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DVD Forum's latest standard, DVD-Download for DL revealed in licensing specs

by Richard Lawler posted Feb 4th 2009 at 7:49AM


It's been months since the DVD Download DL logo surfaced, offering little info for anyone trying to figure out how this might play into Toshiba's post-HD DVD anything-but-Blu-ray plans, but now that it's available to licensees we got a peek at the details behind the spec. Approved by the DVD Forum, it's a standard for content providers to send deliver movies as a disk image that can be burned onto a DVD complete with CSS encryption, Qflix-style. That includes print to order service providers like CustomFlix CreateSpace or even home users downloading a legitimate flick over the Internet. The net benefit? It's guaranteed to play on any standard DVD player, although given the ease with which nearly anyone can download and burn less-legitimate copies nowadays, the biggest potential plus we see would be an in store kiosk that burns discs while you wait, saving SKUs and packaging costs for suckers who bought the special edition. Check out the conformance guideline PDF straight from the Forum for more details, we'll let the BDA know they can stop holding their breath, if they ever were.

[Via Format War Central]

BBC HD listens to viewers, tones down DOG usage

by Darren Murph posted Oct 22nd 2008 at 6:47PM

DOG, you know, as in digital on-screen graphics? Those absurdly annoying logos that clutter up the screen when you're trying to enjoy a program? Yeah, those. According to a new post on the BBC's official blog, it has listened to the scads of complainers and has taken action to address the concerns. Assuming no technical issues crop up, the "majority" of BBC HD content will be aired DOG-free starting this weekend, and on the material that isn't, the logo will be toned down to "the lowest level that [Auntie Beeb] can while allowing it to remain visible." The author does note that these changes are, um, subject to change, but we can't help but commend her on standing up for the viewing community and keeping the DOGs at bay.

[Via TechRadar]

SciFi channel considering name change to Beyond

by Darren Murph posted Sep 22nd 2008 at 5:08PM


Given that the SciFi channel has deviated from showing only, um, science fiction, we suppose a name change may be in order after all. Based on a recent survey about the network, it clearly states that it's considering changing its name to "Beyond." The survey then asks how the respondent would view the change if it were made, specifically asking how we think the channel would change if the name changed. Is that to mean the content would change from its current slate, or are we just reading too much into it?

[Thanks, Buttabean]

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.

Toshiba plans new LCD HDTVs for IFA, will include Resolution+ technology

by Darren Murph posted Jul 10th 2008 at 4:05PM


Okay, so we really have no clue what's going on inside of Toshiba's labs, but one thing is for certain: it has upscaling on the brain. After hearing of an elusive super-resolution DVD player and seeing an all-too-curious new DVD logo, in flies word from Germany that the outfit is prepping an updated line of Picture Frame LCD HDTVs for release at IFA 2008. On the surface, there's not too much different about these REGZAs compared to any others, but internally, the newcomers are expected to tout Cell-based Resolution+ technology, which will upscale SD images in an attempt to make something (read: HD) out of nothing. Granted, Tosh has been talking up this stuff since CES, so it's not an entirely new concept, but we'll be interested to see if this has anything to do with those rumored DVD deck plans.

[Via Big-Screen, danke Joel]

DVD Download DL logo sparks wonder over Toshiba's super-resolution DVD player

by Darren Murph posted Jul 1st 2008 at 5:33PM


We keep hoping that Toshiba will come to its senses and just let this whole thing die, but no. Apparently insistent on keeping the last-generation format alive for as long as it possibly can, it seems the outfit is getting ever-closer to a super-resolution DVD player that would reportedly upscale DVD content like nothing we've ever seen. The latest tidbit in this woefully depressing saga is a newly approved DVD Download DL logo, which was given the final thumbs-up by the DVD Forum Steering Committee last month. In reality, no one outside of Tosh's headquarters has any idea if this development is indeed intrinsically related, but at this point, we wouldn't be shocked one bit to find that it was. Then again, the June 11th meeting also saw specifications for CH-DVD approved, so here's to hoping Toshiba isn't jumping on that bandwagon fiery wreck.

[Via TG Daily]

Read - DVD Forum approval
Read - Discussion / rumors

Discovery Channel HD's new logo

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 22nd 2008 at 7:33AM


A reader passed along this image from Wikipedia of the new logo from Discovery Channel HD's first revamp. Of course shiny new graphics won't make us love your channel (Deadliest Catch is all over that) but compared to the old style, we must say it's an improvement.

[Thanks, Dayton Guy]

Logo to simulcast Scissor Sisters: Live at the O2 Arena on MHD

by Darren Murph posted Apr 19th 2008 at 11:03PM

Fans of Scissor Sisters and HD music alike will be able to enjoy a concert scheduled to air on Logo next week as it teams up with sister (ahem) channel MHD. Reportedly, the simulcast will mark the "first high-definition broadcast from a gay television network" (that'd be Logo, for those unaware), and the concert in question will be Scissor Sisters: Live at the O2 Arena. The event will be an hour-long special of the band performing in London, and for those who won't be sitting around the tube next Thursday, you can view it online as it happens via steaming video on the network's website. Sound good? Set your HD DVRs for 8:00PM ET / PT on April 24th, or better yet, kick back and enjoy it as it unfolds. Full release after the jump.

Continue reading Logo to simulcast Scissor Sisters: Live at the O2 Arena on MHD

Starz drops $25 million on new logo, marketing initiative

by Darren Murph posted Mar 31st 2008 at 8:18PM

They never said change was easy -- nor inexpensive, apparently. Announced today, Starz has decided to undertake its "largest long-term brand investment since 2002," freeing itself of $25 million in order to spark up a new brand and marketing initiative. Users will start seeing an all new logo, fresh on-air look and an "integrated advertising campaign on-air and online." As expected, the new identity -- part of the "Are You Ready?" initiative -- will be ran across the company's six SD and four HD channels, and Starz is slated to run TV spots with the new logo starting on April 7th (while the online portion launches on April 14th). Hope it's worth it.

Europe launches new HDTV logo

by Matt Burns posted Mar 21st 2006 at 12:23PM

HDTV can be confusing. I know it can be overwhelming at times but the European agency in charge of everything high-def is introducing a new logo to help their consumers with HDTVs. This new logo indicates that the device has everything that is necessary to receive and process the information. Therefore this logo will appear on HDTV receivers, DVD players and audio/video receivers.

The only issue that can be seen is that the certification for HDTVs requires the set to have component video along with HDCP compliant DVI/HDMI connections. That is all well and good now but this new logo for does not require it to have component connections. So if you bought a HDTV a few years ago with an HDTV logo on it and then just purchased a new HDTV set-top box, they may not work together. Wait a second, that issue sounds familiar...




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