New D* ad advertising 130 HD channels by end of year!

**skottey** · 07-16-2008 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by ScoBuck

And the fact remains that if you take a look at the channels DirecTV is including in their '95' channel count - it DOES include both the East and West Big 4 Network feeds (which I think is NOT RIGHT - they should only count as 4 IMHO, not 8 total), and also their 15 HD PPV channels (DISH also counts its HD PPV channels so this is a wash)

If they were to count the big four broadcast networks, then they should count them as 8 since there are 8 stations. Just like HBO East and HBO West should count as two. However, I do not think they should count the big four broadcast networks as nationals at all. Those feeds are not available to all and are only there for those in NY or LA, or those that are outside the coverage area of a local version of the broadcast station. We all cannot get ABC out of NYC, so no way should that count as a national.

As for the PPV channels, those should certainly not count either. What if Verizon FIOS, who has the bandwidth, pumped out 400 HD PPV channels and then said their count was 435 HD nationals? That would certainly be incorrect. They could say "we have 35 national HD channels, and the most HD PPV available," but you don't count an HD PPV channel in the count. Both sat providers are wrong to count these.

Cable is no better. Bright House Cable counts their normally crappy "HD Showcase On Demand" in their HD count.

Every provider is inflating numbers in one way or another. Most of us that visit this site are wise to this, but think about the Average Joe Doe that doesn't have a clue about HDTV and the insides outs of cable and sat. It isn't a hobby or an interest to him the way it is to many of us. He falls for the numbers, and that is what each of these providers are counting on.

Incidentally, I went into a Sears Essentials (old Kmart) last week on my search for Civ Rev and a wii Fit and stopped by the Dish Network Display. I picked up a brochure and laughed as they were promoting the VOOM Networks. I think they need to update their promotions. This is false advertising and ignorance (on behalf of Sears) is no excuse.

**rad** · 07-16-2008 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by teamlazyboy

This chart is the most comprehensive and fair listing of available HD channels by provider.

HDTV programming compared - HDTV World - CNET.com

Right off the bat I see errors, Altitude HD is DirecTV on 681-1 (game only channel), CSN West HD 691-1 (game only channel), Sportstime Ohio HD 657-1 (game only channel) .

**skottey** · 07-16-2008 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by r1chard316

The national HD count is D 58, E 47.

That is without duplicate channels like HBO East and HBO West only count as 1.
RSN's don't count since they are not national.
Count may be off but it should be close.

Why would you not count HBO East and West as two? They have two HD channels. You are going to say that it is the same thing delayed by 3 hours. So what. It is still two channels. They count east and west SD feeds of channels like HBO, Nick, Disney, etc in their SD count and have for years.

If you don't think HBO West HD should count as a second HBO in HD, you should call and tell them to block yours. I'll keep mine and count them as two.

**paulman182** · 07-17-2008 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by skottey

If they were to count the big four broadcast networks, then they should count them as 8 since there are 8 stations. Just like HBO East and HBO West should count as two. However, I do not think they should count the big four broadcast networks as nationals at all. Those feeds are not available to all and are only there for those in NY or LA, or those that are outside the coverage area of a local version of the broadcast station. We all cannot get ABC out of NYC, so no way should that count as a national.

Most people either get local HD channels or DNS HD networks, so there is a rationale for counting them as four.

**skottey** · 07-17-2008 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by paulman182

Most people either get local HD channels or DNS HD networks, so there is a rationale for counting them as four.

The key word is local, I would not count ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX as nationals at all. Even if you are one of the few people that get one or more of these stations from NY or LA, they are still not national HD channels. If a provider wants to include them in their HD count, fine, but these should not be included in an HD nationals count.

I am really sick of these games being played on behalf of all providers. We all know what an HD national cable channel is. SCIFI, Science Channel, HGTV, Weather Channel, Fox Business, CNN, HBO, Cinemax... they are nationally offered cable channels by definition. ABC and the other networks are broadcast networks by definition with local stations. Broadcast networks are not HD nationals. When they count them up, they shouldn't be counting PPV, broadcast networks, and RSNs are debatable. How are you going to count a NY sports channel in HD in my count when you black out all the games and offer me Center Ice, Sunday ticket, etc. Sorry, the RSNs that black out all the games shouldn't count.

**Curtis0620** · 07-17-2008 10:44 AM

The RSN's have other programming in HD other than games. Check YES for example. PPV's are national the last time I looked.

**atp1313** · 07-17-2008 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by teamlazyboy

This chart is the most comprehensive and fair listing of available HD channels by provider.

HDTV programming compared - HDTV World - CNET.com

What's this crap?

East/West duplicates: DirecTV offers East and West feeds of the major movie channels, such as HBO East and HBO West. As with RSNs, a subscriber on one coast typically cannot watch the feed from another coast. <emphasis added>

Last time I checked, I am able to watch the west coast feed of HBO here on the east coast.

I know this is like beating a dead cat, but my take is this: if you had some sort of unlimited deep pockets and bought every single programming package offered by any provider, what is the total number of channels in HD available to you. I agree that East/West DNS should not count as national since you need a waiver from your local affiliate if you are not in the New York/LA DMA. But even then, let's assume that you have the needed waivers, you can only get New York OR Los Angeles...not both.

So basically, if I was rich enough and bored enough that I wanted to watch every available HD channel on any provider, what would be available to me (with waivers for one E/W DNS feed)? That is the true HD Channel count.

**DodgerKing** · 07-17-2008 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by atp1313

What's this crap?

East/West duplicates: DirecTV offers East and West feeds of the major movie channels, such as HBO East and HBO West. As with RSNs, a subscriber on one coast typically cannot watch the feed from another coast. <emphasis added>

Yes you can. I, on the west coast, can watch NESN, YES, SNY, ex.. Just like the premium channels I can pay extra to see these channels. And yes I can watch the pro games on them as well if I pay for those sports packages, which I do btw.

**atp1313** · 07-17-2008 11:49 AM

My point exactly. If I am willing to pay extra, can I get it? If so, then it counts as an available channel. Available should not be limited to "free" or "included in your local package only".

**Jimbo** · 07-17-2008 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by nutjb18

what I heard wasn't the terminator commercial but rather a plug by Joe Buck when they were giving credit to the directv blimp for the overhead camera shots, it was not actually a commercial.

I mentioned MCCarver in a previous post, I got the wrong guy, that said, do you really think D* would announce such large news during a game where it will get blown over and lost minutes later ?

Jimbo