Planet Earth coming to Discovery HD Theater in March
By Richard Lawler 
posted January 10th 2007 10:39PM
posted January 10th 2007 10:39PM
Discovery Channel is bringing its 11-part natural history series, Planet Earth, from the BBC to the U.S. Premiering on March 25, the series promises to bring viewers into some of the hardest to observe regions of our planet using unprecedented high definition production techniques. Hopefully you're not completely tired of checking out animal behaviors and stunning landscapes in high def because when this simulcasts on Discovery Channel and Discovery HD Theater, viewers will be able to observe them via new innovations like the Cineflex heligimble, a powerful camera lens attached to a helicopter observing animals from long range. From the good people who brought you Blue Planet, the series is narrated by Sigourney Weaver and will run from the 25th until April 22.
What? This started last week on Discovery HD, at least here on Comcast in Boston.
That was a preview. And may I say it was AWESOME.
You are correct, sir.
The first HD program I watched on my new satellite connection was Planet Earth: Pole To Pole.
Ever since I got my HDTV I wanted satellite just to watch Discovery HD Theater. And after watching that episode of Planet Earth, myself and my family are EXTREMELY pleased.
As someone living in the UK, with access to the BBC's HD trial channel, I can tell you American's you are in for a treat, it is a simply stunning series. The BBC at their best.
Yes and it IS a BBC programme. I have been appalled at the way that Discovery has tried to pass this series off at their creation when it was filmed by the BBC's world renowned Natural History Unit. Just because Discovery put up some cash to secure the North America rights doesn't justify their hopeless decision to replace David Attenborough's fantastic narration with an insipid Sigourney Weaver and take the BBC contribution out of all publicity and materials.
Compare the ridiculous Discovery channel trailer (music, editing and Mr America voice of a Bruckheimer film) with that of the uplifting class of the BBC version (to the inspired soundtrack of "Hoppipola" by Sigur Ros". Even the basic editing of the first two episodes of the Discovery version is inferior ot that of the BBC's.