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HD channel expansion roundup

by Richard Lawler posted May 16th 2009 at 9:06AM


Once upon a time, a smattering of new HD channels in one major metropolitan area was a huge deal. Nowadays, it's almost expected that one area or another will experience some HD expansion each week. In order to keep things nice and tidy around here, we deliver high-def expansions, market expansions and anything else dealing with HD channel growth right here. If we missed an area that you're familiar with, drop us a line in comments so everyone can catch up. The more the merrier, we say!

Read - DISH Network(R) Adds 30 HD Channels in Hawaii
Read - DISH Network(R) Adds 30 HD Channels in Alaska
Read - DIRECTV to Deliver Local HD Programming to Customers in Lafayette, Ind.
Read - Comcast digital switch update: Bellevue's next, Seattle in fall
Read - FashionTV(R) Introduces New 24/7 FTV(R) HD Channel in the U.S. on DISH Network(R)
Read - National Geographic Channels International Co-Produces Alaskan Killer Shark With Off The Fence Productions
Read - Cox Launches WRIC in HD to Customers in King and Queen County, New Kent, and West Point
Fox News Chicago switched to HD (Thanks, Garst)
Read - Time Warner Cable North East Ohio new HD Channels (Thanks, Justin)
Read - Special Preview: ABC Family HD, Disney HD, HBO2 HD and BET HD (Thanks, Gary)
Read - KMSP Fox 9 news in Minneapolis now in HD (Thanks, Nathan)

TV One HD coming to several TWC / Comcast markets

by Darren Murph posted Dec 20th 2008 at 8:23AM


There doesn't appear to be a set time line in place, but TV One is expected to launch an HD simulcast of its SD network soon on several Comcast / Time Warner Cable systems. The channel, which is a self-proclaimed "entertainment television network for African Americans," will first hit TWC's NYC region and Comcast systems in Boston, Chicago, Portland, OR and Seattle. We're told that more regions should find the HD iteration of the channel beginning in early January 2009, and at least initially, some 20% of the content will be shot and aired in high-def; if all goes well, that figure should rise to 40% by 2010.

Comcast delivers 29 HD channels in Seattle / Tacoma, Washington

by Darren Murph posted Dec 20th 2008 at 2:19AM

It's officially the holiday season, and Comcast is officially in the giving mood. Hard though it may be to fathom, the carrier has just unloaded no fewer than 29 new high-definition channels in the Seattle / Tacoma, Washington area. We won't even bother boggling your mind by listing all 29 here, but those ready for an HD overload can hit the read link and prepare to be wowed. 29 new high-def stations in a single day -- that's almost too many to digest at once. Almost.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Comcast going all digital in Seattle, bringing DTAs to the Pacific Northwest

by Darren Murph posted Dec 12th 2008 at 6:25AM

You already know what Comcast's Digital Transport Adapter looks like, and for folks in Salem, Eugene and Corvallis, Oregon (not to mention Seattle, Washington), you'll be seeing 'em in the flesh soon enough. Comcast has announced that its all digital transition will be heading up from Portland and into Seattle in the near future, and it's upsetting quite a few locals with Media Center PC / TiVo setups. Of course, these are just the growing (or should we say "changing") pains associated with a mass switch from analog to digital, but at least in theory, the conversion should free up oodles of bandwidth for the carrier to expand its HD lineup. And remember, a cable company choosing to pipe its channels out in digital is very different than the broadcast change coming in February 2009 -- it's confusing, we know, but the read link does a fairly decent job of spelling everything out.

[Thanks, Doug]

FOX News HD joins the HD lineup in Seattle, WA

by Darren Murph posted Dec 7th 2008 at 10:41AM

Not much to say outside of the headline here, but FOX News HD is now available on Comcast in Seattle, Washington. Curiously, this seems to be the only addition for now, but hopefully it's just testing the water before it unloads a whole gaggle of 'em before the holidays. Hopefully.

Broadstripe brings new HD trio to Seattle, WA

by Darren Murph posted Sep 21st 2008 at 12:44AM

We already knew ESPNU HD was headed for Broadstripe, but out of nowhere, the carrier has also found it in its heart to dish out three more to the fine citizens of Seattle, Washington. Upon firing up his HD DVR, tipster Steve found that ESPN2 HD had finally been added alongside FX HD and Disney HD. Unfortunately, the slots in the EPG were just black at the time, but they ought to be firing on all cylinders by now. Let us know if not, okay? We'll try to find someone's hand to slap.

[Thanks, Steve]

KCTS 9 (PBS) moves for all-digital conversion, leaves quality HD shows behind

by Darren Murph posted Sep 16th 2008 at 3:53PM


The times, they are a-changin', and with February 2009 getting closer by the minute, we should probably expect even more situations like this. Put simply, western Washington's local PBS channel had a long-standing history of pleasing HD junkies with a whole swath of unique HD programming on Comcast slot 108 (OTA channel 9.5). Due to the transition to all-digital (or so it says), the HD channel has been shifted to Comcast slot 109 and OTA slot 9.1; that there isn't the problem, though. The issue is that with the move, many of its best high-def programs have been nixed, and the leftovers are being presented "in low-quality DTV," as stated by our tipster. The reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, with pages upon pages of angry comments piling up in a matter of hours. Thankfully, management has posted a note that it is taking notice, but only time will tell if the channel will ever return in its full glory.

[Thanks, Aaron]

Seattle's KING 5 shuts of analog for 30 seconds, select viewers freak out

by Darren Murph posted Jul 29th 2008 at 1:09AM

Up until now, the digital TV transition test markets have seen their tests go over pretty smoothly. Wilmington, Las Vegas and Orlando were able to complete their respective trials without too many issues, but apparently the folks up in the Pacific Northwest aren't nearly as prepared. During a 5:00PM newscast late last week, Seattle's KING 5 simulated an analog cutoff for around half a minute which presented users watching the analog signal with a "snowy" picture. Another test was scheduled for 10:00PM, but the outcry from individuals who "had their television reception interrupted" by the afternoon test forced a postponement. If any of you reading this now just happened to be one of those characters freaking out by the distorted imagery, do yourself a favor and click here to get prepared for the 2009 cutover.

AMC opens all digital cinema in Seattle

by Darren Murph posted Jul 19th 2008 at 2:19AM


We're not told whether or not all 16 of the digital Sony projectors in the Southcenter 16 are 4K or not, but AMC's still pretty proud of its latest cineplex. The 2,900-seat venue houses 16 screens (obviously) which will see imagery from all digital PJs, meaning that nary a strip of film will be shipped in. Additionally, the design of the facility was made to showcase the surroundings, with a vast window in the reception area that "on a clear day, frames Mount Rainier to look like the Paramount logo." Hey, look at that -- we just found you some plans this weekend up in the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle joins in, gets three new ones from Comcast

by Darren Murph posted Apr 9th 2008 at 4:06PM

Granted, we had heard earlier this month that Comcast would be dishing out Science HD, Disney HD and ABC Family HD to a plethora of markets, but this note from Seattle / Tacoma, Washington looks to be our first sign of confirmation. As of April 23rd, subscribers in the Emerald City will receive the aforementioned trio, but there's no word on if it'll pick up any others à la just about everywhere else in America (okay, so that's a stretch). Anyone else getting just these three? Drop a note in comments if so.

[Thanks, Gordon and Chet]

Seattle Comcast customers get a half dozen new HD channels

by Darren Murph posted Feb 14th 2008 at 10:40PM

Great news for HD junkies in the great city of Seattle, Washington -- Comcast is getting set to add six newcomers to your lineup in just under a month. Reportedly, users are beginning to see messages on their set-top-boxes informing them that Discovery Channel HD, Animal Planet HD, TLC HD, Sci Fi HD, HGTV HD and Food Network HD will be arriving on March 4th. Ten new high-definition options in around three months? Sounds like just the thing to ease the sting of those heightened rates.

[Thanks, Gordon and Vince]

Seattle / Tacoma Comcast users gain four more HD channels

by Darren Murph posted Dec 12th 2007 at 6:33AM

Although there's been no official announcement from Comcast, it seems that subscribers in the Seattle / Tacoma region have recently been blessed with four more HD options. According to tipster Cameron, the operator informed customers via postcards that it would be adding A&E HD, History Channel HD, USA HD and National Geographic HD as of December 6th. Comically enough, Comcast also sent out a friendly letter informing users in the area of price hikes that were coming in 2008, but we suppose you've got to pay to play, eh? As for channel numbers, you can catch the aforementioned additions on 670, 671, 672 and 673, respectively.

[Thanks, Cameron]

Thieves choose Blu-ray over HD DVD in mass disc heist

by Richard Lawler posted Jul 25th 2007 at 11:46AM

The high definition format war took an unexpected twist Sunday morning, when a group of thieves broke into a video store. What they took -- every Blu-ray movie in stock -- isn't as interesting as what they left behind. The gang ignored the HD DVD selection entirely, apparently deciding that only the BDA's baby was worth a five finger discount. Blockbuster choosing Blu-ray for its nationwide rollout is one thing, but being ignored when the price of acquisition is the low low price of free is a reality check for any fledgling standard. We suppose such early morning escapades are one way to build your library after getting the now lower-priced PS3, but it's not recommended. No word yet on if HD DVD fans are planning a coordinated group theft to reestablish the popularity of their chosen format.


[Via DVD Dossier, thanks everyone who sent this in]

NBA announces new dual-Skycam broadcast plans

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 6th 2006 at 6:37PM

NBAFor the first time, an NBA game will utilize two "SkyCams" during the April 11th meeting between the Seattle Supersonics and the San Antonio Spurs (lot of Ss there). Instead of using two center court cameras like most NBA games, they will use the suspended high definition skycams to give the impression of sitting about 10 rows up from the floor.

Two robotic high definition cameras above each backboard plus one at center court on the scorers table will give a unique "you are there" perspective for this game. For the audio, it will be in 5.1 surround, with the focus given to on court and arena sounds, much like the recent "silent game" in Orlando. Rick Kamla will host the game, checking in from various spots around the arena as well.

This is great, I really feel like the NBA "gets" high definition and are looking to build around it for better quality broadcasts. The only real complaint I've had so far is that the camera angles don't seem to take advantage of HD's aspect ratio and detail enough, and I hope that these changes will enhance the experience. All we need now is for ESPN, ABC and TNT to take the hint, shut up blabbering on-air personalities and give us just basketball, raw and uncut.




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