better choice?

Curtis6978 · 03-19-2007, 12:02 PM

Hello all, I am relatively new to these boards, I have a 37 in olevia LCD display, and I have directv. I got the tv after I had directv and really do not want to pay the $200 + $9.99 month for hd and its only 8-9 channels. I was thinking about switching to Comcast, or trying dish network. I would like some opinions here as to what service would be best for my $$. BTW I am in Smyrna DE, close to Dover.

davecramer74 · 03-19-2007, 12:31 PM

well, right now dish is offering their HD dvr for free. At this time, they offer the most HD content. I tried switching to them from comcast but couldnt because i couldnt get Line of sight for my dish. My suggestion would be dish network.

with that said....

Directv will be boosting their HD offererings this year and probably will have more than Dish. Also, if you call directv and say "im cancelling" and when they ask why you tell them that you can get your HD dvr for free from both dish and comcast, so its a no brainer, they will give you the HD dvr for free. So if the 200 bucks for the dvr is the sticking point, do what i said and id stick with directv. They will be the HD leader come years end. It will probably be another 12-18 months before cable can rollout their SDV technology that will allow them to expand and be on par with Directv. Dish would be a good way to go too. Like i said, they are the HD leader now, 30 channels plus the locals. I read that they have capacity to expand that as well. So, its your call. Since your already with dtv, id call up dish or comcast, get an appt setup, then call directv and give them the ultimatum. You'd be amazed what youll get. Ill bet you get a free hd dvr, probably 6 months of HD service for free and a movie channel fo a few months if you dont already have them.

As for comcast, they are "ok". High priced and so-so Hd offerings. I currently have 2 HD dvrs through them, most digital channels, hbo and cable modem. My bills looking like it will be around 140 or so.

etchasketch · 03-19-2007, 04:25 PM

I'll be very surprised if reality matches the D* marketing. They are promoting things before the birds fly, and there is a launch issue with 1:2 if I understand correctly. Assuming both sats go live on station, and get hot, there still are not enough providers scheduled to launch HD to make the (150) channel claim come true.

Not from Missouri, but ... show me.

etch

davecramer74 · 03-20-2007, 09:19 AM

Quote:

I'll be very surprised if reality matches the D* marketing. They are promoting things before the birds fly, and there is a launch issue with 1:2 if I understand correctly. Assuming both sats go live on station, and get hot, there still are not enough providers scheduled to launch HD to make the (150) channel claim come true.

Not from Missouri, but ... show me.

etch

i dont think theyll have 150 either. But i do think theyll have more than the other providers. They only need to add 25 channels and theyll have more than the leading provider right now.

Flipsonic · 03-20-2007, 09:32 AM

I switched from Comcast to DN and never looked back. I don't know why I didn't do it a long time ago. I'm sure somone will have more HD channels in the future but at least PQ is better than cable where I live. I always use the free HD DVR. I've never had one until I switched to DN. Now I will never miss my favorite shows again. If only DN would include Speed Channel in their HD lineup. That would be awesome.

etchasketch · 03-20-2007, 04:01 PM

I have great PQ on Comcast, so think it depends on the feed, or all the way down to cable and install. Due to clarity and good tone I have no incentive to bother with OTA (unless it would bring in some Chicago locals).

Price is a matter of perspective. My feeling is the TV is a bargain compared to what I pay for web. Add in a great DVR (luck 'o the draw I guess, no problemos whatever thus far).

On D* and adding HD channels, that won't happen until some pretty complex things happen: sat has to fly, bird has to go hot, etc. BUT, to add (25) more HD channels ... uhm, what would those be?

At this writing I don't think there are (25) more HD networks to broadcast even if the birds were flying and tuned in. So, they have a long row to hoe. And, (30) is a long way from (150) which is what's been in adverts!

Unless they mean spot-beam locals (which will only serve the dedicated markets).

etch

davecramer74 · 03-20-2007, 05:33 PM

my picture quality on comcast is great as well. As for the HD channels they can add right now...not sure if you have been reading, but they've signed deals with disney, usa, tbs and a bunch of others to carry their new HD feeds, which will be up and running this year as well.

Broadcast Network HD Channels
ABC HD
CBS HD
The CW HD
FOX HD
MyNetworkTV HD

NBC HD
PBS HD

National Cable/Satellite HD Channels
A&E HD
Animania HD*
Chiller HD (launch 3/1/2007)
Cinemax HD
Discovery HD Theater

ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
Equator HD*
Family Room HD*
Film Fest HD*

Food Network HD
Gallery HD*
GamePlay HD*
Golf HD **
HBO HD

HDNet
HDNet Movies
HD World News*
HGTV HD
INHD

Kung Fu HD*
MHD
Monster HD*
National Geographic HD
NBA HD

NFL HD
Outdoor Channel 2 HD
Playboy Hot HD (adult)
Rave HD*
Rush HD*

Showtime HD
Spice HD (adult)
Starz HD
The Movie Channel HD
TNT HD

Treasure HD*
Ultra HD*
Universal HD
Versus HD**
Wealth HD

World Cinema HD*
WorldSport HD*

etchasketch · 03-21-2007, 10:23 AM

Hi Dave, just thinking it's more hopeful than marketing would admit.

I hadn't seen such an extensive list before. Of those you list, how many are premiums (HBO, Showtime, etc)? Of the rest, how many are already broadcasting in HD?

etch

davecramer74 · 03-21-2007, 11:53 AM

I agree, 150, i say no way. but i dont think them adding more than Dish currently offers (30 + locals)
is out of the question.

Those all broadcast now in HD. It just depends on who your service provider is. As for which are premium, hbo, showtime, starz, cinemax, playboy and spice are the ones i see.

Lee Stewart · 03-21-2007, 12:08 PM

SAT has done a very good job in getting new subs. In 10 years they have gone from 10% of households to 20% all at the loss of CBL.

The only problem I see with SAT is three fold:

1. Can experience weather related problems

2. Some households cannot have SAT - like heavy urban area's.

3. CBL will rent you equipment at a very reasonable cost. Most SAT people are having to buy some equipment after first "freebee"

drock912001 · 03-21-2007, 09:02 PM

Don't forget LibertyMedia is waiting approval of the purchase of Direct from NewsCorp.Liberty owns Starz so that's a possible hd channel.MGM,Disney,CNN, E!, TBS, The Sci-Fi Channel and FX announced they will launch hd channels to.Realisticly there isn't 100 national HD channels yet.Direct customer service will tell you they will have the ability to carry 100 hd channels,but I think that has more to with the lawsuits.Plus Direct and Dish where in negoitions to carry the Voom channels.

03-19-2007, 12:02 PM	#1
Curtis6978 A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Smyrna DE Age: 31 Posts: 11	better choice? Hello all, I am relatively new to these boards, I have a 37 in olevia LCD display, and I have directv. I got the tv after I had directv and really do not want to pay the $200 + $9.99 month for hd and its only 8-9 channels. I was thinking about switching to Comcast, or trying dish network. I would like some opinions here as to what service would be best for my $$. BTW I am in Smyrna DE, close to Dover.

03-19-2007, 12:31 PM	#2
davecramer74 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area California Age: 35 Posts: 1,011	well, right now dish is offering their HD dvr for free. At this time, they offer the most HD content. I tried switching to them from comcast but couldnt because i couldnt get Line of sight for my dish. My suggestion would be dish network. with that said.... Directv will be boosting their HD offererings this year and probably will have more than Dish. Also, if you call directv and say "im cancelling" and when they ask why you tell them that you can get your HD dvr for free from both dish and comcast, so its a no brainer, they will give you the HD dvr for free. So if the 200 bucks for the dvr is the sticking point, do what i said and id stick with directv. They will be the HD leader come years end. It will probably be another 12-18 months before cable can rollout their SDV technology that will allow them to expand and be on par with Directv. Dish would be a good way to go too. Like i said, they are the HD leader now, 30 channels plus the locals. I read that they have capacity to expand that as well. So, its your call. Since your already with dtv, id call up dish or comcast, get an appt setup, then call directv and give them the ultimatum. You'd be amazed what youll get. Ill bet you get a free hd dvr, probably 6 months of HD service for free and a movie channel fo a few months if you dont already have them. As for comcast, they are "ok". High priced and so-so Hd offerings. I currently have 2 HD dvrs through them, most digital channels, hbo and cable modem. My bills looking like it will be around 140 or so. __________________ Vizio 42" LCD Phillips 50" plasma Last edited by davecramer74; 03-19-2007 at 12:36 PM.

03-19-2007, 04:25 PM	#3
etchasketch headed to a bar for HD Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 68	I'll be very surprised if reality matches the D* marketing. They are promoting things before the birds fly, and there is a launch issue with 1:2 if I understand correctly. Assuming both sats go live on station, and get hot, there still are not enough providers scheduled to launch HD to make the (150) channel claim come true. Not from Missouri, but ... show me. etch __________________ hoping to have HD on LCD merge with BetaMax video and 8-track audio

03-20-2007, 09:32 AM	#5
Flipsonic Got HDTV? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bay Area California Posts: 162	I switched from Comcast to DN and never looked back. I don't know why I didn't do it a long time ago. I'm sure somone will have more HD channels in the future but at least PQ is better than cable where I live. I always use the free HD DVR. I've never had one until I switched to DN. Now I will never miss my favorite shows again. If only DN would include Speed Channel in their HD lineup. That would be awesome. __________________ Samsung HL6187W 61" 1080p Panasonic DMP-BD35K Blu Ray Denon AVR-1603 DTS Receiver VIP 1216 DVR (AT&T Uverse) Klipsch KSF 8.5 Tower Speakers (front) Klipsch KSC-C1 Center Channel Speaker Klipsch KSW12 Subwoofer Energy Satellite Rear Speakers Logitech Harmony 880 Remote Nintendo Wii

03-20-2007, 04:01 PM	#6
etchasketch headed to a bar for HD Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 68	I have great PQ on Comcast, so think it depends on the feed, or all the way down to cable and install. Due to clarity and good tone I have no incentive to bother with OTA (unless it would bring in some Chicago locals). Price is a matter of perspective. My feeling is the TV is a bargain compared to what I pay for web. Add in a great DVR (luck 'o the draw I guess, no problemos whatever thus far). On D* and adding HD channels, that won't happen until some pretty complex things happen: sat has to fly, bird has to go hot, etc. BUT, to add (25) more HD channels ... uhm, what would those be? At this writing I don't think there are (25) more HD networks to broadcast even if the birds were flying and tuned in. So, they have a long row to hoe. And, (30) is a long way from (150) which is what's been in adverts! Unless they mean spot-beam locals (which will only serve the dedicated markets). etch __________________ hoping to have HD on LCD merge with BetaMax video and 8-track audio

03-20-2007, 05:33 PM	#7
davecramer74 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area California Age: 35 Posts: 1,011	my picture quality on comcast is great as well. As for the HD channels they can add right now...not sure if you have been reading, but they've signed deals with disney, usa, tbs and a bunch of others to carry their new HD feeds, which will be up and running this year as well. Broadcast Network HD Channels ABC HD CBS HD The CW HD FOX HD MyNetworkTV HD NBC HD PBS HD National Cable/Satellite HD Channels A&E HD Animania HD* Chiller HD (launch 3/1/2007) Cinemax HD Discovery HD Theater ESPN HD ESPN2 HD Equator HD* Family Room HD* Film Fest HD* Food Network HD Gallery HD* GamePlay HD* Golf HD ** HBO HD HDNet HDNet Movies HD World News* HGTV HD INHD Kung Fu HD* MHD Monster HD* National Geographic HD NBA HD NFL HD Outdoor Channel 2 HD Playboy Hot HD (adult) Rave HD* Rush HD* Showtime HD Spice HD (adult) Starz HD The Movie Channel HD TNT HD Treasure HD* Ultra HD* Universal HD Versus HD** Wealth HD World Cinema HD* WorldSport HD* __________________ Vizio 42" LCD Phillips 50" plasma

03-21-2007, 10:23 AM	#8
etchasketch headed to a bar for HD Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 68	Hi Dave, just thinking it's more hopeful than marketing would admit. I hadn't seen such an extensive list before. Of those you list, how many are premiums (HBO, Showtime, etc)? Of the rest, how many are already broadcasting in HD? etch __________________ hoping to have HD on LCD merge with BetaMax video and 8-track audio

03-21-2007, 11:53 AM	#9
davecramer74 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area California Age: 35 Posts: 1,011	I agree, 150, i say no way. but i dont think them adding more than Dish currently offers (30 + locals) is out of the question. Those all broadcast now in HD. It just depends on who your service provider is. As for which are premium, hbo, showtime, starz, cinemax, playboy and spice are the ones i see. __________________ Vizio 42" LCD Phillips 50" plasma

03-21-2007, 12:08 PM	#10
Lee Stewart Behold - the future! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM Age: 58 Posts: 25,191	SAT has done a very good job in getting new subs. In 10 years they have gone from 10% of households to 20% all at the loss of CBL. The only problem I see with SAT is three fold: 1. Can experience weather related problems 2. Some households cannot have SAT - like heavy urban area's. 3. CBL will rent you equipment at a very reasonable cost. Most SAT people are having to buy some equipment after first "freebee"

03-21-2007, 09:02 PM	#11
drock912001 NFL in HD nothing else Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 1,570	Don't forget LibertyMedia is waiting approval of the purchase of Direct from NewsCorp.Liberty owns Starz so that's a possible hd channel.MGM,Disney,CNN, E!, TBS, The Sci-Fi Channel and FX announced they will launch hd channels to.Realisticly there isn't 100 national HD channels yet.Direct customer service will tell you they will have the ability to carry 100 hd channels,but I think that has more to with the lawsuits.Plus Direct and Dish where in negoitions to carry the Voom channels. __________________ Samsung HL-R5667W Toshiba HD-XA1 Directv HR12-100S IXOS audio & video connectors Monster Power HTS2500 HD DVD 58? Mover's hustled most of my collection last year!

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