How much do you pay for HDTV?

[Entity]

My replayTV (5040) just died and so I'm finally considering upgrading to paying for HDTV. I pay $49 for basic extended cable right now. Don't want to pay too much more but would like to get decent HDTV service, possibly with a DVR. I only get a few channels OTA right now and don't know how to deal with installing an Antenna/cabling/etc. on a rental house.

So yeah. Any ideas what price ranges are typical for Comcast and/or DirecTV? Which is preferrable?

Rob

 

[kyparrish]

For HDTV w/ DVR, cable>DirecTV

That being said, my monthly bill for a HD DVR box (Sci. Atlanta 8300HD), HBO, HBO OnDemand, and $44.95 Road Runner internet is $130 (I'm too lazy to do the math).

 

[Crucial]

0$. I get all my HD OTA piped into my media center PC.

 

[her209]

Free! I get the unencrypted channels off my cable connection.

 

[Captante]

Digital cable with an HDTV box is around $20 more then expanded basic (don't have a statement handy to check) but be advised that with Comcast at least theres only about a dozen Digital HD channels.. I'd go with DirecTV if its an option.

 

[TallBill]

0

 

[Anubis]

nothing

 

[Skiguy411]

Originally posted by: Crucial
0$. I get all my HD OTA piped into my media center PC.

Amen. I use ATI's HDTV wonder.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: her209
Free! I get the unencrypted channels off my cable connection.

 

[Reckoner]

Prepare to bend over if you go with Comcast. They require you to get a Digital package if you upgrade to an HD Box.

 

[Blayze]

Don't have HDTV, but the cost to get it from Dish Network (what I currently have) is insane.

To upgrade to a HD reciever its $199, and its only a lease and no DVR for that price. The programming isn't to bad. $10 a month gets you the HD pack, and you can add Voom for $5 more. If you want Voom you have to get a new switch and add a second dish. They want $199 for that install as well. HBO and Showtime are extra and come with the HBO/Showtime movie packs. So for $15 a month I can get about 15 HD channels. But $400 just to install it is horrible.

I'm really not sure its worth it with Dish Network and DirecTV rolling out MPEG4 cause I would then have to switch recievers again.

Cable isn't an option where I live.