SimpleSimon said:
Well, I think they've got more bandwidth than anybody else already. They just won't use it for what Americans want. Can't blame them I guess - when you can charge 1,000s of foreigners $20-30+ a month for some international drivel (same type of crap as we watch - just from THEIR home).
Then, on a guess, to finish the utterly ridiculous, bandwidth-wasting build-out of local DMAs, they need another 20 transponders or so. Enter Rainbow-1.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your perspective. Selling those spendy internationals may mean a lot to some of those people to sort of keep track of what maybe happening back at the old home town and if they keep our costs down a little, more the better.. And those SD locals for all those DMA's, add to the sub list, which should somehow help keep costs down. And of course, they all take bandwidth..
Right now with the top 180, you've got several news channels, several shopping channels, several discovery like channels, several music video channels, I could go on, not many of those things are going to convert to HD well.
I don't need HD news, though eventually just because, it will start coming that way. I don't need HD Shopping channels, Offering more HD sports maybe cool, but with local HD and ESPN, how much more does one need? It maybe just me, but HD music videos aren't going to make any difference. Some of the Science channels maybe cool in HD, but its going to freak someone out when something really gross comes across so realistic..
Lets see HGTV in HD.. the flowers on the landscaping shows would look really good..:lol: I don't think they could do much in HD for Cartoon network, I am not sure I want to see HD Nick either... all that slime...:hurah:
As for what American's want, I know what people here want, most people I think are clueless, which is why there isn't much of a rush yet to make the switch.. However I think its going to start accelerating. the Govt really wants that spectrum back to sell and they aren't going to get it until everyone is watching some sort of digital TV, HD or not.