Belgium
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Power-guzzling plasmas could be barred by EU
While most of the plasmas these days aren't exactly energy guzzlers, some of the earlier models were notorious for eating up power at an alarming rate. According to a writeup in The Daily Mail, legislation could be passed by the EU this Spring that would bar those panels from being sold. A spokesman of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has already affirmed that more "eco-friendly" PDPs will remain on store shelves, though it's still unclear what exactly the cutoff will be in terms of energy usage. Granted, none of this should take anyone by surprise -- after all, it'll soon be difficult to find any sets in the US that don't sport that oh-so-important Energy Star 3.0 logo.[Thanks, Isaac]
Belgium axing game rentals
Here's an interesting tidbit for you to nibble over the weekend: Belgium is about to ban all game rentals, on the grounds that it has always been illegal, but is only just now to be enforced. They're not the only country to say no to rentals, either. NeoGAFfers discussing the shift have compared the practice of game rentals to piracy. What do you think of that statement? If you agree, you may even consider it worse, because with rentals, someone else who is not the develper and publisher is reaping all of the monetary benefits of the game being rented again and again.Of course, many of us do rent games, and probably don't feel that way about the practice ... but should we?[Via GoNintendo]
Belgium's Belgacom adds VTM HD, expands to 14 high-def channels
Despite Europe's low adoption rate of HDTV, Belgium's Belgacom is moving forward with the idea that consumer may buy in if enough content is offered. After launching HD IPTV services just this year, the provider is already up to 14 high-def stations, the latest of which is VTM HD. Others in the EPG include Discovery HD, Disney Cinemagic HD, Exqi, HD1, History HD, Melody Zen and Luxe TV HD, and interestingly enough, we're hearing that over half of all Belgacom subscribers are "able to view HD channels." Progress, we dig it.
Positive viewer reaction keeps En HD on the air
Belgian broadcaster TV Vlaanderen was planning to axe Eén HD immediately following the Beijing Games, but it looks like the channel is off the chopping block, after viewers responded so enthusiastically it has decided to keep the channel on the air. Also noted is that everything on the channel is HD, even upscaled SD content, although we hope no TNT-style stretching is going on. Any other viewers noting channels added in a hurry for the Olympics rush sticking around?
European broadcasters rushing to add HD ahead of the Olympics
Despite word from France Television's director of sports programming that HD wouldn't be available for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, France 2 HD has already launched on CanalSat DTH and Numéricable. Unlike the Versus broadcast here, French viewers are also getting the Tour de France in HD and can expect the same from their Olympic coverage. Meanwhile Belgians can thank TV Vlaanderen for adding VRT's Eén HD temporarily to its DTH platform, delivering both events in HD, along with Belgacom TV adding Eén HD, France 2 HD, Eurosport HD and TF1 HD for a total of 13 high definition channels. Really, we can't see watching the Olympics any other way.Read - Belgacom TVRead - France 2Read - VRT Eén HD
Ads-for-minutes model marches on: Blyk expanding to three more countries
The concept of exchanging voice minutes for obligatory ads pushed to handsets is a business model still very much in its infancy, but Blyk -- which currently has a live MVNO in the UK and plans to launch in the Netherlands later this year -- must be feeling good about its chances right now, because it has announced a planned expansion into the German, Belgian, and Spanish markets next year. Key to the service's success is recognition by advertisers that customers actually give a crap about the highly-targeted marketing material being pushed to them; Blyk claims that click-through rates are rockin', which is probably providing the impetus for the planned expansion. We're still not so sure we'd trade 217 text messages and 43 voice minutes a month for the privilege of being blasted with spam targeted promotions, but if they're somehow able to boost the allowance into the range of a typical plan and maintain profitability, they could be sitting on a gold mine.[Via mocoNews]
Sony's Grand Theft Auto IV PS3 bundle spotted in Belgium store
Yeah, that fancy press shot has a certain beauty to it, but there's just nothing like spotting a highly coveted console in the wild. Thanks to our cameraphone toting tipster in Belgium, we're presented with the first image of the GTA IV bundle sitting on a shelf just waiting for someone to trade their €450 in and take it home. Oh, and if you're wondering what type of shop places a sweet PS3 beside an assortment of blank media, a coffee mug and what appears to be a CRT television circa 1990, it's Free Record Shop in Antwerp, sucka.[Thanks, Yannick]
Coditel bundles HD with DTV packages
In an approach that seems awfully familiar to many cable subscribers here in the US, Belgian cable provider Coditel has put its HD offerings into DTV baskets. Ah yes, the beauty of not-so á la carte tiers. Monthly prices seem fairly comparable to what we see as well: the starter package with five HD channels comes in at €14, adding in National Geographic HD and HD1 moves the price northward to €20 and for €7 you can get Disney Cinemagic HD. Add in the rental fee on the PVR cable box, and you get the picture -- this is no Freeview! From the reports we've seen, Europe is experiencing some problems with take-off. Is this a case of untapped market opportunity or a lack of a market? Overseas readers, let us know!
Belgacom launching HD programming services in Belgium
Disregard the fact that just 5-percent of HDTV owners in Europe actually bother to tune into HD programming -- Belgium's own Belgacom is looking to help its subscribers buck the trend. Starting on April 14th, the provider will begin offering HD VOD services (exact content choices have yet to be disclosed) along with seven unannounced high-def channels. Of note, customers looking to take advantage of the extra clarity will be dinged with a €50 "connection charge," and a snappy VDSL line will be required. Additionally, Belgacom plans on offering the Olympic Games in HD, and the services are being made available thanks to recent infrastructure upgrades to a fiber-to-the-node VDSL2 network. No word on how much the Nokia Siemens Networks-sourced set-top-boxes will run customers, but we'd say it's a pretty exciting win for HD-starved Belgians, regardless.
Urinal game banned by killjoy Belgium police
Remember that urinal-based racing game that was making the rounds this summer? You know, the one you drive with your pee, and which warns you against drunk driving if you're not controlling your car too well? Well the Belgium police didn't seem to find it too amusing, and have banned the "Place to Pee" version of the game installed at GamePower Expo in Gent, Belgium as an indecency offence. We're guessing they're just tired of missing out on all those exciting men's room tourneys.[Thanks, Joel S]
