For many of us, our first exposure to HDTV was standing in awe at the local electronics store, watching never before seen TV images in unbelievable detail, with camera shots from places that we never had been.
Whether it was watching the morning dew in a rainforest, the latest fashion trends from New York, or news from around the world, Voom took us there.
Long before the major national networks got serious about HD broadcasting, let alone HD content, Voom was there. Rather than simply shooting the same types shows with a different camera, several channels and programs were dedicated to the new and unique.
When we first subscribed to Voom through Dish Network, I asked my wife if it was really worth the $10 a month for the channels. We both agreed that, other than the WOW factor when the neighbors came over, it probably wasn't a good deal. However, we considered Voom as a good investment in the "cause" of original HD programming.
Then something happened, I'm still not sure what. Voom seemed to back off on new content. Nothing was sudden, just fewer new programs. I assumed that we were asking too much. Somewhat like the early days of SDTV, when networks could only produce a limited number of shows.
Then the national networks caught-up. Many of our favorite programs were now in HD. They offered little unique, just a better picture. We just slowly found ourselves watching less and less Voom. I believe that many others did the same.
The loss of Voom isn't so much about Voom's failure to invest in new programming. It isn't about Charlie's need for more bandwidth. It is about the loss of the network that truly pioneered HD programming.
Yes, it is a sad day for HDTV.
Whether it was watching the morning dew in a rainforest, the latest fashion trends from New York, or news from around the world, Voom took us there.
Long before the major national networks got serious about HD broadcasting, let alone HD content, Voom was there. Rather than simply shooting the same types shows with a different camera, several channels and programs were dedicated to the new and unique.
When we first subscribed to Voom through Dish Network, I asked my wife if it was really worth the $10 a month for the channels. We both agreed that, other than the WOW factor when the neighbors came over, it probably wasn't a good deal. However, we considered Voom as a good investment in the "cause" of original HD programming.
Then something happened, I'm still not sure what. Voom seemed to back off on new content. Nothing was sudden, just fewer new programs. I assumed that we were asking too much. Somewhat like the early days of SDTV, when networks could only produce a limited number of shows.
Then the national networks caught-up. Many of our favorite programs were now in HD. They offered little unique, just a better picture. We just slowly found ourselves watching less and less Voom. I believe that many others did the same.
The loss of Voom isn't so much about Voom's failure to invest in new programming. It isn't about Charlie's need for more bandwidth. It is about the loss of the network that truly pioneered HD programming.
Yes, it is a sad day for HDTV.