“Waiting for Superman” is making its debut today (Feb. 15) on the DirecTV Cinema video-on-demand service simultaneously with the film’s release on Blu-ray and DVD.
The satellite service is donating a portion of the proceeds from rentals of the documentary ($5.99 for HiDef) to help schools in need through the innovative charity, DonorsChoose.org.

Waiting for “Superman” chronicles the state of public education through the stories of a few families, who are searching for alternatives, and of reformers, proving that all kids can learn. Launched out of a Bronx high school in 2000, DonorsChoose.org enables anyone to connect to public school classrooms in a personal way by funding project requests posted directly by teachers in need.

“Education plays such a vital role in the success of our country’s youth, and DirecTV strives to provide schools with the resources they need to offer a well-rounded curriculum for K-12 students,” said Sarah Lyons, vice president of Upgrade Marketing for DirecTV.

Through DirecTV’s corporate citizenship outreach, the company fosters education through two educational programs: DirecTV Goes to School and DirecTV 4Schools, the latter of which provides qualifying schools with a a free DirecTV system and educational programming to enhance their students’ classroom experience.

– By Scott Hettrick

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will be delivered in HiDef PPV for the first time to DISH Network customers, as well as via a myriad of mobile devices, starting Saturday (Feb. 19) and running through April 2.
Early bird tournament price (until Saturday) is $129, and then $149 thereafter.

The ICC Cricket World Cup, held every four years, will be co-hosted in the sub-continent by Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, and features a 14-nation pool competing for the title. The event opens with Bangladesh playing India on Saturday and will conclude with the championship match in Mumbai on April 2.

In addition to offering the games on HiDef pay-per-view, DISH will also distribute the Cricket World Cup in standard-def through its recently launched IPTV service, DISH World, which allows customers to access DISH Network programming without the need for a satellite dish. Matches are available on a live and delay basis, plus, customers have access to highlights of the day’s matches, broadcast immediately following the full replay of the match. Customers may also record the matches with DISH’s DVR.

In addition, DISH Network customers with a broadband-connected, Sling-enabled receiver have the ability to watch every match on compatible 3G and WiFi-enabled phones, laptops or tablets, including the iPhone® and iPod touch, iPad, Android smartphones and tablets, Windows and Mac Computers, and select BlackBerry devices.

“DISH Network leads the industry with 72 South Asian channels, and we are proud to again bring the Cricket World Cup to our viewers – this year in high definition – and that our broadband-connected, Sling-enabled customers have the ability to watch it live on a variety of mobile devices,” said Chris Kuelling, vice president of International Programming for DISH Network.

– By Scott Hettrick

In an ironic twist, DISH Network parent company EchoStar Corp. has agreed to buy satellite system behemoth Hughes Communications, Inc. for $2 billion.
Hughes, in an earlier iteration, is the company that launched DISH rival DirecTV.

The deal calls for EchoStar to acquire all of the outstanding equity of Hughes and its subsidiaries, including its main operating subsidiary, Hughes Network Systems, LLC. The $2 billion deal includes Hughes debt expected to be refinanced in connection with the transaction. Hughes is the global leader in broadband satellite technologies and services, and a leading provider of managed network services.  The transaction will greatly enhance EchoStar’s capabilities for broadband transport of video and data.

Under the terms of the transaction, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Hughes’ shareholders will receive $60.70 per share without interest, which represents a premium of 31% over Hughes’ unaffected closing share price of $46.43 on January 19, 2011.  The transaction is expected to close later this year, subject to certain closing conditions including receipt of federal regulatory approvals. Investment funds affiliated with Apollo Management IV, L.P., who own a majority of Hughes’ outstanding stock, have approved the transaction by entering into a written shareholder consent.

Pradman Kaul, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hughes, stated, “We are very pleased to announce this transaction as it brings together the two premier providers of satellite communications services and delivers substantial value to our shareholders. By combining Hughes’ operational strength and proven record of customer satisfaction with EchoStar’s expertise in cutting edge satellite video technology, customers will benefit significantly from our shared institutional excellence.”

“There is a unique and compelling fit between Hughes and EchoStar,” said Michael Dugan, President and Chief Executive Officer of EchoStar. “With a rich engineering culture, an extensive fleet of owned and leased satellites, and experienced personnel in communications centers around the world, the combination of EchoStar and Hughes will create a powerful leader in video and data transport.”

To date, Hughes has shipped more than 2.5 million systems to customers in over 100 countries.  Headquartered outside Washington, DC, in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes maintains sales and support offices worldwide.

– By Scott Hettrick

Hilary Swank’s thriller “The Resident” will become one of the first films to debut simultaneously on pay-per-view simultaneously with its theatrical release.
DirecTV‘s PPV movie service DirecTV Cinema will be offered Friday, Feb. 18 for as low as $4.99 for standard definition or $5.99 for 1080p HiDef.
Swank stars as a beautiful and recently separated doctor who finds what appears to be the perfect New York apartment until mysterious events start taking place all around her. The Hammer Films production co-stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Christopher Lee.
“DirecTV Cinema is proud to make “The Resident” available to our customers the very same day it hits theaters,” said Sarah Lyons, vice president, DirecTV Upgrade Marketing.

– By Scott Hettrick

The missing formula to watch Formula One racing in HiDef has finally been created with Formula One Management’s announcement this week that all broadcasters will receive an original HiDef feed at a data rate of 42 Megabits/second (MPEG-2) of all 20-races, qualifying, and practice coverage this season.
That includes the Speed cable channel, which has carried The FIA Formula One World Championship’s standard definition feed, which has been upconverted since 2008 by parent Fox Networks Group.
The most popular form of auto racing in the world reaches more than 500 million unique viewers globally every year, or roughly the same number of members on Facebook.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with this decision and our ability to bring our rabid F1 fan base coverage of their favorite racing in HD in 2011,” said Speed senior VP of production and network operations Rick Miner. He noted that Speed is also installing continuous fiber service to guarantee the best possible picture quality.
The Formula One season opens March 13 with live coverage of the Bahrain Grand Prix. That race and 15 others will be broadcast live and exclusive to Speed in the U.S., with four races shown on Fox.

– By Scott Hettrick

Much of the nation apparently enjoyed a HiDef experience with ESPN Monday night with the Tostitos Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship being watched by more than any program in the history of cable television.
An average of 27,316,000 viewers (P2+) and 17,718,000 households watched Auburn beat Oregon on an unusual play within the last minute, trouncing the previous record set by ESPN Monday Night Football on Oct. 5, 2009 (Green Bay at Minnesota) with 21,839,000 viewers (P2+) and 15,136,000 homes, based on a 15.3 coverage rating.
The rating for the U.S. television universe, 15.3, is higher than four of the past 12 BCS title games; the 27+ million viewers is higher than eight of the 12. Among men 18-34, it was higher than 11 of the 12 games from 1999 – 2010.
More than 619,000 unique viewers watched the game via ESPN3.com, more than double the previous record for a college football game and fourth all-time behind three 2010 FIFA World Cup contests (source: Adobe).  Usage in visits, page views and total minutes on the day on ESPN.com and the ESPN Mobile Web saw increases ranging from 26% to 60% across all categories.
ESPN’s first year of exclusive coverage of the five BCS matchups comprised ESPN, ESPN Radio and ESPN3.com presenting all five BCS Bowl games with ESPN 3D providing exclusive 3D coverage of the Tositios Fiesta Bowl and Tostitos BCS National Championship Game.

– By Scott Hettrick