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SeattleMatt
Streaming Tech Director
Premium Member
join:2001-12-28
Seattle, WA

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Still no new HD Channels in Latest Bill

Well, in my latest bill that was generated Sunday, still nothing regarding any type of channel adds (so that pushes us through May).

With FIOS about to launch 25+ HD channels shortly, Comcast is really going to have to answer the bell.
mariod
join:2009-06-16

mariod

Member

Comcast has to answer what bell? What 25 channels is FIOS adding, even? I can't think of anything Comcast is missing at this point that's worth watching.

cypherstream
MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
·PenTeleData
ARRIS SB8200

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I was quickly checking the fios forums. What are the 25 new HD channels... didn't seem like there were 25 with concrete evidence of what on the way?

DirecTV has normally been behind the curve on HD channels since Cable operators did SDV or Analog reclamation... but on April 1st, OWN HD, Bloomburg HD and Fox Sports San Diego HD are on the way.

Eventually maybe all the operators will finally catch up with BrightHouse Networks in Tampa or TWC NYC?

SeattleMatt
Streaming Tech Director
Premium Member
join:2001-12-28
Seattle, WA

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said by mariod:

Comcast has to answer what bell? What 25 channels is FIOS adding, even? I can't think of anything Comcast is missing at this point that's worth watching.

That's your opinion, but there are 50-60 HD channels live right now that Comcast does not offer.

Cypher - shhhhhhh.

DocDrew
How can I help?
Premium Member
join:2009-01-28
SoCal
Ubee E31U2V1
Technicolor TC4400
Linksys EA6900

DocDrew

Premium Member

said by SeattleMatt:

said by mariod:

Comcast has to answer what bell? What 25 channels is FIOS adding, even? I can't think of anything Comcast is missing at this point that's worth watching.

That's your opinion, but there are 50-60 HD channels live right now that Comcast does not offer.

Cypher - shhhhhhh.

At this point, since Comcast seems to have so many open QAMs in many areas, I'd think the missing channels are due to lack of demand and/or broadcaster pricing not bandwidth.
SpHeRe31459
Premium Member
join:2002-10-09
Sacramento, CA

SpHeRe31459

Premium Member

said by DocDrew:

At this point, since Comcast seems to have so many open QAMs in many areas, I'd think the missing channels are due to lack of demand and/or broadcaster pricing not bandwidth.

Doesn't seem like it, considering in the cases of the removed premiums that they did in the last year or so, what's missing in HD they carry in SD. Comcast likes to insist that anything you'd want from the premiums is OnDemand so to them it's okay that they killed the linear versions. It really seems like a way to force users into trying OnDemand. I mean OnDemand is so under utilized they're having a giant promotional "Watchathon" this week that opens up most of their VOD library because people aren't using it in the numbers Comcast would like.
The Q
join:2008-06-26
Collegeville, PA

The Q

Member

said by SpHeRe31459:

said by DocDrew:

At this point, since Comcast seems to have so many open QAMs in many areas, I'd think the missing channels are due to lack of demand and/or broadcaster pricing not bandwidth.

Doesn't seem like it, considering in the cases of the removed premiums that they did in the last year or so, what's missing in HD they carry in SD. Comcast likes to insist that anything you'd want from the premiums is OnDemand so to them it's okay that they killed the linear versions. It really seems like a way to force users into trying OnDemand. I mean OnDemand is so under utilized they're having a giant promotional "Watchathon" this week that opens up most of their VOD library because people aren't using it in the numbers Comcast would like.

400 million on demand views a month, seems like someone is using it...

»www.multichannel.com/cab ··· 2/142082
SpHeRe31459
Premium Member
join:2002-10-09
Sacramento, CA

SpHeRe31459

Premium Member

said by The Q:

said by SpHeRe31459:

said by DocDrew:

At this point, since Comcast seems to have so many open QAMs in many areas, I'd think the missing channels are due to lack of demand and/or broadcaster pricing not bandwidth.

Doesn't seem like it, considering in the cases of the removed premiums that they did in the last year or so, what's missing in HD they carry in SD. Comcast likes to insist that anything you'd want from the premiums is OnDemand so to them it's okay that they killed the linear versions. It really seems like a way to force users into trying OnDemand. I mean OnDemand is so under utilized they're having a giant promotional "Watchathon" this week that opens up most of their VOD library because people aren't using it in the numbers Comcast would like.

400 million on demand views a month, seems like someone is using it...

»www.multichannel.com/cab ··· 2/142082

And yet Comcast still isn't happy...
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

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I'm almost wondering if they don't want the difference between an 860mhz and a 650mhz system to be too big... or if they think they will need more bandwidth for XoD or HSI. Or they're just clueless?
SpHeRe31459
Premium Member
join:2002-10-09
Sacramento, CA

SpHeRe31459

Premium Member

said by BiggA:

I'm almost wondering if they don't want the difference between an 860mhz and a 650mhz system to be too big...

That's actually a pretty plausible explanation, they want everything to seem uniform no matter the system.

On that note... whatever happened to unifying the channel line ups across markets? They were going to move the HD channels into the 1000's and make them match their SD channel number for the last three digits.

telcodad
MVM
join:2011-09-16
Lincroft, NJ

telcodad to BiggA

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to BiggA
said by DocDrew:

At this point, since Comcast seems to have so many open QAMs in many areas, I'd think the missing channels are due to lack of demand and/or broadcaster pricing not bandwidth.

said by BiggA:

I'm almost wondering if they don't want the difference between an 860mhz and a 650mhz system to be too big... or if they think they will need more bandwidth for XoD or HSI. Or they're just clueless?

Maybe this article on the Light Reading Cable site today provides an explanation. It says that the MSOs will need to reserve at least 24MHz of bandwidth for DOCSIS 3.1 HSI's initial rollout phase.

Making Room for Docsis 3.1
By Jeff Baumgartner, Light Reading Cable - March 27, 2013
»www.lightreading.com/blo ··· 40151838
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT
·Frontier FiberOp..
Asus RT-AC68

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They have moved them all in CT to the 1000's. They have similar lineups, but on my 650mhz system, we have 70 HD's, whereas my parents, on an 860mhz system have 110 HD's. I don't think they want to make the delta any bigger until they upgrade everyone to 860mhz, which seems to be taking them FOREVER.
BiggA

BiggA to telcodad

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They are already running 48mhz at least. My modem is locked onto 8 channels.

cypherstream
MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA

cypherstream

MVM

D3.1 uses OFDM so 24 MHz in addition to what they have now for D3.0/2.

But that seems a ways off. They must be holding back for other reasons.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT
·Frontier FiberOp..
Asus RT-AC68

BiggA

Premium Member

They could get some modems out there while running D3 and then cut some of those channels over. I think that a great way to keep people moving on cable modem technology is to put like a 50GB/mo cap on modems that aren't up to date, and then allow unlimited for those that are.