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Verizon brings HD VOD to Oregon FiOS TV customers
Not even half a year after Verizon strung its FiOS TV service to Oregon, those very subscribers are now getting access to HD VOD. The carrier has been on quite the roll of late, dishing out HD VOD to a slew of other states just a month prior, but this marks the first time Beaver State residents can yell "me too!" For starters, you can look forward to seeing content from CBS, Discovery Channel, Music Choice, HDNet and Ovation TV, and if Verizon has its way, it'll be offering up 1,000 HD VOD titles per month by the close of 2008.
Viacom, Paramount, Lionsgate & MGM team up for new premium channel in '09
Hope you like your movies served fresh on-demand, as Viacom, Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM have just announced plans for a new "premium" channel launching fall 2009. Other than having access to Paramount and Paramount Vintage titles released to theaters on or after January 1, 2008, and MGM, United Artist and Lionsgate flicks released after January 1, 2009, the service plans a "robust" VOD component. According to Variety, the big loser here is Showtime, which loses access to several theaters it's depended on for content, and also faces competition for shows like Weeds and Dexter. We're sure no premium movie channel would launch in this day and age without an HD offering, so tell your provider to keep a slot open for this latest addition.
New Yorkers get access to HD VOD via FiOS TV
Verizon's on quite the roll in the Empire State, and it's not stopping with filing an application to bring FiOS TV to all of New York City. Oh no, it's also bringing HD VOD to every single New Yorker with FiOS TV already, starting right now. On top of that, the carrier's trumpeting its plans to offer up "more than 1,000 high-definition video-on-demand titles each month by the end of the year." Go on, celebrate any way you wish -- before long, everything you watch via the new portal will be dictated by junior, anyway.
Comcast HD VOD library expands with gangster-themed titles
Another month, another handful of HD VOD updates from Comcast. This go 'round, the carrier's looking to help you vent your tax day frustrations by offering up a suite of anti-establishment, gangster-themed flicks in brilliant high-definition. Most notably, American Gangster and The Godfather trilogy will be available to subscribers in HD, and just in case the aforementioned titles are a bit too dark for your tastes, you can also tune into MTV's Real World: Season 20 premier a week prior to it airing on MTV. Sure, we would've preferred a price cut for the month to help cope, but we 'spose this will have to do.[Image courtesy of Universal / Entertainment Wallpaper]
"Study" finds zany crowd willing to pay $9 for earlier release HD VOD films
Okay, so we've seen some fairly amazing results emerge from these so-called studies, but this one practically takes the cake. Oliver Wyman, an international management consulting firm, reportedly surveyed some 2,000 US consumers and found that "a price point between $7 and $9 is optimal for the next generation of video-on-demand VOD and internet movie rentals." In other words, respondents confirmed that they would pay up to $9 per HD VOD film if they could have instant access on the day-and-date of the title's DVD release. Granted, we recognize that consumers will indeed pay more for convenience, but still, $9 just seems extraordinarily steep at the moment. It should be noted, however, that the same study did find that consumers would likely pay a small premium for packaged media that included a Digital Copy (or similar) -- that we actually can wrap our heads around. Hit the read link for more details, and please don't agree that $9 is the new $3.99, okay?[Image courtesy of Verizon]
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.
NHK offers old shows on HD VOD
NHK on Demand is prepping for a December launch in Japan, offering viewer a chance to check out older programming at their leisure. Available via PC, the acTVila service or J:COM On-Demand, there should be about 1,000 programs available at launch, with 1,000 more added every year afterwards, in high definition where applicable. Beyond just old catalog stuff, morning television, nightly news and prime time programming from the past week will be available, for a fee. NHK expects the VOD biz to operate at a loss for the first few years but sees profits far off once things are all set up. Remember the old days when you just had to watch what was on TV right then?
History's HD VOD channel heads to Korean IPTV service
History (it recently dropped such innocuous terms like The and Channel to describe a lineup of Ax Men and Crime 360) has linked up with Korea Telecom to distribute its network via video on demand. Parent A&E Television is completely committed to HD production for its shows, and plans to continue expanding the channel -- already on the air in the U.K., Scandinavia and Central Europe -- to Asia and Latin America over the next year. Expect more syndication-friendly content on the way, as A&E sees a big future for HD & VOD distribution.
Time Warner Cable drops HD bombshell on New York / New Jersey
Lookee here, it's all coming true. The bits we heard about a massive HD rollout coming to Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, NY (not to mention New Jersey) are now being confirmed by Time Warner Cable. On April 30th, the three previously highlighted areas will have access to 50 HD channels, while those very stations will be available to all digital subscribers in Manhattan (!!!), New Jersey, the Hudson Valley region and Mt. Vernon "later this year." Additionally, TWC is gearing up to add over 250 HD VOD options, launch Enhanced HDTV (which includes Start Over) and position itself "to carry 100 high-definition channels" in NY and NJ by the close of 2008. Progress is a wonderful thing, innit? Check the full list of upcoming HD channels in the read link. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
Gospel Music Channel getting HD VOD channel in May
Gospel Music Channel has announced plans to not only re-launch its video-on-demand suite on April 7th, but to also introduce an HD VOD channel in May. According to the network, the new GMC VOD service will "feature revamped category titles and a streamlined / more intuitive navigational process for viewers." Currently, the channel itself is available in some 16 million homes (most notably on DirecTV channel 338), and the new VOD offerings will be split up into five categories to showcase live performances, full episodes from its original biography series, music videos, clips from original specials and Spanish language programming. No word on which carriers will be hosting the HD VOD material just yet, however.
Verizon gets official with massive FiOS TV HD VOD rollout
Looks like that HD VOD blanket we knew was being laid out has been confirmed by Verizon, as it stated today that HD VOD has been dished out to all service areas in California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas. As for subscribers in New York and Oregon, you'll be joining the party "in the coming weeks." Finally, the carrier noted that it plans on offering up over 1,000 high-definition video-on-demand titles before the year's close -- now, if only it could locate a steady supply of AQUOS LCDs for new signups, we'd really be in business.
HD VOD sweeping over Verizon's FiOS TV territories
Shortly after hearing that Verizon was doing its part to beef up video-on-demand offerings, we've been receiving reports from FiOS TV customers across the country that HD VOD has arrived unannounced. From New England to DC to the beautiful Pacific Coast, HD VOD seems to be sweeping across nearly every FiOS TV area. Early reports are stating that quality looks "just as good as broadcast [HD programming]," but we're out to see if it really is everyone that's invited to the party. Got FiOS TV? Yeah? Well, do you suddenly have HD VOD? Chime in with your locale below.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
RCN gives VOD library a kick in the pants
Earlier this year, Comcast took a long look at its VOD library and realized things were looking scarce. Apparently RCN has done the same, as it has just announced a new initiative to upgrade its on-demand technology in order to nearly double subscribers' content choices. Aside from boosting SD and HD choices, customers should also see a "more intuitive on-demand portal and virtual on-demand channels for easier accessibility," but unfortunately, we're not told exactly what new material will surface in high-def. Nevertheless, digital subscribers in Boston, Chicago, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. can expect to see a revamped VOD library "by June."
Verizon beefs up its FiOS TV video-on-demand offerings
Joining just about every other major carrier out there, Verizon has announced that it too will be playing along with March Madness on Demand. Beyond that, it's also bringing a new helping of other options to its video-on-demand service. Reportedly, FiOS TV subscribers can now fix their eyeballs on VOD (and HD VOD, if it's in your area) content from "CBS, Discovery Channel, Smithsonian Channel, Ovation TV and more." More specifically, some of the newcomers include Big Brother 9, Numb3rs, CSI, CSI:Miami, CSI:New York, Jericho, NCIS and Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites. Granted, folks outside of Richmond and Virginia Beach, VA, Tampa, FL, Fort Wayne, IN, Pittsburgh, PA, Burlington, MA, and Rhode Island won't be seeing any of this in high-def, but Verizon does note that HD VOD "is coming soon to all remaining FiOS TV markets."Read - Verizon plays March Madness on DemandRead - Verizon expands VOD offerings on FiOS TV
Time Warner Cable signs up for March Madness VOD
Following Comcast's footsteps, Time Warner Cable has just made it official: it will also be offering its subscribers CBS Sports' March Madness on demand content free of charge. In case you weren't already aware, this will allow customers to access game highlights and historical NCAA March Madness vignettes via video-on-demand, but unfortunately, only users in North Texas will see said programming in high-definition. Now, more than ever, the rest of the TWC nation could really use HD VOD, eh? [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
TiVo still working on a DVR with two-way features like VOD
Hi-def and DVRs go together like peanut butter and jelly, but even with all the great DVRs available today, none are perfect. TiVo offers the best overall user experience and features, but lacks a few fundamental features that most cable STBs have -- like VOD, for starters. Although this isn't TiVo's fault, when it comes down to figuring out what's right for your family, it really doesn't matter. During Tivo's earnings call yesterday, it was reaffirmed that TiVo is working one step closer to making the ultimate cable DVR by including two-way functionality using the latest CableLabs standard tru2way. For those who haven't been keeping track at home, tru2way has undergone an identity crisis, and if you go back long enough, you'll find that it was called CableCARD 2.0 -- by someone. The way this would work is that you'd have a way on a TiVo to access the cable company's UI, so good or bad, when you're accessing VOD content, you'd see the same thing as if you were using a Moto or SA Cisco box. What isn't known is if current HD TiVo owners, with the help of a tuning resolver and some software, would have access to the same features. We don't see why not, but this stuff is already way more complicated than it should be, and at this point we wouldn't put anything by CableLabs.
Comcast upgrading infrastructure in South Florida: more HD on the way
If you'll recall, Comcast went out of its way to enhance the infrastructure and add a number of new HD channels to much of the Northeast late last year, and now it's finally time for South Florida to experience the same. Reportedly, a "major upgrade" is currently underway on Comcast's South Florida cable system, and we're told that said changes will provide a platform for DOCSIS 3.0 -- set to roll out in 2009 -- which will enable 100Mbps download speeds. Furthermore, subscribers throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe Counties can look forward to a new slate of HD VOD choices to go along with six new HD channels: Food Network HD (414), USA Network HD (420), History Channel HD (422), Discovery Channel HD (424), Animal Planet HD (426) and Sci-Fi HD (427). Best of all, those newcomers are only part of the "phase one" HD expansion plan -- go on, let those imaginations run wild.
HD VOD atop list of changes coming to TWC New York / New Jersey
Just days after we learned of a few channel transformations coming up in the TWC New York / New Jersey markets, along comes word that quite a few other alterations are in the pipeline. For starters, HD VOD is slated to launch on May 15th in Staten Island (which currently has an "all digital" system), and other markets (Brooklyn / Queens, Manhattan, Hudson Valley and New Jersey) should receive the service before the end of Q3 2008. Additionally, Start Over and Quick Clips will reportedly be coming to all of the aforementioned systems on July 1st, but a soft launch is apt to sneak in a month prior. Still not enough? No worries -- Time Warner will also be busting out a new service dubbed Virtual Video Store, which will supposedly offer up a library of older movies for rent at just $1.99 apiece. Now, let's see if TWC delivers, shall we? [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
Comcast to offer up NCAA March Madness, more films on HD VOD
Comcast isn't messing around with its HD VOD initiative, as just a under a month after it promised to deliver a slew of upcoming films to its on-demand library the same day they arrived on DVD, the cable company is hitting back with even more goodness for March. As expected, Comcast will be offering up NCAA March Madness Memories and Highlights via HD VOD, and if that wasn't enough, you can also catch sport-themed movie highlights this month as well. For those not exactly into hoops, you can check out Nancy Drew and August Rush at your convenience on March 11th, and your kids will certainly dig the exclusive HD replay of Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards on March 30th. For the full rundown on Comcast's March HD VOD plans, check out the release waiting after the jump.
Comcast beefs up HD VOD offerings in a big way
Comcast made absolutely sure we knew it was serious about HD VOD during CES, and lo and behold, it's beginning to make good on its promises. Announced today, a slew of upcoming films will be available on the firm's "signature video on demand" in both SD and HD -- on the exact same day as the DVD release, no less. Furthermore, it's also following the vision set forth in Project Infinity by offering up a number of television premieres via HD VOD "at least one week before airing on linear television channels." Among the movie titles slated to hit soon are The Brave One, Rendition, No Reservations and Michael Clayton, while The Tudors and Flavor of Love hold things down on the TV series front. Take a look at the full release after the jump.
