DTV: Largest HD upgrade in TV history

[stratman]

I have 22 HD channels, plus HD Movies On Demand (generally $3.95 each, they are full-bitrate HD and include a decent selection of movies with pause, rewind, and fast-forward functions).

I don't even watch over half of them. I watch the network HD stations (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW, PBS), ESPN/ESPN2 HD, HDNet Movies, TNT HD, HBO and Showtime HD, Discovery HD Theater and... that's about it. Looking at the few HD stations DTV offers that I don't get, I can't imagine ever watching them. I have those stations in SD right now and have never watched any of them.

I'm just defending cable service, which a few people have taken this opportunity to **** all over.

I guess cable is better in some parts of the country, down here it downright stinks, I know because I was a cable subscriber for years then when sat tv came into the market I switched and never looked back, I only have one friend who happens to be the lone hold out and he's in the process of getting his HT up and says he'll switch over to sat tv.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

It's ok if you like and prefer cable...

I have 22 HD channels, plus HD Movies On Demand (generally $3.95 each, they are full-bitrate HD and include a decent selection of movies with pause, rewind, and fast-forward functions).

I don't even watch over half of them. I watch the network HD stations (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW, PBS), ESPN/ESPN2 HD, HDNet Movies, TNT HD, HBO and Showtime HD, Discovery HD Theater and... that's about it. Looking at the few HD stations DTV offers that I don't get, I can't imagine ever watching them. I have those stations in SD right now and have never watched any of them.

I'm just defending cable service, which a few people have taken this opportunity to **** all over.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Make sure you guys report on how much of the new HD channels' programming is in actual HD resolution... ie. is it mostly primetime or are they shooting all of HGTV and Food Network in HD as well?

I only did a quick check, and it depends on the channel.

For example, the Big Ten channel, and much of the programming all day was listed as HD. When I turned it on, they were replaying the Michigan thumping of ND.. On the other hand, most of the CNN stuff was lowdef with CNN-Sidebars.(like ESPN-HD does) CNN is a junk channel anyways LOL
The weather channel also had black bars.

With that said......... A&E, TLC, History, Science, Discovery, etc, etc, etc, all appeared to have a TON of HD programming with LD sprinkled in. Even many lowdef shows are in 16:9 and look much improved. In fact, I think there still might be a glitch because I surfed a few channels where the guide failed to note (HD)......but they looked every bit HD.

I watched about 20 seconds of a low-def Natalie Gulbis episode on the Golf Channel, and they had it matted and framed in black.(looking much better than normal)

From what I can see so far, this is a very exciting upgrade, and yes......you'll have plenty of new HD content!!!!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I noticed that same thing with some SD channels; they looked too good to be SD.

In fact, I think there still might be a glitch because I surfed a few channels where the guide failed to note (HD)......but they looked every bit HD.
QUOTE]

 

[stratman]

What Buck said, plus Discovery Theater still has the best PQ, I'm going to ask my brother in law how much bandwith they are using.

BTW they are having some glitches my other brother in law called apparently his receiver hadn't "turned over" and automatically updated, he called and got it squared away. He was one happy puppy.

 

[jonnythan]

Oh neat.

My cable provider just added TBS HD, and we will get CNN, The History Channel, Lifetime Movies, MTV, Golf Channel, and Food Network in HD this month.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Oh neat.

My cable provider just added TBS HD, and we will get CNN,

I watched a little CNN last night, and seeing Blitzhead & Carville & company in HD made me throw up in my mouth a little.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

As of today, USA, SciFi, Bravo, Cinemax, Cinemax West, HBO West are now broadcast in wonderful High Definition

I am especially happy to see that SciFi was added so soon!!

 

[stratman]

I was waiting for Sci-Fi, at least they'll have Enterprise in hi def.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

I'd think a lot of the prime time programs will be in HD. Ie.... Stargate Atlantis, Battlestar Gallactica, etc, etc, etc...

 

[bigbangtheory]

LOL....serves you right for signing up with a crappy cable service. You need to bury that dinosaur cable for good, and join the modern age of satellite TV.

Dinosaurs notwithstanding, every new technology - as we know - has it's drawbacks. I have satellite tv, yes with several HD channels, and it can certainly leave a LOT to be desired, especially when one of those proverbial Texas storms roll in as you satellite DVR is recording the final minutes of the final episode of your favorite tv shows. I have been with both Dish and DirecTV. As far as I'm concerned, satellite HD signals are still in beta testing mode.

I also have FiOS internet from Verizon; you know, the fastest internet available to residential types, and it has it's own fair share of issues. Otherwise, believe me, I would say goodbye to any and all satellites, and use FiOS for tv, internet, phone...and baking cookies too.

Newer isn't always better...usually newer (after a year or two of hashing out reported issues) is better.

 

[AlphaWolf]

All new HD-channels will be included without additional charge.

Of course....if you want a premium channel like HD-HBO, HD-Stars, etc, etc, etc, you'll have to pay for the premium channel service.

Additional charge over what? You still have to get the HD tier for $10 a month don't you?

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

The greatest HD upgrade in TV history continues....

As of today.......

355 CNBCHD
332 MHD (ADDED FEW DAYS BACK)
276 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HD
255 MGM-HD
231-1 FOOD HD


.............they just keep on coming.........

C'mon Spike!! I want Spike so I can watch UFC in HD baby!!

For you MMA fans....Keep an eye on "VS", because they have a bunch of good MMA stuff in HD!! It isn't listed as HD on the guide.... but it is!!

Also...I watched Stargate SG-1..or whatever it is....(never seen that series before, but it's great) last night on Scifi, and it was in HD. (but not listed so on the guide) The only Stargate I've watched on TV is Atlantis on HDNET(I love that one), so I made a point to watch the other Stargate show.... Good stuff!!!!!!

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

The good news just keeps on coming........

These new HD-stations came online today....

FXHD 248
HGTV 229-1
FSN WEST HD 652
FSN SOUTHWEST 643
Speedhd 607
Fuelhd 612
Fsn Primetickethd 653
Cartoonhd 296
FSN Detroit HD 636

More HD PPV added
135-137
145-147

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

That brings the current total list to.......

70 - HBO HD East
71 - Showtime HD East
72 - ESPN2 HD
73 - ESPN HD
74 - Universal HD
75 - TNT HD
76 - HD Theater
78 - HDNet Movies
79 - HDNet
80 - CBS East - WCBS New York, NY
81 - CBS West - KCBS Los Angeles, CA
82 - NBC East - WNBC New York, NY
83 - NBC West - KNBC Los Angeles, CA
86 - ABC East - WABC New York, NY
87 - ABC West - KABC Los Angeles, CA
88 - FOX East - WNYW New York, NY
89 - FOX West - KTTV Los Angeles, CA
95 - Miscellaneous HD Events Channel
98 - PPV Events
99 - PPV Movies
101 - CD USA
135 - PPV Movies
136 - PPV Movies
137 - PPV Movies
138 - PPV Movies
145 - PPV Movies
146 - PPV Movies
147 - PPV Movies
202 - CNN HD
206 - ESPN HD
209 - ESPN2 HD
212 - NFL Network HD
220 - Big Ten Network HD
229-1 - HGTV HD
231-1 - FOOD HD
242 - USA Network HD
244 - Sci Fi HD
245 - TNT HD
247 - TBS HD
248 - FX HD
255 - MGM HD
265 - A&E HD
267 - Smithsonian HD
269 - History Channel HD
273 - Bravo HD
276 - National Geographic HD
278 - Discovery HD
280 - TLC HD
282 - Animal Planet HD
284 - Science Channel HD
296 - The Cartoon Network HD
332 - MHD
355 - CNBC HD+
359 - FOX Business HD
362 - Weather Channel HD
501 - HBO HD East
504 - HBO HD West
509 - HBO HD East
512 - Cinemax HD East
514 - Cinemax HD West
518 - Starz Kids and Family HD
519 - Starz Comedy HD
520 - Starz HD East
521 - Starz HD West
522 - Starz Edge HD
537 - Showtime HD East
538 - SHO TOO HD East
540 - Showtime HD West
543 - Showtime HD East
544 - The Movie Channel HD East
604 - Versus HD / Golf Channel HD
607 - SPEED HD
612 - FUEL HD
622 - YES
623 - New England Sports Network
625 - SportsNet New York
629 - Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic
636 - FSN Detroit
640 - Comcast SportsNet Chicago
643 - FSN Southwest
652 - FSN West
653 - FSN Prime Ticket


More updates soon to come

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I am glad you are keeping me up to date; I havent even checked recently.

I cant waith for SPIKE either; I am a huge UFC fan.

The good news just keeps on coming........

These new HD-stations came online today....

FXHD 248
HGTV 229-1
FSN WEST HD 652
FSN SOUTHWEST 643
Speedhd 607
Fuelhd 612
Fsn Primetickethd 653
Cartoonhd 296
FSN Detroit HD 636

More HD PPV added
135-137
145-147

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

That brings the current total list to.......

70 - HBO HD East
71 - Showtime HD East
72 - ESPN2 HD
73 - ESPN HD
74 - Universal HD
75 - TNT HD
76 - HD Theater
78 - HDNet Movies
79 - HDNet
80 - CBS East - WCBS New York, NY
81 - CBS West - KCBS Los Angeles, CA
82 - NBC East - WNBC New York, NY
83 - NBC West - KNBC Los Angeles, CA
86 - ABC East - WABC New York, NY
87 - ABC West - KABC Los Angeles, CA
88 - FOX East - WNYW New York, NY
89 - FOX West - KTTV Los Angeles, CA
95 - Miscellaneous HD Events Channel
98 - PPV Events
99 - PPV Movies
101 - CD USA
135 - PPV Movies
136 - PPV Movies
137 - PPV Movies
138 - PPV Movies
145 - PPV Movies
146 - PPV Movies
147 - PPV Movies
202 - CNN HD
206 - ESPN HD
209 - ESPN2 HD
212 - NFL Network HD
220 - Big Ten Network HD
229-1 - HGTV HD
231-1 - FOOD HD
242 - USA Network HD
244 - Sci Fi HD
245 - TNT HD
247 - TBS HD
248 - FX HD
255 - MGM HD
265 - A&E HD
267 - Smithsonian HD
269 - History Channel HD
273 - Bravo HD
276 - National Geographic HD
278 - Discovery HD
280 - TLC HD
282 - Animal Planet HD
284 - Science Channel HD
296 - The Cartoon Network HD
332 - MHD
355 - CNBC HD+
359 - FOX Business HD
362 - Weather Channel HD
501 - HBO HD East
504 - HBO HD West
509 - HBO HD East
512 - Cinemax HD East
514 - Cinemax HD West
518 - Starz Kids and Family HD
519 - Starz Comedy HD
520 - Starz HD East
521 - Starz HD West
522 - Starz Edge HD
537 - Showtime HD East
538 - SHO TOO HD East
540 - Showtime HD West
543 - Showtime HD East
544 - The Movie Channel HD East
604 - Versus HD / Golf Channel HD
607 - SPEED HD
612 - FUEL HD
622 - YES
623 - New England Sports Network
625 - SportsNet New York
629 - Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic
636 - FSN Detroit
640 - Comcast SportsNet Chicago
643 - FSN Southwest
652 - FSN West
653 - FSN Prime Ticket


More updates soon to come