does anybody here have any of the HD packages for direct tv? i am considering getting it, but just haven't heard too much about it. thanks.

It is pretty pathetic. Six channels, $11/month. ESPN and ESPN2's HD offerings are severly lacking.

If you're looking at an HDTiVo, you can still record OTA HD locals even without the package. Also, if you get any of the movie channels, you'll get that channel's HD version without the HD package.

I agree, it's pretty sad.

Universal HD? Watch it a week and you'll see their entire content. They repeat everything over and over and.....

I have the HD DVR strictly for OTA HD. It's nearly 75% of what I watch anyway.

It was just announced today that DirecTV will be getting TNT HD on 02/17. If the price stays the same, it makes it a little more worth the money.

What the hell is on TNT?

And I agree about the HD package not being good. Are there any channels they could be adding, but arent?

Some movies (although they're edited and have commercial breaks ), some TV shows (ER, Without a Trace, quite a bit of Law and Order, their original series/movies/miniseries), the NBA...

Unfortunately, they squish and stretch everything else. The last few seasons of Angel are standard definition, cropped, and stretched back to widescreen. Unwatchable.

Personally, the NBA is all I ever watch on TNT-HD. I'd be willing to lose it in a heartbeat in favor of a movie channel.

Maybe inHD, inHD2, and Fox Sports HD?

Too bad the Voom channels couldn't be made available to Cable and DirecTV.

I'd die for TCM-HD instead. Continue just as now, but higher res.

They're available to anyone who wants 'em. Bandwidth is the limiting factor.

Hmmm, I guess I was under the (false) impression that these were Dish exclusive?

thanks for the heads up guys, guess that i'll wait awhile for direct tv to get their act together.

Dish is the only service offering them at the moment. The big thing is that Voom doesn't want providers to cherrypick from their channels, and that'd be doubling the number of HD channels (if not more) most services offer...they just don't have enough bandwidth to pull it off.

Multichannel News (part of the "Variety" family) posted an article about this last year.

I'm cool paying the extra few bucks a month for my Brighthouse HD-DVR package. I get the DVR + PBS/WEDUHD, NBCHD, CBSHD, FOXHD, ABCHD, ESPNHD, DiscoveryHD, TNTHD, HBOHD, SHOWTIMEHD, HDNet, HDNet movies, INHD, INHD2, UVHD & HD movies on Demand.

I'd dig TMCHD or AMCHD, we shall see....

I have it and like it and think it is worth the money. Apparently I am in the minority.

It is probably only worth it to be able to DVR the OTA channels.

I do watch some of the HD content though, but I do wish the HD Tivo had the newer software and MPEG4 compatability though.

You can DVR OTA channels (and HD movie channels that you subscribe to) without the package.

Well, I had to sign a year contract for the HD package to get the $200 HD Tivo box though...

If you know a way out of that...let me know.

When I got my HD DirecTiVo for $200, I had to sign a one-year commitment, but that was only a commitment to DirecTV service in general, it wasn't a commitment to get the HD package. They even asked me whether or not I wanted the package when I activated the box.

I'd be shocked if yours was different. You can probably cancel the HD package with no problems, as long as you still maintain service. I've never heard of anyone having to commit to any extras.

You could be right. Maybe I should go online and see if I can change service. I'll report back with an update.

Holy shit. I missed that!

I was indeed able to cancel my HD service for DirecTV. Thanks for saving me $11 each month.

Yeah, the HD programming on DirecTV for the price of the box is pathetic. I bought a HDTV with a tuner built in, and waiting on either more HD chanenels or a price drop on the reciever.

I really think they should include the HD channels free, but I know that will never happen.

They might take the extra fee off one day, but it will be put in the normal packaging price that will be raised to account for the charge.

I think once my one year contract is up, I will be looking at alternatives...

Any good Tivo options upcoming in the next 6 months or so?

Our local cable company: (Buckeye Cablesystem) just included two new great exclusive HD channels entitled: INHD, and INHD 2. These channels are only available on cable. An editorial rave review of the channels is located below.

http://tv.about.com/od/cableandsatel...lphia+tv+guide

Yeah, I have those with Cox Cable and all I can say is, Meh.. The channels for the most part look amazing, but the content is kind of boring. They have NBA games but I hate the NBA so that doesn't do me any good. I'm still waiting for NBC, ABC and FOX on our system as our locals are fighting with Cox over money to carry the stations. I have an antenna and get perfect reception on all my HDTVs, but I can't DVR them right now and that is pissing me off.

As far as D*. I just switched from them about a month ago. I used to be a hardcore supporter of them, but with the new NDS boxes, the move to a lease program, having to get another dish soon and running new lines for my new TVs, I just couldn't see the point anymore. Their HD is lacking, they over compress thier signal (HD Lite), they have no On Demand (thier VOD plans for next quarter are weak) and they are charging $10.99 for mostly worthless content. The only thing I miss about D* is HD Net and Tivo, but with the Cable Card Series 3 Tivo on the horizon, I think I'll live.