View Full Version : PBS, CW & MyNetworkTV locals in HD?? Any plan?
So, DirecTV is quickly expanding the LiL's, including CBS, ABC, FOX and NBC HD's in major markets (and now some minor ones), but are they ever planning on going back and adding PBS, CW and MyNetworkTV in HD??
Jeremy W
05-23-07, 03:59 PM
Detroit already has MyNetwork TV in HD. PBS would be cool, but I really don't give a crap about CW.
Detroit already has MyNetwork TV in HD. PBS would be cool, but I really don't give a crap about CW.Yeah, I could really care less about CW...but I'd really like PBS.
Are they ever going to add the sub-channels? (like NBC's "WeatherPlus+)
Jeremy W
05-23-07, 04:28 PM
Are they ever going to add the sub-channels? (like NBC's "WeatherPlus+)
I'd rather see sub-channels eliminated completely than have DirecTV waste precious bandwidth on them.
Titan25
05-23-07, 04:44 PM
Here in NY MN and CW are important because Yankees and Mets games are on them. PBS is desirable, if for no other reason, because they generally do a GREAT job of HD transmission. Certainly, WNET here in NY does.
I would bet that DirecTV would play catch-up with CW, MY-TV, and PBS stations in local markets. They'll have the bandwidth, and they'll please many of their customers ...
And I will be able to return my crappy SA-8300HD DVR to Cablevision, which I only have for HD-CW, PBS, and My-9!
islesfan
05-24-07, 02:04 PM
Yeah, I could really care less about CW...but I'd really like PBS.
Are they ever going to add the sub-channels? (like NBC's "WeatherPlus+)
I would love to have CW in HD (Supernatural is barely watchable and Smallville is so bad I just wait for the DVDs), but our PBS is not in HD anyway, and I don't even know what a "My Network" is...
bonscott87
05-24-07, 02:21 PM
Once they get the new sats up I'm sure they will. I'd bet they are just playing concervative right now with the locals. Other issue is the RSN's which take up bandwidth. Once the RSN's go CONUS and D10 and D11 are up there and functioning I think you'll see more of these go up.
Won't in my area since CW and MyNetwork are just subchannels of our NBC and CBS station.
zipbags
05-24-07, 02:40 PM
Has their been any rumors or talk of the CW in HD in NY (I live in NJ)??
I would love to see PBS over the MPEG4. There HD is the best OTA, so :)
Newshawk
05-24-07, 04:47 PM
Has their been any rumors or talk of the CW in HD in NY (I live in NJ)??
I think the key for NYC is that D* has to provide two 24/7 HD RSNs- YES and SNNY. Once they go national beam, there's the room to WWOR and WPIX.
As for PBS stations, I still believe the sticking point is that the PBS stations want D* to carry all their sub-channels. While I's like to see the Oklahoma only channel that OETA has here in the Sooner state, I can get it by OTA, so there's no pressing need that I can see for the waste of bandwidth. The other two sub-channels? One is a duplicate of PBS Kids Sprout and the other is the Charlie Rose channel... er, PBS You, which D* dropped over a year ago!
BTW, here's a link to a press release concerning the agreement between the Association of Public Television Stations, PBS and the National Cable Television Association: http://www.ncta.com/ContentView.aspx?hidenavlink=true&type=reltyp1&contentId=359
bobnielsen
05-24-07, 06:56 PM
I would love to see PBS over the MPEG4. There HD is the best OTA, so :)
I get PBS OTA and agree, although I wish they would get more HD programming. 99% seems to be repeats (some of which are old enough that they are new to me).
JACKIEGAGA
06-15-07, 05:35 PM
I live in NY I don't get MY NETWORK and CW in hd. I am watching the MET- YANKEES on 95 and the feed is coming from MY NETWORK in hd. Will we get these channels when the new sats go up?
DVRaholic
06-15-07, 06:02 PM
This is the First time I have seen them do This, Broadcast a My9 HD game on Ch.95
Maybe this means we might get the channel full time soon.
I get it OTA now, But I have friends hat would love to get these HD feeds, especially for Yankees and Met games
DCSholtis
06-15-07, 06:10 PM
This is the First time I have seen them do This, Broadcast a My9 HD game on Ch.95
Maybe this means we might get the channel full time soon.
I get it OTA now, But I have friends hat would love to get these HD feeds, especially for Yankees and Met games
This is I think the 3rd or 4th time they have had a My9/Yankees feed in EI. Tonight they also have a TSN/Blue Jays feed and a CSN Philly feed as well. First time they have had a TSN feed in EI. They have had Rogers Sportsnet feeds however.
JACKIEGAGA
06-15-07, 06:13 PM
This is the First time I have seen them do This, Broadcast a My9 HD game on Ch.95
Maybe this means we might get the channel full time soon.
I get it OTA now, But I have friends hat would love to get these HD feeds, especially for Yankees and Met games
What kind OTA do you have?
raoul5788
06-15-07, 06:34 PM
OT to the post, really, but when the new sats are up, and the hd rsn's go to CONUS, will the spotbeam hd rsn's go away?
Kevin Dupuy
06-15-07, 06:34 PM
Sports coverage on MyNet affiliates would be the only reason to get them in HD. Not bashing the network, but IIRC they are going to have all network broadcasted content in SD, with their switch to reality content.
CW in HD would be nice.:D
DCSholtis
06-15-07, 06:37 PM
OT to the post, really, but when the new sats are up, and the hd rsn's go to CONUS, will the spotbeam hd rsn's go away?
If as expected they are going CONUS I dont see a reason to keep them up on the spotbeams as well. Except maybe for Superfan.
Titan25
06-15-07, 08:36 PM
This is I think the 3rd or 4th time they have had a My9/Yankees feed in EI. Tonight they also have a TSN/Blue Jays feed and a CSN Philly feed as well. First time they have had a TSN feed in EI. They have had Rogers Sportsnet feeds however.
The interesting thing is that I don't subscribe to EI but still got the HD My9 feed on 95. I have also seen the YES feed on 94 or 95 turned on as well. Other posters have maintained that if you don't subscribe to EI, you shouldn't get these feeds.
Jeremy W
06-15-07, 10:48 PM
If as expected they are going CONUS I dont see a reason to keep them up on the spotbeams as well. Except maybe for Superfan.
No need to keep them on spotbeam for Superfan. It'll just use the CONUS feed.
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 3:44 PM
Subject: No PBS in High Definition
KPBS San Diego
I am writing to you regarding the fact that PBS programming in our local San Diego market is not carried by my satellite provider, DIRECTV, in High Definition. As one dedicated HD customer in our market I feel that it is very important for you to realize that for whatever reasons PBS is not carried in High Definition, you are losing viewers. Surely you have all the statistics on HDTV at hand; that should tell you that you are driving away those viewers you should be trying most to keep.
In response to my request, DIRECTV also advises me that they are legally disallowed from providing me the National PBS HD feed because that would violate the rights of my local PBS broadcaster, KPBS. So it seems PBS, as a national organization, has thus successfully shot itself in the foot twice over:
the local PBS doesn't provide HD programming to the satellite providers, encouraging viewers to leave
because the local PBS is here, but not providing HD service to the local area, the national PBS is not allowed to provide HD programming, ensuring that viewers leave PBS altogetherAnd please, don't bother with the "put up an over-the-air antenna" suggestion.
I believe that if this situation is not corrected very soon, it will be appropriate to start contacting your advertisers to ensure that they are aware their advertising dollars could be more effectively spent with broadcasters who properly support all media distributors.
Thanks for your interest in our HD programming. There is no "must carry" or similar regulation requiring satellite providers to offer specific local stations, including public TV. The decision to offer, or not to offer, KPBS-HD on satellite local-to-local service depends on the interest of the commercial satellite provider and their assessment of what their customers want.
On behalf of local public TV stations, various agreements (both local and national) with cable TV providers have been negotiated to require (or allow) them to offer our HD and SD broadcasts. But in the case of DirecTv and Dish, in most cases only analog carriage has been negotiated.
We would likely grant them rights to offer our HD service if they were interested, and wanted to negotiate an agreement for local carriage.
It is also possible that at some point in the future some national agreements will be made, similar to those with cable providers.
You really should pick on a station that allows significant commercial advertising of you're going to take the "I'm going to tell all of your advertisers" approach.
Judging by the PBS response, it would seem that PBS HD is not carried by DIRECTV as a matter of lack of interest on the part of DIRECTV.
And DIRECTV's lack of interest is certainly the result of an old, lurking problem: lack-of-bandwidth.
With the entrance of D10 and D11 (maybe D12 too?) let's hope that DIRECTV takes the opportunity to provide us yet another great HD channel.
CCarncross
06-16-07, 06:10 PM
Since you "dont want to bother with the OTA antenna option", its as much your fault as anyone elses...
Bottom line, if you have an option to get it by another way, but choose not to, you lose almost all sympathy votes.
D* will most likely start adding the HD PBS stations to locals when the bandwidth is available. No needs to whine about it.
I don't have any OTA signal for any station. Too far from signal. I've been calling D* and my local PBS station in Sacramento, KVIE, for months about PBS HD content. D* has "assured" me that there is NO demand for PBS in HD at this time. They may consider it after D10 is operational if customers want it.
A very knowlegable spokesperson from my local PBS called me yesterday. He seemed to understand the issue and told me that KVIE had been in touch with D* many times offering the main local PBS HD feed but they were not interested. He had not heard that PBS might be requiring all the sub channels be broadcast also and he said that was definitley not his stations policy. He was going to try and escalate the inquiry to National PBS and sggested that I use the PBS.org site to send them an email also. He's convinced the issue is with D*'s lack of current bandwidth and thinks D* will offer a local MPEG4 PBS HD feed in all the DMA's once D10 is operational if they feel their customers want one.
texasbrit
06-16-07, 08:44 PM
Judging by the PBS response, it would seem that PBS HD is not carried by DIRECTV as a matter of lack of interest on the part of DIRECTV.
And DIRECTV's lack of interest is certainly the result of an old, lurking problem: lack-of-bandwidth.
With the entrance of D10 and D11 (maybe D12 too?) let's hope that DIRECTV takes the opportunity to provide us yet another great HD channel.
The PBS situation is not really driven by just lack of bandwidth, it is the whole matter of carriage of subchannels. PBS has apparently said they are not willing to let DireCTV carry the PBS HD channel in those cities where PBS broadcasts HD, unless DirecTV agrees to carry all the PBS subchannels. Some PBS stations have six subchannels, and DirecTV would not only need to find bandwidth for the PBS subchannels (which are really only SD stations), they would have to provide equipment to handle each subchannel just as if it were a regular station, and also if they did this for PBS they would have to do this for everyone else who had subchannels. I just looked at my guide for DFW and there are 18 digital station primary subchannels (the -1 channels) in the OTA list. But there are also 14 secondary subchannels, so carrying these via satellite would require almost twice the equipment. What you would be asking is the equivalent of DirecTV having to carry 14 new SD locals in DFW alone - imagine what that would do if it were extended to the whole country.
Newshawk
06-16-07, 10:03 PM
You really should pick on a station that allows significant commercial advertising of you're going to take the "I'm going to tell all of your advertisers" approach.
Commercial stations have "advertisers", PBS stations have "supporters". Both will listen to the complaints of their customers if there are enough people complaining and if the arguments are compelling. Just watch and see who the local businesses are who get the mentions at the beginning and end of PBS programs amd start lobbying!
Since you "dont want to bother with the OTA antenna option", its as much your fault as anyone elses...
I should have explained: where I live, north of San Diego, I can't get even one FM radio station and certainly no OTA television signals. I would be most pleased if OTA were an option.
funhouse69
06-17-07, 01:19 AM
I agree with a lot of the comments here but though I would throw my two cents in. Here in the Boston market we have 2 different PBS Stations one of which has one sub channel and the other has 3 sub channels. I would love to see them all on D* someday but at this point would be more than happy to see just the primary on D* HD.
Thankfully I'm able to get these all OTA so I'm not missing out on shows like Travels to the Edge in HD. I think that for the most part anything that PBS and Discovery does in HD is going to be amazing quality. Now if only we could get the other networks to catch up. Obviously it is only a matter of time but the question is how much time.
texasbrit
06-17-07, 05:58 AM
I agree with a lot of the comments here but though I would throw my two cents in. Here in the Boston market we have 2 different PBS Stations one of which has one sub channel and the other has 3 sub channels. I would love to see them all on D* someday but at this point would be more than happy to see just the primary on D* HD.
Thankfully I'm able to get these all OTA so I'm not missing out on shows like Travels to the Edge in HD. I think that for the most part anything that PBS and Discovery does in HD is going to be amazing quality. Now if only we could get the other networks to catch up. Obviously it is only a matter of time but the question is how much time.
Here in DFW the PBS station uses its full digital bandwidth for HD and does not have any subchannels. I can receive it OTA so am not too worried about whether DirecTV carries it, but I am sure that there are many people who can't get OTA. I don't believe DirecTV would have any problem transmitting PBS here in DFW, it's PBS nationally that is the roadblock.
Remember that every subchannel takes away from the bandwidth available for a "primary" HD subchannel. Personally I would rather PBS had a single HD channel at decent quality instead of six SD channels.
I think that if the FCC forced "must carry" for subchannels it would open the door for more stations to create yet more subchannels, and have a major negative effect on HD quality OTA, as well as putting a massive burden on the satellite companies to deliver all these extra channels. If everyone started to use subchannels, the 18 digital stations in DFW could easily become 50 or 60. That's a lot of equipment for DirecTV to install, and most of it would be for programming content that virtually nobody would be watching.
How can I petition D* to add PBS HD? Between the lemon units I've been getting and not getting PBS HD, I may end up leaving D* if they don't improve things soon.
D* and posters here need to realize just how many people get little to no OTA. Many of us here in California can't get OTA. And since CA is the most populous state-- that means millions of people.
D*HR-20
06-20-07, 10:28 PM
How can I petition D* to add PBS HD? Between the lemon units I've been getting and not getting PBS HD, I may end up leaving D* if they don't improve things soon.
D* and posters here need to realize just how many people get little to no OTA. Many of us here in California can't get OTA. And since CA is the most populous state-- that means millions of people.
Well, you do realize Dish doesn't carry PBS HD and some cable systems don't even carry PBS HD. So, where are you going to go?
NYSmoker
06-21-07, 05:57 AM
Jackiegaga,
I bought a Silver Sensor indoor antenna to pick up CW11 for the Mets games. It works great and I can pick up every channel except PBS 13 which is apparently notoriously tough to pick up. I am only 6 miles from the ESB, not sure how it would work for you on Long Island.
texasbrit
06-21-07, 10:46 AM
As I said, this is not really a DirecTV issue, it's a PBS issue. See http://www.apts.org/news/dbs_carriage.cfm The Association of Public Television Stations does not want DirecTV to just deliver PBS HD, they want DirecTV to deliver ALL the subchannels. And delivering all the PBS subchannels probably means delivering everyone else's subchannels.
CCarncross
06-21-07, 01:12 PM
IMHO, Many PBS stations have too many subchannels. It really hurts the main channel's quality. C'mon, PBS wise up. Most of your more discerning viewers want quality, not quantity...
jasonblair
06-21-07, 04:44 PM
Yeah... when I lived in Indianapolis, the PBS HD station was really good. Only 1 subchannel, which was a simulcast of the analog station. Then I moved to DC... no joke, my HTL-HD showed EIGHT subchannels. The main HD channel looks as bad, if not worse, than TNT-HD does during Sunday Ticket season.
BTW - We get MyNetworkTV carried in HD here in DC... but I have to admit, I've never actually seen HD on the channel... it's usually just Judge Judy-type suff.
Well, you do realize Dish doesn't carry PBS HD and some cable systems don't even carry PBS HD. So, where are you going to go?
Comcast has been carrying KQED HD and its substations since they started. I haven't heard about problems with their boxes. And they're getting TiVo. I never thought Comcast might end up being the best choice, but it's looking like it might be.
The interesting thing is that I don't subscribe to EI but still got the HD My9 feed on 95. I have also seen the YES feed on 94 or 95 turned on as well. Other posters have maintained that if you don't subscribe to EI, you shouldn't get these feeds.
You get them because MY9 and YES are in your package. D* can't differentiate so when the feed goes on that channel your box is autherized. Same thing happens with the hockey packeage. If the Islanders are on 624 sometimes the 7XX channel is not blacked out.
I'd love to be able to get Nova and Frontline in HD...I'm not holding my breath however.
morgantown
06-22-07, 03:17 PM
PBS in HD is awesome.
Luckily being just five miles from the towers OTA is a piece of cake for me. Still would like to have the Pittsburgh PBS in HD (I currently get my very local PBS via OTA). PBS does have some really good stuff in HD -- when they do it in HD, they really do it right. ...even with the continual repeats.
And they're getting TiVo.Don't hold your breath. TiVo announced in March of 2005 that:The new service will be marketed with the TiVo brand, and is expected to be available on Comcast's DVR products in a majority of Comcast markets in mid-to-late 2006.Testing on live subscribers is scheduled for Summer 2007 in NJ and MA. Twelve hours of HD recording...
paulman182
06-23-07, 11:44 AM
Subchannels will greatly increase in importance when analog is turned off and everyone who gets TV OTA will get the subchannels.
My prediction is, all the subchannels will eventually be on D* and cable, not just PBS.
Newshawk
06-23-07, 12:06 PM
But how important is it to carry subchannels when they are duplicates of already carried channels, or are channels that D* has discontinued due to a lack of popularity? The PBS Station here has only one subchannel I'd like to see in D*-it's an "Oklahoma only" subchannel with only programs related to Oklahoma on it. The other two "alternate programming" subchannels are PBS Kids, which is carried by D* but branded as PBS Kids Sprout, and the Charlie Rose channel.. excuse me, I meant PBSYou, which D* dropped over a year ago!
Consider this, too... when the PBS station wants to go to HD programming, it invariably drops the subchannels. That means that APTS wants D* (and E*) to tie up valuable transponder space for PART-TIME channels!!!
romwarrior88
06-26-07, 04:00 PM
I didn't see it mentioned, so I will. In LA they have gone back and added CW in HD (MPEG4 only) and I think at least a digital feed of MyNetworkTV (do they have HD programming?), so I would say that the answer to the OP's question is yes. The only major OTA station here that is only NTSC is channel 9. I would guess that once the new sats are up this will start to happen more quickly...
Jeremy W
06-26-07, 04:25 PM
I think at least a digital feed of MyNetworkTV (do they have HD programming?)
It's limited, but they do.
Paul Secic
06-26-07, 04:45 PM
IMHO, Many PBS stations have too many subchannels. It really hurts the main channel's quality. C'mon, PBS wise up. Most of your more discerning viewers want quality, not quantity...
In the SF Bay Area there's 5 PBS station and all have 24/7 subchannels. The only provider carring them is Comcast.
Paul Secic
06-26-07, 04:48 PM
Comcast has been carrying KQED HD and its substations since they started. I haven't heard about problems with their boxes. And they're getting TiVo. I never thought Comcast might end up being the best choice, but it's looking like it might be.
Thier boxes are junk, garbage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As of the last update on Lyngsat's 99 & 103 pages, here's the markets that get some extra networks, not just the "big 4":
Sat 99 (http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa99.html)
My20 - Washington
Sat 103 (http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa103.html)
My4 - San Francisco
WGN (CW) - Chicago
My20 - Detroit
My27 - Dallas
Philly 57 (CW) - Philadelphia
CW 69 - Atlanta
Any updates on expanding this to other markets? It looks like they're planning on doing it some day...is it contract negotiations, equipment requirements that are holding it up?
MetroNY
07-09-07, 07:00 AM
Even if they did add other markets (hoping they would add metro-nyc) they wouldn't tell you about it. It would just be a random discovery one day while surfing the forums or flipping the channels. Pet peave of mine - them never using the built-in "message" feature to make announcements.
bonscott87
07-09-07, 09:13 AM
They announced a while ago that with the launch of D10 and D11 that they would carry *all* HD local channels not just the "big 4".
They announced a while ago that with the launch of D10 and D11 that they would carry *all* HD local channels not just the "big 4".They announce a lot of things.
It would appear that the HD channels are going to carry the SD digitals with them and that's not what the distributors had in mind.
bonscott87
07-09-07, 01:18 PM
They announce a lot of things.
It would appear that the HD channels are going to carry the SD digitals with them and that's not what the distributors had in mind.
HUH?
zipbags
07-09-07, 01:53 PM
Are their any rumors of CW 11 (NYC) coming in HD?
HUH?It appears that the intention of the PBS affiliates is to demand full carriage of their digital offerings.
Are their any rumors of CW 11 (NYC) coming in HD?I suspect that this may be a case where being the DNS feed is a distinct disadvantage. As the national feed, it needs to be MPEG2 and there's precious little room to put up MPEG2. The other side of the coin would be putting NYC channels destined for NYC on an MPEG4 spotbeam and keeping the big four in MPEG2 for the "have nots". I think there would be a lot of squealing either way.
I'm thinking that the MDU population in NYC is substantial and that doesn't bode well for MPEG4.
ScoBuck
07-09-07, 02:37 PM
Are their any rumors of CW 11 (NYC) coming in HD?
It will be on the system before the end of this year. DirecTV will be offering all of the NY HD channels in MPEG4.
They have been hedging their capacity waiting for successful launch and deployment of D10. You can expect lots of new markets and additional channels in already lit markets beginning mid-Sept. if all goes well.
TBoneit
07-09-07, 02:39 PM
I would bet that DirecTV would play catch-up with CW, MY-TV, and PBS stations in local markets. They'll have the bandwidth, and they'll please many of their customers ...
And I will be able to return my crappy SA-8300HD DVR to Cablevision, which I only have for HD-CW, PBS, and My-9!
Is the cablevision DVR really as bad as I've heard it is?
Years ago I had their Digital Box when they were first rolling them out and it was bad. It crashed all the time, guide data built slow etc. I suspect they had to many problems with them. After that they had a period where you could not add digital but could keep it if you had it. I dropped it anyway.
TBoneit
07-09-07, 02:47 PM
Has their been any rumors or talk of the CW in HD in NY (I live in NJ)??
In NJ, then put up a OTA antenna or get basic cable. On basic cable I'm getting all the NYC HD feeds + Subchannels. A whole lot more than either Satellite company provides.
Yes I do have Sat TV and HD DVR and Basic cable and i hate watching basic cable with no DVR but I'm not paying more for their DVR than the service. OTOH if I want to watch as an example Foyles War on WLIW it is either watch it in HD via cable or in SD on the DVR.
It appears that the intention of the PBS affiliates is to demand full carriage of their digital offerings.Why?? My local cable offerings only carry the PBS HD channel, none of the subchannels. Why wouldn't DirecTV/DishNetwork be able to do the same as Charter, Comcast, et al.?
Paul Secic
07-09-07, 03:27 PM
Is the cablevision DVR really as bad as I've heard it is?
Years ago I had their Digital Box when they were first rolling them out and it was bad. It crashed all the time, guide data built slow etc. I suspect they had to many problems with them. After that they had a period where you could not add digital but could keep it if you had it. I dropped it anyway.
If they have Motorla DVRS forget it. Horrid!
Is the cablevision DVR really as bad as I've heard it is?
Years ago I had their Digital Box when they were first rolling them out and it was bad. It crashed all the time, guide data built slow etc. I suspect they had to many problems with them. After that they had a period where you could not add digital but could keep it if you had it. I dropped it anyway.It's bad. Mine is running SARA on a Scientific Atlanta. The graphics for the guide look like they were designed on a Commodore Vic 20; the guide is not widescreen; there's a different font/GUI used on the DVR playlist; searches are by title only; and it's only 20 hours of HD space. (It can be expanded with eSATA ... but ... )
Jeremy W
07-09-07, 05:02 PM
Mine is running SARA on a Scientific Atlanta.
That is the worst interface out there today. Just a complete pile of garbage.
VeniceDre
07-09-07, 05:56 PM
As of the last update on Lyngsat's 99 & 103 pages, here's the markets that get some extra networks, not just the "big 4":
Sat 99 (http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa99.html)
My20 - Washington
Sat 103 (http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa103.html)
My4 - San Francisco
WGN (CW) - Chicago
My20 - Detroit
My27 - Dallas
Philly 57 (CW) - Philadelphia
CW 69 - Atlanta
Any updates on expanding this to other markets? It looks like they're planning on doing it some day...is it contract negotiations, equipment requirements that are holding it up?
Los Angeles gets MPEG4 CW - KTLA 5 also. Don't remember off the top my head which sat we get our's from... I think it's 103.
tonyd79
07-09-07, 06:28 PM
That is the worst interface out there today. Just a complete pile of garbage.
I use "POS" rather than "POG."
Not even a glorified VCR. A VCR remembers where I stopped watching the tape.
TBoneit
07-10-07, 08:57 AM
That is sad. How long has Tivo and Replay been available. OR Dishnetwork starting with the Dishplayer or DirecTv with the MS Ultimate TV (Dishplayer got right)?
Buy some of the competition, see what they did right, what they did wrong, Do market research see what your intended audience wants. Don't copy , innovate!
Be consistent in interface design. Even the movies understand consistent as AFAIK they have someone to maintain consistency between shots. IE actors wear the same clothes, surroundings ar ethe same etc.
They do miss of course. Such as the PAcBell phones in what was supposed to be Washington airport in Diehard 2 or the power lines in teh distance in a western.
Maybe it is rocket science to design a DVR and they don't want to pay?
tonyd79
07-10-07, 10:52 AM
Good development takes time and money. Ask DirecTV. They spent a lot of time and money working on the HR20 and are still working it hard. The SA8300 hardware seems okay but the SARA software is a mess. (There is another interface out there that has most of the Tivo/HR20 like abilities.)
I am sure the cable companies that are using SARA are getting it cheap (maybe even free with the hardware). They figure they can provide lots of boxes and make as much money as they can and have a simple box.
The problem is the simple box is not only horrible in features but it is actually harder for a non-techie to use. The interace is almost non-existant and very un-friendly.
While I have DirecTV, I also have cable. I hope and pray that Comcast where I live either switches to the Motorola system or has Tivo ported to the SA units.
TBoneit
07-11-07, 09:42 AM
I have satellite with a HD DVR and Basic cable but I'm not paying them more for a cable company HD DVR then I am for the basic cable that just seems wrong to me. So I watch WLIW or WNET PBS stations in HD from cable and the other locals on a HD DVR from satellite and use a Tivo series one standalone for other things such as overflow and local news.
At least using basic cable to watch the local PBS stations they don't interrupt the show with commercials. And for what they are worth I get the sub channels via cable too.
Steveknj
07-12-07, 08:41 AM
In NJ, then put up a OTA antenna or get basic cable. On basic cable I'm getting all the NYC HD feeds + Subchannels. A whole lot more than either Satellite company provides.
Yes I do have Sat TV and HD DVR and Basic cable and i hate watching basic cable with no DVR but I'm not paying more for their DVR than the service. OTOH if I want to watch as an example Foyles War on WLIW it is either watch it in HD via cable or in SD on the DVR.
Which cable do you have? I have basic cable with CV and a QAM tuner on my TV and I'm only getting SOME of the local HD feeds through my QAM (I think only the big 4 and maybe PBS). We used to get more, but they started blocking some of them over the last few months.
I Just talked with my Local PBS(WGVU) and they told me that just two weeks ago Directv contacted them and stated they will be adding them in HD in 4th Quarter.
I don't watch a lot of PBS but having it still will be nice. Now if I could only get my local NBC in HD, not sure what the problem there is.
man_rob
07-13-07, 07:46 AM
I guess I'm lucky that I live within 20 miles of the the local channels. I just put a small amplified antenna in my upstairs hallway, and I get great reception on my HR20.
TBoneit
07-13-07, 09:03 AM
Which cable do you have? I have basic cable with CV and a QAM tuner on my TV and I'm only getting SOME of the local HD feeds through my QAM (I think only the big 4 and maybe PBS). We used to get more, but they started blocking some of them over the last few months.
I'm presuming you mean cablevision when you say CV? Which would be what I have.
I don't have a link handy however it is my understanding they cannot encrypt or otherwise block local HD such as requiring a box to view.
Checking the Internet shows http://www.physorg.com/news96889300.html
I wasn't getting any of the HD feeds earlier, only some of the sub channels. My basic SD channels were fine just no networks or PBS in HD.
Then when I added Optonline high speed Internet it didn't work. A service call and the tech replaced the connectors on both ends of the line feeding into the house from the pole as well as removing the filter they used to use to restrict me to the channels on basic cable. Now according to the tech they don't use the filters since beyond basic it is all scrambled anyway. Now nice high speed, and I scanned for HD channels a few days later and they are working.
In fact the first time I've ever called for support and had no problem getting them to come out. I explained how I had done the self install. Splitter where the wire comes from the pole, one line to TV sets and the other direct to the modem. At that point he said, we need to schedule a call. I explained same setup to the tech, he checked signal levels and said they are low, changed out the ends, I tested and working. He never came in the house. He was confident that with teh work he had done it wasn't needed. While I was testing the Internet, he was filling out the paperwork. Sure enough he was right. Since I prefer not having strangers tramoing through the house into the basement where the computer is, I was happy.
Whether the HD issue was the same problem as the cable modem service or the filter at the pole I can not say. I do like that now I can watch WLIW and WNET in HD even if it is live. I much prefer a DVR so I can skip all the junk. However PBS once the show starts it isn't interrupted like other channels so...
Jeremy W
07-13-07, 09:34 AM
it is my understanding they cannot encrypt or otherwise block local HD such as requiring a box to view.
They are allowed to do whatever they want with local HD, but the FCC strongly recommends that they send it unencrypted. Pretty much every cable company does.
Here's a Wikipedia article on "Must-carry": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Must-carry
Here's a brief article about "must-carry" rules for multicast channels: http://dtvfacts.com/87/will-my-cable-company-carry-the-new-local-multicast-channels/
Here's another article about the first must-carry rules for Alaska and Hawaii: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6251588.html?display=Breaking+News&referral=supp
The FCC has already ruled that it did not interpret digital must-carry to apply to cable carriage of all of a broadcasters' multicast signals, but instead to only a replication of its primary signal. The FCC's cable must-carry decision was based on its interpretation of Congress' use of the phrase "primary video" to describe the digital broadcast signal that cable must carry.
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