Isn't today HD Day?

[RichMert]

Isn't the new HD package supposed to launch on the 16th? Is it up yet? What do you HD subscibers think so far?

[bolco]

Discovery looks great, HD Net looks great, HD Net Movies looks better than average, and ESPN is playing upconverted and terribly stretched programming right now.

[RichMert]

Thanks for the information. I don't suppose HD Net broadcasts something 24 hours a day does it?

[bolco]

They sure do!
http://www.hd.net/schedule_today.html
http://www.hd.net/movies_schedule_today.html

[RichMert]

Thanks bolco. It looks great but I don't know how square pegs and hogans heroes will come across compared to today's shows that are produced in HD. It's nice to know there is something on all day long though.

[John Kotches]

Rich,

These shows were produced on film, so it's really a question of what condition the film is in.

If the film is still in good condition, I suspect some excellent PQ is possible.

Regards,

[oblio98]

HDNet looks terrific! I am not sure, but DiscoveryHD looks a bit weaker than it has. Could be what they were showing at the time I looked.

ESPN-HD does look horrible (compared to the rest)

:-jon

[earroyo1]

Guys, just wait to see a Sport event on HD Net, it's just amazing, Soccer, College Football, CART racing and Boxing are simply unbelievable.

Discovery HD will look awesome in some programming, like Canadian Rivers and Insectia, but they have some regular programming that doesn;t look that great.

ESPN HD, is just a shame, since it began in DirecTV I haven't seen a complete program on it, it is just a 720 upconverted to 1080i, earlier today they had Poker programming and it was better to see it in their regular SD channel than in HD.

[RichMert]

John
Thank you. When I think film I think movies but I forget that at one point in time everything was produced on film. That means there might be some pretty good looking old tv film out there.

[Frank Z]

Everything looks great, except ESPN. As previously stated we need to wait for a true HD sporting event broadcast from them. I'm going to be glued to the tube this weekend so I hope to see something from ESPN worth singing about!

[cbusbee]

ESPN-HD is just upconverting and stretching standard definition material except for the few live events they do in 720P each week. Maybe this is why Charlie was in no hurry for adding ESPN-HD. This Saturday nite they will show Miami Hurricanes vs. Boston College at 730 pm and on Sunday night the Miami Dolphins vs. the dreaded Buffalo Bills. Let's see those programs and then give our opinions. ESPN should be added more and more HD programming as trucks are added and the new studio goes online next Spring. Believe me I am a sports junkie and would love to see all their live programming in HD but I understand that it will take time and money to get there. As more cable systems offer HD and ESPN-HD there will be a greater viewing audience because HD televisions will start jumping out of the stores as guys see HD sports at friends houses or bars. I predict huge HD sales this Xmas season...

[Cyclone]

HDNet looks terrific! I am not sure, but DiscoveryHD looks a bit weaker than it has. Could be what they were showing at the time I looked.

ESPN-HD does look horrible (compared to the rest)

:-jon

I had thought the same thing. But I still receive both 9420 and 9421. So I could switch back and forth between the 61.5 and 110 feeds of Discovery HD. I could not tell the difference between the two when doing this. So it was my imagination.

ESPN-HD's playmakers looked like HD to me, but I didn't stick with the show. There is only so much "scandel" TV I can take before its over the top. And Playermakers is Way over the top.

[Ken_F]

Discovery is getting the same bandwidth it was before, as far as we know, so they should be identical. As before, quality varies by content.