We normally leave this type of news to TVSquad, but we know this is a big favorite of HD fans everywhere. Like so many of our favorite shows, they can't go on forever -- at least not without jumping the shark -- and just like Lost, the producers have decided when the story will end. While we haven't forgave Sci-Fi for making us wait so long to enjoy the HD version of the show, we do respect the producers decision to end the show when they were done telling their story. So, in November the fourth and final season of 22 episodes will begin with a two hour season premier on Sci-Fi, and as usual we will probably have to wait another 6 months to enjoy it in HD on Universal HD.

The road to ESPN's HD channels for Time Warner Cable customers has been a long and somewhat painful one. First they had to wait a very long time to get the channel at all, and then when it was finally added, customers discovered that they had to pay an extra fee (typically $10) since the channel was added to the HD tier. Then when TWC finally added ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD came along and then again customers had to wait some time before they could enjoy all those college football games and drag racing in HD. Now with ESPNews HD just around the corner, TWC and ESPN got together and worked up a deal that will not only add ESPNews HD to the TWC lineup, but will also move all the ESPN HD channels off the HD tier, which means that all digital cable subscribers will now get the channel for no additional fee, -- assuming they have the proper equipment. This really makes us wonder how many people will pay $10 a month for four channels including HDNet, HDNet Movies, Mojo and Universal HD? They had better add some more channels if they want to make it worth our while.

BSG fans get ready, before the third season of Sci-Fi's series kicks off this fall, they will be following the trend of cable shows airing on network television as a recap episode The Story So Far will air on NBC's West Coast affiliates and Universal HD later this month and throughout September. The episode, covering the key events of the first two seasons of Battlestar Galactica, will also be distributed on a bonus DVD at Best Buy, and via iTunes and Xbox Live. It has been confirmed that the Xbox Live download will come in mid-september, free of charge, however they haven't commented on the size or whether it will be available in HD resolution. Either way, it looks like we'll be clearing some space off the 20GB hard drive and getting on the digital distribution bandwagon shortly.

[via Joystiq]

Thanks to series creator Joss Whedon's insistence in shooting on film and in widescreen cult favorite Firefly has made an excellent candidate for the HD treatment and it is finally going to get it. The entire short-lived series, originally shown on Fox, will begin airing in 1080i September 24th on Universal HD. The movie adaptation Serenity was one of the first HD DVDs available, now we just want to know how long until we get a boxed HD DVD release?

After this addition you may want to re-evaluate your most wanted network, we can see Universal HD moving up a few lists right now. This show brings it just a little closer to that HD Sci-Fi network so many people would like to see.


[Thanks, Edgar]

When NBC launched its high-definition channel for cable and satellite providers in 2004, they envisioned a place where viewers could see the best of the NBC family of channels in one place, all in HD quality. In the two years since launching, it hasn't caught on quite like they'd hoped. TV Week has a rundown on why they believe the channel has floundered when compared to the original networks where all the content is sourced from. Although there is plenty of great HD on Sci Fi, Bravo, and NBC to fill the channel, it currently shows 1980s standards and last season's leftovers.

According to the article, and we bet you could have guessed this after listening to all of our own rants on the subject, it all comes down to money. Because the parent networks have more viewers, they can command more advertising revenue, and therefore it makes no sense for them to move first-run content -- like, say, "Battlestar Galactica" -- over to Universal HD where its ads will bring in less money for NBC. Channels like TNT HD don't face this problem, as they simply simulcast whatever is on the original standard-definition channel with the same ads and all. Of course, they also add some stretch-o-vision to the non-HD shows, much to our chagrin.

So, how do the networks manage to launch new HD content without affecting their meat-and-potatoes SD (at least for now) content? Universal HD, for one, is planning to have some live content, like the US Open, which can help bring in some viewers, and certainly adding first-run shows or more popular syndicated programming can help. Also, as more and more households throughout America and the world purchase HDTVs, these channels will most likely be folded back into their original networks, as the fact that they feature HD will be less of a novelty and simply something to be expected in programming. We can't wait to see 100% HD programming, 100% of the time, with 100% surround sound, and no stretching, no fake upscaling, and no pillarboxing (just kidding!)

[ Thanks Andrew Yoon ]

Universal HD disappeared from Comcast's HD line-up as quickly as it appeared after this years winter Olympic. Or did it? During last weeks podcast, Ben and I talked about this disappearing act in relation to to Comcast's addition of ESPN2HD - we were afraid that this station would also disappear after the World Cup. But reader Mark from Connecticut dropped us a note while he was watching UHD on his local Comcast feed.

How many other people are receiving NBC's national HD channel? We simply hadn't heard that anyone still had the station on Comcast.

It appears that now that the Olympics are over so is Universal HD's carriage on Comcast. Comcast customers are reporting in that they no longer receive Universal HD and when one reader called in the customer service rep indicated that the channel was just temporary for the Olympics. I hope you guys enjoyed Battlestar Galactica in HD while it lasted. Adversary D wants to know where he is supposed to go to enjoy Knight Rider in HD? He's welcome to come to my house and watch it via DIRECTV!

Did anyone else suddenly lose Universal HD or do you still have it after receiving it for the Olympics?

Thanks for the tip Adversary D!

NBC is a huge network and they plan on spreading out their coverage of the Olympics across 5 stations. DISH Network is combining all those stations and another one so fans can find their favorite event. No word if it is going to be available in HD but chances are it will not be. What is going to be in high-def is Universal HD and NBC HD. Together the stations will be broadcasting over 300 hours of the Olympics in high definition. Those stations though are not just on DISH. DIRECTV has Universal and recently Comcast announced they will add it in time for the Olymipcs. NBC, of course, is a national network and their primetime slots are going to be filled with Olympic coverage.

With 400 hours of the Olympics total (300 being HD), how much do you plan on watching it? The skiing is cool but other then that, I do not see myself watching much of it.

It appears that most Comcast customers won't be left out during this year's winter Olympics, as reported by the AVSForum. AVSForum is known for breaking news before an official release, so we trust them.

Universal HD will be carried on Comcast systems across the nation in time for the winter Olympics, unless of course your regional Comcast has bandwidth issues: you know who you are. For those people, Universal HD's Olympic coverage will be on the channel you expect INHD2 to be on .

Universal HD has my number. They are showing "classic" shows in high definition. Sure HDNet has Hogans Hero's but now Universal HD has Knight Rider. Can you believe it? This started a few weeks ago and will be shown every Monday through Saturday throughout the day. But the classic programs do not stop there. Oh no. They also have added Quantum Leap to the lineup.

Now this is what I was talking about a few months back. Networks have a huge library to pull from to provide us with quality HD programing. Sure, it will not be new programs, but at least it will be in high definition. There was a survey recently done that asked what their most missed show was. The "winner:" Star Trek. But don't stop there. On the same list was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Friends, The X-Files and the A-Team. Can you image the X-Files in HD?

There is a lot of new HD stations on their way and lets hope one of them will be a high definition version of TV Land.

UPDATE: My mistake.I did not know that TNT ran X-FIles in HD but they do!

Saturday was a joyous day for Michigan and Michigan State fans alike. Michigan’s offence finally demonstrated that they are an offence versus Eastern Michigan but more importantly, Michigan State extracted sweet revenge against Notre Dame. The Michigan game did not interest me at all, even though I attend UofM, it was the 2-0 Michigan State Spartans taking on the 2-0 Fighting Irish; plus, NBC had the game on in full over-the-air high definition glory. If you happened to catch this, you know what I mean. The only thing better then football in HD is...well, nothing.

The next morning I was flipping through DirecTV and noticed that Universal HD was rebroadcasting the game. Granted, I already knew how it was going to end up, but early morning DirecTV HD leaves a bad taste in my mouth, so I flipped it on. It was disgusting. The digital artifacts were off the chart. A field of green sludge replaced the individual blades of grass that I noticed the day before.

I am not going to pretend that I know the bit rate or the compression that Universal HD and DirecTV used on this program nor will I tell you to stop watching one of the few stations that say they are HD and really are. All I can tell you is what is the picture was bad; almost unwatchable.

Has anyone else noticed terrible rebroadcasts like this?