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Now Broadband TV is a service from pccw in Hong Kong (and is restricted to Hong Kong). As the name suggests, channels are delivered via broadband Internet connection - if you subscribe, pccw supply a small box to transfer signals to your tv. Strong picture quality and sound: better than quality of terrestrial channels at my place; though also prone to halting during thunderstorms, as my broadband connection then stops n starts.
When I first got Now TV, seemed rather futuristic to receive tv channels this way, and to so readily have big increase in channels choice from terrestrial tv in Hong Kong - especially given I live on Cheung Chau, where don't have cable service. But went to UK at Xmas, and experienced DVR set top box: just connect this to aerial socket, and host of free channels available; could record them on hard drive too - even "pausing" tv shows so could stop watching, then return to hit play and see the programme continue as if it had been recorded throughout. Very cool. (Technology of Broadband TV may improve with advent of HD in Hong Kong; but must wonder re programming.)
After this experience, Now Broadband tv seems a tad outmoded, chiefly as don't have recording function: Slightly Dated Broadband TV might be better moniker.
Appropriate, perhaps, as tend to get programmes shown months or years after they were first aired in US/UK - which doesn't stop announcers excitedly referring to "All-new" episodes, never mind if they've been aired months ago in Hong Kong (even a year and more ago overseas). Among the more extreme examples: Star TV airing the "all new" episodes of first season of Prison Break - with guys in jail, closely followed by TVP Pearl showing season two, with guys on the lam.
Now Broadband TV English channels
Children's
CBeebies
The BBC's kids' channel is strong, with shows for young children such as Teletubbies, Bill and Ben (yay! - Hello Little Weed!, tho not the same as when I was a kid), Big Cook, Little Cook ("We've got the campest kitchen in town!"). Not too long between repeats, though, with rather limited selection of shows.
As I write in mid-Jan 08, CBeebies here odd as between shows, has something re getting ready for Xmas - either Cbeebies likes to be way ahead of the curve, or someone's asleep in the control room.
[I haven't seen Baby TV; even the ads make me feel a bit bilious; and my lad's just that bit old for it. I never really thought too highly of things like Baby Einstein, anyway.]
TV Comedies/Dramas
AXN
Seems to be action-oriented, inc shows with guys fighting or pretending to fight (wrestling type stuff), cars zooming about, people doing barmy things in Fear Factor.
Some good series though - such as CSI (all three of em), Kidnapped, The Shield, House, Damages. Also shows the Amazing Race; and the feebler Amazing Race Asia.
BBC Entertainment
Was called BBC Prime - though I rather figured BBC Past Its Prime might be better, as almost no new shows, and plenty from the past; despite the name change, this remains the case. Prone to abundant repeats: if you haven't seen Absolutely Fabulous, Red Dwarf by now, watch BBC Entertainment for a while, and you'll likely soon find them.Though at least the early evenings are no longer so dominated by shows re food and gardening - can't see many Hong Kong families have space for water features!
Catherine Tate among best comedies around at the moment; Little Britain ruder and more repetitive (I've mostly only seen on dvd; dunno how much of references to "fisting" etc makes it on air here). Also some good dramas, such as Waking the Dead, Spooks, Murder Prevention.
Doctor Who reached BBC Entertainment a couple of years or so late, after I'd seen on dvd, and it had been shown on terrestrial, ATV World channel (not known for being too hot with material). Might we later get the spin-off Torchwood (now also on ATV)? Once enough cobwebs have covered the originals in the UK, perhaps.
Oddly, in early 2008, during several shows there's tendency to have blurring over even a hint of female cleavage: whether in young teenage girls, young women, or even middle-aged women. I wondered if the shows involved had been readied for markets such as in the Middle East, but have learned since the cleavage censors are in Singapore, where maybe govt wishes people reproduced by asexual budding.
Star TV
Though Asian origin, airs mainly US shows, typically from series with episodes lasting half an hour or an hour (including adverts). Some pap, of course - I'm glad Fashion House has finished, for time being, but also good selection of watchable and strong shows, with comedies such as Malcolm in the Middle, The Simpsons, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives (latter more my wife's cup of tea). Also runs American Idol, and the excellent Heroes.
It's here that I really notice fondness for announcing "all-new episodes" of series - even if these episodes aired aeons ago in US, where might be whole new season underway or finished by now.
Hallmark
With this name, and logo suggesting there is strong link to greetings card company, I figured this would be mainly for soppy movies n dramas. But has a little crunchy drama, too - like Wire in the Blood. Sometimes from Britain, which is good given mostly US origin for Star World etc, and BBC Entertainment's often threadbare schedules. It's also a movie channel - perhaps primarily so, tho to me the tv dramas more interesting so far.
Plus, gotta love a channel that shows a series called Doc Martin.
Downside, lately: seems to get becalmed at times, showing movies and promotions for them umpteen times. Dunno how often I've flicked over, seen actors puffing merits of Gulliver's Travels or Merlin: when I did so, flicked right away again.
Movie Channels
HBO, HBO Hits, HBO Family, HBO Signature and Cinemax
A set of channels from Home Box Office. Tend to show uninspiring selection of movies - box office successes, perhaps, but rarely real interesting films, and little that's quirky (Being John Malkovich type, say). Instead, you're liable to find someone like Bruce Willis running around shooting guns, or some boys from da hood up to no good, fast cars racing around, and so on. (Yeah, get rather softer stuff on HBO Family, tho even here I've seen odd choices for kids. HBO Signature is supposedly for adults, but nothing too titillating when I've bothered checking, albeit during Rome got to see flashes of nudity, and maybe more blatant blood spilling.)
BUT - yes, big but - the HBO dramas are indeed often quirky, and can be superb. The Sopranos has to be king of these series, but also Deadwood, Carnivale, Six Feet Under (now finished), Rome (one season only, as yet). All on HBO/HBO Signature. As with the beeb, may have to wait - and even wait a long time - before these make it here from the US. Rome perhaps made it quite fast, but last season of Sopranos taking yonks.
I've emailed to ask if they'll show another HBO series, The Wire - having read it's superb, but no reply: tho I've lately seen first two series on DVD, and indeed cracking, tho maybe there are concerns re language centred on F-word, plus pacing as takes time for stories to unfold.
Cinemax has also shown a tv series: the excellent Battlestar Galactica.
Star Movies
Another movie channel. Movies much as on HBO channels.
Documentaries
Discovery; Animal Planet; Discovery Science; Discovery Real Time; Home and Health; Travel and Living
A suite of channels from Discovery.
As you'd guess, Discovery is the prime channel, with a variety of documentaries.
Animal Planet also strong - mostly nature documentaries, a few covering captive animals (such as following US teams who're like animal cruelty cops).
Discovery Science a disappointment to me. I love science, yet find very few shows here that interest me. Seems a fair few are technology rather than science, maybe looking at planes or whatever. Annoying clips between programmes, in black and white with style echoing 50s tv and minimal info about advent of Internet or painkillers (which, ho ho, can help stop a guy's wife's headache so they can get it on together).
Discovery Real Time is for guys. But as I'm not into cars or fishing, I don't watch it. (C'mon, can't you think of other things guys are interested in - you need clues or something?)
Home and Health seems more a women's channel. Getting along with spouses, giving birth, raising babies, fashion tips and so on.
Travel and Living can have some good shows - inc travel with Ian Wright (much better being a daft lad, eating sheeps' eyes and the like, than hobnobbing with rich folk), cooking with goddess Nigella.
National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, A1
Three channels from National Geographic.
Rather as with Discovery, the main channel - National Geographic - seems to have the key documentaries, covering wide range.
National Geographic Wild is indeed about wildlife, and people involved in wildlife and conservation. Like Discovery docs, strong emphasis on guys running about catching deadly snakes and the like.
Nat Geo Adventure is focused on adventure travel. At times look more amateurish than documentaries on main channel, but are people going to limits - running across deserts, climbing vast remote cliffs.
BBC: BBC Knowledge and BBC Lifestyle
Two relatively new channels from the BBC.
As you'd guess, Knowledge mainly includes documentaries. Though also some reality shows; and generally not hard-hitting, insightful documentaries. Top Gear shown, too: more entertainment than documentary.
Lifestyle has programmes as you may guess, inc on how to look younger, dress better...
Sport
ESPN Star Sports Cricket Live
Because the Broadband channel I have includes ESPN and Star Sports, I was entitled to discount on the cricket channel. Took a while deciding, but eventually went for it late last year.
Oh dear. I'm an England fan, so watching cricket on this channel has often proven painful.
The channel is primarily aimed at India - so get adverts for India. Commentary ok: I think as per Sky TV in UK. But pricey, esp given that simply carries feeds from elsewhere, with repetitive music and uninformative text between this.
In autumn 2007, seemed to abandon being "live" channel, instead running repeats of matches played a few months earlier - and ignoring international matches being played in Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. I emailed Now TV, suggesting better to rename it ESPN Star Sports Cricket Sometimes Live But Often Repeats. Been some return to more live cricket - but none of England vs Sri Lanka (maybe best for me, given the drubbing England received!); nor England vs New Zealand.
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