http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/ Engadget HD Comments for DirecTV gearing up for 100 HD channels with new site and Emmy Party http://hd.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://hd.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
But so have lots of other tvs. The 42" Sharp Aquos 1080p is down to $1499. The 40" Sony Bravia 1080p is down to $1488.

So which one should I go for?

(sorry for being off topic)]]>Sep 14th 2007 5:13PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
Thanks to anyone who can answer my question. Their verbiage confused the hell out of me.]]>Sep 14th 2007 6:16PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 14th 2007 6:58PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
The website says "by the end of the year" but all the talk here indicates that it should start very soon. I hope to catch the fall shows in HD. Does anyone know if DirectTV will be adding more HD local channels. I live in the SF Bay area and I noticed that The CW is absent from DirectTV, but they do transmit in HD over the air.

Also, massive_98. The reason a lot of LCD's are dropping in price is because the next-gen in LCD's are being released. You may want to consider taking a look at them. I did and that is the reason I bought a Sony XBR4 TV. To a person, every sales person I asked said the Sony's were the best of the new crop and when I got a chance to see it for myself, I had to agree. Personally, this is my first HD TV, I wanted to wait long enough for the technology to mature and the latest crop of LCD panels are definitely much better than their predecessors. Now, I am not one that has to have the latest and greatest of everything, however odds are that I will have this TV for a decade so spending more now means that I will have the better technology for a longer time.

- Roger]]>Sep 14th 2007 6:38PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 14th 2007 6:45PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
I don't count the regional sports networks or NBC, CBS, Fox and ABC. The image above as well as their initial press release says, National. By definition any channel that isn't available throughout the nation isn't national. While NBC is available everywhere, it's not the same NBC, like it's the same Discovery.]]>Sep 14th 2007 7:01PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
Unfortunately, most of them suck ass. I mean, "Golf Channel HD"? "CNBCHD"? "TBSHD"?!?

I think I'm sticking with Comcast for now...]]>Sep 14th 2007 7:04PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 14th 2007 7:38PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
Considering everything that DirecTV can consider themselves accomplishing these past three years, I have not once upgraded equipment, added service, or seen better service. The only that has gone up in those three years is the bill.

And for DirecTV's version of 'HDTV' is no wonder why we are not seeing 100 HD national channels--even counting the worthless and desperate ones.]]>Sep 14th 2007 7:40PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
Further, there are east and west coast network feeds that are available nationally (subject to the insane rules of the NAB) for those that don't have local HD feeds yet. The program content is largely the same, nationally. That the local affiliates can block one from getting the national feed isn't DirecTV's fault -- they still provide it.]]>Sep 14th 2007 7:46PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Call it what you want, but the facts remain. You can't watch the same NBC channel I can. WFLA channel 8 NBC is only available in the Tampa market, so if you want to watch HD news at 11, have to live here. Not sure how you can consider that national. As for NBC new york, I can't watch that channel. If I try, it states that the channel isn't available in my area. I don't see how that could fit anyone's definition of "national"]]>Sep 14th 2007 7:54PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
1280 x 1080....Bring on the blurry macroblocked mosquito bitten goodness of DirecTV HD. ]]>Sep 14th 2007 11:58PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
You're being rather obstinate on this one. Your opinion is nowhere near defensible. Focus on the similarities and you find that the feeds are 95% the same.

NBC New York (or LA) is available in the entire country on a CONUS transponder. Sure, there are misbegotten rules set by the dead hand of local broadcasting, but that doesn't mean that the channels aren't being transmitted nationally. If you had subscribed to DirecTV back before the CBS lawsuit, you'd be getting both those feeds today in HD.]]>Sep 14th 2007 8:29PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
95% huh? Not sure what you're looking at, my local NBC affiliate only broadcasts about 9 hours of programming a day from NBC, which is not even 50%. To compare this to locally inserted commercials make we question why I'm even having this debate with you.

But, just let's just count those 4 channels for now, they still only have 61 channels when they promised 100. ]]>Sep 14th 2007 10:35PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 14th 2007 11:01PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
In the end it doesn't really matter what their PR department spews, they are going to be the HD leader again and will have the ability to keep the crown this time around. ]]>Sep 14th 2007 11:10PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 15th 2007 12:04AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
All you COMCAST subscribers, stay out of grown people's conversations about HD. I had COMCAST and every few months I was hit with new price hikes.]]>Sep 15th 2007 1:07AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
Why are we applauding directv for something that has been promised for years and is long over due?]]>Sep 15th 2007 12:58PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 15th 2007 1:22AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 15th 2007 8:51AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
Very nice.

]]>Sep 15th 2007 11:34AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 15th 2007 12:31PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 15th 2007 2:37PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
http://www.dbstalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9937&d=1189317936

there's a chart of the currently planned channels. The basic rule is: if you get a channel now, and there's a HD versions AND you subscribe to HD service ($10), you get the HD channel. Note: if you plan on doing this, do it now, as that group of 6 "extras" will cost $5 for all who come to the HD party after der Tag (9/19?).

Channel counts:

If you count the top tier and the HD Extras (which go to current subscribers who have the top non-premium tier plus HD service (about $65/month)), you get 48 HD channels. If you add all (19) HD premium channels (such as the HBO package) you get 67 channels. Still not counting locals or traditional networks, Ben. If you add those RSNs available 24/7 under the Premier programming package (bringing your monthly up around $110) you have 78 channels.

Not a hundred but a darn site more than the current handful. If you stretch and add the 18 partial sports channels, plus networks/locals, you could call it 100, I guess, but DirecTV doesn't (quite).

When the delayed D11 sat goes up in December, I would expect them to make good on the original number. Then again, it may be simply a content issue. What I do expect to see delayed is some of the smaller local markets due to the spot beam issues. So maybe you really can't count those locals. Still it's a lot of HD (for a lot of money).]]>Sep 15th 2007 7:01PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 15th 2007 7:06PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
Don't get me wrong, all the HD is going to be great. Just want to try to keep DTV's PR department in check.]]>Sep 16th 2007 9:50AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 16th 2007 1:14AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
It looks like the big ones will be there and it'll continue to get better over time. I made the commitment to stick with DirecTV when I could have moved to better HD service through FIOS (damn addictive NFL Sunday Ticket). When I look at our families viewing habits, most of the channels we all watch will be in HD.]]>Sep 16th 2007 10:26AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
I'm pretty sure there is no such thin as an HR21 at this point in time. There is an H21, but that misses the DVR ("R" in the model number).

As far as the HR20 being unreliable, it was. I absolutely hated it, and was using my HR10-250 TiVo all the time whenever I could. However, over the last year the HR20 -- which a year ago was a P.o.S., with constant reboots and crashes -- has been reworked in a large customer-supported effort, and is now as reliable as my HR10 ever was. It also has a petter picture -- the HR10 was always rather soft.

Still would rather have the TiVo software, but I no longer tell people to avoid the HR20. It's come a LONG way in the last year, thanks to about 1000 beta testers over on dbstalk.com that D* allowed into the process.

The HR21 Pro, which people say will be rather expensive and NOT given away with installs, may well be much better, especially in capacity. Then again, it's new, with new software, and I bet you a thousand dollars against a jelly donut there will be bugs.]]>Sep 16th 2007 2:23PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
Don't be surprised when they show up with an HR20. There's almost no communication between the CSR and the installer except for name and address. You'll get what's on the installer's truck, and it's almost surely an HR20-100 or HR20-700, the first one being a later hardware rev, but not necessarily better, same exact features. Jury's out on which is better. HR20-700s get updates first because there's more of them.]]>Sep 16th 2007 2:30PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11631960#post11631960

"Beginning Sept 19, an extra new premium service will be available called DIRECTV HD Extra Pack. We offer this package for unique HD channels that don’t have an SD simulcast. We have good news for all of our customers who have HD programming. It’s a free preview from Sept 19 until Dec 15, 2007. After that, it costs $4.99 per month."]]>Sep 16th 2007 3:16PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
Thanks for the info, I feel better about the HR20. The HR21 is listed in the new D* website, although so are the new channels, which are still vaporware at this point :-) Yes, I was scared by all the 'net HR20 chatter, and I agree that I am at the mercy of the installer regardless of what the CSR said.

I care less about "100 channels" than the date of the premium movie channels' HD debut. I have not heard one complaint from my kids about Cartoon Network's SD resolution. However, if the earlier article is correct about carriage agreements not being finalized for HBO/Starz/etc., we could be in for a boring fall.]]>Sep 16th 2007 7:56PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
Why the nitpicking and bitching from these people??? Because they want something for nothing??? Because they can't be happy with what they get??? Last time I checked, it costs just a little bit of cash to send one of those satellites into space. Oh, and the satellite costs a bit too. Oh, and the transmitters and relay units, they cost a bit too. And it might be nice if the company investing their capital into a satellite that might just blow up on the launch pad (like they have before) or arrive in orbit DOA (like they have before) could possibly earn a fair return on their investment for their stock holders so the company can stay in business for the foreseeable future. That might help us subscribers if the company stayed in business (can you say VOOM?) for more than a couple of years.

No, people are too greedy, lazy, critical, negative, blah blah blah blah blah... to understand that DTV is a freaking business. Television programming is NOT FREE. It is my choice to either subscribe to a service that provides me with something that is of enough value to spend my money on or not to do so. Either way, the decision is mine. After you make that decision, don't be such an ass about making your choice. If you're unhappy, leave. Don't muddy up the waters for those of us who are ecstatic that we're getting these new channels in YES, HD-Lite! I'd gladly give up a little bandwidth for triple or quadruple the programming. I think most of us would agree, given the choice. If not, disconnect and watch HD-DVD or BD discs only and leave the rest of us to our joy here.

Either way, please quit your bitching!

We now return to your regularly scheduled broadcasts....]]>Sep 16th 2007 11:22PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 17th 2007 1:49AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 17th 2007 12:01PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/
Different channels have different rates. TNT-HD is distorted low-bitrate trash. HDNet movies has some of the best resolution I've seen, easily comparable to a good transfer to BD or HD DVD. See their current broadcast of Blazing Saddles for example.

HBO has established rules for bitrate on all their channels, satellite or cable. Starting "real soon now."

Mpeg-4 will help as well. DirecTV has been bandwidth starved with the older satellites. I can't say they will change their ways, but they no longer have to cram all HD down a few Mpeg2-based transponders. Hopefully they will juggle it as well, so that upconverts are lower bitrate that full HD content.]]>Sep 17th 2007 12:20PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/09/14/directv-gearing-up-for-100-hd-channels-with-new-site-and-emmy-pa/Sep 19th 2007 11:18AM