On Sep 18, 10:05 pm, Garondo Marondo
wrote:
> http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070918/tv_nm/mgm_dc;_ylt=AqMm7c3OaTcpRmB...
>
> By Bob Tourtellotte
>
> LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Film and television studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
> Inc unveiled plans on Tuesday to launch a high-definition television
> channel this fall on the DirecTV satellite service with a mix of
> movies and original programs.
>
> The channel is MGM's first stand-alone HD service in the United States
> and it marks a major expansion for the studio.
>
> Chief Executive Harry Sloan called the launch a "milestone event" for
> MGM, the home of the James Bond film franchise.
>
> "To grow significantly, we need to buildets. Over the last few
> years, we've launched channels all over Europe and now an HD channel
> in the U.S. gives us that growth opportunity" here, Sloan told
> Reuters.
>
> He declined to discuss financial details.
>
> For DirecTV, the deal helps bolster content for its plans to roll out
> 100 new HD channels by the end of this year.
>
> HD, the high-definition digital TV standard that offers viewers
> sharper pictures and better sound, is expected to be a major growth
> opportunity. U.S. officials are mandating a switch from analog to
> digital signals and HD is widely seen as being adopted over lower
> quality standard definition, or SD.
>
> Moreover, satellite and cable TV providers are expected to promote HD
> heavily to boost their own subscriber growth. The number of U.S. homes
> receiving HD signals is expected to reach as high as 40 million by
> 2012, researchers forecast.
>
> MGM owns a library of more than 4,100 movies and Sloan said the
> company already has converted 1,200 titles to HD. Beyond replaying old
> movies, the MGM Channel is expected to provide original shows such as
> behind-the-scenes tales from making new movies or live coverage of red
> carpet premieres.
>
> Sloan said the new MGM HD channel is getting good response from other
> satellite and cable TV operators.
>
> "We expect shortly to announce other platforms and expect channels to
> be well-received," Sloan said.
>
> Sloan took over management of MGM in 2005 following its acquisition by
> an investor group. Since then, he has embarked on several growth
> initiatives, including launching MGM TV channels overseas and
> partnering with Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner to revamp the old United
> Artists film label.
>
> MGM is owned by private equity firms Providence Equity Partners, Texas
> Pacific Group and others, as well as media and electronics company
> Sony Corp and cable TV operator Comcast Corp.
>
> DirecTV is controlled by News Corp, but it has agreed to swap its
> controlling stake to Liberty Media Corp, a deal that awaits regulatory
> approval.
Here in Canada, you'll be able to see the MGM library on new a new
national paytv channel called SuperChannel, from Allarco
Entertainment. Several SD and HD channels (multiplex), w/ a lock on
new and old MGM movies. Launches mid-October 2007.
http://www.superchannel.ca/
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