Once upon a time, a smattering of new HD channels in one major metropolitan area was a huge deal. Nowadays, it's almost expected that one area or another will experience some HD expansion each week. In order to keep things nice and tidy around here, we deliver high-def expansions, market expansions and anything else dealing with HD channel growth right here. If we missed an area that you're familiar with, drop us a line in comments so everyone can catch up. The more the merrier, we say!

Read - Some cable customers missing WV PBS
Read - Cox adds 2 family-friendly HD channels (Louisiana)
Read - Comcast in Denver to add FX HD on May 31, ION HD on June 9 [Thanks, No]
Read - Comcast of Houston HD expansion [Thanks, DeadPlasmaCell]

Worried about running out of material to watch as you weather the winter blues in Denver? Fret not, as Comcast has announced intentions to add in HDNet (slot 664) and SciFi HD (slot 688) on December 8th. Additionally, Versus / Golf HD will be split into two distinct HD channels (Vs HD on 689; Golf HD on 672), while MOJO HD will sadly drop from the lineup entirely. Two steps forward, one step back.

[Thanks, Dr. No]

We already saw Panasonic's 50-inch TH-50PZ80Q plasma doing the tru2way thing at CEDIA 2008, but the official lever has just been pulled in Denver and Chicago. As of today, Comcast's tru2way platform is active in the aforesaid cities, and the very first tru2way-capable HDTVs are arriving to retail. Eager consumers in the Windy or Mile High City who are ready to ditch the set-top-box altogether without sacrificing VOD and such can polish off their wounded credit cards, as both a 42-inch (TH-42PZ80Q; $1,599.95) and 50-inch (TH-50PZ80Q; $2,299.95) VIERA plasma will be on sale by "late October." As for the rest of the US anxious to dip in the cool, cool waters of tru2way? A few undisclosed locales should be going live with the service "in the coming months," though your guess is as good as ours as to what exactly that means.

Add two more to the growing list of news stations in America that have made the switch to high-def. Word from respective locals informs us that WHNT (the local CBS affiliate) in Huntsville, Alabama is now broadcasting news in HD, while KMGH (the local ABC affiliate) in Denver, Colorado has done the same. Any others out there needing recognition while we're on a roll?

[Thanks, Mike and Steven]

The Mile High City isn't about to be shown up by nearby Salt Lake City or faraway Detroit, as it becomes the third city in the past week to flip on an HD news channel. As of now, residents of Denver, Colorado can catch their local news in high-definition on CBS4, and in case that wasn't enough, Comcast users can look forward to six more networks in glorious HD. Yep, subscribers in the area can finally tune into TLC HD (677), Disney HD (679), ABC Family HD (680), Food HD (681), HGTV HD (682) and Science HD (683). Stay classy, Denver -- we'll be seeing you in five months or so.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - CBS4 begins HD newscasts
Read - Comcast adds six HD channels in Denver

While the actual sets you enjoy high-definition programming on continue to get cheaper and cheaper, the content itself continues to become more costly. In case you couldn't already guess, 2008 will be no different than the years prior, meaning that cable, satellite and fiber subscribers across the country will all likely be seeing rate hikes. According to a recent article in the Denver Post, Comcast users in Colorado will see a rise of about four-percent in their bills, and company spokeswoman Cindy Parsons stated that the hike reflects "...increasing choices in HD viewing options and a $150 million investment in Comcast's Colorado network." Of course, these poor souls aren't alone -- DirecTV is said to be pumping up bills by around four-percent as well, and we've all ideas most other carriers will be jumping at the chance to hop on this bandwagon. Nevertheless, it's worth keeping an eye on your cable bill over the next few months, and it certainly wouldn't hurt to bark in someone's ear if you can't figure out exactly what you're paying extra for.

[Image courtesy of Flickr]

We've already seen 4K projectors head to a number of large US cities, but now said technology is coming to the Mile High city. Reportedly, a new Landmark Theater in Greenwood Village will boast six-screens (one of which utilizes a 4K projector), stadium seats upholstered in leatherette and the ability to pay more for VIP love seat-sized couches and food delivery. If you couldn't guess, Landmark Theaters is hoping to attract the upscale movie viewer, but ticket prices are said to be between $9 and $12 including free popcorn / sodas, which doesn't sound too bad compared to some alternatives.

Denver residents are so close to ending a 8 year battle in the name of digital TV. President Bush has the power to sign legislation that would allow 600,000 Denver-its to receive widespreed OTA HD signals via a brand spanking new broadcast tower on Lookout Mountain. We have a feeling that some of you need a bit of background on this crazy battle over digital signals. Apparently, there is a small group of homeowners that simply adore the four broadcasting towers currently occupying a wooded foothill by Denver. So much so that they have held up the construction of a new tower that while, yes, it will be taller, will also consolidate four towers into one. By the way, these are the same type of people that are afraid of the 'harmful' RF waves that digital towers emit. (That kind of sums it up right there doesn't) But the truth of the matter is that this new tower will emit 75% less then the total output of all four of the current towers in place and freeing up 75 acres of open space that the hippie homeowners should love. This battle needs to end sometime soon since that 2009 legislation requiring broadcasters to serve up digital OTA signals is right around the corner but we have faith in President Bush -- he seems like a casual TV watching sort of guy.

We went and saw everything CEDIA had to offer but we weren't the only ones that had a great time. This years expo posted an eight percent increase in attendants over last years making it the most successful show they have ever hosted. There was more the 600 exhibitors showing off the latest and greatest they have in the custom install market signaling 100 more then last previous years and the best news is there was room for even more booths. Not many as the Denver Convention Center was packed but we are sure they could find more room for the '07 (Sept. 5-9) and '08 (Sept. 3-7) shows.

Rhode Island isn't the only place in America that is desperate to watch the Super Bowl in HD. Denver's Channel 7 is putting up a temporary antenna on top of the tallest building in the city. All we can picture is some dude climbing the building with a coat hanger so his buddies can watch the game in HD. Funny picture.

We have had numerous comments over the last few months that cited Denver's poor ABC over-the-air signal. The station indicated that this tower should help with that signal. In case you were wondering why a large market like Denver is waiting to put up a ATSC tower, you can blame some local residents. According to CARE, Canyon Area Residents for the Environment, they're concerned about an unsightly antenna and the "dangerous" broadcast frequencies it emits.