HD Hub: High-Def Rollouts Abound
The number of HD launches continue to mount as distributors race to whet consumers’ appetites. One day after Verizon announced plans to rollout 22 HD nets to its FiOS TV markets (15 have already launched in Fort Wayne, IN), Cablevision announced plans to deliver 15 new free HD channels to all its digital subs, bringing the number of HD channels its offers to 60 (CVC charges no extra equipment or programming fees for HD). Cablevision will launch the nets over a 5-day period starting July 28, making them available across the MSO’s entire service area by Aug 1. Interestingly, Cablevision only released the names of 10 of the 15 channels ( Nick, WE, AMC, Animal Planet, Weather, Travel, Fox News, Discovery, Hallmark Movie and FX). With 5 channels unnamed, CVC’s loyal message board-using subs have been listing their hopes for the remaining nets. Memo to Cablevision: USA, Sci Fi and A&E were popular requests. Meanwhile, overbuilder RCN is adding 7 HD channels (Discovery HD, Animal Planet HD, TLC HD, Science Channel HD, Lifetime Movie Network HD, Food Network HD and Travel Channel HD) as well as HD VOD. Our friends over at WhereIsHD.com and SkyReport note that Time Warner Cable launched 214 HD feeds across 19 DMAs last week, while Bright House added 32 HD feeds in Tampa-St Pete and Comcast added 27, primarily in the Wheeling-Steubenville DMA.
