MUMBAI: It is now time for news broadcasting in America to get bitten by the high definition (HD) bug. Rainbow DBS' Voom has launched the first ever 24*7 HD news channel, HDNews (HDN).

Viewers of HDN receive news headlines, weather information, sports highlights, and more with a true-to- life picture that's nearly as real as being on the scene. HDN is available exclusively to subscribers of Voom. Voom has stated that it offers over 30 HD channels. Voom claims to be the first multi-channel video service (MCVS) platform built specifically to deliver HDTV for the rapidly expanding home entertainment market in the US.

HDN features a news-wheel of top headlines, national weather, sports highlights, business updates, and feature material in the categories of health, science, showbiz news and more. All the programming is in HD including news footage, graphics, and in-studio presentation. Newscasters anchor from the custom state-of-the-art set located in New York while regional correspondents based in New York City, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami ensure that every area of the US is covered.

Several organisations contributed to the look of HDN. Among them is Broadway and Hollywood set designer Tim Hunter, who created the anchor set. Additionally, Pyburn Films created the graphics package that complements the images presented on the channel. ACCU-weather developed a HD weather offering for HDN, allowing for constantly updated weather information around the country with custom maps, graphics, and weather technology.

Rainbow Media is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems. Rainbow Media owns and manages networks such as AMC, Fuse, The Independent Film Channel.