Cox to offer HDTV in Phoenix

[James_F]

Well it looks like my days as a DBS sub might be numbered. If I can get a PVR and HDTV from Cox, with my HDTV locals, I'm gone. I doubt that even if the merger goes as planned, I won't be able to get my locals in HDTV. :shrug:

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/0831hdtv31.html

[Chris Blount]

Are any of your locals broadcasting OTA HDTV? The article makes it sound like Cox is the only way to get HDTV.

While this deal sounds good, I have to question their judgment of going with the $500 buyout scheme. I don't understand what they have to lose by leasing the boxes for $10 a month.

You have a big decision to make. Once you spend that $500 for their box you are pretty much locked with cable for a long time. You might want to also look at the price of receiving the HDTV channels. Will they charge extra? Also what about a PVR? Will they have an HDTV PVR available like Dish will have later this year (I'm referring to the 921)?

I hope it works out for you.

[James_F]

Chris, ABC, NBC and PBS broadcast in HDTV here.

I won't move until I'm sure that a PVR will work with HDTV. It doesn't sound like it yet. :( I don' t consider the 921 an option because of the lack of sports programming available on Dish. The only package Cox doesn't offer is NFLST, but I can go down to the local bar and watch those.

That said Chris, if I buy a 921, I'd be locked into Dish for a long time also. Its up to DBS or Cable to make me the best offer in the next few months...

[CoriBright]

Cox are now doing HD Cable in Vegas.... all of two channels, HBO and HD Net. They don't carry ABC or CBS who have been in HD for some time, or PBS. They also ignore Discovery HD and Showtime HD. No PVR available. Just a HD Scientific Atlanta cable box.

They lost us as subscribers 18 months ago when we switched to Dish. We have absolutely no intentions of EVER switching back. They also work out MORE expensive than Dish. As for their customer services reps, they make Dish Network's reps look like GPA 4.0 college graduates!!!!!!

[Mike123abc]

You can build your own HDTV PVR, but they work with OTA broadcasts. There are several HDTV PC card makers that have PVR software for their reception. They even include remote controls. Of course you will have to have a PC with a very large disk drive to record since HDTV records at almost 9GB/hour.

It is more the techie type thing to do, not for the casual PC user.

[Mike123abc]

Oh, on another note, your reaction to switching back to cable when they offer HDTV is something I bet will happen to a lot of DBS subs. I do not think that the DBS providers realize the amount of impact that this will have.

Too bad the 6000 does not recieve cable HDTV signals, would be great to get HDTV locals over cable and DBS for the rest. I bet it will not happen for a long time. HDTV is cable's trump card.

[James_F]

As I said, if Cable offers me a better deal, then I'm gone. I already have Cox Cable Modem and Telephone. :shrug: