[Gmaxx]

I know that there aren't any pbs locals yet but how about a national feed in HD. I searched the forums for PBS and WGBH HD and found nothing. Anyone know?

 

[litzdog911]

There is no national PBS-HD feed.

 

[Gmaxx]

[email protected]#$%^#$#$%

Any plans of one? I know channel 384 or somewhere near that is a national PBS sd feed. Any chance we will see a National HD feed?

 

[bobnielsen]

There was a national PBS SD feed, but that went away some time ago after local PBS SD became available. There is PBS Sprout (formerly PBS Kids) however on 295.

 

[cybrsurfer]

[email protected]#$%^#$#$%

Any plans of one? I know channel 384 or somewhere near that is a national PBS sd feed. Any chance we will see a National HD feed?

I have Boston locals too, hopefully DirecTV at some point will offer PBS in HD. Most of WGBH-DT programming is HD, even locally created shows went HD this past week. Perhaps if enough people request it they will offer it. When OTA is enabled with the proper antenna you should be able to get the WGBH-DT channels all 5.

 

[runopenloop]

If we can't get the local PBS stations in HD, I'd sure like to at least get a national HD feed.

 

[TheRatPatrol]

There was a national PBS SD feed, but that went away some time ago after local PBS SD became available. There is PBS Sprout (formerly PBS Kids) however on 295.

Actually, PBS on channel 384 is still there, but I'm not sure what you have to do in order to get it.

 

[dishrich]

Actually, PBS on channel 384 is still there, but I'm not sure what you have to do in order to get it.

The ONLY way you can get this feed, is if your DMA doesn't have ANY local PBS stations - & you CAN'T get waivers for the PBS National feed, either.

Since this is the way it is on SD, don't look for any kind of National HD PBS feed, either...

 

[Kheldar]

The ONLY way you can get this feed, is if your DMA doesn't have ANY local PBS stations - & you CAN'T get waivers for the PBS National feed, either.

Since this is the way it is on SD, don't look for any kind of National HD PBS feed, either...

A couple points:
In order for anyone to get D*'s channel 384 (National PBS), they must:
* live in an area where D* doesn't offer the local channels (automatically granted PBS waiver, $1.50/month), OR
* live in an area where D* offers the locals, but no local PBS station is available (then the national feed is included with your locals, $0.00 additional), OR
* get a waiver (see below)

And, in areas that D* offers locals, you CAN get waivers for the national PBS channel (but not with E*, keep reading).
PBS's page about carriage on D* in markets where they offer locals:

WAIVERS
Beginning December 15, 2005, customers of DirecTV will be able to request waivers from local PTV stations to view the PBS National Feed in markets where there are local channels available. DirecTV customers should call DirecTV at 1 (800) DIRECTV to request a waiver. It is up to the station(s) in that market to grant or deny a waiver.

PBS's page about carriage on D* for RVs:

WAIVERS
Beginning December 15, 2005, RV customers of DirecTV will be able to request waivers to view the PBS National Feed. DirecTV customers should call DirecTV at 1 (800) DIRECTV to request a waiver.

Not that I have any inside information, but I wouldn't expect an HD feed of national PBS anytime soon. Local PBS-HD, maybe, but I wouldn't hold my breathe for a national HD feed. As D* gets more local channel markets, the National PBS network will get more and more marginalized. D* is well past the "point of diminishing return": since only 7% of the U.S. can't get their local channels through D*, there is not an awful lot of incentive for them to offer the national HD feed.

It is interesting to note that the National PBS waivers are not available on E* in markets where they offer locals:

WAIVERS
There are no waivers available for viewers eligible to receive local channels and who wish to receive the National Feed. Unfortunately, there are no exceptions. Where local PBS station(s) are available, the National Satellite Service is discontinued.

 

[chris83]

Here in the Twin Cities (MN), we get a PBS-HD (TPT-HDTV) feed on 2.1 (34) 24/7. That's different from our "regular" PBS station TPT2. It's not part of the DTV "locals" package here, but the H20 tunes it with an OTA antenna.

 

[Gmaxx]

Since I have to wait 3 weeks until my install of my HR20 I have resorted to watching PBS HD on my standard cable line feed. What I have realized is that this is NOT the regular pbs channel at all. It is showing exclusively HD material and I don't see why D* can't get the "waivers" to carry this channel. It does not replace the local feed. It doesn't even show the same shows as the local feed. Am I wrong to think that there is a difference in whether or not D* should be able to carry this channel? I mean seriously if comcrap can carry it why not D*? Why is it any different? Forgive me for bringing this up again but I'm bored with SD Monday Night Football.

 

[PoitNarf]

I have resorted to watching PBS HD on my standard cable line feed. What I have realized is that this is NOT the regular pbs channel at all. It is showing exclusively HD material and I don't see why D* can't get the "waivers" to carry this channel. It does not replace the local feed. It doesn't even show the same shows as the local feed.

This is the case as well with the PBS channel WNET in NY. OTA 13-1 only displays PBS HD content and does not match up with the programming schedule on their normal local SD schedule.

 

[Gmaxx]

This is the case as well with the PBS channel WNET in NY. OTA 13-1 only displays PBS HD content and does not match up with the programming schedule on their normal local SD schedule.

Maybe we should start asking questions then. I have been watching a ton of shows on this channel and they are great. Nature shows in HD captivate me. :lol:

 

[bobnielsen]

I imagine that most PBS stations have such a HD channel (it's 9.5 here in Seattle). Perhaps when the new satellites are up there will be room to add them to the local HD lineups. Maybe a national version could be supplied to people in areas without a local PBS station (the waiver process for networks does not apply to PBS).

 

[mikeny]

This is the case as well with the PBS channel WNET in NY. OTA 13-1 only displays PBS HD content and does not match up with the programming schedule on their normal local SD schedule.

and Widescreen SD