DirecTV.............100 new HD channels

[Chinatown]

I got an e mail from them. They were offering me a reconditioned DVR, as a loyal customer offering. The only cost was $14.95 for shipping. However, as most of you know, that would necesitate running an additional line........which from my basement to upstairs, was not something I was willing to do. They will, in- lieu of that send me a reconditioned standard receiver to replace the outdated one.

This will then allow me to add the XM channels..................

Anyway, let me get to the point of the subject of this post.

I then asked the CSR when they would be adding additional HD channels.  She said that by the end of 2006, 100 of the existing channels would be available in  HD....TNT, National Geographic, etc.......etc........etc..........

Yes, I did ask her to repeat what she said, and she reiterated the same reply.  This would be in addition to 400 local channels ( nationally)... that they are also adding..( I have no interest in that, as I get mine OTA, with a roof top antenna)..

If this is a true statement, those of you that have TW or Dish, may have to consider switching services to DirecTV ...........

I, along with the rest of you that currently have HD service, will be like kids in a candy store..................

Lets hope it is true................

[murdoc]

As a DirecTV subscriber, I would love for this to be true.  However, I doubt most of the channels are actually filmed in HD, thus this would probably be some strange crop and upconvert operation like TNT-HD does from time to time.  There are already rumors of TNT-HD, FoodTV-HD, and NG-HD being added this year.  But like any other rumor, I will believe it when my TV displays it.

[Chinatown]

Upconvert or not...........it is more then anyone else is offering......................

[Sparkman87]

She's probably counting all of the HD locals they will be adding in cities around the country.  25 cities x 4 nets = 100 more HD channels

[Chinatown]

She's probably counting all of the HD locals they will be adding in cities around the country.  25 cities x 4 nets = 100 more HD channels

Reread my post...................

[Sparkman87]

I read it.  There is no way that will happen because there won't be 100 existing channels broadcasting in HD.  There may be an additional 10 nets in HD by then, no way there will be 100.  What I was saying is that the CSR you were talking to had no clue what she was talking about, as is true with most of them.

[Milwaukee12]

I believe it.  With the new satellites that they sent up, they would have plenty of room.

[bradsmainsite]

Yeah and all those CSR's are highly trained technical people from the United States
that know exactly what they are talking about

If I had a dime every time a CSR has told someone something that just plain was not true I would be one wealthy man!

I bet every time you called and talked to a different CSR you would get a different story everytime just try it its kind of fun if you don't mind sitting on hold for awhile.

[AndrewP]

Upconvert or not...........it is more then anyone else is offering......................

They are NOT offering them. Maybe in 2007 they will have capacity to offer them. As for me when somebody offer more HD then Dish OFFERS NOW, then I switch. Right now DirecTV is not even on my radar.

[Chinatown]

Yeah and all those CSR's are highly trained technical people from the united states
that know exactly what they are talking about

If I had a dime every time a CSR has told someone something that just plain was not true I would be one wealthy man!

I bet every time you called and talked to a different CSR you would get a different story everytime just try it its kind of fun if you don't mind sitting on hold for awhile.

DirecTV doesn't utilize outside sources............you can understand them....born & bred............on our terra firma...........as far as getting through.........just keep hitting zero on your phone..............got to a source in 10 seconds............

[smack]

No one is questioning with the new sats. that they will have the room or not.

The fact is there are not 100 HD channels to broadcast nor will there be by the end of 2006 (not counting Lil's)

DirecTV CSR's are notorious for spitting out misinformation and are usually the last to know of such offerings.

[picopir8]

Or it could be a repeat of what happened with Dolby Digital.  They promised a bunch of channels and then aside from a few premiums, all they offered was a theatrical trailer loop channel and a bunch of PPV channels.

[Stanley Kritzik]

In a bit less than two years, analog stations go away.  Little by little, more and more screens will be flat, 16x9, and most will handle at least 480P.  So, to stay alive with viewers and advertisers, channel broadcasters will have to do things to their live and archived products, or they will lose their audience and become irrelevant.

That's the long way of saying that I predict a gradual switch-over to 16x9 format and HD content.  It won't all happen in two years, but, certainly, ten years out, it will be done.  BTW, how many B & W TV sets do we see these days?  What about Beta VCRs?  It's all going to happen; just not all at once.

D* is gearing up for the future, with extra satellites and MPG4, so they can broadcast 100 or so HD channels.  They've got a few hundred million invested in the new sats, and, they obviously think (like Mark Cuban) that the future is in HD video.  I think I agree with them.