On Sept. 9, DirecTV will add Charleston-Huntington, W. VA, Columbia, S.C., and Huntsville-Decatur, AL. Finally, on Oct. 9, DirecTV will add local HD channels in Jackson, MS and in Lexington, KY.

The added cities will bring DirecTV’s local HD channel coverage to 91-percent of U.S. households. Currently, DirecTV covers 89-percent of U.S. households.

DirecTV will provide local HD programming from the primary broadcast networks which include ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC. Subscribers must have the CHOICE programming package and continue to pay the $10 access fee for HD channels.

To utilize the service customers must have a DISH Network ViP Series DVR receiver which is connected to Windstream broadband service.

Windstream customers who have their DVR connected to broadband can also access additional on demand content.

Windstream Corporation provides high-speed Internet, digital phone and high-definition video and entertainment services to residential and business customers in 16 states.

HDNet’s “Inside MMA” is a weekly program dedicated to news and happenings from the world of Mixed Martial Arts. The show’s hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten are joined by weekly special guests for in-depth discussions on the sport. “Inside the MMA” has been running on HDNet since September 2007.

For example, if you upload a video and its URL is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxyJ_ZQVhTI, add &hd=1 to the end to get a larger and higher resolution video playback. Hence, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxyJ_ZQVhTI&hd=1 would be the complete URL.

Here is some more information on uploading HD video directly from the YouTube blog:

“To embed the HD version of a video on a website or blog, click the ‘customize’ button to the right of the embed box on the video page. Some options will appear; simply check ‘play in HD’. The embed code that’s generated will cause the video to start playing in HD as soon as a viewer clicks play. We recommend embedding HD videos at the largest size (853×505) for maximum enjoyment.”

The new HD channels from Time Warner include: USA HD (Ch. 777), Sci-Fi HD (Ch. 778), CNBC HD (Ch. 788), Disney HD (Ch. 775), ABC Family HD (Ch. 774), ESPN News HD (Ch. 782), Golf HD (Ch. 779), Outdoor Channel HD (Ch. 781), National Geographic HD (Ch. 767), Discovery HD (Ch. 763), Fox News Channel HD (Ch. 786), Speed HD (Ch. 780), CNN News HD (Ch. 785), History Channel HD (Ch. 769), Bravo HD (Ch. 759).

The article says with the additions Time Warner now offers 22 high-definition channels in Ironton.

For customers who subscribe to Cox Communications, the cable company says they will add nine new HD channels beginning July 28. Those new channels will include: FX HD, BET HD, MTV HD, VH1 HD, Spike HD, CMT HD, Comedy HD, Nickelodeon HD, and Cartoon Network HD.

The OCRegister article says Verizon leads the HD channel lineup with a total of 127 HD channels. Cox Communications trails by less than half that number with a total of 62 HD channels.

Unfortunately, not all the films are offered in HD. When searching my guide I only found “American President” and “National Treasure” available in high-definition. Both were priced $3.99.

To locate the titles, look in the FiOS TV Video On Demand guide. There you will find a special folder called “Star Spangled Hits” which contains the discounted films. You can also find the titles under the regular movies listings in the VOD guide.

The discounted titles will be available from now until July 6.

The regular prices of the LN40B550 and LN52B550 are $1,099 and $1,999. On the 40-inch you get $200 off the list and on the 52-inch you save $400.

Both Samsung models are 1080p resolution with a nice 70,000:1 contrast ratio and 6ms response time. Wide Color Enhancer 2 technology enables more vivid colors. Service includes 4 HDMI connections as well as 2 component, USB, PC and digital audio output.

The “Red Touch of Color” bevel design adds a hint of red translucent color around the edges (see photo below). Both models are also Energy Star compliant.

These are no old clearance items either. Both models were first introduced on Amazon.com in March ‘09 and are available from the Amazon warehouse. Samsung also offers the LNB550 series in 32-inch, 37-inch, and 46-inch sizes. Here is a full list of the Samsung models.

The Blu-ray Disc will be presented in 2.35:1 widescreen and formatted with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Extras include deleted scenes, “The Making of State of Play,” and U-Control interactive featurettes and historical exploration of Washington, D.C. State of Play is scheduled to hit the streets Sept. 1.

Cult comedies Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz will be released on Blu-ray September 22. Both movies are presented in 1080p video resolution with Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.

Shaun of the Dead stars Simon Pegg as slacker/zombie-hunter Shaun who must save himself and his friends from bloodthirsty zombies. Shaun of the Dead extras include a U-Control Zombie-O-Meter which presents trivia as the movie rolls, trailers and TV spots, deleted scenes, outtakes, casting tapes, and audio commentary.

Hot Fuzz once again stars Simon Pegg but this time as officer Nicholas Angel who is so good at his job he makes everyone else on the force look bad. Angel is moved to small town where he eventually finds there is plenty of crime to investigate. Hot Fuzz - Ultimate Edition will include over 20 deleted scenes, outtakes, video blogs, Forensic (Featurettes), “The Evidence Room,” Special Effects (Before and After), and audio commentary among other extras.

All the Blu-ray releases feature BD-Live with My Scenes and U-Control allowing the viewer to access deeper content while the movie still plays.

State of Play and Hot Fuzz are currently not available for pre-order. However, Shaun of the Dead is available for pre-order at $19.99 (regular $29.98 MSRP).

How the Earth Was Made is a History Channel program which chronicles the Earth’s cataclysmic transformations throughout history. From being covered in water and ice, to being bombarded by meteorites, Peter Chin takes you through Earth’s fantastic journey. The Blu-ray Disc is presented in 1.33:1 aspect ratio and runs 94-minutes.

Today’s Blu-ray releases also have no shortage of arts, music and dance related titles. You can check out Ted Nugent: Motor City Mayhem - 6,000th Concert or John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers and Friends: 70th Birthday Concert. For arts, Moretti: Caravaggio presents 93-minutes of modern ballet in hi-def, while composer Tan Dun presents an opera portraying Venetian explorer Marco Polo in Tan Dun: Marco Polo - An Opera Within an Opera.

Check out the list of today’s releases below and visit Amazon.com for pricing.

12 Rounds
Do the Right Thing
Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience
Barbra Streisand: Live in Concert 2006
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li
Ted Nugent: Motor City Mayhem - 6,000th Concert
Two Lovers
Tokyo!
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers and Friends: 70th Birthday Concert
Flawless
How the Earth Was Made
Wagner: Die Walkure
Seven (Listed as being released but out-of-stock)
Moretti: Caravaggio
Transmorphers: Fall of Man
Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos
Chopin: La Dame aux Camelias
Tan Dun: Marco Polo - An Opera Within an Opera
Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk
Black Christmas

He added, “Whether it’s movies, sports, news or kids programming, we will bring HD to our customers the way they want to watch it – live or on their own schedule.”

Here’s a list of the new HD channels in Millersburg, PA:

1. AMC HD
2. Animal Planet HD
3. Biography HD
4. Bravo HD
5. Cartoon Network HD
6. CNBC HD
7. CNN HD
8. Disney XD HD
9. E! HD
10. Encore HD
11. ESPN News HD
12. Fox Business Network HD
13. Fuse HD
14. FX HD
15. G4 HD
16. Hallmark Movie Network HD
17. History HD
18. IFC HD
19. Lifetime HD
20. Lifetime Movie Network HD
21. MGM HD
22. NBA-TV HD
23. Nickelodeon HD
24. NHL Network HD
25. Planet Green HD
26. QVC HD
27. Spike HD
28. Style HD
29. Travel HD
30. TV One HD
31. TWC HD
32. WE HD

The triple service from Verizon includes FiOS TV, Internet and Phone for $119 a month with a one-year agreement. New customers must pay for shipping and taxes on the Compaq. Other bundle offers give you an option of a Flip Ultra Camcorder instead of the Compaq.

You can call 1-866-709-3467 to check for service in your area or inquire on the Verizon website. Signups online get $5 off per month for one-year.

The 25-inch ST251MKB (24.6″ viewable) has a 16:9 aspect ratio, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 2ms “X-Celerate” response time, and includes a 6′ HDMI cable. At 1080p, the display could also be used as a large computer monitor. The LCD comes with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty which Costco extends to 2-years.

Hannspree is a Taiwanese company which has headquarters in Irvine, CA.  The company maintains the Hannspree, Hanns-G, and I-INC brands of consumer electronics and information technology products.

“We know customers want a better choice to break free from cable, and AT&T U-verse is the answer,” said Kevin Petersen, vice president and general manager, AT&T Illinois.

U-verse is an Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV) service which is delivered using AT&T’s fiber-optic and existing telephone grid. Basic U-verse service starts at $49 a month (plus taxes & fees).

A joint statement from the satellite companies released on Friday said, “DIRECTV and DISH Network applaud the Kentucky Supreme Court’s unanimous decision today to strike down the Kentucky law allowing local governments to tax satellite TV.

“The decision is a resounding affirmation of federal law that was designed to promote competition by preventing local governments from imposing unfair taxes on satellite TV service. In addition to promoting competition, Congress imposed the prohibition because it believed it was inappropriate to impose burdensome taxes on national TV services that beam their signals directly to homes from satellites and, unlike cable TV services, do not use or impact public property.

Some popular movie trailers include “2012“, “Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince” and the Twilight sequel “New Moon.”

You should also check out YouTube’s new movies page where they provide full-length low budget, cult, and independent films. A couple titles that have been wasting my time include “The Hunt For Gollum” (Independent Online Cinema), and Ursula Andress in “Slave of the Cannibal God” (although I’m not by any means suggesting you watch this one).

A few full-length movies you may have heard of in the mainstream include “Super Size Me“, “The Karate Kid II” and “Buena Vista Social Club.”

“Cable has been the only game in town for too long, and we’re excited to change that today in Corpus Christi,” said Chris Penrose, vice president and general manager, AT&T South Texas.

Coincidentally, Texas was the first state where U-verse was offered back in 2005. The service offers pure internet protocol-based television (IPTV) through its fiber-optic and copper network. The package includes U-verse High Speed, U-verse Voice (IP-managed), and U-verse TV.

In the game you assume the role of Jet Brody, a demolitions expert in the Atlantic Alliance army in the middle of the 22nd century. Using futuristic weaponry, you can reshape the battlefield (Terrain Deformation) as you face genetically enhanced soldiers of the Pacifican army.

“Fracture” allows both multi-player and co-operative play. Check out the Amazon price cut.

“Xbox LIVE Arcade is an important platform in our overall strategic plan,” said Gui Karyo, Executive Vice President of Operations for Majesco. “Serious Sam has a long history of console success and this graphically enhanced version is a great first title to kick off our Xbox Live Arcade initiative.”

Serious Sam is a first person shooter (FPS) originally released for the PC market in 2001. Other versions were eventually created for Xbox, Nintendo, and PS2 platforms. Serious Sam: The First Encounter HD will bring back the original series on an evolved engine and will allow 4-player online co-op.

He had this to say about the acquisition: “As trite as it may be for me to say that I am extremely pleased and excited about this deal, I am. This puts id Software in a wonderful position going forward.”

id Software will still be releasing it’s new Doom 4 title on multiple platforms. Rumors are ZeniMax will get the publishing rights. Coming August 4, vintage classic Wolfenstein will be released for Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows PC. The game, built on the Quake III Arena engine, is a collaboration between id Software and Activision Publishing.