Interesting DirecTV HD news...

[WoodysGirl]

So a sales guy just knocked on my door offering me DirecTV. But since I'm already hooked up, and if he'd looked at the big a** antenna on the house, he'd have known that...

I digress...

So after letting him do his pitch, I mention I already have it w/HD. He says that they should be coming out w/120 HD channels in Feb. I'm totally geeked about that considering they only have about 10 w/the flagship being ESPN.

So yay for me and all those already w/the HD package.

Just thought I'd share...

 

[Qwickdraw]

Theyll probably charge extra.
Dont get your hopes up.
Thats how they do.

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

WG,

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm pretty sure that guy is full of it. I think he is taking some of the info coming out of DirecTV and getting it twisted around to arrive at the conclusion of 120 new HD channels.

For HD info, here is a great resource:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=34

Lots of speculation to be sure, but also lots of hard info from industry insiders.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Dug this thread up cuz I didn't want to start a new one.

So I was on the phone upgrading my DTV package yesterday when I asked the guy about whether they were going to add anymore HD channels. And he said "Yeah, probably in April or May. They sent another satellite out and now they're in the testing phase of it."

So maybe the guy wasn't that full of it; just off by a few months or so.

Guy did mention that he didn't see a price increase occurring as of now. But who knows how things go...

 

[jterrell]

Dish Network gets the Voom channels in addition to all the normal DTV stuff.

I get only TNTHD, HBOHD, ESPNHD and a few others that are actually useful

I applied for a waiver to get CBS in HD over the HD receiver. Hopefully I'll get that soon then have LA and NY CBS stations.


According to the info below the guy wasn't lying but was rather hustling.
The satellite is supposed to pump out LOCAL HD channels, i.e. what you can get with an OTA antenna now.

----------------------------------------------------------

Dallas is the 7th biggest market and Houston the 10th so you'll get the local HD rollout very soon.

DirecTV - broadcasting 1080i & 720p
DirecTV offers an HDTV package including Universal HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, Discovery HD Theater, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD, for $10.99 a month. In addition they carry HBO HD, Showtime HD, and full time Pay-Per-View HDTV movies, with selections for $4.99. Special events are available in HDTV, including The NFL Network's 'HD Game Of The Week' and NBA HD games. DirecTV offers CBS HD, NBC HD, FOX HD, and ABC HD, but they are not available to all subscribers, contact DirecTV for details. DirecTV now offers Spice HD, on the PPV channel, late nights. DirecTV recently announced plans for new MPEG4 capable satellites that will provide over 1500 local HD channels in the next 3 years. DirecTV is now offering select regional sports in HD. Also see the NFL Sunday Ticket section directly below. DirecTV offered select MLB Extra Innings games in HDTV. NEWS FLASH: DirecTV will offer select NHL Center Ice and NBA League Pass games in HDTV. NEWS FLASH: MPEG4 local HD channel rollout is now taking place in the top 12 TV markets, other markets expected to follow shortly.
www.directv.com

 

[WoodysGirl]

Dish Network gets the Voom channels in addition to all the normal DTV stuff.

I get only TNTHD, HBOHD, ESPNHD and a few others that are actually useful

I applied for a waiver to get CBS in HD over the HD receiver. Hopefully I'll get that soon then have LA and NY CBS stations.


According to the info below the guy wasn't lying but was rather hustling.
The satellite is supposed to pump out LOCAL HD channels, i.e. what you can get with an OTA antenna now.

----------------------------------------------------------

Dallas is the 7th biggest market and Houston the 10th so you'll get the local HD rollout very soon.

DirecTV - broadcasting 1080i & 720p
DirecTV offers an HDTV package including Universal HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, Discovery HD Theater, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD, for $10.99 a month. In addition they carry HBO HD, Showtime HD, and full time Pay-Per-View HDTV movies, with selections for $4.99. Special events are available in HDTV, including The NFL Network's 'HD Game Of The Week' and NBA HD games. DirecTV offers CBS HD, NBC HD, FOX HD, and ABC HD, but they are not available to all subscribers, contact DirecTV for details. DirecTV now offers Spice HD, on the PPV channel, late nights. DirecTV recently announced plans for new MPEG4 capable satellites that will provide over 1500 local HD channels in the next 3 years. DirecTV is now offering select regional sports in HD. Also see the NFL Sunday Ticket section directly below. DirecTV offered select MLB Extra Innings games in HDTV. NEWS FLASH: DirecTV will offer select NHL Center Ice and NBA League Pass games in HDTV. NEWS FLASH: MPEG4 local HD channel rollout is now taking place in the top 12 TV markets, other markets expected to follow shortly.
www.directv.com

What you posted seems to be the current HD package. I have that already including the local HD channels w/the OTA. Unless they're offering local HD channels from other regions, I can't imagine how useful that would be.

I'm just wondering what new HD channels are expected to be available. At this point I just want more variety. I imagine we'll find out soon enough.

 

[jterrell]

What you posted seems to be the current HD package. I have that already including the local HD channels w/the OTA. Unless they're offering local HD channels from other regions, I can't imagine how useful that would be.

I'm just wondering what new HD channels are expected to be available. At this point I just want more variety. I imagine we'll find out soon enough.

AFAIK Dish is going to be adding 5 new Voom channels, ESPN2 and the locals.

DTV is adding the locals to each area.

If you are already getting the HD locals via DTV you are ahead of the game. I don't think you'll see much in the way of new channels for months. Neither company has issued a release about adding anything else and they usually put those out 3 or 4 months in advance. If you talked to someone and they had more detail then awesome as I like you am awaiting more selections. After watching HD programming it is hard to sit thru SD stuff now.

 

[jterrell]

Latest updates I could find:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1748991,00.asp

Essentially it means both of us will need new mpeg4 compatible receivers within 6 to 9 months but will get extra channel(tho not many for now) and Tivo benefits.

This is from the CES show that details all new or upcoming electronics equipment.

 

[jterrell]

Latest updates I could find:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1748991,00.asp

Essentially it means both of us will need new mpeg4 compatible receivers within 6 to 9 months but will get extra channel(tho not many for now) and Tivo benefits.

This is from the CES show that details all new or upcoming electronics equipment.

Wow wasn't even 2 weeks instead of 4 months for me.
There are now new Dish MPEG4 receivers that will get the UniversalHD and ESPN2HD channels.

Time to call and complain and sigh then fork over cash and upgrade, lol.

 

[RiggoForever]

So a sales guy just knocked on my door offering me DirecTV. But since I'm already hooked up, and if he'd looked at the big a** antenna on the house, he'd have known that...

I digress...

So after letting him do his pitch, I mention I already have it w/HD. He says that they should be coming out w/120 HD channels in Feb. I'm totally geeked about that considering they only have about 10 w/the flagship being ESPN.

So yay for me and all those already w/the HD package.

Just thought I'd share...

How big is the difference between HD and regular TV?

 

[WoodysGirl]

Wow wasn't even 2 weeks instead of 4 months for me.
There are now new Dish MPEG4 receivers that will get the UniversalHD and ESPN2HD channels.

Time to call and complain and sigh then fork over cash and upgrade, lol.

Well I already had those channels. They just added Espn2HD, but I had the rest of them. I asked and I won't need to buy a new dish or anything. They'll just add the new channels to package. I pay a monthly fee for the HD package, so whatever HD channels they add, I'll get automatically.

The only new HD dish package DirecTV has is the one that now has the HD DVR. I spent $500 to get the original HD dish and it didn't have the DVR. A year later they're now offering the HD DVR. I've got all the equipment the HD DVR package is offering w/o the DVR, but they still want me to spend $500 for basically a new receiver. I may get a DVR, but I won't spend that kinda money, just for one new feature. Price has to come waay down.

 

[WoodysGirl]

How big is the difference between HD and regular TV?

There's a big difference in the clarity. The colors are so bright. The details that you now see come thru so clear.

Some may not feel it's worth it, but I'm glad I got it.

 

[jksmith269]

Well I already had those channels. They just added Espn2HD, but I had the rest of them. I asked and I won't need to buy a new dish or anything. They'll just add the new channels to package. I pay a monthly fee for the HD package, so whatever HD channels they add, I'll get automatically.

The only new HD dish package DirecTV has is the one that now has the HD DVR. I spent $500 to get the original HD dish and it didn't have the DVR. A year later they're now offering the HD DVR. I've got all the equipment the HD DVR package is offering w/o the DVR, but they still want me to spend $500 for basically a new receiver. I may get a DVR, but I won't spend that kinda money, just for one new feature. Price has to come waay down.

My brother got a brand new HD DVR receiver off ebay for under 250

 

[jterrell]

How big is the difference between HD and regular TV?

its night and day.
hard for me to watch SD tv now after seeing HD which is why it hacks me off there are so few channels.

the smaller the tv the less noticeable the difference.

 

[jterrell]

My brother got a brand new HD DVR receiver off ebay for under 250

you need specific models for satellite.
the standalone units can be quite nice but often make for a pita when working with a satellite as opposed to cable.

my upgrade for an hd dvr thru dish is 299. 49 bucks for the mpeg 4 receiver.
still deciding but i'll probably go with the hd dvr unit.