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Programming

Home Theater Programming

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #601: New TV Shows for Fall 2013

A fall 2013 broadcast television preview covers new series across ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and CW, with premiere dates spanning September through February 2014. Notable entries include Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. debuting September 24 on ABC and the FOX sci-fi series Almost Human, set 35 years in the future and featuring human-android LAPD pairings. For DVR-equipped viewers, the dense scheduling grid - with multiple network premieres overlapping on the same nights - makes advance planning essential.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
3DTV Cable HD Sports

Cox Communications brings Masters Golf Tournament to customers in 3D on ESPN 3D

Cox Communications launched ESPN 3D channel 896 for Cox Advanced TV Plus customers in Virginia, delivering stereoscopic Masters Golf Tournament coverage from April 11-14, 2013 using 6-9 dedicated cameras with 3D-specific graphics and commentary. Viewers require a 3D-compatible television manufactured March 2010 or later, Cox HD service, and an HD/DVR Trio receiver with HDMI output to access the channel. Customers without 3D hardware can still watch full Masters coverage on standard ESPN, making the 3D tier an optional upgrade rather than a replacement broadcast.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
3DTV Sports Programming

HDTV Expert - Watching the Olympics in 3D: 'DNF'

Comcast channel 981 carries the 2012 London Olympics in side-by-side frame-compatible 3D, viewable on active-shutter displays such as the Samsung UN46ES7500 46-inch LCD. Gymnastics events proved more compelling in stereoscopic 3D than diving, with close camera positioning creating genuine depth, though viewer fatigue set in after 30 to 60 minutes of continuous glasses-on viewing. Intrusive pop-up ads appearing as frequently as every 3 minutes 50 seconds and blocking 15% of the screen undermine the experience enough that switching back to standard 2D coverage becomes the practical choice.

Pete Putman •
Columns
3DTV OTA HD & Antennas Sports

NBC Olympics & Panasonic Announce Nearly 80 Percent Of U.S. TV Households Will Receive High-Definition 3D Broadcast Feed Of The London 2012 Olympic Games

NBC Olympics and Panasonic are delivering the first-ever 3D broadcast of the Olympic Games to nearly 80 percent of U.S. TV households, with approximately 242 hours of Full HD 3D content distributed across major cable, satellite, and telco providers including Comcast, DirecTV, and Verizon. Captured using Panasonic's twin-lens Full HD 3D camera recorder systems, the next-day-delay programming covers 12 hours daily and spans events from gymnastics to track and field. Viewers with compatible 3D televisions can relive Olympic highlights in a format previously unavailable for the Games.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
Streaming HD Sports Programming

HDTV Almanac - Strawberries and Cream Over the Top

Livestream is partnering with Wimbledon to deliver free HD live coverage of the tennis tournament, including player interviews, press conferences, and match highlights streamed directly through Wimbledon.com. This follows a broader trend of over-the-top streaming expanding sports coverage beyond traditional broadcast limits, as demonstrated by the 2,000-plus hours of online Olympic coverage from China. For viewers, connecting a browser-capable device to a big screen now offers a viable alternative to linear TV for major live sporting events.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
Streaming HD Sports Programming

HDTV Almanac - Boys of Summer Go Mobile

MLB At Bat 12 surpassed 3 million downloads in just eight days, with the $15 full-season app delivering pitch-by-pitch animation, live radio, and video streams averaging over 800,000 daily plays. On April 11 alone, fans logged more than 1 million live streams, a figure representing 6% of the average 16.6 million television viewers who watched the 2011 World Series. For fans outside their home team's broadcast footprint, this app offers a cost-effective, digitally clear alternative to traditional over-the-air radio and TV coverage.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
Streaming HD Sports Programming

HDTV Almanac - March Madness Online: No More Free Ride!

NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament streaming, covering all 67 games, moves to a paid model in 2012 at a one-time fee of $3.99. The service supports multi-platform playback across computers, iPads, and iPhone and Android smartphones, with a built-in Boss Screen feature for desktop viewers. At under four dollars for full tournament access, the low price point makes cord-cutting a practical option for fans who want flexibility without a cable subscription.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
OTA HD & Antennas Sports Programming

HDTV Almanac - Shed Some Light on Sports Blackouts

FCC sports blackout rules, which allow NFL teams to block over-the-air local broadcasts when games fail to sell out, are under scrutiny after the Cincinnati Bengals blacked out a game in markets including Cincinnati, Dayton, and Lexington. The Bengals' stadium cost taxpayers over $450 million, fueling debate over whether publicly subsidized teams owe communities free broadcast access. The FCC is accepting public comments until February 13, giving consumers a direct opportunity to influence whether these blackout policies are revised.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
Streaming HD Sports Programming

HDTV Almanac - Stream the SuperBowl

The NFL is streaming the Super Bowl live and free on NFL.com, marking a notable expansion of broadband sports broadcasting, with Verizon customers also able to watch on their smartphones. A retransmission dispute between the local NBC affiliate and DirecTV had threatened a blackout for satellite subscribers in the Boston market before a last-minute agreement was reached. For fans without TV access, the combination of free online streaming and mobile viewing options provides a practical alternative to traditional broadcast.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
3DTV Sports Programming

Panasonic & NBC Sports Group Partner to Distribute London 2012 Olympic Games in 3D in the U.S.

Panasonic and NBC Sports Group announced a partnership to deliver the London 2012 Olympic Games in 3D to nearly 100 percent of U.S. multichannel distributors, marking the first 3D Olympic broadcast in the country. Olympic Broadcasting Services will produce more than 200 hours of 3D coverage using Panasonic's AG-3DP1, a P2HD professional twin-lens Full HD 3D camera recorder, with distribution routed through the Comcast Media Center. Viewers with compatible 3D displays will gain access to Full HD 3D coverage of events including gymnastics, diving, swimming, and both Opening and Closing Ceremonies on a next-day delay basis.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
Sports Programming Satellite HD

HDTV Expert - Nothing Lasts Forever

ESPN's $4.69 per-household monthly carriage fee, called out by Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei as a de facto tax on all pay TV subscribers, is drawing scrutiny from multiple industry executives as a primary driver of cable bills that now exceed $150 per month on many systems. Viacom's CEO noted that ESPN alone costs twice as much as all Viacom networks combined on some systems, prompting speculation that sports channels could be moved to premium add-on tiers. For consumers with little interest in sports, such a restructuring could meaningfully reduce monthly bills, while free over-the-air options on CBS, NBC, Fox, and ABC remain a viable alternative.

Pete Putman •
Columns
Cable HD Sports Programming

HDTV Expert - Are Pro Sports Leagues Killing The Golden Goose?

ESPN commands nearly $5 per subscriber in monthly fees in some markets, funding aggressive rights acquisitions such as the Wimbledon broadcast previously held by NBC for 43 years, while CBS, Fox, and ESPN collectively pay $3.1 billion annually for NFL coverage alone. As sports rights migrate from free networks to pay channels and league-owned outlets like NFL Network and NBA TV, average NFL games drew 18 million viewers last season, making live sports the last reliable mass audience for advertisers. Subscribers unwilling to pay escalating fees are cutting the cord in favor of Internet video and over-the-air HDTV, raising the question of how long the current pay-TV sports model remains sustainable.

Pete Putman •
Columns
Streaming HD Gaming Sports

HDTV Almanac - NFL on PS3: It's More than Just Madden

DirecTV and the NFL are offering live NFL Sunday Ticket streaming directly on the PS3, giving non-DirecTV subscribers access to up to 14 out-of-market games per week for $340 for the 17-week season, roughly $20 per week. Existing DirecTV Sunday Ticket subscribers can add PS3 streaming access for an additional $50. This experiment could set a precedent for broader live sports and premium content distribution through online streaming platforms, potentially reshaping how rights holders approach digital delivery.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
Streaming HD Sports Programming

HDTV Almanac - Streaming Sports for Canadians

Rogers, Canada's major telecommunications provider, has launched streaming coverage of Toronto Blue Jays home games via its Rogers on Demand service, bypassing MLB's nationwide blackout policy that previously blocked all Canadian online viewers. Mobile access is priced at $5 per month and includes TV, news, and music content, while computer streaming is free to Rogers customers. This development signals a broader shift in video content distribution, with internet delivery increasingly challenging traditional broadcast, cable, and satellite systems.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
Home Theater 3DTV Sports

HDTV Almanac - English Football Goes for Immersion

The English Premier League is collaborating with Sony Electronics and Electronic Arts to develop an immersive 3D viewing experience that places fans inside a virtual stadium, with panoramic multi-perspective views exceeding the user's natural field of view. EPL chief executive Richard Scudamore estimates the technology could be deployment-ready within two to five years, requiring real-time high-definition 3D delivery over substantial bandwidth and computational infrastructure. For viewers, this could mean interactively choosing vantage points such as the players' bench or corner flag, fundamentally redefining how live sports are consumed at home.

Alfred Poor •
Columns