Is D* going to be the leader in HD content?

[Crypter]

After D10 is launched and by the end of this year after they have added all the HD channels currently planned will DTV really be the Nationwide leader in HD offerings? Are there any other servies out there (ie. Other DBS, Cable, or Fios, or whatever) that will offer just as much HD content or more?

In other words is DTV going to be the BEST place for HD?

[jdspencer]

Maybe for a short time, until a competitor ups the ante.

[tonyd79]

Depends on how you count. And when D* has VOD on line then all will be pretty much equal.

However, D* will be (and is) the leader in HD sports. Cable may catch up on baseball, and other sports it has contracts with but I don't think anyone else is doing HD out of market yet and D* will always have the NFL over everyone else.

Leader? Maybe. But who cares, just give me the HD raining down from the sky.

[Crypter]

Hmm, if I have a Premier Package and MLB, NBA, and NFL subscriptiopns next season will I be able to watch all my OUT OF MARKET games that are available in HD? Cause right now DTV does a ****ty job of showing my teams out of market games in HD even with all the superfan addons's (except NFL, they are pretty good about that).

[nick1817]

If some of the channels go HD, you'd think Cable could add them when they go live....it's not like D* will be signing exclusive D* rights

[Earl Bonovich]

If some of the channels go HD, you'd think Cable could add them when they go live....it's not like D* will be signing exclusive D* rights

There is a lot that goes into it... especially with regards to the Cable-Co's.

They don't have endless Bandwith, so the questions are there... if they have the bandwith, and in what markets... as a lot of the Cable-Co's have different systems in different markets.

So they maybe able to add it in one market, but in none of the others...


I don't think there is any Network that has an exclusive with DirecTV (with regards to the new HD ones)

[tonyd79]

For baseball, they have already said if the game is available in HD in 2008, it will be part of EI. Other sports? Who knows yet. Though most of the RSNs that carry much of the games will be in HD.. Guess it depends on the contracts.

As for that, you can't blame D* for the baseball, etc, in HD now. They still have more out of market than anyone else. EI offers out of market HD to cable but Comcast here doesn't support it. And that is nowhere near as many as D* does now.

It hasn't been the greatest for any particular team but with them showing up to 4 games on any given day hard to call it ****ty.

[John in Georgia]

After D10 is launched and by the end of this year after they have added all the HD channels currently planned will DTV really be the Nationwide leader in HD offerings? Are there any other servies out there (ie. Other DBS, Cable, or Fios, or whatever) that will offer just as much HD content or more?

In other words is DTV going to be the BEST place for HD?

D* may become the leader in HD content. Personally, I hope they will also become the leader in HD quality.

[Ken S]

There is a lot that goes into it... especially with regards to the Cable-Co's.

They don't have endless Bandwith, so the questions are there... if they have the bandwith, and in what markets... as a lot of the Cable-Co's have different systems in different markets.

So they maybe able to add it in one market, but in none of the others...


I don't think there is any Network that has an exclusive with DirecTV (with regards to the new HD ones)

Earl, how much bandwidth will D be able to deliver to an individual customer after the new satellite launches?

[Drew2k]

Everyone is a little nervous about DirecTV's HD expansion, so they're putting out statements to say they're still inthe game. For example, Cablevision has said they'll have over 500 HD channels ... but they didn't say when. I would say DirecTV will certainly be the leader through the end of the year, but by the end of the year, some Cablecos may have plans in place to go to SDW, allowing them to up the number of HD channels they carry.

Time will tell who eventually "wins" with the most HD channels, but if DirecTV converts cable company customers to DirecTV customers this September, locking them into 1- or 2-year contracts, DirecTV effectively wins because they were there first, drawing customers with their expanded HD offerings.

[Earl Bonovich]

Earl, how much bandwidth will D be able to deliver to an individual customer after the new satellite launches?

I don't know the exact number...

But each customer that can see the 99 and 103 slot, will have access to the same bandwith.

Enough bandwith in there for spot beamed HD-Locals, and the 150 HD networks.

[veryoldschool]

I don't know the exact number...

But each customer that can see the 99 and 103 slot, will have access to the same bandwith.

Enough bandwidth in there for spot beamed HD-Locals, and the 150 HD networks.
I think Tom's numbers were "something" like 10 channels per transponder.

[mx6bfast]

I think Tom's numbers were "something" like 10 channels per transponder.
Do you remember how many mbps each channel got on each transponder?

[jpl]

I agree with most on this thread - they'll have the advantage for a short time. Not only will many cable companies follow suit (where they can), but so will systems like FiOS and U-Verse (which are technically considered cable setups), as will Dish. I understand that Dish is also going to be launching a couple new satellites in the very near future. There are certainly bandwidth limitations with many traditional cable companies, but I know FiOS definitely has plenty of room for expansion.

DirecTV is taking a pretty big, well I wouldn't call it a gamble exactly, but they're putting alot on the launch of this first satellite. They're playing a PR game right now - and if all goes to plan it'll pay off handsomly for them. The downside, of course, is that if things don't go right, they're going to suffer for it. But that PR game has clearly been successful for them til now - bringing in lots of customers in anticipation of all that HD. There are folks on a fios forum I check out (since I am now a fios customer) who've posted things like "I switched from directv to fios 4 months ago... but those commercials that directv is running is making me reconsider." There are lots of customers out there of different systems also playing a wait and see game - if DirecTV delivers, they'll switch over. For that reason I think other systems have it in their interest to move aggressively to increase their HD offerings.

And of course, with sports, no one will be able to touch directv. They've done a masterful job of tapping into that lucrative segment of the population - the sports nut.

So, in terms of non-sports-package HD quantity, I think DirecTV will have an advantage for about 6 months. For sports-pack type programming, they'll have a clear advantage into the foreseable future. In terms of HD quality... well, that remains to be seen.

[ansky]

Has anyone ever connected an HD box to a non-HD tv set? What does the picture look like? The reason I ask is because, in terms of bandwidth, would it be feasible for D* to simply drop the SD feed once the HD feed of a channel becomes available? It seems ridiculous that they will have to carry two feeds of every channel going forward. To do this they would have to make all set top boxes HD capable, regardless of what TV the customer is watching on.

[Nick]

The reality is, D*'s much ballyhooed, cussed and discussed boasts of having
the "capacity" for a bazillion HD channels, give or take, has been and will be
good for all HDTV owners and potential HD subscribers, regardless of provider.

At this point, whether D* can fully back up its claim or ultimately falls short by a
few channels is irrelevant. Their claims have been made and the competition
must respond in a significant way or watch their most profitable, high-end subs
fall away in droves.

When the dust settles, regardless of which provider is crowned "King of HD Land",
it is we, their lowly, but loyal subjects who will be the recipients of our benevolent
providers' high-resolution programming largess.

[nick1817]

There is a lot that goes into it... especially with regards to the Cable-Co's.

They don't have endless Bandwidth, so the questions are there... if they have the bandwidth, and in what markets... as a lot of the Cable-Co's have different systems in different markets.

So they maybe able to add it in one market, but in none of the others...


I don't think there is any Network that has an exclusive with DirecTV (with regards to the new HD ones)

I understand that. Comcast still doesn't offer all the HD channels here in Memphis D* does. They have to lay more pipe (I said lay pipe:lol: ) to carry the new channels. But, you have to think eventually they will and will get the same channels is all.

The great thing about DBS, is that they can throw up a new sat and all the customers will benefit from it (most of the time)- which equates to a national rollout of a new HD lineup. Cable Co's can't match that.

[man_rob]

Here in Baltimore D* will be the leader. The cable company here needs to get the SD channels right before they start stretching themselves even thinner with HD.

[garn9173]

Mediacom, the local cable company, has shown no signs of expanding their rather paltry 10 channel HD line-up.

If you want HD and Big 10 Network in Central Iowa, D* is the place to be.

[Earl Bonovich]

I understand that. Comcast still doesn't offer all the HD channels here in Memphis D* does. They have to lay more pipe (I said lay pipe:lol: ) to carry the new channels. But, you have to think eventually they will and will get the same channels is all.

The great thing about DBS, is that they can throw up a new sat and all the customers will benefit from it (most of the time)- which equates to a national rollout of a new HD lineup. Cable Co's can't match that.

And that is one of the biggest "contentions" I have with most of the comparisons of cable-co to DirecTV and even Dish.

The spread sheet would be:
DirecTV; Comcast-Chicago; Comcast-Chicago Suburbs; Comcast-Philly; Comcast-New York; ect.....

[Sixto]

Agree with the comments above. It's going to be tough for the cable companies. Each company will be different and each geography within each company may be different.

For Cablevision (my local cable provider), they have the traditional ~850mhz of bandwidth, with about 20+ HD channels. They are now also adding the VOOM HD channels.

The only physical way that Cablevision can properly roll-out more HD is SDV but then they'd break the Series3. Not sure how easy it is to upgrade the SA boxes that they currently use to support SDV.

And Cablevision is being hit from both ends. Seems like everyone I know locally is either switching to D* or FIOS. Verizon is slowly enabling FIOS town-by-town weekly.

And the Verizon sales team is out in force. Very friendly guys that are going door-to-door once a week trying to convert families from Cablevision. They've visited my house twice in the past few weeks. They present a very good story to switch from Cablevision to FIOS. Not as good as D* technically (especially without NFL ST) but compelling $. I know a number of people on my block switching and doing the triple-play thing.

Cable is in trouble in the northeast.

And D*'s future is bright come Friday at 9:16pm ET.

[veryoldschool]

Do you remember how many mbps each channel got on each transponder?
No, but as we know MPEG-4 uses [needs] less than MPEG-2.

[tonyd79]

Has anyone ever connected an HD box to a non-HD tv set? What does the picture look like? The reason I ask is because, in terms of bandwidth, would it be feasible for D* to simply drop the SD feed once the HD feed of a channel becomes available? It seems ridiculous that they will have to carry two feeds of every channel going forward. To do this they would have to make all set top boxes HD capable, regardless of what TV the customer is watching on.

I have when my TV was in repair and I am sure others have as well. The HD channels looked better than the SD channels on an SD set. Not surprising because there is more source information into the box.

But that is not the issue with SD staying around. The problem is the number of SD boxes in use. They have to start swapping them out and that will be very costly.

[mike_augie]

I agree that in the end ..in a perfect world that cable as far a band with my have a advantage ..but like has been said before not all cable companys are a twc.some are small like the one here in S.W. Okla they is not way that they can or will do hundredes of hd was just now got a few digital channels and they upgraded there stuff but they claim digital but that is for about 10 channels only all the rest are still angalog in nature (I think) but the over all pic and quality is terrible on my in-laws tv..and the sports packages and everything else that direct or dish for that matter is far better...I guess it is all in the eyes of the holder...I am more than happy with D and what they have and where they are going....

[veryoldschool]

Cable will have the bandwidth to match D* when they use fiber to the house or run three coax feeds to your house. it's: pure and simple equipment limitations.
Short of this, cable will need to switch programing to offer the selection that D* can with the new SATs.

If you ever wondered why it takes four coax from the dish to a multi-switch, now you should know.

[Sirshagg]

Has anyone ever connected an HD box to a non-HD tv set? What does the picture look like? The reason I ask is because, in terms of bandwidth, would it be feasible for D* to simply drop the SD feed once the HD feed of a channel becomes available? It seems ridiculous that they will have to carry two feeds of every channel going forward. To do this they would have to make all set top boxes HD capable, regardless of what TV the customer is watching on.

I was wondering the same thing myself a few days back. The 16:9 vs 4:3 aspect ratio would probably make this an issue though.

[nhaydon]

We have 2 H20's that we use for our tailgate parties down at the Rams and Cardinals games. We have 1 H20 hooked up through component for HD and then a SD feed off of that to a standard def TV. The picture looks fine but it is stretched becuase of the 16:9 aspect

[veryoldschool]

I was wondering the same thing myself a few days back. The 16:9 vs 4:3 aspect ratio would probably make this an issue though.
Been there done that [or should it be doing that].
H20-100 connected to a 27" Sony 4:3. As they say "no problem". It doesn't look any better than the TV, but gets all of the HD channels and sends them through the S-Video to the TV.

[r0n]

Has anyone ever connected an HD box to a non-HD tv set? What does the picture look like? The reason I ask is because, in terms of bandwidth, would it be feasible for D* to simply drop the SD feed once the HD feed of a channel becomes available? It seems ridiculous that they will have to carry two feeds of every channel going forward. To do this they would have to make all set top boxes HD capable, regardless of what TV the customer is watching on.

I had my HD service for about a month before getting an HD tv and found that the HD channels looked a lot sharper than the SD channels. Clearly a richer signal was being delivered to the tv. I was surprised that the tv could deliver that clarity, and was tempted to see if the SD OTA channels would also look noticeably better than the D* SD counterparts, but I never got around to doing it.

[Christopher Gould]

isn't the 150 channels being conservative, didn't someone do the math and find D* really has more room than that at 99 and 103. there are almost 100 channels planned just for D10 isn't there. plus if D* got the backhaul thing work off 101 KA would be available with a new sat.