More HD channels promised in the coming months

For those who missed the link, here are the words in the Eurosport HD announcement from Virgin that promise more is on the way:

The addition of Eurosport HD signals the first of several new HD channels due to launch on Virgin Media over the coming months, all available at no extra cost for customers on Virgin Media’s incredible value ‘XL’ TV package.
The addition of Eurosport will bring Virgin Media’s HD channels to eight with several more to be added in the coming months. Covering a wide range of programming for every taste including drama, sport, documentaries and music, Virgin Media’s growing HD line-up features BBC HD and 4HD, available to all Virgin TV customers, as well as ESPN HD, Nat Geo HD, MTVNHD, Eurosport HD, FX HD and LIVING HD (a Virgin Media exclusive) all available at no extra cost for ‘XL’ TV customers.
Cindy Rose, executive director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media said: “We’re really excited about the spring launch of Eurosport HD and the wider roll-out of several new HD channels for our customers in the coming months. With HD ready TVs now common in UK homes, the combination of HD channels as well as our pioneering TV on Demand service gives Virgin TV customers a huge range of HD programming with the unique flexibility to enjoy HD content whenever they want, at the touch of a button. With all the regular channels you’d expect, and a service ready for 3DTV too, Virgin TV is without doubt the most compelling TV offer on the market.”  

There are many who would argue with that final statement..."without a doubt"? There are almost 10 million Sky households who think otherwise, especially when it comes to high definition services

Sky 3D - a world first - and the Six Nations this weekend

For those Arsenal fans who thought that the Man U game was too painful to watch, spare a thought for those at The Slug And Lettuce in Islington, one of the pubs showing the game in 3D HD in the much touted "world first". Full review on Techradar.com.
Watching the game in a crowded pub on a 47in screen through sunglasses? Not my idea of fun. I wasn't convinced by Avatar, my first experience of the new 3D technology, and I can't see it appearing any time soon in my front room.
If you're intrigued by the 3D thing, some cinemas are showing some of the forthcoming Six Nations games in 3D HD in the next few weeks. Tickets have sold fast, but I still ain't convinced. Details here.
Matches are broadcasting on BBC HD too this coming weekend:
Saturday, 13:40–16:25 Ireland v Italy
Saturday, 16:35–19:05 England v Wales, followed by 19:05–19:30 Six Nations Forum
Sunday, 14:30-17:30 Scotland v France

Eurosport HD launching on Virgin Media in April

Just announced:

We know how important HD channels are to our TV customers. That’s why, throughout 2010, we’re bumping up our HD channels. It all kicks off in April with Eurosport HD, so don’t miss sporting greats like the French Open tennis, Tour de France and European Athletics Championships.

So, no additional HD until April and even then it's just Eurosport HD? That's a big disappointment in my book - I had heard that there were more, but (again) there appears to be little in the pipeline. Whilst I've enjoyed the ESPN Premiership coverage in HD it really pales next to Sky Sports in high def, especially as from next season ESPN will have half as many games (just 23). Eurosport HD boosts that offering a little, but sports fans wanting HD won't be convinced.
And what about movie fans? Film4 HD remains a distant nirvana it seems, but even ITV1 HD would give us at least some more movies and extra footie (FA Cup and Champions League). So how about it Virgin? If you really know how important HD channels are to us customers, how about the HD version of ITV1 at least? Don't we pay enough to warrant at least that?

Murray v Federer, BBC HD Sunday Jan 31st at 8am

4HD this weekend

Couple of films on 4HD this weekend that should look mighty fine in high def:
The Day After Tomorrow is on Saturday night at 8pm, followed at 10.20pm by Pitch Black.

Sky phasing out SD boxes and introduces a 1tb hard disc version

Sky is standardising on a single Sky+ HD receiver and introducing a new 1 terabyte PVR.
“Sky+ HD is our best box, it’s got a larger hard drive, greater processing power, it’s Ethernet enabled and is VOD and 3D Ready,” Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch said at an investor presentation in London.
Also announced, a new 1 terabyte Sky+ HD receiver that will store up to 240 hours of HD content. It will (initially) cost an extra £249.
Meanwhile, my SA V+ still chugs along recording HD programmes on a hit-n-miss basis, squeezing barely 20 hours of HD onto its 160gb disc...

Over 2m Sky HD customers

In its latest quarters' results BSkyB has announced that it has added almost half a million HD customers in the last quarter and now tops over two million customers in total.
Virgin's results are due shortly (normally a week or so after Sky's). Expect some additions to the HD lineup to be announced beforehand.

Murray v Cilic semi live on BBC HD, 8.30am Jan 28

Murray v Nadal on BBC HD Tuesday, 8.30am

BBC HD is showing the Murray Nadal match in the Australian Open tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at 8.30.

New blog feature

The most recent Comments posted on this blog are now listed top right. It doesn't like apostrophes but I thought it would be a useful addition to make.