dvd-4-life

I'm getting a free HD upgrade tomorrow and there doesn't seem to be much information online about their HD channels or On Demand service.

All I know is I have to have their HD DVR connected to the internet too receive On Demand programming. Do they offer more than Cable On Demand or less or about the same?

How are you suppose too know what channels are HD and which are not unless you want to go up and down the schedule guide?

DJariya

I can't give a complete list on what HD channels are available for the cable networks. Because there is quite a few.

Here's what I know off the top off my head for their on demand:

CBS - Standard def

NBC. - HD

ABC - Standard def

All the premiums - HD

FX - Standard Def

BBC America - Standard def

USA - HD

SyFy - HD

TNT - Standard def

Just play around with it for yourself. You'll see what's available and not in HD. There is usually a little HD icon next to the show or movie.

dvd-4-life

Do all the pro sports packages(NHL Center Ice,MLB Extra Innings,NBA League Pass,NHL Center Ice) come in HD?

Neil M.

They advertise that most of the games are in HD but not all.

My Other Self

I know DTV's NHL Center Ice are almost all HD, depending on the feed. They're the best carrier for the package as most cable carriers only offer 1 or 2 channels in HD with the rest being SD.

DJariya

Yes, most of the sports channels and their packages are in HD.

Only sports channels not in HD I can think of is Universal Sports and TVG. A few of the Fox Sports RSNs aren't in HD unless you subscribe to one of the sports packages.

JeffTheAlpaca

It seems most of the NBC or Comcast Universal channels all have HD programs on demand though I would not always rely on on demand since they sometimes you have to wait longer for a episode to arrive on demand or some episodes stay on demand for a short time and disappear quickly or never show up at all.

Eddie W

DirecTV's on-demand is ass. As you can see above, a lot channels STILL only have SD on-demand. And it looks hideous. Cropped for 4x3 and blurry as 1998 internet video. Not only that, but they only carry a random selection of shows from a season. It's almost like they have on-demand just so they can say they have it. it's decent on the premiums though I guess.

One thing I really like about DirecTV is that the HD & SD channels have exactly the same number. And you can choose the option to hide the SD duplicates so you never end up recording from or watching the SD channel by mistake. You just don't even realize they're there.

dvd-4-life

I also have Charter and trying to remember all the channels is a major headache. Direct TV's channel line-up makes a lot more sense.

Bill Needle

ESPN Classic is SD, but I think that's how it comes from ESPN.

DJariya

Yes, ESPN Classic has always been SD.

TVG recently upgraded their broadcasts to HD. You can see their HD telecasts on FOX Sports Prime Ticket, if you get the sports pack. However, Directv only carries the actual channel in SD.

Bill Needle

I wish it was in HD. I've become pretty much a full-on HD snob but there are times I'm tempted by what's on ESPNC...and yeah I know that much of what they show is from SD source material but even that looks much, much better on an HD feed. SD content on an SD feed is unwatchable on a big screen.

JeffTheAlpaca

FOX on demand is now available thought it seems you get only latest episode of shows like New Girl and not the older ones.

Josh-da-man

On Demand programming selection and SD content seems more like something that falls on the individual channels and not DirecTV.

DJariya

Just noticed last night that CBS on demand on Directv is finally in HD.

It's about time, especially with the freaking rate increase they instigated this year. It better have went somewhere.

One thing I've noticed that downloading content on demand (for me at least) has been horrendously sluggish. It can sometimes take up to 2 hours to download a 1 hour show. I don't know if it's because my Internet is not fast enough? I'm currently around 60-65 MBPS speed.

Deftones

Nope. It's slow regardless of your speed. I have gigabit internet and it will take me 30 mins or so to download an entire episode.

Bill Needle

Yeah it seems to vary between throttled and throttleder.

dvd-4-life

What about Fox Soccer Plus Channel with Direct TV? Its in SD with Charter Spectrum but looks HD on Charter Spectrum streaming channel.

DJariya

You know you're responding to a comment I made back in 2014?

I have no idea. I don't subscribe to Soccer Plus.

JeffTheAlpaca

Don't know why the CW, FOX News (Don't watch but that is a big network), and the CBS Sports Network are not available on demand.

JeffTheAlpaca

After 9 years The CW is finally on demand on Directv.

whotony

Cool, is there anything actually on there?

Bill Needle

"Penn & Teller: Fool Us" is very enjoyable.

That's the only show I can think of that I have watched on CW for many years other than the occasional "Cheaters" rerun.

DJariya

The last few episodes on all their major shows like Arrow, Supergirl, The Flash etc.