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NBC's Zucker: Who Needs HDTV?
TV Predictions.com ^ | 10-26-06 | Phillip Swann

Posted on 10/26/2006 7:20:25 PM PDT by Snickering Hound

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, published today at washingtonpost.com, 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 at this point."

While the HDTV audience is growing, some network executives have occasionally remarked that it's still too small to have an impact on network schedules and ratings. HDTVs are now in approximately 25 million U.S. homes, but slightly fewer than 10 million actually have the HD tuners necessary to watch high-def signals.

Zucker's NBC decided in 2004 not to air a separate HDTV channel for the Summer Olympics because it said the audience was too small. After being roundly criticized in the press and Internet message boards, NBC reversed that decision for its coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics.

The network's decision to restrict the 8 p.m. hour to unscripted shows, such as Deal or No Deal, is part of an overall effort to cut $750 million from its annual operating budget. Scripted programs, such as dramas and sitcoms, are more expensive to air due to actor salaries and higher production costs.

Producing a show in high-def also requires more expense, perhaps as much as 20 percent, according to some reports.

To NBC's credit, the network recently completed a $3.5 million renovation of The Today Show's studio and production facilities so it could air in HD.

Final note: After Zucker said last week that unscripted programs would not be scheduled in the 8 p.m. time slot, a NBC spokesman clarified his remarks, saying some comedies could still make the cut.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: hdtv; nbc; nothingbutcrap; zucker
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To: B Knotts
The other household member has been hooked on foreign films for the last few years as entertainment, it became contagious.
61 posted on 10/26/2006 10:28:31 PM PDT by Global2010
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To: Snickering Hound

I'm not in any rush for HDTV, to put it mildly. But I do enjoy television. 10% of what I view is Fox News, the Weather Channel, and local news. The remaining 90% is comprised of dvd's of older series (like "Rawhide," "Combat," "I Spy," and such), as well as a few old classic films, here and there.

I view these on a 27-inch Sony Trinitron, and I'm quite happy with the results. No reason for me to go HDTV or anamorphic/widescreen, considering the vintage of the fare I tend to view. I haven't the slightest inclination to go for any of these upgrades. They really have nothing to offer me.


62 posted on 10/26/2006 10:30:09 PM PDT by greene66
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To: Moonman62

Oh dear. LOL That on a big screen with HD would give anyone the creeps.


63 posted on 10/26/2006 10:31:39 PM PDT by Global2010
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To: Richard Kimball

You can see pores and wrinkles too!

We watch alot of foreign films, history and marine science on the 60 incher HD it is like being there.

Way cool for the home bound dayz when the body is needing some regroup/recharge time.


64 posted on 10/26/2006 10:38:57 PM PDT by Global2010
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To: auboy

Hockey is great in HD, as well.


65 posted on 10/26/2006 10:50:59 PM PDT by Ace's Dad ("There are more important things: Friendship, Bravery...")
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To: DCPatriot
Oh...Hi Def is a totally different experience. Especially sports like baseball, football, golf.

I will try it when it becomes available for my 5 to 6 hours of Nascar each week.

96% of the time my set is dark.

66 posted on 10/26/2006 10:58:29 PM PDT by TYVets (God so loved the world he didn't send a committee)
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To: BallyBill

real deep.........real hard...........laughing my ass off stuff goin' on here.


67 posted on 10/26/2006 11:01:56 PM PDT by advertising guy
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To: Poser
"It appears that I am not alone. $200 with a good picture vs. $2,000 with a slightly better picture... It looks like it's going to be a good long while before I get HD."

With 99% of what's on TV being crap, and most of the 1% that isn't crap not needing a good picture to enjoy it, such as interviews with interesting and important people, I would be happy with a black and white TV. TV sucks.
68 posted on 10/26/2006 11:53:00 PM PDT by Ninian Dryhope ("Bush lied, people dyed. Their fingers." The inestimable Mark Steyn)
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To: magellan
"Try watching something like CSI, 24, or Law and Order in HD."

That must be why I am not interested in HDTV. I have never been able to watch any of those shows for more than five minutes at a time. I find them stupid and boring.
69 posted on 10/27/2006 12:13:10 AM PDT by Ninian Dryhope ("Bush lied, people dyed. Their fingers." The inestimable Mark Steyn)
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To: skr
The snow and ghosting were not too bad, but the flipping used to be pretty annoying. The good old days.
70 posted on 10/27/2006 12:18:12 AM PDT by Ninian Dryhope ("Bush lied, people dyed. Their fingers." The inestimable Mark Steyn)
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To: Ace's Dad
Hockey is great in HD, as well.

And a better sport since the new rules and line placements.

71 posted on 10/27/2006 5:18:36 AM PDT by auboy
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To: DCPatriot
Hi Def is a totally different experience. Especially sports like baseball, football, golf.

Exactly...

72 posted on 10/27/2006 5:22:03 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: sageb1

Once you have had HDTV, you'll never go back......willingly.


73 posted on 10/27/2006 5:25:37 AM PDT by Hatteras
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To: sageb1

It's a night and day diference from ordinary TV. You can see everything.


74 posted on 10/27/2006 6:15:50 AM PDT by libstripper (!!)
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To: Stirner

I agree. The standard definition ads just, look horrible on HDTV. They're a huge turn off.


75 posted on 10/27/2006 6:17:26 AM PDT by libstripper (!!)
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

So do I.


76 posted on 10/27/2006 6:17:54 AM PDT by libstripper (!!)
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To: magellan
Excellent response. I've had HiDef for almost 4 years and I'm still amazed at the picture quaility.
I've seen 15" HiDef TVs as cheap as $199 and with the advent of the newer (and cheap) DVD converters,
regular DVDs can be played in near HiDef quality and the picture is just outstanding.
77 posted on 10/27/2006 6:26:34 AM PDT by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: Poser

There are HDTV's that can be had for MUCH less than thousands of dollars. I got my 32" TUBE HDTV for $299 as a refurb. It's Fan-Freakin-tastic. I have a narrow family room, so 32" is just fine. I live West North West of DC and get all the DC OTA HD channels and most of Baltimore's as well.

HDTV and free HD programming for a grand total of $299. That's hard to beat.


78 posted on 10/27/2006 6:30:38 AM PDT by SengirV
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To: SengirV

You are telling me to buy a smaller, refurb HDTV.
Then, you are not considering an HDTV DVR box and the cost of programming. I don't have any free HDTV programming.

I don't want a smaller TV.


79 posted on 10/27/2006 6:35:20 AM PDT by Poser (Willing to fight for oil)
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To: dangerdoc

All they have to do is watch an episode of Miami CSI in HD or a show on Discovery HD and they will see what they have been missing. A huge difference.


80 posted on 10/27/2006 6:39:27 AM PDT by reagandemo (The battle is near are you ready for the sacrifice?)
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