DTV to 150 HD?

[syrett4]

I just saw a commercial during the Oregon AZ game where DTV advertised 150 HD channels soon.  WOW.  Last numbers I saw was the 70 then 100 by years end and now 150?  How long until 200?  April 2008?

If you still have TWC, you are not getting the most HD content for your money.

[rnelson]

All of us who have DTV are indeed happy to see the additional channels.

However, I for one am a bit confused.  I like to program my Custom 1 channels to only those channels I can receive (less the undesirables like soap, buy this from me channels, etc).

Many of the new channels are FSN and Sports type Channels.  Which of those channels can we get here in Milwaukee and are the number of those channels clouding what we are really getting.

This week we got 28 new HD Channels.  Of those, 18 are sports channels and 5 are PPV.  That leaves only 5 regular channels that went HD.

SPIKE and CMT are nice.  I never watch MTV or VH1 and although the kids might like Nickelodeon, It really doesn't do anything for me.  That leaves me with 2 of the 28 that I might watch.

In either case you just don't have to go hunting for any HD Channels any more with DTV.

[gparris]

Plenty enough for everybody to watch HD with the HD channels currently available and those yet-to-come.

That's the whole concept many forget when HD channels are added, that even though there are many HD channels available now:

-Some will get watched by some and not others; this does not reduce the need for more HD channels, it makes each one important.

-Newer HD channels will offer less HD content for now-but since these are actually launched, there is an actual place for their "venue" to appear - now in HD.

Examples of this abound, as in the Sci-Fi HD Channel:
There is some, though not all, HD programming,  but now there is an actual HD channel, programmers can focus on it.

While we're at it, FIOS TV is doing the same long list of HD channel additions in locations it exists, too:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/01/verizon-reveals-plan-to-launch-150-hd-channels-by-the-end-of-08/

Why some cable providers ask "how many channels do you watch"? when one inquires about when more HD channels will be ready:
-This is because they got stupid and didn't think these HD channel rollouts would happen, it's a "stall technique" to keep you, the subscriber thinking, instead of changing to another pay TV provider.

Directv is aiming for 100 HD channels of any kind and going to offer capacity for more HD channels to 150, as these roll out in the near future: They are ready.

Their satellites aren't cheap to pay for, operate or maintain, either, it is just a different TV delivery method;
 but that hasn't stopped or slowed them down as other providers have done and balked, neither will FIOS TV.

[Tom Snyder]

D* was at 70, and added 23 more, so "officially," they're at 93.

[TPK]

D* was at 70, and added 23 more, so "officially," they're at 93.

How many of these are full time channels, and how many are part-time channels (like Fox Sports, etc...)?

... Not trying to be critical, just want to know what the numbers are....

[syrett4]

All of us who have DTV are indeed happy to see the additional channels.

However, I for one am a bit confused.  I like to program my Custom 1 channels to only those channels I can receive (less the undesirables like soap, buy this from me channels, etc).

Many of the new channels are FSN and Sports type Channels.  Which of those channels can we get here in Milwaukee and are the number of those channels clouding what we are really getting.

This week we got 28 new HD Channels.  Of those, 18 are sports channels and 5 are PPV.  That leaves only 5 regular channels that went HD.

SPIKE and CMT are nice.  I never watch MTV or VH1 and although the kids might like Nickelodeon, It really doesn't do anything for me.  That leaves me with 2 of the 28 that I might watch.

In either case you just don't have to go hunting for any HD Channels any more with DTV.

Gparris wrote....-Some will get watched by some and not others; this does not reduce the need for more HD channels, it makes each one important.

For example in my case, I grew up in Michigan and even though they may not show professional live events you can normally get the replay if you are willing to stay up or just DVR it and watch it the next day.  They also show stuff like the HS playoffs, college hockey and shows like Red Wings Weekly and the Wolverine Sports report which are being broadcast more and more in HD.  Also I enjoy watching the Detroit Sports Report and the opportunty to watch it in HD is just that much better.

So yes it may be a part time channel, but for transplants like myself just having the opportunity to have the channel is excellent, having it in HD is just 1080x better.

[Tom Snyder]

Many of the channels still have a limited amount of actual programming filmed/taped in HD, but the picture quality on the no-HD stuff is noticeably better than even the regular digital channel version.

If you go to Titan TV ( http://www.titantv.com ) , set up an account and choose one of the Satellite providers as your source, you can scan TV listings and see what's in HD.