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The Simpsons goes HD tonight, new title sequence revealed
Switching to high definition isn't the only change for The Simpsons tonight, with the first permanent new intro since its debut in 1989 making its appearance. Fox uploaded the new opener on YouTube in widescreen, but not HD (embedded after the break.) Lined up with the Daytona 500 and newly refreshed King of the Hill we're liking all the Sunday HD on Fox all of a sudden.
King of the Hill makes the high-def leap
While The Simpsons were announced for HD last week, its Peggy, Luanne, Lucky and the rest of the gang actually going high-def first. For hardcore fans of King of the Hill, you surely noticed that last night's episode was the first ever in high-definition, and we're told that it will be aired in HD from now until eternity. Or whenever the show is canceled, whichever comes first. Any other traditionally SD programs want to follow suit? We're digging this trend![Via AVSForum, thanks Michael]
Did NBC's promotional shove help or hurt 3D?
Love it or hate it, 3D has been on a tear in 2009, and it enjoyed the biggest audience yet over the last two nights with a quick Super Bowl ad and follow up hour long 3D episode of Chuck, both on NBC. However, given the mixed opinions, and the questionable tech used to bring 3D to homes that aren't really equipped to deal with it, we're not sure if the movement went forward or backwards last night. Our friends at Cinematical and TV Squad have chipped in opinions on the Monsters vs. Aliens promo (embedded after the break) and special TV event, but what about you? As a glasses-only affair it required an audience a bit more prepared than usual than usual for TV, and there were plenty of chances for problems and misunderstanding. PR reps for theater 3D companies were quick to point out their stereoscopic technology provides much higher quality (we agree) than you saw on NBC, and while that begs the question why bother at all, it seems like the chance to seed the potential of 3D -- even with a subpar anaglyph display -- was too big of an opportunity to ignore.Read - I don't care what NBC is saying... 3D on TV still doesn't workRead - Poll: Did You Like The 3D Superbowl Movie Commercials?
SoBe's 3D Super Bowl commercial available now on YouTube HD
Yeah, today's big game is but hours away, but if you're itching to put those newfangled 3D goggles to use beforehand, you're in luck. Reindeer has hosted up tonight's 3D SoBe ad on YouTube in high-def, and folks with those glasses -- which can supposedly still be picked up at hard-to-miss kiosks in grocery outlets and retail stores if any stock remains -- can tap the read link to have a look right now. Obviously we wouldn't do so if you're not much on spoilers, but we're betting your curiosity is going to get the best of you. Once you've watched, chime in below with your thoughts on the quality. Fair? Great? Just plain gimmicky?
NASA to air HD tour of International Space Station
Just in case you haven't seen enough NASA footage in HD, you'll love the latest 35 minutes captured by Expedition 18 Commander Mike Fincke. Said crew member, along with flight engineers Sandy Magnus and Yury Lonchakov, has filmed a high-definition tour of the orbiting complex that will be aired as a special Video File on NASA Television's HD Channel 105 at 1:00PM and 3:00PM CST Thursday and Friday (yes, of this week). Of course, it'll also be made available for SD viewers, but where's the fun in that? So, are your DVRing this or what?[Via iTWire]
Verizon, Bright House Networks providing gratis coverage of HBO's inaugural coverage
Neither Verizon nor Bright House Networks can provide those oh-so-snazzy interactive mix channels like DirecTV and DISH Network can, but what they -- along with a few other providers, most likely -- can do is provide free access to HBO for a day. This Sunday (that's tomorrow for the continental US, the day after tomorrow for Point Hope, AK, Kihei, HI and surrounding areas), FiOS TV and BHN digital TV subscribers will all be given a fee-free look at HBO's exclusive live broadcast of the "We Are One: The Obama Inauguration Celebration" concert from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Better still, both carriers are providing HD feeds for those looking for the best in clarity (read: you), and those scouting the full lineup of artists and speakers can find just that in the links below. Trust us, this is like a hundred million times better than trying to get within 50 miles of The District this weekend.Read - Verizon announcementRead - Bright House Networks announcementRead - Time Warner Cable announcementUpdate: Turns out, HBO's letting anyone with a STB tune in gratis. Classy move.
DISH Network delivers inauguration mix channel of its own, plus more
Not one to be outdone by its fiercest rival, DISH Network has seen DirecTV's Inauguration Mix Channel and raised it free access to HBO's exclusive coverage of the Opening Celebration on Sunday, January 18th. Yep, starting this Sunday (that's tomorrow for those on the right coast), DISH subscribers will be able to tune into HBO's SD and HD slots in order to see a plethora of musical performances and speeches by the likes of Beyonce, Bono, Herbie Hancock, John Legend, Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifa and Denzel Washington. At the strike of midnight on Inauguration Day (January 20th), it'll offer up live feeds of six news networks on channel 100: FOX News Channel (Ch. 205), CNN (Ch. 200), MSNBC (Ch. 209), CNN Headline News (Ch. 202), CSPAN (Ch. 210) and CSPN2 (Ch. 212). Curiously, there's no mention if the mosaic will link to high-def feeds of said news channels, but if so, we'd say DirecTV just met its match.[Image courtesy of Swamp Politics]
DirecTV's 2009 Inauguration Mix channel brings every angle in HD
At this point, we wouldn't even bother with trying to slip into the Metro DC area on January 20th, but we would recommend getting all buddy-buddy with a DirecTV subscriber. The satcaster is implementing its Mix Channel technology once again by offering up a 2009 Inauguration mosaic, which will bring together eight live broadcasts and enable viewers to go full-screen with the one they like best at any given moment. Of course, all eight blocks will be provided in high-definition, and it can be seen replacing the News Mix on viewer channel 102 and 352. The action gets going at 10:00AM ET on Inauguration Day.
WJXT throws the HD lever in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville residents looking for a new take on the evening news can finally see their dreams come true. As of now, WJXT -- an independent station serving the Florida city and its surrounding communities -- is broadcasting its newscasts in high-definition. At first, the noon broadcast will be the only one in HD, though other airings should follow suit in short order. Locals who rely on DISH Network and DirecTV will sadly be unable to enjoy the new look without an OTA antenna, though WJXT vice president and general manager John Rafferty has assured us that its high-def signal will be picked up by both "soon."[Thanks, Eric]
Atlanta's CBS affiliate transitions newscasts to high-definition
Hotlanta may be feeling the chill of winter right about now, but those looking for one more choice when it comes to watching the evening news in high-def can rejoice. As of this week, the region's CBS affiliate (WGCL) has converted its newscasts to HD, making it the third in Atlanta, Georgia to do so. Also of note, the CBS 46 branding has been trashed in favor of the altogether lovely CBS Atlanta logo you see above, and for those keeping inventory, FOX's WAGA now sits as the only local in the area not broadcasting news in high-definition. Anyone willing to wager that changes soon?[Thanks, Eric]
South Florida's WSVN converts newscasts to high-definition
South Florida's NBC 6 became the first English-language network in the area to take its newscasts to high-def, but now those who refuse to watch news in SD finally have another choice. Starting this week, WSVN -- the FOX affiliate in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale market -- will be airing its local news broadcasts in greater clarity, and now that this station has hopped on board, we reckon the outcasts will be following suit in short order.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Xbox Live Primetime coming springtime
With arms raised, Xbox head Robbie Bach declared during Microsoft's CES keynote address, "This Spring we'll launch the Primetime channel on Xbox!" While the announcement didn't exactly elicit an ovation from the crowd, it does put a relative timestamp on the arrival of another, delayed piece of the NXE puzzle (we're still waiting on word about movie sharing). The Primetime channel's complete lineup remains a vague concept of "scheduled social events," but we do have 1 vs. 100 -- and its limitless chest of real prizes -- to look forward to.The game-show-turned-game-show was briefly demoed during the keynote, ostensibly confirming 102-player support (The One versus the 100-count Mob -- plus one host). Players will be represented by their Avatars and will answer questions "about really, really recent pop-culture," according to Engadget. The demonstration asked: "In 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' who plays a character that ages in reverse?" Three potential answers were offered. Clock's ticking!
CES 09: MS solidifies Primetime's launch this Spring
More Xbox 360 news coming from CES, Microsoft has just announced that the long delayed New Xbox Experience feature Primetime will be releasing to the masses sometime this Spring. Microsoft's Robbie Bach demoed Primetime on stage, showing off Primetime's gameshow 1 vs. 100 all while showing what the experience will look and feel like. Primetime is the live, social and fully interactive Xbox Live channel that lets the community come together, play games and win prizes.
Monsters vs. Aliens 3D promo gets detailed
For those searching for a few more details on how exactly the Monsters vs. Aliens 3D trailer will be seen on Super Bowl Sunday, you've arrived at the right place. According to a new AP report on the topic, around 150 million 3D glasses will be given away for free at Pepsi / SoBe Life Water displays at 28,000 locations including grocery, drug and electronics stores and big-box retailers -- in other words, you shouldn't have to look hard to find 'em. The three minute promo will utilize Intel's InTru 3D and ColorCode 3-D technologies, which are said to be far superior to the old red-blue Anaglyph system. In fact, those without 3D glasses will still be able to make out what's going on. Oh, and if you were even the slightest bit curious as to how serious DreamWorks Animation is about pulling this off, get a load of this: the outfit's CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg is calling the stunt "perhaps the biggest media-advertising event in history," noting that it will involve "tens of millions of dollars." Gulp.[Image courtesy of AP Photo/Matt Sayles]
WBAL-TV switches on HD news in Baltimore, Maryland
Charm City residents refusing to tune into SD news have had their sets locked on FOX 45 for months now, but 2009 is offering the city of Baltimore yet another option. Starting this weekend, WBAL-TV has flipped the high-def switch on its local news, meaning that you can now catch your favorite NBC talking heads in an all new light. So, locals -- are things much improved? Studio shot is after the break.[Thanks, Ryan and Michael]
74th Heisman Trophy Presentation is the first in HD
Whether Tim Tebow grabs his second Heisman Trophy this Saturday or the hardware goes home with Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy, the winner will make history as the first one broadcast in high definition. Available on ESPN HD, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV you can catch the December 13 awards show in a variety of ways, with replays planned for ESPNU. HD's a natural fit, not that we've missed the extra resolution on Lee Corso's face each year, but the inevitable endless highlight reels (and clips of proud, tearful parents and coaches) leading up to the actual award should finally be available in their proper glory. The show kicks off at 8:00PM ET, we guess this puts the first 3D Heisman presentation on the clock.
Philadelphia's NBC 10 brings the high-def love to its newscasts
Philadelphia residents, NBC 10 loves you. We mean, it really digs you. So much, in fact, that it has taken to heart all those surely kind letters you've sent in over the past few months regarding high-def news. Starting tonight, The City of Brotherly Love has another place to turn for high-definition newscasts, and that place is NBC 10. Reportedly, the station has been constructing an HD studio for months, and it has just now taken the wraps off of everything. Enjoy, Philly, and let us know if you're pleased in comments below.
Nearly half of American households to have a DVR by 2014
So, what? 2012 is too close now, so we're moving the target date for all consumer electronics-related estimates to 2014? All jesting aside, a new study from Magna asserts that by the end of 2014, some 44% of US households will have a DVR of some kind. Also by that time, the DVR will be responsible for a 4% erosion in total viewing impressions across all dayparts, but those primetime spots will become that much less important when users can simply make anytime their own personal primetime. The report also expects around 68.8 million homes to receive video-on-demand (up from 40.4 million in Q3 2008), while the number of US domiciles with broadband internet access will rise to 86.2 million from 68.3 million now. Ah, the beautiful scent of progress.[Image courtesy of AT&T]
AT&T bringing De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao to U-verse HD PPV
Regardless of his age or win total, Oscar De La Hoya is a preeminent eminence grise in the sport of boxing. That said, we understand that not everyone will be able to jet off to Las Vegas to see his December 6th matchup with Manny Pacquia, but those with AT&T's U-verse will be treated to The Dream Match in glistening high-def. 'Course, the pricing is apt to make you consider just visiting a bar ($65 for the HD PPV, $55 for the SD PPV), but who knows how inflated that tab could be by the end of the night. Decisions, decisions.[Image courtesy of PFW, thanks Anthony]
Windows commercial gets wrong message across on 4:3 sets
We can't say we spotted this one in person (sorry, Chuck lost its luster after about six episodes), but we'll still join in the chorus of laughter. The image spotted above was an advertisement for Microsoft's little 'ole operating system, known around the underground as Windows Vista. What you're supposed to see there is "Windows: Life Without Walls," but instead, you're missing the final "s." In fact, Michael Smith points out that most 4:3 set owners actually saw even less than that (think "Windows: Life Without"). The capture was taken from a locally broadcast 4:3 NTSC feed of the show, and amazingly enough, it wasn't the only commercial aired that night with some of the critical information hanging off in no man's land. Have any of you spotted this recently, or was this just a one-time screw up?
