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Comcast adding FX HD and SPEED HD to lineups
Apparently working out the details on the Big Ten Network squabble was just the beginning, since Comcast and Fox Cable Networks recently worked out a deal to add FX HD and SPEED HD. Already live in Chicago and in Pennsylvania, Multichannel News says the rollout should pick up momentum in the fourth quarter, with both 720p channels sliding onto HD basic tiers, so there shouldn't be much question whether you'll have it or not. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Wrecked and daily motorsports action in high definition will surely find a welcome place in many TV watching schedules.
Speed's "Wrecked" brings the thrills of tow truck driving in HD
Not that we usually expect to have a need for a tow truck driver, but the Speed Channel has surprised us with its new series Wrecked, focused on a company of tow truck drivers in a Chicago suburb. Speed Channel is pumping up the original content since it launched HD, and with the success of series like Ice Truckers and the recent premiere of the logger show Ax Men, we see where they're going with it, but... tow trucks, seriously? The series' ten-episode run starts off in July.
Championship Off Road Racing goes HD for 2008 season
Racing fans will be getting even more HD this season, since Championship Off Road Racing has announced it will be live in HD for the 2008 season, on SPEED HD and NBC. The season kicks off April 26th in LA, no word on if they follow NASCAR's lead and place in-truck HD cams (with the beating they take, we'd be very surprised if they did).
More details emerge on SPEED HD
Those who can already smell the rubber burning are probably antsy to see SPEED finally go HD in February, and while there's still a few weeks left until the channel serves up 100 hours of NASCAR coverage in high-definition, here's a few more details to tide you over. Starting on the 7th of next month, the channel will be covering the Gatorade Duel 150s, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, NASCAR RaceDay and loads more surrounding the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500. Additionally, it's aiming to bring other (read: non-live events) programming to high-definition as well, and according to SPEED's senior VP of production and network operations Rick Miner, the channel will be "transitioning all of its event programming to HD" over the course of the 2008 season. Oh, and just in case that wasn't enough for you gearheads, expect an all new interactive website to launch alongside the HD network, too.
The Speed Channel to go HD in February
One of the most technologically advanced sports is soon going to have an HD channel to match, as The Speed Channel is gearing up for HD. The week leading up to the Daytona 500 next year will be a week of speed and for the first time ever, the Speed Channel will cover the entire week in HD. As much as they'd like to produce all their programming in HD, as we know all too well it's almost impossible, especially with auto racing which uses as many camera as any sport and twice the fiber. They're not stopping with live events either, as Speed has already upgraded production of a few of their shows to HD, so they'll have some ready in time for February.
