Audio Video News

High-definition television got a big boost from two major sources in July.

Comcast Cable has announced that beginning in August, it will carry ESPN HD in all its markets currently offering HD service. Comcast is the largest cable provider in the US following its acquisition of AT&T's cable system, with service in wide areas of Northern and Southern California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Connecticut, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and the cities of Baltimore, Boston, Seattle, Washington DC, Indianapolis, Chicago and Kansas City.

ESPN HD will join other HD programming already carried by Comcast, including PBS, HBO, Showtime, and major network HDTV productions.

Never say never: Fox Network has announced plans to deliver at least 50% of its prime-time shows in HDTV during the 2004-05 season. The last network to get on the HDTV bandwagon, Fox joins CBS, ABC and NBC with HDTV productions as a significant portion of its weekly prime-time programming. Fox delayed rolling out its HD programming out of concern for copy protection, according to several reports.

Like ABC, the Fox Network has chosen the 720p format as its HD vehicle. Some HD programming could appear before the start of the 2004 season, according to Fox executives. A schedule of proposed HD programs should be available later this year.