August 31, 2006

TV's Biggest Night - in SD?

We are dumbfounded by the decision to broadcast the Emmy Awards show in standard definition. We were so flummoxed that we spent most of the first hour checking to see if our HDTV was malfunctioning. Why the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and NBC believed that "TV's Biggest Night" didn't deserve HD is a mystery to us.

But life rolls on and if you aren't too busy packing for an end-of-summer Labor Day getaway, you might have noticed that Fox is once again kicking off the Fall Primetime lineup.

Since I believe the major reason to own an HDTV is to watch good HD programming, I am instituting a regular column, What in the HD World, that will highlight some of the best HD shows out there. Obviously you won't always agree with me and I will be interested in hearing and sharing other opinions.

To set the ball in motion, I highly recommend that you put House on your schedule, if it isn't already. The third season premieres next Tuesday on Fox at an earlier time than last year, 8 / 7c. And yes, it is broadcast in HD.

And if you are ready for some football, college style, over 10 games will be broadcast this weekend in HD. As they say, check your local listings. If you want to test the difference between HD and SD, switch between the ESPN HD broadcast of a game and the SD simulcast on ESPN. You will be glad you made the upgrade.

We also have just posted a review of the new VIZIO GV42L 42" LCD.

Stay tuned,

Dick De Jong
Editor