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Smithsonian exhibit 'The Art of Video Games' opens in 2012
From March 16, 2012 until September 9, 2012, the US's popular Smithsonian museum will be showcasing something patrons aren't used to seeing in such an environment: video games. Sure, we've seen video game art exhibitions before, but the Smithsonian exhibit will attempt to be "the first to examine comprehensively the evolution of video games themselves as an artistic medium." The exhibit, The Art of Video Games, will feature game footage, video interviews with artists and game developers, a history of game consoles and even a few consoles for visitors to play. The museum will also welcome suggestions from attendees and tap Chris Melissinos as guest curator for the exhibit. Our first suggestion for the Smithsonian: hit up Krix for some of his amazing props. [Thanks, MowDownJoe]
The complicated economics of an all HD channel
While you're kicking back and enjoying some HD content on a lazy Sunday it is easy to give little regard to the economics that make that HD content possible. Most don't care much about what makes the world go around, but if you've always wondered why there aren't more all-HD channels, this recent post over at Multichannel news is worth the read. Most notable is the challenges all-HD networks face including the fact that Nielsen doesn't even provide rating for them. If you're a big Mark Cuban fan you might also find it interesting as a number of his quotes are included like when he says "We really think that as our distribution continues to grow, we can dominate the demographic (13-34 males)."
HD channel expansion roundup
Once upon a time, a smattering of new HD channels in one major metropolitan area was a huge deal. Nowadays, it's almost expected that one area or another will experience some HD expansion each week. In order to keep things nice and tidy around here, we deliver high-def expansions, market expansions and anything else dealing with HD channel growth right here. If we missed an area that you're familiar with, drop us a line in comments so everyone can catch up. The more the merrier, we say! Read - MTVN Launches Six HD Channels With SES Read - TiVo takes on Nielsen Read - Comcast Adds 27 HD Networks in Houston Read - World Fishing Network: Fully Hooked On HD Read - Smithsonian Networks(TM) and Time Warner Cable Sign Programming Distribution Deal Read - Telemundo Leads HDTV Charge Read - BET HD Now Available on Cox Read - U-verse TV Starts 2009 With Record Quarter Read - Comcast adds 27 new HD channels in Portland Cablevision to add Live Well HD (Thanks LI PC Tech) Read - Cablevision: High Definition Encore and Starz On Demand added Read - Ringgold Telephone Company (RTC) is proud to announce the availability of eight additional high-definition television channels Read - TMJ4 is Now HD (Thanks Paul) Read - FOX 17: Broadcasting in High Definition (Thanks Alex)
The DS Life: Wish Tree
"As a child in Japan, I used to go to a temple and write out a wish on a piece of thin paper and tie it around the branch of a tree. Trees in temple courtyards were always filled with people's wish knots, which looked like white flowers blossoming from afar." - Yoko OnoSince the 1990s, Yoko Ono has helped install Wish Trees around the world, just like the ones she used to see in Japan, inviting passerbys to write down their wishes and tie them around the tree's branches. So far, the project has gathered over a hundred thousand wishes.Many of the wishes are what you'd expect from such an idealistic installation, hopes for peace on Earth and goodwill towards all men. Some are goofy, like petitions for super powers, and a few are even vulgar, such as this one here. The bit of paper we're featuring for this edition of The DS Life, however, is a wish that might melt your heart. Join us past the post break!
Smithsonian readies full plate of HD originals
While Smithsonian Channel has been toiling away trying to get its station on more carriers, the time has finally come for it to focus on more original programming for the providers that already have it. This summer, producers of Aerial America will set out to record each of the 50 states from high, high above, while other originals will include "Sound Revolution, a music series hosted by Morgan Freeman; The Vampire Princess, a special on the true inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula; and an ambitious BBC co-production about Stonehenge." For more on what's next on Smithsonian, check out the read link -- looks like the next year or so should be chock full of treats.
E Ink responsible for Esquire's flashing magazine cover
Nary a month after an E Ink exec asserted that e-newspapers would be going commercial by 2009, in flies word that a forthcoming issue of Esquire will likely be the poster child for the change. According to David Granger, Esquire's editor in chief, rags have generally "looked the same for 150 years," but all that will change when 100,000 copies of the September issue arrive on newsstands with a flashing electronic cover. The E Ink technology used will be exclusively available to Esquire until 2009, and the blinking "The 21st Century Begins Now" text will sadly fade after the battery runs dry in 90 days. Still, there's at least some chance the issue will wind up in the Smithsonian, and an even bigger chance magazine racks everywhere will require Kanye-approved sunglasses to even look at in just a few years.
ATMC Cable adds in Smithsonian HD
While many cable customers stuck with TWC, Charter, Cox or any of the other mega-cable carriers out there can't buy an HD channel, the relatively diminutive ATMC Cable is making sure its tiny footprint of North Carolina subscribers are getting the most for their dollar. Continuing its slow but steady rollout of high-def options, the outfit has just thrown Smithsonian HD into the mix. The channel lands softly on slot 961 and becomes partners with HDNet, HDNet Movies, HD Theater, Universal HD, National Geographic HD and MOJO HD in the appropriately titled HD Suite. Best of all, the company has promised even more offerings in the coming weeks, most notably USA HD and PBS HD.
Off the Fence taking Smithsonian HD content international
While The Smithsonian Channel has found a home on most major US-based programming outlets, it's not satisfied just yet. As of this week, Smithsonian Networks has commissioned indie producer and distributor Off the Fence to "represent its catalog of high-definition programming in all international territories excluding North America." The deal covers some 50 titles which will be presented at MIP in Cannes this April, and moreover, the two have even agreed to work together on "packaging co-productions for future Smithsonian Networks projects." Needless to say, we're hoping this newfound partnership will enable Smithsonian Channel to get added to HD lineups abroad in the near future.
The Smithsonian Channel HD coming to Charter, FiOS TV
Nearly five months after The Smithsonian Channel HD landed on DirecTV, the channel is now well on its way to Charter and FiOS TV systems. Sure enough, Smithsonian Channel has "reached affiliate agreements" with both Charter Communications and Verizon, and yes, the deals do include the SD and HD versions along with Smithsonian Channel On Demand content. Interestingly, no actual launch dates were announced for either carrier, but according to the release, Smithsonian Channel is looking forward to "announcing other distribution agreements over the next few months." Keep an eye on that EPG, you two sects.
Wireless picturephone prototypes headed to history museum
History buffs and cellphone aficionados, take note: a couple of wireless picturephone prototypes (circa 1993) have recently been acquired by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and should soon be available for all to gawk at. Reportedly, the institution joined with Daniel A. Henderson to get ahold of the two devices and related documentation, which were built to take advantage of a picture / video receiving technology known as Intellect. Notably, this ain't Mr. Henderson's first time donating wares with varying levels of historical significance, as he's also responsible for the Casio Z7000 and Atari Portfolio that are on display. Interested in checkin' the duo out for yourself? Go on and circle summer 2008 on your calender.
The Smithsonian Channel HD to launch on DirecTV this Wednesday?
The phrase patience is a virtue is what people waiting around tell each other to make themselves feel better. Well the DirecTV fans are no doubt saying this, and while no one seems to know exactly when DirecTV will turn on all the HD channels, we appear to have another slip. According to an article in B&C, the Smithsonian Channel HD will launch this Wednesday on DirecTV. It's totally possible that they'd be ready by then when you consider they did a 3 hour test in the early hours of Sunday morning, but at this point we'll believe it when we see it. As for the channel itself, they say they're launching with 75 hours of HD content. Is it just us, or does this not seem like that much, especially considering there are 168 hours in a week? Who knows what they're going to show the rest of the week, or perhaps they'll just show the same 75 hours over and over again till they bring the number up to 100 by the end of year.
