Stile 88
01-27-2009, 10:06 AM
BBC America Delays HD Channel
This network says it might now launch in mid-2009.
By Swanni
BBC America has delayed plans to launch a High-Definition channel, apparently due to poor economic conditions.
That's according to an article by Multichannel News.
BBC America had planned to launch the high-def channel in 2008. In fact, the U.S. version of the BBC network revealed the lplanned aunch last June in an expensive print advertising campaign.
At the time, the network said BBC America HD lineup would include the new series Robin Hood, which has aired in high-def on DIRECTV's channel 101, and the sci-fi series Torchwood, which has aired in HD on HDNet.
But a BBC America spokesperson says the HD channel has now been pushed back to mid-2009, according to Multichannel News.
The delay is not the only one in the industry due to the global recession and TV providers' inability to find room for additional channels, the article says. Cable and satellite operators have expressed concerns over the last year that they don't have the system space or programming acquisition fees to add a large number of new HD channels.
Horse Racing Television, a competitor to the TVG Network, says it's having difficult generating new advertising in this environment. The network acknowledges that not having a High-Definition simulcast of its SD network has been an obstacle with advertisers and TV providers.
“That's not going to happen anytime soon,” a spokesman said of a high-def launch.
This network says it might now launch in mid-2009.
By Swanni
BBC America has delayed plans to launch a High-Definition channel, apparently due to poor economic conditions.
That's according to an article by Multichannel News.
BBC America had planned to launch the high-def channel in 2008. In fact, the U.S. version of the BBC network revealed the lplanned aunch last June in an expensive print advertising campaign.
At the time, the network said BBC America HD lineup would include the new series Robin Hood, which has aired in high-def on DIRECTV's channel 101, and the sci-fi series Torchwood, which has aired in HD on HDNet.
But a BBC America spokesperson says the HD channel has now been pushed back to mid-2009, according to Multichannel News.
The delay is not the only one in the industry due to the global recession and TV providers' inability to find room for additional channels, the article says. Cable and satellite operators have expressed concerns over the last year that they don't have the system space or programming acquisition fees to add a large number of new HD channels.
Horse Racing Television, a competitor to the TVG Network, says it's having difficult generating new advertising in this environment. The network acknowledges that not having a High-Definition simulcast of its SD network has been an obstacle with advertisers and TV providers.
“That's not going to happen anytime soon,” a spokesman said of a high-def launch.