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The Ultimate Fighter 7 finale hits HD for the first time June 21
Following other MMA action, WWE and boxing to HD, The Ultimate Fighter 7 will broadcast its finale in high definition on Spike HD June 21. The three hour event kicks off at 9 p.m., featuring a main event of Evan Tanner vs. Kendall Grove, as well as the middleweight tournament finals from the show's latest season and other bouts. Broadcasting live from Las Vegas, we don't know if they'll be sharing camera equipment with The View, due in town the same week, but we figure the winner should stop by the couch to have a chat with Babs & Co. afterwards.
Poll: Do you still watch SD programming?
With just south of a hundred HD channels on carriers like DirecTV, and even dozens on the average cable operator, one may wonder if there's even a reason for turning to an SD station anymore. Here at the Engadget HD lair, there's only a few programs still shot and delivered in standard-def that we catch ourselves watching, but we'll admit, it's been an awful long time since SD programming consumed more than 10-percent or so of our viewing. Not too tough a question for you this week: do you still find yourself flipping to SD networks with the growing amount of HD content out there? If so, how much? And be honest -- is it solely due to your wife's obsession with America's Next Top Model?[Image courtesy of Rickey] %Poll-14248%
SportsCenter changes up the formula starting August 11
The daily SportsCenter rotation marks time for many a sports junkie, but starting this fall, everything will be different. Timed for the start of the Beijing Olympics, SportsCenter is switching to a live edition from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. News vet Hannah Storm will host from 9 a.m. until noon each day, in an effort to balance with ESPN2's morning programming and ESPNews. Smaller tweaks include a continuous Bottom Line news ticker that scrolls headlines throughout the show and commercial breaks, and an ESPNews-style Rundown vertical listing of upcoming stories. Next spring ESPN takes the wrapper off its Sony-powered LA studio, debuting a 10 p.m. PT / 1 a.m. ET live SportsCenter broadcast skewed for the West Coast. Endless reruns of SportsCenter throughout the night and early morning have been a fixture for more than a decade, this adjustment strikes us on the level of political unrest, a weakening dollar and global climate change. [Via Variety]
The Weather Channel to broadcast from new HD studio on June 2
Though we had previously heard that The Weather Channel's new HD studio wouldn't open until July, it looks like things will be getting started a touch early. Based on a dedicated page on the network's website, we're told that June 2nd is the date in which it will start broadcasting from an all new "state-of-the-art, eco-friendly" high-definition studio. The channel doesn't hesitate to give props to Cisco for its help in constructing the facility, and it has even posted a slideshow and video to give viewers a look at how it all came together. Head on down to the read link if that sounds like something you'd be interested in.[Thanks, Kevin]
New York's The CW 11 (WPIX) takes newscasts to HD
Just over three months after Albany's CBS affiliate took its news to high-def, New York's The CW 11 is joining the parade. As of Sunday, the station is now broadcasting its news in HD, though there's been no big announcement made from WPIX itself. Hey WNYW and WWOR -- feel like hopping on the bandwagon, or is SD treating you two okay?[Thanks, Uchendu]
Kansas City's KSHB-TV takes local news high-def
As the nationwide commitment to HD news continues to blossom this week, Kansas City's own NBC affiliate (KSHB-TV) has too made the switch. As you'd expect, every single newscast from the station's studios will be aired in high-def, from the 5AM - 7AM Action News Today to the Action News at 10PM broadcast. Those interested in seeing what the talking heads have to say in glorious HD can tune via OTA (41.1), Time Warner Cable (1441), Everest (630), Sunflower (202), Comcast (232) or U-verse (1041). Any others around the country going to get in while the getting's good?[Thanks, Sean]
Raleigh's ABC11 Eyewitness News goes HD... eight years too late
Seeing a couple of news stations make the leap to HD within one week was pretty cute at first, but this is becoming downright scary. The Triangle's own ABC11 has become the fifth network within the past seven days to transition its local newscasts to high-def. Comically enough, the station is diving in extraordinarily late, as cross-town rival WRAL-TV has been airing its news in HD since 2000 -- yeah, eight years ago. Raleigh residents won't hesitate to boast of having the nation's first HD news station, and at this point, we're wondering if ABC11 can pry the critical eyes of residents away from the station they've been viewing for so long. But hey, we won't kvetch about added competition.
Virginia's WDBJ7 hops on HD news bandwagon
Let's keep the trend alive, shall we? Following in the footsteps of Salt Lake City's 2NEWS, Detroit's WJBK and Denver's CBS4, Virginia's own WDBJ7 has also made the transition to air its local newscasts in high-definition. The CBS affiliate serves the Roanoke-Lynchburg area, and suffice to say quite a bit of work went on behind the scenes to pull it all together. Thankfully, the network journaled the process for us in pictures, so be sure to hit the read link for a gallery of off-camera shots.[Thanks, Dariusz]
Denver gets high-def news from CBS4, six new HD channels from Comcast
The Mile High City isn't about to be shown up by nearby Salt Lake City or faraway Detroit, as it becomes the third city in the past week to flip on an HD news channel. As of now, residents of Denver, Colorado can catch their local news in high-definition on CBS4, and in case that wasn't enough, Comcast users can look forward to six more networks in glorious HD. Yep, subscribers in the area can finally tune into TLC HD (677), Disney HD (679), ABC Family HD (680), Food HD (681), HGTV HD (682) and Science HD (683). Stay classy, Denver -- we'll be seeing you in five months or so.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Read - CBS4 begins HD newscastsRead - Comcast adds six HD channels in Denver
Detroit's FOX affiliate falls in line, flips news to HD
Early last year, Cleveland became the first city to boast of having a trifecta of HD news channels. Now, however, the Motor City is making sure it keeps up. Reportedly, Detroit's own WJBK / FOX 2 just started serving up newscasts in high-def, but it's not like residents weren't already getting their HD news fix from either WXYZ / ABC 7 or WDIV / NBC 4. Still, there's nothing like a little competition to keep everyone honest, so feel free to take your pick now that the playing field is all leveled up.[Thanks, Jeremy]
Salt Lake City's 2NEWS makes the switch to HD
Just weeks after Comcast users in the greater Salt Lake City, Utah area were gifted with five new HD channels, residents of SLC now have one more reason to flip on the evening news. This past Saturday, the city's 2NEWS (KUTV, a local CBS affiliate) made the leap to high-definition, as its 5:30PM newscast was shown for the first time in HD. Additionally, HD cameras were used to capture clips from the Salt Lake City Marathon, and an all new HD-ready control room is being used to make the magic happen. Another news channels gets with the times -- can't complain with that.
Logo to simulcast Scissor Sisters: Live at the O2 Arena on MHD
Fans of Scissor Sisters and HD music alike will be able to enjoy a concert scheduled to air on Logo next week as it teams up with sister (ahem) channel MHD. Reportedly, the simulcast will mark the "first high-definition broadcast from a gay television network" (that'd be Logo, for those unaware), and the concert in question will be Scissor Sisters: Live at the O2 Arena. The event will be an hour-long special of the band performing in London, and for those who won't be sitting around the tube next Thursday, you can view it online as it happens via steaming video on the network's website. Sound good? Set your HD DVRs for 8:00PM ET / PT on April 24th, or better yet, kick back and enjoy it as it unfolds. Full release after the jump.
Survivor meets HDTV for the first time this summer
That's right, one of the biggest shows still stuck in 480i is making the switch when it begins shooting this summer, as announced by Sony and CBS at NAB2008. Coming into its 17th season (to air in early 2009), it's the first CBS reality show to make the HD jump, via Sony's XDCAM production system. Executive producer Mark Burnett is calling it a "new era" for the show, we're calling it "about time". It's just a bit embarrassing that the Miss USA pageant made the jump first, but we won't complain about more HD footage from the beautiful locales Survivor tends to visit. No word on how much that extra resolution will cost CBS, but with more people buying HDTVs everyday we don't see how they could afford not to.
57th Miss USA Pageant is the first in HD
The 57th Miss USA Pageant will make the jump to high definition for the first time April 11 at 9 p.m. on NBC. Live from Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas via Sony HDTV cams, contestants are judged in the usual three categories -- swim suit, evening gown and interview -- and judged by a panel of "stars" including an NFL player, one of the Back Street Boys, Rob Schneider, a celebrity hairstylist and others. Hosted by the Osmonds, we'll tune in at least for the sometimes tricky interview segment.
Drift Style racing series premieres on Rush HD tonight
Joining NASCAR, Indy, off road and Mustangs in this season's HD racing schedule is a brand new series focused on drift racing. Rush HD premieres Drift Style tonight at 8:30 p.m. on the Voom HD network. If you're (still) not familiar with the sport, its a competition mixing speed with style as drivers take their heavily customized street cars around the track. We're glad to see more new original content on Voom, for more info on this weekly series check the full PR after the break.
Timing, money among reasons for channels getting HD treatment
Pixel for pixel, we'd take MOJO HD over TBS HD everyday of the week. Why? Because 100-percent of the content aired on the former is in gorgeous high-definition, while the vast majority of material shown on the latter is in ghastly stretch-o-vision. For those that have wondered why certain channels get HD treatment and some don't, Sound and Vision has taken an in-depth look to unearth the reasons why seemingly worthless networks such as QVC have an HD channel lined up while scores of HD junkies can't get their carrier to land SciFi HD, USA HD or dozens of other channels with worthwhile high-def programming. Needless to say, timing and money rank pretty high on the list, but other conveniences such as simulcasting and having loads of "pretty" content available helps nets "jump the line." Hit the read link for the full spill.
CBC torrenting Canada's Next Great Prime Minister, DRM-free
Everyone knows you can find torrents from plenty of TV shows on the internet, but it's usually not seeded by the broadcaster. Taking a page out of mariposaHD's book, the CBC is putting a "high quality" DRM-free copy of Canada's Next Great Prime Minister online (no wonder they think HDTV has no business model) after it airs March 23. No idea yet if this is a one time thing or the start of a trend, but we applaud the Canadians for one-upping Her podcasting Majesty in getting with digital distribution. Hopefully, the reasoning behind selecting political leaders soliciting ideas for a better country via a reality TV show (and why the U.S. isn't), will also be answered.[Thanks, Sukhminder]
Speed's "Wrecked" brings the thrills of tow truck driving in HD
Not that we usually expect to have a need for a tow truck driver, but the Speed Channel has surprised us with its new series Wrecked, focused on a company of tow truck drivers in a Chicago suburb. Speed Channel is pumping up the original content since it launched HD, and with the success of series like Ice Truckers and the recent premiere of the logger show Ax Men, we see where they're going with it, but... tow trucks, seriously? The series' ten-episode run starts off in July.
Charleston, WV NBC affiliate looking to broadcast news in HD
As local news stations slowly make the move to HD around the country, we're taken to a rather surprising locale to find what could be the next to take the high-def plunge. WSAZ-TV, the NBC affiliate in Charleston, West Virginia, is reportedly "planning a transition to broadcast its local news in high-definition," but a bit of consolidation has to go down first. The studio staffs in Huntington and Charleston will purportedly be merged into one, whereby the "Charleston studio will be controlled from Huntington." Unfortunately, eight Charleston-based employees will be losing their jobs in the process, and while we know the transition is imminent, a definitive timetable has yet to be established.
Deadliest Catch returns this April in HD on Discovery Channel
While the vast majority of reality TV refuses to make the expected leap to high-definition, the producers of the Deadliest Catch aren't letting a few camera hazards scare them off. As predicted, Discovery Channel's hit series is splashing back this April for a fourth season, and yes, it will be broadcast in HD. According to the release, this year will see quite a few "injuries dominate the crab-fishing season," and there will also be exclusive content available via the web and Discovery's mobile portal. The action starts once more on April 15th at 9:00PM ET / PT, but viewers can get brought back up to speed by catching a two-hour "Best of Season Three" recap on April 8th at 9:00PM ET / PT.
