How to Choose the Right HDTV

Ready to take the plunge this holiday season and buy a new HDTV, but overwhelmed with all of the options on the market? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. With the multitude of confusing choices on the shelves and new features showing up on a seemingly weekly basis, even the most tech savvy of us can get a little confused when it comes to TV shopping.

“What size screen do I need?” “Should I go with an LCD or a plasma?” “What in the heck are refresh rates and which one is right for me?” If these are the sort of questions that run through your head at in the TV aisle of your local big box store, HDGuru is here to help. They have published an in-depth guide to help you navigate through the HDTV maze and emerge with the perfect television for your needs.

Check out the guide here.

6 Reasons On-Demand Programming is Awesome

I recently ordered new digital television service that features on-demand programming, something I’ve been looking forward to trying for years. I have to say, it was definitely worth the wait. Here are the top six reasons you need to get TV service with on-demand.

• You never have to go to a movie rental store again, as all the latest hits are right there whenever you’re ready to order
• It’s easy to discover new series you may have missed, and catch up with old ones you’ve forgotten about
• You can watch TV and movies on your own schedule, without having to fill up your DVR
• If you subscribe to movie channels, they probably have a large library of movies you can access any time, for free!
• Typically, on-demand shows have limited commercials—and even then, you can skip right past them if you are as impatient as me
• If there’s a show from a premium channel you’ve been wanting to see, even if there is not a free sample episode, you can usually rent an episode to try it out

Why do you love on-demand programming? Let us know in the comments!

Even With DVR, Many Still Watch Commercials

I like to consider myself one of the kings of DVR. I have heard a few people say that they avoid DVR because they thought it would make them spend more time watching TV. Honestly, I think it's cut down on my time in front of the tube, mainly because I'm able to get on and speed through the commercials or material I don't want to see. With sports especially, you can use the fast-forward function to skip timeouts, officiating breaks, foul shots and more. In fact, my brother hates watching sports with me because of how much of the game I fly through.

With all of that in mind, it was especially surprising for me to hear a startling statistic out of The Atlantic today: 46% of people don't skip commercials with DVR. Say what? Apparently, regardless of whether or not they can skip ads, many viewers still consider TV watching to be a passive activity. I mean, I'm all for hanging out and relaxing on the couch, but surely pressing the fast-forward button isn't kicking the interactivity up too much?

As DVR gained ground over the last few years, it seemed to spell doom for the television network advertising model, but this goes against that idea. I'd be curious to find out what commercials people are stopping for, or if people are  using the time during commercials to take care of other tasks while they watch their program. What about you guys, do you skip commercials or watch them with DVR?

Source- The Atlantic

California Unveils Energy Standards for Flat Screen Televisions

NPR is reporting that California is poised to become the first state to introduce energy efficiency standards for flat screen TVs. Believe it or not, flat screen televisions use more electricity than the old style tube models. In fact, flat screens can account for up to 10 percent of household energy use, making them a ripe target for energy savings.

The proposed standards, which are expected to pass in November, would start going into effect in 2011, with a second phase in 2013. They are expected to save Californians $8.1 billion dollars in electricity costs over 10 years, and reduce consumption enough to keep a whole gas-fired electric power plant from being built.

Only about a quarter of the sets currently available in the state would have to be modified to be compliant with the new rules. Those that do not meet the standards would have to cut electricity use by about 30 percent to meet the first round of regulations, and then an additional 20 percent to meet the second round.

California has already passed similar guidelines for air conditioners, refrigerators, and other appliances. Regulations like these have been credited with keeping California’s energy consumption stable since the 1970s.

As has been the case in the past, these more energy efficient flat screens will probably start making their way across the country soon after they hit California.

Half of American Homes Now Have an HDTV

A recent report released by the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) shows that 53 percent of American homes now own a high-definition television set. HDTV ownership has spiked recently, as less than one quarter of U.S. households reported owning one of the advanced televisions just two years ago.

Interestingly, the reports also shows that only 69 percent of HDTV owners subscribe to high-definition service (up from 56 percent last year), meaning three out of ten HDTV owners aren’t getting the full HD experience.

Looking to get the most out of your HDTV? Check out WhiteFence to compare television offers from the top cable and satellite providers.

Comcast First to Launch HBO On Demand® HD

Comcast announced last week that it is now the first cable provider to offer the full HBO On Demand service in HD. The company says that its original programming, as well as its movie collection, content which has not been offered in HD On Demand before by any provider, is now available to Comcast On Demand customers who subscribe to HBO.  

HBO programming currently available includes original series as True Blood®, Entourage®, The Sopranos® and The Wire® as well as popular movies like The Dark Knight, Mamma Mia!, American Gangster and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix..

Comcast says this initiative with HBO and all of the choices available On Demand are part of Project Infinity, the company’s commitment to innovation and the delivery of exponentially more quality content on TV, including more HD. Currently, Comcast’s On Demand library offers more than 10,000 entertainment programs each month.

If you are not a current subscriber and want access to this new content, find Comcast plans and pricing available in your area. 

Converter Box Coupon Program comes to an End

The government funded convert box coupon program designed to help consumers with the analog-to-digital switch is coming to an end on Friday, July 31, 2009. If you're still one of the 1.5 million households without TV reception, you still have a couple days to sign up for a converter box coupon.

To read more about how to get your coupon visit dtv.gov.

Clean Homes Mourn the Loss of Product Pitchman Billy Mays

If you are like me, you have at least one bottle of Orange Glo, OxiClean or some other "as seen on TV" product in your house somewhere and you were saddened by the news of the passing of Billy Mays this weekend. Most American TV watchers (and house cleaners!) could recognize his trademark booming voice from his famous commericals and infomercials.

"It is with incredible sadness that we have to report that Billy Mays died in his sleep last night," said a statement from the Discovery Channel, where Mays was featured on the reality TV show Pitchmen. "Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth. Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal and compassionate friend. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family at this time of incredible loss."

In honor of Mr. Mays, tell us about your favorite infomercial product and how it changed your life for the better.

CEA Reminds Consumers to Responsibly Recycle Analog TVs

Now that you've successfully transitioned to digital television service, you might be saddled with a large and useless analog TV taking up space in your garage. The Consumer Electronics Association would like to remind you that it's not a good idea to just toss the old thing out. They suggest you take advantage of the many ways to safely dispose of unused analog televisions by checking out their list of manufacturer and retailer-led electronics take back and recycling programs as well as the searchable database of electronics recyclers by zip-code at www.myGreenElectronics.org.

“TVs do not belong in the trash,” said Parker Brugge, CEA’s Vice President of Environmental Affairs. “Consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers have worked diligently to provide the public with access to easy and convenient recycling options, as have many state and local governments. Consumers play a critical role in making sure that electronics products are recycled responsibly.”

CEA says it has long supported efforts to create a federal solution to the growing problem of electronics waste disposal, which the industry believes will not only be the most cost-effective solution, but will also allow the U.S. to ensure that electronics recycling is done in a safe and responsible manner.

For more information on the CE industry’s efforts toward environmental sustainability, check out www.CE.org/green.

Comcast and Time Warner Partner to Put Cable TV Content Online

Time Warner recently announced that it is partnering with Comcast to distribute its television content online. The agreement between the companies will make it possible for Comcast customers to access programming from Turner Broadcasting’s entertainment networks free online and on demand.  In addition, Comcast announced it will begin a national technical trial of its “On Demand Online” service in July carrying programming from Time Warner’s Turner networks TNT and TBS.

"We have been working for a year to bring more TV and movie content to our customers online and we are thrilled that Time Warner is joining us in our national technical trial," said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast. "Ultimately, our goal is to make TV content available to our customers on all platforms.”

The On Demand Online technical trial will deliver more TNT and TBS programming online, free of charge to Comcast video customers, than what had previously been made available. Comcast customers in the trial will be able to access TNT programming like The Closer and Saving Grace, as well as the TBS line-up including Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns and My Boys. The shows will be initially accessible on Comcast.net, Fancast.com and will soon be available on TNT.tv and TBS.com.

The only catch is that customers must first prove they have cable or satellite service before accessing the content and a high-speed Internet connection is recommend for the best viewing experience.

For more, check out Time Warner, Comcast test approach to more TV on Web.