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Discovery HD rounds out the new HD channels from the recently launched Foxtel HD, it joins National Geographic HD, BBC HD, and Fox Sports and ESPN HD.
The network is yet to adopt the new look Discovery branding, which is a shame because although this is an HD channel it looks like it just stepped out the nineties.
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Since my constant shilling for all things Foxtel HD apparently knows no bounds, I figure the least I could do is post the advert for the new high definition service too.
The commercial is a trip through Australian television history, from the first transmission in 1956, to the introduction of colour in 1975, right up to the launch of Foxtel HD, which I’m afraid probably won’t go down in history with the kind of reverence that they were probably hoping for, but it is an ad after all.
The song featured in the video is ‘Lost in Time’ by Melbourne artist Whitley.
– Big thanks to Christian for the video.
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As the Foxtel HD roadshow continues, we’ve already seen BBC HD, and the sports channels, now its onto National Geographic HD who have launched a simple yet dramatic series of idents to celebrate their jump into the world of high definition.
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Foxtel’s expansion into the HD world will no doubt be of particular interest to the sports fans out there, with ESPN and Fox Sports both launching high def channels.
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Foxtel officially launches its high definition service today, and although content wise there isn’t much on the new HD platform yet, with only five HD channels available at launch, BBC HD is one of them, and almost makes it worth it.
It would seem Australia is the first market outside of the UK to recieve the BBC HD brand, but won’t be the last, with plans for expansion into Poland, and the US later this year. The two videos are taken from the newly launched BBC HD Australia and show an ident for the network, and an extended promo.
For more from BBC HD check out this cimematic promo for the UK version.
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Taiwan’s first high definition station recently launched, and these abstract and dark idents for HiHD are meant to represent the “Lifeless, chaotic SD world” and its transformation into the “new era where a HD generation arrives.”
– Thanks to Johnason from JL Design for the videos.
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Fiona Bruce stars as the action hero, in this advert for the BBC HD service, available in the UK through Sky, Virgin, and Freesat, and now also available in Australia through Foxtel HD, with further international expansion expected.
The spot was developed by agency Fallon, and produced by Red Bee, and while the Antiques Roadshow inspired action sequences are fun and all, its the first few seconds with the BBC logo that most caught my attention.
– Thanks to Craig for the video.
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Among the commercial networks Ten HD appear to have gone to the most trouble with their branding, and the slow, steady and lackluster look of Nine HD isn’t anything spectacular.
For Seven HD however the current look is a sublime and creative execution of the networks slogan “the difference is clear”, and a huge leap forward from the ident that opened the network back in October.
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Last week Channel Nine became the last of the commercial networks to begin broadcasting breakaway programming on their HD channel.
Nine HD joins the heavily promoted Ten HD, and the first on the scene 7HD.
While its very much early days for multichanneling in Australia, the real fun should begin January 1st next year when the networks get the chance to start broadcasting additional SD channels, and finally fulfilling the promise of digital television by hopefully embracing UK style multichanneling… e7, TenTwo, 9b etc.
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Channel Seven’s song and dance (literally) about their upcoming programming.