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Starz Entertainment migrating to MPEG-4
Starz Entertainment has been making some pretty big moves of late, the most recent of which involves Motorola. The latter firm has announced that it will be "implementing a four-channel, high-definition MPEG-4/AVC encoding system" for Starz, which it will use to migrate away from its current MPEG-2 installations. It's reported that the change will enable Starz to "expand its HD offerings for subscribers," and as predicted, the system is being first implemented for the outfit's existing HD channels: Starz HD, Starz Kids and Family HD, Starz Edge HD and Starz Comedy HD. Oh, and if you were wondering, the recently unveiled Encore HD will be launched "concurrent with this migration."
Free Bronx Bunny and Standup XBVM downloads
Microsoft and premium cable channel Starz have partnered up and are giving away two free television episodes downloads as well as running a sweepstakes where entrants can win a new Xbox 360, some games or a DVD box set.United States residents, you can haz a free episode of both "the ultra-offensive" The Bronx Bunny Show and Martin Lawrence Presents: First Amendment Standup by simply heading to StarzOnXbox.com and registering. Once registered, they'll email you redemption codes to use on the Xbox Live Marketplace to score your free television downloads. Also, while registering, be sure to check the box to enter their sweepstakes, because, well ... why not? And we'd like to say thank you to Starz. Thanks for giving us free downloads of television shows we normally wouldn't even consider watching. Zing![Via Xbox.com, Thanks HazyCloud]
Starz Play broadband video service comes to Verizon
Starz Entertainment's own broadband video service is doing a special little jig for Verizon's customers, as the two companies have just inked a "comprehensive, multi-year agreement that will bring exclusive hit movies from Starz to Verizon's more than 8.5 million broadband subscribers and the full array of Starz products to Verizon's FiOS TV and FiOS internet / DSL customers." Of course, folks interested will still have to fork over $5.99 per month to access the subscription based service, but at least you can do so with the knowledge that "exclusive content" will soon be at your fingertips. Moving on, the two also expanded their current FiOS TV affiliation agreement, with the new deal securing delivery of all 16 Starz, Encore and MoviePlex premium channels, all of its HD channels and every VOD / HD VOD outlet. Now that's something we can really smile about.
Starz Entertainment to launch Encore HD in July
Shortly after dropping a cool $25 million on a new logo (among other things), Starz Entertainment is gearing up to launch its fifth distinct high-definition channel in Encore HD. Currently, the standard-definition Encore channel has 31 million subscribers, which means that quite a few eyes in the world will likely be seeing the same stuff in much greater quality. The channel is slated to launch in July for all of its cable, satellite and telco affiliates to pick up, and as expected, 5.1-channel audio will be delivered right alongside the high-def imagery. We're still left to wonder who exactly will make the high-definition version of Encore available to its customers, but at worse, you've only got a few months to wait before finding out.
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.
Starz drops $25 million on new logo, marketing initiative
They never said change was easy -- nor inexpensive, apparently. Announced today, Starz has decided to undertake its "largest long-term brand investment since 2002," freeing itself of $25 million in order to spark up a new brand and marketing initiative. Users will start seeing an all new logo, fresh on-air look and an "integrated advertising campaign on-air and online." As expected, the new identity -- part of the "Are You Ready?" initiative -- will be ran across the company's six SD and four HD channels, and Starz is slated to run TV spots with the new logo starting on April 7th (while the online portion launches on April 14th). Hope it's worth it.
Can't wait for Dead Space? Animated prequel in the works
A new trend seems to have been started thanks in part to the series of animated prequels released for Heavenly Sword before the game hit shelves. Maybe not a trend, per se, but we've caught wind of another game set to release an animated prequel -- Electronic Arts' upcoming sci-fi horror game Dead Space. The movie is a collaborative work between EA and Starz Media and will pick up where their comic book series ended. The show will air on unspecified channels and will probably have a DVD release as well before the game's release date this Halloween. Sounds neat.[via Joystiq]
EA, Starz Media partner for Dead Space animated prequel
First comics and now cartoons, Electronic Arts isn't taking any chances that its upcoming space-meets-survival horror title Dead Space will go unnoticed when it drops this Halloween. The latest effort comes by way of a partnership with film company Starz Media for an animated prequel, which according to EA will pick up the story from the last page of the comic book and cover the events up the beginning of the game itself. Starz Media is apparently in talks with unspecified networks to air the animated feature this Halloween, while a DVD release is also planned as well. Showing considerable hope for the project, or perhaps just being blinded by dollar signs, the pair have also cemented plans for further animation projects centered on two other EA franchises, but which ones? Inquiring minds want to know.
Insight Digital 3.2 upgrade adds HD VOD
Insight Communication's right back with a followup to December's 3.0 upgrade, this time going straight to 3.2. High definition subscribers have access to Sundance, FEARnet and Starz content on demand, and digital music channels from Urge, replacing the existing Music Choice channels starting today. So now that there's some HD VOD to go with your new channels, Insight Subscribers, are you entertained?[via Light Reading; Warning: PDF link]
HDTV Listings for March 1, 2008
What we're watching tonight: ABC's (720p) Saturday Movies of the Week is Old School at 8 p.m. NBC (1080i) has Saturday Night Live hosted by Ellen Page at 11:29 p.m. ESPN HD (720p) queues up Kansas/Kansas State mens basketball at 9 p.m. Cinemax (1080i) premieres 300 at 10 p.m. HBO (1080i) features George Carlin: It's Bad for Ya at 10 p.m. Starz HD (1080i) has Grindhouse Presents Robert Rodriquez's Planet Terror at 9 p.m. Sci Fi (1080i) premieres The Puppet Masters at 9 p.m.
Allegiance Communications rolls out array of HD channels
Though Allegiance Communications may not be known very well nationally, we're sure mid-sized markets in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Texas are quite familiar with the name. Nevertheless, said cable carrier has reportedly just "completed the first phase of channel additions for 2008," and there's definitely some HD love mixed in. According to Oklahoma's Tecumseh Countywide News, local residents can now access A&E HD, HGTV HD, Food Network HD, National Geographic HD and Starz HD on channels 972, 973, 975, 976 and 974, respectively. Better still, the outfit has also promised that ESPN2 HD will be joining the fold in the coming months, and just in case that still wasn't enough, subscribers can look forward to Chiller, Fox Business HD and RFD HD showing up in the not-too-distant future. Not bad for a rural carrier, huh?
Time Warner Cable adds three Starz HD channels in Albany, NY
Starz Edge, Comedy, and Kids & Family all went HD last summer, but of course, it's up to your carrier to actually get on the ball and snatch up what's out there. Thankfully for those in the capital city of New York, the trio is finally available to you on Time Warner Cable. More specifically, subscribers can catch Starz Comedy HD on channel 1892, Starz Kids & Family HD on 1893 and Starz Edge HD on 1894. A small upgrade, sure, but a welcome one nonetheless. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Mark P.]
Five new premium HD channels land on TWC in Albany, New York
One thing is for certain about this -- those holed up in Manhattan clamoring for more HD from Time Warner Cable will only be screaming louder after hearing that the capital city has received yet another dose of high-definition before the state's most notable city. Yep, just a month (and a few days) after Albany received a small bucketful of new HD channels, subscribers in the area are reportedly able to tune into HBO West HD, Cinemax HD, Cinemax West HD, Starz HD and Starz West HD, provided they pay extra for the Premiums, of course. As tipster Mike N. so eloquently puts it: "Not bad for Smallbany!" [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Mike N.]
HDTV Listings for January 27, 2008
What we're watching tonight: CBS (1080i) queues up a new episode of Shark at 8 p.m. followed by a TV movie, The Russell Girl at 9:30 p.m. NBC (1080i) fills our need for sequined outfits with the Men's U.S. Figure Skating Championship at 7 p.m. TNT (1080i) airs The 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at 8 p.m. ESPN-HD (720p) closes out the Winter X-Games at 9 p.m. HBO (1080i) presents a new Def Comedy Jam at 10 p.m. between sadly-SD episodes of The Wire Showtime (1080i) throws in a new The L Word at 9 p.m. Starz (1080i) features Bridge to Terabithia at 7:20 p.m.
Starz inks deals with five major studios, looks to bolster lineup
Feeling as if Starz's offerings are a bit stale of late? Apparently, so did its management team, as it went out and landed deals with five major studios with the sole purpose of bulking up its movie lineup. Reportedly, the network inked "exclusive first run output deals with Sony Pictures Television and Disney-ABC Domestic Television" that are set to last "well into the next decade," and just in case that wasn't enough to keep your clicker on the counter, it also picked up a number of library acquisitions from Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, MGM Worldwide Television Group and Universal Pictures. More specifically, Starz should receive some 1,200 top movie titles and TV series from the latter three's film vaults, and the content can be distributed across Starz HD, Starz On Demand and even Vongo. For more details and a glimpse at what's on the horizon, hit up the read link below.[Via MultiChannel News]
HDTV Listings for January 20, 2008
What we're watching tonight: Fox (720p) presents the NFC Championship game starting at 6 p.m. as the Giants meet the Packers ESPN-HD (720p) breaks down both conference championship games and upcoming Super Bowl matchup with NFL PrimeTime at 10:30 p.m. HBO (1080i) queues up a new episode of Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam at 10 p.m. Showtime (1080i) has a new episode of The L Word at 9 p.m. Starz (1080i) is airing Scary Movie 4 at 7:30 p.m.
HDTV Listings for January 12, 2008
What we're watching tonight: ABC (720p) presents its Saturday Movie of the Week Pearl Harbor at 8 p.m. CBS (1080i) features the Patriots vs. the Jaguars in a divisional playoff game at 8 p.m. Universal HD (1080i) is airing Vanilla Sky at 10 p.m. HDNet (1080i) has Ghostbusters II at 7:30 and 11:15 p.m. HBO (1080i) premieres Norbit at 8 p.m., followed by a new episode of Def Comedy Jam at 10 Showtime (1080i) has Clerks II at a 8 p.m., followed by Jackass Number Two at 9:45 Starz HD (1080i) lines up The Good German at p.m.
Cox brings HD VOD to Northern Virginia
Not even a month after Cox Communications blessed those in Northern Virginia with 11 new high-definition channels, the cable company is now giving NoVa residents even more HD options. Similar to the rollout seen last summer in Southern California, Cox is giving customers in Fairfax County access to over 20 Starz! and Showtime on-demand flicks in HD. Interestingly, it's still a bit unclear whether any additional HD VOD content was added aside from films on those two channels, so for any Cox subscribers located in this here region, why not fire up your service and give us the skinny?
HDTV Listings for December 26, 2007
What we're watching: ESPN-HD (720p) presents the Motor City Bowl between Central Michigan vs. Purdue at 8 p.m. Cinemax (1080i) has The Matrix Reloaded at 7:30 p.m., followed by The Good Shepherd at 10 p.m. Showtime (1080i) features Shadowboxer at 9 p.m. CBS (1080i) has a repeat of Criminal Minds at 8 p.m. Fox (720p) brings Christmas with the Kranks at 8 p.m. Catch Discovery Atlas HD: China Revealed on Discovery HD Theater (1080i) at 9 p.m.
HDTV Listings for December 16, 2007
What we're watching: At 9 we've got the choice of the season finale for Dexter, or the series ending 80-minute episode of Extras on HBO. Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
