Silicon Intellectual Property (IP) provider CAST has launched a new H.264 encoder core intended for applications that require the transmission of the highest quality video over low bit-rate channels.
The company claims that the CAST H264-E Encoder Core delivers some of the best looking compressed video available.

The major US broadcasters are evolving into multi-platform TV distribution networks in a "land-grab" attempt to replicate their traditional channels business online.
So much so that the online web-based TV services of the four major US TV networks – together with Hulu, the joint venture between NBC Universal, News Corporation and Disney - accounted for 53 per cent of an ad-supported US online TV market, according to a report from Screen Digest.

Time Warner Cable is dropping two HDNet channels, claiming their programming has "limited appeal".
The move is effective from May 31 with the channels to be replaced by other high definition options.

Virgin Media has just begun a broadband customer pilot to test real-world deployment of 200 Mbps speeds - making it the fastest implementation of Docsis 3.0 technology in the world. Services offered in Japan and the US currently reach 160 Mbps and 101 Mbps respectively.
In a separate announcement, the UK digital cable TV operator said it plans to add up to five new HD channels this year to keep pace with growing demand for high-def programming.

INTERVIEW: Mike Harris, CEO of AnySource Media, talks to hdtv.biz-news about his company's Internet-enabled TV platform that will start appearing in HDTV sets in the second half of 2009. The Internet Video Navigator (IVN) allows users to view Internet video on their HDTVs alongside traditional TV networks - without requiring a separate box or complicated wiring.

Filed under: Cable, OTA, Satellite, New content

It's been a busy, busy week in the world of high-def channel expansion here in the US of A, and we've rounded up the newcomers, the dropouts and the switcheroos as best we could below. If we missed a station or two in your neck of the woods, feel free to broadcast it in comments below.

• Read - DISH drops Smithsonian HD, adds C&I HD
• Read - FOX converts DC news to HD [Thanks, Eric]
• Read - FOX Business Signs Distribution Agreement with DISH Network
• Read - Fuel TV, FX HD and SPEED HD make their way to Cox
• Read - New Bright House Networks EPG
• AT&T's U-verse comes to Rome, Georgia [Thanks, Lee]
• Read - KDFI goes HD in Dallas, Texas [Thanks, Joe]
• Cox adds six HD stations in Baton Rouge, Louisiana [Thanks, Mr. Brown]
• TWC adds "tons" of new HD in South Manhattan [Thanks, Lee]
• Read - Palladia HD moving to U-verse Premium Tier [Thanks, Anthony]
• Cartoon, Bravo and CNBC come to Comcast Vermont in HD [Thanks, B. Marriner]
• Read - WMHT Albany goes HD on DirecTV [Thanks, Andrew]
• TWC Rochester adds Bravo, CNBC, SciFi and USA in HD [Thanks, Anthony]

HD channel expansion roundup originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The number of HDTVs in European households is set to rise from 59 million now to 170 million by 2013.
What's more encouraging is the number of HD channels distributed in Europe should go from the current 130 to more than 600 in the same period, according to a study by NPA Conseil and Euroconsult.

Filed under: Industry, Cable, Satellite, New content

Usually we don't like to post the same news twice, but by the looks of all the tips we've gotten pointing us to the fact that DirecTV added Comedy Central HD -- thanks btw -- we figured it wouldn't hurt to ride on the exciting news to introduce a new weekly roundup post at Engadget HD. In the past, HD expansions were so few and far between that it was a very big deal around here, but in the past 6 months or so they're so common that we've decided to consolidate them into a weekly post. So from now on you can look for a weekly post with the tag channels that'll include every new HD channel on every provider for that week.

DirecTV adds Comedy Central HD, Engadget HD consolidates HD expansion news originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We'd known that Time Warner Cable was planning something special for the heart of Ohio, and now it's official. The carrier itself has proclaimed that seven new high-def options have arrived in "legacy areas" of Mid-Ohio, which pushes the grand total in the area to 58. As of now, viewers in these regions can find CNBC HD (717), ESPNU HD (723), Bravo HD (744), SPEED HD (756), Toon Disney HD (771), SciFi HD (773) and Adult HD (401) in the program guide. In related news, WTTE HD will be relocating to slot 708, WOSU HD will head to slot 707 and WWHO HD will move to channel 713. Happy surfing!

TWC launches 7 new HD channels in Mid-Ohio "legacy areas" originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Satellite, New content

DigitalSpy is reporting that Sky (no relation, we're told) is currently "studying the technical feasibility of opening a new electronic program guide launch queue for high-definition channels." In October of last year, the operator closed up its launch queue -- which is what channels use to secure a new slot on Sky's EPG -- after finding that many SD receivers had serious memory constraints. Now, however, Sky is pushing out a software update that "differentiates between those boxes and the HD ones," and it's hoping that these SD units will eventually cooperate while HD services are added. All fingers crossed for everything to pan out.

[Image courtesy of MediaUK]

Sky could open up HD launch queue originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Cable, New content

Sure the promised 100 HD channel future is not yet upon us, but that doesn't mean RCN customers shouldn't be able to get plenty more HD when they choose. Narrowly missing its June deadline the company is ready to start offering high definition video on-demand, plus seven new channels (if you don't already have them): Discovery Channel-HD, Animal Planet-HD, The Learning Channel-HD, The Science Channel-HD, Lifetime Movie Network-HD, Food Network-HD, and Travel Channel-HD. Sounds like enough of a reason to cancel that family vacay to us.

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Filed under: Polls

Not all HD movie channels are created equal, and while there are a few that have the latest and greatest movies, for whatever reason those seem to be the same ones that choose to crop the video and normalize the audio. At the same time that there are more HD movie channels then ever, there are also more Blu-ray titles available to compete with your time; so with many choices out there what is your favorite HD movie channel?

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