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Will DirecTV's HD push stimulate competition?
Arguments have already begun over who will eventually reign supreme as the dominant HD provider, and while cable has had years to take advantage of their increased HD offerings compared to satellite carriers, that gap is quickly closing. DirecTV has already launched one HD-centric bird into orbit and apparently has number 11 ready to rock, and the firm's recent HD marketing campaign just might "light a fire in cable to reconsider the pace at which they invest" in HD rollouts. Of course, DirecTV's latest stunt (you know, the sixty-second countdown commercial) is full of asterisks and features a quick-lipped dame throwing in a multitude of "up to"s and "potentially"s, but what's clear is how harshly it comes down on cable. Hey, we're all for taking the gloves-off approach to getting things done, especially if we cable customers actually benefit from DirecTV's aggression.
Cox hoping to add capacity for 50 HD channels by year-end
Finally, a figure we can (halfway) believe. While competing carriers blurt out obscene numbers in the race to magically crank out HD channels that don't even exist yet, Cox Communications president Pat Esser came back from Cloud 9 by suggesting that his company is "aiming to have the capacity to offer 50 HD channels by the end of 2007." Unfortunately, he did make certain that we took note of the word "capacity," but explained that the firm would be eying a number of bandwidth-optimization tools and techniques including "system upgrades, retirement of analog channels, statistical multiplexing of HD signals, and switched digital video." Of course, it was reported that Cox would try to expand capacity to hold 100 HD channels by the end of 2009, but considering that it can hopefully rid itself of analog support, even that seems somewhat reasonable.
Shaw freshens up cable lineup with HD offerings
While a number of other Canadian programming providers have already caved to the HD demands, those stuck with Shaw Cable can start rejoicing, too. The provider has just announced that "it will change analog and digital television channel lineups in Victoria starting Thursday" to include more digital options, a few "time-shifting channels," and an (admittedly small) HD tier. On the high-definition front, Shaw customers can soon look forward to HDNet, Movie Central HD 2, WXYZ-ABC, WWJ-CBS, WDIV-NBC, and WJBK-FOX, while GOL TV and World Fishing Network join the digital SD suite. So for those of you in the line of the newfangled HD fire, be sure to tune in tomorrow and let us know your initial impressions.
