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BBC reveals stunning sample footage shot with TyphoonHD4 camera

by Donald Melanson posted May 7th 2009 at 3:59PM


The BBC has already proven itself to be quite the source for some impressive HD images, but the network's Natural History Unit looks to have really outdone themselves for their forthcoming South Pacific documentary, which makes use of a modified, $100,000 TyphoonHD4 camera. Of course, those exact modifications appear to be a closely-kept secret, but it has apparently been outfitted with a special underwater housing designed by German high-speed camera expert Rudi Diesel, and the camera itself is able to shoot in high definition at 20 times the speed of a normal HD camera, which results in some pretty amazing super slow motion footage. You can get a taste of that after the break but, trust us, you'll want to head up the read link below to really get a sense of what this thing is capable of.

[Via SlashGear]

Continue reading BBC reveals stunning sample footage shot with TyphoonHD4 camera

Kilauea: Mountain of Fire gives an HD look at the volcano tonight on PBS

by Richard Lawler posted Mar 29th 2009 at 4:46PM

PAUL ATKINS/ WNET.ORG
Sure, if you want a great look at nature in HD, Discovery HD Theater has a marathon of Planet Earth going on right now (no seriously, if you haven't seen it, forget the NCAA tournament, Tiger on the links and LeBron's 60 Minutes half court shot, click over right now and watch) but brand new this evening Nature on PBS has an all new look at active volcanoes with Kilauea: Mountain of Fire. The first of this site filmed specifically for high definition broadcasts, Hawaii Magazine certainly seemed impressed by peeks into the vent from the air, underwater lava flows and hikes into the world's largest and deepest lava tube (whatever that may be) promise to give an all new appreciation of natures power for anyone not already peeping Ian McShane on Kings.

CNBC HD is actually HD for the first time tonight

by Richard Lawler posted Mar 24th 2009 at 8:50PM


Looking for something watch once the President Obama press conference is over? If CNBC HD+ is in the channel lineup, click over to check out the channel's first true high definition production Cruise Inc: Big Money On The High Seas at 9 p.m. It's the first of several documentaries apparently planned in HD, and not a moment too soon. Taking advantage of the addition space HDTVs can provide (as pictured above) has been nice, but it's good to know we didn't have to go all Jon Stewart on them to get some real HD.

[Via Media Bistro]

Razor Digital reveals new line of Blu-ray documentaries

by Darren Murph posted Aug 21st 2008 at 8:07PM

We'd say Discovery still has the whole "pretty Blu-ray" thing all wrapped up, but Razor Digital's looking to get a piece of the pie with its latest lineup of Blu-ray documentaries. By teaming with MagicPlay, the outfit has re-mastered a number of pieces originally shot on 70-millimeter film and released in IMAX in order to wow consumers in their own homes. The new flicks include Bears, Wolves, Ocean Oasis, Great North, Guge: The Lost Kingdom of Tibet and Emperor of the Seas. Best of all, they each retail for under $24.99, so fetching some new showcase material won't completely shatter the bank.

50 years of NASA footage hits Discovery in HD this summer

by Richard Lawler posted May 9th 2008 at 6:12AM


Sure now we get live HD from the ISS like it's nothing, but much of the last half century of space exploration has never been seen by most in anything other than grainy analog broadcasts. That'll change in June once When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions debuts on Discovery Channel, drawing from more than 150 hours of NASA footage, called a cross between The Right Stuff and EHD fave Planet Earth. The Orlando Sentinel mentions the new doc is part of a push to ensure funding to speed further space explorations, as long as they provide more great HD opportunities we're all for it. Look for the Blu-ray boxed set July 24 for $79.95.

Hawaii volcano film to be released on Blu-ray... and HD DVD?

by Darren Murph posted Apr 30th 2008 at 1:06AM


There's simply no question that the beauty of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (above) can only truly be appreciated after a winding drive down from Kailua Kona (or Hilo, for those who love the rain), but for folks without weeks on end to spare waiting to see lava flow from some of those majestic creations, a forthcoming film should give you the next best look. Volcanographer Mick Kalber has assembled an hour-long movie entitled Kilauea's Flow to Waikupanaha, and while we'd generally brush something like this off, a recent writeup about it most definitely caught our eye. We thought we had already seen HD DVD's last hurrah back in March, but if KHNL-8 is to be believed, the forthcoming flick will be available on Blu-ray and HD DVD. Granted, there's no release date mentioned, but given that red has been decomposing for months now, we're tempted to believe someone was simply misinformed.

ESPN2 makes Tuesday movie night starting April 22

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 9th 2008 at 9:01AM

ESPN2 HD is following up its well received Black Magic documentary (the network's most viewed doc ever) with four more, starting April 22 each Tuesday gets a little more inspirational. Hellfighters and The Streak tell the story of Harlem football team and a Florida wrestling squad holding onto a 30+ year winning streak when they debut at the end of the month, while May brings Bud Greenspan: The Heart of the Games and The Zen of Bobby V. Expect to see more HD content on the way from the ESPN Film initiative, especially in light of Black Magic's ratings wins.

Cubs Forever documentary coming to WGN HD

by Darren Murph posted Mar 2nd 2008 at 11:49AM


Alright, Cubbies fans -- this is your year. What better way to end the streak than on the 100th anniversary of your last World Series win, right? In preparation for the upcoming season, WGN-Channel 9 is gearing up to air a two-hour documentary called Cubs Forever, which is in celebration of the 60th anniversary of WGN airing its first Cubs baseball game. For the historians in the crowd, that April 16th, 1948 matchup between your beloved Cubbies and the cross-town White Sox was actually an exhibition, but on April 20th of this year, fans will be able to witness "interviews with more than 60 Cubs players, fans and team staffers" that have been a part of the WGN / Cubs partnership. No word on an exact airing time just yet, but you can rest assured that it'll be beamed out in glorious high-definition.

[Image courtesy of VacationsByRail]

RUSH HD delivering HD documentary on downhill skiing

by Darren Murph posted Dec 13th 2007 at 4:07AM


Nah, RUSH HD's forthcoming documentary won't be the first high-definition program dedicated to taking a look at downhill skiing, but what better way to get you all jazzed up about the onset of winter than a fresh look at "the original extreme sport?" Okay, so maybe the Yule Log in HD takes the cake, but we're still slotting this in for second. Scheduled to air this Saturday night at 10:30PM EST (7:30PM PT; 9:30PM C), The Thin Line: Life on the Edge takes a look at what has fueled the sport over the years and includes interviews with some of its most notable figureheads. Additionally, there looks to be quite a few nasty spills crammed into the 90-minute feature, and if you're desperate for a taste a few days early, click on through for a look at the trailer.

[Thanks, Erik M.]

Continue reading RUSH HD delivering HD documentary on downhill skiing

Planet Earth coming to Discovery HD Theater in March

by Richard Lawler posted Jan 10th 2007 at 10:39PM

Discovery Channel is bringing its 11-part natural history series, Planet Earth, from the BBC to the U.S. Premiering on March 25, the series promises to bring viewers into some of the hardest to observe regions of our planet using unprecedented high definition production techniques. Hopefully you're not completely tired of checking out animal behaviors and stunning landscapes in high def because when this simulcasts on Discovery Channel and Discovery HD Theater, viewers will be able to observe them via new innovations like the Cineflex heligimble, a powerful camera lens attached to a helicopter observing animals from long range. From the good people who brought you Blue Planet, the series is narrated by Sigourney Weaver and will run from the 25th until April 22.




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