CBS And Mitsubishi Announce HDTV Fall Lineup
CBS Television and Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. (MDEA) recently announced CBS' high definition primetime entertainment schedule for the upcoming 1999/2000 television season. The lineup, which features 12 hours of weekly programming on 15 of CBS' primetime entertainment series, represents the most extensive HDTV programming package ever presented on broadcast or cable television. All series will be broadcast in 1080I high definition television format. New series premiering this fall on CBS that will be presented in HDTV are ""Ladies Man"" (premiering Monday, September 20, 8:30-9:00 p.m., ET/PT), ""Family Law"" (premiered Monday, September 20, 10:00-11:00 p.m., ET/PT), ""Judging Amy"" (premiered Tuesday, September 21, 10:00-11:00 p.m., ET/PT), ""Work With Me"" (premiered Wednesday, September 29, 8:30-9:00 p.m., ET/PT) and ""Love Or Money"" (premiering Friday, October 8, 8:30-9 p.m., ET/PT). Returning series to be broadcast in high definition are ""Touched By An Angel"" (premiered Sunday, September 26, 8-9 p.m., ET/PT), ""The King Of Queens"" (premiered Monday, September 20, 8-8:30 p.m.), ""Everybody Loves Raymond"" (premiered Monday, September 20, 9:00-9:30 p.m., ET/PT), ""Becker"" (premiered Monday, September 20, 9:30-10:00 p.m., ET/PT), ""Jag"" (premiered Tuesday, September 21, 8-9 p.m., ET/PT), ""Diagnosis Murder (premiered Thursday, September 23, 8-9 p.m., ET/PT), ""Chicago Hope"" (premiered Thursday, September 23, 9-10 p.m., ET/PT), ""Nash Bridges"" (premiered Friday, September 24, 10-11 p.m., ET/PT),""Early Edition"" (premiered Saturday, September 25, 8-9 p.m., ET/PT) and ""Martial Law"" (premiered Saturday, September 25, 9-10 p.m., ET/PT). On May 8, 1999, CBS and MDEA announced that Mitsubishi would sponsor CBS' fall lineup, underwriting exclusively the costs associated with producing the majority of the CBS Television Network's primetime series entertainment programming in HDTV. Since that time, CBS and MDEA have also announced plans to broadcast in high definition format the semi-finals and finals of the 1999 U.S. Open Tennis Championship that were broadcast September10-12. At the beginning of each HDTV primetime broadcast, there will be an on-air banner, simulcast in HDTV and analog, informing viewers of the Mitsubishi sponsorship. Some of the five-second banners will include URLs to direct viewers to Mitsubishi's digital consumer products. Eighteen of CBS' owned and affiliated stations are currently broadcasting in digital, covering approximately 38 percent of the nation. By November 1, CBS expects to be transmitting digital programming across approximately 40 stations, reaching more than 50 percent of the country. While the sponsorship with CBS is largely being underwritten by MDEA, it is also being supported by its parent company, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Japan and Mitsubishi Wireless Communications, Inc. CBS Corporation, the world's largest pure-play media company, is composed of CBS Television, Cable and a majority stake in Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, its radio and outdoor business. CBS Television is comprised of the CBS Television Network and 14 CBS owned television stations, seven of which are in top-10 markets. CBS Cable consists of two country networks and regional sports operations. Infinity Broadcasting Corporation operates 163 radio stations and TDI, the company's outdoor business. Infinity recently entered into an agreement to acquire Outdoor Systems, Inc. About Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. (MDEA) manufactures and markets a comprehensive line of premium quality, NTSC and HDTV-upgradeable projection televisions, VCRs, DVD players and audio products for complete home theater systems. Recognized as the world leader and innovator of big screen and digital television receiver technology, MDEA develops audio and video products that lead the industry in performance, ease-of-use and system integration. For additional information about MDEA, visit http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com.