Television
Monday, August 25, 2008
Hey, More HD
I always love finding more HD. While I rarely do it, I was scanning most of the channel lineup, just looking for something different after watching another good episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.
The HD channels are in the 700s, with a few Starz HD channels right before it, in the high 600s.
Randomly, at 195 and 196 were USA HD and CNBC HD. I tried to tune in, but both were black. A simple reset of my cable box cured that and now I’m watching the US Open in HD on USA. I assume both channels were added for the US Open, similar to how TBS HD was quickly added for MLB playoffs last year. Unless, of course, they were added a couple of weeks ago for the Olympics, and I simply missed out (which is more likely, and I’d rather think out loud than go back and edit this paragraph).
Either way, USA is one of those stations I’ve been wanting to get in HD. Hopefully most programs and movies air in HD and not stretch-o-vision.
Now if they could only add Sci-Fi HD before Battlestar Galactica starts up again…
Update Aug 30: Well, both new HD channels are gone, confirming it was just for the Olympics. Double confirmed it by checking out AVS Forum, which is really the only place I was able to find out about this (in the TWC NYC thread).
Friday, April 04, 2008
The HD Update
So all the channels I listed that I was looking forward to receiving back in Feb disappeared.
Yesterday Time Warner finally made an announcement regarding the new HD channels.
So by the end of the month I’ll have a good amount more to watch, if the channels actually use HD content, that is (unlike TBS HD’s stretchy broadcast).
I wish I would have gotten NHL HD earlier so I could have seen some games in HD, but at least I’ll finally have Versus HD for some of the playoffs.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Shamo Shamo
Saturday, February 23, 2008
More HD!
Looks like Time Warner in Queens is about to add to the HD lineup. One cable box is showing new HD channels, while another isn’t. I can’t watch any of them yet, but hey, they look like they’ll be fun. CNN HD, MHD, History HD, A&E HD, Food Network HD, Lifetime Movies HD, HGTV HD, and finally two of my potential favorites: Versus/Golf HD and NHL Network HD. Very cool, hopefully they’ll pop on within a day or two.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Love Those Blackout Rules
Blackout rules, those rules which don’t allow you to watch away broadcasts of your favorite team’s games or view them online have once again proved how useful they are for some NY Time Warner customers.
Time Warner Cable in Manhattan doesn’t have a set station for Yankees broadcasts. They have a couple of specials channels, and whenever there’s a game in HD, the channel changes from “Off Air” to the game. They generally include the pre-game and then a 7.5 hour block for the game afterwards. I’ve seen some people who are able to watch this specials channel all the time (it’s always YES), but I’m not one of them.
The Yankees and Red Sox are playing a double header today. The first game, 1pm start, was broadcast on Fox. For some reason the HD Specials channel had the game scheduled on the guide, but if you went to it, you saw nothing but a gray screen. So, even though it doesn’t look like Fox actually broadcasts the game in 720p like they do for their primetime shows, it’s still nice to watch it widescreen and I do.
Fast forward to 8pm. The second game is about to start and it’s not scheduled on the HD Specials channel - but the channel is still active from the first game, scheduled to go off at 830pm. A few seconds after my cable box blinked 830 the broadcasts freezes and the screen goes gray. I call TW and explain the situation to the person on the other end. They might have understood the situation in full at first, but after I’m put on hold and told others are calling in I know they do now. Doesn’t help any, it’s 1h20m later and the channel’s still not accessible (chances are someone just scheduled the wrong game for the specials channel).
Here’s where the blackout rules come into play: INHD has the game on. If that channel weren’t also gray right now, I’d be able to watch it, even if it’s just a simulcast of NESN HD, but MLB won’t let that happen.
I’m not completely in the dark. I do have the standard broadcast of the game, but the HD setup wasn’t free. This game is on three channels, and the two I want to watch aren’t available, one due to my cable company’s mess up, the other due to MLB “protecting” the local broadcaster (the same reason why I can’t watch the game online).
Friday, December 02, 2005
Rock It Man
Oh sure, you know your Family Guy, but remember when Stewie recalled how he knows how to be cool? Chances are that reference was lost on you unless you know your Shatner too.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
It Only Took Two
One game, one complaint and it took all of two batters to happen. ESPN2 is airing the opening game of the baseball season, Red Sox at Yankees, which I’m sure you’ve heard about 1000 times by now. Well, Edgar Renteria is the second batter of the game, and he takes a pitch. ESPN whips out their nifty K-Zone to show us the location of a pitch Renteria didn’t swing at (to make him 1-2). The audience then proceeds to miss the strikeout pitch.
ESPN did not make the same mistake when the next batter, Manny Ramirez, struck out as well.
Update: Tino Martinez comes in to play first base for Jason Giambi. In his first inning of action he makes a great play to end the inning. The Tino-loving Bronx crowd goes nuts. Instead of being treated to a replay (and all I’m asking for is one), we get to see Sam Ryan introducing Fat Joe for ESPN’s new “Soundcheck” segment. Yipee. We don’t see a replay when they come back from commercial either. Go
ESPN.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Nigel’s Blog
Crossing Jordan fans have a blog to add to their feedreaders. Dr. Nigel Townsend (played by Steve Valentine) keeps a blog, aptly named Nigel’s Blog.
There’s more than just a character’s personal entries there. Nigel is posting information about some cases the ME is having trouble solving and comments are on all entries to allow people to post feedback, and theories. NBC is encouraging comments by giving away prizes for people who post information leading to the capture of the killer.
It’s done pretty well, and it’s really the perfect kind of tag-along for this type of show.
It would be nice if they offered an rss feed for updates.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Thankfully There’s No Hockey to Cry Over
Cablevision and Time Warner are feuding once more.
Here it is, past midnight and FSNY and MSG are both gone from the Time Warner channel lineup. The guide says they’ve been replaced by CSTV (College Sports TV) and NBA TV, although both channels seem to both be NBA TV right now.
There’s no hockey, and I don’t watch too many Knicks or Mets games, so I’m not bothered by losing these two channels all too much other than being annoyed that these two companies have again locked NYers out of their sports channels.
I have both NBA TV and CSTV already, so this is no bonus to me by any means. CSTV usually shows college hockey on Friday nights for those that are interested (although nothing is scheduled this Friday), so if this blackout lasts long enough NYers will probably see more hockey than they would have with FSNY and MSG.
Of course - the reason I have the package that NBA TV and CSTV are included in is for the Fox Sports College stations (there are three, Atlantic, Central and Pacific). I subscribe to those for the good amount of college hockey those stations broadcast. Those are gone now as well with a message that I’ll be credited for those stations until this is resolved. The credit is $3.45 per month, the package is $3.95 per month. While it’s only 50 cents a month to wait it out, there’s not much college hockey left, and there’s not much of a reason for me to continue on with a package I won’t watch anyway, even when it does return. I’ll just see what my options are in the fall.
Friday, February 25, 2005
Star Trek Fans Attempt to Save Enterprise
Wired is running a story about Star Trek fans protesting the cancellation of Star Trek: Enterprise. As a hockey fan, I have to say I feel their pain. Having something you loved cancelled is awful. Just like the NHL, I have a feeling Star Trek will be back soon, at least in some form.
What’s unique about the Trek uprising - unlike other tv shows which have had fans sign petitions, write letters, make calls - is that the Trek fans are collecting money to attempt to pay for production of the show. TrekUnited.com and Save Enterprise are the two sites that are co-ordinating efforts.
$32 million needs to be raised, and as I write this $48k is in the bank so far. The Wired article mentions that $3 million is supposed to be secured soon from three anonymous donors.