ION Eyes HD for Early 2008

ION Media Networks will launch ION Television HD, the HD version of its flagship network, in the first quarter of 2008.

ION HD will be transmitted in 720p (progressive) and will be carried on all 60 ION stations nationwide.

Partially owned by NBC, ION airs a mix of vintage programming, such as Who’s the Boss and Mama’s Family, and films, sports and reality programming. Last month, ION worked out a national carriage deal with cable operator Mediacom Communications.

“Launching ION HD is the next step in our multiplatform digital strategy,” ION CEO Brandon Burgess said. “The transformation of our network to digital from analog and the conversion of ION Television to HD will allow us to deliver to our distribution partners and television audience HD-quality content and additional special-interest digital networks.”

Michael Malone

Michael Malone, senior content producer at B+C/Multichannel News, covers network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television. He hosts the podcasts Busted Pilot, about what’s new in television, and Series Business, a chat with the creator of a new program, and writes the column “The Watchman.” He joined B+C in 2005. His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Playboy and New York magazine.