High Definition TV or capable of handling High Definition
UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom has given the big thumbs up for the creation of three spanking new high definition (HD) channels on Freeview from Autumn 2009.
Expected to start rolling out from the Granada region first, Channel 4, Taff-tastic Welsh-language broadcasters S4C, plus the gang of Channel 3 licensees (ITV PLC, Channel TV, STV and UTV) will be able to join HD pioneers BBC and start serving up new HD services on digital terrestrial television (DTT).
Tudou, the Shangahi-based video sharing site that is reported to stream over 15 billion minutes of video every day — thrashing YouTube’s 3 Bn — has just launched an HD service.
Pace, UK-based creators of digital TV products, has won a new contract to supply BT with their next-generation V-box, for use on the BT Vision service.
Previously Philips supplied the V-box (that runs the Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV middleware) but following Pace’s purchase of Philips Set Top Box (STB) division, it’s natural — but we imagine pleasing — that the contact should go to Pace.
BBC and ITV are launching Freesat today, a new free-to-view satellite television service allowing viewers to gorge themselves on high definition television for nowt.
The two UK TV giants have teamed up to serve up a feast of 80 freebie television and radio channels which will be accessible to 98 per cent of homes.
The BBC have been talking about it for quite a while to the point where people stopped believing it would happen, through to a cautious ‘yes probably’ a year and a bit ago.
One of the clear upcoming trends for TV manufacturers is to try and persuade you to change your current flat screen (if you’ve taken the plunge already) to an even thinner TV.
While we were at IFA last year, we were stunned by the ultra thin TV shown by Sharp, which came in at a crazy 20mm, at its thinnest point – it was only 29mm at its thickest!
Sony has announced the Handycam HDR-TG3E, claiming it to be the World’s smallest HD 1080 Camcorder – and judging by the photos we’ve had through, they’re more than likely right. The thing looks tiny.
Sized at little larger than a mobile phone (33 x 119 x 63.5mm and 283g), Sony say it’s the smallest, slimmest, lightest camcorder ever to feature 1920×1080 Full HD recording with crisp 5.1ch surround sound.
Over half of US Households now own at least one digital TV set, claim the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).
In the build up to the trade show mania that is the CES, the CEA is winding up the PR machine and releasing statistics to both boost the TV industry and get the public interested.
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Uk broadcaster, Channel 4, has launched High Definition broadcast of their channel, distributed on using the Sky satellite platform.
No prizes for guessing the name for it – Channel 4 HD.
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Just over two years ago we covered the launch of FiOS TV, an IPTV service by US operator Verizon, that operates over fibre optic connections.
HD VOD – High Definition Video On Demand – has now being rolled out to a number of the regions covered by the FiOS TV service – Richmond and Virginia Beach, Va.; Tampa, Fla.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Pittsburgh.
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Post Digital switchover, Jamie Reed, the MP for Copeland (that includes Whitehaven) and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on digital switch over, has a lot of interesting things to say, both about the run up to this week and following it.