YES!! More HDTV!! DirecTV Adds Four New HD Channels!!

[Amused]

DirecTV has more than doubled their HD offerings!

DirecTV's new HDTV lineup. Effective today:

ESPN-HD
Discovery-HD
HDNet Movies
HDNet
HBO-HD
SHO-HD
HD-PPV
SP-HD (Special event HD channel)

This is an exciting year for HD fans... Soon, we'll have Cinemax HD, 3 Starz HD channels and Bravo HD.

 

[vi edit]

Sooooo....which HDTV receiver thingy should I go with if want to get HDTV programs from my DirectTV and local HDTV broadcasts?

TV is a Toshiba 50H82.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Sooooo....which HDTV receiver thingy should I go with if want to get HDTV programs from my DirectTV and local HDTV broadcasts?

TV is a Toshiba 50H82.

Personally? I'd go with either the Samsung TS-160 or the Sony SAT-HD200. Both can get OTA, cable and DirecTV. That includes HD, digital and analog broadcasts.

 

[conjur]

Ayup...looks like they kept to their promise of a July 1 launch of those channels.

DirecTV now seems to have the lead over DISH in terms of HD content (esp. considering there are quite a few DirecTV HD receivers out there).

A review of three of them.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: conjur
Ayup...looks like they kept to their promise of a July 1 launch of those channels.

DirecTV now seems to have the lead over DISH in terms of HD content (esp. considering there are quite a few DirecTV HD receivers out there).

A review of three of them.

Did you see that D* has added a Special Event HD channel? I wonder what it will be used for?

That makes it FOUR new HD channels!

 

[Ferocious]

bleh my cable company is several years away from any HDTV stuff.

I have thought about getting a dish.....but keep deciding against it.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Ferocious
bleh my cable company is several years away from any HDTV stuff.

I have thought about getting a dish.....but keep deciding against it.

Well, get DirecTV now. They are the clear leader

The cool thing about DirecTV over Dish is you only need one oval dish with DirecTV to get HD. With Dish you need two seperate dishes.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Sooooo....which HDTV receiver thingy should I go with if want to get HDTV programs from my DirectTV and local HDTV broadcasts?

TV is a Toshiba 50H82.

Personally? I'd go with either the Samsung TS-160 or the Sony SAT-HD200. Both can get OTA, cable and DirecTV. That includes HD, digital and analog broadcasts.

I personally have the Samsun TS-160 and freaking love it. It's probably one of the best at OTA reception and does great DTV. I know in my area ABC is supposed to be very hard, to almost impossible to get, but I can get a 100% signal most of the time from an inside antenna (no outside tower from me). Also I get ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, WB, PBS, and 2 other local channels HD feeds. So I've been very happy with the Samsung unit.

 

[LordJezo]

When are they going to get a Spice-HD channel?

 

[LikeLinus]

Argh. You now have to Pay for this HD package. HBO and Showtime HD are still free as long as you subscribe to those channels, but the new HD package is $10.99 a month

 

[Michael]

vi_edit - you have the same TV as me.

I'm getting HD via Comcast - the box is a $5 a month rental which is very good considering a HD receiver for a dush service is around $500.

From what I've read on the avs forums, the Samsung 160 has some issues, but it appears that all the main boxes have issues.

Michael

 

[Karsten]

I already pay for HD on Comcast. I receive HBO-E+W, Showtime E+W and 3 local channels (ABC, NBC,CBS). However I am drooling over DiscoveryHD. Might be worth a look at the Dish now!

 

[Ameesh]

dish and comcast carry all those too, just an fyi

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
dish and comcast carry all those too, just an fyi

Wrong, Dish doesnt carry ESPN HD. It also doesnt carry HDNET, a Special Events HD Channel (which i was told would be doing the masters, NBA games, and various other special events), and HDNET Movies.

HDNET Channels on Dish

 

[spidey07]

Cool.

But I have to rub it in a little and say I've had those channels though my cable company for about a month. for only 2 bucks a month. All of them.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Michael
vi_edit - you have the same TV as me.

I'm getting HD via Comcast - the box is a $5 a month rental which is very good considering a HD receiver for a dush service is around $500.

From what I've read on the avs forums, the Samsung 160 has some issues, but it appears that all the main boxes have issues.

Michael

The issues with the Samsung were with the original model. It would sometimes lock up while changing from HD to regular Sat fed channels. I had this happen probably 3 times. Since then they've released several new firmwares (which your machine automaticallly downloads from DirecTV sats) and It has fixed all the bugs. My Unit has been solid since December, no reboots needed or anything else.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
Argh. You now have to Pay for this HD package. HBO and Showtime HD are still free as long as you subscribe to those channels, but the new HD package is $10.99 a month

True, but remember this, HDNet, HDNet Movies and Discovery show very few ads, and will be supported mainly by subscription fees.

You can't expect Mark Cuban to keep giving away HDNet, ya know? It's time he saw a return on his investment as a pioneer in HD broadcasting.

 

[sohcrates]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Cool.

But I have to rub it in a little and say I've had those channels though my cable company for about a month. for only 2 bucks a month. All of them.

and what cable company is that?? cox?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: sohcrates

Originally posted by: spidey07
Cool.

But I have to rub it in a little and say I've had those channels though my cable company for about a month. for only 2 bucks a month. All of them.

and what cable company is that?? cox?

Insight cable.

This is definately the year for HDTV. Its rolling out like crazy.

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Sooooo....which HDTV receiver thingy should I go with if want to get HDTV programs from my DirectTV and local HDTV broadcasts?

TV is a Toshiba 50H82.

Hopefully you installed the HD capable dish that is required as well.

The receivers were around $800 last I checked a couple months ago, plus like $100 for the dish.

amish

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Sooooo....which HDTV receiver thingy should I go with if want to get HDTV programs from my DirectTV and local HDTV broadcasts?

TV is a Toshiba 50H82.

Hopefully you installed the HD capable dish that is required as well.

The receivers were around $800 last I checked a couple months ago, plus like $100 for the dish.

amish

Can be had for $499 + $100 for the dish now.

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Sooooo....which HDTV receiver thingy should I go with if want to get HDTV programs from my DirectTV and local HDTV broadcasts?

TV is a Toshiba 50H82.

Hopefully you installed the HD capable dish that is required as well.

The receivers were around $800 last I checked a couple months ago, plus like $100 for the dish.

amish

Can be had for $499 + $100 for the dish now.

Sweet!

 

[arod]

Before all of you go out and get DirecTV know that DirecTV has been down rezzing the hdtv stream because they want to fit more channels per transponder. The quality has suffered on HBO and HDnet over the past month or so. I think they are supposed to run a demo where you get the channels for free, you might wanna watch it and make sure it doesnt suck. I know I will.

 

[Karsten]

I will pay my 13$ for the HD channels on cable for a little while longer. 500$+ investment just to jump to dish is a bit harsh for me right now.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: arod
Before all of you go out and get DirecTV know that DirecTV has been down rezzing the hdtv stream because they want to fit more channels per transponder. The quality has suffered on HBO and HDnet over the past month or so. I think they are supposed to run a demo where you get the channels for free, you might wanna watch it and make sure it doesnt suck. I know I will.

No demo. But if you call, they'll give you the first month free.