Out the HD Door

The high-def outgrowth of The Outdoor Channel Outdoor dubbed Channel 2HD will premiere within the next 2 weeks on Service Electric Cable’s trio of systems in the Lehigh Valley, PA, area. Outdoor hopes to follow its 1st affiliate deal for the service with a master NCTC agreement. "We’re negotiating and count on having it," Outdoor boss Andy Dale says. Service will offer Outdoor on its high-def digital tier. At the start, 50% of the content will be original; 50% previously seen on Outdoor Channel. Dale expects to increase the amount of original to 80% by year-end, when about 1K hrs of self-produced HD fare is available. A national marketing campaign for 2HD starts in July. – Simon Applebaum — OLN will launch 3 free VOD nets in ’05, with the first 2—hunting & fishing channel Hooks & Bullets and action/adventure net Hazardous—to begin rolling out Thurs in 10mln HHs in select Comcast, Charter, Advance Newhouse, Blue Ridge and RCN systems. A 3rd HD net kicks off in the 4Q.