Demystifying high-definition television

The Movie Network HD offers Hollywood hit movies, Showtime series, original Canadian drama series and HBO programming like the critically acclaimed epic drama series Rome.

By Natalie Jones

(NC)—If you read the headlines or listen to the home-theatre guru at your local electronics store, high-definition (HD) television is all the rage. Given that over one million Canadians currently have an HD television, they're probably right. With more broadcasters rolling out HD content – and networks such as The Movie Network launching 24-hour HD channels – it's hard to ignore the growing HD trend. Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions, courtesy of The Movie Network.

What exactly is HD?

High definition television has to do with the dimensions of your television viewing experience. With the wide screen ratio HD offers, the quality of the picture is increased dramatically, enabling you to see all of the action from your favourite movies or series, just as they were meant to be seen. But the key difference between HDTV and regular analog TV, is that the programs are delivered digitally - by cable, satellite, or over-the air transmission - at over five times the picture resolution. In addition, the CD-quality sound in stereo and full 5.1 surround sound creates a true at-home theatre experience.

What do you need to do to get HD?

1. Purchase an HD-ready television set to receive the HD signal.

2. Buy or rent an HD set-top box which you can order through your local cable or satellite provider.

3. Tune your television to an HD channel such as The Movie Network HD, CBC HD, City TV HD, Discovery HD, Sportsnet HD or TSN HD.

What type of programming can you watch in HD?

Broadcasters in Canada are making HD a priority, working to ensure that a variety of HD content is available to viewers. While Canadians are increasingly able to access a selection of HD programming from drama and comedy to sports and news, a study conducted by Lyra Research in July 2004 found that consumers are most interested in movies in HD. As the only dedicated HD movie channel available in eastern Canada, The Movie Network HD (themovienetwork.ca) offers viewers a wide choice of HD content from HBO and Showtime, as well as Hollywood hit movies and The Movie Network's own original Canadian drama series. With more people adopting HD, and more broadcasters striving to deliver the HD experience to Canadians, it's no wonder that regular lower-definition televisions will soon become a distant and fuzzy memory.

- News Canada

So you want to file your tax return using the Internet?

(NC)—You've been banking over the Internet. It's been an easy, convenient, almost satisfying experience! Now, why not file your income tax return the same way? The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)'s free tax-filing service, NETFILE, lets you file your tax return over the Internet. It's available to almost all Canadians for the price of tax preparation software or a Web application that the CRA has certified—some software developers offer this service for less than $10. Check out the available software at www.netfile.gc.ca, starting February 13, 2006.

The CRA Web site uses the same secure form of encryption that banks in North America use, so that you can file your tax return securely. After preparing your return, simply go to the Ready to file page on the NETFILE Web site. Fill in the identification section using the access code on the personal label sheet in your tax package, attach the tax file, and press Transmit. In addition, you can make the whole experience paperless, by paying your tax bill electronically through your financial institution's Internet or telephone banking service.

There are real advantages to NETFILE: security—it's secure and confidential; speed—you receive your refund in as little as eight working days, or less if you have direct deposit; greater accuracy; convenience—no paper tax returns to mail, no receipts to send in unless we ask you for them; and peace of mind—you get immediate confirmation that the CRA has received your tax return.

If you didn't get a NETFILE access code or you misplaced it, you can get one online at www.netfile.gc.ca Enroll for the My Account online service now and, once you've filed your return, you can go back online to find out the status of your refund or make changes to your return.

For more information on other convenient electronic services, to get answers to your tax questions, or to make payments electronically, visit the CRA Web site at www.cra.gc.ca

- News Canada

Case study: Strategies for minimizing property taxes

(NC)—Although the Fortune 1000 companies pay an average of $70 billion in property tax per year, you don't need to be a huge corporation to save money on your property taxes.

Consider the example of ABC Construction Inc. This company's real estate was assessed and taxed based on the original construction cost of its property. As a result, the company's property taxes were out of proportion to the property's value and to taxes paid by owners of similar property. However, by leveraging relevant legislative valuation principles through the property appeal process, ABC Construction Inc. an income approach to valuation was applied. The result? The company reduced its property taxes by half, savings hundreds of thousands of tax dollars annually.

- News Canada

Genworth offers refund on premium

Genworth Financial Canada has announced a premium refund for Canadians buying energy-efficient homes or improving existing homes to increase energy-efficiency. The company's new Energy-Efficient Housing program provides a 10 percent premium refund on Genworth mortgage insurance.

New homes must have been purchased, and improvements for existing homes funded, on or after January 1, 2005. Participants apply for their mortgage insurance refund by completing an application available on the Genworth Financial Canada website, www.genworth.ca or by contacting their lender for more details.