Larry David mentioned in an Esquire interview that this seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm will be the first in high definition, although he has no idea why anyone would watch that way since "No one wants to see this old man on TV." True or not, you can still check him out on HBO in 1080i, but you can always flip back to SD if you want, we're sure it will still be funny.

[Via TV Scoop]

Slow down, Watch Instantly fans, both HBO and Netflix are at least claiming there have been no talks about setting up a "premium tier" resembling a question posed in a recent survey. Multichannel News confirmed with Netflix the survey was real so we'll keep a seat open next to Starz just in case, so hey, if Showtime or epix is looking for a partner we've got a great idea for you.

Neither Verizon nor Bright House Networks can provide those oh-so-snazzy interactive mix channels like DirecTV and DISH Network can, but what they -- along with a few other providers, most likely -- can do is provide free access to HBO for a day. This Sunday (that's tomorrow for the continental US, the day after tomorrow for Point Hope, AK, Kihei, HI and surrounding areas), FiOS TV and BHN digital TV subscribers will all be given a fee-free look at HBO's exclusive live broadcast of the "We Are One: The Obama Inauguration Celebration" concert from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Better still, both carriers are providing HD feeds for those looking for the best in clarity (read: you), and those scouting the full lineup of artists and speakers can find just that in the links below. Trust us, this is like a hundred million times better than trying to get within 50 miles of The District this weekend.

Read - Verizon announcement
Read - Bright House Networks announcement
Read - Time Warner Cable announcement

Update: Turns out, HBO's letting anyone with a STB tune in gratis. Classy move.

Okay, so Cablevision isn't apt to come right out and say that these newcomers are the replacements for the 15 VOOM HD networks that were marked for deletion late last year, but it may as well have. Coincidentally, 15 new high-def channels are reportedly lined up to join the Cablevision EPG in short order, though every single one is a premium movie channel. Encore HD, Starz Kids & Family HD, Starz Edge HD, HBO Signature HD, HBO Family HD, HBO Comedy HD, HBO Zone HD, HBO2 HD, HBO Latino HD, Action Max HD, More Max HD, @MAX HD, Outer MAX HD and Showtime Too HD are all expected to show up starting on January 21st, with rollouts continuing across all markets until January 23rd. We know, your first reaction is probably something along the lines of "What? All movie channels?," but at least you're getting something out of the deal -- if you opt to pay up, of course.

[Thanks, LI PC Tech]

It's not like HBO has yet to dangle its feet in the online delivery waters, but we've yet to see a bona side streaming service from the channel that does it justice. According to a recent e-Rewards survey, all that could be changing. The questionnaire contained information about the network's plans to "offer online streaming of programming free for people who subscribe to HBO through their cable provider." Better still, the inquiries were geared more towards a naming convention -- "HBO Click," "HBO Select," "HBO on Broadband," "HBO GO," "HBO To Go," and "HBO Online" -- hinting that the groundwork may have already been laid. If HBO can figure out how to deliver Entourage and the like to paying customers online within 24 hours of programs airing live, we can't help but think at least a few more folks would pony up each month to dive in.

[Thanks, Steve]

While you and your crew kick in a few bucks to catch the Pacquiao / de la Hoya fight tonight, keep in mind you're witnessing the launch of a new network, Event TV HD. The new high definition version of TVN's linear Pay-Per-View net promises to bring boxing, MMA and wrestling action in crisp 1080i and 5.1 surround. That usually includes All Day Event tickets if you want to see a replay, or themed programs during the week. TVN sells its package to cable, satellite and other providers who then pass the PPV on to you, so when Pacman takes this, remember who was responsible for bringing it to you.

[Via Multichannel News]

We know AT&T just unloaded 30 new high-def channels, but we're seeing reports from all across U-verse nation that even more premiums are popping up. We're hearing that some folks now have a Coming Soon screen for a variety of HBO and Cinemax feeds, mostly derived from the west coast. Some of the mentions include 5MaxHD, WMaxHD, HBOFHW, HBOSHW, HBOCHW, HBOZHW, HBOLHW, MMAXHW, ACTMHW and TMAXHW. Anyone else seeing the same? Different?

[Via U-Talk Forums, thanks Anthony]

So, that's what those HBO HD ads down in Latin America were all about, huh? As of this week, DirecTV is now taking orders for HD service in Latin America, and reportedly, those that sign up can receive an HD DVR capable of storing 400 hours of SD or 100 hours of high-def footage. Initially, there will only be four high-definition channels available (HBO HD, Movie City HD, Fox HD and DirecTV HD), but we suppose you've got to start somewhere. Has anyone down that way signed up? How's the image / audio quality?

[Thanks, Eduardo]

Read - DirecTV launching in Latin America
Read - DirecTV's official HD site (Peru)

Our Spanish is a touch rusty, but based on these images (two more after the break), we'd say that planned HBO HD launch in Latin America is all but imminent. According to a tipster, he captured these images of an HBO HD advertisement while watching The WB. Beyond that, we've really no idea what's going on nor when the channel will finally launch, but we're guessing you don't just run ads for something you don't plan on taking live soon.

[Thanks, Takuru]

Time to party down, Bell TV customers. Your television provider just announced that it will add HBO Canada in SD and HD to its lineup on October 30th. Also of note, the channel will be offered on secondary SD and HD slots which will deliver the same programming with a two-hour time difference (okay?). HBO Canada will be included with all Bell TV subscriptions to The Movie Network or Movie Central at no extra cost, and hey -- just in time for Halloween, too!

We already knew that Home Box Office was champing at the bit to rid itself of anything less than pure, unadulterated (okay, maybe just a little bit) HD, and now the outfit is announcing that its Cinemax channel will be going 100% high-def on September 1st. Granted, we're talking about the main channel only here, but this fall / winter is shaping up to be a good one for Cinemax HD. Subscribers will see the pay-TV premieres of The Bourne Ultimatum, Rendition, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and The Darjeeling Limited, and in the near future, viewers will see I Am Legend, Juno, Alien vs. Predator: Requiem and In The Valley of Elah. Of note, the release states that "true HD (1080i)" won't begin until September 6th -- odd, but we suppose a few extra days won't kill us. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

For years, we've wondered why Inside the NFL, with its sweet NFL Films footage and in depth coverage of one of the best sports to watch in high definition, was stuck in SD; but the show's move to Showtime has remedied that. TV Week reveals the upcoming season will be produced for your HDTV, the only proper format considering we get the games live in HD and daily highlights on ESPN-HD, why should a weekly magazine show be any different? If you miss an episode Wednesday night at 9 p.m. (starting September 10), expect plenty of opportunities to see it again with about 10 replays per week, hosted by Cris Collinsworth, Phil Simms and James Brown plus a series of guest hosts. Thanks Showtime, for letting HBO know how things should be done -- seriously, Bill Maher going HD first should have been a crime.

We already heard HBO's CEO Bill Nelson proclaim that all 26 of its channels would soon be airing in HD, but today we've received confirmation that those parked in Latin America will also be enjoying the spoils. Motorola has announced that it will be adding multiple MPEG-4 AVC encoding channels at the HBO Latin America Group digital transmission facility in Florida, which will enable "rapid deployment of HBO's new HD services." According to HBO's Pierre Jaspar, it has seen "marked acceleration in demand" for HD programming in the Latin America region, and while we're not given specific dates, carriers, etc., it seems safe to assume more of the aforementioned region will soon be seeing HBO in high-def.

Everyone's got their own most-anticipated DVD that has yet to make the jump to HD, if Band of Brothers is yours, the wait just got a little shorter. According to The Man Room, the latest issue of Home Media Magazine loosed from an HBO VP the detail that Band of Brothers, #6 top selling DVD of all time, will make an appearance on Blu-ray before the end of the year. While waiting for the boys of Easy Company, we'll just play Call of Duty a few more (thousand) times.