Vanguard Jumps Into HD DVD with 'Channels'

Indie distributor Vanguard Cinema has announced it will make its high-def debut with an HD DVD-exclusive release of 'Channels' this January.

Starring Ed Asner and Joan Van Ark, 'Channels' tells the story of a Hollywood producer whose recurring dream becomes reality when a late-night session of channel surfing magically brings a deceased soap opera character into his living room.

Apparently eschewing a theatrical release, Vanguard will bring the dramatic comedy straight to video on January 22, when it bows the film on both HD DVD and standard DVD. (No Blu-ray version has been announced.)

The distributor has not yet released any specs or supplemental details for either version, other than a $29.99 MSRP for the high-def version.

We'll keep you posted when full specs are confirmed.

Meanwhile,, you'll find the latest disc details for 'Channels' linked from our HD DVD Release Schedule, where it is indexed under January 22, 2008.

We've also set up a dedicated thread for Vanguard's high-def debut in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Channels' HD DVD release.