Why no PBS HD?

[snidely]

Neither D* or DISH has any intention of carrying local PBS HD channels. Are HD channels exempt fm. the "must carry" rule even though a carrier is provides other HD channels in a given area?
For anyone that wants PBS HD, they need to get it OTA, or via cable. What is more odd is that one Canadian sat. system, BEV, carries WGBH (PBS) fm. Boston and KCTS (PBS) fm. Seattle - in HD!! The other Canadian system, Star Choice I think carries at least one PBS HD station.

...mike

[Nick]

I am fortunate to get WJCT-HD, a local PBS out of JAX delivered via Adelphia cable.
Excellent slate of "compelling" programming -- rates high on my must-watch/DVR list.

[Fifty Caliber]

IIRC, must carry applies to full power analog locals only at this time. This might change as more people adopt HD technology. Must carry does not apply to low power channels, digital stations, or signifigantly viewed stations. There is now a single dish rule for must carry which IMHO, will slow down the process of getting HD locals to alot of markets.

[Michael P]

Well, I can get 2 PBS digital stations OTA. At first both carried PBS HD full time. Then both dropped PBS HD due to a lack of funding and new requirements that the local stations do their own local station breaks on PBS HD. When PBS HD was carried it was 24/7 from the network - the only hint of localism was the annoying "bug" in the lower right-hand corner identifying the local station.

Today the only PBS station carrying any HD content is WVIZ. The signal is in "STA" mode - very low power (1 kw) on a short tower (99'). I can barely get it 3 miles from the tower. they don't even mirror the analog main feed on a subchannel. At least the other PBS station WEAO mirrors on subchannel .2.

[muledoggie]

PBS is one of the top HD networks, in my opinion.

Examples of recent PBS HD content:

Austin City Limits featuring Coldplay
Great Performances featuring Paul McCarney from Abbey Road Studios
Nova is good most of the time
Nature is good most of the time
Motorweek " "
Innovation " "
Naked Planet Specials " "
Frontline " "

I just put up an antenna and hooked it up to my Hughes HD DVR (D*)

Jeff

[Fifty Caliber]

It's always good to see people ignore the mistaken assumption the OTA antennas are somehow bad or to be avoided.

[bidger]

They're not a complete solution for every area though. I can't get CBS or PBS OTA where I live, so I can relate to the OP questioning why the sat. cos. don't have an HD feed the way there's an SD national feed for PBS.

[CCarncross]

Give it time....both companies are just getting their locals in HD up and running...When they originally started offering SD locals back in 1999, IIRC, they didnt have PBS, and in many cases WB, or UPN at first either....it needs time to mature and of course they need time to get more birds up there to provide the necessary bandwidth.....if you cant wait, work out some other OTA solution, there are really not that many places that you cant get OTA if you try hard enough....

[Fifty Caliber]

I'm not saying that OTA antennas are the solution to everyone's needs. However, there is seldom a reason not to try an OTA antenna setup.