[SWORDFISH]

I accidentally stumbled upon new local HD Channel 26 (WCIU).

Tonights Cubs game was being show locally on Channel 26 (WCIU) which broadcasts OTA in HD but is only carried in SD on DirecTv.

I tuned to Extra Innings channel 735-1 which was showing the HD game feed. Since the game was blacked out on this channel, game search found the game and asked if I wanted to tune to Channel 26. When I selected yes, I was taken to this:

As you can see, in the upper left corner is the station name, not number, indicating an HD local. The info shows the Cubs game being broadcast in HD, but the actual broadcast is the NBC Olympic feed.

So, my guess is that we (Chicago) will be getting WCIU-HD once the Olympics are over.

Just for comparison, here is the SD broadcast on Channel 26:

SF

 

[gully_foyle]

I accidentally stumbled upon new local HD Channel 26 (WCIU).

Tonights Cubs game was being show locally on Channel 26 (WCIU) which broadcasts OTA in HD but is only carried in SD on DirecTv.

I tuned to Extra Innings channel 735-1 which was showing the HD game feed. Since the game was blacked out on this channel, game search found the game and asked if I wanted to tune to Channel 26. When I selected yes, I was taken to this:

As you can see, in the upper left corner is the station name, not number, indicating an HD local. The info shows the Cubs game being broadcast in HD, but the actual broadcast is the NBC Olympic feed.

So, my guess is that we (Chicago) will be getting WCIU-HD once the Olympics are over.

Just for comparison, here is the SD broadcast on Channel 26:

SF

Have you checked your favorites list?

 

[SWORDFISH]

Have you checked your favorites list?

Yes, it is not an available channel. The only way to tune to it was thru game search.
The same way people were able to tune to test channels during D11 testing.

SF

 

[Lord Vader]

Weird. Cubs lost anyway, so who cares?

 

[bakerfall]

Awesome news.

 

[JoeTheDragon]

now they need me too OTA 48 / 26.3 as well

 

[HoosierBoy]

Great find on WCIU-HD and I agree regarding OTA 48, Me Too! Come on DTV.

 

[JoeTheDragon]

Will Chicago get Ch 50 HD at the same time as 26 hd goes live?

 

[Doug Brott]

Will Chicago get Ch 50 HD at the same time as 26 hd goes live?

I've heard that WPWR no longer airs any HD programs.

 

[heisman]

I've heard that WPWR no longer airs any HD programs.

No, they still show a few movies a month in HD. I think the next one is "Adrift in Manhattan" which airs Saturday night. Also, starting October 3rd, WWE Smackdown comes to WPWR in HD.

 

[dgordo]

Interesting but why would they need to wait until after the Olympics?

 

[Doug Brott]

No, they still show a few movies a month in HD. I think the next one is "Adrift in Manhattan" which airs Saturday night. Also, starting October 3rd, WWE Smackdown comes to WPWR in HD.

Thanks .. I'm in California so it's hard to actually look it up

 

[JoeTheDragon]

I've heard that WPWR no longer airs any HD programs.

They do show local stuff / local sports / WWE / local over flow shows when fox32 is showing national shows.

There are owned by FOX32 and they show the same weather brake ins.

 

[finaldiet]

Your picture does show channel 26, but you need 26-1 and OTA antenna. You have to select it channels you receive. I have it in my favorites list for sox games. Also 32-1, 9-1 and 665.

 

[Lord Vader]

I'm still lost by this thread. Just what is its point? For one thing, channel 26 on DirecTV is not HD. Channel 26-1 is, but like the above individual said, you need an OTA connection to view it.

 

[Blurayfan]

I'm still lost by this thread. Just what is its point? For one thing, channel 26 on DirecTV is not HD. Channel 26-1 is, but like the above individual said, you need an OTA connection to view it.

The OP found the HD version of WCIU when trying to view a blacked out cubs game on MLB EI. Game search looked for another channel the game was on and found WCIU 26 in HD. However the game was not being shown instead there was olympics programming. So in the near future *maybe* next week DirecTV will add WCIU HD for all to see.

 

[full moon]

This would be good...

 

[SWORDFISH]

Your picture does show channel 26, but you need 26-1 and OTA antenna. You have to select it channels you receive. I have it in my favorites list for sox games. Also 32-1, 9-1 and 665.

finaldiet -

You are missing the point of this thread. I am well aware that WCIU-HD is available OTA. The point of my post is that I found WCIU-HD on the satellite when using "game search". This was a common way of finding test channels prior to D-11 going live. This hidden channel would seem to indicate that DirecTv will soon be adding WCIU-HD to the other Chicago local HD channels that are on the satellite.

SF

 

[erosroadie]

finaldiet -

You are missing the point of this thread. I am well aware that WCIU-HD is available OTA. The point of my post is that I found WCIU-HD on the satellite when using "game search". This was a common way of finding test channels prior to D-11 going live. This hidden channel would seem to indicate that DirecTv will soon be adding WCIU-HD to the other Chicago local HD channels that are on the satellite.

SF

As someone who also would like to see WCIU 26 HD through the satellite, can someone please explain how to get "Game Search" to look for a game if one does not have MLB EI? Do I try to enter 26-1 on my HR-2X receivers?

 

[Blurayfan]

As someone who also would like to see WCIU 26 HD through the satellite, can someone please explain how to get "Game Search" to look for a game if one does not have MLB EI? Do I try to enter 26-1 on my HR-2X receivers?

Game search is automatic and it runs when your attempting to view a game on a blacked out channel. Game search will look for the same game on an alternate channel.