Fox Sports Network (FSN) has announced that they will be broadcasting all the College Football games in high definition this year. This is according to www.hdsportsguide.com that the FSN will bring about 31 College Football Games in high-definition. 2008 NCAA Football games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN U and ABC are also to be in high-definition.
DIRECT TV plans to improve its HD offerings to multi dwelling units in an effort to increase customers in cities such as New York. DIRECT TV has partnered with media services firm Thomson to develop a system that allows existing apartment-building wiring to process satellite signals to potential customers. DIRECT TV is hoping to reach unhappy apartment dwellers who may be looking for alternatives to the cable service they’ve been forced to use because their buildings either are not wired for fiber optic or prohibit satellite dishes on the roofs.
Ovation TV launched in April 1996, delivers programming devoted to Music, Opera, Dance, and Film has partnered with Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Ovation TV’s partnership will have both co-marketing and co-promotion components as well as branded advertising partnership which will also include prestigious cultural institutions as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Harlem School of the Arts in New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art and P.S. Arts, both in Los Angeles, and the New Orleans Center for Creative Artists.
Television Broadcasts Ltd of Hong Kong, one of the world’s largest producers and distributors of Chinese programming, has selected capacity on the EUROBIRD(TM) 9 satellite operated by Eutelsat Communications to launch its new multi-channel digital platform of Chinese language channels for satellite homes across Europe.
The Chinese Channel is offering a line-up of five of the Group’s flagship infotainment channels including TVBS which specialises in Hong Kong drama series, local news and Chinese community events in Europe. It also comprises four speciality channels which were launched in first quarter 2008: “TVBN”, a 24-hour Hong Kong and global news channel, “TVB Entertainment News” which focuses on entertainment news from Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Europe and the USA, “TVB Classic” which shows nostalgic content, and “TVB Lifestyle” which specialises in fashion, travel and dining.
DIRECTV bring “DIRECTV NFL Sunday Ticket” package for sports lovers with various newest features for this season. DIRECTV’s exclusive programming gives football fans up to 200 NFL games, which is the most available collection of games. NFL Sunday Ticket package brings up to 14 games every Sunday, along with a “Highlights on Demand” feature, pre-game coverage and other related extras but cable television only gives viewers an option of about four games every Sunday. This programming option has been sought after for years by home town fans who have relocated and find it difficult to view out of market games.
DIRECTV’s 2008 NFL Sunday Ticket Features are:
Player Tracker
Enhanced Games
NFL SUNDAY TICKET Highlights-on-Demand
NFL SUNDAY SNAP
Pregame Coaches Shows
NFL Europe League
Up to 25 Channels of NFL Action
DIRECTV will present on Tuesday, June 10th at 8:50 a.m. ET/5:50 a.m. PT. at the Deutsche Bank Media and Telecommunications Conference. The presentation will include an update and outlook on the DIRECTV businesses. The Speaker of Conference will be Pat Doyle, CFO, DIRECT TV. A live webcast of the presentation will be available at www.directv.com/investor. An archive of the webcast will also be available on this website.
The Learning Channel (TLC) has announced that the “The Singing Office” will be launched on June 29. The Singing Office, will be co-hosted by Mel B and Joey Fatone, the two former Dancing stars, and will pit office workers against each other. The Singing Office will surprise two workplaces and give on the spot auditions to workers in the office. The Singing Office will be aired on The Learning Channel on Sundays at 9 p.m.
The environmentally conscious “Planet Green” makes debut on DIRECT TV on channel 286 today. Discovery Communications Planet Green is the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network with a robust online presence and community will launch series of programming like “Battleground Earth”, “Alter Eco” and “green lifestyle”. The channel will be available in 50 million homes, nearly half the nation’s cable or satellite customers, because it replaces Discovery Home.
The Fox affiliate in Baltimore WBFF-TV started its high-definition newscasts from June 2 at 5:30 and continued its broadcast with its 10 and 11 p.m. newscast. The Fox affiliate WBFF is first to switch to high-def newscasts in Baltimore area. WBFF General Manager Bill Fanshawe said “I don’t know if it’s the same as going from black and white to color, but it’s comparable, Fox45 has always found new and better ways to serve our viewers. In 1991, we launched the first and only 10 p.m. newscast in the market.”
The Weather Channel has completed its new studio and will launch its HD programming “Your Weather Today,” and “Evening Edition” from Today. DIRECT TV has already added the HD channel in its HD programming line-up and the channel has carriage agreement with other providers also. The Weather Channel HD will have its full 24-hour programming schedule from the new studio by the end of 2008. The four-story studio has an advanced lighting system, new set designs for each program and a 37-foot long projection screen to serve as a versatile high-tech backdrop for maps, graphics, video, and live shots from the field.