DIRECT Satellite

EMI America Records will launch a 3-DVD special edition collection of the 10-episode series of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s epic motorcycle adventure original cable TV series, “Long Way Down,” on Oct. 14. These DVD will also bring a documentary of McGregor and Boorman’s first trip to Africa “The Missing Face.” The adventure documentry also invites the viewers to share the excitement as the actor turned tourists travel by motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa. Over the course of 15,000 miles and 85 days, the friends boldly tarried in several countries, including Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Namibia.

Lifetime Networks Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Toby Graff, Redbook Executive Editor Alison Brower, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, Congresswoman Kay Granger, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and Lifetime Networks Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Meredith Wagner at the Every Woman Counts Celebration at the Republican National Convention.

A premier Live Internet broadcast Sports network, iBN Sports has launched Al Bernstein Boxing Channel (ABBC) over its iBN Sports network. Al Bernstein Boxing Channel is in collaboration between Al Bernstein and iBN Sports will broadcast exclusive original programming to the world of boxing. The channel will broadcast boxing in greater depth, report from all the major fights, up close and personal interviews with the key figures in the sport, as well as highlights and boxing action throughout the boxing world.

“The iBN Sports team is truly excited by this partnership with Al Bernstein,” said John Mudge, Co-Founder of iBN Sports. “His passion and desire to elevate the sport and to bring it to the fans in a new and exciting way is evident. Al’s vision for this channel and the power of internet TV that iBN Sports can bring to the partnership will make a major impact on boxing and boxing fans. It is a pleasure to work with a professional who has keen knowledge and insight about the sport, is well respected in the industry, and shares our drive and desire to provide more to the sports fans. We look forward to working closely with Al to build the Al Bernstein Boxing Channel into the premier source for boxing on the internet,” said Mudge.

JumpTV and NeuLion have announced that they have launched a new online service http://www.talfazat.com. The new website will deliver the largest selection of live and on-demand Arabic television content available anywhere. Talfazat.com offers Arabs worldwide an opportunity to tune into
their favorite live television channels or on-demand programs with a simple Internet connection.

Amir Hegazi, General Manager of Talfazat said “We’re excited about the opportunity to serve our Arabic end-users in a way that’s unparallel to anything available out there for this community. In terms of the sheer volume and caliber of content available both on a live and on-demand basis, users will appreciate the high quality and affordable price.”

Fifth Season of Nickelodeon cable television network’s top animated television series Dora the Explorer will be launched on Monday, Sept. 15th at 10:30 A.M. The new season will begin with a brand new episodes of the Dora the Explorer and with a week-long celebration from Monday, Sept. 15, through Thursday, Sept. 18, at 10:30 AM ET/PT. Nick Jr.’s Dora the Explorer is rated as #1 preschool series on all of commercial television.

“Dora is an international icon and we are so excited to have fresh new talent to carry on her global legacy,” said Brown Johnson, President, Animation, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. “It’s our pleasure to welcome Caitlin and the new cast into the Nickelodeon family and we’re confident that preschoolers will continue to play, explore and learn with Dora and her friends for years to come.”

The Carmen Media Group based in Gibraltar has announced that their four of Belle Rock Entertainment online casino brands are hosting a Jackpot Cruise Promotion that offers 50 couples the chance to win a Mediterranean Cruise. JackpotCity.com online casino, River Belle online casino, The Gaming Club online casino and Lucky Nugget online casino’s promotion runs until the 30th of September and also offers players the opportunity to win a share of US$50,000 in cash and credits. The cruise will take place over 7 days and is a round trip from Barcelona and travel in the Mediterranean sights of Nice, the Italian cities of Florence, Civitavecchia and Palermo. Prizes to the value of US$50,000 will also be up for grabs while on the Jackpot Cruise.

Comcast Corporation has announced the launch of seven new high-definition channels in Hampshire and Massachusetts markets. Following are the new HD channels launched in Hampshire and Massachusetts markets areas :

ABC Family HD

AMC HD

Disney HD

Science Channel HD

Showtime 2 HD

The Movie Channel HD and

TLC HD

Paul D’Arcangelo, Vice President of Comcast’s Metro Boston Region said “Comcast is committed to providing our customers the ultimate High Definition viewing experience, We currently deliver our customers more than 500 HD choices at any time, and are thrilled to add even more HD programming with the launch of seven new HD networks available right now.”

DirecTV is proving its dominance in the high-definition broadcast as they announced that the satcaster will launch 30 new HD channels in August. Further more DirecTV will also add 44 new HD local channel markets in August. With this expansion the satcaster will provide local HD broadcast channels in 121 cities, representing more than 88 percent of U.S. TV households.

DirecTV will launch local high-definition channels to the subscribers with TOTAL CHOICE(R) programming package, which offers local channels and the local HD channels will be delivered in primary broadcast networks where ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC local channels are offered. Apart from these HD expansion DirecTV also has plans to launch new satellite DIRECTV 12 in 2009 and with the help of the satellite the satecaster will deliver 200 national HD and 1,500 local HD channels.

Following are the new markets areas :

Augusta, Georgia

Bangor, Maine

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas

Boise, Idaho

Burlington, Vt.-Plattsburgh, New York

Butte-Bozeman, Mont.

Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, Illinois

Charleston, South Carolina

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colorado

Columbia-Jefferson City, Missouri

Davenport, Iowa-Rock Island, Illinois

Dayton, Ohio

Des Moines-Ames, Iowa

Dothan, Alabama

El Paso, Texas

Evansville, Indiana

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Greenville-New Bern-Washington

Harrisonburg, Virginia

La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Lincoln-Hastings, Nebraska

Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Macon, Georgia

Mich.– Harlingen-Brownsville, Texas

Mobile AL-Pensacola, Florida

Moline, Illinois

Myrtle Beach-Florence, South Carolina

Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia

Palm Springs, California

Peoria-Bloomington, Illinois

Richmond-Petersburg, Virginia

Rochester, New York

Rockford, Illinois

Savannah, Georgia

Sioux Falls, S. Dakota

South Bend-Elkhart, Indiana

Springfield-Holyoke, Massachusetts

Syracuse, New York

Tallahassee, Florida

Toledo, Ohio

Traverse City-Cadillac, North Carolina and

Youngstown, Ohio

“With the rollout of 44 new HD local markets, DIRECTV continues to strengthen its position as the leading provider of quality HD programming among cable and satellite competitors nationwide,” said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV, Inc. “Our DIRECTV 11 satellite has recently begun operations and significantly expands our capacity for more national and local HD channels. And as we have with the SuperFan service for MLB EXTRA INNINGS and NFL SUNDAY TICKET and our multi-screen coverage of US Open golf, we will continue to use HD to enhance our unique interactive services to provide our customers with more of what they want and expect from us – the best television experience available.”

Verizon Communications said in a press release on Monday, July 28 that the cable operator offers 100 High-Definition channels in the New York area. Verizon further stated that the service will offer 100 HD channels, giving customers more HD than Cablevision or Time Warner Cable. These new HD channels offered are to existing FiOS TV markets in the New York metropolitan area, including parts of Long Island, the suburbs just north of the city, and northern New Jersey.

List of Verizon’s HD Channels Available in New York City :

ABC Family HD

A&E HD

ABC HD

Action Max

Action Max West

Animal Planet HD

At Max

Big Ten Network HD

Bio. The Biography Channel HD

Bravo HD

CBS HD

Cinemax HDTV

Cinemax West HD

CNBC HD

CNN HD

CW HD

Discovery Channel HD

Disney Channel HD

ESPN HDTV

ESPN2 HDTV

ESPNews HD

Five Star Max

Food HD

Fox Business Network HD

FOX HD

Fox News Channel HD

FX HD

Hallmark Movie Channel HD

HBO 2 HD

HBO 2 HD (West)

HBO Comedy

HBO Comedy West

HBO Family

HBO Family West

HBO HDTV

HBO Latino

HBO Latino West

HBO Signature

HBO Signature (West)

HBO West HD

HBO Zone

HBO Zone (West)

HD Net

HD Net Movies

HD Theater

HGTV HD

Lifetime HD East

Lifetime Movie Network HD

Mav TV

MGM Channel HD

MHD

More Max

More Max West

MY NETWORK HD

National Geographic Channel HD

NBC HD

NFL Network HDTV

Outdoor Channel 2 HD

Outer Max

PBS HD

Planet Green

QVC HD

SCI FI HD

Sho2 HD

Sho2 HD West

Showcase HD East

Showcase HD West

Showtime Extreme East

Showtime Extreme West

Showtime HD West

Showtime HDTV

Smithsonian HD

Speed HD

SportsNet NY HD

Starz Comedy HD

Starz Edge HD

Starz HDTV

Starz Kids & Family HD

Superstation WGN HD

TBS HD

The History Channel HD

The Learning Channel HD

The Movie Channel HDTV

The Science Channel HD

The Travel Channel HD

The Weather Channel HD

Thriller Max

Thriller Max West

TMC HD – West

TMC Xtra East

TMC Xtra West

TNT HDTV

Toon Disney HD

Universal HDTV

USA HD

Versus / Golf HD

Wealth TV HD

Wmax

World Fishing Network HD and

YES HD

DirecTV announced that the satcaster is to launch more than 30 HD channels starting from August 14. At present DirecTV is offering 95 national high-definition channels. This new HD channels addition will take the DirecTV’s tally to 125 HD channels. DirecTV’s main competitor DISH Network has already announced that they will launch 17 HD channels on August 1 to become first satellite provider to deliver 100 HD channels.
DirecTV’s new HD channel will include ABC Family HD, Planet Green HD, Showtime Extreme HD , Showtime Showcase HD and DIRECTV HD pay per view channels. Apart from these channels, DirecTV will also add 23 high-definition Regional Sports Networks (RSNs). The satcaster will be first in the industry to broadcast all its high-definition programming in the MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding standard.

DirecTV is also planning to launch a new satellite “DIRECTV 12″ in 2009 and will deliver 200 national HD channels and 1,500 local HD channels. DirecTV also proves to be the leader in most sports HD programming broadcast with NFL SUNDAY TICKET, NCAA MEGA MARCH MADNESS and NASCAR HOTPASS available in HD. DirecTV will also continue to add HD content to its newly launched DIRECTV on Demand platform.
“Despite all the sound and fury of confusing HD claims from our competitors, our customers understand that DIRECTV is the destination for the most compelling and complete lineup of HD content,” said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV, Inc. “Our message is clear – DIRECTV is the content leader, and our delivery of the best quality HD via the most advanced technology is one way we continue to dominate this category and offer our more than 17 million customers nationwide an unparalleled entertainment experience.”