BBC America HD launch July 20 brings plenty of science fiction starting with Torchwood & Dr. Who
By Richard Lawler 
posted Jun 1st 2009 9:28AM
posted Jun 1st 2009 9:28AM
BBC AMERICA HD LAUNCHES JULY 20 WITH A SPECIAL SCI-FI WEEK
- U.S. Premieres of Torchwood: Children of Earth, Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead and Being Human to Air in HD -
New York, NY - Monday, June 1, 2009 - BBC Worldwide launches BBC AMERICA HD on July 20 with the high-definition simulcast of BBC AMERICA. BBC AMERICA HD kicks off with an extraordinary week of sci-fi U.S. premieres - the return of the channel's highest rated series, Torchwood, the latest Doctor Who special, Planet of the Dead, the BBC AMERICA co-production, Being Human and the thrilling season finale of Primeval, Season 3.
Since its inception in 1998, BBC AMERICA has seen substantial growth, recently celebrating its highest ratings ever in total live viewers for the first quarter of 2009. The channel is responsible for bringing the BBC's world renowned news stateside with BBC World News America as well as some of the year's most buzzed about and critically acclaimed UK shows - from the popular Torchwood and addictive Mistresses to the provocative Skins and charming Gavin & Stacey. It has introduced American audiences to such marquee series as The Office, Top Gear and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. This unique and high quality programming has aided BBC AMERICA to see an increase in ad sales of almost 40% in the last year. It has also secured the channel two Golden Globes, six Peabody Awards and availability in over 64 million households nationwide.
Garth Ancier, President, BBC Worldwide America says, "BBC AMERICA is a truly unique channel in the cable landscape. We bring viewers some of the best programs on television and now with the option to experience them in HD, they're going to be even better. The launch of BBC AMERICA HD coupled with the existing VOD channel, BBC AMERICA On-Demand, expands the opportunity for viewers and distributors to access the best of British entertainment."
The highly anticipated return of Torchwood: Children of Earth will kick off the first of BBC AMERICA's HD offerings. Told over five consecutive nights starting July 20 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, the series re-joins Captain Jack (John Barrowman), Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) and Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd) as they are still coming to terms with the death of two of their closest friends. Yet despite their pain, they know they have a job to do. This time they are faced with their fiercest threat to date - one which throws the future of Torchwood and the entire human race spiralling into danger. Battling against the odds, do they stand a chance of saving mankind?
Also airing in HD on Sunday, July 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT is the U.S premiere of the first of the last four Doctor Who specials featuring David Tennant as the tenth Time Lord. In the latest special, Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, the Doctor (David Tennant) must join forces with the mysterious Lady Christina (Michelle Ryan), when a London bus takes a detour to an alien world. But the mysterious planet holds terrifying secrets, hidden in the sand. And time is running out, as the deadly Swarm gets closer.
On Saturday July 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, the monster hit, Primeval concludes its third season in high-definition style. As the embattled team continues to fight against unrelenting threats and creatures, Helen (Juliet Aubry) is attempting to stop the destruction of the Earth by traveling back in time to prevent humans from evolving. The team is determined to go back to the future and stop her before she can hurt anyone else but is forced to split up when a fracture in time causes another destructive creature to appear.
The lauded BBC AMERICA co-production, Being Human premieres in HD on Saturday July 25 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. A witty and intriguing look into the lives of three twenty-somethings and their secret double-lives – as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost - the trio do their best to live their lives as normally as possible, despite their strange and dark secrets. But with unwelcome intruders into their world, a threatened revolution from the vampire underworld and constant threats of exposure – on top of the day-to-day issues faced by young people – the only thing they may be able to rely on in their heightened world, is each other.
Who will be carrying this channel? Certainly not cablevison.
I was wondering the same thing. I'm interested in seeing this channel on Charter, but I know Charter isn't adding anything in my are until August. BBCA can announce whatever programming specials they want, but not many people will be able to see it unless it gets picked up by several providers.
DirecTV, are you ready to add channels again? None so far this year....
What carriage agreements are in place? Directv?
Apparently none as yet, or none that BBCA is willing to talk about.
PLEEEEEEEEEEASE TOP GEAR HD!!!!!!
Unfortunately, Jeremy Clarkson has gone on the record stating that he hates HD. Granted, his opinion is based on work they did a couple years ago filming the Top Gear Polar Special. (The only Top Gear at the moment that you will find in HD.) I'm hoping that they will look into it again now that digital HD has progressed to a point where you can shoot some great looking HD using a camera in a small package.
Thats interesting since Hammond said they had started filming Top Gear in HD. I think it'll eventually go HD. The cameras and workflow are an issue but could easily be worked out. Top Gear is shot with a mixture of 576/50i and 576/25p shots and given a nice film look. BBCA has worked with Snell and Wilcox in regards to upconversion. I think a Top Gear presented in it's 16:9 AR upconverted to HD would look great.
How are they going to go about offering Dr Who in HD when they can't even do Dr Who in HD for the UK?
Something to do with production costs because of the special effects
"Planet of the Dead" was filmed and broadcast in HD in the UK. It will also be the first blu-ray Doctor Who release.
Maybe they'll upconvert it like Primeval on Scifihd. At least it doesn't have black bars on all 4 sides like Dr. Who.
Top Gear HD FTW!
I have been waiting for an official release of "Being Human" in the US. A "Friends"-type werewolf, a ghost, and a vampire - just trying to get along.
While this is great news, we see a lot of MSO's take forever to execute carriage agreements. Not only that, but some may put this channel on an extra cost tier, which would be a shame.
I'll be pissed if Americans get it free.
In the UK the money we pay for our "TV License" funds the BBC so expect it to be a Subscription Channel when it launches.
we (americans) have to pay for BBC programming through our cable or satellite service. We have to pay a little extra for HD.
We don't get it free in the US. We have to pay for either Sat or Cable. Then we have to put of with one commercial after another. Watch 5 minutes of program, then 5 minutes of commercials. We get two thirds of an hour program and 1/3 commercials. I would rather pay a little extra or even buy a license than have to set through what seems like endless commercials, sometimes as many as a dozen at once. All we see is adds for car insurance, weight loss, Adds for Viagra then back to more car insurance adds.
Just called Comcast (Rockville, MD). Nothing is currently on the docket to have the channel added according to the rep I spoke with.
Aargh!!! What good does it do if there is virtually no carriage of this programming anywhere? When the press release says "simulcast", precisely where and how?
So far it seems to be much ado about nothing...
I hope to Hell Time Warner or AT&T U-Verse picks this up for Austin and Central Texas. I won't hold my breath, though :(
I also look froward to BBCAmerica in HD. However no one is offering the channel in HD. I've contacted Directv about the move to HD. I can not find any new information if or when Directv plans to offer BBCAmerica HD. Comcast is not offering BBCAmerica in HD.
What is the good of having HD, if no one is going to offer it. Two years ago BBCAmerica said they will going HD by years end. That never happened. Now we have the channel in HD but can not see it. A better turn out could have been arranged. I for one can not understand the delay. More information should be on BBC's web site, it's not. All they say is contact your local provider. How do you get your local provider to listen to the customers?
BBCAmerica.com has a form that if you fill it out they'll forward it to your provider.