Is Murdoch Serious About HDTV?

[Gregg Lengling]

Fox Sports chief David Hill says high-def is overrated. Is he speaking for the boss?
By Phillip Swann

Washington, DC (May 12) -- The late humorist S.J. Perelman once said that he found
The Los Angeles Times fascinating because he never knew on what page he would find a
front page story. Likewise, in the information-packed USA Today, you never know in what
paragraph you will discover the lead of the article.

For instance, in a profile of Fox Sports Chairman David Hill in the May 12th edition, USA's
TV-sports columnist Michael Hiestand writes this in the eighth paragraph.

"Although Fox's (Baseball) All-Star Game will be shown in High-Definition TV, (Hill) says, 'I can't
understand the excitement about it. It just lengthens and broadens the picture, makes it sharper
but doesn't change it.' "

Hiestand adds that Hill is working to bring three-dimensional TV to sports. "3-D is the answer.
Not HDTV," Hiestand quotes Hill as saying.

Hiestand, of course, is probably not aware that Fox has yet to broadcast a single event or
primetime show in High-Definition TV. The network's rivals, NBC, CBS and ABC, have been
airing shows in high-def for a few years, but Fox has held out despite pressure from both
HDTV owners and federal officials who are pushing for the nation's TV signals to switch from
analog to digital. Many critics have suggested that Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp.,
the parent company of Fox, is not particularly interested in HDTV, believing that it's more
expensive to produce and does not generate new viewers or advertising revenue.


However, under competitive pressure, Fox announced last year that it would begin airing some
of its primetime shows in high-def during the 2004-2005 season. In addition, the network said
it will show some sporting events in HD, such as July's All-Star game.

But critics wondered whether Murdoch "gets" High-Definition TV and was simply giving lip service
to Federal Communications Commission officials who were reviewing his purchase of DIRECTV,
the nation's largest satellite TV service. Hill's comments could renew those concerns, particularly
considering that Murdoch has yet to add a single HDTV channel to DIRECTV since taking over
the satcaster last December. (DIRECTV did add local HD feeds of CBS in selected markets.)
DIRECTV officials have said they are waiting on the successful deployment of a new satellite,
which is expected next month.

However, at this point, HDTV owners have to ask if Murdoch is truly serious about increasing the
amount of HDTV programming both on his Fox networks and DIRECTV. If Hill is any barometer --
and the Fox Sports executive is considered an important player at News Corp. -- Murdoch and
company may be more interested in other new services, such as Interactive TV and 3-D TV. After
all, if HDTV was considered a top priority at News Corp., it's unlikely that Hill would be so openly
dismissive of the technology.

Did the FCC ask Murdoch about that before it approved the DIRECTV deal?

Phillip Swann is President and Publisher of TVPredictions.com. If you would like to contact
Mr. Swann, he can be reached at 703-979-2079 or at Swann@TVPredictions.com