New Satellite System

[FTBoomerIII]

I didn't even know that there were 39 HD channels.



Cablevision to Launch High-Definition TV
Tue September 30, 2003 05:48 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cable television provider Cablevision Systems Corp. CVC.N said on Tuesday it will offer a U.S. satellite service broadcasting high-definition television, pitching it against well-entrenched rivals.
Cablevision said its satellite division, Rainbow DBS, will offer 39 HDTV channels and some popular cable channels as part of service it will launch on Oct. 15. It did not say how much it would charge for the service.

The move pits Cablevision, which launched its satellite in July this year, directly against Hughes Electronics Corp.'s GMH.N DirecTV and EchoStar Communications Corp. DISH.O , which have long dominated U.S. satellite television services.

HDTV is a television display technology seen as the "next big thing" in broadcasting. It provides a sharper picture than standard television and sound quality that is similar to that of compact discs.

Sales of big-screen digital TVs have jumped this year as prices come down and in anticipation of growth in HDTV programming, which has been slow to develop.

Cablevision said its offering would include 21 HD channels from Rainbow Media and it plans to offer satellite customers 88 of the most popular cable television channels in standard format.

[FTBoomerIII]

Here's some more info I found over at AVS. Total package will be $99\month.


Please note this information is tentative and subject to change.

- VOOM will be exclusively available at Sears or on line from the VOOM web site, until January 2004. All Sears retail stores will have VOOM as the HD feed in their showrooms. VOOM will be available at other retailers after that time.


- Initial cost to become a VOOM customer is $749 MSRP. This includes all hardware, applicable off air antenna for local HDTV reception, and professional installation.


- Standard warrantee is two years, covering hardware, installation and in home service.


- The VOOM STB will seamlessly incorporate off-air HDTV local networks into the program guide.


- The VOOM STB's will be MPEG-2 but will also be the first STB’s that are MPEG-4 compatible. When the satellite industry upgrades to MPEG-4 to offer more programming, VOOM will be ready.


- VOOM will offer 39 HDTV channels including 21 VOOM exclusives available nowhere else. Among the initial offerings:

· HD Rave - The first music television channel in HDTV.

· HD Ultra - Fashion TV, home design, & travel. Leading worldwide fashion designers and shows as well as insider tours of the trendiest restaurants, hotels, home and gardens.

· HD Gallery - World of art, architecture and cultural performances.

· HD MOOV - a channel where the view constantly changes. A continuous flow of imagery set to music. Real world scenes such as nature walks; a fireplace; a field trip through many major cities.

· HD Animania - Animation of all sorts. Children and families animation shorts feature films and cartoons. Also cutting edge video game shorts.

· HD VOOM News - News, weather and sports updates 24 hours a day.

· HD Cinema 10 - 10 different channels of movies in HD. Each channel features one title playing throughout the day. So you can choose between 10 different movies each day.

· HD Epics - Cinema and performing arts programming. Lush costume dramas to stunning dance performances. Literary epics and sweeping cinematic dramas including programming like a season pass to Lincoln Center, BAM, and the BBC.

· HD Monsters - All horror, thrillers and sci-fi in HD. Titles such as Horror of Dracula and Frankenstein, to Freddy and Jason. Also the KillaThrillaZilla-thon, a marathon of Godzilla movies.

· HD Rush - Fast moving action sports. Extreme surfing, kite surfing, heli-skiing, mountain biking and mountain boarding to name a few.

· HD Worldsport - The Wide World of Sports meets the wide world of HD. A diverse lineup of top events from around the world. With live, exclusive presentations of the finest soccer action in the world from the top two soccer leagues Italy and Spain. Plus track and field, motor sports,
horse racing, cycling, Grand Prix, sailing and more.

· Other HDTV channels include the usual suspects: HBO HD E&W, Showtime HD E&W, Discovery HD Theater, and soon to include Cinemax HD & Starz HD.


- Coming soon to VOOM

· HD Treasure - Stories of collectors and their eclectic tastes. Including the option to bid on items through silent auctions online and real time bidding.


- Introductory Offer: From 10/01/03 - 12/31/03 customers will receive the VOOM HD Exclusive pack and all 5 of the HDTV PlusPacks free, until 1/31/04.

- Monthly charge for the 21 exclusive HDTV channels and 40+ Cable Favorites is $39.90.

- The 5 optional programming HDTV PlusPacks are $14.90 each and consist of a combination of HD channels and SD channels.