[Sixto]

DirecTV just issued HD Press Release: http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070108/20070108006784.html?.v=1

A&E
National Geographic
Bravo
NFL Network
Cartoon Network
SciFi Channel
CNN
Speed
Food Network
TBS
FX
The History Channel
HGTV
The Weather Channel
MTV
USA Network

Regional Sports Networks (RSNs)

All premium movie channels

 

[TAJ2]

With the addition of so many HD channels does this mean that the HD channels will be included in standard packages? Or will we still need to pay $10 per month to see the HD channels?

Also, will I be able to watch these channels with my HR10-250?

 

[Earl Bonovich]

I hooked it into this discussion.
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=75606

And no, it will require an MPEG-4 receiver The H20 or the HR20.
The HR10-250 will not be compatible with these channels.

 

[Sixto]

They haven't yet released pricing for the new HD.

Will be MPEG4 only. Not on HR10-250.

 

[TAJ2]

I hope they plan on giving me one for free!

 

[skaeight]

Wow! I don't have HD locals in my area yet, but I can 3 out of the big 4 via distant HD locals. Once this launches I may pull the trigger on the 37" vizio and an HR20.

Does anyone know if D* eventually plans to take the RSN's off of spot beams? Or will they only be offering SD versions in the sports pack?

I wonder if this announcement has anything to do with the rumored renaming of the channel packages? Maybe HD will be included.

 

[Eich]

With all of the press releases on HD and all of the money invested, it's obvious that people are hungry for quality video. So..... does DirecTV have a plan to improve SD? Back in 1997, when I first subscribed, the picture quality of the SD programming was pretty good. Today, some of the SD channels are deplorable. The goal should be near DVD quality SD and high quality HD.

I understand that bandwidth is the issue but they seem to have found a way to accommodate more HD. So, how about some effort into SD quality? SD isn't going to go away in the near-term and the more HD you watch, the worse the current SD looks.

 

[skaeight]

With all of the press releases on HD and all of the money invested, it's obvious that people are hungry for quality video. So..... does DirecTV have a plan to improve SD? Back in 1997, when I first subscribed, the picture quality of the SD programming was pretty good. Today, some of the SD channels are deplorable. The goal should be near DVD quality SD and high quality HD.

I understand that bandwidth is the issue but they seem to have found a way to accommodate more HD. So, how about some effort into SD quality? SD isn't going to go away in the near-term and the more HD you watch, the worse the current SD looks.

I would say no. In short it's good enough, and a heck of a lot better than cable right now. If you want picture quality, HD will be the way to go.

 

[employee3]

Yeah, SD will get better when we are driving flying cars. That being said, HD is the future.

Also remember that SD on DirecTv does look better than a lot of cable out there. Two reasons people perceive SD looking worse is 1) the comparison to HD and 2) larger TVs.