http://www.tvpredictions.com/starz050107.htm

News
Starz to Launch 3 HD Channels
The new networks are expected by the end of summer.
By Phillip Swann

Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2007) -- Starz, the premium movie channel, today said it will launch three new High-Definition channels by the end of summer.

Starz already has one high-def channel, a simulcast of its flagship channel, and a on-demand HD service.

The new HD channels will be east coast feeds of Starz Comedy, Starz Edge and Starz Kids & Family.

Starz did not say if any cable or satellite provider has agreed to carry the new channels. However, Starz is owned by Liberty Media, which is scheduled to take ownership of satcaster DIRECTV later this year.

With DIRECTV promising to offer 100 national HD channels by year's end, the new trio from Starz would seem to be likely additions.

"Starz has always been a leader in terms of offering our customers more ways to enjoy our great movies," said Starz COO Bill Myers said. "We pioneered in digital transmission, multiplex, on demand and online. We will now be able to offer the largest package of HD movie channels of any widely distributed programming service, and the only one featuring first-run hit movies."

Myers said that many high-def owners are not using their sets to watch cable or satellite programming. The additional HD channels should encourage them to upgrade to high-def subscriptions, he said.

"Our new channels meet the needs of the marketplace with movies, the top genre consumers are interested in for HD," he said.

Myers added that Starz will launch more high-def channels in the coming years.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/starz050107.htm

Official Press release

Starz Unveils Plans to Launch Three New HD Movie Channels
Hi-Def Versions of Starz Comedy, Starz Edge, Starz Kids & Family Will Complement Existing Starz HD Channel and On Demand HD Services


ENGLEWOOD, Colo., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Starz Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Myers today announced plans to launch three additional high definition (HD) channels, bringing to four the total number of HD channels offered by the premium television company.

The three new channels offered in HD will be East Coast feeds of Starz Comedy, Starz Edge, and Starz Kids & Family. They will complement the existing Starz HD channel, which is available in East and West Coast feeds, (as well as the Starz On Demand HD and Encore On Demand HD services). The new channels are expected to launch by the end of this Summer.

"Starz has always been a leader in terms of offering our customers more ways to enjoy our great movies," Myers said. "We pioneered in digital transmission, multiplex, on demand and online. We will now be able to offer the largest package of HD movie channels of any widely distributed programming service, and the only one featuring first-run hit movies."

Myers noted that while the number of HD television sets sold every year has been growing, only half of HDTV owners use their sets to watch cable and satellite programming. Instead, he pointed out, they use their sets for other purposes, such as watching DVDs and broadcast channels. However, HD set owners that do subscribe to cable and satellite programming are among multichannel video's most valued customers in terms of ARPU (average revenue per unit). Research shows that there is significant demand for HD content from the premium networks -- even more so than for sports programming. Our new channels meet the needs of the marketplace with movies, the top genre consumers are interested in for HD.*

"Working with our affiliates," Myers said, "we will make a major effort to convince HD set owners that their televisions are good for more than just watching DVDs. With our great lineup of HD movies, On Demand HD services, and now with four HD channels, Starz is well positioned to spearhead those efforts."

Myers said that additional HD channels will roll out in the coming years as more programming becomes available from the studios in the HD format. "The three new HD channels together with Starz HD will present a robust lineup of HD content to satisfy our HD customers. They will be able to see such great films as Cars, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby in full HD."

I hope D* gets them once they are available, I also wish we had the current Starz HD :(

With Starz owner, Liberty Media, about to take control of D* I think it is a slam dunk that D* will carry these channels when they start adding HD later this year.

Sweet! 3 channels of Herbie: Fully Loaded, Ice Princess, and Christmas With the Kranks.

Goody, more HD channels for TWC to not add.

Always good to see more/new HD channels, however, I'd like to see more cable announcements rather than premium networks.

Is there a such thing as premium channels going forward?

From all the different info bantered about, I was of the understanding that HD packages will be drastically different.

With D* offering so many by the end of the year, all HD channels will be part of a huge HD premium package correct?

Ala carte certainly will not be an option, imo.

Is there a such thing as premium channels going forward?

From all the different info bantered about, I was of the understanding that HD packages will be drastically different.

With D* offering so many by the end of the year, all HD channels will be part of a huge HD premium package correct?

Ala carte certainly will not be an option, imo.

D* now has the "HD Access" fee for $9.99. This will give you access to any HD channels at your current package level. So if you subscribe to Starz and they add the 4 Starz HD channels it won't cost you anything extra. When they add Sci-Fi HD, if you get Sci-Fi currently in your package (Choice or above) then you'd get Sci-Fi HD.
When they add ESPN News HD again, with Choice and above you'd get it at no extra cost.

That's not to say they might not raise the HD Access fee but this is their simplified way to offer HD without a bunch of weird packages. But it could always change.

Goody, more HD channels for TWC to not add. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/images/icons/icon14.gif

Spoken like a long-time TWC customer still waiting for more HD.... I know how you feel, trust me ! :D

When will Dish get these?

When will fios get these?

Dish (who's "fios" ??) will have them sometime after the end of summer.

D* now has the "HD Access" fee for $9.99. This will give you access to any HD channels at your current package level. So if you subscribe to Starz and they add the 4 Starz HD channels it won't cost you anything extra. When they add Sci-Fi HD, if you get Sci-Fi currently in your package (Choice or above) then you'd get Sci-Fi HD.

Yes, that is a excellent way to explain the way it is now.

But I thought that D8 gave a preview of the new type of packages when they launch all the new channels toward the end of the year.

Something to the effect of HD package for $59.99 and with that you receive all the hd channels plus all the sd versions of those channels.

I cannot speak intelligently on this as it is a vague recollection.

But I know I read about it here around the time of the 100 HD channels by D*.

What I would like is the entire HBO package of all their channels to be available in HD. Lets face it, most of the shows those channels broadcast are something that was originally on the main HBO channel so the show is available in HD. When they get to this 150 HD channel universe I hope this is what it includes.

Rick R

This should be about as successfull as Encore-HD.

yet another press release....

...and still no new channels...

well...at least it maintains a steady interest level... :D

Dish (who's "fios" ??) will have them sometime after the end of summer.

FiOS is Verizon's fiber optic-based TV/Internet service, similar to AT&T's U-Verse but fiber-to-the-home(and only PPV & VOD are IP-based).

When or if Verizon carries the new Starz! chs will be between them & Liberty but since one of Vz's stated goals is to carry all available HD ch's i'm sure they'll be making a strong effort. Bandwidth is not an issue tho fees et.al. might be.

What I would like is the entire HBO package of all their channels to be available in HD. Lets face it, most of the shows those channels broadcast are something that was originally on the main HBO channel so the show is available in HD. When they get to this 150 HD channel universe I hope this is what it includes.
I think this is the most important aspect of Starz adding an HD simulcast of their other channels. I expect this will stir HBO, Showtime to do the same, if they have not made plans to do already. I'm ready for HBO2-HD and all those other HBO & SHO HD channels myself (even though with a HD-DVR, it is not THAT critical). The pressure will be on cable companies to find the bandwidth for all these HD channels. I suspect we will see a faster shutdown of legacy analog cable to a small set of 20 to 30 channels than most people on here would have predicted as of just a few months ago.

Yes, that is a excellent way to explain the way it is now.

But I thought that D8 gave a preview of the new type of packages when they launch all the new channels toward the end of the year.

Something to the effect of HD package for $59.99 and with that you receive all the hd channels plus all the sd versions of those channels.

I cannot speak intelligently on this as it is a vague recollection.

But I know I read about it here around the time of the 100 HD channels by D*.

That's the first I've heard of that. At CES they said the new HD wouldn't cost anything extra other then the HD Access fee. Or course they can always change their mind.

The legacy of John Sie at Starz is finally put to rest.

Don

I am always happy to hear of new HD channels (even though my provider rarely adds any) but isn't STARZ HD the leader in airing NON HD movies on there HD channel? Can they even fill that many extra channels with HD content?


I wouldn't know because my cable company is too busy adding channels like KDOC HD and KCAL HD. :rolleyes:

wow, three channels of upconverts and bad crop-jobs. i can't wait!

I am always happy to hear of new HD channels (even though my provider rarely adds any) but isn't STARZ HD the leader in airing NON HD movies on there HD channel? Can they even fill that many extra channels with HD content?
Starz-HD has mostly HD movies these days. Checking the schedule for the next week at their website where they list which movies will be true HD, it shows a range of 6 to 12 movies in HD per day. Over the time I have been getting Starz-HD, the trend has clearly been to more movies in true HD. Their new channels will probably have a fair number of 4:3 SD upconverts, but since most of the stuff on those channels are recent movie titles, many of them should be in HD.

If you are looking for the leader among the HD version of the premium movie channels for non-HD source, that would probably be TMC. I don't get Cinemax-HD (too expensive on top of HBO), but among HBO-HD, SHO-HD, Starz-HD, and TMC-HD, TMC-HD seems to show a lot more 4:3 SD upconverts than the others.

wow, three channels of upconverts and bad crop-jobs. i can't wait!

Bad crop-jobs? Most of the Starz films are in OAR. In fact, they've recently been showing the expanded edition of CHRONICLES OF NARNIA in OAR!

I wonder if they will continue to do the latest annoying thing I have witnessed on there SD channel. It looks like they have taken a clue from Showtime and started to advertise other programs during movies. I saw several overlay banners advertising the airing of Pirates of the Caribbean. I am getting closer and closer to cancelling all of my "premium" channels saving myself hundreds of dollars and just downloading the movies/shows I want. This stuff isnt premium anymore. It is total crap.