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World's biggest HD screen? Let's play a game on it
What's the first thing you do after installing the world's largest HD screen, a 16,000-square-foot ocular wonder? Play video games on it! The Charlotte Motor Speedway recently celebrated the installation of a big ol' Panasonic TV by inviting NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. to take a couple of virtual laps on the thing in iRacing (not our first choice, but an apt one, we suppose). The project took 57 workers four months to construct -- totaling more than 11,000 man hours. The structure weighs 332.5 tons and features 158 panels illuminated by 9,000,000 LED lamps. This ginormous 720p display will be pretty much wasted on track replays, standings and stats. So tragic.
India DTH players look to high-def to differentiate
If you've been content just focusing on sectors in your own nation, you may have missed all the DTH congestion in India. At last count, there are five different satcasters serving the country, and now some are making accelerated pushes to get high-def programming on the air in order to stand out. A recent report from New Delhi asserts that Dish TV and Sun Direct are both hoping to add high-definition content in separate tiers within "the next few months." Specifics are relatively scant, but Indians can probably expect between 10 to 15 HD stations for a modest (read: totally worthwhile) premium. Other sources have noted that Tata Sky, Big TV and Airtel should follow suit, though specific time lines weren't mentioned. Better get that HDTV soon, Indians -- you've got high-res content just around the bend.
India's Big TV grabs 500,000 subscribers in two months
It took AT&T years to hit the magical half million mark here in the USA with U-verse TV; for India's Big TV, it has taken two short months. Oh sure, that comparison involves a hint of apple with a slice of orange, but still, it's an impressive feat no matter how you spin it. The DTH satellite arm of Reliance Communications has managed to secure 500,000 customers since launching in August, and with that kind of cash inflow, we have a pretty good feeling about it being able to maintain expansion plans. If all goes well, the lineup will blossom from 200 to 400 next year, it will offer DVR services by the year's end and it will launch 15 to 20 high-def channels by "mid-2009." Kudos, Big TV -- now, what's it going to take to get those HD options out a few months ahead of schedule?
