Directv Channel Lineup

[James636]

Originally Posted by stevedee

I can't agree with your second statement. There IS a reason SD looks "pathetic" on these sets, but I won't go into here. There is no way that SD can look good on these sets, whether it's coming from a satellite, cable, or OTA.

I must not understand you completely, because that doesn't seem true to me at all.

Over-the-air SD looks great on my TV, as does the SD programming on DirecTV's HD channels (usually ESPNHD and HBO HD). The rest of the DirecTV lineup looks horrible.

For example, a SD program I receive over the air looks exponentially better than the same SD program on DirecTV's ugly version of my local channels. Sometimes I click back to the DirecTV feed just to laugh at how ridiculous the difference is.

[Starman]

Just came across this forum.

Does anyone know what DirectTV's plans are for enhancing/adding HD channels to their line up. Probably like many of you, I'm really sick of seeing the same 5-6 HD channels for almost a year now since signing up for HD programming. And adding more frustration, having to pay extra for one HBO HD channel, another extra for a Showtime HD channel, etc. and NOT having TNT HD for the NBA playoffs currently being broadcast. (By the way, how does one get TNT HD?)

In voicing this frustration to DirectTV recently, they indicated that "later this year" they would be adding additional HD content. What this means, who knows? They seemed to indicate that much of this would come in the form of local station HD channels. This is of absolutely no use to me since I already receive perfect HD reception for these stations using an HD antenna.

Does anyone have any additional info re: near future DirectTV HD enhancements?

Are there any significantly better alternatives out there to DirectTV HD?

Someone mentioned in this forum that the new DirectTV HD channels would require a new receiver different from current HD receivers. Is this true? Is a new antenna also required? Is the existing DirectTV consumer expected to absorb this cost?

Just wondering if there's any way to put more pressure on DirectTV to add HD content quicker? (Some type of mass exodus by current HD subscribers, rotten tomatoes at HQ building, mass spam attack, etc.) Anyone got any ideas?

[ctvw]

I'm also new to this forum but I may be able to help explain a few things. James636, as far as your comments go, and please don't think I'm insulting you, but are you watching your standard OTA channels in digital mode? (for example does the channel have a -1 or -2 after it) because if it does then you're still watching a digital feed OTA. What you get from DirecTV is the standard analog feed in a digital format. I'm not saying by any means that your channels don't look better OTA, I'm just wondering if that is the reason, because I personally haven't noticed any difference between DirecTV channels and OTA channels for analog viewing. I 100% agree with you that the OTA HD feed looks better than DirecTV's though.

As far as DirecTV adding HD channels, I've heard they are supposed to have them up this fall.

[oblioman]

Originally Posted by Starman

Just came across this forum.

Does anyone know what DirectTV's plans are for enhancing/adding HD channels to their line up. Probably like many of you, I'm really sick of seeing the same 5-6 HD channels for almost a year now since signing up for HD programming. And adding more frustration, having to pay extra for one HBO HD channel, another extra for a Showtime HD channel, etc. and NOT having TNT HD for the NBA playoffs currently being broadcast. (By the way, how does one get TNT HD?)

In voicing this frustration to DirectTV recently, they indicated that "later this year" they would be adding additional HD content. What this means, who knows? They seemed to indicate that much of this would come in the form of local station HD channels. This is of absolutely no use to me since I already receive perfect HD reception for these stations using an HD antenna.

Does anyone have any additional info re: near future DirectTV HD enhancements?

Are there any significantly better alternatives out there to DirectTV HD?

Someone mentioned in this forum that the new DirectTV HD channels would require a new receiver different from current HD receivers. Is this true? Is a new antenna also required? Is the existing DirectTV consumer expected to absorb this cost?

Just wondering if there's any way to put more pressure on DirectTV to add HD content quicker? (Some type of mass exodus by current HD subscribers, rotten tomatoes at HQ building, mass spam attack, etc.) Anyone got any ideas?

Perhaps the added HD content DirecTv is talking about is the "special" SuperFan Package. If you want more HD the simple thing to do would be to get DishN. Cheaper also.

[fastek24]

for people who are foolish enough to contact D* please see my comment #8 six months ago!

[lloyd24]

I have Dish Network HD for $9.95 per month and it offers in addtion to the ones already mentioned TNT in HD saw all the NBA playoff games in wide screen HD was great..Maybe you need Dish Network...I had Direct TV and there service was terrible... I receive all the OTA Los Angeles Stations that broadcast in HD..I use a Radio Shack UHF antenna

[jrg9662]

Good Try......DTV is the best sattelite company today. They have now launched another sattelite that will give us 1500 HD channels in the near future. DN programming is terrible. Nobody including Cable comes close.

JR

[spiderman865]

You forgot to mention that of those 1500 channels, most if not all will be local channels that are spot beamed and only available in your local DMA!

[James636]

Originally Posted by ctvw

I'm also new to this forum but I may be able to help explain a few things. James636, as far as your comments go, and please don't think I'm insulting you, but are you watching your standard OTA channels in digital mode? (for example does the channel have a -1 or -2 after it) because if it does then you're still watching a digital feed OTA. What you get from DirecTV is the standard analog feed in a digital format. I'm not saying by any means that your channels don't look better OTA, I'm just wondering if that is the reason, because I personally haven't noticed any difference between DirecTV channels and OTA channels for analog viewing. I 100% agree with you that the OTA HD feed looks better than DirecTV's though.

That makes perfect sense. I didn't know that DirecTV actually uses the analog feed....so basically, the reason most channels on DirecTV don't look as good as OTA SD is because their source is analog? Didn't realize that. Thanks! Is that also the deal with the other channels (100 and up; the cable channels), or is it a compression issue?

It seems, then, that they're fibbing just a little bit when they claim on their TV ads that every channel is presented in "100% digital quality." Technically, I guess they might be right, but analog-sourced digital and/or highly compressed digital, in my book, is not 100% digital quality.

[GRN]

Originally Posted by spiderman865

You forgot to mention that of those 1500 channels, most if not all will be local channels that are spot beamed and only available in your local DMA!

It's amazing how DirecTV apologists never mention that little fact!

Q: When is 1500 HD channels not really 1500 HD channels?
A: When DirecTV advertises it as such

Anyone who expects to turn on their TV that fateful morning and see 1500 new HD channels will be sorely disappointed.

[dwella]

Originally Posted by GRN

It's amazing how DirecTV apologists never mention that little fact!

Q: When is 1500 HD channels not really 1500 HD channels?
A: When DirecTV advertises it as such

Anyone who expects to turn on their TV that fateful morning and see 1500 new HD channels will be sorely disappointed.

I would settle for 5 new ones....

d

[T.Rex]

I'd settle for one that has nothing to do with sports!

[shellback]

OK T. Rex, if you were king/queen of the forest, what 5 channels would you want to be HD right now? Or would it be better to narrow down to shows?

[htguy]

JRG9662: Unfortunately, DTV's last satellite launch, which was supposed to be late June, was delayed to to due payload difficulties w/an Orbital Sciences Satellite on the same launch vehicle. Direct TV will be lucky to have local HDTV channels up and running from Spaceway 2 by the end of the year. Here is a quote from Spaceflightnow.com:

Late Oct. Ariane 5 ECA • Spaceway and Telkom 2
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana

The Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA rocket will launch the Spaceway 2 communications satellite for The DIRECTV Group and the Indonesian Telkom 2 communications satellite. The Boeing-built Spaceway 2 spacecraft will use its Ka-Band payload to expand and enhance DIRECTV's direct-to-home television service and provide broadband services across the United States. The Orbital Sciences-built Telkom 2 has 24 C-band transponders to transmit telecommunications services to Indonesia. Delayed from June 24 due to Telkom problem. [Aug. 22]

I am pulling the trigger on an HDTV later this fall and while I do enjoy DirectTv, they are not in a position to be competitive (yet) w/Comcast. This is especially true since there is no out of pocket expense to go to Comcast, though they do have the worst customer service. I have been told that once the new satellite it activated, all DTV HDTV subscribers will need a new dish and upgraded satellite receiver. No word on cost to current subscribers for new equipment.

[tristanjohn]

Originally Posted by shellback

OK T. Rex, if you were king/queen of the forest, what 5 channels would you want to be HD right now? Or would it be better to narrow down to shows?

I don't know about TRex but I'd love to have Turner Classic Movies displayed in higher resolution, though then again I'd hate to see that screwed up somehow to where the picture quality on these older films is degraded. (That was precisely the case in San Francisco when the cable system there went to "digital" content, so I'm not just borrowing trouble.)

I keep expecting the cable brand of Fox News to upgrade to HD, but so far nothing. I bet News Corp beats MSNBC and CNN, though.

The various History channels, NGC, that kind of fare, would go well in Hi-Def, and some, if not most, of that stuff is slated to come on line once the satellites are finally in place. (fingerscrossed)

Frankly, I'd be happy just to see AMC get its act together and lose the commercials and questionable film selections and go back to the old format. I wonder how many million viewers that channel lost (or gained, God help us!) when it dumbed everything down.