? about SD and HD locals

[s10zr2]

Here in cincinnati we have the local channels on western arc in SD, and the local channels in HD on eastern arc. Why would they do this? Why would they not just get rid of the sd locals and mirror them form eastern arc in HD? Are they planning on keeping SD locals around, when everything is switching to HD? It sucks because if you don't have a line of sight for eastern arc you get screwed on the HD locals. I think the idea of two different directions for receiving satellite is great, but what good is it if one has less programming than the other for your line of sight. Any thoughts?

 

[Laddyboy]

Here in cincinnati we have the local channels on western arc in SD, and the local channels in HD on eastern arc. Why would they do this? Why would they not just get rid of the sd locals and mirror them form eastern arc in HD? Are they planning on keeping SD locals around, when everything is switching to HD? It sucks because if you don't have a line of sight for eastern arc you get screwed on the HD locals. I think the idea of two different directions for receiving satellite is great, but what good is it if one has less programming than the other for your line of sight. Any thoughts?

New subscribers with eastern arc service must have all mpeg4 capable receivers like the ViP series. They do not need separate SD channels available as those receivers can downrez from HD to SD as needed. Exisiting subs who don't have all mpeg4 receivers have to receive their service from the western arc which has to have your SD locals for those older receivers. Your HD locals currently are only available on 77W so you need another antenna pointed at it and a ViP receiver.

 

[s10zr2]

I get that all I am saying is why keep the SD locals on the western arc, change them to HD. As you said they can down res from hd if they have to for SD receivers. I have many friends who cant get a line of sight because of trees for EA.

 

[Laddyboy]

I get that all I am saying is why keep the SD locals on the western arc, change them to HD. As you said they can down res from hd if they have to for SD receivers. I have many friends who cant get a line of sight because of trees for EA.

Only the ViP series of receivers can downrez. All HD is encoded to mpeg4. Only ViP series receivers can decode mpeg4. Thus all SD receivers are not capable of doing so and need SD channels encoded in mpeg2. If you made all locals HD, there are millions of SD only receivers out there that wouldn't receive them.