DirecTV not offering free HD upgrades as expected
By Matt Burns 
posted Nov 29th 2005 8:11AM
posted Nov 29th 2005 8:11AM
Well, it seems like that reliable TV rumor site that reported DirecTV will offer their subscribers a free upgrade to MPEG-4 from MPEG-2 was a little off. Yes, there is going to be a free upgrade program put in place, but not right away. They are waiting till they switch all of the HD stations off the MPEG-2 compression and put them on the better compression that MPEG-4 offers.
Instead of offering the free program right away, DirecTV stated that an early adopters (thanks Richard) can purchase the new H20 receiver and dish upgrade for a low, low price of $99. That’s a good deal. Currently, DirecTV is offering a deal on the older equipment where a new and existing customer can get the HD box for free after a $200 mail-in rebate. So if you are low on the list of cities to get local HD, you may want to pick up the H10 box and spurge on a cheap antenna to get locals for the time being.
To catch up some readers up on what’s happening with DirecTV, they are starting to roll out their high-def local stations but they do not work with current HD equipment. A consumer has to have a new dish that can receive all five satellites and a H20 receiver. Eventually all of DirecTV’s HD stations will be on the better compression which will allow for more available bandwidth.
Has DirecTV ever released the order of which cities will be getting their locals in HD?
I know that Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, San Francisco and Atlanta can all get their locals in HD now and that New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, Washington DC, Houston, and Tampa are being added over the next month or two. My question, though, is what markets come next? And what is the time frame for their addition?
More specifically, when is Baltimore (the 24th largest market) going to be added?
they are waiting for the next satellites to launch and they are waiting for the box cost to come down - from about $500 to $400 which will be later in 2006
Got the free upgrade deal here in Dallas. Got a free DirecTV DVR (not Tivo apparently), and a free DirecTV HD Receiver. Should install tomorrow. I am assuming they will take my old DirecTV Tivo receiver, sounds like it won't work with the new dish/signal they are putting up. Not sure if they are installing an antenna or not for OTA HD. Sounds like the local HD channels might just be from the dish, that would be cool! Will try and post an update later this week.