Earl Bonovich
10-30-06, 09:33 AM
Hi-Def TV: DirecTV Sky-High on Hi-Def
"The reason cable networks are losing market share to the Internet is they don't have a quality argument against the Internet," said Mr. Shanks, executive VP of entertainment for DirecTV. "Until they go to HD, they will continue to lose relevance in consumers' and viewers' minds."
That belief is among the reasons DirecTV is betting big on hi-def by launching satellites that will enable copious amounts of bandwidth for HD channels. The operator hasn't lined up deals yet with content providers to fill that new pipeline because more networks first must flip the switch on hi-def. But when they do, the operator will be ready. And Mr. Shanks contends that networks must make the transition to hi-def to compete against the new threat of online video.
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Read the rest of the article at: TVWeek.com (http://www.tvweek.com/article.cms?articleId=30778)
"The reason cable networks are losing market share to the Internet is they don't have a quality argument against the Internet," said Mr. Shanks, executive VP of entertainment for DirecTV. "Until they go to HD, they will continue to lose relevance in consumers' and viewers' minds."
That belief is among the reasons DirecTV is betting big on hi-def by launching satellites that will enable copious amounts of bandwidth for HD channels. The operator hasn't lined up deals yet with content providers to fill that new pipeline because more networks first must flip the switch on hi-def. But when they do, the operator will be ready. And Mr. Shanks contends that networks must make the transition to hi-def to compete against the new threat of online video.
......
Read the rest of the article at: TVWeek.com (http://www.tvweek.com/article.cms?articleId=30778)