It is wonderful that HDNet is covering the prelaunch, and launch activities for the shuttle Discovery's return to orbit. Kudos to Mark Cuban. In addition to using 14 HD cameras, they'll have some special shots up their sleeves.
<<snip>>HDNet will be deploying a special Canon DIGI SUPER 86 TELExs lens
capable of a 2,322mm focal length to enable a 1080i camera situated at
one of the tracking sites to follow Discovery at least 176,000 feet, or
33 miles into the earth's atmosphere. The network is also using a pan
and tilt robo head at the launch pad from Eagle Pan Tilt, and is
installing the Grass Valley Kalypso(TM) HD Video Production Center
switcher, which is switchable between SD and HD productions inside
NASA's TV control room.<<snip>>
Now for the "But" above. HDNet is still not carried by a couple of the major cable companies. So if you rent/subscribe with Comcast or CableVision you are without the opportunity to watch this...(On CableVision? This is reputed to be the fault of James Dolan, directly, as he reportedly dislikes Mark Cuban--which is just one more reason to like Mark. Grin) *Update, 13:25, 7/7/2005--see comments from Mark about this below.*
Call your cable company if they don't carry HDNet and you want to see this launch in HD.
Public outcry is the only way to get anything done if a large corp is being stubborn.
One could just hope that NBC (who have picked up HDNet programming a couple of times in the past) would do a deal so that we might watch the launch in HD via OTA or those cable systems.
If you want to contact Comcast Corp Offices, click here.
Ring up the Dolan Family Empire At Rainbow Media/CableVision? Click Here.
Call NBC TV? You'd contact the parent company, GE...
Either way, the return to space is a major milestone...at the moment, Discovery is poised and near ready at pad 39b, Kennedy Space Center, Florida--with a targeted launch date of July 13th.
Now if we could just convince Congress to repair Hubble.
Mark Cuban responds to the Dolan note above...
>" Re Dolan, we get along great, it’s the guy that runs cablevision day to day that wont pick us up" >
He also repeats the request to call the corp. offices of the various cable companies, not the regular call centers, as that will get faster/stronger action. They are called out above--just click the links
You need to let them know you'll switch to DirecTV or Dish or whatever if they don't carry your programming choice.
As to the question about NBC carrying the launch feed from HDNet. Here's the quote from Mark, "No"
Posted by: HeadToob | 07 July 2005 at 11:55
Where have you gone? It has been nearly a month without a new entry. This is one of my favorite sites. Have you given up?
Posted by: Derek | 03 August 2005 at 08:40
I wanted to ask the same question. Maybe he is on vacation? Give us any sign that you still there!
Posted by: Gonzo the Great | 04 August 2005 at 09:57
R.I.P. toob.typepad.com
Posted by: Derek | 12 September 2005 at 13:57