VZ Mark
join:2009-06-22
Basking Ridge, NJ
| reply to skottey_
Re: Cablevision has STARZ HD West!
I understand BW very well but I think you're missing my point. This is a case of 'diminishing returns' in adding a West HD channel in the East that's simply three hours behind the East feed and otherwise has identical content. I am fully aware of SDV and the reasons why Fiber to the node companies have had to deploy it. We are now in an era of 'time shifted' content and I can tell you that I almost never watch live TV unless it's a sporting event. If there's something on Starz HD that you must see (I find this hard to fathom) set your Tivo or DVR to record it an watch it whenever you want. Eventually, adding the West HD feeds in the East and vice-versa will take away VZ's ability to add another HD channel that actually carries unique content. VZ can add the second HD feed everywhere but they choose not to and I agree with this approach...BTW, I drink my water out of a Poland Spring bottle! LOL |
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matcarl
join:2007-03-09
Franklin Square, NY | The only thing is.. They added all the west coast feeds of HBO, Cinemax and Showtime, so leaving one out is confusing everyone. |
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matcarl
join:2007-03-09
Franklin Square, NY | Could we trade 2 .TV's for it?  |
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VZ Mark
join:2009-06-22
Basking Ridge, NJ | reply to matcarl
With HBO and content like the Sopranos, Entourage, True Blood etc.. Showtime also has original programming and I'm not sure about Cinemax but I know sometimes these are tied in as contractual obligations...Starz shows old movies... |
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skottey_
@rr.com
| reply to VZ Mark
said by VZ Mark  :I understand BW very well but I think you're missing my point. This is a case of 'diminishing returns' in adding a West HD channel in the East that's simply three hours behind the East feed and otherwise has identical content. I am fully aware of SDV and the reasons why Fiber to the node companies have had to deploy it. We are now in an era of 'time shifted' content and I can tell you that I almost never watch live TV unless it's a sporting event. If there's something on Starz HD that you must see (I find this hard to fathom) set your Tivo or DVR to record it an watch it whenever you want. Eventually, adding the West HD feeds in the East and vice-versa will take away VZ's ability to add another HD channel that actually carries unique content. VZ can add the second HD feed everywhere but they choose not to and I agree with this approach...BTW, I drink my water out of a Poland Spring bottle! LOL Again... why carry Starz West SD then? It is standard practice to carry the east and west feeds of the premium channels when bandwidth is available.
And dude, I have 4 DVRs in my house, I can time shift like the next guy and have been since I was first able to get a DVR. That isn't the point.
Sometimes I sit down and watch movies by means of flipping. I do no planning. I have a long day at work. I sit down and just turn on the TV. I go to my favorites guide which includes HD versions if available. The standard is that I jump to around 850 (Encore) and then look at Starz and work my way through the HBO and Max channels to find a movie. Two rules: It is on one of the HD channels and something that looks interesting. It doesn't matter if Starz West is three hours behind if I am just sitting down to watch a movie. I wasn't watching TV 3 hours ago and cannot watch whatever is playing on Starz West in HD.
Why do you even care? Are you playing Devil's advocate? Why on earth are you defending them not adding it? Maybe you don't subscribe to the Movie Pack or Starz and to you it is a waste.
The rest of us want it.
Bandwidth is NOT an issue. Even if it was they could easily add circuits and fix it. It isn't an issue like cable. They do not have to be selective. Does anybody actually watch the .TV channels? If bandwidth were an issue, those would be the channels I'd be voicing my opinion about wasting bandwidth. Certainly not Starz West.
It is just out of place that they don't have it.
Somebody else said it may be in the agreement not to carry east or west in opposite time zones. I don't think that is the case at all. Many other providers carry both east and west of Starz HD. DirecTV and Dish Network do as well as some cable companies. U-Verse does.
It is just foolish. Add it. Those of us wanting this channel would deprive no other customer of anything. So why counter are argument to add it? You people that say they shouldn't add it are just being Devil's Advocates or don't have the extra money to subscribe to the $30 movie package and there may be some jealousy. |
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VZ Mark
join:2009-06-22
Basking Ridge, NJ | reply to matcarl
The dot TV's suck but they will be used for a trial on handests. Can't wait to see these channels on my blackberry? LOL! Cars is probably the best of the bunch but that isn't saying much... |
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appleman102
join:2002-07-23
Morristown, NJ
| reply to VZ Mark
said by VZ Mark :I understand BW very well but I think you're missing my point. This is a case of 'diminishing returns' in adding a West HD channel in the East that's simply three hours behind the East feed and otherwise has identical content. I am fully aware of SDV and the reasons why Fiber to the node companies have had to deploy it. We are now in an era of 'time shifted' content and I can tell you that I almost never watch live TV unless it's a sporting event. If there's something on Starz HD that you must see (I find this hard to fathom) set your Tivo or DVR to record it an watch it whenever you want. Eventually, adding the West HD feeds in the East and vice-versa will take away VZ's ability to add another HD channel that actually carries unique content. VZ can add the second HD feed everywhere but they choose not to and I agree with this approach...BTW, I drink my water out of a Poland Spring bottle! LOL Ugh, you WOULD drink your water out of a poland spring bottle.
Starz HD West would be a MUCH welcomed addition to everyones channel lineup...it would offer:
*a more convenient method for watching Starz HD content
*the completion of a set (all HD premiums available)
*one more choice when browsing the HD premiums
*an increase in respect for FiOS (otherwise Verizon may be viewed as incompetent)
*continued momentum forward (having holes in your lineup like this tends to spread and infect the rest of the lineup)
Bottom line-- there is a contract in place, it says "Hey Verizon, its Starz....you can have your Starz HD, Starz Edge HD, Starz Kids and Family HD, Starz Comedy HD and Encore HD".....ALL that needs to be done is for a verizon person to call a Starz person higherup and say "can we revise this contract to add Starz HD West? We can pay you another 1/10 a cent per subscriber"
Its a disgrace on both parties and a sign of corporate laziness. |
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skottey_
@rr.com
| reply to VZ Mark
said by VZ Mark :With HBO and content like the Sopranos, Entourage, True Blood etc.. Showtime also has original programming and I'm not sure about Cinemax but I know sometimes these are tied in as contractual obligations...Starz shows old movies... Starz doesn't just show old movies. They have deals too with Hollywood studios for new stuff. Showtime is actually at risk of losing all but one of their deals with Hollywood because of Epix. Starz is in a good place movie wise.
I honestly don't think it is in the FIOS contract not to carry the West feed of Starz. If it was they wouldn't carry the SD version and other providers get e/w in HD. |
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skottey_
@rr.com
| reply to appleman102
said by appleman102 :Its a disgrace on both parties and a sign of corporate laziness. Agreed. I think it is heavily laziness on FIOS part and probably Starz too to some degree. It is NOT a bandwidth issue. |
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VZ Mark
join:2009-06-22
Basking Ridge, NJ
| reply to skottey_
See my response about the content on these channels above (HBO vs. Starz) and one HD is equal to somewhere between 6-8 SD's so there is a very different business model used in deciding whether to add an SD or HD.
Most of the movies on Starz are already on VZ's VOD library and that library is expanding as I type this. I agree with you that the more HD the better. But one can make the argument that a West feed isn't really more content but just time shifted content. It might seem out of place but contracts sometimes dictate what VZ must carry and in other cases it is as their discretion.
I subscribe to all the channels and I get them for free where I work... |
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PROMISES
@optonline.net | What happened to the promise of carrying "ALL" available HD's? |
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skottey_
@rr.com
| reply to VZ Mark
said by VZ Mark :See my response about the content on these channels above (HBO vs. Starz) and one HD is equal to somewhere between 6-8 SD's so there is a very different business model used in deciding whether to add an SD or HD. Most of the movies on Starz are already on VZ's VOD library and that library is expanding as I type this. I agree with you that the more HD the better. But one can make the argument that a West feed isn't really more content but just time shifted content. It might seem out of place but contracts sometimes dictate what VZ must carry and in other cases it is as their discretion. I subscribe to all the channels and I get them for free where I work... All I can say is if Verizon signed a contract that said they can only carry west in the western time zones and eastern in the eastern time zones they are idiots. U-verse, DirecTV, and Dish Network all have east and west of the flagship Starz in HD. It would be in the benefit of Starz anyway if they aired that extra channel in HD on FIOS. Why would they prohibit it? That would be crazy. If I was sitting down to pick just one premium channel I would certainly take into consideration, "well this one has 4 HD channels" or "well this one has 5 HD channels." Having five looks better and Starz would have nothing to lose allowing it. They wouldn't block it. If they blocked it, they'd block the SD version too. This argument is getting old. It really doesn't matter that an HD channel takes up 8 times as much bandwidth as an SD channel. Bandwidth is NOT the issue here.
I firmly believe it is laziness at FIOS. Or maybe they just don't know that we desire the channel. Maybe they think we don't notice not having it. Probably most customers don't even notice it. |
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VZ Mark
join:2009-06-22
Basking Ridge, NJ
3 edits | Finally we agree on something, most people wouldn't notice it!
This might seem like a tangent but linear content in general is on the decline. Just showing movies will get you a declining amount of viewers in the long run. This is why HBO has gone to such great lengths (and expense) to add original content and whey they are a must have for almost every household. Entourage starts up again on 7/12 @ 10:30 EST and I'm sure folks on the West Coast will tune in @ 7:30 in droves! That would never happen with Starz HD/SD. This is also the reason why HBO is on a different tier from Starz because VZ pays more for HBO so they charge more.
Movie companies have even toyed with the idea of 'Mass Openings' where a movie would be available on DVD, online and in theaters on the same DAY! This is being considered to thwart piracy and with good reason. I can go to NYC and trip over street vendors selling DVD's of "Transformers". The online format would not be a problem for VZ customers due to that big pipe we know about. Netflix already offers movies online, no mailing DVD's back and forth. The biggest drawback would be the damage done to movie theaters themselves, we shall see.
Finally, not to beat a dead horse, but I happen to be privy to the numbers and HD's cost over 10x as much as SD's and contracts are signed based on who the players are. HBO could demand that VZ (or anyone else) carry both where Starz doesn't have that kind of moxy. Ask yourself if you were running the store wouldn't you be a little more considerate of all of the factors? Like I said earlier, diminishing returns, you might personally be thrilled but most others wouldn't even notice or care...
Didn't mean to piss you off, enjoy your 4th!!! |
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icemannyr1
join:2001-04-11
Township Of Washington, NJ
1 edit | reply to mrmegadeth99
One thing CV has that would be nice on FiOS is the local forecasts on The Weather Channel HD.
Any word if FiOS has ordered and or will installing the equipment soon? |
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FiOSinVA
@verizon.net
| reply to mrmegadeth99
said by VZ Mark :
Starz shows old movies... Just to clear the air, Starz has four original series--Crash, Party Down, Head Case, and new series Hollywood Residential--and first-run rights to all Disney and Sony Entertainment films. It's not just "old movies." |
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VZ Mark
join:2009-06-22
Basking Ridge, NJ | reply to icemannyr1
Yes, that is coming for sure and will happen sometime this year... |
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siersema
join:2005-06-16
Huntington Beach, CA | reply to VZ Mark
Having an East and West coast feed does make sense when you find a conflict of three shows to record at the same time. With the West coast feed, you can move forward or backward to East coast feed to record the show not in conflict with others. |
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getwithit
@verizon.net
 from:
VZ Mark
| said by siersema :Having an East and West coast feed does make sense when you find a conflict of three shows to record at the same time. With the West coast feed, you can move forward or backward to East coast feed to record the show not in conflict with others. sure there will be conflicts but movies on all premium channels air multiple times in a given month. dont u rather the bandwith be dedicated to unique content rather than a time shifted movie channel? |
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