DTV: Largest HD upgrade in TV history

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Man that's cheap. Around here basic cable is $50/month. Unless you mean limited basic, where you get only 10 odd local channels? Thats $14/month

But, anything above that is frightfully expensive. I have Basic cable $50/ month, Digital package, with no premium channels $16, DVR fees $12/month and my broadband internet is $45/month. So I am paying about $130/month for cable and broadband and internet.

DTV subscribers, how does DTV compare cost wise? You guys will win me over if the economics play out too...

Yeah, the $6/mo is Limited Cable with NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, FOX, WC, Bravo, and 10 other channels that I never watch Extended Cable would be $40/mo.

Satellite TV for 4 rooms would be the same price as Extended Cable for me.

 

[stratman]

Man that's cheap. Around here basic cable is $50/month. Unless you mean limited basic, where you get only 10 odd local channels? Thats $14/month

But, anything above that is frightfully expensive. I have Basic cable $50/ month, Digital package, with no premium channels $16, DVR fees $12/month and my broadband internet is $45/month. So I am paying about $130/month for cable and broadband and internet.

DTV subscribers, how does DTV compare cost wise? You guys will win me over if the economics play out too...

Well we pay about 72 or 75 dollars a month with taxes. I have the expanded basic that includes 10 or so Hi Def Channels apart from the locals in Hi Def. I have my internet service(DSL) and phone bundled through At&T.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I know it's old news; heck I had HD 2 years ago but cancelled it because of the few crappy channels that were my only choice and back then you could only get OTA HD for locals and that just seems like a step backwards to me.

I dont think I will have 100 HD channels by the end of the month either and that's why I included the wink

Local channel coverage is pretty much old news in most markets. I guess it depends on where you live on whether or not that's something new.

I don't think they're going to have 100 by the end of the month.

 

[Duffinator]

It wont be long, and low definition of any kind will become a distant memory.

Not soon enough for me!

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

If you really don't watch that much tv, then it's not worth it. I happen to watch more tv than dvds so in my case (I'm sure also in Buck's case) it's worth it.

I quantify my TV viewing habits under two distinct eras.

Pre HD-DVR era: I generally followed my favorite sporting events, but not so much as it related to primetime TV series. 1-2 TV series tops.....

Post DVR era: Oh geez...... I follow a bunch of stuff. HeHeHe

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

I just have basic cable for $6/month, digital phone for $12/month, and broadband internet for $25/month.

Hmmmmmm.....How can you even critique the HD picture quality if you don't even have it? I know that you mentioned you tried Dish-network before, but I'll bet it was only the low def version based on your spending habits

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Hmmmmmm.....How can you even critique the HD picture quality if you don't even have it? I know that you mentioned you tried Dish-network before, but I'll bet it was only the low def version based on your spending habits

For my HT room, I get FREE HDTV broadcast using just a $25 Phillips HD indoor antenna. I get NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, WC, 4 channels of PBS, and about 6 other channels in HD. The basic $6 cable is for the other TVs in the house that are non-HD.

But the only time I watch TV of any kind is during FOOTBALL season. Then I watch the HDTV for free on NBC, ABC, CBS, & FOX.

 

[hemiram]

I was very happy to see that my cable company recently added a couple of new HD channels, especially ESPN 2 HD. I don't ever watch ESPN (or any other sports, they bore me) at all, but I do watch ESPN 2 for the drag races, and until this week, the slightly blurry pic annoyed me, since they keep plugging the "HD" part. I watched NASCAR (Ugghh!) for a while yesterday, just to check it out.

 

[stratman]

They'll eventually have SPEED TV in hi-def, which is great if you like Formula 1!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I have Speed in HD right now. We are loving the HD DT, the 1080i looks great and the addition of the HD DVR has made the 73" Mit come to life.

They'll eventually have SPEED TV in hi-def, which is great if you like Formula 1!

 

[jonnythan]

My cable service rocks.

The day that DirecTV offers me something worthwhile that cable doesn't I might think about it.

As for right now, I love my Video On Demand with cable, thanks. Especially when I'd have to pay more money for a replacement service that doesn't include this..

 

[chrisw1]

Just turned on the TV and a bunch more HD channels were available. Acording to the DirecTV website, they added 21 new channels and have almost 20 coming next month.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P4360044

I was hoping Food Network and HGTV would be on this month, but I think I can wait a little bit longer.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I havent counted mine but it seems like everything is in HD at my house now!(atleast everything I have watched the past two days anyway)

Just turned on the TV and a bunch more HD channels were available. Acording to the DirecTV website, they added 21 new channels and have almost 20 coming next month.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P4360044

I was hoping Food Network and HGTV would be on this month, but I think I can wait a little bit longer.

 

[Fred333]

HD has become so common place in my life now. When I watch something that isn't I can really see the difference.

 

[Audioholics]

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?

 

[stratman]

Good question, I would assume it's always HD. All my HD channels right now are HD 24/7. Is that what you meant? Or did I stick hairy foot in mouth?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I have just been really busy since I got HD DT last week and havent paid much attention but everything I have watched has been in HD with the exception of UFC on SPIKE and HGTV and it looks like both of them will be added next month.

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?

 

[Duffinator]

Just turned on the TV and a bunch more HD channels were available. Acording to the DirecTV website, they added 21 new channels and have almost 20 coming next month.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P4360044

I was hoping Food Network and HGTV would be on this month, but I think I can wait a little bit longer.

Yep, DBS Talk is buzzing. My wife really wants the Food Network and I can't wait for the Speed Channel. Looks like we wait for at least another week or two.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My cable service rocks.

The day that DirecTV offers me something worthwhile that cable doesn't I might think about it.

As for right now, I love my Video On Demand with cable, thanks. Especially when I'd have to pay more money for a replacement service that doesn't include this..

Yeah, since I don't even watch TV all that much, my cable service rocks too @ $6/mo.

I also get HD on NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, PBS, CW for $00/mo.

So how many HD channels do you have with cable?

 

[jonnythan]

Yeah, since I don't even watch TV all that much, my cable service rocks too @ $6/mo.

I also get HD on NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, PBS, CW for $00/mo.

So how many HD channels do you have with 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.