A select few Bright House Networks subscribers in Central Florida have already been blessed (if you want to call it that) with the carrier's new "Digital Navigator" DVR software, and for better or worse, it's coming to even more of you soon. BHN has put out an announcement to notify customers in the region that the rollout should hit everyone by the end of this month, and while it claims the new look will make it "easier to find programs, give parents more parental control options and allow Digital Phone customers to have Caller ID displayed on their TV," we know all too well how these refreshes can end up in reality. Unfortunately, we have a feeling most of you won't be enjoying the change.

Bright House Networks subscribers in Michigan already noticed Big Ten Network on the EPG, but now the carrier has fessed up and confirmed that it will soon be landing in other markets. Additionally, ESPNU HD and CNN HD will be coming along for the ride, though there's no indication of when. Thanks, BHN -- we'll just twiddle our thumbs and hope they show up.

[Thanks, Jamie]

Into local TV? No, we mean are you really into local happenings? If so, and you live in the Central Florida area, you're in luck. Community TV station WHDO-TV, which was launched by Local HDTV Inc., is getting set to expand the channel's offerings into a 24-hour affair. Starting in late September, original programming germane to the Orlando / Tampa / Daytona Beach area will begin to air around the clock in high-definition, with the station expected to reach some 9,000 households. We can't say whether Local HDTV will be doing something similar in other regions around the US, but we'll admit, the idea is definitely intriguing.

The simulated analog shutoff carried out across 12 stations in Orlando, Florida came off with nary a hitch this past week. For the benefit of viewers, the stations broadcast a 10-second long pass/fail message for analog and digital viewers, respectively. The two Cox stations in the group, WFTV and WRDQ, reported that only 501 viewers called in to register their outrage at the brief interruption. Fully 146 of those calls came from analog Comcast customers who are fed a retransmitted OTA analog broadcast of WFTV. The second most popular group of complaints, 123 callers, were legitimate, though -- older TVs that pick up OTA-only. All said, it's a pretty good sign that the world will still be turning come February 18th.

Not like you didn't know three of the four were coming, but a tipster down in the Tampa Bay area just informed us that Bright House Networks has launched four new HD channels in Central Florida. As of now, MGM HD (710), Disney HD (735) and Family Channel HD (736) have been flipped on, and the elusive CNN HD has finally shown up on slot 728. Enjoy!

[Thanks, Jensen]

Thinking of heading to Central Florida? If so, you should probably keep both the Caribe Royale Orlando All-Suites Hotel and the Buena Vista Suites Hotel in mind when traveling on down (or up, we guess). The pair has just announced a $25 million upgrade that will begin on both properties in August, and you can bet the two are getting more than a good spraying of air freshener. Visitors who check in May 2009 / late 2008, respectively, will see all new carpet, drapes, furniture, and best of all, a 42-inch flat-screen HDTV in the living room. Oh, and there's the 37-inch HDTV in the bedroom -- that's pretty appealing, too. Pack your bags!

It said that it would be adding 50 new HD channels by mid- to late-2009, and while three newcomers isn't the hugest of deals, we suppose it has to start somewhere. Bright House Networks has just announced that it will be delivering a new trio to Central Florida: ABC Family HD (1337), Disney HD (1335) and MGM Channel HD (1306). It should be noted that the latter station will only be available to those who subscribe to its $6 / month High Definition Pack, which also includes MOJO HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, Universal HD and HD Showcase. Nice gesture, BHN, but we're still not totally over that whole CableCARD fiasco.

Sure enough, as soon as Wilmington, N.C. announced its early switchover plans, eleven stations in the Orlando, FL area have announced that they will be simulating analog doomsday throughout the summer. Participating stations include WESH, WKMG, WFTV, WCEU, WKCF, WMFE, WVEN, WRDQ, WOTF, WTGL and WBCC. A set of three tests is planned, beginning with one on June 25 just before 8pm. Much like the drill that played out in Las Vegas, the tests will get lots of promotion on the local stations. These analog shutoff drills seem to be a growing trend, and we're happy about that; no matter how enticing the carrot or menacing the stick, nothing gets response like actually being struck by the stick. Certainly, there will be folks who ignore or entirely miss these drills, but at least for now we're putting a hold on our plans for a nationwide fleet of EngadgetHD vans stocked with converter boxes.

Shortly after the AMC-14 launch went awry, we received confirmation that DISH Network's Spring HD rollout was still on track. Apparently things are going better than expected, as the satellite provider is getting official with HD locals in four new markets today. As we'd heard already, both Orlando and West Palm Beach, Florida have already been admitted into the HD locals club, while Austin, Texas and Flint, Michigan are joining days ahead of the scheduled April rollout. Best of all, DISH affirms that we'll be seeing lots more where this came from over the course of 2008, so if you're market hasn't been touched just yet, hang tight.

While we knew Orlando, Florida was on the so-called list to get HD locals sometime during 2008, we had no idea residents would be able to indulge in them this early on. According to an ecstatic DISH subscriber in the area, users can now receive (in glorious high-definition): ABC (WFTV channel 9) on 5160; CBS (WKMG channel 6) on 5161; NBC (WESH channel 2) on 5162; and Fox (WOFL channel 35) on 5163. That'll take the sting of a botched satellite launch away for at least a moment, eh?

[Thanks, Tom]

Not long after National Geographic HD showed up on Bright House Networks in Tampa, Florida, it seems to have scurried northeast and hit the Orlando market along with four others. According to a new placard hitting certain Orlando-area subscribers, five new HD options will be available on Friday, and they are: Discovery Channel HD, Animal Planet HD, TLC HD, Science Channel HD and National Geographic HD. Granted, there's not much there for the sports / drama fans to get excited about, but the carrier has promised some 50 more high-definition offerings over the next year and change. Bring 'em on, we say.

[Thanks, Steven]

Orlando residents are going to have a choice when it comes to local high-def news when WESH flips the switch on November 1. Back in June of '06, ABC-affiliate WFTV switched on the high-def local feed but within a few days, NBC-affiliate expects to broadcast 35 hours a week of HD local goodness. We can't nail down their exact budget - tends to be in the millions - the station invested heavily into onscreen graphics. For now, Orlandians will have to wait for their other network stations, WKMG and WOFL, to nail down plans but with two networks in the local news biz, they have more choices than most Americans.