Given the similarity to OTA/LIL subchannel nomenclature, this is probably a bad idea. Then again, maybe not.
DirecTV's HD 100: The List Grows
- Thread starter JimK2
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I don't find the current channel number confusing at all, but then I've had DirecTV for 11 years.
100s - PPV
200s/300s - "Regular" channels
400s - Spanish channels, Porn
500s - Movie channels
600s - Sport channels
700s - Premium sports packages
800s - Music
Seems pretty well organized to me.
100s - PPV
200s/300s - "Regular" channels
400s - Spanish channels, Porn
500s - Movie channels
600s - Sport channels
700s - Premium sports packages
800s - Music
Seems pretty well organized to me.
I don't find the current channel number confusing at all, but then I've had DirecTV for 11 years.
100s - PPV
200s/300s - "Regular" channels
400s - Spanish channels, Porn
500s - Movie channels
600s - Sport channels
700s - Premium sports packages
800s - Music
Seems pretty well organized to me.
I dont find it confusing either but I am so used to it after 10 years too. So it is really hard to say if its easy or not. I do think it can be better. And they have to change something with all the new HD. It wont fit between 70 and 100 as they currently have it.
Harshness,
After speaking with a few people the .1 idea would not be able to do as it has something to do with the way OTA is sent, so your reply is right on the money.
Ramy,
That too is a really good idea, but it would tend to scatter channels I would rather they stay in thier HD grouping.
There is some thought that the VOD will be in the 1000 range. Maybe the HD could go into the 1100's, but then thats all speculation till D* addresses it with a upcoming guide change.
Guide has to change to allow the new channels, hopefully to be grouped together.
Jimbo
D* has already announced that the VOD channels will be the present channel plus 1000, so ESPN VOD will be 1206. I would imagine that the HD channels will be on the SD chanels, as id done for locals and 24/7 RSNs now. Perhaps D* can implement an "HD-only" filter in the guides after the big launch.
I don't think they can do it like the OTA channels as in a .1 due to the way the info is transmitted.
The locals HD RSN's are currently on 2 channels with spot beams 96-97 so I don't know how that is going to be layed out either.
It should be interesting to see what they come up with for a guide this fall, butit definatly needs to change to accomadate the new lineup.
Jimbo
What I meant, Jimbo, is that if you have HD locals, you have two of each channel in your guide. For example, here in the Tulsa market, our NBC is channel 2. There are two channel 2s listed in my HR20 guide. Then first is the MPEG4 channel from the 99 sat and the second is the SD channel from the 119. If you just punch in "2" you go to the MPEG$ channel first, then by hitting channel up you get to the SD version.
Oh, ok, now I understand what your saying, sorry about that.
As others have wondered as well as me.
How long do you think they will keep mpeg 2 and 4 if both are available
It would free up space if they could make it so IF you have a mpeg4 rec. then you would get ONLY the mpeg4 channel.
Only drawback I see to that is, not doing it to quickly, seeing there have been numerous reports of mpeg 4 troubles when first getting a channel started, if the mpeg2 was still available you would at least have an option until all the quirks are cleared up.
Jimbo
Ramy,
You normally would not see the double channel numbers in your guide unless you have the MPeg4 channels available to you.
Once they are available, you have variety of options., it kinda would make the guide look messy imo, but once it all shakes out, it would clear up.
OTA klooks one way, mpeg2 and mpeg4 have different looks innthe guide, so potentially you could have 3 listings for one channel, 4 if you include the analog which D* doesn't do anymore on current rec.'s.
Jimbo
It's also the same for the RSNs in HD that are full time.
Comcast Chicago is 640. There are two 640's in the guide, first one is HD MPEG4, the other is the SD version.
Same for NESN, YES and SNY.
If we include the NFLST feeds in our 100 list, we should include the 15 MLB-EI feeds. They have already said that MLB-EI will be full HD in 2008 with any games that are RSN produced in HD.
With most of the RSNs doing HD on home games, and some doing road games too, MOST of the games should be available in HD next year.
With most of the RSNs doing HD on home games, and some doing road games too, MOST of the games should be available in HD next year.
MLB-EI in HD won't require extra "channels" or bandwidth because they are just remapped from the RSNs that would already be broadcasting the game on their own channel.
Thus why all the RSNs in HD really do count as "national" channels. Depending on your package or what you sub to any or all of them are available to you.
Thus why all the RSNs in HD really do count as "national" channels. Depending on your package or what you sub to any or all of them are available to you.
Pricing will not go up this round, but you can pretty much be assured that it will go up some, come March next year.... March is the adjusted price month appearently, has been that way for several years now.
Jimbo
Well, it will take some bandwith when the move HD RSNs to the national beam instead of spotbeams.
The reason I mention the MLB channels is that if D* is counting the NFL-ST in their 100 count, they will count the 15 MLB channels too. It will make their marketing 100 channels much easier to acheive. That has been the consensus from their earnings calls, that they will count all channels/feeds, including sports packages.
I saw our list had NFL, just thought MLB should be there too.
MLB EI will be substantially over with by the time that the first satellite is turned up. It should be MPEG2 which would keep it on the old satellites for the 2007 season at least.
I feel that they should count the channels as National, as long as they are available to everyone (and those are) however, if I have the MLB and SF pack does that mean I get HD from any of the MLB teams that broadcast HD, or just a few select games that MLB chooses ? For example, if I want to watch we'll say the Dodgers in HD, can I ?
I don't think you can count on that being the case at least this year, possibly next year ???
Harshness,
I agree with your idea, seeing thay will be done with the year (almost) but they are counting the rest of the channels that are not full time channels ...
I personally don't care if they have 100 HD channels by '08, or 50 as long as they are channels that I want to watch ... Me being a sports fan went with D* mainly for that reason, and they are giving me sports in HD, so thats the channels I want and D* is doing a great job with their HD sports and improving all the time.
Jimbo
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