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Mediacom seeing high demand for HD DVRs, adding more HD in Springfield, MO

by Darren Murph posted Dec 4th 2008 at 1:27AM

While we genuinely feel for the HD junkies in Springfield, Missouri who are on a 200-person deep waiting list for an HD DVR, we can't help but smile at the news. Even during these bizarre economic times, the value in high-def programming is obviously shining through. Mediacom Region Operations VP Larry Peterson was quoted as saying that HD DVRs "are the holy grail right now; we've got three different manufacturers we use to try to get the boxes available and it just seems as soon as we get them in, they go out." In related news, the carrier will also be adding in eight new high-def channels on December 17th: WGN, TBS, CNN, SciFi, A&E, History, HGTV, and Food Network. Might explain the uptick in demand, wouldn't you say?

DirecTV enjoys fruitful Q1, demand for HD / DVRs to thank

by Darren Murph posted May 7th 2008 at 1:59PM

Nah, Comcast wasn't shedding any tears after announcing its Q1 2008 earnings, but DirecTV must be grinning from ear-to-ear. Aside from seeing its earnings rise 10-percent and revenues climb 17-percent, the satcaster also managed to grab 275,000 net subscriber additions. Analysts were quite pleased with the exceptionally low churn rate, as many of its subscribers seem to be staying put. And with close to a hundred HD channels on tap, who can blame them? It was also noted that average revenue per subscriber crept up from $73.40 to $79.70, and an increasing demand for high-definition programming and DVRs were largely to thank. Is making the switch from cable to satellite worth it? Seems that quite a few folks said yes with their wallets this past quarter.

[Via BloggingStocks]

Sony doubles production capacity of BRAVIA LCD HDTVs to meet demand in Europe

by Darren Murph posted Apr 28th 2008 at 3:23PM


Whoa, Europe. We thought only 5-percent of your HDTV owners even bothered to check out programming in high-def, right? Just days after Sony dished out a plethora of HDD / DVD recorders across the pond comes word that the firm is doubling the annual production capacity of BRAVIA LCD HDTVs in order to "meet growing demand in Europe." More specifically, the outfit is aiming to boost production from two million sets in 2007 to four million sets by the end of 2008, and its Nitra, Slovakia factory is all set to become its largest producer of LCD TVs worldwide. This also means that the amount of employees there will increase from 2,300 to 3,500 by December. Aside from expanding the capabilities of the aforementioned Nitra Technology Center, it will also construct a logistics facility nearby in order to better manage distribution. Now, if only content providers would give these obviously HD-hungry citizens something good to watch, the circle would be essentially complete.

[Via I4U News]

March Madness to drum up demand for nearly one million HDTVs

by Darren Murph posted Mar 19th 2008 at 8:29PM

Sure, this year's Super Bowl was said to be responsible for some two million HDTV purchases, but driving another million just a month later isn't anything to sneeze at. According to a new release from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament "will help inspire the purchase of nearly 1 million HDTVs (934,000), which represents slightly more than $1 billion in retail sales." Beyond that, the data also found that over half of existing HDTV-owning sports fans would end up turning their attention to the internet in order to fetch highlights and statistics. Of course, it also discovered that the amount of fans viewing whole games online is on the rise, and considering that The Man will likely have you right where he wants you tomorrow (read: nowhere near a TV), we don't find that surprising at all.

LCD TV shipments forecasted to double by 2012

by Darren Murph posted Mar 16th 2008 at 11:43AM

2012 is really turning out to be a banner year in the world of HDTV -- after all, we'll have 900 HD channels via satellite, 33 million homes engaging in HD streaming and everyone and their cousin will own a LCD TV. Okay, so maybe that's a stretch, but according to new data from iSuppli, global shipments of LCD TVs will "nearly double" from 2008 to 2012, "driven mainly by falling prices and consumer demand for flat-screens and the HD format." If you're scouting numbers, the report suggests that we'll see worldwide shipments rise to nearly 194 million in just four years, and unsurprisingly, the thin designs and big resolutions are at the forefront of reasons why. Oh, and if prices keep sinking ever closer to zero, we wouldn't be surprised one iota to see this milestone passed a few months earlier than predicted.

[Via WidescreenReview, image courtesy of Sciam]

Consumer demand for HD content on the rise in Middle East

by Darren Murph posted Mar 4th 2008 at 3:45PM


It's no surprise to hear of consumer demand swaying decisions in America in regard to HD content, but it seems as if the cries for more high-def are making their way east. According to the Dubai World Trade Centre, "discerning consumers in the region are driving broadcasters to expedite their shift towards high definition transmission and upgrade their existing facilities at a faster pace." The 2007 industry report by the Satellite Industry Association also "indicated a huge upswing in consumer demand for more high definition (HD) content." As it stands, broadcasters in the Middle East are just starting to employ HD technology, but given the rate at which areas such as Dubai adopt newfangled technology, we wouldn't be surprised to see guests at the Burj Al Arab enjoying a hundred or so HD options in the not-too-distant future.

[Image courtesy of Volja]

Plasma manufacturers relish uptick in demand from China

by Darren Murph posted Feb 11th 2008 at 6:28AM


We already heard that flat-panel demand in China was seeing a fairly substantial spike, and apparently, a number of plasma manufacturers are champing at the bit to turn around the currently poor performing segment of their portfolios by giving the Chinese something they suddenly crave. Reportedly, both Samsung and LG have "increased PDP production" in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and Euro 2008. Additionally, Hitachi is busting out some confetti of its own, as it will purportedly sell some "30-percent of plasma panels it plans to produce in the year to March 2009 [to] Chinese television manufacturers." Also of note, it's being reported that the outfit "may consider withdrawing from Australia and focusing on developing and making products for key markets such as Japan, North America and Asia," but we've seen nothing official either way.

[Via Widescreen Review]
Read - Japan's Hitachi to supply plasma panels to Chinese TV makers
Read - Plasma TV Industry to jump this year

Blu-ray disc drive prices to be halved by 2008?

by Darren Murph posted Nov 18th 2006 at 5:21PM

Sure, it's no surprise to see bleeding-edge tech plummet in price soon after the initial craze is over, but Sony NEC Optiarc is estimating that Blu-ray disc drive prices will "drop 50 percent from current levels amid aggressive development" by other manufacturers. Shuji Minami -- the product business group's general manager -- is suggesting that increased production by alternative manufacturers will open up the currently tight supply line. We've heard Sony blaming the overwhelming shortage of Blu-ray components for its Playstation 3 supply quandaries, and we've assumed the inclusion of such a drive somewhat justifies (or not) the staggeringly high pricetag, but we can't say we're sharoosed that prices will be dramatically lower in just over 12 months. Regardless, the firm is touting Window's forthcoming Vista operating system as encouragement for more producers to hop on the (nearly empty) bandwagon, so if you're cool with holding out on (questionably beneficial) 1080p flicks for another year or so, you'll (unsurprisingly) find yourself a lot richer for it. But for you European blokes who'll be suffering the same launch day madness that we're still surviving next year, we highly doubt Sony will cut you any slack, especially considering how much dough they're already losing.

WWE to get even more realistic thanks to high-def

by Matt Burns posted Jul 11th 2006 at 10:31AM

The World Wresting Entertainment is about to get right in your face thanks to high-def programming. They have been trying to launch a high-def service for sometime now according to WestleMag.com and should launch tests real soon. There isn't a firm launch date yet but we can't wait to see those body drops and flying elbows. They look so real in standard definition that we are sure they will look great when the resolution is doubled. This new high-def programming should be available via their new On-Demand service and on their normal shows.

Adult high-def content hits Japan via VOD

by Matt Burns posted Jun 5th 2006 at 9:39AM


High definition is a big hit over in Japan. We all know that. But soon all those digital boxes over there will be able to receive, via video-on-demand, porn. Oh and it is going to be high-def adult content that will be delivered right to their HDTVs. This service is set to go live in July and will offer its customers 1080i picture with 5.1 audio all for the low, low price of 400 yen. ($3.5)

So um, would anyone like this service over in the States? Come on, be honest.




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