August 18, 2008

HD Hype: Rebrand, Promo, Research

MTV's HD music channel MHD is rebranding as Palladia come Sept 1. MTV said the term conveys a "sense of spectacle—a grand stage, a vast arena and the excitement of live musical performances." Content includes concerts every Sat at 9pm. — Discovery Channel HD receives the greatest customer demand among high-def nets, according to Beta's cable subscriber interest survey, followed Nat Geo HD and Disney Channel HD. — Verizon is now offering new FiOS TV subs who sign up before Oct 4 a year's free use of either a HD DVR or HD Home Media DVR. New customers are also eligible for 1 free month of HBO and Cinemax, as are existing subs who upgrade to a bundled package. — Comcast SportsNet Bay Area is constructing in San Francisco a 32K-sq-ft space housing a new studio, HD production facilities, and a 24-hr newsroom. — DISH has been named the Democratic Natl Convention 's official HD satellite TV service provider. As such, the DBS player will bring live feeds to the event from location across the US, provide unedited live convention coverage to its subs and lend its HD video feed to TV monitors at event venues.