NBC's late-night to get HD upgrade in 2005

Although “The Tonight Show” was the first HDTV broadcast for the network, NBC will present its entire late-night lineup in HD in 2005.

NBC was the first network to broadcast a nightly series in HDTV with "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in 1999. Now, the network will upgrade the rest of its late-night lineup to HDTV in 2005.

NBC’s “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” begins HD broadcasts next April. “Saturday Night Live” follows when the series returns for its 2005-06 season premiere, as will “Last Call with Carson Daly.”

In addition, NBC said two of its major annual holiday specials — The Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular and The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — will also be broadcast in HD beginning in 2005.

NBC currently broadcasts 90 percent of its scripted entertainment programming in HD, including 13.5 primetime hours and the upcoming second-season shows "Revelations" and "Medium."

NBC Universal Cable Group recently launched Universal HD, which is currently available to more than 25 million homes.

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