banditws6
Shrinking Time and Distance
join:2001-08-18
Naples, FL
 ·Comcast
1 edit | Absolutely
said by Thomas Eagan :
"I think HD channels are more important than HD choices," Eagan told Multichannel News. "I think people want HD channels, not just HD On Demand."
I completely agree. Especially because a lot of Comcast's VOD content is either pay-per-view or cannot be watched unless you subscribe to a premium channel package like HBO or Showtime. I also find that VOD content often breaks up, stalls or macroblocks as it streams to my STB.
I count myself amongst those who would rather have a wider selection of HD channels (like FX HD, for example) available. Where I would pay extra for that, I will not pay extra for VOD.
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"I'll follow the law until it's just stupid." -Ted Nugent |
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MemphisPCGuy
Senior Systems Engineer
Premium
join:2004-05-09
Memphis, TN
·Comcast
| How much more "Extra" do we need to be paying for HDTV. When does it become "standard"? Feb 2009? Will the HD surcharges ever be removed from my bill 
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Computer Repair & Networking Services
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flashcore
join:2007-01-23
Lutherville Timonium, MD
| reply to banditws6
said by banditws6  :I completely agree. Especially because a lot of Comcast's VOD content is either pay-per-view or cannot be watched unless you subscribe to a premium channel package like HBO or Showtime. I also find that VOD content often breaks up, stalls or macroblocks as it streams to my STB. Consider yourself lucky that you could even watch HD VOD. When I was a Comcast user I could NEVER use there VOD unless it was around 3-5am, the node I was on was always overloaded so I always received an error that said to call them for more information (when you have 300+ people on a node and only dedicate 2-3 QAM blocks for VOD this is the shit that happens). I never bothered to call because I knew what the problem was, the same problem still exists now for my neighbor who signed up for a 2 year contract instead of moving to FiOS like the rest of us on the block. I now enjoy VOD whenever I want, I also enjoy a much better picture quality and faster Internet that is never down. |
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imrf
Premium
join:2002-06-06
Utica, MI
·WOW Internet and C..
| reply to MemphisPCGuy
said by MemphisPCGuy : When does it become "standard"? Feb 2009? HD isn't becoming a "standard" in Feb of 2009. |
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Ahrenl
join:2004-10-26
North Andover, MA | reply to flashcore
Now that you've all moved over to FIOS your remaining neighbor should be fine though, right? |
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MemphisPCGuy
Senior Systems Engineer
Premium
join:2004-05-09
Memphis, TN
·Comcast
| reply to imrf
I simply meant to imply the fact that in Feb 2009, OTA channels will be Digital, as "HD" as any Cable HD Channel ... and Free ... why should cable continue charging additional HD Tier and STB prices.
Not like I expect them to stop, mind you
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Computer Repair & Networking Services
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banditws6
Shrinking Time and Distance
join:2001-08-18
Naples, FL
·Comcast
| reply to MemphisPCGuy
said by MemphisPCGuy :How much more "Extra" do we need to be paying for HDTV. When does it become "standard"? Feb 2009? Will the HD surcharges ever be removed from my bill Yeah, I get what you're saying. Eventually everything will be HD and thus any extra fees for HD should be rendered moot, but that's a long way off.
When I said "pay extra," what I really meant was increased cable rates, if they should become necessary to support the infrastructure that Comcast would need to invest in to deliver a real quality service. Not another HD package charge.
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"I'll follow the law until it's just stupid." -Ted Nugent |
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banditws6
Shrinking Time and Distance
join:2001-08-18
Naples, FL
·Comcast
| reply to flashcore
Yeah, I would get that error message on occasion too. VOD really just because useless to me because you could never count on it to work when you wanted to watch something -- which was in direct opposition to how Comcast markets it, ironically.
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"I'll follow the law until it's just stupid." -Ted Nugent |
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hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH | reply to Ahrenl
should have faster internet too .
but for some reason i doubt the entire block as FiOS service. |
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Boogeyman
Drive it like you stole it
Premium
join:2002-12-17
Huntsville, AL
| reply to MemphisPCGuy
Are you trying to imply that OTA Standard Definition Digital is as good of quality as cable's digital HD? Or are you misinformed in thinking that the Feb '09 digital switch means that all signals will be HD?
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Im Your Boogeyman, Thats What I Am |
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moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to flashcore
said by flashcore :I never bothered to call because I knew what the problem was, the same problem still exists now for my neighbor who signed up for a 2 year contract instead of moving to FiOS like the rest of us on the block. I now enjoy VOD whenever I want, I also enjoy a much better picture quality and faster Internet that is never down. I have to say the picture quality of FIOS is WAY better than Comcast but their VOD is much slower than Comcast (at least in my area.) |
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MemphisPCGuy
Senior Systems Engineer
Premium
join:2004-05-09
Memphis, TN
·Comcast
| reply to Boogeyman
I think what I'm trying to say is at what point will there cease to be a HD and NON-HD version of a channel. Once everyone is forced to accept digital media, why have Sci-Fi and Sci-fi HD for example?
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Computer Repair & Networking Services
»MemphisPCGuy.com |
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SLD
Premium
join:2002-04-17 | reply to flashcore
I could never use the VOD service either. Needless to say, Comcast isn't receiving that extra $100/mo from me for cable service anymore. |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to MemphisPCGuy
"Digital" and "HD" are two different things and shouldn't be confused with each other.
The switch on the OTA side is from analog to digital only. Some stations actually do not broadcast in HD while they do broadcast in digital.
As for HD surcharges, many do charge for it as a premium, and I think that's wrong. Dish, DirecTV, Charter, and others treat it as a way to get an extra $10 a month. Comcast doesn't, in the majority of it's systems, charge for an HD tier. You get what comes with your tier of programming. They DO rent an HD converter, but that fee is for the equipment itself. Considering you'd need to purchase a box on your own for a few hundred, the $5 rental fee isn't too bad. |
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jester121
Premium
join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL | reply to flashcore
Must be a local thing, no Comcast contracts here. |
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EPS
join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA | reply to MemphisPCGuy
You're absolutely wrong. There is SD Digital and HD Digital, and both types of signals will remain after the transition. The analog OTA signals (which are only in SD) will disappear. |
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MemphisPCGuy
Senior Systems Engineer
Premium
join:2004-05-09
Memphis, TN
·Comcast
| said by EPS :You're absolutely wrong. There is SD Digital and HD Digital, and both types of signals will remain after the transition. The analog OTA signals (which are only in SD) will disappear. That's what I'm asking, why would they transmit them seperately... except to charge me more? The "HD" Channels are mixed original 480i content and newer HD 720+ content, the OTA broadcasters are doing the same. What's the point?
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Computer Repair & Networking Services
»MemphisPCGuy.com |
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MemphisPCGuy
Senior Systems Engineer
Premium
join:2004-05-09
Memphis, TN
·Comcast
| reply to Boogeyman
said by Boogeyman :Are you trying to imply that OTA Standard Definition Digital is as good of quality as cable's digital HD? Is there a difference between OTA 720/1080 and Cable HD 720/1080 programming?
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Computer Repair & Networking Services
»MemphisPCGuy.com |
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Drex
Beer..It's What's For Dinner
Premium
join:2000-02-24
La Place, LA
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to MemphisPCGuy
said by MemphisPCGuy :I think what I'm trying to say is at what point will there cease to be a HD and NON-HD version of a channel. When everyone has an HD TV?
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I gave up drinking and eating bad food. And in 14 days, I had lost 2 weeks. |
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MemphisPCGuy
Senior Systems Engineer
Premium
join:2004-05-09
Memphis, TN
·Comcast
| Cable Boxes scale to your highest (or lowest) resolution. Since OTA channels now broadcast the Tonight show in 16:9 1080i resolutions are people not going to be able to watch it if they don't get a HDTV? I assume the Digital Converter boxes are going to scale the output and is what justifies the $40-80+ cost.
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Computer Repair & Networking Services
»MemphisPCGuy.com |
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