I looked and looked, but nowhere did I see him say anything like "Who needs HDTV?"
I think the title is a gross exaggeration of his comments.
I think the title is a gross exaggeration of his comments.
NBC's Zucker: "Who Needs HDTV?"
NBC Universal's chief executive not concerned that a
third of NBC's primetime shows won't be in high-def.
By Phillip Swann, President, TVPredictions
Washington, D.C. - October 26, 2006 -- NBC says it's dropping most scripted programs from
the network's 8 p.m. time slot next season, replacing them with reality and game shows.
The unscripted fare, which is cheaper to produce, will not be broadcast in High-Definition TV.
However, NBC Universal TV CEO Jeff Zucker says that's no big deal.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Zucker was asked if high-def viewers might be less
interested in watching non-HD programming. "It's hard to say if viewers will be less interested
in unscripted programming that's not in HD when the rest of the programming is in HD," Zucker
tells the newspaper. "I think it's a fair question, but I'm not overly concerned about it..."
More @ TVPredictions.com
third of NBC's primetime shows won't be in high-def.
By Phillip Swann, President, TVPredictions
Washington, D.C. - October 26, 2006 -- NBC says it's dropping most scripted programs from
the network's 8 p.m. time slot next season, replacing them with reality and game shows.
The unscripted fare, which is cheaper to produce, will not be broadcast in High-Definition TV.
However, NBC Universal TV CEO Jeff Zucker says that's no big deal.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Zucker was asked if high-def viewers might be less
interested in watching non-HD programming. "It's hard to say if viewers will be less interested
in unscripted programming that's not in HD when the rest of the programming is in HD," Zucker
tells the newspaper. "I think it's a fair question, but I'm not overly concerned about it..."
More @ TVPredictions.com
1 - 20 of 68 Posts
If the studio is equipped with HD equipment, I can think of no other reason to broadcast in hi-def other than the fact that the "Average Joe" on the shows might look a little too imperfect in HD on a 60" plasma.
I need to add, I think the original title on TVPredictions is misleading, not Nick's title.
Nick, I appreciate you bringing this to our attention.
Nick, I appreciate you bringing this to our attention.
No wonder they're #4 among the networks. They have these stupid game shows and reality shows. I can't wait until 2009..... unless they push that date back too :nono:
Commentary By Joseph Whip
HD Observer
Editor's Note: Jeff Zucker, CEO of NBC Universal TV, said this week that he's not "overly concerned"
that the network will air fewer shows in High-Definition TV. HD Observer Joseph Whip says the network
exec should be very concerned.
Washington, D.C. (October 27, 2006) -- "Reading Jeff Zucker's comments concerning
HD on NBC did not surprise me a bit. It has never seemed that NBC has ever gotten
the fact that HDTV is the future.
Other than the Tonight Show, they were slow to adopt HD. Even after they adopted it,
they chose to ruin it with a weather subchannel making their HD sports programming
difficult to watch. Now this.
Mr. Zucker does not seem to understand that HD is the future, not SD."
...
More @ TVPredictions.com
HD Observer
Editor's Note: Jeff Zucker, CEO of NBC Universal TV, said this week that he's not "overly concerned"
that the network will air fewer shows in High-Definition TV. HD Observer Joseph Whip says the network
exec should be very concerned.
Washington, D.C. (October 27, 2006) -- "Reading Jeff Zucker's comments concerning
HD on NBC did not surprise me a bit. It has never seemed that NBC has ever gotten
the fact that HDTV is the future.
Other than the Tonight Show, they were slow to adopt HD. Even after they adopted it,
they chose to ruin it with a weather subchannel making their HD sports programming
difficult to watch. Now this.
Mr. Zucker does not seem to understand that HD is the future, not SD."
...
More @ TVPredictions.com
2009 is the cutoff for analog OTA... there is nothing requiring HD, just digital... so stations and networks that are resisting now, will continue to resist then.logan2575 said:I can't wait until 2009..... unless they push that date back too :nono:
I actually understand this NBC guy's position... If they are going to film "reality" shows to save money and theoretically increase profit with even a smaller audience... then keeping costs down by not using HD equipment just makes sense.
What I don't understand is why these "reality" shows are so popular! The viewing public should speak up by watching the high-quality scripted dramas, comedies, and so forth... then the network will invest more in that type of programming. The fact that people will watch "reality" shows instead of whatever is on the other channel is just fuel for the fire that says that is the way to make money.
I record 10 shows weekly from CBS HD while Kidnapped is the only show on NBC I watch and that will most likely be gone after all 13 episodes are aired, or probably before. NBC programming generally sucks, I don’t like their Sunday Night Football coverage and the lack of DD5.1 is just wrong. Keep riding that Baldy Mandel train NBC, I’ll be watching my crime and legal dramas on CBS.
Couldn't agree more. Although 'Las Vegas' is still my favorite show on TV. NBC put on Friday nights to die, so I guess this will be the last show I'll watch on their network.Steve Mehs said:I record 10 shows weekly from CBS HD while Kidnapped is the only show on NBC I watch and that will most likely be gone after all 13 episodes are aired, or probably before. NBC programming generally sucks, I don't like their Sunday Night Football coverage and the lack of DD5.1 is just wrong. Keep riding that Baldy Mandel train NBC, I'll be watching my crime and legal dramas on CBS.
When I worked for NBC, the standing joke was that the initials stood for "Nothing But Comedians". Now, I guess it will stand for "Nothing But Crap". :lol: The wizards at GE just don't get it. Ever since the RCA buyout, NBC has slowly gone downhill.
Last night's telecast of the Cowboys/Panthers game was plagued by network "Technical difficulties" (in addition to the abysmal 4th quarter performance by the Panthers
).
To their credit, NBC does have a few good prime time shows. Apparently, "Heroes" is a big hit -- I haven't watched it as yet. On Tuesday, they have the "Law & Order" shows, Wednesday has "30 Rock", Thursday has "My Name is Earl" and "The Office" (and the soon to be departed "ER"), Friday has "Las Vegas" and "Law & Order", and Saturday has the aforementioned "Kidnapped". All of these are scripted shows and all are in HD. However, I watch none of them. When it comes to the major networks, CBS gets the most viewing time in our household. The power on channel on our cable boxes is set to WBT-HD, the Charlotte CBS HD outlet.
Last night's telecast of the Cowboys/Panthers game was plagued by network "Technical difficulties" (in addition to the abysmal 4th quarter performance by the Panthers
).To their credit, NBC does have a few good prime time shows. Apparently, "Heroes" is a big hit -- I haven't watched it as yet. On Tuesday, they have the "Law & Order" shows, Wednesday has "30 Rock", Thursday has "My Name is Earl" and "The Office" (and the soon to be departed "ER"), Friday has "Las Vegas" and "Law & Order", and Saturday has the aforementioned "Kidnapped". All of these are scripted shows and all are in HD. However, I watch none of them. When it comes to the major networks, CBS gets the most viewing time in our household. The power on channel on our cable boxes is set to WBT-HD, the Charlotte CBS HD outlet.
Since the NBC affiliate here is not carried by D* on HD (due to Lin) we pretty much only watch Sunday Night Football and Friday Night Lights on NBC, we don't even watch the local news on the NBC station anymore and we did since I moved here 3.5 years ago.
It is easy to understand why "reality" shows are popular with the networks since they are dirt cheap for them compared to "real" programming but I have yet to understand why that crap is popular with viewers.
It is easy to understand why "reality" shows are popular with the networks since they are dirt cheap for them compared to "real" programming but I have yet to understand why that crap is popular with viewers.
I liked the previous cheap programming, game shows, much better.
As maligned as they were, game shows look like classic theatre compared with some of the new stuff.
As maligned as they were, game shows look like classic theatre compared with some of the new stuff.
I generally do not watch TV unless it is in HD. I was an early adopter of HD and this February, it will be three years that my 61" NEC plasma has been hooked up. In the past three years, I stopped watching the news on TV because it was not in HD. Used to watch CBS evening news every night, but no more. Just starting watching ABC local news out of Philadelphia on a nightly basis because it is in HD. I used to watch golf all the time on TV. Will not watch golf unless it is in HD. I will not watch NFL football unless in HD. I am an Eagles fan but all of the pre season games on local ABC out of Philadelphia are in SD. Cannot watch it. Turned it on
this summer and in less than 60 seconds turned it off. When Leno was in HD, I
stopped watching Letterman until Letterman was in HD.
If NBC does not have HD programming, I will not be watching in NBC. Many of my friends are the same way. If it is not HD, we are not watching that show. Do not
care what it is. I have my DVR set to record about 15 shows. Every one is in HD.
Will not record any shows in SD.
I am getting about 30 channels in HD from Dish, 24 HD channels from my cable
company and 14 channels in HD (New York and Phila) from my OTA antenna.
All the other channels are basically useless.
this summer and in less than 60 seconds turned it off. When Leno was in HD, I
stopped watching Letterman until Letterman was in HD.
If NBC does not have HD programming, I will not be watching in NBC. Many of my friends are the same way. If it is not HD, we are not watching that show. Do not
care what it is. I have my DVR set to record about 15 shows. Every one is in HD.
Will not record any shows in SD.
I am getting about 30 channels in HD from Dish, 24 HD channels from my cable
company and 14 channels in HD (New York and Phila) from my OTA antenna.
All the other channels are basically useless.
Don't you wonder why the HD conversion has so much resistance? I can remember black and white TV and how fast color became available. ( In comparison):nono2:
I am in agreement. Its HD or nothing for me most of the time. Finally a local station will show their news in HD. I will watch it exclusively now. i think they are underestimating the HD market. I really do not know anyone who doesn't have and HD set any more.Hound said:I generally do not watch TV unless it is in HD. I was an early adopter of HD and this February, it will be three years that my 61" NEC plasma has been hooked up. In the past three years, I stopped watching the news on TV because it was not in HD. Used to watch CBS evening news every night, but no more. Just starting watching ABC local news out of Philadelphia on a nightly basis because it is in HD. I used to watch golf all the time on TV. Will not watch golf unless it is in HD. I will not watch NFL football unless in HD. I am an Eagles fan but all of the pre season games on local ABC out of Philadelphia are in SD. Cannot watch it. Turned it on
this summer and in less than 60 seconds turned it off. When Leno was in HD, I
stopped watching Letterman until Letterman was in HD.
If NBC does not have HD programming, I will not be watching in NBC. Many of my friends are the same way. If it is not HD, we are not watching that show. Do not
care what it is. I have my DVR set to record about 15 shows. Every one is in HD.
Will not record any shows in SD.
I am getting about 30 channels in HD from Dish, 24 HD channels from my cable
company and 14 channels in HD (New York and Phila) from my OTA antenna.
All the other channels are basically useless.
I don't get the extra cost associated with HD. You can buy cheap handheld HD cameras now. Anything would be better than SD. They might complain about those cameras not being "professional" but everything looks better in HD, no matter how expensive the camera.HDMe said:2009 is the cutoff for analog OTA... there is nothing requiring HD, just digital... so stations and networks that are resisting now, will continue to resist then.
I actually understand this NBC guy's position... If they are going to film "reality" shows to save money and theoretically increase profit with even a smaller audience... then keeping costs down by not using HD equipment just makes sense.
What I don't understand is why these "reality" shows are so popular! The viewing public should speak up by watching the high-quality scripted dramas, comedies, and so forth... then the network will invest more in that type of programming. The fact that people will watch "reality" shows instead of whatever is on the other channel is just fuel for the fire that says that is the way to make money.
Color TV (RCA standard - which owned NBC) was introduced in the very early 50s. The FCC adopted the RCA standard about '56. The networks did not go 100% color in PRIME TIME until '65 (CBS, NBC) and 66 (ABC). And it wasn't until '70 or so that all new programming was in color. I know our family didn't have a color TV until '67.
This conversion did NOT require that every piece of equipment in a studio and transmitters be replaced before it worked. Just the cameras wont do it. You need an HD swtiched, routers, EVERYTHING in the studio has to be replaced.
It also did NOT require every viewer on the planet to change every receiver or buy a new piece of equipment. The old B&W TV was good enough to get the new programming. You couldn't get color but you could see the new program.
The slow adoption process has to do with the fact that quite a few of us are waiting for their present equipment to die before spending kilo-bucks on new equipment. Had the FCC mandated ATSC tuners on TV sets in 1997 or 1998 tather than waiting a DECADE for the inevitable, things could have been different. The difference between HD and SD is not the percieved by the general public to be the same quantum leap as B&W to color.
And BTW, most average Joes out there CAN'T SEE THE DIFFERENCE between HD and regular TV. This is witnessed by the fact that near 75% of those with HDTVs don't have them hooked up correctly to watch HD programming! So as a programmer, why spend the money on something most people don't get yet?
See ya
Tony
This conversion did NOT require that every piece of equipment in a studio and transmitters be replaced before it worked. Just the cameras wont do it. You need an HD swtiched, routers, EVERYTHING in the studio has to be replaced.
It also did NOT require every viewer on the planet to change every receiver or buy a new piece of equipment. The old B&W TV was good enough to get the new programming. You couldn't get color but you could see the new program.
The slow adoption process has to do with the fact that quite a few of us are waiting for their present equipment to die before spending kilo-bucks on new equipment. Had the FCC mandated ATSC tuners on TV sets in 1997 or 1998 tather than waiting a DECADE for the inevitable, things could have been different. The difference between HD and SD is not the percieved by the general public to be the same quantum leap as B&W to color.
And BTW, most average Joes out there CAN'T SEE THE DIFFERENCE between HD and regular TV. This is witnessed by the fact that near 75% of those with HDTVs don't have them hooked up correctly to watch HD programming! So as a programmer, why spend the money on something most people don't get yet?
See ya
Tony
I can vouch for that. I have had to explain to and help people set up their HDTVs when I went to their house and see that they have it in 480i stretch mode, thinking it is HD. And still others who have HDTVs and don't even receive any HD signal (no OTA or HD box) and think that because the TV is HDTV it somehow magically makes all their stuff HD. That is sad.TNGTony said:This is witnessed by the fact that near 75% of those with HDTVs don't have them hooked up correctly to watch HD programming!
See ya
Tony
I would if there were any . . .The viewing public should speak up by watching the high-quality scripted dramas, comedies, and so forth.
There is one... Battlestar Galactica.Ira Lacher said:I would if there were any . . .
1 - 20 of 68 Posts
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