Comcast promises 400 HD channels this year and 800 the next
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Jun 13th 2007 7:21PM
posted Jun 13th 2007 7:21PM
posted Jun 13th 2007 7:21PM
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Don't worry, when the right marking dude realizes that every different commerical they pipe down the wire can be called a 'channel', we will have 50,000 channels.
400-800 channels is probably just a matter
of semantic re-interpretation of what a 'channel'
is, since it would seem to be impossible to launch
400 channels (as they are known to most consumers)
in the next year.
(Due to lack of HD content, bandwidth, etc.)
Aren't all current CableCARDs already gonna be obsolete with the introduction of CableCARD 2.0 later this year?
Not exactly the same thing.
Without SDV, nothing changes for CC 1.0 users if 2.0 ever makes it to market. But any channel added using SDV, will not work with any CC 1.0 device.
CC1.0 users won't get on-demand type programming or other privileges either. I'm not actually saying I believe Comcast's hype or anything, but regular cable subscribers don't get a lot of channels that are only offered via digital cable, and CC1.0 will be a disadvantage in any case; so is it unbelievable that there would be channels only available to CC2.0/comcast box users? I suppose there's the fact that analog cable costs less than digital cable, but I still wouldn't put it past Comcast to screw over people with CC1.0 devices that way.
Might be a great ploy to force people to switch to renting their mediocre boxes.
11Gbps? Have you SEEN what digital cable looks like? I used to think DirecTV compressed the heck out of their channels. Is there a national bitrate / quality mandate on digital TV?
As someone who works in television, let me just say how pleased I am to hear all this... unless those channels are individual cameras at an event I might be working, thus rendering my job obsolete because the viewer can select which camera they'd like to watch the game from and then they wouldn't need me at all. Yes, that would be bad.
First of all, there is no "CC 2.0" card. It doesn't exist and probably will never exist. Multistream CCs are coming out this summer after July 1; that has nothing to do with "CC 2.0" - that just means that the CC has more "tuners", so you could record two shows at once.
Second, every box that the cable company puts out will have a Cable Card inside after July 1. So SDV has to work with CC enabled devices.
Here's the problem: SDV will work on cable card enabled devices that have firmware that the cable cos can change and upgrade to work with the SDV network, i.e. the leased set top boxes from Moto and SA. It won't work on a Sony TV you bought from Best Buy, for example, unless Sony changes their firmware to work with SDV． That's probably not going to happen, because Sony already sold you the TV set and they already have your money.
Where are you Time Warner????
I haven't started receiving HGtv, Food network, and National Geographic in HD yet, while other comcast markets have. It takes months, even years for comcast to rollout new channels across all markets.
Maybe somewhere in Boston they will have 400 channels in HD (I'm guessing they are going to strike a deal with radio stations and broadcast HD radio channels.), but it could take years for all of those channels to show up.
I think there might be 80 HD channels max out there right now, with maybe 20 getting ready to broadcast by march 2008, so there is something that comcast is not saying.
I want some more HD channels though.
800 channels, but only one at a time per household.
@CR: Want to bet they they use this as an exception to avoid the CC mandate? You are "stifling innovation", you are.
The article is about Comcast, which has no FCC waiver. They cannot avoid the CableCard mandate and will have to comply at the first installation on July 1 - that box the Comcast guy has in the truck has to be a CableCard enabled box.
"HD radio"
You are aware that "HD" in HD Radio doesn't stand for anything, let alone "hi def." Which it surely isn't.
CR - Your facts are off. There isn't a CC 2.0 *card*, but there is a CC 2.0 specification. Or, rather, a group of specifications. And the CC specs available to 3rd party vendors like Sony, TiVo, et al, do not support SDV. They can't implement it if they want to. The Cable STBs can use closed systems for the signaling.
One option is for 3rd parties is to try to work with each cable MSO to implement their system. Samsung is doing trials with Time Warner in one location on two-way CC TVs, but it is very limited and very early right now. And even within one 'brand' like Comcast or Time Warner, there may be dozens, or more, of different head-end systems with different requirements. That's why a standard is desirable.
There is hope - there is an indication that, while CC 2.0 remains hopelessly mired - the cable and CE industries are working on a separate solution for SDV with CC: http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/05/10/mr-tivo-goes-to-washington/
MegaZone, regardless of the status of CC 2.0 specifications and their availability to CE vendors, the CableCard comes from the Conditional Access vendor, Moto DigiCipher or SA PowerKey. Those guys are not producing cards with any CC 2.0 interface.
CableCard has nothing to do with SDV. Nothing at all. The same CC specs available to SA and Moto are the same specifications available to Tivo, Sony, Apple, etc. And it's the same card working in all platforms. If you have a Series 3 working and if you take the card out of it, you can put it into the Moto or SA box, and watch SDV.
The TiVo article you quoted had some good points, which I'll quote: "Note that *all* CableCARDs are really two-way, it is the host that determines the functionality. There are a few ways a Series3 could handle SDV".
I.e. like doing additional firmware. So thanks for the article.
If you have read what Comcast has been saying in the some of those will be OnDemand channels like FEARnet, they have at least in DC been steadily adding HD OnDemand slowly but adding never the less.
Speaking of Comcast... I live in the Detroit area and for most of today the guide on both of our HD boxes has been down. I think it was for a firmware update, but I have no idea what has changed. Does anyone else know?
can i get a bid for 500 HD channels for 2007 and 1000 HD channels for 2008??? Mediacom, AT&T, Charter, Knology...........anyone
Comcast hasn't rolled out any of their new channels in Philly that they're giving other markets. I'm not joking when I say that I'm considering leaving Comcast and just going back to an antenna. I absolutely hate this company.
FIOS is available 3 blocks away, but the talk is that it will be years before it's available where I live.
When Direct TV claims 400, I'm pretty sure they're counting local HD network affiliates. SO, that's not 400 channels to any one house, it's maybe 20-30 (at best) and your local broadcast networks. So NATIONWIDE comcast may have 800 HD channels, but likewise YOU aren't seeing 800. You're seeing the same 20-30 as the DirecTV folks 'cause you're not seeing the Action 22 news team in HD out of Ratsass Idaho.
I would settle for FX and Comedy Central in HD.
Here's to hoping that Comcast does eventually buy Mediacomm (my current provider). I would really like to see more HD channels than what's currently offered.
I am so addicted to HD that when I see SD, I want to throw rocks at the TV. Stations I absolutely want in HD: Sci Fi, BBC America, FX, USA, IFC, Sundance, HDNet (never gonna happen, as Cuban and Roberts hate each other- nice for the customers, eh Brian?), History HD, Cartoon Network HD, MSNBC (I like the nightly news in HD-- looks excellent),.. awe heck, how about everything!
Specific series I also want in HD: PBS Mystery, Rick Steves Europe (I know they shot some in HD, so where are they?), Steven Schama's artseries was stunning and I can't wait for Ken Burns' "The War" " Stations in HD for which I'd like to see more content: MHD (MTV), Mojo+, DiscoveryTV.