UPDATED w/VIDEO: BBC America Goes HD July 20, Debuting With "Sci-Fi Stack" Who, Torchwood, Being Human

Big BBC America news that also reveals some strategy on their part to beat down the illegal downloading of their most popular content.

It turns out that all this acquisition stuff going on from  the mothership (BBC One through Three) and rivals ITV and Channel 4 is in prep for bringing us quality HD programming every night of the week, per Multichannel News' interview with BBCA Chair Garth Ancier:

"It took some time to have the right programming mix coming down the pipe to say with a straight face that we have a great primetime high-def schedule," the BBC Worldwide America president said.

(snip)

"I would have loved to announced it a lot earlier and then gone to operators a lot earlier," Ancier said.

Now, BBC America and distribution partners Discovery Communications will have about seven weeks from today (June 1) to show cable and satellite affiliates demonstration reels on Blu-ray DVDs and sign up launches.

Ancier said he's confident there will be at least "a couple" of affiliates ready on day one.
"Sci-fi viewers tend to be very particular about their picture," he said. "And if you do a whole week of sci-fi in high-def, I think they'll want to see it in high-def. Is that cryptic enough?"

I know I wanna see it in high-def. In fact, I was discussing all this just the other day here on the blog.

Now the critical question remains, will Time Warner, my cable system, hook me up with the HD channel in time?

And, when is Skins coming back? You would think sometime before the school year starts in September, so all the cool kids could come back after vacay and tip off the 90210 crowd that there's something better to watch.

Anyone who reads from this space regularly knows Who, Torchwood and Skins, but Being Human (leads pictured left) may be a new one for you. I'll have preview coverage before its airdate.

In the meantime, beware British fan sites with spoilers as they have already seen the complete first series. Oh, and the same with those Skins fansites and of course both the BBC and Channel 4 sites for the shows, which both have episode recaps and stuff that might spoil your good time.

(I know I'm in the minority when it comes to spoilers. I just prefer that the show unfold in the way the people who created it chooses. I also don't read books backward.)

In the meantime, after the jump I have a spoiler-free short clip with Being Human creator Toby Whithouse, who you might know from acting in the Bridget Jones films, or from seeing his writing credits on episodes of both Torchwood (Greeks Bearing Gifts) and Doctor Who (School Reunion).

Just in case you need some sort of case presented in order to watch, those are pretty good exhibits in favor.

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