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AMC dropped from Dish Network, cuts a new deal to stay on with AT&T U-verse
As June expired, so did AMC's contract with both Dish Network and AT&T U-verse. While negotiations continue with AT&T and its channels remain on for the moment, AMC is already firing at Dish for dropping its channel immediately (after shifting it to an entirely different channel number a few weeks ago), claiming no negotiations have even taken place. As we heard in May, AMC maintains that the real issue is a court case between the two over the Voom HD debacle. For its part, Dish is telling customers the problem is fee increases requested by AMC and "devaluing" its programming by offering it on iTunes, Netflix and Amazon.com. As a result it's swapping in commercial-free HDNet Movies for AMC, and replacing two other AMC channels, WE and IFC, with Style and HDNet (soon to become AXS TV). We'll see how these negotiations go -- it's not too bad now but let's see how viewers react once the new season of Breaking Bad starts airing July 15th. Update: As we went live, AT&T has announced it reached an agreement with AMC Networks, so it's only Dish Network that's on the hotseat now. [Thanks, @soulfliesfree]
HDNet joins up with AEG, CAA and Ryan Seacrest to become AXS TV this summer
It held on as long as it could, but HDNet is following the path of INHD (which became Mojo before disappearing entirely) and Discovery HD Theater (now Velocity) by rebranding itself, and will see itself morph into AXS TV this summer. Of course, HDNet has always focused on "lifestyle programming" and from the looks of it the new channel (pronounced: access) will be very similar, at least for now. HDNet is bringing programming like HDNet Fights, Dan Rather Reports, its concerts and more to the joint venture, which will be combined with its partners AEG, CAA and Ryan Seacrest Media. If HDNet is currently on your programming lineup AXS TV will simply take its place when it launches, and Dish Network actually plans to increase the channel's distribution by adding it to the America's Top 120 package. If you're distressed over the future of Art Mann Presents, check out the press release after the break or a Q&A on the site for more information about what's happening to Mark Cuban's baby.
Netflix removing 'Add to DVD Queue' button from TV streamers, execs debate the company's future
Still mad over news that Netflix is removing the "Add to DVD Queue" button from media streamers? Then you're probably a commenter on the corporate blog but just in case you were wondering, it appears this doesn't apply to the mobile apps most of us manage our queues with when away from the official site, Netflix PR says it's just devices that connect to the TV. Curious decisions like this aside, The Hollywood Reporter recently ran a fun story describing what various Hollywood executives make of the company's chances. For its part the company plans to keep on expanding and adding more content, like the recent deal with ABC/Disney. TBS CEO Phil Kent made a thinly veiled threat to not license any content available on Netflix, while HDNet's Mark Cuban (who recently thought Netflix was set to implode) subscribes to the opposing camp's newsletter, saying Netflix is "absolutely a friend to producers and distributors -- they are found money that is monetizing library assets as DVD sales fall." What's your call?
Discovery searches for name for 3D channel, 3DNet is on the list
Oh now we just can't believe this one, do you mean to tell us that Mark Cuban had the insight to create HDNet, but didn't bother to trademark 3DNet? Apparently, because Broadcasting & Cable is reporting that on January 5th Discovery Communications trademarked the name 3DNet. As we already let you know, next year Discovery will launch a 24x7 3D network with a mixture of non-fiction, sports, films and content from the libraries of its partners, Sony and IMAX. We can't wait to hear what our old friend Mark has to say about this one, but maybe as much as he loved HD, he doesn't really get 3D yet -- yeah, we doubt it.
All United Football League games will be on in HD on Versus and HDNet
When there is one sport far and away more popular than any other, its no surprise that everyone wants to get in on the action. Case in point, almost twice as many people tuned into watch a pre-season scrimmage NFL game on Sunday night than did to watch two of the most popular MLB teams play each other in a race to the playoffs. The newly formed United Football League (UFL) is hoping to cash in on some of those fans. The league consists of four teams and thirteen games (including playoffs) that will be broadcast in HD on Versus and HDNet starting on Saturday October 10th. While we'd rather see a new spring league formed, we can't ever get enough football so we'll be tuning in to check it out in the hopes that it makes it to a second season. Although we do question any league that would purposely schedule games against Saturday night college football.Read - NFL Preseason Ratings vs MLBRead - UFL ScheduleRead - HDNet to carry UFL games.
Sony adds PSP access to PlayStation Network video store, 16 new content partners
Tucked in between the "worst kept secret" PSP Go and motion control demos at its E3 press conference, Sony also revealed new content for the PlayStation Network video service, and the ability to download video directly to the PSP, no PS3 or PC intermediary needed. No word on when to expect the new content exactly, but it will include video from Showtime Networks, Starz, G4 & E!, Summit Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, HDNet & Magnolia Pictures, Anime Network, Media Blasters, Right Stuf's Nozomi Entertainment, Starz Media's Manga Entertainment, Toei Animation, Viz Media, WEP, UFC, TNA and Video Action Sports. Looks like Sony will have easy on the go access to video store content up and running before Microsoft gets its Zune integration act together, but whether that compares to 1080p instant streaming promises remains to be seen (Hint: first one with direct Hulu access wins, we're just saying, guys.) Check out Sony's trailer embedded after the break.
The complicated economics of an all HD channel
While you're kicking back and enjoying some HD content on a lazy Sunday it is easy to give little regard to the economics that make that HD content possible. Most don't care much about what makes the world go around, but if you've always wondered why there aren't more all-HD channels, this recent post over at Multichannel news is worth the read. Most notable is the challenges all-HD networks face including the fact that Nielsen doesn't even provide rating for them. If you're a big Mark Cuban fan you might also find it interesting as a number of his quotes are included like when he says "We really think that as our distribution continues to grow, we can dominate the demographic (13-34 males)."
Time Warner Cable loses HDNet at the end of the month, says "being in HD is not enough"
Bad news for Mark Cuban, not only are his Dallas Mavericks out of the NBA Playoffs, but Time Warner Cable is dropping HDNet and HDNet Movies on all of its systems on May 31. Hopefully this doesn't mark the beginning of the end of the network MOJO HD-style, especially since we've heard of the network sliding onto new Comcast systems recently, but TWC PR director Robyn Watson doesn't seem optimistic, saying "being in HD is not enough." Ouch. Still, fans of Art Mann Presents and the like take heart, the "24x7 HD Network for men" MavTV is launching on the HD Xtra tier at the beginning of June.
HDTV Listings for April 24, 2009
What we're watching tonight: Fox (720p) has Prison Break at 8 p.m. and Dollhouse at 9:01 p.m. CBS (1080i) brings Ghost Whisperer at 8 p.m., Flashpoint at 9 p.m. and Numb3rs at 10 p.m. CW (1080i) has Everybody Hates Chris at 8 p.m. and The Game at 8:30 p.m. MyNetworkTV (720p) has WWE Smackdown at 8 p.m. TLC (1080i) has the season premiere of Wild Weddings at 9 p.m. and Say Yes to the Dress at 10 p.m. Starz (1080i) has Head Case at 10 p.m. and Party Down at 10:30 p.m. History (720p) brings Patton 360 at 9 p.m. ESPN (720p) has Cavaliers/Pistons at 7 p.m. and Trail Blazers/Rockets at 9:30 p.m. ESPN2 (720p) airs Magic/76ers at 8 p.m. Versus (1080i) has the NHL Playoffs with Rangers/Capitals at 7 p.m. HDNet (1080i) has HDNet Fights Presents FieLDS K-1 World MAX 2009 Final 16 at 10 p.m.
HDTV Listings for April 1, 2009
What we're watching tonight: Fox (720p) has Lie to Me at 8 p.m. and American Idol at 9 p.m. Comedy Central (1080i) has South Park at 10 p.m. NBC (1080i) brings Life at 9 p.m. and Law & Order at 10 p.m. ABC (720p) queues up Scrubs at 8 p.m., Better Off Ted at 8:30 p.m., Lost at 9 p.m. and the series finale of Life on Mars at 10:02 p.m. FX (720p) has the season finale of Damages at 10 p.m. Sci Fi (1080i) has Ghost Hunters at 9 p.m. MTV (1080i) has the season finale of The Real World at 10 p.m. ESPN (720p) has the 2009 McDonald's High School All-American Game at 8 p.m. and Rockets/Suns at 10 p.m. ESPN2 (720p) has U.S. World Cup Qualifier action with Trinidad & Tobago/U.S. at 7:30 p.m. HDNet (1080i) has College Basketball Invitational action with Oregon State/UTEP at 10 p.m.
HDTV Listings for March 30, 2009
What we're watching tonight: ABC (720p) has Dancing With the Stars at 8 p.m. and Castle at 10:02 p.m. Fox (720p) has House at 8 p.m. and 24 at 9 p.m. NBC (1080i) lines up Chuck at 8 p.m. followed by Heroes and Medium CBS (1080i) has The Big Bang Theory at 8 p.m., followed by How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, Rules of Engagement, and CSI: Miami at 10 p.m. ABC Family (720p) has the season premiere of Greek at 8 p.m. followed by Roommates at 9 p.m. and Sophie at 9:30 p.m. CW (1080i) has Gossip Girl at 8 p.m. and One Tree Hill at 9 p.m. Discovery (1080i) airs Destroyed in Seconds at 8 & 8:30 p.m. History (720p) has Battles BC at 8 p.m. and Ax Men at 10 p.m. TLC (1080i) brings Little People, Big World at 8 & 8:30 p.m., then Table for 12 at 9 & 9:30 p.m. and a special Jon & Kate Plus 8 at 10 p.m. TNT (1080i) has Saving Grace at 10 p.m. USA (1080i) has WWE: Raw at 9 p.m. Travel (1080i) has Dhani Tackles the Globe at 9 p.m. Versus (1080i) has Devils/Rangers NHL action at 7 p.m. and Stars/Coyotes at 10 p.m. HDNet (1080i) has the College Basketball Invitational at 10 p.m. ESPN (720p) has NCAA Women's Basketball Championship action with Louisville/Maryland at 7 p.m. and Iowa State/Stanford at 9 p.m. ESPN2 (720p) airs the High School Basketball 2009 Powerade Jam Fest at 8 p.m. and NBA Coast 2 Coast at 9 p.m.
HDTV Listings for March 29, 2009
What we're watching tonight: NBC (1080i) has Kings at 8 p.m. HBO (1080i) presents the series premiere of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency at 8 p.m. Fox (720p) brings The Simpsons at 8 p.m. CBS (1080i) lines up Cold Case at 9 p.m. and The Unit at 10 p.m. Showtime (1080i) airs The United States of Tara at 10 p.m. History (720p) has Predator X at 8 p.m. AMC (720p) has Breaking Bad at 10 p.m. TLC (1080i) presents the series premiere of Royal Inquest at 10 p.m. ESPN (720p) has Spurs/Hornets at 8 p.m. ESPN2 (720p) has NCAA Women's Basketball Championship action with Purdue/Rutgers at 7:30 p.m. and Pitt/Oklahoma at 9:30 p.m. HDNet (1080i) premieres Alanis Morissette Live from Carling Academy at 8 p.m
HDTV Listings for March 28, 2009
What we're watching tonight: Fox (720p) has Cops at 8 & 8:30 p.m. NBC (1080i) airs the World Figure Skating Championships at 9 p.m. CBS (1080i) continues NCAA Elite 8 basketball Sci Fi (1080i) presents Polar Storm at 9 p.m. TLC (1080i) has My First Home at 10 p.m. and Deals on the Bus at 10:30 p.m. ESPN (720p) has Women's Basketball Championship action with Michigan State /Iowa State at 9 p.m. HDNet (1080i) airs Ring of Honor wrestling at 8 p.m. HBO (1080i) airs Sex and the City: The Movie at 8 p.m.
HDTV Listings for March 25, 2009
What we're watching tonight: Fox (720p) has American Idol at 8 p.m. Comedy Central (1080i) has South Park at 10 p.m. CBS (1080i) has Survivor at 8 p.m. (Thanks yanks86!), Criminal Minds and CSI: NY NBC (1080i) brings Life at 9 p.m. and Law & Order at 10 p.m. Discovery (1080i) comes up with Cocaine Nation at 8 p.m., Heroin Nation at 9 p.m. and Disaster on K2 at 10 p.m. ABC (720p) queues up Scrubs at 8 p.m., Better Off Ted at 8:30 p.m., Lost at 9 p.m. and Life on Mars at 10:02 p.m. FX (720p) has Damages at 10 p.m. History (720p) brings MonsterQuest at 9 p.m. Sci Fi (1080i) has Ghost Hunters at 9 p.m. MTV (1080i) has The Real World at 10 p.m. Travel (1080i) has the season finale of Man vs. Food at 10 p.m. ESPN (720p) has Celtics/Magic at 8 p.m. and Jazz/Suns at 9:30 p.m. HDNet (1080i) has the College Basketball Invitational at 8 & 10 p.m.
HDTV Listings for February 20, 2009
What we're watching tonight: Fox (720p) loads up Terminator: SCC at 8 p.m. and Dollhouse at 9:01 p.m. USA (1080i) has the season finales of Monk at 9 p.m. and Psych at 10 p.m. MyNetworkTV (720p) has WWE Smackdown at 8 p.m. Discovery (1080i) tosses in Adrenaline Rush Hour at 9 p.m. Cartoon Network (1080i) brings Batman: The Brave and the Bold at 8 p.m. Sci Fi (1080i) airs Battlestar Galactica at 10 p.m. NBC (1080i) has Friday Night Lights at 9 p.m. HBO (1080i) has the season premiere of Real Time with Bill Maher at 10 p.m. HDNet (1080i) presents HDNet FIGHTS at 10 p.m. ESPN (720p) has Mavericks/Rockets at 8 p.m. and Hornets/Lakers at 10:30 p.m.
College Basketball Invitational signs up with HDNet
The Super Bowl isn't even underway, and our HD gluttony is already warming up for March college basketball. Only a couple of years old, the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) has agreed to bring its 16 team bracket to HDNet in March. Normal folks might think that three basketball tournaments running simultaneously from the second half of March to the beginning of April -- the NCAA, NIT and CBI -- might be too much, but serious fans (or those unfortunate enough to have favorite teams spread across tournaments) know better. For those people, we suggest getting a hold of as many tuners as you can and buying Visine in bulk.
HDNet Fights signs up with Ring of Honor wrestling
We're not so sure that we like the direction this might be headed in, but HDNet Fights has signed up with Ring Honor of Wrestling for content, including a weekly series. The professional wrestling promotion was founded in 2002, and with its Code of Honor rules, it was a step away from typical professional wrestling and towards pure catch wrestling, but it's professional wrestling still. We had hoped that HDNet Fights was going to establish itself as a smaller, but still viable alternative to UFC, but this move suggests otherwise. We know HDNet Fights needs to add content, but is there enough audience overlap between professional wrestling and other fight sports that this makes sense? MMA fans, let us know what you think -- does this move water down the brand?
HDTV Listings for January 1, 2008
What we're watching tonight: ABC (720p) airs the Rose Bowl with Penn State/USC at 5 p.m. Fox (720p) presents the Orange Bowl with Cincinnati/Virginia Tech at 8 p.m. A&E (720p) brings the season premiere of The First 48 at 9 p.m. History (720p) continues the Seven Deadly Sins at 9 p.m. HDNet (1080i) airs Robocop (Unrated Director's Cut) at 8:15 p.m.
HDTV Listings for December 25, 2008
What we're watching tonight: ESPN (720p) presents 2008: The Greatest Year IN Sports at 8:30 p.m. TNT (1080i) doubles up NBA games with Wizards/Cavaliers at 8 p.m. and Mavericks/Blazers at 10:30 p.m. HDNet (1080i) continues an InFocus documentary marathon
HDNet rustles up the Cowboy Junkies for a 20th anniversary
Another month, another trip down memory lane comes to us courtesy HDNet's Concert Series. That lane is getting longer than we'd like to admit, as this Sunday "Cowboy Junkies: Trinity Revisited" will air live to mark the 20-year anniversary of the audiophile classic "The Trinity Session." We won't bother to count the number of copies of the recording that we've been through, or how many different formats (hint -- we used to call them "albums"), but we'll tune in at least for "Sweet Jane" one more time.