I hope that the Tuesday, July 7th, tribute to Michael Jackson from the Staples Center in LA will be broadcast HD.

Well E! has a HD channel so who knows?

The show is being produced in HDTV.

I'm assuming AEG is providing a pool feed?

Sky News to air Michael Jackson memorial service in HD

6 July 2009

By Jenny Williams

Sky News is to broadcast live coverage of tomorrow's Michael Jackson memorial service in high-definition - as the channel gears up for a full HD launch next spring.

Sky News presenter Kay Burley will present "Michael Jackson: The Farewell" from 5.30pm UK time on the rolling news channel.

She will be joined by US correspondents Robert Nisbet and Greg Milam to capture the build-up to the event, where celebrities and fans will pay their tributes to the king of pop.

The programme will be simulcast on Sky News and Sky Arts 1 in standard definition and will also air on Sky Arts 1 HD.

Live footage from the ceremony at at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles will also be streamed on the skynews.com website.

Sky News began a trial into high-definition news broadcasting in January when it broadcast live coverage of US president Barack Obama’s inauguration in HD.

The rolling news channel is currently upgrading its studios, production facilities and newsgathering operations ahead of a full HD channel launch early next year.

Staff are being trained on how to make the most of the sharper picture quality and better graphics when out covering news stories.


http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=43926&c=1

Virtually every major network (including, but this might not be a comprehensive list: ABC, NBC, Fox, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, BET, E! Entertainment and TV Guide Network) will be there, live and most of them will be broadcasting in HD.

What time does the tribute start?

Well, it's either this or "John & Kate"; I'm tired of J&K and have never seen a single ep.

Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey at Jackson service

3 hours ago

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Singers Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey are among a bevy of stars slated to appear at Michael Jackson's memorial service, organizers said Monday.

Soul legend Wonder and pop diva Carey were included on a provisional list of participants at Tuesday's ceremony which will also include stars such as John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and Usher.

Other celebrities taking part at the Staples Center include Jackson's former girlfriend Brooke Shields, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and Oscar-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson.

There was also a call-up for British youngster Shaheen Jafargholi, who became a viral sensation for his rendition of Michael Jackson's "Who's Lovin' You" on the hit television show "Britain's Got Talent" earlier this year.

Jafargholi has played a young Michael Jackson in a production of "Thriller -- Live," a stage musical celebrating the pop star.

Representatives for the Jackson family said Monday no further information about the memorial would be released.

Organizers say Tuesday's 90-minute event will be a celebration of the life of Jackson, who died on June 25 at age 50 of an apparent cardiac arrest.

The producer of the show told the New York Daily News on Sunday the service would likely feature performances from stars but would be restrained.

"It will be a celebration of Michael's life (but) we're not approaching it as a TV show," producer Ken Ehrlich was quoted as saying.

"In the future, there may be a tribute to Michael Jackson. This is really a memorial service. It's not going to have all the bells and whistles. We want to keep it low-key."

"People who are watching it, both live and on TV, can expect to see people who have played a role in his life, who will both be reminiscing about him and speaking to the impact he's made," he added.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jSxFcUI99F8E-Bg0SC4kukACIj1Q

Topic title changed.

What of a musically relevant nature has the "King of Pop" done in the last, say, twenty years?

In the last 20 years he played the Superbowl and released the following singles: Liberian Girl, Remember the Time, Leave Me Alone, Black or White, Jam, Heal the World and You Are Not Alone which all charted well. :)

Michael Jackson memorial services to broadcast live in theaters in 31 states

July 6, 7:25 PM

Memorial services for Michael Jackson set for Tuesday, July 7 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles will be broadcast live in movie theaters in 31 states, including Virginia, the Los Angeles Times has reported.

Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp., a New Jersey-based a digital events company, has arranged with AEG and Michael Jackson's family to broadcast the services live in more than 80 movie theaters at 1 p.m. eastern standard time. The company will use the same feed going out from Staples Center to television networks and will display it in high definition on big screens, according to the newspaper.

The free tickets to the broadcast will be provided by theaters on a first-come, first-serve basis. Cinedigm has posted a list of participating locations on its website. Cinedigm also may show an encore presentation of the memorial services in theaters for people who can't attend the live broadcast, the Los Angeles Times reported.

More than a million and a half people registered over the weekend for a lottery to receive two of the 17,500 tickets available to view the memorial services live at the Staples Center or the live simulcast at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

http://www.examiner.com/x-13622-DC-Indie-Movie-Examiner~y2009m7d6-Michael-Jackson-memorial-service-to-broadcast-live-in-88-movie-theaters

A number of unnecessary comments have been removed. This topic is specifically for discussion of the HD programming related to the death of Michael Jackson, not a forum on him.

As this is being carried across many channels it should be interesting to compare PQ. Sony HDC-1500L cameras appear to be shown in previews inside the venue, so the feed should look good.

FiOS TV NYC MTV HD Vh1 HD.
As I expected MTV's pre memorial coverage, being simulcast on Vh1 HD, is not in HD. I wonder if there is an HD feed of the memorial at 1pm if MTV will air it in HD?
Does anyone know if or when MTV will upgrade their Times Square Studios for HD broadcasts?

CNN's coverage is in HD, so I'm guessing it's not being produced in Atlanta.

CNN is HD outside the Staples Center but not inside so far. NBC is SD widescreen everywhere so far.

Megan Kelly is doing Fox's coverage while Shepard Smith is on Fox News. Interesting.

Aside from a cell phone camera used by Cynthia McFadden inside the arena, ABC appears to have almost all shots in HD. CNN had the motorcade shots in 4:3 SD. It looks like ABC had 16:9 SD as well as all the reporter shots in studio and outside in HD.

Here, ABC HD looks the best. Watching WEWS Channel 5, no subchannels, OTA

CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN , Fox News, TvOne, BET, MTV and VH1 have HD coverage of the M.J. Memorial.

For those following the CNN transition progress, you can note the irony that they have an HD camera in what appears to be the public pavilion in the CNN Center but an SD camera in Times Square outside of CNN's all-HD facility there.

MTV and VH1 are carrying the memorial in SD.

Is TV One's coverage with Jacque Reid and Art Fennell in HD? I only have the SD channel via Comcast NJ.

My Mother's going home on her lunch hour to DVR/watch it. ha

For my money, best picture goes to either CNN or CBS. Fox is too dark; NBC too bright. Among all networks, the edge goes to CNN for having so much less on-screen clutter.

I can't speak to ABC because my affiliate (WJLA in Washington) always has an abysmal picture and true to form they're rekindling their awful broadcast of the NBA Finals.

I think CBS is better than the other 2 major networks on FIOS but it seems they add a tad too much red to skintones.

Here, WYFF (NBC) has the best picture of the local affiliates. WLOS (ABC) has too many subchannels and a subpar encoder; WSPA (CBS) has issues with random switching to upconverted SD feeds, and WHNS (Fox) isn't even covering it, I think it'd be in SD anyway.

Aussie networks should be ashamed - all are 16:9 SD from NBC, ABC and CBS. Unfortunatly they have also covered the screen in clutter except for the CBS feed.. but that isn't HD as the network no longer has any non-sporting high definition content.

Hard to believe how poor our local stations are in this day and age.

msnbc.com has 16:9 video. I think CNN.com is a zoom and crop to 16:9.

NBC just accidentally went to full screen graphic slate.

ABC is having issues with their lower third backgrounds popping and out. Also sounded like the audio encode took a hit. Pool feed looks generally good though. Fairly tasteful farewell to a great entertainer. It's a bit stagey, but given Michael's predilection for such thing it seems somehow appropriate. Probably the first time the networks have devoted so much to a funeral with so much hype since Princess Diana.

Among all networks, the edge goes to CNN for having so much less on-screen clutter.
I'm not watching, but this just seems so weird.

Probably the first time the networks have devoted so much to a funeral with so much hype since Princess Diana.

Actually, this is the one of the first funerals not involving a former President of the United States that the networks covered since Mother Teresa (whose funeral was one week after Princess Diana's). Reagan and Ford got just as much attention.

I am wondering since I was very little when Elvis died, but did the networks cover that funeral live as well?

EDIT: I apologize to all Roman Catholics for forgetting the funeral of Pope John Paul II. The networks were all over that one as well.

Technically, this show is working out well. Pictures look excellent. Sound is good, considering the lack of a proper rehearsal

If I was watching this in a theater I'd probably be pissed that I could have watched this better at home. (I assume they are charging admission at the theaters)

But technically, the crew has their *stuff* together.

I am wondering since I was very little when Elvis died, but did the networks cover that funeral live as well?
It was covered as a news event, not an entertainment event.

Now that we're in the digital age I would have expected a reduction of variance in the image quality between the networks, but there's just as much as there was in the analog days. This includes differences in color balance, saturation and black levels.

If I was watching this in a theater I'd probably be pissed that I could have watched this better at home. (I assume they are charging admission at the theaters)



It has been reported that the theater seats are free on a first come first seat basis.

Now that we're in the digital age I would have expected a reduction of variance in the image quality between the networks, but there's just as much as there was in the analog days. This includes differences in color balance, saturation and black levels.
I would chalk it up to scan conversions at the Networks and in the TV sets. Quantizing and truncating bits at the stations (and delivery systems -- cable, satellite, etc.) to make room for more channels (or subchannels) probably has something to do with it, too.

Unfortunately, "digital" is not mean it is always perfect. Processing, even digital processing, can cause artifacts.

CBS and NBC missed the closing of the memorial. CBS ended covering and NBC has a guest talking. ABC, FOX, FNC, and CNN are still covering it. I don't have MSNBC so I don't know what they are doing.

I just watched about 90 mins of uniterrupted coverage, at least on ABC-HD, some networks were inserting commercials and stuff...

ABC HD through OTA has the best PQ. My only complaint is that the reporters won't shut up. A few times Charlie Gibson and Martin were talking while people were singing or making speeches. But I guess that's a problem regardless of the source.

CNN's coverage was uninterrupted by commercials or commentators. They even shut off the clock/stock ticker about 20 minutes or so into the ceremony.

A number of unnecessary comments have been removed. This topic is specifically for discussion of the HD programming related to the death of Michael Jackson, not a forum on him.

Nice move to keep it classy in here.

It was a nice ceremony. HD quality was definitely on point.

CNN's coverage was uninterrupted by commercials or commentators. They even shut off the clock/stock ticker about 20 minutes or so into the ceremony.

I suppose they consider this very important. Whatever sells.

Going to be interesting how the ratings work out. It's supposedly going to surpass the most watched program in history (which is either the M*A*S*H finale in 1983 or Super Bowl XLII (Giants/Patriots)).

Although it was during a weekday morning, if it was on primetime the ratings woulda be outrageous..

Is there a tribute tonight or should the title of this thread have been about the memorial service? If there is one tonight, what time and channel?

Will today's broadcast be repeated? Dang kids screwed up the DVR trying to play video games.... grrrrr

Going to be interesting how the ratings work out. It's supposedly going to surpass the most watched program in history (which is either the M*A*S*H finale in 1983 or Super Bowl XLII (Giants/Patriots)).

MASH is first, SB XLIII is 2nd (Steelers/Cardinals) - SB XLII is third.

Will today's broadcast be repeated? Dang kids screwed up the DVR trying to play video games.... grrrrr



+history. I just got home. CNN's website has the full video, but I what this D* DVR.

ok BET is going to rebroadcast the memorial from 8 p.m until Midnight, Eastern. Since it was confirmed up thread that BET HD was in HD, I will assume that the rebroadcast is also.

MASH is first, SB XLIII is 2nd (Steelers/Cardinals) - SB XLII is third.What criterion is that using?

What criterion is that using?

M*A*S*H = 106 million viewers
SB XLIII = 98.7 million viewers
SB XLII = 97.5 million viewers

Will today's broadcast be repeated? Dang kids screwed up the DVR trying to play video games.... grrrrr

ABC and NBC will air the highlights of the event tonight. Depending on how they edit, this might be better since there were times we were just waiting for the audio to be fixed or the next speaker or performer to show up during the live coverage.

Is there a tribute tonight or should the title of this thread have been about the memorial service? If there is one tonight, what time and channel?

CBS will air a tribute tonight. I don't know if it's in HD or not. Wow a lot of MJ tonight...

M*A*S*H = 106 million viewers
SB XLIII = 98.7 million viewers
SB XLII = 97.5 million viewers

last ep of MASH was in 1983 with very limited choices.
how can they calculate the amount of viewers at parties or bars?
todays event was on many channels

last ep of MASH was in 1983 with very limited choices.
how can they calculate the amount of viewers at parties or bars?
todays event was on many channels

Don't ask me to defend the integrity of Nielsen's numbers. ;)

They very much underrepresent viewers at parties/bars because the numbers are still based on # of "households" tuned in. I'd also imagine the percentage is skewed to the low side for SBs unless Tony Bennett is doing the halftime show - or Andy Griffith.

Best SB by share of households (49+%) was SF vs Cincinnati. Go figure.

Now we're normally in the low 40s for SBs.

I stuck with CNN who appeared to be the least obtrusive of the bunch. (Of course every once in a while their logo appeared to grow and cover a larger part of the screen then necessary).

It was a weird group of folks who spoke about Michael, but I was moved by Berry Gordy, Smoky Robinson and (surprisingly)Brooke Shields, who all appeared to be speaking from the heart.

What was weird was the delay when they switched to remote locations and they were clearly 5 to 10 seconds behind the main broadcast.

And I think we can expect to see his daughter on the "front page" for the next few days. Even a grizzled old guy like me had a tear in my eye.

I would chalk it up to scan conversions at the Networks and in the TV sets. Quantizing and truncating bits at the stations (and delivery systems -- cable, satellite, etc.) to make room for more channels (or subchannels) probably has something to do with it, too.

Unfortunately, "digital" is not mean it is always perfect. Processing, even digital processing, can cause artifacts.Digital isn't perfect??? But in the ads they always say "digital quality" so isn't that perfect? :D

Artifacts are one thing, but these level and color differences are fairly drastic. Levels are more represented by lower frequency information, and this has priority in DCT compression schemes from the quantization matrix. A too common issue is what seems to be rounding errors, perhaps in the filters, that seem to round down (floor rounding). I suppose truncation can cause that, but usually by 1 bit. I was comparing the nets via OTA and the differences seemed worse than the typical errors one gets in encodes, even with multiple re-encodes. Cross conversion should have minimal shifts as modern devices use 10 or more bits. It's almost like these differences are intentional as someone thinks they can tweak the images to look better, perhaps to match the pool to their local cameras.

One difference I noticed from the past is that CBS seemed the most magenta. In the past they usually seemed the most greenish. The FOX station here was by far the worst - looked to be widescreen SD, dark and greenish.

ABC was great earlier in the day. Their primetime programming was pathetic. Almost all of the 10pm Primetime show was stretchovision. Every old ABC news clip, interview clip, documentary footage, home video footage was shown stretched. Only a little bit of the live/new material was HD. It's really pathetic that the network news is stretching SD to fool people into thinking it is all in HD.

ABC is having issues with their lower third backgrounds popping and out. Also sounded like the audio encode took a hit. Pool feed looks generally good though. Fairly tasteful farewell to a great entertainer. It's a bit stagey, but given Michael's predilection for such thing it seems somehow appropriate. Probably the first time the networks have devoted so much to a funeral with so much hype since Princess Diana.

ABC also cut into the memorial for announcer comments.

Technically...Sound is good...technically, the crew has their *stuff* together.

Out of NBC, CBS & ABC only CBS had 5.1 audio. The other 2 compressed their audio so much there was nothing in the surround channels whatsoever. Lets all go back to mono; NBC & ABC have.

What a bunch of crap this was, no Better Off Ted last night! Thank god for Netflix streaming.

Oops. You're probably right. For some reason, I guess I wasn't thinking of this material as copyrighted, since it was shown everywhere.

I like how they said they were not trying to make this into a TV show. but with every network carrying it and most even inserting commercials, that is exactly what they did!

(from the Hot Off The Press sticky)
Overnight Nielsen Notes
31 million U.S. viewers watched Jackson memorial
By James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter senior reporter, in his Livefeed blog, July 8, 2009

Tuesday's lavish Michael Jackson memorial (http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/07/jackson-memorial-live-blog.html) was seen by 30.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Though a staggering audience for a midweek morning after the Fourth of July holiday, the number falls shy of the linear viewership for the burial of Ronald Reagan (35.1 million) in 2004 and the funeral of Princess Diana (33.3 million) in 1997.

It's a larger number of viewers than watched Reagan's funeral (20.8 million) or the 2005 funeral of Pope John Paul II (8.8 million), however.

A stunning 19 cable and broadcast networks carried the three-hour telecast, ranging from news outlets to entertainment channels such as MTV and E!

Millions of additional viewers watched online and overseas. Given the steep increase in Internet viewing each year, it's likely that more U.S. viewers watched Jackson's memorial overall than Reagan or Diana if all forms of viewing were tallied.

For instance, both MSNBC.com (19 million streams) and MSN.com (9.7 million) broke their all-time streaming video records with Tuesday's event. ABC's digital network delivered nearly 6 million streams.

Memorial organizer AEG Live told the (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-jackson-moment8-2009jul08,0,4862549.story) Los Angeles Times that they expect 1 billion people watched worldwide, but the BBC estimated 2.5 billion worldwide for Diana.

In the U.K., more than 6 million people watched the live primetime broadcasts of the service.

The memorial was screened live on BBC 2, which attracted an average of 4 million viewers and a 19% audience share, according to unofficial overnight figures. The audience peaked at 5.2 million toward the end of the service at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Channel Five's coverage had an audience of 1.2 million and a 5% share between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the U.K. And Sky News had an average audience of 897,000 for its coverage.

In Germany, more than 20 million people -- almost a quarter of the country's population of 83 million -- saw the live transmission as well as other reports about the funeral on more than 10 TV stations, according to market research company Media Control.

On the main national terrestrial channels in France, about 10 million people watched coverage of the memorial, more than a 50% audience share, according to audience measurement company Mediametrie.

With additional reporting by Billboard's Andre Paine in London.

http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/07/jacks...ings.html#more (http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/07/jackson-memorial-ratings.html#more)

I like how they said they were not trying to make this into a TV show. but with every network carrying it and most even inserting commercials, that is exactly what they did!

Which networks interrupted the memorial service for commercials??? I find it hard to believe that any did.

Wh9ch networks interrupted the memorial service for commercials??? I find it hard to believe that any did.

Was going by this post!


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=16784803&postcount=38