[frizzo]

So I was in Best Buy the other day, and they were playing this beautiful underwater nature piece. But it wasn't from Discovery, it was from the National Geographic channel. Weird. So I asked the guy about it, and obiously he had no clue. He thought that they are showing HD content on the National Geographic channel now, but not all the time. Why hasn't this been officially announced? Or is Discovery showing National Geographic HD content on their channel? I am such a nature freak, this would be just one more reason to get Voom or Comcast...man it's getting sooooo tempting!! Anyone have any info?


|..frizzo..|

 

[seandudley]

I haven't heard anything about National Geographic in HD. I don't think it will be showing up real soon.

 

[fredfa]

National Geographic has produced a number of HD programs.

There is no NG HD channel.

If you do a Google search ("National Geographic"+HD) you should get all the details you need.

 

[frizzo]

Well what I saw was definitely an HD piece and it had a logo in the lower right corner that said National Geographic Channel. And at best buy I don't think they are smart enough to hook up a PC to all their TVs and run WMV HD DVDs. So why would National Geographic send out demo loops to places like Best Buy if they have nothing to advertise? It seems like it would be causing hype for something that doesn't exist.


I also found this:

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/art...lay=Technology


They sure would be one of the most unbelievably stocked HD channels out there. They would put Discover HD to shame!!


|..frizzo..|

 

[seandudley]

Discovery-HD did the same thing for a long time before they were available. You could see Discovery-HD footage with a Discovery logo on the screen for a year or two before the channel was ever available. Since National Geographic has this, too, it probably does mean that they have plans to have an HD channel, but who knows how long it might be.

 

[raidbuck]

Frizzo, remember that Comcast doesn't have DiscoveryHD yet, although most people believe it is imminent, and is slow to pick up new channels. So if HD is your thing, and you want the best chance to pick up new HD channels (and National Geographic would be an instant favorite at my house) go with VOOM.


I'll stay with Comcast for a myriad of reasons, but not their HD lineup.


Rich N.

 

[wmschultz]

It could be a National Geographic HD-DVD being played via Windows Media 9 which would output 720p........

 

[CycloneGT]

I have seen a few National Geographic shows on PBS-HD. I have also seen "demo" clips from other NON HD channels. I have some shots of a "Speed TV" logo on a HD demo in Best Buy.

 

[frizzo]

I don't think it was a WMV DVD because I just don't think Best Buy is that tech savy considering it was being played on their entire line of Plasma displays and it looked super super sharp, so I can't believe it was super spliced like some setups are. So that means they would have to have a 20 to 1 DVI splicer running off a PC. I just don't think Best Buy would set something like that up. Unless it was a clip taken from a WMV DVD and placed in a loop. Since i haven't seen any WMV DVDs, do they carry the National Geographic logo on the film as it's playing? Who knows what it is, but I would go crazy if they would make their own HD channel. That would be amazing! I will have to stop by Best Buy and see if they are carrying anymore of this content. It sure was purty!


|..frizzo..|

 

[fredfa]

OK, once and for all:

There is no NG HD channel.

There COULD be one some time in the future.

Some HD shoots have been produced by NG.

But they have no channel and no definitive plans to start one.

 

[bgooch]

National Geographic and FOX are partners in the current channel seen in the US. It is not far fetched to think a NGHD channel will be available in the future.

 

[Ken H]

There is no word, or even rumors, regarding an NG channel in HD.

 

[jimg]

Quote:

Originally posted by fredfa OK, once and for all: ... But they have no channel and no definitive plans to start one.

Well, not quite true on this one.


When the SD NG channel debuted, it was explained (during the on-air tour of the studio) that it was built for HD and they were accumulating HD footage. The question is at what point in time will the switchover from SD to HD occur?

(i.e. right around the time ATSC reaches critical mass and NTSC is turned-off.)

 

[frizzo]

I understand that you guys who follow HD extensively haven't heard even a rumbling about this channel. But then the odd question is why would Best Buy be playing a clip of a channel that doesn't exist. Were they trying to sell an SD channel with HD content? It was clearly HD and it definitely had the NG logo on it. It just seems odd to me. Maybe it's as Sean said, maybe they are just playing demo clips to get the public interested in the NG channel and they have some sort of plans for the future of an HD channel. I don't know.


|..frizzo..|

 

[Ken H]

Quote:

Originally posted by frizzo I understand that you guys who follow HD extensively haven't heard even a rumbling about this channel. But then the odd question is why would Best Buy be playing a clip of a channel that doesn't exist.

As explained before, it's simply a demo clip.

 

[George Thompson]

I have not heard anything about a NG HD channel either. Some clips are edited for NG at 30 Rock like The History Channel and others. NBC has an equity position in National Geographic Channels International.

George

 

[CycloneGT]

 National Geographic Channel and Premier Retail Networks Partner to Bring High-Definition Programming to Best Buy, Circuit City and Sears Stores - Nothing to see here, move along.


Here are a few NatGeo-HD links for your amusement.


http://www.ngtlibrary.com/ngtsr/news...ary-7-2004.asp

http://www.tvcameramen.com/newsroom/equipnews33.htm