Why No PBS HD Locals in Washington DC Area...Till Now

[TechMoe]

I have been checking this site a few times a week looking for news of PBS HD Locals being added in the DC metro area for DTV. I keep seeing other smaller local markets getting it, but why not this area up to now???

[cdizzy]

My guess is that they are trying to get all the individual market contracts done. It takes time but i would imagine that it's on its way.

[Azdeadwood]

I have been checking this site a few times a week looking for news of PBS HD Locals being added in the DC metro area for DTV. I keep seeing other smaller local markets getting it, but why not this area up to now???

I just wish they would tell us the roll out plan for PBS HD. I am also frustrated when I see smaller markets than Albuquerque get HD when we don't.

I'm very surprised to hear as large a market as DC doesn't have it!

[Piratefan98]

Progress sure has been slow with the PBS roll-outs.

Still blurry low-D PBS (WITF) here in the Harrisburg DMA.

Jeff

[Baldone]

I just wish they would tell us the roll out plan for PBS HD. I am also frustrated when I see smaller markets than Albuquerque get HD when we don't.

I'm very surprised to hear as large a market as DC doesn't have it!

I hear ya, I'm 30 spots higher than you on the dma list (Seattle) & still don't have PBS HD.:confused:

[n3ntj]

Progress sure has been slow with the PBS roll-outs.

Still blurry low-D PBS (WITF) here in the Harrisburg DMA.

Jeff

Not that WITF-DT actually broadcasts anything in HD (16:9) anyway. Have you seen any full HD (16:9) programming on 33.1 in the past 3 or 4 months? I've only seen letter boxed and 4:3 stuff on WITF-DT. A lot of the shows say "Available in HD" at the beginning, but WITF is too cheap to show them in HD.

I look forward to the day that WITF-DT is available on D*. Still holding my breath since there is a WITF-DT as a test channel on 103s supposedly.

[Piratefan98]

Not that WITF-DT actually broadcasts anything in HD (16:9) anyway. Have you seen any full HD (16:9) programming on 33.1 in the past 3 or 4 months? I've only seen letter boxed and 4:3 stuff on WITF-DT. A lot of the shows say "Available in HD" at the beginning, but WITF is too cheap to show them in HD.

I look forward to the day that WITF-DT is available on D*. Still holding my breath since there is a WITF-DT as a test channel on 103s supposedly.

Actually, I don't get WITF OTA, so my only viewing is done in SD thru DirecTV. When I used to be on Comcast, we had the PBS national HD channel, and it was really nice, but I understand that it has gone away. I don't know whose fault it is (PBS or DirecTV), but I certainly am not watching as much PBS programming because of the lack of HD. Some of those shows in SD are just plain unwatchable. I was an annual contributor for almost 10 years, but they aren't getting another nickel out of me until HD is delivered.

Jeff

[Golfman]

I have been checking this site a few times a week looking for news of PBS HD Locals being added in the DC metro area for DTV. I keep seeing other smaller local markets getting it, but why not this area up to now???

Agree, sure would like to see the DC area PBS HDs added soon.

[dbsdave]

feel your pain dc, but not really, since boston, the foundation for much of pbs, still does not have a pbs hd channel on directv

[Rob-NovA]

What's really frustrating is watching shows on PBS and seeing their teaser telling me that the program is also available in HD! I keep asking when?

[TechMoe]

Wow, I thought DC was the last place that didn't have any PBS HD, had no idea Boston doesn't even have it.

Our PBS station, WETA, has been running a lot of ads promoting their HD channel and what they are showing on it which is fairly substantial and I feel frustrated that I cannot see it in HD. Just the other day I believe it was Nova that had a special on butterflies. A topic that I would normally not be interested in but in SD the colors looked cool and I can't even imagine how it would have looked in HD.

Whatever is taking them so long, I hope they get it resolved soon. I thought by Jan 1 we would have it for sure and now we are in Feb. and still nothing.
I have never understood why DTV doesn't let us know clearly that new channels have been added. If it weren't for this site I would have no clue!

[yuppers519]

PBSHD In Albany ny DMA is now on Directv