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One man's protest: No HD, then No NBC
[font=verdana, arial, helvetica]This probably still won't mean much to anybody but unless people combine action with protests, it's meaningless.
After a major expenditure in HD equipment, roof-top antenna system and HD programming this past year, I patiently awaited the coming of the Olympics in glorious HD, comfortably self assured that everything was in place for it to happen.
The first hint that I may have deluded myself came last Friday afternoon when I noticed that, although the guide on my 811 indeed listed the Olympic channels both on 9425 and 148, they both also stated that the program was "blacked out" in my area.
Must be some mistake, I live in Vermont - there is no digital OTA here (except PBS) and won't be for years. I qualify and receive the distant analog NBC & Fox and the distant CBS HD from NY. I'm as "signal white area" as one can get. Must be another Dish mistake, I'll just make a quick call.
After an hour long conversation with a Dish CSR and advanced tech Friday night, the harsh reality set in that I was not going to be allowed to watch the Olympics in HD.
The rhetoric will pile up on this and other lists for weeks about why this has happened to me and many others but the bottom line is greed triumphs over integrity.
When the smoke clears, this basically boils down to a clever attempt between NBC and Sony (with necessary compromises to the affiliates) to attract new customers into the world of HD (and Sony equipment of course). Nothing wrong with this - they are in business to make money. Clever, because it circumvented existing SHIVA / FCC regulations.
However while their left hand was luring the public's credit cards into the showrooms, they were shaking their right hand with all the affiliates that would close the door on any chance of many of these new customers ever seeing the Olympics in HD. As for the big DBS providers - they knew full well what was going down but greed prevailed and they signed on anyway.
Ask yourself, how many affiliates are likely to say:
"Gee, we're sorry but we don't do HD yet. In fact we may never do it, but you the viewer shouldn't have to suffer for that. What's the number of your satellite provider and we'll make sure they provide you with the NBC HD signal. After all your happiness is important to us - even more important even than all that local advertising money. Please watch the Olympics in glorious HD and don't worry about us, we'll limp along somehow."
Well, for what ever it's worth, I bite the bullet and so far have not watched ANY NBC - Olympics or otherwise. Piss on 'em. I'm feeding the CEO's of NBC, Sony, Dish Network and Channel Master by what I've spent this past year and they turn around and deny me the HD broadcast - a broadcast I might add that in no way threatens any of the concurrent analog broadcasts since what comparatively little coverage is available is so delayed, it's almost mote. My plan had been to watch my local for much of the up to date coverage and follow up with the HD coverage.
Now I'm watching none of it and you know what ? My face feels just fine with my nose missing. In fact I like this feeling so much, I'm seriously considering canceling 90% of my $130 a month Dish programming and just watch DVDs and PBS HD OTA.
WaltinVt[/font]
[font=verdana, arial, helvetica]This probably still won't mean much to anybody but unless people combine action with protests, it's meaningless.
After a major expenditure in HD equipment, roof-top antenna system and HD programming this past year, I patiently awaited the coming of the Olympics in glorious HD, comfortably self assured that everything was in place for it to happen.
The first hint that I may have deluded myself came last Friday afternoon when I noticed that, although the guide on my 811 indeed listed the Olympic channels both on 9425 and 148, they both also stated that the program was "blacked out" in my area.
Must be some mistake, I live in Vermont - there is no digital OTA here (except PBS) and won't be for years. I qualify and receive the distant analog NBC & Fox and the distant CBS HD from NY. I'm as "signal white area" as one can get. Must be another Dish mistake, I'll just make a quick call.
After an hour long conversation with a Dish CSR and advanced tech Friday night, the harsh reality set in that I was not going to be allowed to watch the Olympics in HD.
The rhetoric will pile up on this and other lists for weeks about why this has happened to me and many others but the bottom line is greed triumphs over integrity.
When the smoke clears, this basically boils down to a clever attempt between NBC and Sony (with necessary compromises to the affiliates) to attract new customers into the world of HD (and Sony equipment of course). Nothing wrong with this - they are in business to make money. Clever, because it circumvented existing SHIVA / FCC regulations.
However while their left hand was luring the public's credit cards into the showrooms, they were shaking their right hand with all the affiliates that would close the door on any chance of many of these new customers ever seeing the Olympics in HD. As for the big DBS providers - they knew full well what was going down but greed prevailed and they signed on anyway.
Ask yourself, how many affiliates are likely to say:
"Gee, we're sorry but we don't do HD yet. In fact we may never do it, but you the viewer shouldn't have to suffer for that. What's the number of your satellite provider and we'll make sure they provide you with the NBC HD signal. After all your happiness is important to us - even more important even than all that local advertising money. Please watch the Olympics in glorious HD and don't worry about us, we'll limp along somehow."
Well, for what ever it's worth, I bite the bullet and so far have not watched ANY NBC - Olympics or otherwise. Piss on 'em. I'm feeding the CEO's of NBC, Sony, Dish Network and Channel Master by what I've spent this past year and they turn around and deny me the HD broadcast - a broadcast I might add that in no way threatens any of the concurrent analog broadcasts since what comparatively little coverage is available is so delayed, it's almost mote. My plan had been to watch my local for much of the up to date coverage and follow up with the HD coverage.
Now I'm watching none of it and you know what ? My face feels just fine with my nose missing. In fact I like this feeling so much, I'm seriously considering canceling 90% of my $130 a month Dish programming and just watch DVDs and PBS HD OTA.
WaltinVt[/font]
9 Replies
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2378 views
I'm not trying to rub anyones nose in this, but all of this has made me realize how lucky I am to be in the Charlotte area. The broadcasters here seem to make a genuine effort to get things right. I live almost 50 miles away (in another town actually in another state - Rock Hill, SC) from the broadcast towers of all the stations, yet the are powerful enough that I get ALL of them w/ good reception w/ only a small indoor antenna.
I can get the Olympics from the local affiliate over OTA, and still get the Dish HD channel too. Unlike RobotX, though, the PQ of the OTA has been nothing short of breath-taking...easily the clearest HD pictures I've ever seen...and the Dish channel surprisingly isnt much worst. Also, a few weeks ago, the local FOX affiliate was one of the few actually showing the MLB All-Star game in 720p as well.
All in all...nice to be in Charlotte!
I can get the Olympics from the local affiliate over OTA, and still get the Dish HD channel too. Unlike RobotX, though, the PQ of the OTA has been nothing short of breath-taking...easily the clearest HD pictures I've ever seen...and the Dish channel surprisingly isnt much worst. Also, a few weeks ago, the local FOX affiliate was one of the few actually showing the MLB All-Star game in 720p as well.
All in all...nice to be in Charlotte!
Staff member
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Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68620 Replies
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2678326 views
Supporting Founder
Really excited for this season with Kentucky having a new coach and some really exciting recruits. Probably won't last long, but here's hoping this season is great.
168 Replies
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2348 views
AI Overview
The 2025–26 College Football Playoff concluded with the Indiana Hoosiers winning the national championship by defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27–21. [1, 2, 3]
Playoff Results Summary
The 12-team playoff bracket featured the following key results across each round: [1]
The 2025–26 College Football Playoff concluded with the Indiana Hoosiers winning the national championship by defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27–21. [1, 2, 3]
Playoff Results Summary
The 12-team playoff bracket featured the following key results across each round: [1]
- First Round: Alabama defeated Oklahoma (34–24), Miami (Fla.) beat Texas A&M (10–3), Ole Miss topped Tulane (41–10), and Oregon defeated James Madison (51–34) at higher-seeded campus sites.
- Quarterfinals: Miami (Fla.) upset Ohio State (24–14), Oregon shut out Texas Tech (23–0), top-ranked Indiana rolled past Alabama (38–3), and Ole Miss edged Georgia (39–34) across the New Year's Six bowls.
- Semifinals: Miami (Fla.) advanced past Ole Miss (31–27) in the Peach Bowl, while Indiana dominant-defeated Oregon (56–22) in the Fiesta Bowl.
Once the 24 gets here, there won't be anymore Conference Championships .... or so they say.
Oh what the hell, we really don't need Conferences anymore either ...
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
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10 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Walter Koenig, Chekov on Original ‘Star Trek,’ Dies at 90
Walter Koenig, who memorably played Chekov in the original "Star Trek" series and seven "Star Trek" feature films, died Sunday in Los Angeles.
variety.com
4 Replies
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54 views
Rest In Peace 
Lifetime Supporter
I know HipKat said that they were working on conversions but we got the official news yesterday right from Dish that starting next month all DMA's will be on the western arc, and all customers will be assigned to that. That's gonna mean a lot of customers around here aren't gonna get Dish unless there are exceptions. Too many mountains and trees.
169 Replies
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4705 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SqPMCS9OOSY
Direct YouTube Link - Preorders Open for the Brax Wink De-Googled Phone #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SqPMCS9OOSY
Direct YouTube Link - Preorders Open for the Brax Wink De-Googled Phone #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
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15 views
Supporting Founder
Lifetime Supporter
This is a thread that will keep you apprised of 4K events that will be showing on Dish channel 540. Keep looking here for information.
As of today, 9-27-17, there are no scheduled events posted for the next 2 weeks. That is subject to change on a daily basis.
As of today, 9-27-17, there are no scheduled events posted for the next 2 weeks. That is subject to change on a daily basis.
768 Replies
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167907 views
. can we say over priced garbage!!!I'm thinking of switching to DirecTV and wanted to know what equipment I should be asking for.
I'm wanting wired satellite due to that fact that I live in the sticks and there is no reliable, decent speed internet for streaming available.
What would be the correct equipment for three 4K tvs in the house?
I'm wanting wired satellite due to that fact that I live in the sticks and there is no reliable, decent speed internet for streaming available.
What would be the correct equipment for three 4K tvs in the house?
59 Replies
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1083 views
S
why not just do a rebranding of the two
As they pivot away from using dishes and more toward streaming, the DirecTV brand would make much more sense.why not just do a rebranding of the two
been there
S
agree to a certain point!!! is charlies pockets gonna get tight and will he cancel channels because he don't want to pay for them??? a hopper 3 on dtv channel lineup would be amazing and every mans dream come true lol
Squirrels have eaten my antenna wire on my home unit that is a car radio running of the 12 volt side of my solar system. I need a new antenna and would like to add something to one of my existing masts. The reason I am looking at this that I am also covered in trees which has not been a problem, but something mast mounted would future proof me. Thanks in advance.
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180 views
A
We have the pro-500 and it's a beast pulling in the signal!!! always full bars no matter how much it rains. it's worth every penny
I am a animal lover, but this year I gave up gardening. Even moved it to potted plants on the second story deck last year. Can't tell you how much use my Ruger 10-22 got, but it was a losing battle for me. Never got any food. So now they eat coax instead! 20 acres of dense woods behind me and my stuff tastes better, either veggies or wires!
A
i might think about running cables through some conduit to prevent the Squirrels from chewing em all to hell