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TEN HD programming mixes old & new

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Network TEN has now released details of its new HD programming.

The channel operates as a 24 hour mix of analogue and HD programming. The bulk of the schedule mirrors the analogue channel with some specialist HD-only viewing in afternoons and evenings.

TEN will return some of its missing favourite shows to TEN HD, some as new episodes and others as repeats, plus movies and documentaries. It also launches some exclusive HD only franchises.

Returning dramas are Veronica Mars, Smallville, Battlestar Galactica, Torchwood, The 4400 and The Shield. New programmes include Stephen Bochco’s US-Iraq war drama Over There and various documentaries.

But the viewing clocks in at around 35 hours, well short of its promise of “50 hours of programmes you won’t see on TEN’s main channel” -and some of it is on TEN analogue. The intended “Sci-Fi Saturday” has moved to Thurdays. Oddly, it will also see TEN News at 5 at 5:30pm! But at least its more than 7HD has offered thus far.

TEN HD launches on December 16. The first week of special HD programming is as follows:

Sun Dec 16
5pm TBA
5.30 Ten News
6pm Sports Tonight

8.30 Movie: Black Hawk Down
11.30 Concert: TBA

Mon Dec 17
3pm Ocean Adventures
4pm Amazing Planet
5pm Bold & Beautiful
5.30 TEN News

10.30 The Shield “Tapa Boca”
11.30 Movie: Snatch

Tue Dec 18
3pm Ocean Adventures
4pm Amazing Planet
5pm Bold & Beautiful
5.30 TEN News

10.30 Veronica Mars “President Evil”
11.30 Movie: The Patriot

Wed Dec 19
3pm Ocean Adventures
4pm Amazing Planet
5pm Bold & Beautiful
5.30 TEN News

10.30 Over There “Pilot”
11.30 Movie: Love and a Bullet

Thu Dec 20
3pm Ocean Adventures
4pm Wolfman
5pm Bold & Beautiful
5.30 TEN News

7:30 Smallville “Subterranean”
8:30pm Battlestar Galactica “Occupation”
9:30 Torchwood rpt
10:30 The 4400 rpt
11:30 Movie: Bugs

Friday Dec 21
3pm Edge of Existence
4pm Monster Crocs
5pm Bold & Beautiful
5.30 TEN News

10:30 Movie: Bloody Sunday

Saturday Dec 22
5pm TBA
5.30 TEN News
6pm Sports Tonight

Photo: idents.tv

Press Release
TEN-HD ARRIVES
new era of FREE consumer choice
unique entertainment, premium broadcast quality

Network Ten ushers in a brand new world of free television entertainment on 16 December with the launch of Australia’s newest digital channel, TEN-HD.

Set to go live in just two short weeks, TEN today officially unveiled its new high definition broadcast schedule for TEN-HD’s inaugural week.

Highlights for the week of 16 December:
• Distinct programming from that on TEN’s main channel, including award-winning documentaries, cinema quality movies, science fiction, and drama series such as The Shield and Veronica Mars
• Time-shifted viewing, including TEN News at Five and Australia’s No.1 daytime show, The Bold and the Beautiful
• Breakaway Thursday: TEN-HD will break-away from TEN’s primary channel every Thursday from 3pm including prime time sci-fi shows – Smallville, Battlestar Galactica, Torchwood and The 4400 – as well as documentaries and movies TEN’s chief Programming officer, David Mott, said: “After nearly a year in planning, and thanks to the hard work of staff across the network, TEN-HD is ready to launch.

“We are incredibly proud to introduce a new era of choice for free TV viewers with the highest possible picture and sound quality.

“And even better, consumers won’t have to keep paying for the privilege of enjoying TEN-HD.

“Saturday 16 December marks the beginning of a journey, and we will progressively increase TENHD’s unique content in the months ahead.”

Mr Mott said that live sport would feature on TEN-HD many mornings in 2008, with more than five hours of NASCAR each week starting February, NFL and the World Golf Championships. Also, all TEN’s AFL home and away season matches will be in HD next year.

Turning to films, TEN will be taking the cinematic experience straight to viewers’ homes with some of the biggest blockbuster movies every weeknight only on TEN-HD.

TEN-HD is available to viewers on Channel 1 and Channel 12.
SHOWS UNIQUE TO TEN-HD:
Mon-Fri, 3-5pm
Documentaries: Ocean Adventures, Edge of Existence, Amazing Planet, Monster Crocs, The Wolfman

TEN-HD takes viewers on a wild journey each weekday afternoon with documentaries uncovering the vibrancy of the earth and its inhabitants, marvelling in its variety of shapes, textures and its awe-inspiring grace and power. From Monday to Friday viewers can expect a visual feast of scientific discoveries, technologies and nnovations, and be taken up close and personal with some of the most amazing creatures on the planet – looking at their habits, habitats and survival strategies.

Monday at 10.30pm
The Shield
The Shield, a show which has developed a cult-like following all over the world, breaks the conventional formula of the cop genre.

Tuesday at 10.30pm
Veronica Mars
In the wealthy, seaside community of Neptune, California, the rich and powerful make the rules. Unfortunately for them, there’s Veronica Mars. This smart and sassy 17-year-old has a loyal following in Australia, and we’re sure that she’ll feel right at home on TEN-HD.

Wednesday at 10.30pm
Over There
First run series about a sergeant and his platoon stationed in Iraq and how the lives of their families are affected at home.

Thursday at 7.30pm
Smallville
Smallville tells the tale of a teenage Clark Kent in the days before he was Superman.

Thursday at 8.30pm
Battlestar Galactica
This critically acclaimed sci-fi series is back with first run episodes on TEN-HD.

Thursday at 9.30pm
Torchwood
Torchwood is a much admired spin-off from the popular sci-fi show Doctor Who. And in anticipation of all new episodes going to air in 2008, fans can revisit all their favourite episodes from series one again on TEN-HD.

Thursday at 10.30pm
The 4400
The 4400 tells the stories of 4,400 people who disappeared over a period of fifty years and they all reappear at the exact same time without any memory of where they’ve been and what happened to them.

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36 Responses

  4. If you’re watching Capital, you’re watching analogue. So, no.
    If you have a digital receiver, then yes, as all digital channels across australia will have the same station numbers – regardless of who broadcasts their analogue counterparts.

  6. >Just a reminder… this is on >Channel 1, the normal Ten schedule >will still be avaliable in HD on >Channel 12.
    No it won’t. 12 redirects to 1, there is only one HD channel, there will always only be on HD channel.

  8. So does that mean that TEN HD will not be showing Friday Night Lights David?
    I’m glad about Veronica Mars though!
    And Smallville. Maybe we’ll finally get to Season 7!

  13. People, these multichannel programs can’t be on any earlier unless you don’t want your favourite primetime shows in HD. Just imagine the outcry as we’ve seen on Seven already where HD programming is being replaced with alternative programming on the HD channel. Just imagine if your fav shows such as House etc etc weren’t in HD with some reject show being shown in the 8:30pm slot. The HD multichannel has to balance a fine line between airing original HD programming and suplimentary programming.

  15. There is no indication that Veronica Mars, Battlestar, Smallville etc are to air on TEN analogue.

    They do not appear in the schedule for the same week as this HD list.

    It would seem they are programmed as HD exclusive yes.

    In answer to other qs it’s unclear how Bold & Beautiful airs at 4.30 on analogue and 5pm on HD. News at Five looks even clumsier at 5.30.

    SciFi Saturdays is now SciFi Thursdays – not quite the same ring.

    Neighbours will be replaced by Futurama over summer.

  17. I might as vell ask ‘ere, but vhot vill be taking over Neighbours vhen ze series finishes?

    (I might as well ask here, but what will be talking over Neighbours when the series finishes?)

  19. Wait! Does this mean Veronica Mars and Smallville will ONLY BE SHOWN on HD? So if we don’t have it, we won’t be able to see how Veronica Mars ends?

    Say it isn’t so!

  21. Does this mean that Battlestar Galactica- season 3, and the remaining episodes of season 3 of The Office will ONLY be screened on the HD channel?

    Are all channels going to do this in the future, put all there non-rating/poor rating programs onto the HD channel, and only show stuff that rates on the SD channel?

  22. I’m disappointed that Veronica Mars hasn’t been given an earlier timeslot, but at least it’s back. 😀

    I’m also glad to see Smallville and Torchwood back on the schedule, although I’m (again…) disappointed that Smallville will STILL be censored.

    The current Ten HD schedule is extremely underwhelming, but hopefully TEN will make up for things after the Xmas period.

    For one I’d like to see the return of The O.C. and Everybody Hates Chris soon. 😀

  23. They’re putting Veronica Mars at 10:30? Ridiculous! I was all excited to see it return and they decide to put it on late? Geez that’s passed my bedtime!!

  25. I’m a little disappointed that the ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ is not listed for the HD channel. It is broadcast in HD from CBS and it’s been great to have it out here like that. Unless of course they’re doing a Channel 9 and putting it on later in the night 🙁 I love that show

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