DIRECTV is hailing 2007 as the "Year of HD" with the planned launch and carriage of 100 national high-definition (HD) channels. With this substantial HD muscle, DIRECTV will offer three-times more HD programming than any other multi-channel distributor, with the majority of these channels launching in Q3.
Isn't DirecTV misleading us when it claims all these HD channels? Are most of these new channels merely local stations all over the nation? To suggest that all those channels are available to subscribers is misleading. Doesn't the Dish network have more original HD programming choices available in any one subscriber?
You should read and not think so much, the 100 national high-definition (HD) channels are new HD channels, not new locals Please read article before posting: new HD
- A&E
-- National Geographic
-- Bravo
-- NFL Network
-- Cartoon Network
-- SciFi Channel
-- CNN
-- Speed
-- Food Network
-- TBS
-- FX
-- The History Channel
-- HGTV
-- The Weather Channel
-- MTV
-- USA
I wonder what hardware upgrades will be required to view the two new satellites. Last time they did such expansion, you had to buy a new antennae and climb up on your roof to replace it and repoint it. DirecTV did not pay for that.
Does anybody know whether changes in hardware will be necessary?
I wonder what hardware upgrades will be required to view the two new satellites. Last time they did such expansion, you had to buy a new antennae and climb up on your roof to replace it and repoint it. DirecTV did not pay for that.
Does anybody know whether changes in hardware will be necessary?
It's the new/larger dish they have been installing for anyone getting the MPEG-4 HD locals. Requires use of the HR20 receiver which they lease (replaces the HD Tivo which only supports MPEG-2). As I remember, costs range from zero to $99 for the new dish (which includes contractor installation).
Actually, if you upgrade your HD service with DirecTV to either their new HD receiver or their even newer HD DVR, the price (I paid $199 for the DVR) includes installation of the receiver and the upgraded dish.
USA Network, Sci Fi Channel, TBS, Cartoon Network, CNN and other channels are readying to launch simulcast high-definition networks by the end of the year.
CNN announced plans to launch an HD network in September at its opening session at the Television Critics Association's semiannual press tour, while an NBC Universal spokesperson confirmed the company will launch a "suite of HD networks." NBCU would not set an exact time table. A Turner spokesperson also confirmed HD networks for TBS and Cartoon Network.
Actually, if you upgrade your HD service with DirecTV to either their new HD receiver or their even newer HD DVR, the price (I paid $199 for the DVR) includes installation of the receiver and the upgraded dish.
Or if you're a 10 yr customer with good history you can get a HR20-700 DVR and new dish installed for $70 (or less).
I am in the process of looking at switching HD Services, so I called DirecTV and spoke to the office of the president.
Basically what this promise is based upon is that they successfully launch 2 new HDTV satellites by the 3rd quarter of 2007. Since I would be a new customer, I asked for a clause in the 2 year contract for HD service that they make you sign that would allow me to get out of the commitment should they fail to deliver.
I was told that they would not allow this because they have no guarantees that the satellites will be launched this year. So much for the year of HD by DirecTV.
You cannot trust Directv. Their horrible customer service alone was enough to make me switch to Dish. They promise all this stuff, at least half is not true. Who know when they will launch the satellites, and when the do it will still be a while until they offer more HD, and by that time (probably 2008 or 2009) it won't be as good as they say, and by that time Dish will have more HD than they do now which is much more than Directv has. The rep from Directv convinced me to switch because she told me how Dish aquired ZOOM. Somehow that was supposed to be a bad thing. Not a very good talking point, telling me that the other company has more HD which is why I should stick with the company with less.
Hope you enjoy your Dish service. I also have problems with D*. Specifically, their HD lite.
However, they have a pretty good record for doing what they announce. One reason is that they don't announce much until they are "ready to go". As to customer service, some csr's aren't great;; but they are better than most as evidenced by their consistently high marks on the J.D. Powers survey.
Don't mean to be a spoilsport, but since there will not be 100 national HD
channels in existence by the end of 2007 (or even 2008), Directv (D*) is once
again blowing smoke. IMO, the primary reason for kidding their subscribers
is to keep them from jumping ship.
What Tom Malone is really talking about is that by the end of '07, D* will have
the necessary bandwidth to launch 100 HD channels (if and when they exist).
IMO, going from nine to 100 HD channels nationally will take at least 3-5
years. By then D* may well be in the best position to accomodate the high
bandwidth demands of substantially more HD channels, contrasted with
that of Dish Network or most cablecos.
Finally, I don't think we will see 100 national HD channels before 2010, but it's
unlikely that any one provider will carry them all, The one possible exception is
Fios-based providers.
I thought that as well, but after re-reading their current and past releases, the will have capacity for 150 nationwide, and have committed to 100 nationwide by the end of the year.
Yes, that means there will be substantial HD channel launches this year. Including all the Voom channels, movie channels, etc ... there are only about 40 nationwide HD networks right now. I suppose they could launch their PPV service as ALL HD, which would add another 60 or so channels ... most of which have the same programming ... still, that would be 100 channels.
We'll see. As mentioned above, DirecTV does not usually make announcements they can't carry out.
I emailed DIrecTV customer service. I asked about : (1) name some of the new channels; (2) If I would need a technology upgrade (I bought the $999 HD-TIVO, when it first became available; I receive all their current HD-channels + NFL);
(3) When we could expect the new service?
I was unimpressed with their response!
All they "could say" was that it would be 2 new satellites (#10 & #11). They couldn't/wouldn't tell me if the sats. we already in orbit? -or- If there was a launch day scheduled?
NOT VERY ENCOURAGING!!!
-fpnovak
Any comments--Shane?
1) DirecTV will never name new channels in advance. It affects contract negotiations. They typically only announce new channels once they are already live. However, I did read a RUMOR that DirecTV has announced they will be picking up the new CNN HD when it launches later this year. AGAIN, THAT IS UNOFFICIAL.
2) There are actually 3 new satellites. One is already up and serving local HD channels via spot-beam. And yes, it is new technology. And no, your DirecTV-TiVo will not receive these new satellites' signals. The other two satellites go up this spring last I heard, and will be ready to serve sometime in Q2.
3) The "new service", as I said, is already available for HD locals, and from what I hear, all new national HD networks will be on this new service as well. The old technology just doesn't have the capacity for HD ... which is why DirecTV is falling behind. They simply don't have any more capacity currently in orbit.
It is your understanding that I will need to purchase a different HD-TIVO to receive the new channels (in Hi-Def)?
It is not just my understanding ... you WILL need to purchase a different DVR if you want to watch and record the NEW HD channels they will be launching. Your current DVR (TiVo) will continue to be able to record the content you can receive now. Unless, that is, DirecTV decides to move existing channels to the "new" satellites.
Will I need a different dish?
Yes. The dish you have now (likely oval, 3 satellite) is not capable of receiving the additional 2 satellite locations in which the new satellites will be orbiting.
Will the new satellites be broadcasting in MPEG4, instead of MPEG2? Is this why I will require a new satellite receiver?
It's more than just the more efficient compression of MPEG-4, the new satellites will also be transmitting the data via Ka band instead of Ku, which all their satellites to-date have been. So your equipment (receiver and dish) will both need updating if you want to receive the new channels.
They did state all premium movie channels would be carried. I don't know why they said 100, seems high to me too. They could have just said all available HD channels. It will be a substantial number though. Now that there is someone who can carry them a lot of channels will start to broadcast in HD.
Shane,
Many Thanks for your explanation. Nice of DirecTV to give us some advance warning!
akirby also answered my query--He indicates that the required (new) MPEG-4; Ka/ Ku/ fum high definition DirecTV satellite receiver will not be made available with TIVO.
I know many people wish DirecTV would have continued their DVR relationship with TiVo, but for whatever reason they didn't. I don't know for sure why, but it likely has to do with money at some level.
Their new HD DVR is riddled with problems, and TiVo's latest DVR only tunes OTA and cable.
DirecTV is continuing to support owners of the current HR10-250/TiVo (through Feb 2009 I believe), but of course you won't be able to watch or record the new MPEG-4 HD channels with that unit.
That SUCKS!--if I can't record my shows to watch later.
Are there any alternatives available now or on the horizon?
(e.g. A (free standing) HD-DVR recorder that I can incorporate into my system, one that would be capable of recording the MPEG-4 signal captured by my "regular" DirecTV satellite receiver?
The only current option for recording the new MPEG-4 satellite broadcasts from DirecTV is their proprietary DVR. And I wouldn't expect any competition since it is a proprietary system. That makes the only other option switching to Dish Network. I am not intimately familiar with their program offerings or DVR specifics ... but I know they are taking a similar position as DirecTV.
It's had plenty of problems; however, they have provided weekly/monthly updates to the firmware. They recently added OTA capability. It also has numerous capabilities not available on the HD Tivo that I still use (e.g., e-SATA drive for easily adding external hard drive).
Like any forum, you will find many complaints. However, there are many very satisfied users and many that prefer it to the HD Tivo. General consensus is that it provides a better picture, especially with SD.
Finally, you don't buy the DVR. They are now operating like the cable companies and charge a monthly rental fee. As noted in prior replies, it requires a new dish which they have a contractor install for around $99.
Hands Down, it has better PQ than older receivers. I upgraded to the HR20 from a Sansung SIR-TS360 ... a definite improvement. I am working on an official review of this unit, but the short of it is:
General PQ: Excellent
Usability: Great in some areas, poor in others ... overall "OK"
DVR Functionality: I haven't had any problems in the past week or so, but prior to that too numerous to list ... a "Fail" grade, for now.
And you don't have to lease it from DirecTV. When I called for mine, DirecTV told me it was $199 to lease. I'm not sure if that's the standard deal. I ended up buying mine from Best Buy because my local installer wasn't going to have any in stock for a month. I paid $299 at Best Buy.
If you go through their "Customer Retention" department, they will usually waive most of the setup fees for you, from what I've heard.
high definition DirecTV satellite receiver will not be made available with TIVO.