US Cable Support > Inside Insight > [CATV] Insight Digital 4.0 - New HD Channels Announced

[CATV] Insight Digital 4.0 - New HD Channels Announced

Very disappointed with the new channels that are being offered. There are so many On-Demand channels and not that many "new" HD channels. I was hoping for ESPNEWS/ESPN U, Versus/Golf and a few other non sports channels. This will definitely have me looking into other options for TV viewing. Direct TV and Dish Network is sounding pretty good right now. Lets just say if this is all that we get from Insight then I am very disappointed in them. I will keep the internet and phone but I will have to really think about keeping them as my provider for cable.

reply to bigredtbone

reply to bigredtbone
Wow. I went from excited to bored in an instant. What a staggering waste of time. I knew the bulk of the channels wouldn't interest me, but to not add ESPNU or Versus/Golf Channel in HD really surprises me. Four news channels in HD? The thought of Obama and McCain in HD makes me queasy.

I suppose it's easier to get favorable contracts from some companies than others, but if this really is the best Insight can do, they shouldn't bother.

Not a bad selection but what happened to Spike TV ?

reply to bigredtbone
Seems like a decent lineup. I'm glad they finally added SciFi Channel HD, but I'm really surprised that they left off the Cartoon Network - I love Adult Swim. Let's hope that "by the end of the year" doesn't mean Dec 31...

reply to bigredtbone
I am very disappointed to see a station like AMC HD added (which edits movies and stretches most programming that is loaded with commercials anyway) over MGM HD (which airs everything uncut and always in high def). I was really hoping that was going to make the lineup on this round. I don't really know that this listing is genuinely enough to keep me from jumping to satellite.

reply to bigredtbone
I just looked around a second ago, I live in Shelbyville, Kentucky and I noticed that they already have started moving channels around. The playboy channel and surrounding channels with the same theme were moved down to lower channels so hopefully they will be adding something in soon. I am personally glad to see USA HD, Scifi HD, and Science Channel HD.

reply to bigredtbone
I am underwhelmed about the channel choices as well, but I am just happy to receive more HD content period...

reply to bigredtbone
...guess you can never make all people happy all the time

It'd good to hear they're listening anyways.

reply to superakcraig
I have to agree I don't watch enough news to want to see those people in HD. I mean really.

reply to bigredtbone
Looks like NKY is getting the shaft, 52 HD channels where the other markets are getting 60. I have no idea why all of us in NKY are getting less than the others.

reply to bigredtbone
I already stated that I was disappointed, but after further review, some of the "additions" are actually funny. Ambient HD, Fearnet HD, Nat Geo HD and Sundance HD on demand are all listed as new in Louisville. They've been available since got the HD/DVR box a month ago. So how are those new? I won't even bother trying to figure out these on demand options constitute seperate channels.

I don't mean to sound like an ingrate, these additions are better than nothing and most are free, but it seems Insight could have done a better job of selecting new HD offerings that would appeal to more people. I can't imagine the likes of the Weather Channel, Versus or ESPNU are asking too much to have their HD channels placed on Insight. Oh well.

As I've said, I don't like the addition of on demand "channels". That's just a way to pad the totals and shouldn't, IMHO, count.

I'm also curious as to how they came up with the total numbers. In Bowling Green, Columbus, and Louisville, it says "Up to 60". In Evansville, it's 59. In Lexington, it's 56 (no Big Ten HD or WGN9CW). In Northern KY, it's 52 (no Big Ten, Bravo HD, CNBC HD+ or Fox Biz HD). However, in Bowling Green, I can only count 52 HD channels. I'd be interested to know the math behind things.

As to the channels they added, there are some good things in there. USA HD (Monk, Psych, In Plain Sight, and Law and Order: CI in HD), Sci-Fi HD, Food Network HD (I've heard of a lot of good shows on there). Unlike everyone else apparently, I'm looking forward to the news channels in HD. I do some investing, so CNBC HD+ is one I'm glad about.

Could it be better? Absolutely.

Weather Channel HD - I'm very surprised about this one. I fully expected it to be on this list and am at a loss as to why it wasn't added.
ESPNU HD - This was only launched on August 28th, so I didn't really expect it. I expect to see it, ESPNNews, ABC Family, and Disney Channel HD when Disney renegotiates its agreement with Insight.
Versus HD - They're launching separate feeds of Versus and Golf Channel HD on December 8th. It may be that Insight wanted to wait for this to happen before adding them, and it may be in "Insight Digital 4.5" or whatever the next numbering scheme is. (BTW, Mr. Willner -- you don't haave to wait to launch a bunch of channels at once. I don't think any of us would complain if you just randomly added an HD channel here and there! =-) )

While not the greatest, we're still going to be up to about 40 HD channels, which is a vast improvement. We'll get there... eventually. =-)

reply to bigredtbone
ive been waiting years for the NBA channel. I had it when I was with direct tv (years and years ago) and man for being in a basketball area you would think this market would have it.
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reply to bigredtbone
Yeah for CNBC HD+, the show DEF has some hawt babes (eases the pain of loses and heightens the enjoyment of gains *grins), too bad insight 4.0 does not offer HD channels for HBO on demand.

reply to bigredtbone
Bigred, you're right about each market having fewer channels than the amount listed. Each market seems to be five or six under. Louisville says up to 60, but currently is at 53 even with all those alleged channels of on demand. I'm hoping that means some of the channels like Versus who get their own HD channel on December 8 will be added at that time. But I'm greedy, so I'm also hoping for the NHL Network. Yeah, that one is a pipe dream, but I can't help it.

reply to bigredtbone