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The complicated economics of an all HD channel

by Ben Drawbaugh posted May 31st 2009 at 9:58AM

HDNetWhile you're kicking back and enjoying some HD content on a lazy Sunday it is easy to give little regard to the economics that make that HD content possible. Most don't care much about what makes the world go around, but if you've always wondered why there aren't more all-HD channels, this recent post over at Multichannel news is worth the read. Most notable is the challenges all-HD networks face including the fact that Nielsen doesn't even provide rating for them. If you're a big Mark Cuban fan you might also find it interesting as a number of his quotes are included like when he says "We really think that as our distribution continues to grow, we can dominate the demographic (13-34 males)."

Discovery kicking off continent-by-continent followup to Planet Earth with Wild Planet: North America

by Richard Lawler posted May 13th 2009 at 11:19AM

Having nabbed the former head of the BBC's Natural History Unit, Discovery has designs on its own epic globe trotting series promising to "capture the world, continent by continent in high definition, as its never been seen before." Naturally planned to debut first on Discovery's networks, as opposed to its partnership with BBC on Planet Earth, Wild Planet: North America will be the first of seven installments and start filming this fall. Expect HD cams to visit even more extreme locations, and all manner of wildlife to be snapped by the thousand lenses of myriad high speed cameras. We're ready. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via Reuters]

Discovery to launch Freeview channel in UK next year

by Darren Murph posted Oct 19th 2008 at 11:51PM


Now that we all know at least four high-def stations are set to launch on the free-to-air Freeview HD service during 2009 - 2010, we have a feeling we'll see a whole host of newcomers joining the fold (or, at least we hope). As fate would have it, Discovery has decided that it'll launch its first FTA channel in the UK "early next year" after securing capacity on multiplex A, which is operated by ITV subsidiary SDN. Unfortunately, there's no sign of Discovery HD following suit, but surely it's not too far behind, right?

Discovery Communications gives you a say by going public

by Darren Murph posted Sep 19th 2008 at 12:54PM


Looking to chime in on what kind of programming gets placed on any of Discovery Communications' many networks? No, we mean are you really looking to make an impact? If so, you can put your money where your mouth is now that the firm is listed on the NASDAQ. Yeah, it chose an odd and arguably terrible time in our history to go public, but it also ushered in a new corporate logo and website to fall more in line with that new Discovery HD logo that was unveiled this summer. It's hard to say if going public will have any immediate (and more importantly, visible) impact on programming, but if you're interested in getting involved, all the ticker details and whatnot are listed in the read link.

Discovery HD goes live in Australia

by Steven Kim posted Jul 3rd 2008 at 5:59PM

Discovery HD goes live in Australia
Just a few weeks later than the planned June 22nd date, Discovery HD has officially launched in Australia. This is just the officially-official announcement -- we wouldn't be surprised if the rollout actually started up on June 22 -- so we'd like to hear from Aussie readers in the comments below. Discovery certainly has some great content to offer up, but filling up a 24/7 schedule on the Foxtel HD+ service will be challenging. We're not complaining -- spreading the HD word always gets a thumbs up from us! Add in the Samsung/Foxtel HD+ promo and the Australian TiVos, and we're pretty sure there will be lots of HD grins going around in Oz.

Charter adding TLC HD and Discovery HD to Madison, WI lineup

by Darren Murph posted Feb 27th 2008 at 8:55AM


While not the most impressive of additions, we're hearing that Charter is gearing up to bless subscribers in the Madison, Wisconsin area with a new pair of HD channels. Reportedly, messages are flying out to DVRs now informing customers that TLC HD and Discovery HD will be added on March 25th. Sadly, that means you've got quite awhile to sit around wishing these would go live, but at least you can go ahead and cancel any plans you may have had coming up on that fateful Tuesday, right?

[Thanks, Joe H.]

Survey confirms that Canada loves its Discovery HD

by Darren Murph posted Feb 9th 2008 at 11:47PM

Yeah, we Americans were already quite envious of the Discovery HD lineup in Canada, but the Canucks are affirming said awesomeness in a newfangled survey polling viewers on which channels offered up the "best high-definition programming." Coming in only behind the nation's favorite TSN (a sports network, if you couldn't guess), Discovery HD was ranked as the best non-sports station for HD quality in the country. Furthermore, respondents aged 18 to 34 actually ranked Discovery HD above all other channels. We're envious, sure -- but we still love ya.

Insight cable customers get six new HD channels, NFL Network included

by Darren Murph posted Dec 8th 2007 at 11:12AM

Over a year after Insight Communications launched its InsightDigital 2.0 service and threw in a trio of HD channels to boot, the cable company is now giving its loyal customers five more high-definition options along with the Digital 3.0 upgrade. Reportedly, users can now tune into Discovery, Animal Planet, The Learning Channel (TLC), TBS, National Geographic and yes, even the NFL Network in glorious HD. The Digital 3.0 package will automatically be available to digital subscribers at no extra cost, but it should be noted that Insight will raise prices in January. Additionally, the operator has nearly doubled its on-demand library and includes VOD channels for HOB, Starz, Showtime, Cinemax and The Movie Channel, but we're still left with no word on any HD VOD plans.

Discovery will launch two new HD channels in January

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Dec 6th 2007 at 4:15PM

Discovery HDDiscovery's original HD network, HD Theater -- formerly known as Discovery HD Theater -- has always been one of our favorite channels, so anytime we hear that Discovery is going to find a way to bring us more HD, we are thrilled. Discovery's CEO David Zaslav, told TV Week that by getting carriage on these two new channels -- that he failed to name -- now, would be like getting "beach front property," because they'd be providing seven of the thirty or forty HD channels most people have. As much as we love the original HD network from Discovery, we have a hard time getting too excited, after seeing how much stretch-o-vision is on four out of five of the so-called HD channels they have now.

[Via SatalliteGuys.us]

FIOS quietly adds Discovery HD in some markets

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Nov 7th 2007 at 4:53PM

Discovery ChannelThere are some things that we just love to be wrong about. We theorized about why Verizon's FIOS only added one new HD channel in six months, while other providers were adding them in record numbers. Shortly after, Verizon announced major HD expansion plans for 2008 and now customers are reporting on AVS, that Discovery HD is showing up on channel 846. Oddly enough, there isn't any guide data yet, we'd guess they're waiting for the official launch. At this point it's hard to tell which markets are the lucky ones, but we can tell you that it's on in at least Tampa, Northern Virgina, and South Jersey. There have been a few rumors about five new HD channels being added by the end of '07, but up till now we haven't had any reason to believe them. As much as we love new HD programming, we'd rather have a different channel, based only the fact that most of Discovery's HD programming is already available on HD Theater and the most of the rest is upconverted and stretched.

Cox gets deal for new Discovery HD channels

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Sep 20th 2007 at 10:17AM

Discovery HDIf you're like us, you can't get enough HD programming and when Discovery announced four new HD simulcasts of their popular cable channels, we got excited. Of course our excitement was quickly crushed when our provider didn't announce a carriage agreement. At this point most people have the choice to switch to Dish, wait for DirecTV to bring DirecTV 10 online or forget about it till their provider comes around. Well, the time has come for select Cox cable subscribers as they've got the deal done and will be launching all four new channels in select Cox markets around the country. Most of you Cox subscribers know who the lucky ones are, if your local Cox area isn't bandwidth challenged, you should see these new HD channels popping up shortly. And no, they don't plan to get rid of Discovery HD Theater.

DISH Network adds 15 more HD channels

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Jul 10th 2007 at 3:21PM

Dish HDDirecTV and cable are busy arguing over who will add the most HD channels, meanwhile, DISH Network keeps racking 'em up. As if they weren't already the undisputed HD provider, now they have announced eight new regional HD sports channels that will launch tomorrow and seven new national HD channels in Auguest and September including; The History Channel HD and Discovery HD -- not to be confused with Discovery HD theater. Now, most of these channels require the latest MPEG4 equipment to enjoy, and we're not exactly sure what day you can expect to see the rest of these to pop up in your guide, but there is no doubt that anyone serious about HD, has to consider DISH as their provider.

The full list of new HD channels after the break.

Read -- DISH Press release
Read -- Satelliteguys.us retailer chat coverage

Continue reading DISH Network adds 15 more HD channels

Planet Earth HD DVD and Blu-ray review

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Apr 24th 2007 at 8:01AM

Planet Earth HD DVDHigh-Def Digest just released their review of both the HD DVD and Blu-ray version of Planet Earth. The video quality and audio quality sections of the review for both are identical, because both discs use the same VC1 encode and DD 5.1 audio (488kbps). According to Hi-Def Digest this is a must owned demo disc for both formats and that other than the normal low light artifacts that video is known for, the video quality is some of the best they have seen for either format. The audio on the other hand leaves something to be desired, but isn't bad. The good news is that neither format showed the type of compression artifacts that we have some to live with from sat or cable and that both versions outshine the broadcast version you may have already seen.

Read HD DVD review
Read Blu-ray review

HDTV Listings for March 25, 2007

by Richard Lawler posted Mar 25th 2007 at 4:32PM

What we're watching: Discovery's much-anticipated Planet Earth series kicks off tonight, and features some of the best footage your HDTV is likely to see of hard to reach corners of the world. The L Word season finale is also tonight on Showtime.

Our traditional high-def listings continue below.

Continue reading HDTV Listings for March 25, 2007

Don't forget Discovery's Planet Earth starts Sunday

by Matt Burns posted Mar 23rd 2007 at 11:12PM


Set those DVRs now for Planet Earth, Sunday night on Discovery HD Theater. Seriously, go; we'll wait... We know that you probably won't want to miss Desperate Housewives live and whatever other random stuff comes on Sunday night, but you are not going to want to miss the three hours of Planet Earth. This is a five-week special that is going to attempt to teach you almost everything Terra Firma has to offer. Sunday's first hour is going to take viewers "Pole to Pole" showing almost everything in between. Now like we said, this might be one of those programs that you save for a rainy day, but your HDTV will appreciate the amazing eye candy.




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