We won't restate the irony found in an internet tycoon bashing online TV (oops...), but Mark Cuban has seemingly come up with a few brilliant ideas since claiming that internet video was a failing enterprise back in March. Essentially, Mr. Cuban reckons that HDTV currently being delivered over the internet to LCD monitors around the globe should actually not be transmitted via the compressed methods currently used. Rather, he asserts that we should "move the video cloud to the node and encode and insert into traditional video distribution systems." In other words, deliver internet TV to your existing cable / satellite set-top-box, giving end-users the ability to create playlists and customize shows. We'll admit, we're warming to the idea in general, but trapping users into a cable / satellite bill isn't that appealing for those who lavish the ability to watch some of their HD via OTA and some of it via the 'net. Still, we're sure he's got that niggle all figured out too -- but why would he reveal his secrets before taking it to the bank?

[Thanks, VANBROTHERS]

While Motorola and friends had a field day at The Cable Show, Amino is looking out for you IPTV users at NXTcomm08. Presented today in Las Vegas, the AmiNET130M is hailed as the market's first 100% digital HD IPTV set-top-box, and you can bet it stands out in the crowd. The atypically designed unit measures just 4.48-inches wide by 1.37-inches high and packs an HDMI output and MPEG-4 support. You'll also find a USB 2.0 peripheral port, IR remote functionality, an optical S/PDIF audio jack and Smartfoot compatibility, but what you won't find is a price or release date. Sigh.

Okay, so maybe this deal is going down a little later than we would have liked (considering the NHL season is over and all), but there's always next year, right? Not quite two months after the NFL Network landed on IP-PRIME's IPTV network, NHL Network has followed suit. For hardcore fans using this service, you can look forward to blowout coverage of the NHL Entry Draft on June 20 - 21, and better still, 75 games during the 2008 - 2009 season will be broadcast in high-definition. The recently inked agreement ensures that each and every IP-PRIME operator in the United States will have access to the SD and HD feeds, and it sounds like the channel should be live as we speak.

News flash: Poland has gone absolutely berserk here lately, with a slew of carriers introducing HD channels / services all within the last few weeks. Keeping the trend alive is Telekomunikacja Polska S.A., which we'll refer to from here on out as TP. Judging by local reports and the image above, said telco is currently testing out HD IPTV. As you can see, an HD set-top-box is connected to an ADSL router in order to beam Filmbox HD to the set. Unfortunately, a go-live date is still unknown, and the biggest hurdle yet to be overcome is the purported dearth of ADSL availability (or possibly just affordability) in the region. Baby steps, baby steps.

[Thanks, Arsenal]

As the admittedly light adoption of HD continues on continents not named North America, we see Austria's own aonTV hopping on the HD bandwagon. The Vienna-based IPTV carrier has just launched HD-Videothek -- which will carry a mix of hit movies, documentaries and music videos -- and ORF HD, which will be used to carry the upcoming Euro 2008 in high-definition. The cost for picking up the tier is €4.90 on top of the basic €34.90 subscription, though a new service dubbed Timeshift TV is being made available gratis. As the title implies, the feature enables viewers to "replay content from the previous 90 minutes" on 11 different channels. Not exactly a DVR, but we suppose it's better than nothing.

Would you look at that? Poland nets another. Amidst the flurry of high-def news (not to mention the launch of Engadget's Polish branch) originating in Poland comes word that yet another provider is vying for local business, and it's using HD as a primary selling point. IPTV carrier Inotel has just launched a tier that contains National Geographic HD and Polsat Sport HD to complement the 41 basic channels and host of other packages. Reportedly, the stations are now live in Poznan and other parts of the Wielkopolska region, though there's no word on future expansion.

Good news, Portugal. Two of the nation's most prominent DTH providers have just upped their respective antes, so we'll dig right into the former. PT's Meo service already features National Geographic HD, and as of just a few days ago, Eurosport HD. Now, however, the carrier will be offering up TVI to its IPTV / satellite customers in order to broadcast Euro 2008 to its customers. Oddly enough, we're told the addition of TVI (in HD / SD) will be only for Euro 2008, though it should become a regular part of the lineup in 2009. Moving on to ZON, it's planning to launch Mov HD and National Geographic HD on June 1st, and just to make sure Euro 2008 is shown in HD, it'll add Sport TV HD here shortly. In September, you can look forward to seeing Cine 1/2/3/4 in HD, and it's expected that these four could end up on PT's Meo service as well.

[Thanks, Orlando]

Read - Portugal Telecom expansion
Read - ZON expansion [PDF]

iProvo, the largest municipally owned fiber-to-the-premises network in the entire United States, has just been sold to Broadweave Networks. The Provo, Utah-based network actually reaches all 36,000 residents and businesses of the city, and manages to connect homes, businesses, government buildings, schools and even traffic signals. The sale price was $40.6 million, which is plenty to retire the outstanding bonds incurred by Provo to build the system. The City itself seems quite pleased, as it gains the advantage of the sale and it continues to enjoy the benefits of the infrastructure. Under the agreement, Broadweave will act as the network owner and service provider, while Provo retains a license to keep on using the fiber as it has in the past. Best of all, the new owner has already promised to "invest heavily in network upgrades in order to increase capacity, features, and performance for commercial customers," though we aren't sure if that means more HD content is on the way.

In case you didn't catch it, there used to be an internet video platform operating under the codename Jittr Networks. Don't bother learning that factoid, though -- it has relaunched, official-like, under the name Vusion (please disregard that the Vusion name overlaps with a baby ointment). Competition to deliver streaming HD video over the internet is heating up, and Vusion is promising to give 95-percent of all broadband customers access to crispy, instant-on, 720p images. Vusion's secret sauce is the familiar combo of network infrastructure and a cleverly-acronymed WARP technology. Don't get us wrong -- we're all for internet streaming of HD, and we think know that it's coming; but we won't start lining up until content providers do. [Warning: PDF read link]


[Via HDTVMagazine]

Europe as a whole could use a real shot in the arm when it comes to HD, so we guess we can't point and laugh too much as Viasat increases its HD lineup from three networks -- Viasat Sport HD, TV1000 HD and National Geographic HD -- to four. Public broadcaster SVT HD is all set to join the others in short order, as Viasat attempts to maintain competitive balance with rival Canal Digital, which already offers the channel. There's no word on an actual go-live date (nor any indication of extra charges), but on a slightly separate note, we are told that Danish channel TV2 Sport HD will resume high-def airings when it covers the SAS football league after it returns from winter break.

IPTV providers relying on SES Americom's IP-PRIME service could soon have some excellent news for their customers, as the aforementioned firm has just landed a deal with NFL Network. Just days after announcing that it was bringing HD service to a solid dozen telcos, the outfit is now able to bring NFL Network to its customers. Interestingly, the release doesn't specifically mention carrying SD and / or HD feeds, but hopefully the latter will indeed be made available. It is noted that the station is now accessible by all IP-PRIME operators throughout the US, but each operator will still have to sign "individual carriage deals with NFL Network in order to offer the channel to their subscribers." Oh, goodie.

Tilgin AB isn't saying who exactly is taking possession of an order for 1,700 of its Mood 400 HDTV set-top-boxes in Southern Europe, but make no mistake, someone down there is readying a soft launch of IPTV services. According to a release from the equipment provider, one of its "global partners" is apparently looking to offer up end-to-end IPTV delivery to a "leading tier one operator." Said operator is supposed to go live with its soft launch by September of this year, but details beyond that are nonexistent. Sure, the waiting game is tough to play, but knowing that IPTV is on the way has to provide some comfort, yeah?

An all new season of Three Sheets isn't the only reason to tune into MOJO -- fans of HD and technology alike are sure to appreciate the new internet-based series that has just launched on the network's website. The Circuit, which gets freshened up with a new episode each Tuesday at noon, is hosted by the always animated Deepak Ananthapadmanabha (yes, for real). The web series seeks to bring viewers up to speed on the latest technological going-ons and can be viewed in 480p or 720p. Go on, hit the read link and give it a go -- if you're peeking this post, chances are the content is right down your alley.

Although Smithville is aiming to offer fiber-based services to much of the Hoosier State within the next couple of years, AT&T isn't waiting around to boost its market share in Indiana. As of this week, legions of residents can now get connected to U-verse -- over 300,000 living units in total. Folks residing in parts of Anderson, Bloomington, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Muncie, Gary, Griffith, Merrillville, Highland, Crown Point, Hammond, Schererville and Dyer now have one more option for fetching content (Big Ten Network and all), and AT&T has already made known its intentions to reach out to more Indiana communities in the future. Ah, the sweet smell of competition.

Good news for folks hankering to get a load of ON Networks' Draftguys TV (in HD) without forking out for an Apple TV -- the channel, alongside Play Value, has just launched on TVTonic. For those unaware, the aforementioned website provides free online TV, some of which is shown in high-definition. Thanks to another recent partnership between it and GTtv, Invisible Walls has also joined the fray, though it's currently being beamed in lowly SD. Ready to dive in? Scoot on over to its website and take a look.