Courtesy: http://www.airfarce.com/newsreleases.html
Monday October 1, 2006Air Farce Goes HD Starting October 6!
Royal Canadian Air Farce becomes Canada’s first High Definition sketch-comedy series, starting this Friday October 6 on CBC Television.
Originating at CBC’s new HD studio in Toronto, and recorded digitally on tapeless servers, the long-running highly-rated comedy series will be available in widescreen high definition (16:9, 1080i) over CBC’s east and west HD transmitters, and throughout Canada on digital cable and satellite services.
Estimates of HD ownership and viewing suggest that up to 20% of Canadians are currently watching HD, with sales of new sets and cable/satellite subscriptions increasing daily.
For the 80% of the population viewing standard definition television, Air Farce will be shown in full-height “edge crop” style, similar to most U.S. network comedies and sports, with the wider picture available only in HD. Audio will be presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound.
“The switch to HD is a major change in our production style,” says Air Farce producer and star Don Ferguson. “It must be as dramatic a change as when television switched from black-and-white to colour in the mid-1960s.” Sets have been redesigned, character hair and makeup improved, and CBC’s Studio 42 has been completely upgraded with digital HD cameras and control room.
“Air Farce will look better and sharper than ever,” says Ferguson, adding “We’ve ordered nose-hair trimmers for all the cast. Well, the men, anyway.”
Royal Canadian Air Farce attracts over a million viewers every week with its funny and fearless topical comedy and political satire. The series resumes on CBC Television, Fridays at 8:00 PM (8:30 NL) starting October 6, with instant replays on CBC, Mondays at 7:30 PM (8:00 NL) starting October 9, both available in HDTV. Friday's HD broadcast is at 8:00 PM Eastern Time on CBC HD East, and 8:00 PM Pacific Time on CBC HD West. Monday's HD repeat is at 7:30 ET on CBC HD-E and 7:30 PT on CBC HD-W.
