Brits needing their reality TV in high definition get a boost October 20, when the Real Lives channel on Sky goes HD. Hook your HDTV up to Sky+ HD and enjoy Lorraine Kelly's DNA Stories, Toy Boys , Fashion Avenue. Sounds good, we'll be checking out The First 48 and awaiting the HD debut of Survivor in the meantime, although it does bring into question how much of reality TV do we really want to see in HD.

[Via HDTV UK]

Just under two months after Freeview HDTV launched in New Zealand, in comes word that the long-awaited Sky HD service has done likewise. Dubbed My Sky HDi, the service is hosting (at least initially) Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2, Sky Movies, Sky Movies Greats and TV3 in high-definition. Those who are already subscribed to My Sky can make the very worthwhile leap to high-def by handing over $49.95 for the revamped (and doubly capacious) set-top-box. Reportedly, those who join will see 104 live sporting events in HD before the close of 2009, and Sky has already secured the rights to both the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. For more details on the whole thing, just give that read link a little love.

We already received confirmation that Sky would be freshening up its universally frowned upon EPG with something a bit sweeter, and now UKers are getting a first look at what to expect. Reportedly, the new guide will be entirely in HD and launched in August -- unfortunately, the image above may be the only tease you get (from Sky, anyway) all summer.

Given that our place of residence is most certainly not in the UK, Sky wasn't included in our recent breakdown of HD carriers. Thankfully, the kind blokes / dames over at HDTV Lounge were able to sit down with the Sky HD service and write up a fairly thorough review. For those on the fence, Sky HD has become a fair bit more attractive here of late with the addition of three new HD channels and a price cut to boot. The long and short of it is that the Sky HD DVR is more than satisfactory, and as for the programming quality, reviewers were left with all sorts of positive vibes. Best of all, there's even a few comparison shots to give SD subscribers a look at what they're missing out on. Go on, check out the read link for the full spill.

One of those European HDTV owners that doesn't actually watch HD? That survey may hold some weight, as Sky is cutting prices on its Sky+ and Sky HD services. The Sky HD box now costs £249, or £199 bundled with internet and phone, although the monthly HD charge is still £10. With the entry costs lowered a bit and a few new channels, we'll see if that is enough to get people upgrading to HD.

[Via HDTV UK]

Sir Michael Caine finds HD quality "unforgiving", but we're sure more than a few movie buffs will appreciate a clearer look at classics like Zulu and The Italian Job (not the one with Marky Mark in it) prompted by Sky's need for movies to fill its new HD channels. Of course many films have already been remastered for HD, but as HD adoption grows worldwide, we can look forward to high quality transfers of more international flicks.

With its troubles in the past, Sky is ramping up its HD service, with plans to add three new stations soon for a total of 17 HD channels. Viewers can expect Sky Sports HD 3, Sky Movies Premiere HD and FX HD. Sky Sports HD 3 will kick off with Monday Night Raw in March and the PGA European Tour, while FX HD is a "bespoke" custom channel, Sky Movies Premiere is a simulcast of the SD channel. Sky says its signed up more than 400,000 subscribers since launch, and once these channels are added, they'll have access to 6,500 hours of HD programming per month. We know it was rough for a while, any Sky HD users out there got a report about the service these days?

Rumors of a facelifted electronic programming guide to Sky's receivers / DVRs have been swirling for quite some time, and apparently, the satellite provider has finally come clean and doled out the skinny. According to Digital Spy, only Sky HD boxes will be receiving the upgrade, which will replace the current four top-level options with ten. Purportedly, "television, radio and interactive services will be listed separately," and it's also stated that a small box will be added to show content from channels as they are browsed through in the guide. As for when Brits can expect the new EPG? "Sometime during 2008" -- sadly, that'll have to do for now.

Good news for those with Sky: Channel 4 is now available to you in glorious high-definition. The channel has officially launched an HD simulcast on the sat provider, with crisper versions of Holloaks and Ugly Betty being highlighted. Apparently, the former show will be committed to HD as of next Spring, and Channel 4 HD will also air "a number of live music specials" including ones that feature The Scissor Sisters and Keane. At first, the channel will be a mixture of HD and SD programming, and it will purportedly air "around 10 films and series episodes in HD per week." This addition brings the total of dedicated HD channels on Sky to 14, and it should be available right now to anyone with a Sky HD box and an active Sky viewing card.

[Via Digital Spy]

We know, this weekend (and next) is all about seeing which professional teams squeeze their way into the playoffs, and moreover, seeing which college teams score bowl victories in their respective contests, but for the Brits over in England seeing less pigskin and more round ball, we've got some news for you. Reportedly, Sky is set to broadcast America's most-watched sporting event to its customers in crisp high definition, which would make it the first major US-centric sporting event to be shown in such clarity by the company. This past September, Sky Sports purportedly nailed down a deal to show live NFL games and "supporting programs," and we see no better way to take advantage of the newfound partnership than giving the blokes across the pond an HD taste of the sport so well loved here in the States. So for you Sky customers with absolutely nothing else to do on February 4th, be sure to take a gander at Super Bowl XLI, if for no other reason than seeing our football in a whole new dimension.

[Via DigitalSpy]

Sky revealed to investors recently it plans to roll out an unnamed -- here's a name, Sky HD -- HDTV service in early 2008 featuring broadcasts as well as video-on-demand via satellite or internet connection. Sounds a lot like the Sky HD service already rolling out in the U.K., hopefully by the time it launches down under all the bugs will be worked out. The broadcaster already launched a new satellite earlier this month to provide a stronger signal, and expects free-to-air digital broadcasting coming to the region in 2007 will actually help improve its market penetration. Makes sense, as people upgrade to new TVs they'll want more and more HD programming, if Sky can fill that gap then it should work out great for everyone except the Kiwi's waiting until 2008 to see their own country on Discovery Channel HD every other week.

Sky just keeps on having issue with their fledgling high-def service. It seems like every time we hear something about the service, it's negative. Remember a while ago when they were have a 30% failure thanks to some problem with with the HDMI and HDCP? Well, it hasn't gone away but this time around they seem to be having compatibility problems, specifically with Pioneer plasmas. It seems that some 4th, 5th, and 6th generation units don't like copy-written material when it's traveling over HDMI;. *cough* HDCP *cough* Sky doesn't have a fix for it but Pioneer does and are encouraging people to call 01753 789 500 (remember, Sky is in the UK) for the fix.

Any of our UK readers having this issue with their Pioneer set?

Pioneer's press release

Sky HD subscribers - got good news for ya. Sky Sports HD 2 (creative name) is going to launch on July 31st. The channel can be found on station 409 and be filled with tons of sports that most of us Yanks just don't understand like: domestic/international cricket, Guinness Premiership rugby, and Premiership and Coca-Cola league football. It's not that we don't want to understand cricket, it's just that most of us didn't play it in high school. That's all. Nothing against the sport it's just that most of us would rather watch something different.

But don't get us wrong, we always love hearing about new high-def stations!

We've got some experience with glitchy HDTV/DVR set top boxes, but it looks like things are even worse over on the other side of the pond. With almost all their HD customers only recently buying sets for the world cup, many are using the digital connections and experiencing a lot of problems like picture and sound dropouts. Specifically cited is the implementation of HDCP, as many have been able to get around the problems by switching to analog connectors.Of course this doesn't do much for customers expecting a sharper picture out of their digital hookup or maybe have spent a lot of money on a digital cable they can't use, but SkyHD and even some TV manufacturers may have to update their software for this to be fixed.

Glitch ridden high-def rollouts are becoming all too common, particularly for the "lucky" few who were able to get their service installed prior to the World Cup, but this may explain why some service providers are so unwilling to even enable the HDMI or DVI outputs on their boxes. If it doesn't work, there is a resulting shifting of blame between the provider and TV manufacturer while the customer's problem continues. Same problem with rolling out CableCard, neither side wants to take responsibility for making it work if there's a problem.

The BBC is reporting that many in the UK are facing delays in getting high definition set-top boxes installed due to shortages. While thousands of customers have been installed already, many are getting shuffled back as much as three weeks. As our friends at HDTV UK mention, anyone who didn't preorder their install from Sky already can look forward to an install date of August, after the World Cup broadcast that people there are so looking forward to.

HDTV UK however was one of the lucky few to get their high definition boxes installed already, and have a few impressions of it up. Now they finally join us in discussing such mysteries as why does every Discovery HD program feature something getting eaten? Honestly we don't know, but you get used to it after a while.