Finally, Canada is getting a legit digital download option, now that Zip.ca and Sonic Solutions have announced plans to team up on a movie service. Though short on details (according to the PR it is still "exploring a number of models," including a la carte and subscription) CEO Curt Millar's stated goal to become consumer's destination for online movie access should be bolstered by using CinemaNow, since its service is already supported on hardware from TiVo to PC to LG Blu-ray players and more, it shouldn't be too difficult to work with hardware already in customers homes or coming out in the future. Millar told Joystiq his company "would love" to follow Netflix's lead to console access, but don't run to your Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii just yet, Canucks, there's no partnerships to announce yet.

[Via Joystiq]

Not to be confused with the OTA switch to digital, Comcast is apparently ready to resume shoving customers off the analog coil and making room for more HD, DOCSIS 3.0 high speed Internet and other things we like, starting with Boston and Atlanta. Termed "Project Cavalry" it's not removing every channel from analog, but about 40 of them, and as the FCC directed giving customers two digital terminal adapters (pictured) and one digital box for free as long as they remain with Comcast. According to Cable Digital News, Chattanooga picked up 22 new high definition networks and 50Mb Internet service after the digital migration, so it really can't happen fast enough.

Proving it can play well with others, Sony Pictures has decided to throw in with most of the other major studios in the Digital Cinema Implementation Partners to fund digital projection switches across North America. Similar to its existing deal with RealD to go straight to 3D with 4K SXRD equipment, these digital cinemas can be converted to 3D later. Since we first heard about the group's plans to upgrade movie theaters, plans have slowed due to the credit crisis, but with every major studio except Warner Bros. on board, it would seem they've got the backing to make 20,000 digital perfect -- and cheap digital print movie distribution compatible -- sooner rather than later.

Why wait? Rapid City, SD NBC affiliate KNBN went full digital on Monday at 5 a.m., apparently in an effort to get ready for its Super bowl broadcast February 1, even though the federally mandated analog shutoff isn't until February 17. The Rapid City Journal quoted vice president and general manager Jim Simpson saying most calls since the switch were solved by simply rescanning for the new signal -- could it all be so simple?

Spain's been dealing with a pitiful lack of high-def content for awhile now, and just a few months shy of a full year since Sogecable's Canal+ HD showed up, we finally have two more making the trip over. The satellite pay-TV operator Digital+ has delivered a new pair that we can only imagine will go over quite well with locals: Canal+ Deportes HD (sport) and Canal+ Dcine HD (movies). Sure, two ain't many, but are you really going to complain about a 300% increase in available HD material? We thought not.

We know, this whole "digital age" is quite confusing, but what you're looking at above is one of the first Digital Transport Adapters (a Pace DC50X) doled out by Comcast. First and foremost, this box has nothing to do with the impending analog shutoff of broadcast networks in February of next year; instead, Comcast (like many other programming providers) is choosing to push many markets to "all digital" in order to free up bandwidth currently hogged by analog stations. Enter the DTA, which is being used to allow older TVs to still receive channels without the need for a pricey HD DVR. Even the unboxer notes that it's pretty unimpressive, but check the gallery in the read link if you're so inclined.

[Thanks, cypherstream]

We heard earlier this year that Verizon would be caving to the FCC's request and phasing out any remaining analog duplicate channels that it was still hosting, and as of today, the carrier can claim that its fiber-based programming service is completely digital. For those affected, Verizon has been offering up free digital adapters to cope, and as of this very moment, each of its FiOS TV subscribers should be good to go with its 100% digital lineup. The impending digital TV transition has claimed another, but we won't shed a tear for the removal of analog. Coldhearted, but totally justified.

The digital TV transition message may be getting through, with Nielsen stats for October showing the biggest drop in "digital unready" homes in the last six months, going from 8.4% to 7.7%. Could be the tests, the FCC warnings, PSAs, or just procrastination finally wearing off, but whatever it is lets hope the pace keeps up. Amusing & informative viral ads aside, the February 17 deadline continues to approach, although we're sure you're more than ready, right?

While the US of A is gritting its teeth and hoping the world doesn't implode when it switches completely to digital TV next February, many other nations around the globe are just now setting up their own timeline. For China, the magic year looks to be 2015. Professor Huang Yong, the deputy editor-in-chief of China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, recently stated that program production would be "turned from analog to digital" seven years from now, though he didn't say what kind of technology would be used for digital broadcasting. Knowing China, though, it'll cook up something the rest of the globe has no interest in for the sake of saving on licensing fees.

[Image courtesy of DayLife]

Charter's not going all-digital just yet in the Fond du Lac, Wisconsin region, but it is making some changes to make room for additional high-def material. Thanks to a recent realignment, a few analog channels have been moved to the digital tier, which will not only mean more expense for those currently operating sans a digital STB, but freed bandwidth that can be used for new high-definition channels. According to Lisa Washa, Charter's vice president and general manager, the "number one request it gets from customers is for more HD channels," though judging by CTO Marwan Fawaz's comments, you'd think the carrier just wasn't listening. At any rate, you Fond du Lac customers can look forward to an undisclosed amount of new HD options "later this month."

Digital Cinema Implementation Partners (DCIP) -- representing AMC, Cinemark and Regal Cinemas -- has worked out a deal to finance the installation of thousands of digital movie screens starting next year in the U.S. with the help of Lion's Gate, Paramount, Fox, Universal and Disney. Not participating, at least for now, are Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures, with the latter expected to announce a separate deal soon involving the installation of Sony 4K SXRD projectors around the world. Key to the deal? "Virtual print" fees, meant to help defray the expect $70,000 cost to switch to 3D-ready digital projection setups, as the studios will kick in the $800 - $1000 they would have spent on old school movie prints to finance the changeover. In the future they save by distributing only digital prints, not to mention having somewhere to show the dozen 3D flicks expected to debut next year. Both sides are betting the $1 billion package will help pull us away from the HDTVs and back into a movie theater, but until they work out a payoff with that one guy who won't stop talking, we're not sure how likely that is.

Read - Wall Street Journal
Read - Reuters
Read - Variety

Though certainly not the first station to use its X.x channels for something other than pixelated weather and re-runs, Dayton, Ohio's WHIO-TV recently showcased what digital TV was all about with simultaneous widescreen broadcasts of local political speeches. Both major party presidential nominees were in the Miami Valley area and speaking at the same time, and rather than being, you know, biased, it choose to provide live uninterrupted coverage of both speeches on DTV channels 7.1 and 7.2. Of note, the speeches weren't used as a DTV test (good choice), but news director David Bennallack did assert that this was a "great opportunity to show viewers how DTV can work for them." On that note, have you applied for your voucher yet?

Thanks, Dayton Guy]

Getting discerning Japanese viewers ready for the new SKY Perfect HDTV channels, Sony is launching an h.264 satellite dish / receiver combo, the SAS-HD1SET, due October 15. At ¥45,000 ($416 U.S.) or ¥37,000 ($342 U.S.) for the DST-HD1 tuner alone, it's a pretty expensive upgrade for 15 HDTV channels, with the promise of more than 70 by this time next year. Add-on the ¥3,500 monthly service charge and we're even more leery, but really, you'll need something to watch on that ultra thin LCD next month.

[Via AV Watch]

Read - SKY Perfect Communications to Launch HDTV Channels
Read - HDTV-enabled ska pa! CS digital broadcasting, set for release

For anyone who's still confused about the digital television transition -- somehow missing the TV ads, radio spots, numerous articles and a part of the small minority not vigorously refreshing the Engadget HD front page -- the FCC is sending staff out on tour (sans the slick bus, didn't anyone tell them you've got to have a bus? It worked so well for HD DVD...ok maybe not such a great idea) to spread the 0 and 1 gospel. 23 cities identified as having more than 100,000 households or with at least 15% getting their TV strictly via antenna are on the list to be visited by a commissioner, while others will have to make do with mere staffers. FCC.gov has thedetails on when and where they'll be (warning: PDF read link), feel free to see when they're coming to your town. Will you save your ticket stubs to tell everyone "I was at digital switch '08"? (Note: FCCapolooza '08 is not actually converging on Haight-Ashbury in a phenomenon of cultural and political rebellion, but it would be much better if it were).

[Via Variety]

[Image courtesy of Supertouch Art]

A few UK residents felt the pain Raid-style after the latest Freeview signal upgrade knocked certain receivers out of service last week. The upgrade has been rolling out in waves for the last month, unfortunately owners of some Daewoo, Labgear, Triax and Portland digital boxes have no choice but to buy a new box to keep getting television service. Hopefully our own digital transition doesn't end up with people trashing their box after a couple of years -- while Freeview says only a "minority" were affected by the enhancement, we're pretty sure it doesn't seem that way if your TV is one of the ones knocked out.