DirecTV & Fox make a deal, tonight's "Sons of Anarchy" is saved but what happens next year? --- "Rock Center" debuts but could be better. --- Podcast roundup includes new Channel Zero episode with Josh Malina. --- News items + The TV Junkie Must-Watch Plan. more ›

Starting tomorrow, DirecTV subscribers will be able to rent select titles at home just two months after the films make their theatrical debut. Not everyone is pleased with this new viewing option, including some big-name directors like James Cameron and Michael Bay, who say the offer will hurt ticket sales at a time when movie theatres are paying big bucks to upgrade to digital and 3D equipment, according to the AP. more ›

TV on DVD: "Max Headroom: The Complete Series" will be released on DVD August 10th and it's a gem. All 14 episodes of the genre bending/defying/defining series are in the set along with some great interviews and rountables with co-creators Annabel Jankel, Rocky Morton, and George Stone as well as cast members Amanda Pays, Jeffrey Tambor, Concetta Tomei and Chris Young. The discussions are so good (Jeffrey Tambor of "Arrested Development" fame is excellent!) that one almost doesn't notice the absence of series star Matt Frewer. more ›

Sony's Blu-ray high definition video disc won a contentious, expensive, and possibly over-hyped video format war reminiscent of the VHS v. Beta battles of yore. more ›

DirecTV called LAist on the phone and left us a message. The recorded voice said that DirecTV had worked out a deal with WNBC in NY that allowed certain zipcodes in LA the ability to get the east coast channel for just $6 a month. The benefit would be that we in LA would be able to get late night shows like Saturday Night Live and Conan O'Brien at 9:30pm instead of at 12:30am.... more ›

Dear Directv, It's your old pal, LAist here. Your biggest fan. We've had you for years, we even installed you into our friends' homes, and even on strangers' roofs. We get all the channels and most of the sports packages. We love you. There is one thing that has bothered us for quite a while though, and we were just reminded of it. What is your problem with The Daily Show and MSNBC's Countdown?... more ›

El Segundo's DirecTV is trying to sell us on their better picture through High Definition equipment (and extra monthly service fees, natch) by making us want to see every hair in Burt Reynolds' chest? (Full screen image here) Thank you, but maybe HD is too accurate. Maybe we don't even need television anymore. Maybe we should go back to sitting around the fire and telling tall tales about giants and blue oxes. Although it's... more ›