Opera fans demand HD
By Steven Kim 
posted Jun 10th 2008 12:27AM
posted Jun 10th 2008 12:27AM
In the same way that HD has spoiled sports and nature fans with its eye-popping visuals, it has expanded its domain to the opera world. According to the NY Times, the Met's eight broadcasts last season pulled in 908,000 viewers. Further, the number of people who took in these broadcast performances outnumbered the Metropolitan Opera House attendees by 58,000 over the same time period. These are great numbers for the highbrow fare, but what's really telling is the comparative turnout netted by the lower quality broadcast used by the San Francisco Opera. The author of the linked article reports the San Francisco Opera's efforts have enjoyed much less success, and points to a turnout of four at the local screening of "Madama Butterfly" as evidence. Broadcast opera seems like it's here to stay, and HD looks to be a component crucial to success. Bravo!
At first glance I thought it said "Oprah fans demand HD".
They'll be getting it this fall, anyway.
I mean this 100 percent seriously. Opera is getting viewers because there are some good looking women wearing corsets busting with cleavage. Lots of HD closeups of this. I'm almost completely convinced this is where half the ratings are coming from.
HD Opera, yes, yes yes! PBS HD broadcasts of Metropolitan Opera live performances are without doubt among the best live HD television telecasts ever! KLRU-TV Austin Texas is broadcasting one of at least 10 of these new Met Opera HD telecasts Sunday afternoons - each Sunday a different opera. If your local PBS station is not broadcasting these operas in HD, ask them why not. Fortunately I have an over-the-air antenna so I can receive them in all their splendor. I also have Dish Network, but Dish does carry local PBS in HD. Until recently, Dish carried GALLERY, a VOOM channel, which broadcast a different BBC/OpusArte HD opera production each week. These too were stunning, but alas GALLERY has been killed by Dish in favor of FISH in HD - yes, that is fishing in HD. What a terrible Dish decision. But do check out the Met Opera on PBS HD OTA. Very worthwhile indeed...