Looks like Discovery HD Theater may be dropping the "Discovery" from its name. Possibly to avoid confusion with The Discovery Channel HD.

Discovery now offers five HD channels. HD Theater (formerly Discovery HD Theater), which has been around since 2002, is a unique 24/7 HD channel that offers original programming created exclusively to maximize the benefits of HD.

http://science.discovery.com/hdtv/index.html

I have some Friends down at Discovery in Silver Spring. The word is that DHDT has been screwed the launch of the 4 new channels. Since each channel is repsonsible for its own profit and loss, they are independent. With that DHDT is no longer allowed to compete with the 4 new channels. So they are forbidden from purchasing the same programs that are shown on them. Now it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that a majority of DHDT programs where things from TLC, Discovery, Science, Animal.

So now DHDT has go find itself a new identity. I heard some of the suggestions, but really it seams like it was up in the air at the time. Plus they have been having a ton of shakeups there this year.

It always amazes me the stupid things some companies do. Looks like they are shooting themselves in the foot.

I had never watched a Discovery Channel before the advent of Discovery HD Theater. I became amazed at its eye appeal. Now after training me to watch this channel they are taking away all its new potential programming?

Rick R

They have good stuff like Sunrise Earth and Discovery Atlas that would be out of place on the other channels. I would be happy with more of this stuff and a lot less American Chopper.

Yeah, but very few cable providers are going to be offering Discovery networks besides HD Theater for the short term (and perhaps the long term). Stripping HD Theater of its library is just going to kill any interest that it was creating among HD enthusiasts over Discovery networks generally.

Interesting branding choice.

It's a shame they can't run it like UHD, picking up the BEST of the other Discovery channels.

I have some Friends down at Discovery in Silver Spring. The word is that DHDT has been screwed the launch of the 4 new channels. Since each channel is repsonsible for its own profit and loss, they are independent. With that DHDT is no longer allowed to compete with the 4 new channels. So they are forbidden from purchasing the same programs that are shown on them. Now it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that a majority of DHDT programs where things from TLC, Discovery, Science, Animal.

So now DHDT has go find itself a new identity. I heard some of the suggestions, but really it seams like it was up in the air at the time. Plus they have been having a ton of shakeups there this year.

I guess a lot of cable subscribers are going to be wondering why Discovery isn't HD 24/7 anymore (and where did their American Chopper go) when cable companies evitably drop it for the simulcast of the mothership.

Discovery HD Theater is brilliant - high quality intelligent programming.

[rant ON]
I had previously given up on all US science/nature/documentary channels... they had either totally abandoned their original premise, or devolved into heavy-metal soundtracked, quick-edited, jittery camerawork "world's most dangerous predator" bad-ass pretention, or big-breasted gameshow/reality TV shockery.

I'm sure it's just a matter of time until Nat Geo, Discovery, Learning Channel, Animal Planet or Court TV make "Ow! My Balls!" a cornerstone of their programing...
[rant OFF]

Hopefully Discovery HD Theatre can prove that that among 1000's of channels, there's room for one with intelligent contemplative documentaries. I like my low-brow as much as the next guy... just not all the time, everywhere.

The name has been changed on the bug, promos, and website. The bug is also now constantly on the screen.

The constant bug is really irritating, I hate some channel constantly telling me what I am watching. Don't get me started on TNT which will have a mini ad as its bug sometimes

ugh...

this would be a WAY poor decision on their part...

i wondered how come the bug was there this morning...

Didn't Discover HD Theater by treehugger.com. If so, maybe it's "green" technology type shows that will drive that channel.

This is such BS it's seriously depressing. Flipped on DHDT this moring while reading the paper and immediately my eyes were affronted by a massively annoying, giant animated bug that was on screen nearly constantly. Seemed like many more "commercial/promo" breaks added in as well. What crap. I'm sure we'll soon see stretched commercials too. Noticed UHD doing that this morning :mad:. Well, just one more channel I won't need to have cluttering up my programming quide any longer I guess...

So this is what it comes down to. HD has gone mainstream and the viewers that came to it in the beginning for highest quality, non-commercialized programming are now screwed. It's pathetic...

ron

Discovery HD Theater just changed their logo. It's actually better looking. More futuristic.

Discovery HD Theater just changed their logo. It's actually better looking. More futuristic.


thats what everyone was saying, i hate it i don't like that it on the screen 24/7

They have good stuff like Sunrise Earth and Discovery Atlas that would be out of place on the other channels. I would be happy with more of this stuff and a lot less American Chopper.

Yes Yes Yes and more YES!!! I could not agree more.

Yes Yes Yes and more YES!!! I could not agree more.

This might seem like a weird question but what is the desire to watch a hour dedicated to a waterfall or frozen lake or such other scenic views. Would you do the same such thing if it was in SD? or Is it just because its in HD and you like the beautiful scenery? I'm just wondering..

Why does it seem like HD broadcasts are getting worse as more HD channels go live? You would think that the more channels that go live the better the programming gets but, we seem to be getting upconverts and stretch-o-vision and now DHDT has to cut programming to satisfy its parent stations. I almost wish all these new channels weren't going live now.

Like everybody else, I could do without the large station logo. Looks like this network is screwed. :(

Wonder if they'll eventually just close up shop?

It doesn't seem large on my TV...

Then again, it's a 61incher so maybe that size compensates for the logo..

or Is it just because its in HD and you like the beautiful scenery? I'm just wondering.. Yes, that's all that's req'd for many people (not me, mind you).

This might seem like a weird question but what is the desire to watch a hour dedicated to a waterfall or frozen lake or such other scenic views. Would you do the same such thing if it was in SD? or Is it just because its in HD and you like the beautiful scenery? I'm just wondering..

maybe i shouldn't admit this, but i really enjoy sunrise earth... recline, drink some coffee... just a nice relaxing way to start the day...

no, i probably wouldn't watch it in sd... yea, i like the beautiful scenery... and the sounds of the animals and nature...

the constant logo sucks... :mad:

hmmm... I'm watching the channel right now with no logo

Logo is back. Hopefully this won't become a fixture of the network.

Unfortunately it seems that Discovery HD has now added a logo. Too bad. :(

Looks like the switch has been made from "Discovery HD Theater" to just "HD Theater".

Will we now not get the Discovery channel shows like American Chopper?

Looks like the switch has been made from "Discovery HD Theater" to just "HD Theater".

Will we now not get the Discovery channel shows like American Chopper?

I sure hope not....

I heard they'll now have to rely on their own content.

More info and many more complaints etc in this previous thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=908088



ron

A lot of folks try to claim that these logos do no good, but yet more and more networks realized their actual value despite those protestations to the contrary.

(duplicate)

Threads merged.

Looks like the switch has been made from "Discovery HD Theater" to just "HD Theater".

Will we now not get the Discovery channel shows like American Chopper?

In between one of the shows last night they advertised "Turbo Tuesday's" with American Chopper and some other hot rod shows.

Email repeatedly.

I was able to speak to an engineer on the phone with a local station bug that was extremely annoying (it was solid and bright white). They have since changed it to something more tolerable.

Complain, complain, complain.

Does anyone one have the contact email. I could not find it in the DHD website. Maybe I did not try hard enough

Ok I found it

http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations

In between one of the shows last night they advertised "Turbo Tuesday's" with American Chopper and some other hot rod shows.

There wont be any new episodes of American Choppers on anymore so thats disappointing cause i only get hd theater and none of the other discovery hd channels.

Email repeatedly.

I was able to speak to an engineer on the phone with a local station bug that was extremely annoying (it was solid and bright white). They have since changed it to something more tolerable.

Complain, complain, complain.I emailed the GM and the chief engineer of the local Fox station when they updated their logo to the design used by WNYW and WTTG, only in full color and 100% opaque. I told them that I couldn't watch Fox because I didn't want the logo burned in on my TV. Got an email back the next day saying that they would turn it down and it has been running at a much less annoying 20% since then.

Just a thought...

Maybe HDT is showing the bug to let viewers know the channel has changed names. Hopefully the bug will become less frequent as time goes on.

Geez from you guys I was cringing when I tuned to DHT yesterday. I didn't see it right away, then looked closer and found it. It's totally transparent and you can hardly see it when the camera is moving around.

I agree it sucks to have a bug and name change to what was one of, if not the last channel that you could turn to for some HD eye candy or to wow someone who has never seen HD before.

There wont be any new episodes of American Choppers on anymore so thats disappointing cause i only get hd theater and none of the other discovery hd channels.I'm in the same case as I don't subscribe to the typical cable package. Even if I did it wouldn't be in HD. I understand the business decision behind he change... pick up our other stations in HD! But that isn't going to happen for quite some time.

Didn't Discover HD Theater by treehugger.com.

What? :confused:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/08/treehugger_acqu.php

I liked Discovery HD Theater better when they had more documentaries. I didn't like when they dumbed it down with American Chopper and crap like that.

I would welcome a change back to what they started with.

I liked Discovery HD Theater better when they had more documentaries. I didn't like when they dumbed it down with American Chopper and crap like that.

I would welcome a change back to what they started with.

I second that! Leave "Trading Spaces" and such where they belong.

I liked Discovery HD Theater better when they had more documentaries. I didn't like when they dumbed it down with American Chopper and crap like that.Back then they didn't have more documentaries they simply repeated them more often. How many times can you run Praying Mantis a week? With DVRs once a month is plenty.

Does anyone one have the contact email. I could not find it in the DHD website. Maybe I did not try hard enough

Ok I found it

http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelationsThere appears to be a bug in this dialog when the "network/program" subject is selected in the initial page.

At the end, on the last page, there is a required element for "select the type of information which you want a reply for", but there is nothing in the dropdown list! So the "<select>" item remains there and cannot be filled in, and their edit code prevents the email from being submitted unless this item is selected. But you can't do it.

I ultimately went back and used the "discovery.com website" category, and "functionality" sub-category, to send my email. I asked them to forward it on to the HD Theater department (after first telling them about the bug in the "network/program" dialog).

I tried both IE7 and Firefox, and the bug is there in both. It's obviously a problem with their web page dialog for "network/program".

Geez from you guys I was cringing when I tuned to DHT yesterday. I didn't see it right away, then looked closer and found it. It's totally transparent and you can hardly see it when the camera is moving around.I disagree.

Yes, it's transparent. But it is VERY LARGE, and VERY OBVIOUS, and VERY DISTRACTING.

Making it most awful is the spinning globe in the middle of the new bug/logo. A MOVING BUG/LOGO??? What are they, Fox News?

I agree with those who believe this new design is awful. I can't stop looking at it, because of the spinning globe. Not quite as enormous as the old UHD logo (which seemed to occupy half of the screen), but gigantic nevertheless.

And who would decide that an animated bug/logo is a good idea on a channel like this?

I vote "very negative".

So far their new line-up looks great. I checked their schedule tonight and there are shows from 2002, 2003 and 2004. During prime time every shows was from 2004.

Another few weeks of such exciting content and I won't bother to leave the channel in the list of channels I receive.

They bring back old programs every month and call them "premiers".

I hope they don't turn into another INHD.

It's sad... It was kind of an HD institution that we'll look back fondly on I'm afraid...


ron

I thought I saw American Choppers on yesterday or the day before. Are they showing it or not in the future?

It's sad... It was kind of an HD institution that we'll look back fondly on I'm afraid...


ron

+1

I frakkin' love how moving into the HD era seems to have given these stupid network execs excuse to clutter our high-resolution, high-quality programming. :rolleyes: Just defeats the whole purpose of going to high-definition in the first place, IMO. It's not like we DON'T KNOW what frakkin' channel we're watching, and if we need to remind ourselves, a simple tap of the remote can bring up the damn channel info.

But apparently, these dimwits can't fathom why we're all so ticked off. They think we like snipes, giant bugs, and commercials every five minutes. In this day and age of on-screen TV guides and satellite guides, somehow we're too stupid to figure out what's coming next.

Frakkin' frakkers.

It's sad... It was kind of an HD institution that we'll look back fondly on I'm afraid...I understand their approach. Carry all of our new HD channels (as we aren't giving away the good stuff for almost free anymore).

If I was in their shoes I might even do the same thing. :) I'm guessing the current providers pay next to nothing for the channel but even so I'm hoping they will say sorry we aren't carrying it any longer.

The channel appears to be joining MTVHD's league.

On the Marquee: HD Theater’s Clint Stinchcomb

By Danny King

The player: Clint Stinchcomb, executive VP and general manager for Discovery Communications’ HD Theater and Turbo Media

The play: Mr. Stinchcomb has helped HD Theater grow from its 2002 launch to its current status (alongside ESPN HD) as the most widely distributed satellite high-definition channel in the U.S. HD Theater produces about 300 hours of original programming a year, ranging from its globe-trotting “Sunrise Earth” to its “Mecum Auto Auction: Muscle Cars and More” series, which premieres this week. Discovery Communications owners Advance/Newhouse and Discovery Holding Co. are planning to take the company public this year. By 2012, HD Theater is expected to overtake ESPN HD as the most lucrative high-definition cable channel, with annual revenue more than tripling to about $350 million, according to research firm SNL Kagan.

The pitch: Along with sister networks Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, HD Theater is trying to build its audience by showcasing its destination-based programming exclusively in true high definition, with no up-conversions. “When we launched this thing, we had been building up an HD library for several years,” Mr. Stinchcomb said. “We thought Americans were on an unrelenting quest for picture quality.”

The challenge: Viewers with a broader choice of travel-related programming expect progressively more exotic locales for series such as “Sunrise Earth,” which Mr. Stinchcomb called “an absolute home run for HD.” Programming also is being broadened with shows such as the muscle car auction and “Risk Takers,” which profiles dangerous professions such as firefighting and alligator trapping.

Backstory: Mr. Stinchcomb has worked for Discovery for more than 15 years, starting out in sales and marketing for the western U.S. and eventually working on video-on-demand programming before starting HD Theater. The 41-year-old married father of three grew up in Wilton, Maine, attended Dartmouth College and now is based in Silver Spring, Md.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/03/on_the_marquee_hd_theaters_cli.php