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QVC HD, now with 100-percent genuine HD
Did the upconverted video QVC HD was offering get you to flip the channel right to Matlock? If so, the network wants to lure you back with its 100-percent native HD signal, which went live early this month -- we somehow missed the transition, and based on the lack of tips, we're not alone. Now we'll wait and see how long it takes QVC to figure out how to leverage HD in peddling its wares -- those HD cameras don't spare TV personalities any kindness, so expect to see some soft focus techniques applied on those dazzling CZs while things get sorted.
Poll: Who is right in the NFL Network / Comcast battle?
The hearing is over and both sides have presented their cases to the judge, but it could be up to a month before there's a ruling on the NFL Network vs. Comcast case, and with the channel due to disappear in just a few more days we're leaving the decision up to you. Who do you roll with, the sports channel arguing the cable giant won't open up its lucrative massive subscriber base while keeping them tied to its own useless channels, or the cable company protesting too high subscriber fees for a niche product? Submit your amius briefs in the comments.%Poll-29301%
National Geographic launching Nat Geo Wild HD
Listen up, nature lovers -- you should seriously consider moving to the UK. We're hearing that National Geographic is gearing up to exclusively launch Nat Geo Wild HD on the Sky platform on April 1st, and it's reportedly being done as a response to growing demand (and growing ratings) for the SD version of Nat Geo Wild. Launch programs on the new channel will include Blue Whale Odyssey, Darwin's Lost Voyage and the second series of Strange Days on Planet Earth, narrated by Hollywood actor Ed Norton, and yes, the content will indeed be made available from day one on Sky Anytime, the operator's video-on-demand service.
Tips on completing Higher Learning
Higher Learning is one of the most peaceful achievements in the game (all you have to do are read a few books that spawn around Dalaran), but it's no less desirable for that -- the achievement grants a miniature Arcane Elemental pet that looks awesome. Teniblue over on WoW Ladies has a few good tips if you're trying to get all edumacated in Dalaran -- she's got links to two addons (including the perfectly-named Dalaran University) to use to help you track spawn times, and she's got a link to Breanni's great guide over on WarcraftPets.com (which our own Allison R. touched on briefly in a recent OverAchiever post).What's fun about this achievement is that reading the books won't delete them, so it can be very social -- people have created #bookclub channels on many servers to keep track of when and where books are appearing in the city. That makes it a lot more fun than the, say, cooking daily quest that sends you after mushrooms in the sewers. It actually makes this social game, well, social.So next time you see a book sitting around the city, be sure to give a shout to the chat channel -- here's one in-game situation where everybody can benefit from a little extra chatting.
Comcast brings a fresh trio to Philadelphia, PA
While citizens in the Philly suburbs of Willow Grove / Montgomery and Bucks Counties received these three last month, Comcast decided to wait awhile before bestowing them upon the residents of Philadelphia proper. As of now, USA HD, Discovery HD and SciFi HD have all been added, and if you're parked in the City of Brotherly Love, you can find 'em on slots 222, 224 and 226, respectively. The full release is after the break.
Cablevision's probable VOOM HD replacement channels: they're all premiums
Okay, so Cablevision isn't apt to come right out and say that these newcomers are the replacements for the 15 VOOM HD networks that were marked for deletion late last year, but it may as well have. Coincidentally, 15 new high-def channels are reportedly lined up to join the Cablevision EPG in short order, though every single one is a premium movie channel. Encore HD, Starz Kids & Family HD, Starz Edge HD, HBO Signature HD, HBO Family HD, HBO Comedy HD, HBO Zone HD, HBO2 HD, HBO Latino HD, Action Max HD, More Max HD, @MAX HD, Outer MAX HD and Showtime Too HD are all expected to show up starting on January 21st, with rollouts continuing across all markets until January 23rd. We know, your first reaction is probably something along the lines of "What? All movie channels?," but at least you're getting something out of the deal -- if you opt to pay up, of course. [Thanks, LI PC Tech]
Mediacom dishes FOOD, SPEED and HGTV HD in Iowa
We've always heard that good things come in threes, and apparently Mediacom is sticking by that mantra. After adding a pair of trifectas in December, the carrier has just tossed in SPEED HD, FOOD HD and HGTV HD in Iowa, giving local viewers all the high-def racing, cooking and homemaking they can handle. If it has to be Monday, at least it's a Monday with new HD channels.[Thanks, Kyle]
Time Warner Cable adding four more HD networks in Raleigh, NC
Raleigh, NC residents were pretty satisfied with 20 or so new HD channels at the tail end of last year, but apparently Time Warner Cable is really feeling the pressure from recent entrant AT&T. Now, Triangle citizens can start preparing for four more to hit the EPG on February 13th: USA HD (258), Bravo HD (259), CNBC HD (266) and SciFi HD (267). Don't take this personally TWC, but we appreciate the favor, AT&T. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Paul]
Comcast pushes 7 new HD channels to Lansing, MI subscribers
How's this for coincidence? Just days after AT&T announced that it would be making its U-verse TV available in Lansing, Michigan, out pops a few new high-def stations in the area courtesy of Comcast. According to a local who's kicking around watching TV on the first day of 2009 (good choice, by the way), Cartoon Network HD, Planet Green HD, Fox News HD, Lifetime Movie Network HD, Speed HD, E! HD and Biography HD have shown up. Nice way to start off what's looking to be the best year of all time, eh?[Thanks, ElanVital]
TWC drags another half dozen HD channels to San Diego, CA
San Diego, Time Warner Cable is lookin' out for you. Just days after three, then four HD channels dropped in, we've now received word that another half dozen have emerged in the lineup. As of now, locals should be seeing MLB Network HD (789), HBO East HD (610), Showtime East HD (651), TMC East HD (663), Versus HD (741) and Golf HD (767). At this rate, you folks should be well into the thousands by New Year's Eve 2009.[Thanks, Michael]
MLB Network goes live tomorrow, January 1st
Good news, baseball fans -- starting at 6:00PM ET tomorrow, you'll have all the action you can handle, anytime of the year. If your provider is signed on to begin offering MLB Network, that is. Said channel is expected to begin airing in some 50 million homes tomorrow, and the League has high hopes that its 24-hour baseball channel will end up paying for itself ($50 million to launch, give or take) over time. We're hearing that deals with new carriers are being finalized "every day," with agreements already in place with DirecTV, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications. As of now, the station is expected to broadcast 26 regular season matchups in 2009, and it's hoping to acquire even more tilts after current TV contracts expire in 2013. For a look at the studios in which you'll be peering at in a matter of hours, check the read link for galleries.[Via Reuters]
Cox gifts Kansas subscribers with three more HD channels
Good news, Kansas -- not only has Cox gone live with the two high-def stations it promised it would, but it's apparently bringing along three others. According to a local, FOX News HD (605), AMC HD (639) and Cartoon Network HD (640) have all emerged on the EPG, and we reckon we speak for everyone in saying that there's hardly anything more awesome than new HD channels that you weren't expecting.[Thanks, Kevin]
TWC lines up eight more HD channels in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus-area TWC subscribers were just blessed with sixteen new high-def channels over the past little bit, and according to a new report from The Columbus Dispatch, these same folks will see eight more in January. There's no mention of what exactly those channels will be, but we are told that the Start Over service has been expanded to eight areas in Central Ohio and should be available to all at the beginning of next year. Oh, and while this is completely unofficial, we'd say you can probably send a thank you letter to AT&T for applying pressure where it counts. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
Three more HD channels come to Springfield, IL's Comcast lineup
As the wave of new HD channels continues to roll around and hit random Comcast systems across the nation, Springfield, Illinois has become the latest city to get gifted. Just in time for New Year's Day, locals in the area can find FOX News HD, FX HD and SPEED HD on slots 950, 948 and 946, respectively. The new trio brings the total HD adds since April to 25, and we're certain subscribers in the region are hoping the end isn't anywhere in sight.
Juneau's NBC affiliate now available in HD in Ketchikan, AK
Alaska's first city can now enjoy the spoils of 30 Rock, The Office and Sunday Night Football in high-definition, and it's all thanks to GCI Cable picking up the KATH-TV feed from Juneau. As of now, Ketchikan residents can finally pull in a high-definition version of the NBC affiliate, and this February locals will be able to see the Super Bowl in HD -- a first for Southeast Alaska. KATH-HD was launched in the state's capital city this August just in time for the Beijing Olympics, and thanks to a new fiber-optic run from there to Ketchikan, service is being expanded. Moreover, GCI Cable is hoping that this addition will be just one of many to come in the looming months, though no details about exact expansion plans were discussed.
Time Warner Cable brings four more HD channels to San Diego, CA
TWC's been hooking San Diego, California up good fashion of late, and just in case you weren't satisfied with what the latest rounds of additions were packing, in comes four more just before Santa sashays down the chimney. As of today, locals will find USA HD (734), CNBC HD (749), SciFi HD (757) and Bravo HD (740) in the EPG, though we'll take the rare opportunity to suggest you hang with the fam for awhile and let these simmer until the in-laws depart. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family] [Thanks, Michael]
Peoria, IL gets another three HD channels courtesy of Comcast
Peoria and surrounding areas in Illinois already picked up 22 new HD channels back in May, but knowing just how unsatisfied high-def junkies are, we're sure locals are already itching for a few more. As of now, resident Comcast subscribers can find FOX News HD, FX HD and SPEED HD on the EPG, though there's no indication that more are on the way. 'Tis a shame too, given that your door is probably frozen shut right now, leaving you no alternative but to turn to HDTV for entertainment.
Bright House Networks to host up MLB Network HD in Tampa Bay
We get the feeling that we'll see quite a few carriers proudly announcing carriage deals with MLB Network during the run-up to its launch (January 1, 2009), and Bright House Networks is getting us started by promising its Tampa Bay, Florida customers the channel come the new year. Starting in 2009, MLB Network will be available in SD on digital cable channel 159 and in HD on slot 744, and Joe Durkin, senior director corporate communications at the carrier, has confirmed that it will be added at no extra charge. For those unaware, the channel will carry "live games, original programming, highlights, classic games and coverage of baseball events," and its signature show -- MLB Tonight -- is obviously aiming to take viewers away from Karl Ravech, John Kruk and the rest of the gang at ESPN's 'Baseball Tonight.'
BHN gives free premiums for Florida outage, adds 4 new HD nets early
We can't possibly overstate the awesomeness of competition, and it's readily apparent in this here scenario. After many Central Florida-based Bright House Networks customers were left without TV service for around eight hours earlier this month, the outfit made known that small refunds would be given. Now, it's stepping the apology up another notch by promising a free month of Showtime HD, The Movie Channel, Showtime on Demand and TMC on Demand. Additionally, it's adding in those four high-def stations -- SciFi HD (1369), FX HD (1370), Travel HD (1365) and USA HD (1399) -- a few days early, giving you four more to enjoy over the Christmas holiday. Thanks, AT&T.[Thanks, Rob]
Charter brings four new HD channels to St. Louis, Missouri
Charter Communications isn't abstaining from expanding HD channels as the holiday season approaches, as it has announced that four new high-def stations have launched alongside four digital SD nets in St. Louis, Missouri. Available now are Food Network HD (760), HGTV HD (761), National Geographic HD (768), Golf HD (772), Hallmark Movie Channel (122), ReelzChannel (145), American Life TV (146) and The Sportsman Channel (772). According to Steve Trippe, Vice President and General Manager of Charter's St. Louis operations, the carrier now provides "more than 400 HD choices that are instantly available at any time," which definitely does not translate into a remarkable amount of linear HD channels. Still, nice to have a few new ones, right STL?
