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VUDU Coming To Connected LG HDTVs


LG Electronics on Wednesday announced that it would be the first hardware maker to include built-in support for the VUDU HD movie service when its latest line of connected HDTVs debut next month. The feature will be included in both the LH50 LCD series as well as the PS80 plasma series with NetCast Entertainment Access, the firm said.

The VUDU service offers access to a library of high-def content that users can either rent or buy and stream directly to their TV. With built in access, LG's users will be able to access this programming without investing in additional hardware.

According to LG, the new sets will be priced at $1,699 for the LCD and $1,799 for the plasma and will be available starting in August.
30 Jul 2009 - 10:02 by soullezz    Industry News |

New Verizon Customers To Get Free Sunday Ticket


Verizon on Wednesday announced that, in an effort to boost its DSL broadband service and lure users away from cable, it would begin offering free subscriptions to NFL Sunday Ticket for new customers who sign up for one of its DIRECTV bundles

The out-of-market football package usually costs about $300. What's more, the promotion will overlap with Verizon's free Compaq netbook or Flip camcorder deal, allowing new subscribers to claim both the NFL package and their choice of CE devices. To qualify, customers need to sign up for service by Aug. 15 and activate it by September.

Verizon markets DIRECTV service in areas where it does not offer its fiber-supported FiOS TV service.


30 Jul 2009 - 10:00 by soullezz    Industry News |

CEA Predicts Slimmed-Down CES For 2010


The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) on Wednesday released new details about the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES), scheduled for January 7-10 2010 in Las Vegas.

The verdict: Get ready for a more intimate CES experience.

Instead of the 110,000 CE industry pros and 2,700 exhibitors that signed on for CES last year, CEA is predicting just 100,000 attendees and 2,000 exhibitors will make the trip in 2010. That's even more markedly down from the 141,150 confirmed attendees in 2008, before the recession began in earnest. And CES attendance isn't the only thing that's going to shrink. Available floor space will be down in January due to the elimination of the Sands Convention Center as a venue for the show, which will be centered at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Las Vegas Hilton next door.

But the show must go on, right? And it will. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will kick off the event with a pre-show keynote, and Intel CEO Paul Otellini is set to speak on Thursday.
30 Jul 2009 - 09:59 by soullezz    Industry News |



Industry and Installation

INDUSTRY: Profits Tumble at Viacom; ION Shows Off Triple Play Capabilities on Capitol Hill

Media conglomerate Viacom on Tuesday reported a 32 percent drop in second quarter profit due to the weak ad market and slow sales for the company's video game and feature film products. The Sumner Redstone-controlled firm also reports a 14 percent drop in revenues to $3.3 billion in the quarter. Home entertainment posted the steepest decline at 29 percent, followed by theater revenues at 27 percent, video game sales and international advertising at eight percent and domestic ad revenues at six percent --- ION Media Networks on Tuesday demonstrated a range of new digital broadcast television technologies on Capitol Hill in Washington in partnership with the Open Mobile Video Coalition and several Washington-area broadcasters. As part of the event, which also marked the final analog cut-off day for U.S. broadcasters, ION broadcast a mobile DTV signal, an HD version of its flagship broadcast channel and two of its cable networks simultaneously.

INSTALLATION: D-Tools Adds Stealth Acoustics To SI

Users of D-Tools' System Integrator software package can now access specs for Stealth Acoustics brand speakers for use in their residential installation projects, as part of a new partnership between the two companies.


29 Jul 2009 - 09:53 by soullezz    Industry News |

Emerging Markets Help Satellite To Record-Setting Year in 2008


Despite the global economic downturn and losses in pretty much every business segment on the planet, the fixed satellite sector actually grew 11 percent in 2008, according to a new report from research firm Euroconsult.

The figure marks satellite's best growth year since 2000, thanks in large part to emerging markets in Latin America, Africa, central Europe and Asia. These regional markets accounted for 71 percent in the net capacity increase last year, according to Euroconsult's data.

“Digital TV broadcasting remains the primary growth engine for the satellite sector," said said Euroconsult CEO Pacome Revillon, explaining the 18 new satellite pay-TV platforms were launched last year along with more than 2,900 new TV channels. “Transponder demand also remained strong for communication services, particularly corporate networks, government communications and cellular backhaul.”

The firm is optimistic about satellite's prospects going forward, as well, forecasting seven percent growth this year and five percent in 2010. “Compared to the telecom and pay-TV crisis of the early 2000s, core customers of satellite operators are relatively less impacted by the current crisis thus far," Revillon said.
29 Jul 2009 - 09:52 by soullezz    Industry News |

Cost Cuts Help Boost Profits At RadioShack


Consumer electronics retailer RadioShack on Monday announced that its net income increased $7.4 million in the second quarter as compared to last year, despite a 2.9 percent dip in total revenues during the quarter.

The positive returns came after the chain trimmed employee levels and other costs in recent months. According to RadioShack, its general and administrative costs currently account for 34.8 percent of sales, down from 37.7 percent of sales this time last year.

For the first six months of this year, the company's total net sales and operating revenues were $1.97 billion, up from $1.94 billion for the first half of 2008. Comparable same-store sales increased 0.4 percent so far this year as compared to last year due to DTV converter box sales, postpaid wireless and the growing netbook segment.
28 Jul 2009 - 10:15 by soullezz    Industry News |



Satellite and Industry

SATELLITE: Citizens Deploys EchoStar's ViP-TV; SkyPerfect JSAT Selects Hughes; Optus D3 Prep Underway; Gilat Wins Servicio Satelital Business

Virginia-based IPTV provider Citizens Cablevision, which is a subsidiary of Citizens Telephone Cooperative, has selected EchoStar's ViP-TV service to transport up to 42 channels of HDTV to its IP headend --- Asian satellite operator SKYPerfect JSAT has tapped Hughes Network Systems to supply its next-generation broadband satellite platform as it expands into new markets. The deal includes Hughes' HX series broadband hubs and terminals --- Arianespace this week said that pre-launch preparations were underway for the Optus D3 communications satellite it plans to launch for Australia's Optus Networks in August. Once in orbit, the satellite will offer a total of 32 transponders and provide Ku-band service for Australia and New Zealand from 156 degrees East --- Gilat's SkyEdge II satellite broadband network has been selected by Argentina's Servicio Satelital S.A. to provide Internet service to the nation's schools and other customers in the region.

INDUSTRY: Outdoor Channel and Mossy Oak

Outdoor Channel Holdings has renewed its strategic partnership with camouflaged products manufacturer Mossy Oak, continuing the firm's sponsorship of the Tuesday Night Pursuits programming block. Mossy Oak has sponsored the weekly block since the network's inception, making it one of Outdoor Channel's longest-running advertisers.
28 Jul 2009 - 10:15 by soullezz    Industry News |

Industry and Programming

INDUSTRY: CEDIA Courses Approved For Interior Design Credit; CEA, ITI Challenge Electronics Recycling Law In NYC

The Interior Design Continuing Education Council last week approved 11 home technology courses offered by the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) for use as continuing education credits for interior designers. The courses are available as part of CEDIA's Registers Outreach Instructor program --- The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) on Friday filed a lawsuit challenging New Your City's new law that would require electronics manufacturers to provide free, door-to-door electronics recycling services for city residents, a move that the groups say would force hundreds of additional trucks onto the streets and cost manufacturers more than $200 million annually. The new law is scheduled to go into effect on July 31.

PROGRAMMING: TBS Extends Tyler Perry's House of Payne; NFL Draft Going Prime Time; Sirius XM at the Baseball Hall of Fame

The top original sitcom on cable -- Tyler Perry's House of Payne -- was extended for another season last week when TBS ordered 20 more episodes of the popular comedy. The order will bring the total number of episodes in the series to 172, including the record-setting 100 episode buy when the series debuted in 2006 --- ESPN and NFL Network will air the 2010 NFL Draft starting at 7:30 pm ET on April 22 when the event goes into prime time for the first time ever. In addition, the draft will be extended to three days instead of the usual two next year --- Cal Ripken Jr. and his brother Billy (who will probably always be best known for his 1989 baseball card. Google it.) hosted a special edition of their Ripken Baseball show on Sirius XM live from the Baseball Hall of Fame this weekend as part of the annual induction ceremony. Sirius XM's MLB Home Plate and Mad Dog Radio channels also broadcast live from Cooperstown during the event.
27 Jul 2009 - 11:31 by soullezz    Industry News |

Retailers Question Changes In DISH Cancellation Fee Policy


Last week, DISH Network notified its dealer network that retailers may no longer charge cancellation fees to customers that decide to discontinue service.

So far, the move has elicited a reaction from at least one SkyReport reader.

"Let me see if I understand this," they wrote. "If the customer disconnects in the first 90 days, Dish Network charges back all payments to me and I'm not allowed to recoup anything from the customer except the MSRP for unreturned receivers. So we lose everything and Dish Network charges the customer a 360.00 cancellation fee. So we lose and Dish makes a profit."

DISH Network did not respond to a request for clarification as of post time.

27 Jul 2009 - 11:29 by soullezz    Industry News |


Magic Jack

Industry, Programming, and People

INDUSTRY: Sony Titles Coming To Redbox; LG Intros THX-Certified LED TV

DVD titles from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will soon be available via Redbox's $1-per-night rental kiosks as part of a five-year, $460 million distribution deal between the two companies. The deal is the first such arrangement between Redbox and a major studio and includes Sony's new releases, catalog and direct to video titles, but not any of its Blu-ray discs --- LED HDTV technology took a step into the big time Wednesday when LG announced that its newest LH90 line of LED-based LCD TVs had been named the first THX Display Certified sets on the U.S. market.

PROGRAMMING: TV Guide Network Picks Up Ugly Betty Rights; CBS College Sports Joining The Army; OPEN Signs With FOX Sports

TV Guide Network is getting into the scripted series business, picking up exclusive basic cable rights to ABC Studio's Ugly Betty. The programming deal is the first major move for new TV Guide Network owners Lionsgate and One Equity Partners --- CBS College Sports Network will air every Army home football game nationwide and in HD for the next five years starting in 2010 as part of a new TV agreement between the network and West Point. With the deal, CBS College Sports now offers live football coverage of all three U.S. service academies --- Sports-focused social networking developer OPEN Sports Network, bolstered by $4 million in new investor funding, has signed a five-year deal to create exclusive fantasy sports games for FOXSports.com. The deal includes games across all major sports.

PEOPLE: Moves at RealNetworks; Synacor

RealNetworks has named Matt Hulett chief revenue officer of its RealGames division in charge of its North American consumer and syndication businesses --- Former Scripps Networks interactive exec Tim Peterman has been named COO of web portal provider Synacor.
23 Jul 2009 - 09:16 by soullezz    Industry News |

Arianespace Wins HYLAS Launch Rights


Another week, another launch contract for Arianespace.

On Wednesday the launch services firm announced that it would carry Avanti Communications Group's new HYLAS telecommunications satellite into orbit in the first half of 2010. The news marks the firm's 11th signed launch contract so far this year, and its first contract with new European satellite operator Avanti.

The HYLAS satellite, being built by EADS Astrium and ISRO, will be positioned a 33.5 degrees West and offer Ka-band service across Europe. It will be carried on an Ariane 5 or Soyuz vehicle and be launched from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana.
23 Jul 2009 - 09:15 by soullezz    Industry News |

SBCA Announces Another Member Benefit


The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) on Tuesday announced that members can now receive discounts from select distributors as part of a new partnership program involving the satellite industry association.

So far, the participating distributors are DSI Systems, Dow Electronics, Pace International and Case-SRS.

“We are excited to work with these distributors to create this program and offer our members additional savings,” said Steve Hill, SBCA’s deputy executive director. “We look forward to continuing to create additional programs and incentives for our member companies.”

According to SBCA, discounts vary from distributor to distributor and members should contact each company directly to take advantage of the new offer.
22 Jul 2009 - 13:24 by soullezz    Industry News |


Magic Jack

DIRECTV Re-ups With Qwest


Qwest will continue to offer DIRECTV service to its bundled residential users through 2014 after the two companies agreed to extend their deal for five years on Tuesday.

As part of the agreement, Qwest said it would start offering remote DVR scheduling for its DIRECTV users and would enable subscribers to manage their Qwest accounts from their DIRECTV DVR.

"The agreement enables us to further evolve our successful relationship with Qwest by offering more ways for customers to take advantage of the integration of Qwest's high-speed broadband and phone services with DIRECTV's best-in-class video service," said David Olsen, DIRECTV's senior vice president of sales.

Terms of the deal were not released. As of the first quarter, however, Qwest claimed about 832,000 video subscribers as part of its partnership with the DBS provider.
22 Jul 2009 - 13:23 by soullezz    Industry News |

DISH Settles State Customer Service Cases


DISH Network on Thursday announced that it had come to terms with 46 state attorneys general regarding disputes over advertising, telemarketing and customer service issues with the DBS provider and its independent retailers.

Under terms of the arrangement, DISH will pay out nearly $6 million in penalties to the states involved and will make certain changes to its business processes. DISH did not elaborate on what those changes might entail.

"Customer satisfaction has always been a top priority for DISH Network, and we continuously implement new approaches to strengthen our customer relationships," said Tom Cullen, DISH Network EVP. "We are pleased to work with the state attorneys general in a cooperative manner to enhance our products and services."
17 Jul 2009 - 13:17 by soullezz    Industry News |

Satellite and Programming

SATELLITE: TiVo Not Pulling Punches In EchoStar Case; Poland Gets Another DTH
Service

According to a filing EchoStar made this week with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, TiVo wants the DBS company to pay nearly $1 billion in contempt sanctions as part of its DVR patent infringement case. TiVo won an injunction in the case in early June that called on EchoStar to disable the DVR functionality in its set-top boxes and pay TiVo another $103 million in penalties --- Polish broadcaster TVP announced plans to launch a new DTH platform in the country by the end of this year. According to reports, the service will operate on a non-profit basis and will offer two programming packages, one free and one paid.

PROGRAMMING: Project Runway Gets a Spin-off; Cox Intros Christian VOD Service

Lifetime on Wednesday announced plans to launch a companion series to its popular fashion design show Project Runway. In the new series, Models of the Runway, 16 models will vie for a chance to present the Project Runway winner's designs --- Cox Communications is now offering a faith-based subscription on demand service to customers in Northern Virginia as part of a new partnership with Faith & Family Entertainment. The service is available for $6.99 per month and will offer a range of Christian-themed movies and other content.
16 Jul 2009 - 08:42 by soullezz    Industry News |



DIRECTV Lawsuit Moves Forward


A California Superior Court judge has ruled that a lawsuit targeting DIRECTV's cancellation policies may move forward.

The case, which centers around the DBS provider's early cancellation fees, was brought by Consumer Watchdog attorneys Harvey Rosenfield and Pamela Pressley and claims that DIRECTV has been unlawfully imposing early cancellation fees of up to $480 and taking the money out of customers' bank accounts without permission.

In response, DIRECTV said it is "already defending against these baseless allegations in federal district court. While this copycat lawsuit was filed later and will be proceeding concurrently with the federal litigation, neither of the lawsuits has any merit. We believe our early cancellation fees are lawful, fair and reasonable and all relevant terms and conditions of our customer agreements are carefully disclosed to each customer, including the customer's option to accept discounted or free equipment and an installation offer in exchange for their agreement to remain a customer for a period of time (24 months). And if the customer chooses instead not to keep that commitment, there is a pro-rated cancellation fee. Customers are also informed that they’re required to provide us with a credit or debit card when they activate their service and they agree that the credit card will be used for any unpaid balance when they disconnect the service."


16 Jul 2009 - 08:40 by soullezz    Industry News |

Best Buy Intros First Portable HD Radio


The world of non-satellite radio got a boost this week when consumer electronics retailer Best Buy began selling what it called the first portable HD Radio receiver. Marketed under Best Buy's in-house Insignia brand, the new NS-HD01 is available now at an MSRP of $49.99.

In addition to HD Radio reception, the device features a color LCD screen, 10 channel memory presets and a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. The player also supports HD Radio multicasting for access to additional channel streams between existing stations.
15 Jul 2009 - 11:20 by soullezz    Industry News |

Samsung, Blockbuster Team Up On Content, Hardware


Users of Samsung's various HDTVs, home theater systems and Blu-ray players will soon be able to access video from Blockbuster's OnDemand service through their hardware as part of a new agreement between the two companies, announced Tuesday.

The new offerings will be available this fall, Samsung said, and will include on-screen search and browsing capabilities. The products will be sold at select Blockbuster stores and via the rental company's web site. Blockbuster OnDemand will be integrated into new Samsung hardware by the fall of 2009, though owners of existing Samsung LCD and plasma Series 650 and above HDTVs, Series 7000 LED HDTVs, and select 2009 Samsung Blu-ray players and home theater systems can access the Blockbuster functionality for free via a firmware upgrade.

"This agreement underscores the growing opportunities around digital delivery," said Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes. "We look forward to working with Samsung to showcase their select products in Blockbuster stores while making Blockbuster's digital library available in homes across America."
15 Jul 2009 - 11:20 by soullezz    Industry News |



Industry and Programming


INDUSTRY: Sirius and Mercedes; Eutelsat and Serbia Broadband; Rentrack Signs HSN

Mercedes-Benz will offer buyers of its Sirius-equipped certified pre-owned vehicles an introductory free trial of the satellite radio service. The three-month trial includes a subscription to the Sirius Everything package --- Eutelsat Communications has signed a multi-year contract with Serbia Broadband to help expand the provider's Total TV platform in Eastern Europe. The deal includes to of Eutelsat's transponders at 16 degrees --- Rentrak has added Home Shopping Network (HSN) to its roster of television network clients, delivering viewership information to the TV shopping net.

PROGRAMMING: British Open Coming To DIRECTV, Sirius XM

Both DIRECTV and Sirius XM on Monday announced details of their plans to cover the British Open golf tournament being held this week in Turnberry, Scotland. DIRECTV is bringing its "interactive experience" to the British Open for the first time with four channels of coverage. In addition to a four-screens-in-one HD Mix channel, DIRECTV will offer featured hole channels, an 18th hole channel and a running highlights channels throughout the tournament.

Sirius XM, for its part, will offer 45 hours of coverage from the event on XM channel 146 and Sirius channel 209 starting Thursday. The satellite radio offering will include live hole-by-hold coverage as well as updates and analysis from T.J. Rives, Brian Katrek, Bob Stevens, Earl Forcey and other Sirius XM golf personalities.
14 Jul 2009 - 08:03 by soullezz    Industry News |

DIRECTV Adds Dan Patrick To Programming Mix; Intros Continental Service


Former ESPN and NBC Sports broadcaster Dan Patrick is moving his sports act to DIRECTV's satellite platform with a television version of his national radio show. Set to kick off on Aug. 3, The Dan Patrick Show will be broadcast nationwide at 9 a.m. Eastern on DIRECTV's in-house network, The 101.

In other DIRECTV news, the satcaster on Monday announced that Continental Airlines is now offering live DIRECTV service on its domestic flights. With 77 channels of live programming, the airline is currently offering more channels than any other carriers, DIRECTV said. The service is currently being installed on Continental's aircraft and is expected to serve the entire fleet by the end of 2010.

DIRECTV also plans to launch an iPhone app in the near future that will allow users to access live NFL game coverage from their mobile devices. Guess what package you have to subscribe to in order to watch on the go?
14 Jul 2009 - 08:02 by soullezz    Industry News |

Satellite, Hardware, and Programming


SATELLITE: Telesat Completes Telstar 10 Deal; ViaSat Set To Build New African Infrastructure

Fixed satellite services operator Telesat Canada has completed the transfer of its interests in the Telstar 10 satellite to APT Satellite Company. According to earlier reports, the deal was valued at about $69 million. --- ViaSat on Thursday announced that it had signed $53 million in contracts to provide RascomStar-Qaf with a new communications infrastructure as it expands its telephone and Internet service reach in Africa. The projects are scheduled to last until at least 2011.

HARDWARE: Best Buy Teams With TiVo; Sony Adds Netflix To Connected Bravia Sets; Vizio Wins Latest Round of Patent Disputes

Consumer electronics retailer Best Buy and TiVo on Thursday announced a new partnership in an effort to encourage greater sales of the DVR developer's ubiquitous set-top recorders. As part of the deal, the companies said they plan to offer special features available only on TiVo's purchased at Best Buy, and will integrate the two brands in a new marketing campaign. Interestingly enough, TiVo also said that it will explore the possibility of integrating its user interface and other features with Best Buy's in-house brands. Is a TiVo-enabled Insignia DVD player in the works? --- Users of Sony's Bravia Internet Link TV sets can now access Netflix's on demand streaming service directly from their Internet-enabled HDTV, the CE maker said Thursday. Other additions to the Sony content lineup include Golflike, Livestrong.com, eHow, Demand Media and ON Networks --- U.S. Customs on Thursday said that Vizio would be allowed to continue importing its HDTVs into the U.S., following the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's final ruling that the CE maker's technologies do not infringe on any patents held by rival company Funai.

PROGRAMMING: Lifetime Gets Christine; JLTV Bringing Maccabiah Games To U.S. Audiences

Lifetime has secured exclusive off-network cable rights to Seinfeld vet Julia Louis-Dreyfus' The New Adventures of Old Christine and said it will begin airing the series in the fall of 2010. Under terms of the deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, Lifetime gets the rights to all 88 existing episodes as well as exclusive rights to all future episodes --- Jewish-themed TV network JLTV will broadcast the Maccabiah Games July 12-23, marking the first time the sporting event has been broadcast outside of Israel. The Maccabiah Games, held every four years in Israel, are the world's third-largest sporting event and attract Jewish athletes from some 50 countries.
10 Jul 2009 - 09:07 by soullezz    Industry News |

DISH Network Adds MSNBC HD, New HD Locals


DISH Network has been busy expanding it high-definition programming line up of late.

On Thursday the DBS provider became the first and only pay TV provider to offer MSNBC HD to customers nationwide. The channel, located at channel 209 on the DISH dial, is now available to customers with the Classic Silver 200 with HD tier and above.

As if that wasn't enough, DISH on Thursday also introduced HD local channels in Laredo, Texas. With the addition, DISH now offers HD locals in 151 markets covering more than 92 percent of U.S. households.
10 Jul 2009 - 09:05 by soullezz    Industry News |

Hardware and Programming


HARDWARE: Big Boost Coming For Coax, Existing Wire Networking

With demand for home networking solutions on the rise, providers are increasingly turning to coax-based and other existing wiring technologies to give their customers what they want. Not surprisingly, this trend is expected to effectively double the size of the coax/phoneline networking market by 2010, according to market research firm In-Stat.

“Consumers want web video on their TV and also increasingly want whole-home DVR capability” said In-Stat analyst Joyce Putscher. “Networking over coax makes particularly good sense in North America where 90 percent of homes have pre-existing coax wiring.”

PROGRAMMING: ESPN U.K.; GolTV Snags Spanish Tournament Coverage; Comcast, USOC Partner on New Cable Network

ESPN announced plans to launch its new premium channel for the U.K. market on Aug. 3. The network will be anchored by ESPN's recently-acquired rights to the English Premier League --- GolTV has acquired exclusive North American rights to the 2009 Peace Cup Andalucia tournament to be held July 24-Aug. 2 in Spain -- The U.S. Olympic Committee and Comcast announced plans to launch a new U.S. Olympic Network (USON) that will air a variety of Olympic-focused content 24/7. The new cable network is expected to launch sometime in 2010 and will broadcast year-round. It will also offer VOD content and online videos, Comcast said.
9 Jul 2009 - 10:41 by soullezz    Industry News |

DISH Expands Local Channel Lineup


For the second time this week, DISH Network on Wednesday announced new local service markets.

This time, the DBS provider introduced local channels in SD (not HD, as it did earlier this week) for customers in Bend, Ore. and Marquette, Mich.

With the news, DISH now offers local channels in 180 U.S. markets covering more than 97 percent of TV households. According to DISH, that coverage is more than any other pay TV provider in the country.
9 Jul 2009 - 10:40 by soullezz    Industry News |

With Circuit City Gone, Markets Open To Others


Think the Circuit City bankruptcy wasn't a big deal for the consumer electronics retail space? Now that Big Red is gone, smaller retailers are beginning to move into its previous territories.

Case in point: hhgregg on Wednesday announced plans to enter the Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. markets as soon as next year. The Mid-Atlantic push will involve as many as 45 new stores for the Indianapolis-based retailer, along with a new distribution center to support them. The stores will be in addition to the 20-plus new stores the company hopes to open this year, including locations in Tampa, Memphis and the former Circuit City hometown of Richmond, Va.

"We have an extraordinary opportunity to gain market share by taking advantage of the current rental rates and excess availability in the real estate market," said hhgregg head Dennis May. "The combination of our effective operating model, an opportunistic real estate environment, strong partnerships with key vendors, and the availability of talented field-level personnel create a significant opportunity for the company to accelerate its growth while continuing to provide customers with a superior customer purchase experience."

Is this the start of a new CE mega-chain?


9 Jul 2009 - 10:36 by soullezz    Industry News |

Satellite and Programming


SATELLITE: SkyVision Expands Reach With iDirect Hub

IP service provider SkyVision has purchased an iDirect Series 15000 Universal Satellite Hub as part of its effort to launch an Evolution network covering all of Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia. The Virtual Private Network will provide bandwidth service to the regions via a single C-band satellite beam, SkyVision said, and will enable the provider to dedicate additional bandwidth to specific customers on an as-needed basis.

PROGRAMMING: Charter Expands WFN Distribution; CBS College Sports, The Mtn Coming to Arizona, O.C.

Charter announced plans to add a 24-hour fishing lifestyle channel WFN: World Fishing Network to its programming line up as soon as this month. The channel will be launched on Charter's digital cable systems in New England, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana --- Starting Aug. 1, Cox cable systems in Arizona and Orange County, Calif. will start carrying CBS College Sports Network and The Mtn. (MountainWest Sports Network) on the Cox Digital Sports and Information tier.
8 Jul 2009 - 10:27 by soullezz    Industry News |

Study: DRM Focus Holding Back Digital Video Growth


Illegal video swapping remains rampant on the Internet -- 12 billion such peer-to-peer transactions took place last year -- and efforts by programmers to stem this tide with Digital Rights Management (DRM) technologies have come up woefully short, according to a report released Tuesday by market research firm In-Stat.

In order to fully realize the potential of digital video, the report said, content owners and service providers need to shift their approach from protecting content to profiting from it. The trick is offering a better experience for the user than what they would get from P2P video.

“What is needed is a new approach to monetizing digital content including moving a relatively small group of consumer households that do the bulk of P2P downloading to legal services,” said In-Stat Analyst Keith Nissen. “The question is whether the video industry wishes to control its own destiny, or get crushed by technological change, similar to what is occurring in the music business.”

According to In-Stat's estimates, migrating just the heaviest illegal P2P users to legitimate web video services could generate $1.4 billion in subscription revenue and another $1.1 billion in advertising revenue for content owners.


8 Jul 2009 - 10:26 by soullezz    Industry News |

DTV Switch Boosted Pay TV Subs


About 653,000 new pay TV subscribers were persuaded to sign up for cable, satellite or IPTV service as a result of the digital television transition, according to Wells Fargo Securities analyst Marci Ryvicker. Cable operators, she said Tuesday, picked up most of their new subscribers in the first quarter, before the DTV switch date was moved from Feb. 17 to June 12.

Overall, Ryvicker estimates that cable operators will gain about 475,000 new subscribers as a result of the DTV transition, followed by satellite with 137,000 and IPTV services with 41,000. As for the second quarter, the analyst said that DIRECTV and DISH Network should add about 29,777 and 22,333 new subs respectively in the period, but that cable will surge back in the third quarter and cut into satellite's gains.
8 Jul 2009 - 10:25 by soullezz    Industry News |

Satellite and Hardware


SATELLITE: Sirius iPhone App Reaches Milestone

Well, that didn't take long. A mere two weeks after launching in the Apple App Store, Sirius XM's application for the iPhone has already surpassed one million downloads. The app, which is free, allows Sirius XM subscribers to access select live content from the satellite radio service via the Apple iPhone smartphone and iPod Touch.

HARDWARE: Chief Wins Industry Accolades; Pioneer Intros A/V Receivers With Advanced Connectivity

Mount maker Chief Manufacturing on Monday announced that it had been named to the CEPro Top 100 List and had received top honors in the 2009 Pro AV Brand Leaders survey conducted by ProAV magazine. Chief was named Top Display Mount Brand, Top Projector Mount Brand and Top Power Management Brand in the ProAV survey, and top brand for lifts and mounts by CEPro --- In addition to high-end audio and video performance, the new Elite line of A/V receivers from Pioneer, announced last week, bring advanced new connectivity options to the home theater mix, including support for the Rhapsody subscription music service and Apple's iPhone smartphone.
7 Jul 2009 - 08:42 by soullezz    Industry News |

Intelsat Set To Carry Jackson Memorial


On Monday, fixed satellite services provider Intelsat announced that it would be the exclusive international satellite carrier for Jackson's memorial service, to be held today in Los Angeles. Under terms of the deal between Intelsat and event promoter AEG Live (that's right, his funeral has a promoter), four Intelsat satellites will distribute free-to-air signals from the event live to broadcasters worldwide.

AEG and Intelsat said they are providing free broadcast access to the memorial service in partnership with Coastal Media Group, The Switch and Pacific Television. As far as the specifics are concerned, the Intelsat 9, Intelsat 5, Intelsat 905 and Intelsat 904 satellites will be used to distribute the event coverage.
7 Jul 2009 - 08:41 by soullezz    Industry News |

DISH Expands HD Local Reach


Following DIRECTV's announcement last week that it now offers local high-def channel service in more than 130 U.S. markets, DISH Network added four new HD markets to its lineup to bring its total to 150.

The new markets include Ft. Wayne, Ind.; La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wis.; Panama City, Fla; and Wausau-Rhinelander, Wis. The channels became available to local HD subscribers on July 1.

With the additions, DISH says it now offers HD locals to more than 92 percent of U.S. households.
6 Jul 2009 - 10:35 by soullezz    Industry News |

Rumor: Could Krikorian Be Headed to DIRECTV?


According to reports, DIRECTV has approached Sling Media founder Blake Krikorian as a possible successor to former CEO Chase Carey, who recently left the DBS firm for a high ranking job with News Corp.

Sling Media is now a subsidiary of EchoStar, which picked up the TV-anywhere firm in 2007 for a reported $380 million. Krikorian split from the company earlier this year. If he jumps to DIRECTV, Krikorian would effectively be competing directly against his former bosses at EchoStar.

Aside from Krikorian, the other name being tossed around for the top DIRECTV job is Greg Maffei, CEO of Liberty Media, who has been publicly expressing his interest in the job.
6 Jul 2009 - 10:34 by soullezz    Industry News |

Happy Independance Day!
We would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July! Please take this opportunity to learn and remember what this day celebrates, this day is not just fireworks and cookouts.

Independence Day

Independence Day is more than a chance for family and friends throughout the country to gather for barbecues and fireworks displays, it is an annual celebration to commemorate the courage and faith of our founding fathers in their pursuit of liberty.

Uncover the history behind America's birthday and the sacrifices made by the extraordinary leaders who, at great personal risk, struggled to unite a young nation. Read the Declaration of Independence that laid down the foundation for the U.S. Constitution, endorsing the fundamental principles of freedom we still uphold to this day.

4th of July Video Gallery

From it's declaration on July 4th, 1776 to modern day celebrations, Independence Day in motion.
View the Fourth of July Video Gallery

Maps of Early America

Selection of maps showing where Colonial America fought its war for independence from Britain and emerged as a new nation.
View Maps of Early America

The History Behind

It was not declared a legal holiday, until 1941. However Independence Day was observed since July 8, 1776
Discover the History of the Fourth of July in America

Text of the Declaration of Independence

Read the Declaration of Independance

History of The Declaration of Independence

Read the History of the Declaration of Independance
4 Jul 2009 - 07:57 by soullezz    Industry News |

Programming and Hardware


PROGRAMMING: BET Sets Viewership Record With Awards Show; Sirius XM on July Fourth; Oxygen To Offer Original Webisodes

BET's live premiere of the BET Awards '09 on Sunday night drew 10.65 million total viewers, making the broadcast the number one cable telecast so far this year. The show, which paid tribute to Michael Jackson, was also the number one original telecast in BET history --- Sirius XM will offer a range of special Fourth of July programming this weekend, including 24/7 patriotic music on "Uncle Sam Radio" (SIRIUS channel 113, XM channel 15), a live broadcast from the Essence Music Festival on The Heat, Willie Nelson's 4th of July Radio Picnic on Willie's Place and special Bruce Springsteen programming on E Street Radio --- Oxygen has introduced 10 short "Mommywood" web videos designed to compliment its popular reality show "Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood."

HARDWARE: Gefen Intros Long-Haul DVI Extender; D-Tools Adds Kimber Kable

Gefen on Tuesday began shipping a new long-range extension system capable of delivering DVI video over distances of up to two kilometers over fiber optic cables. According to Gefen, the new DVI-3500HD supports video resolutions of up to 1920 x 1200 --- Users of D-Tools' System Integrator software package can now access product specs for a range of high-end A/V cables from Kimber Kable as part of a new partnership agreement between the two companies.
1 Jul 2009 - 08:17 by soullezz    Industry News |

BSkyB Re-ups With SES ASTRA


SES ASTRA has renewed its contract with BSkyB to provide the U.K. media company with 24 transponders at 28.2 degrees East, the companies announced Tuesday.

With the news, which extends a relationship that dates back two decades, BSkyB is currently contracted for 31 transponders on ASTRA's satellite system. Details about the transaction, including the duration of this latest extension, where not disclosed.

“Sky was our first customer and we are delighted that a relationship which dates back to 1989 will continue to grow and develop for many years to come," said Alexander Oudendijk, SES ASTRA's chief commercial officer. "The continued trust in ASTRA allows for the further growth of the U.K. and Ireland satellite DTH market and an exciting TV-offer on a long-term basis."
1 Jul 2009 - 08:12 by soullezz    Industry News |

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