Starting September 1st, 2008, all programming on Cinemax HD will be in HDTV. This includes all movies and other programming. This makes Cinemax HD the first premium movie channel to have all programming in HDTV.

Does that include the promotions and trailers they show in-between the movies? It bugs that even on HBO and Showtime a lot of these 'bridge' programming in-between the movies are still upconverted SD quality stuff.

Does that include the promotions and trailers they show in-between the movies? It bugs that even on HBO and Showtime a lot of these 'bridge' programming in-between the movies are still upconverted SD quality stuff.

They said everything; 100% HD.

Starting September 1st, 2008, all programming on Cinemax HD will be in HDTV. This includes all movies and other programming. This makes Cinemax HD the first premium movie channel to have all programming in HDTV.

HDNET and HDNET Movies? They cost extra on D*, E* and most cable companies, except for Cablevision which gives you HD for free, but of course, they do not carry HDNET or HDNET Movies in that "free HD" offer :D

HBO HD has been running HD commercials and promotions lately. Also, the rating title cards at the beginning of movies are now 16:9. I don't think HBO will be 100% HD, at least anytime soon, especially if shows like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" stay 4:3.

I don't think HBO will be 100% HD, at least anytime soon, especially if shows like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" stay 4:3.

Which is why the thread is talking specifically about Cinemax, not HBO, even though Cinemax is an HBO affiliated channel.

I have mediacom and we don't get Cinemax in HD. I keep requesting it over and over.

HDNET and HDNET Movies?
Premium channels such as Cinemax are offered on a per-channel basis, unlike HDNet and HDNet Movies.

Premium channels such as Cinemax are offered on a per-channel basis, unlike HDNet and HDNet Movies.

Incorrect. FiOS offers Cinemax and HBO as part of a package only, just like HDNET on D*, E* and cable systems.

I'd like a package of just the HD premium channels. The thing that keeps me away from Cinemax, Starz and Showtime is the fact you have to pay for ALL the 10-some SD channels associated with that service. I don't want all those channels plus the extra $9 charge for each service. I'd like to see a package where I can just get HBO HD, Showtime HD, Cinemax HD and Starz HD. Maybe included with the HDTV Extra tier. Now I'd go for THAT!

Starting September 1st, 2008, all programming on Cinemax HD will be in HDTV. This includes all movies and other programming.

I guess they will have to stop showing some of their older "Skinemax" stuff that is in SD.

I guess they will have to stop showing some of their older "Skinemax" stuff that is in SD.

True, I wonder how they will handle that?

Incorrect. FiOS offers Cinemax and HBO as part of a package only, just like HDNET on D*, E* and cable systems.
Are you saying that FIOS does not let you get Cinemax unless you also get HBO?

I subscribe to TWC, and they offer Basic + Cinemax + box for around $35/month total (although they don't offer Cinemax HD in my area yet). By comparison, if I want to get HDNet and HDNet Movies from them, it would cost at least $75/month total for DIGIPIC + HD Suite.

I'd like a package of just the HD premium channels. The thing that keeps me away from Cinemax, Starz and Showtime is the fact you have to pay for ALL the 10-some SD channels associated with that service. I don't want all those channels plus the extra $9 charge for each service. I'd like to see a package where I can just get HBO HD, Showtime HD, Cinemax HD and Starz HD. Maybe included with the HDTV Extra tier. Now I'd go for THAT!


I agree. I've never watched anything but the HD channel for HBO or Showtime. I couldn't care less for all those other siblings. It would be nice if they were offered separately.

Are you saying that FIOS does not let you get Cinemax unless you also get HBO?
No, you can get HBO or Cinemax separately on Verizon Fios. I get HBO, but not Cinemax. However HBO and Cinemax are rather pricey on Verizon compared to the movie package of Starz, Showtime, TMC, Encore, others.

Are you saying that FIOS does not let you get Cinemax unless you also get HBO?

I subscribe to TWC, and they offer Basic + Cinemax + box for around $35/month total (although they don't offer Cinemax HD in my area yet). By comparison, if I want to get HDNet and HDNet Movies from them, it would cost at least $75/month total for DIGIPIC + HD Suite.

You can get any combination you want.

HBO - $15.99 / mo
Cinemax - $11.99 / mo
HBO + Cinemax - $21.99 / mo

Movies package (best deal available, IMO) - $14.99/mo
This is a 45 channel package, including Starz, Showtime, Encore, TMC, Flix, Sundance, etc. and their HD equivalents, if they exist.

Sports Package - bunch of sports channels.

HBO + Movies - $25/mo
Movies + Sports - $17.99 / mo.

All in all, some great deals IMO. I've got all of them, since they all have killer programming that I like.

The surprising thing to me is the Movies package. I was used to all of these channels being premiums that you pay for a la carte; it confused the heck out of me to see them all packaged under one price.

All of the above have HD equivalents or will in due time under FIOS.

HDNet and HDNet movies come with the basic subscription, so you can have great HD movies without a premium subscription.

This is great news. Max shows a lot of classic films. While some (such as TOUCH OF EVIL) have been in HD, most have not! Since there seems to be no chance of Turner Classic Movies going HD, then Cinemax will become a consolation alternative!

You can get any combination you want.

HBO - $15.99 / mo
Cinemax - $11.99 / mo
HBO + Cinemax - $21.99 / mo

Movies package (best deal available, IMO) - $14.99/mo
This is a 45 channel package, including Starz, Showtime, Encore, TMC, Flix, Sundance, etc. and their HD equivalents, if they exist.

Sports Package - bunch of sports channels.

HBO + Movies - $25/mo
Movies + Sports - $17.99 / mo.

All in all, some great deals IMO. I've got all of them, since they all have killer programming that I like.

The surprising thing to me is the Movies package. I was used to all of these channels being premiums that you pay for a la carte; it confused the heck out of me to see them all packaged under one price.

All of the above have HD equivalents or will in due time under FIOS.

HDNet and HDNet movies come with the basic subscription, so you can have great HD movies without a premium subscription.


I wonder if they have moved to differences in different markets. The only 2 packages offered here are the Movie Package (Starz, Sho, TMC) or HBO/Cinemax. They would not offer them ala carte.:confused:

This is great news. Max shows a lot of classic films. While some (such as TOUCH OF EVIL) have been in HD, most have not! Since there seems to be no chance of Turner Classic Movies going HD, then Cinemax will become a consolation alternative!

Or Cinemax will cut back if they cannot find a Movie HD now. I am sure some will be interested to see how they handle the Soft Core Porn as probably 50% of it is not HD.

The only skin HD on Cinemax is their own programming. "Sin City", "Coed Confidential", a series about photography and another at a Cancun resort. Oddly, the latter two have not repeated in a long time and only Coed was renewed. A big loss for their late night programming without their SD TVMA programming, IMO.l

I just looked at their online schedule which goes out until 9/19 and there are still some movies listed that don't say "True HDTV". Perhaps that will change, but interestingly after 9/1 the only TVMA stuff was Co-ed and Sex Games, both of which are HDTV.

It's too bad Cinemax is only OAR 50% of the time or less.

This is great news. Max shows a lot of classic films. While some (such as TOUCH OF EVIL) have been in HD, most have not! Since there seems to be no chance of Turner Classic Movies going HD, then Cinemax will become a consolation alternative!

This is good news! Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan this past weekend in OAR looked good and I was happy to see it - been a while.

The only skin HD on Cinemax is their own programming. "Sin City", "Coed Confidential", a series about photography and another at a Cancun resort. Oddly, the latter two have not repeated in a long time and only Coed was renewed. A big loss for their late night programming without their SD TVMA programming, IMO.l

Not true at all... The Witches of Breastwick 2 was shown in HD and BLOCKED (like a PPV) from recording to my DVD recorder.

Cinemax rarely renews a series for a second season. Usually it is renamed with a similar theme and a few people from the same cast.

The only skin HD on Cinemax is their own programming. "Sin City", "Coed Confidential", a series about photography and another at a Cancun resort. Oddly, the latter two have not repeated in a long time and only Coed was renewed. A big loss for their late night programming without their SD TVMA programming, IMO.l

well, try telling that to the people that saw some 4:3 softcore just last week on CinemaxHD

I have never been able to find out just WHY D* only carries two Cinemax channels (not counting HBOW) while E* carries at least five many of which are HD.

Seems to me that D* is at a competitive disadvantage since the price is comparable.

That completely boggles my mind as well. Couple that with their announcement last year, about carrying all hbo and max channels in HD.

Yet here we are a year later and no new channels but E* has them all.

I understand that D* is more sports oriented, but if you already have agreements with HBO/MAX, why not carry all their offerings?

What good is the advantage on the sports side, if you put yourself at a disadvantage on the premium movie side?

:confused:Maybe FREDFA will get us an answer.

I have never been able to find out just WHY D* only carries two Cinemax channels (not counting HBOW) while E* carries at least five many of which are HD.

Seems to me that D* is at a competitive disadvantage since the price is comparable.

Do you honestly thing that MSO's sign contracts for 1 channel at a time or negotiate them all together as a group deal?

Do you honestly thing that MSO's sign contracts for 1 channel at a time or negotiate them all together as a group deal?


Excuse my being so dense, but I don't get your point.

No, you can get HBO or Cinemax separately on Verizon Fios. I get HBO, but not Cinemax. However HBO and Cinemax are rather pricey on Verizon compared to the movie package of Starz, Showtime, TMC, Encore, others.

Well, I think it's probably more accurate to say that Starz, Showtime, TMC, and Encore are exceedingly cheap on FiOS. Especially considering how poor HBO's movie selection has been by comparison in recent years.

That completely boggles my mind as well. Couple that with their announcement last year, about carrying all hbo and max channels in HD.

Yet here we are a year later and no new channels but E* has them all.

I understand that D* is more sports oriented, but if you already have agreements with HBO/MAX, why not carry all their offerings?

What good is the advantage on the sports side, if you put yourself at a disadvantage on the premium movie side?One of several reasons why I am considering switching to E*

One of several reasons why I am considering switching to E*

Patience Grasshopper Its coming...:rolleyes:

You think D* or E* are going to add HD simulcasts of channels they don't carry at all? I don't. Can anyone tell me why both have collectively shafted much of the premium bundles that most cable subscribers take for granted?

For the record, D* does not offer from the HBO networks (in SD): HBO Comedy, HBO Zone, @Max, 5-StarMax, ActionMax, OuterMax, ThrillerMax, or WMax -- all of which are now available in HD. From the Showtime package, it does not offer at all: TMC Xtra (available in HD), Showtime Beyond, Showtime Family Zone, Showtime Next, or Showtime Women. Only Starz gets the full treatment.

As for E*, while they offer the HBO and Starz packages completely, they do not offer (again, even in SD): MoreMax, OuterMax, ThrillerMax, WMax, Showtime Family Zone, Showtime Next, Showtime Women.

Matt, you are correct imo. They will not be adding channels, but they will be adding the HD version of the channels they already carry.

Why they do not carry all the channels SHO, HBO/Max offer makes no sense to me.

While I don't want to disagree with myself or the last few posters, I wonder if there really is the demand for all the channels HBO, SHO, and Cinemax offer. Maybe D* and E* do know what they are doing, although I have to believe D* is "skimping" a bit too much on Cinemax.

Well, D* customers pay $12 for three channels (Cinemax, Cinemax West, and MoreMax). Verizon customers pay $11.99 for the entire Cinemax line-up, 16 channels in all.

Not sure what "demand" has to do with it. That's just getting screwed by your provider.

Well, D* customers pay $12 for three channels (Cinemax, Cinemax West, and MoreMax). Verizon customers pay $11.99 for the entire Cinemax line-up, 16 channels in all.

Not sure what "demand" has to do with it. That's just getting screwed by your provider.


Perhaps. My point is that perhaps D* has concluded that its subscribers are happy with the perceived quality of the two MAX channels it provides, and to offer the remaining MAX channels is a waste of bandwidth with little monetary reward.

Well, D* customers pay $12 for three channels (Cinemax, Cinemax West, and MoreMax). Verizon customers pay $11.99 for the entire Cinemax line-up, 16 channels in all.

Not sure what "demand" has to do with it. That's just getting screwed by your provider.
That is nothing. Here, Comcast includes all of the channels within each premium service, and charges $20. (Each premium service is $20 with Comcast here.) Directv is about an equal value, IMO, but it depends if one wants more channels or a lesser price. It is a real bargain with Verizon; I think they are pricing it that way because they are relatively new or they figure they can get enough extra subscribers to maximize profit.

Perhaps. My point is that perhaps D* has concluded that its subscribers are happy with the perceived quality of the two MAX channels it provides, and to offer the remaining MAX channels is a waste of bandwidth with little monetary reward.

I think the current line up is simply an artifact of the original USSB HBO/Cinemax package. They were all lumped together in the early days.

And to think, I pay E* $.01 per month for Cinemax HD! (signed up for he paperless billing promotion). Good thing I got 2 DVR's, that is alot of HD skin! LOL

Or Cinemax will cut back if they cannot find a Movie HD now. I am sure some will be interested to see how they handle the Soft Core Porn as probably 50% of it is not HD.

Well, it seems like the older films will be in HD afer 9/1, at least according to the Comcast guide. The 1954 "River of No Return" for example. Comcast is also showing old B&W films in HD OnDemand ("Mr & Mrs Smith, "I Confess,", "Dial M for Murder," "The Wrong Man", etc. etc.), so Max can probably do the same. I don't really care about their soft-corn programs. If I'm going to watch anything in that "genre," I'll prefer them straight up!

I think the current line up is simply an artifact of the original USSB HBO/Cinemax package. They were all lumped together in the early days.

I believe this as well. HBO/MAX probably asked for more money to add the newer channels and D* wouldn't pony up.

I am sure SHO is the same deal.

ESPN would be the exact opposite.

While I don't want to disagree with myself or the last few posters, I wonder if there really is the demand for all the channels HBO, SHO, and Cinemax offer. Maybe D* and E* do know what they are doing, although I have to believe D* is "skimping" a bit too much on Cinemax.

I don't know if there is a demand for these, but FIOS just added the extra channels in my area, and I now have about 12 more HD movie channels to choose from. I am a movie buff, so this is a very good thing.

I wasn't about to switch if they hadn't done the expansion, but if you give me 6 times as many movie channels as another service, this is just going to cement me more as a subscriber. Cinemax and Starz also provide HD Video On Demand, which comes in very clearly at a high bit rate, so on the whole, am very happy about this.

Excuse my being so dense, but I don't get your point.



I believe this as well. HBO/MAX probably asked for more money to add the newer channels and D* wouldn't pony up.

I am sure SHO is the same deal.

ESPN would be the exact opposite.

We have a winner.

If a MSO adds on channels when they just happen to have capacity, the channel will charge them through the roof for it.

However, if they wait until the end of the contract that covers ALL their channels, it gets thrown in very cheaply in the overall package.

As for ESPN, you need to look at the TWC deal with ESPN-HD. TWC was convinced they had the right for ESPN-HD. ESPN said they did not, wanted additional money and would not send authorization to the Satellite Receivers in the Head End. ESPN-HD was kept off TWC for close to 2 years because of this, until ESPN's contract ran out with TWC and a new contract was signed stating specifically what was available to TWC.

Again, this is the reason that you find groups of HD stations added at a time from the same supplier - and why they do not show up in single pieces over time.

http://www.hdimage.org/images/vsbto99glh6y4t1ppzky_vlcsnap574212_thumb.png (http://www.hdimage.org/viewer.php?file=vsbto99glh6y4t1ppzky_vlcsnap574212.png)

I capped the commercial for the list of HD movies this month

http://www.hdimage.org/images/vsbto99glh6y4t1ppzky_vlcsnap574212_thumb.png (http://www.hdimage.org/viewer.php?file=vsbto99glh6y4t1ppzky_vlcsnap574212.png)

I capped the commercial for the list of HD movies this month

Cool! Thanks! (What's with the unsupported browser message?)

Cool! Thanks! (What's with the unsupported browser message?)

Advertisement to switch to a different browser ;) :rolleyes:

Wow....that 100% ALL HD Promise didn't take long to break

Cleopatra on 9/1 at 3am is not HD.

Portraits of a Lady on 9/11 and 9/21 is widescreen but not HD

Cinemax is showing a film not on home video (DVD) and is rarely showing called W.C. FIELDS AND ME on October 30th. Hopefully it will be in HD as promised.

Wow....that 100% ALL HD Promise didn't take long to break

Cleopatra on 9/1 at 3am is not HD.Yup, and too bad, too. I was looking forward to it.

Yup, and too bad, too. I was looking forward to it.

As HBO and Cinemax (and other channels) seem to have their days running from 6am - 5:59a, I can almost excuse (though not like) Cleopatra not being 9/1 (though it was unless you live in Hawaii).

However, the other is clearly out of the area and not in HD....so one has to wonder what are they thinking?

Recorded Cleo as well, hoping... (sigh) oh well. Let me know when they mean what they say.

http://www.hdimage.org/images/vsbto99glh6y4t1ppzky_vlcsnap574212_thumb.png (http://www.hdimage.org/viewer.php?file=vsbto99glh6y4t1ppzky_vlcsnap574212.png)

I capped the commercial for the list of HD movies this month

OMG, my dream has come true! Fletch in HD! Now I can watch my favorite comedy of all time in HD. Although I still have serious doubts as to how it good it will look. Not only does it have age going against it, they never were able to produce a decent print of this film.

I just got the Cinemax newsletter and this is what it says:

Unleash True High Definition
on September 6th at 10PM ET. Cinemax HD will become the first and only True HD premium movie destination, broadcasting exclusively in visually-opulent 1080i. On Cinemax HD you will never see programming that's been "up-rezzed" to 1080i from standard definition sources or lower resoluation formats. For sheer visual impact, no other HD channel comes close.
http://www.getmax.com/

Recorded Cleo as well, hoping... (sigh)


Boy, are you going to be disappointed!!

The only skin HD on Cinemax is their own programming. "Sin City", "Coed Confidential", a series about photography and another at a Cancun resort. Oddly, the latter two have not repeated in a long time and only Coed was renewed. A big loss for their late night programming without their SD TVMA programming, IMO.l

I say put that stuff (SD TVMA Skinamax stuff) :) on HBO!

Cinemax is showing a film not on home video (DVD) and is rarely showing called W.C. FIELDS AND ME on October 30th. Hopefully it will be in HD as promised.

It has been during past showings, so I'd be surprised if it wasn't HD this time around.

Boy, are you going to be disappointed!!

That's what I meant - I was...:o

I can't get excited about this announcement from Cinemax given that it's still showing 2.35:1 movies badly chopped to 1.78:1. This was particularly noticeable in The Darjeeling Limited which is filled with shots of the three brothers, except in the center-cut disaster offered up by Cinemax you only had two brothers, mathematically at least, with one brother in the center of the screen and half of each of the other two brothers on the left and right side of the screens. I had to stop watching.

I can halfway tolerate open matte. And some 2.35:1 films seem to be shot now protected for 1.78:1 displays which is also tolerable if much less than ideal. But center-cutting 2.35:1 films that use the whole frame is unacceptable, whether its in SD or HD.

I can't get excited about this announcement from Cinemax given that it's still showing 2.35:1 movies badly chopped to 1.78:1.
...
I can halfway tolerate open matte. And some 2.35:1 films seem to be shot now protected for 1.78:1 displays which is also tolerable if much less than ideal. But center-cutting 2.35:1 films that use the whole frame is unacceptable, whether its in SD or HD.

I wonder how they decide whether to show a cropped or OAR version of a particular movie. Ocean's Thirteen was OAR last night, but as you mentioned there are others that get cropped to 16:9.

I wonder how they decide whether to show a cropped or OAR version of a particular movie. Ocean's Thirteen was OAR last night, but as you mentioned there are others that get cropped to 16:9.

They always order 16:9. Sometimes they take an existing HD transfer that is already available in another AR.

Just to clarify, this is only for the main Cinemax channel, right? Not for any of the subchannels that now happen to have HD versions?

Just to clarify, this is only for the main Cinemax channel, right? Not for any of the subchannels that now happen to have HD versions?Correct. Cinemax HD refers to the main channel. The other channels have their own names.

They always order 16:9. Sometimes they take an existing HD transfer that is already available in another AR.

Boo to that policy.

^^^ Some directors/producers have more clout than others in deciding whether a 2:35:1 movie will be shown in its OAR or a compromised 1:78:1 version. Lucas wanted "Star Wars Episode III" shown in OAR, so that's what we got. Guess some directors just don't have the pull to have their 2:35:1 movies aired untouched by the dreaded '1:78:1 is the new Full Screen' syndrome going around some HD movie channels these days.

Thank God for HDNet Movies! :)

[QUOTE=dad1153;14616125 Guess some directors just don't have the pull to have their 2:35:1 movies aired untouched by the dreaded '1:78:1 is the new Full Screen' syndrome going around some HD movie channels these days.

Thank God for HDNet Movies! :)[/QUOTE]

And SHOWTIME as well, who make an effort to provide OAR, even when a 1.78:1 version is delivered to them.