising?

TBS HD shedding its stretchy skin, showing more true HD?

by Darren Murph posted Apr 9th 2008 at 9:42PM


Watching baseball in high-def on TBS HD is a beautiful thing, but witnessing nearly everything else in unflattering stretch-o-vision isn't exactly enthralling. Thankfully, it seems as if the channel notorious for abusing its "HD" suffix may be coming back over from the dark side, as more and more content of late has shown up in actual 1080i. For instance, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle was aired over the weekend in true HD, and more recently, episodes of The Office have been broadcast sans the stretch. Heck, even the TBS watermark and on-screen graphics have been tweaked to signify the apparent coming out party. Surely we aren't the only one noticing an influx in actual HD content on TBS HD, right?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Comcast gives Twin Cities 11 new HD options

by Darren Murph posted Dec 12th 2007 at 10:40PM

It is the season to give, you know, and while we've heard that Comcast will be on the receiving end of things when it hikes rates in 2008, at least users across the nation are receiving a boost in their HD lineup before having the family over this holiday season. Up next on Comcast's list is St. Paul / Minneapolis, Minnesota (and western Wisconsin), which is receiving 11 new channels to complement the 22 already available. Among the newcomers are CNN HD, Animal Planet HD, Discovery HD, Food HD, Sci-Fi HD, TLC HD, Universal HD, USA HD, TBS HD, History HD and FSN North HD. Reportedly, customers in the area are already able to view USA, Sci-Fi, Universal and Food, and the rest of the gang is slated to go live on or before December 17th.

[Thanks, Ed]

TBS HD continues its roll, comes to AT&T U-Verse

by Steven Kim posted Oct 7th 2007 at 2:21PM

AT&T U-Verse adds TBS HDWe're beginning to feel like a broken record with all the TBS HD announcements, but in a good way. More HD is always welcome, right folks? This time around, TBS HD announced carriage with AT&T's U-Verse. Even though the killer content on TBS HD is the MLB playoff coverage, the carriage deals establish a beachhead for (hopefully) more good things to come. After all, it's not so easy/pleasant to take a channel away from customers after it's been given to them.

Dish adds TBS HD too, where's FIOS?

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Oct 7th 2007 at 11:08AM

MLB playoffs in HD on TBS HD
Dish subscribers only missed a few HD MLB playoff games, but now they get to enjoy the rest because yesterday TBS HD showed up. We're not keeping score, but we believe that Verizon's FIOS is the last hold out. Only the most devout HD baseball fan would switch providers just to watch the playoff in HD, but we're sure there will be a few; especially if Verizon continues to extend this six month HD dry spell while every other provider is adding HD channels at a record pace.

Cox inks deal to get CNN HD and TBS HD

by Darren Murph posted Oct 3rd 2007 at 8:58PM

While some of us have been enjoying the MLB postseason in HD on TBS HD, those relying on Cox Communications have been out of luck. Thankfully, all that is changing, as Cox and Turner Networks "announced an agreement today that will allow Cox to offer TBS in HD and CNN HD in Cox markets." Interestingly, an actual go-live date wasn't noted, so for those out there paying for HD from Cox, fire up your set and see if either channel is already available.

TBS HD carriage deals, have to be some kind of record

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Oct 1st 2007 at 3:02PM

TBS HDMost of us have been watching HD for some time, so we've seen our fair share of HD channel launches, and while there are more channels than ever before, TBS HD's ability to get carriage deals has to be some kind of record. If you've been following the site for the past week, then you've noticed that we've had at least one post a week -- maybe more -- about TBS HD getting adding to some provider. And it seems Dish is the only one not carrying the channel at this point when just about everyone else is. We wish all channels were this good at getting out there, -- especially HD capable channels that don't stretch their content -- but we'd really love to know how they did it. Sure MLB baseball playoffs in HD are a pretty big draw, but somehow we doubt that's what it took to get the deal done at the same time and with so many providers.

Read: Cablevision adds TBS HD
Read: Down to Wire for TBS HD

Time Warner Cable's new HD channels in October

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Sep 24th 2007 at 9:14AM

Time Warner CableSome providers can't stop talking about when they'll add new HD channels, while others would rather keep things under wraps 'till the new programming goes live. While both strategies have their advantages, not communicating with your customers is usually not a good idea. It appears now that TWC has quite a few plans for HD expansion in October, as customers in at least one market can expect to see many of the same channels DirecTV has been touting including, TBS HD, The History Channel HD, CNN HD, Lifetime Movies HD, and Food Network HD. While TBS HD is expected to go live in time for the MLB playoffs on October 1st, the rest are expected on October 15th. We can only assume that TWC and Bright House Networks customers all over the country will see these channels around the same time, but without a specific announcement, your guess is as good as ours.

TBS's quasi HD network to launch September 1st

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Jun 27th 2007 at 11:11AM

TBS LogoEver since Turner (also a Time Warner company, like us) got in the HD game we've had a love-hate relationship with them; not only do they stretch all their SD content, but they make things worse by claiming it's HD in the guide data. If you were hoping they would stop doing this, think again, cause it's getting worse, now that they're adding a second channel. Sure TBS HD will have some good quality HD when it launches in September like original programming and MLB playoffs, but they are sure to have plenty of stretched content as well, and they brag about it to Multichannel news by saying shows like Friends will be presented in HD. Sure, anything is possible, but considering Friends wasn't produced in HD, they'd have to go back to the source and convert the entire series to HD from film -- like Sony did with Seinfeld -- to make it happen.




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