| VOOM
HD Networks general manager Greg Moyer said, "VOOM provides a platform for
viewers who are looking to maximize the power of HD, and in the gaming category
Gameplay HD is the leader in this next generation of channels. The channel takes
advantage of the growing demand for global entertainment and video gaming and
now, with new advancements, the manufacturing of games in high definition. Working
with CNET affords us the ability to collaborate with an authoritative voice as
we delve into this gaming revolution." "With
HD playing a leading role in next generation game content, we're excited to be
working with a partner who shares our belief in developing authentic brand experiences
around points of passion to bring the GameSpot name and programming to this platform
in a way that celebrates games and gamers in true high-def format," for "This
also underscores how far the production values of broadband video have come and
how well Internet-native content can translate to the most demanding of broadcast
mediums," said CNET's Games & Entertainment division's vice president
of strategy and development Keith Bencher. Mark
DeAngelis serves as vice president of programming for Gameplay HD. Earlier, DeAngelis
was VP of Creative Services for Rainbow Media, and an independent producer for
15 years, where he collaborated on projects for Madonna and The Rolling Stones,
Times, Rolex, and Hearst Entertainment. "Gameplay
HD offers the most comprehensive content dedicated to the video game industry,
and delivers it in hi-definition and 5.1 surround sound. Gameplay HD also offers
the most worldwide tournament coverage, bringing together gamers from across the
globe. We look forward to working with Gamespot to create great originals for
the channel that will continue to add to our already growing library of visually
stunning HD programming, states DeAngelis. As
gaming becomes more mainstream, it has slowly invaded movies, television, and
other forms of mass media. The channel features three tiers of entertainment including
news and information from the industry, original series & specials, and tournaments
and competitions from around the world.
Within each
tier of entertainment Gameplay HD will feature games from publishers such as Ubisoft,
NCsoft, SEGA and Blizzard Entertainment.
The
programming includes: Original
Series & Specials: The
original programming block includes the co-created CinemAddicts with GameSpot,
where viewers are presented a cinematic video game experience through some of
the best next generation games out there. It brings the stories inside the game
to life, in an entertaining way, by bridging actual gameplay with cinematics to
deliver a cohesive storyline. Among the games featured are Condemned: Criminal
Origins and Prince of Persia:The Two Thrones. Advanced
Training turns the average gamer into an amazing gamer. This innovative series
brings the top pro gamers and developers to assist in making you a pro by giving
game exclusives, key strategic insights into how to play the game and hidden secrets
and tips to give you that definitive edge. Tournaments: This
month, the channel covers the 2005 digital life Global Gaming League (GGL) Tournament,
the leading competitive video gaming league for gamers of every skill level as
video gamers compete for their share of $100,000 in prizes. The
Blizzard Worldwide Invitational Tournament event is also covered from Seoul, Korea
where the world's best gamers of Warcraft and Starcraft converge at the Coex Center
for the finals. Building
on the popularity of gaming in the Asian market, Gameplay HD covers the Guild
Wars World Championship in Taipei, Taiwan. Throughout the three months of qualifications
and after a fiercely competitive Regional Playoff, six teams have proved their
mettle and will be representing their guilds and their regions at the Taipei Game
Show. Team members from Brazil, Alaska, Finland and Korea, among other countries,
will take the stage to determine who will be the 2006 Guild Wars World Champion. News
& Information: CNET
Networks' Gamespot produces a half-hour series called GameSpotting that
features interviews with video game editors, designers and publishers. Games featured
include the Xbox 360 high definition games, like Amped 3, and Peter Jackson's
King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie. The
Art of Play show gives viewers a full access pass inside next generation games
through stunning gameplay footage, in-game cinematics, and voice-over that take
viewers on a visceral tour through each game's highlights. Games featured include:
Peter Jackson's King Kong and Beyond Good & Evil. Price
Waterhouse Coopers forecasted video games to eclipse music as the second most
popular form of entertainment by 2008 with worldwide consumer spending on video
games estimated to hit $55 billion compared to $34 billion for recorded music.
According to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), U.S. computer and video
game software sales grew four percent in 2005 to $7 billion, a more than doubling
of industry software sales since 1996. In 2005, the ESA also reported more than
228 million computer and video games were sold, almost two games for every household
in America. The worldwide market for video games and interactive entertainment
will grow 44% from $23.2 billion in 2003 to $33.4 billion in 2008, according to
DFC Intelligence. | 
