High Definition may produce Low Demand

Ok, so Ten have finally released a schedule for 10HD (The new Ch 1 for digital). Burried deep into their forums, and posted by other users, of course. In fact, I only came across it because I stumbled into the press statement looking for something completely unrelated.

Anyway, at 30 hours, it falls well short of the claimed 50 it aspires to. In addition, the Sci-Fi Saturday doesn't exists (no surprise there). They have a similar thing called "Break Away Thursday" - doesn't exactly roll off the tongue as well, does it? While some moderately exciting viewing includes Battlestar Galactica, the 4400, and Smallville, I have to say I'm completely underwhelmed. What is the point of timeshifting "The Bold & The Beautiful" and "Ten News at Five" half and hour later? Wouldn't it make more sense for it to move forward an hour to 2 hours? And except for Thursday nights, all other primetime slots are simulcasts of SD channels?

I know that realistically, there is a bandwidth limitation to this stuff, but seriously, this is summer!!! At this stage, the only thing I would even consider watching listed in this week's guide is repeats of "Friends", "NCIS", and now Sci-Fi Thursday. Wouldn't it make more sense to put the best possible programming on during summer to get the viewers in? Especially with the busy shopping season, with people looking for those big screen TVs?

The only other thing to look forward too is the extra sport content to be added in February. Their current plan is: NASCAR (Awsome!), NFL (Ok, I guess), and the WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS. Yay, I can't wait. Golf - right up there in exciting sports viewing as snail racing and turtle boxing. Problem is, the sport will be on in the mornings, great work, considering only the people who actually go to work can afford the TV to make the most of the content.

Ten do at least promise to increase HD content "in the months ahead", to here's hoping that this is only just a start to what has the potential to be briliant alternative programming (Jericho, anyone?).

Here's the press release if anyone was after it.