Auction HD Blasts Off With First Live High-Definition Auction

[Gregg Lengling]

VOOM HD Originals Channel to Telecast Upcoming Swann Auction Galleries' Space
                               Exploration Sale

    JERICHO, N.Y., March 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- This Saturday, Auction
HD, one of the VOOM HD Originals, makes a "giant leap" into the exciting world
of high-profile buying and selling when it airs its first live auction in
high-definition (HD), Swann Auction Galleries' Space Exploration sale.
Exclusive live coverage of this auction of out-of-this-world aeronautical
items is available on Auction HD and airs Saturday, March 27, 2004 at
2:00 p.m.  Telecast in crystal-clear high-definition, Auction HD puts
collectors at home in the center of the bidding wars, from the first paddle
wave until the final hammer falls.
    Auction HD provides collectors of all levels across the country
unprecedented access to sales at the world's leading auction houses.  The
channel (formerly named Treasure HD) provides viewers with previews of
upcoming auctions and news from the collecting world, in addition to live
telecasts of notable sales.  Everything from classic cars, to Hollywood
memorabilia, to impressionist art is enhanced in vivid HD for an up-close and
personal look at each lot.
    "We are thrilled to be working with Swann Auction Galleries to provide
auction enthusiasts and novices alike the unique opportunity to witness a
world-class sale as if they were front-row spectators," said Bill Roberts,
vice president of programming, Auction HD.  "Moving forward, Auction HD will
continue to offer unparalleled access to prestigious sales at premiere auction
houses."
    Swann Auction Galleries' Space Exploration sale includes a cosmic cache of
aeronautical effects that have been to the moon and back, including flown
items from Apollo 11, navigational charts used by Neil Armstrong and Buzz
Aldrin during the first lunar landing, and personal items of space
exploration's top astronauts.  In total, the sale comprises more than 300 lots
of equipment and artifacts, patches and emblems, medallions, manuals, charts
and maps, postal covers, photographs, posters and more.
    "We are pleased the Space Exploration sale is now available for viewing
across the country on Auction HD," said Caroline Birenbaum, director of
communications for Swann Auction Galleries.  "It's a perfect fit that this
particular auction, the most technological we offer, will be telecast in
revolutionary high-definition format."
    Auction HD is currently producing preview shows for major auction houses
such as Christie's, Sotheby's, Freeman's and Doyle New York, to name a few,
with the anticipation of telecasting a selection of their live auctions in the
upcoming months.
    Auction HD is one of the VOOM HD Originals, an all-inclusive package of 21
commercial-free channels created by Rainbow Media and available exclusively to
subscribers of VOOM, the first television service to offer a comprehensive
array of HD programming to customers throughout the continental United States.
In addition to Auction HD, the VOOM HD Originals include exclusive HD coverage
of international soccer on WorldSport HD; unique animation entertainment on
Animania HD; artistic masterpieces from around the world on Gallery HD;
spine-chilling movies brought to life in hi-def on Monsters HD; 24/7 news shot
in native HD on HDNews; experimental non-narrative video art on MOOV; the
latest pop music concerts on Rave HD; in-your-face action sports on Rush HD;
the best in fashion, food and fine living on Ultra HD; and HD Cinema 10, a
10-channel multiplex of uncut, commercial-free movies in HD.