Fall WB lineup for HDTV

[Gregg Lengling]

LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- The WB Network jumped on the high-definition television bandwagon Wednesday by announcing that affiliates covering about half of the United States will transmit five hours of HD programming each week beginning Sept. 12.

That is far fewer hours than some of the WB's larger network rivals but is a relatively major commitment for the youth-oriented net, which airs only two hours of primetime programming each weeknight and three hours Sundays.

Hit shows "Smallville" and "Reba" and two new offerings, "Family Affair" and "Everwood," will be offered in the 1080i format, according to a joint announcement from the WB and Tribune Television.

"We are excited to embrace this new technology as it is perfect for our audience, which is comprised of upscale young adults who are early adopters of new technology," said Jed Petrick, the WB's president and operations chief.

Executives said the network underwrote the venture without having sponsors to offset new equipment and production costs. The higher-quality sound and picture are being offered as a convenience to the affiliates so they can stay on the cutting edge of TV transmission, though the affiliates must pay for their own station upgrades.

"We have made a significant investment in digital broadcast technology, and we think it will mean a wonderful viewing experience for an increasing number of our viewers with HDTV receivers," said Pat Mullen, president of the television division at Tribune Co., which owns a 22% stake in the WB and is its largest affiliate group.

At least nine of Tribune's 17 WB affiliates will be carrying the HD programming. In all, WB affiliates in 34 markets will offer the signal, which viewers can see with a special receiver and digital-ready TV.

"It's one of those things where the technology becomes a little more affordable for consumers, so they demand more HD programming -- a chicken and egg thing," Guzman & Co. analyst David Joyce said. "It's slow going right now, but you have to have some HD programming to keep you young and hip in the tech niche."

WB officials were unable to quantify the total cost of the HD upgrade, which raises production, postproduction and satellite transmission costs.

Tribune Broadcasting Co. vp engineering and technology Ira Goldstone said it costs an average of $3 million to outfit each station with a new HD transmitter, antenna and encoding and switching gear.



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Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
glengling@ameritech.net

[ReesR]

The announced HDTV line-up and premiere dates are:

Thursday, Sept. 12 "Family Affair" starring Tim Curry as Mr. French

Monday, Sept. 16 "Everwood" starring Treat Williams

Friday, Sept. 20 "Reba" starring Reba McEntire

Tuesday, Sept. 24 "Smallville" starring Tom Welling


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Rees Roberts
Racine, WI
reesr@wi.net

HDTV Receiver:  Sony KD-34XBR2
Bi-directional Yagi Antenna at 30 feet

[borghe]

And this helps those of us who can't get WGN how?

Sorry. Disdain for Sinclair will be checked at the door from now on.

[Tom Snyder]

If disdain for Sinclair is being chekced at the door, methinks we'll neeed a bigger disdain check room!