MSNBC, the NBC Universal network that remains the only cable newser yet to go HD, said it now plans to make the jump to 1080i by June 29. Originally it had hoped to transition closer to last November's elections, or by early 2009.
Recently completed HD facilities and digital equipment at 30 Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, where MSNBC is now based, are already getting daily HD workouts with NBC's "Today" program and "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams." NBCU's business channel also has been transmitting in HD for many months (CNBC HD+), as well as Fox's business venue.
MSNBC's two chief news competitors, CNN and Fox News Channel, jumped to HD quite a while ago, although continuing its 4:3 SD transmissions have not seemed to hurt the HD latecomer with viewers: NBC Universal said its news channel surpassed CNN in primetime ratings in March for the first time. (Meanwhile, Fox News Channel has led the pack in the Nielsen primetime numbers for several years.)
MSNBC's nightly primetime fare typically includes politics-oriented talk shows hosted by Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow. Its wake-up program is "Morning Joe" with Joe Scarborough, a former Republican member of Congress.
Launching any new HD channel these days (as cable's fledgling Fox Business Network or Mark Cuban's HDNet can attest) is only part of the battle to keep, or win over, new HD viewers. The tricky part is securing precious HD channel assignments from major cable and DBS providers, which can take many months or even years.
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