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2009 British Open broadcast confirmed in standard def on TNT & ABC

by Richard Lawler, posted Jun 30th 2009 at 12:53PM

Bad news golf fans, HDSportsGuide has confirmed that yet again, this year's British Open will be in standard definition on ABC and TNT. At least it will be in native widescreen and the event will be covered thoroughly, including shots from ABC's Segway-mounted Steadicam and X-MO super slow motion camera, but we still can't get over living in a world where the WNBA draft is in 720p and one of golf's major championships and F1 racing aren't.

ESPN2 and ABC bringing 2009 WNBA season home entirely in HD

by Richard Lawler, posted May 22nd 2009 at 3:18AM

The NBA season is winding down, with the conference finals finally under way, but for the first time there will be plenty of high definition basketball all summer thanks to the WNBA. every regular and postseason game broadcast on ABC and ESPN2 will be in HD, starting with the Shock vs. Sparks, June 6. Not close to your HDTV, or in the U.S.? No problem, the games will be on ESPN360.com, ESPN Australia HD and ESPN Brazil HD (there is a ESPN Brazil HD?) Things got kicked off with the HD WNBA draft and while there might still not be much dunking, the league is at least ready to provide the high quality broadcasts enjoyed by the NBA.

Disney grabs a piece of Hulu

by Richard Lawler, posted Apr 30th 2009 at 4:53PM

Just as we'd heard, Disney has worked out a deal with Hulu that includes taking a piece of the streaming video site, joining NBC Universal, News Corporation and Providence Equity Partners as owners and bringing Disney TV shows and movies to the site. Expect Lost, Desperate Housewives, Greek, General Hospital and the like so show up after the deal closes, no word on any delay periods and the only content not mentioned in the deal appears to be ESPN related properties. Also sadly missing from the announcement? Any word of increased HD streaming on Hulu, lets hope they take a page from ABC.com and get right on that.

Jimmy Kimmel debuted last night in HD...let's see if anyone noticed

by Richard Lawler, posted Apr 16th 2009 at 6:51PM


Surprise, surprise, late night TV had a show or two that had not yet made the jump to high definition. Thanks to our friends at TV Squad, we've got a video clip from Jimmy Kimmel's first broadcast in 720p (embedded after the break.) We're not sure how we missed this highly anticipated debut (probably because we didn't get an invite), we apologize and promise to do better. The day Carson Daly switches to HD we will be right on it (unless of course he's currently HDTV-ready, in which case we will substitute Chelsea Lately, a show we actually watch.)

[Via TV Squad]

Continue reading Jimmy Kimmel debuted last night in HD...let's see if anyone noticed

General Hospital prescribes itself a daily dose of 720p

by Steven Kim, posted Apr 7th 2009 at 9:04PM

General Hospital logoIt's been three years since we wished for General Hospital to deliver us some medical melodrama in HD, and in a couple of weeks it'll be coming. Just in time for the May sweeps that are now only partially screwed up due to the delayed DTV transition, the longest running soap in the biz -- 46 years and 11,500 episodes -- will be getting a 720p makeover on April 23rd. ABC has spent a tidy $3 million to equip the production facilities for HD, including seven HD cameras and five Panasonic professional plasmas that keep our hearts warm. ABC is hoping the jump to HD will help increase the realism of the show, and while we're never ones to underestimate the power of HD picture quality, we suspect the story lines might need a little more than 720p to get us to suspend our disbelief.

Disney videos coming to YouTube, Hulu might be next

by Richard Lawler, posted Mar 31st 2009 at 9:17AM

It's a bit surprising to see the Disney family of channels mixing it up with the riff raff like YouTube and, potentially, Hulu given so much time spent increasing its online video presence already (ABC.com, ESPN 360, etc.) but here we are. The deal with YouTube will put video clips (with shared advertising revenue from 15 second prerolls, overlays and banners) and all ESPN to embed its own player on YouTube's page, similar to the deal with CBS and its March Madness Silverlight powered page. About the possibility of a deal with Hulu, Disney's not talking, but if they do take an equity stake, hopefully it will bring the same priority for HD streaming (and boxee cooperation) that's been pushed on its own site.

Lost finally has another HD Easter Egg?

by Richard Lawler, posted Mar 19th 2009 at 9:36PM


It's been quite some time, but the most eagle eyed among us caught a look at this during last night's episode of Lost, showing an unidentified girl in the shadows during a key scene. It's been some time since the last Easter Egg we picked up on, it's hard to tell if they stopped putting them in or if we just stopped caring, but the debate over who this might be or if it was just a mistake has piqued our interest. So, are you still watching as closely as ever, or will it take a few more hidden secrets, characters rising from the dead or the always interesting Jack / Kate / Sawyer / Juliet romantic entanglement to get this one on the big screen Wednesday nights?

Disney / ABC totally, maybe, kind of, considering supporting Intel Widget platform

by Richard Lawler, posted Jan 9th 2009 at 7:57PM

In a move that in some circles counts as "throwing its weight behind" Intel's CE3100 Widget platform, the president of Disney-ABC Television Group mentioned that shows like Good Morning America and Lost could benefit from interactive TV apps. Without commiting to any action, citing unspecified legal issues that could throw a wrench in any such move, they envision real time voting or commenting onscreen or additional clues for the more-than-convoluted-enough-already-thank you Lost mysteries. From here at least it's hard to see Intel's chips making enough headway to justify such support this season, but based on recent Grey's Anatomy plot twists or the Geico Cavemen TV show we can easily see a desperate ABC desperately seeking some kind of partnership in lieu of improving the quality of its content.

Elmira-Corning, NY viewers to finally get ABC and CBS in high-def

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 1st 2009 at 10:03PM

Just in time for the NFL playoffs and March Madness, TV viewers in the Elmira-Corning, New York area will suddenly have lots more to cheer about when firing up the tube. ABC affiliate WENY-TV, alongside CBS affiliate WENY-DT2, will finally deliver programming to locals in high-definition "within the next week or two." The addition of ABC and CBS in HD to the area has been a long time coming, and it's actually being pushed back a few days as the network waits for a few last minute hardware acquisitions to arrive. HD channel additions are always welcome, but getting broadcast stations in high-def... now that's something special.

Sunflower Broadband subs say goodbye to Kansas City's KMBC-ABC and KCWE-CW

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 1st 2009 at 11:14AM


Time Warner Cable subscribers managed to avert a crisis early this morning, but it seems that Sunflower Broadband customers aren't so lucky. As it stands, KMBC-ABC and KCWE-CW -- both owned by Kansas City's Hearst-Argyle Television -- are being dropped from the provider. Both channels were being transmitted to customers in SD and HD, and until an agreement can be worked out, Sunflower has arranged to retransmit ABC Topeka affiliate KTKA in SD / HD so that customers can at least view ABC material. The good (or better, we should say) news? The carrier has vowed to "work around the clock with Hearst-Argyle to restore KMBC and KCWE under terms that are fair to its customers." And now, we wait.

Washington, DC's WJLA (ABC 7) turns on HD newscasts

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 8th 2008 at 1:59PM

It's time to celebrate, DC, as you finally have more than one option to turn to when scouting HD news. For some four years, WUSA (CBS 9) has been the lone high-def news station in the immediate region, but at long last WJLA (ABC 7) has stepped in to give it some much needed competition. Reportedly, the station aired its first HD newscast during the noon hour on December 8th, with the next episodes to hit at 5:00PM and 6:00PM for those scooting out of work. So, which network has next?

[Thanks, Ammar]

Hong Kong's now TV offering Disney / ABC shows on HD VOD

by Richard Lawler, posted Nov 29th 2008 at 4:49AM


Last time we checked in with a la carte IPTV provider now TV, the Hong Kong service had just hit a half million subscribers -- three years later its adding content from Disney - ABC to the high definition video on-demand offerings. Lost, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Kyle XY episodes and more are available at the press of a button for a $7.70 / month (U.S.) subscription fee. The only question now is when one of the big providers Stateside will let us build our own channel lineup.

Live with Regis and Kelly HD details revealed

by Richard Lawler, posted Nov 25th 2008 at 6:04PM

Behind the scenes of Live With Regis and Kelly's HD upgrade will be a new high definition control room, plus new HDTV studio and handheld cams. Not getting replaced for the resolution bump? The set, unlike Entertainment Tonight's new digs Broadcasting & Cable reports Live is just throwing a fresh coat of paint on what's there and moving forward. Unfortunately it seems the state of HD syndication ready local stations is still in disarray, so it may be some time before you actually get a look at the improved broadcast in your area, but everyone else should be more than taken care of January 5.

A look at Election Night ratings: ABC gains, others lose

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 7th 2008 at 11:11PM


We already gave you a shot to voice your opinion on which Election Night broadcast was supreme, but now it's time to dig into the cold, hard facts. With all four of the broadcast networks holding nothing back in order to offer a whiz-bang high-def presentation, it looks as if ABC can be most proud. According to data from Nielsen Media Research, ABC's viewership increased by 9% in total viewers compared to four years prior, and it drew an average of 13.1 million on the eve of November 4th. NBC remained competitive with 12.02 million viewers, but that still represented a loss of 18% from the last election; as for CBS, it notched just 7.83 million watchers and saw its election-over-election results slip 14%. For the full list of numbers and percentages, check the read link.

Election '08 coming home in HD like never before

by Richard Lawler, posted Nov 4th 2008 at 9:37PM


Sure, not every station's pulled out the Star Wars / Iron Man-style holograms for the 2008 election, but they're all trying to put shiny new HD studios to full use and get as many eyeballs as possible until things are decided. NBC & ABC immediately jumped out front at 7 p.m. with data pouring in on the widescreen edges of their HD feeds, with CNN waiting until states were decided to begin updating their lists. ABC's chosen to lean on its touchscreen display and forgo side graphics altogether, while despite Fox's claim as "America's Election HQ", with totally bare shoulders and boring sets, we're pointing our flatscreens elsewhere. PBS, despite airing the clearest, most high quality video available of three old guys at a table, has no slick touchscreens or HD graphics packages to speak of. Think about that as you check out the rest of the screens after the break, and during the next donation drive. Big Bird deserves better.

Continue reading Election '08 coming home in HD like never before





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