aktick

I'd guess we'll get something by mid-late this week, since I think they did say they'd have some rolled out by the end of September. Maybe it'll only be a few, but if they go through September without any new HD channels, lots of people will get pissed.

Gambit

Looks like 9300 and 9301 are back on again. If you want to test your system to make sure it is ready for the new HD channels, check these out. I'm not sure how they decide what content to broadcast, it is currently National Geographic and Discovery channel.

BDB

Looks good to me

Dr_Evil

So are people still getting good upgrade deals for the HR 10-250? I guess I should do this if they are going to roll out the new channels soon. I hate giving up my Tivo.

Nefarious

I called them and they wanted $300 for an HR-250 since I was an existing customer. I waited a day and called them back and told them I was going to cancel and go w/ cable b/c they would give me a HD DVR for free. I actually still had a year and a half on my commitment but told them the cable company was doing a dish buy back program. She put me on hold and came back and gave me the HR-250 for free (which is what I was after). Installer came out two days later and put in the new 5 lnb dish and got me up and running on the HR-250. They didd make me commit for 2 years from that time but really it only tacked on an extra 6 months.

vaporware

I hope you meant HR20-100 or HR20-700 because he HR10-250 tivo won't pick up any of the new HD channels.

wildcatlh

Right now, I have channel 9301 coming in just fine. Channel 9300 shows up as "Channel Not Purchased"

Nefarious

Yeah, it was the HR20-700. I was looking at picking up a HR10-250 until I learned that about the new HD channels. Just mixed up my model #'s.

aktick

Well, 9300 and 9301 aren't working for me anymore (might not be working for anyone), but I did enjoy some Sopranos in HD last night.

Apparently "The Smithsonian Channel" put out a press release the other day saying their new HD channel would premiere on DirecTV on Wed., 9/26, and I guess DirecTV typically rolls out new channels on Wednesdays, so folks are speculating tomorrow is finally the day. Of course I'll believe it when I see it, but sooner or later one of the dates has to be the correct one.

aktick

Now it's really starting to sound like tomorrow is the day...Earl over at DBSTalk (who is always pretty quiet and code-like about revealing info) gave a "thank you" to those who have helped the last few weeks, and said you better be ready for HD...so I'm guessing tomorrow morning they're going live.

Deftones

I like how they are testing the NFL network on the test channels, and it isn't in HD.

Spanky BananaPants

Earl at DBStalk is usually very reliable, but we'll see. If there's a way to fuck things up, Directv will usually find it.

I'm cautiously optimistic that the channels will be live tomorrow though. Their website has said the channels will be coming in September, and there's not much September left...

atlantamoi

That would be cool if it starts tomorrow. Don't want any DBS folks to off themselves.

aktick

We've got HD.

Read this if you aren't getting them - http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=99528

The stations launched this morning:

* A&E (Channel 265)
* Animal Planet (Channel 282)
* Big Ten Network (Channel 220)
* CNN (Channel 202)
* The Discovery Channel (Channel 278)
* The History Channel (Channel 269)
* The Movie Channel East (Channel 544)
* NFL Network (Channel 212)
* Showtime West (Channel 540)
* Showtime too (Channel 538)
* The Smithsonian Channel (Channel 267)
* The Science Channel (Channel 284)
* Starz Comedy (Channel 519)
* Starz East (Channel 522)
* Starz West (Channel 540)
* Starz Edge (Channel 520)
* Starz Kids and Family (Channel 518)
* TBS (Channel 247)
* TLC (Channel 280)
* Versus / The Golf Channel (Channel 604)
* The Weather Channel (Channel 362)

Of course now I'll just complain about so much being stretched out.

wildcatlh

They launched a few more that I saw that were duplicative of the ones already offered in the 70s (TNTHD on 245, ESPNHD on 206, ESPN2HD on 209 from what I saw flipping through channels before I left for work)

aktick

Yeah I noticed that too...I'm curious if the ones in the 70s are still MPEG2, and the duplicates are now in MPEG4? Gonna try and compare images to see if one looks better than the other.

Dignam

Comcast better step it up or I'll have to seriously consider switching!

BDB

Of course all this highlights is that there should be more shows in HD!!!

Cheers to DTV for getting this on the air, the guide with HD Filter now looks great.. loads of channels!

aktick

And hopefully the guide isn't fully updated yet, since I hope there are more channels than listed in HD. There's really no excuse for A&E and TBS not having movies and things like 24 in HD. But I'm pretty sure A&E does have it's evening shows in HD (CSI: Miami, which I hate anyways, and Sopranos, which is heavily edited...there I go, bitching again).

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global...setId=P4360044

Here's the list of what's available now and what's coming in October and by the end of the year. Can't wait for SciFi and FX. I'm hoping FX does marathons from the beginning of some of their great originals, since I've never watched any of them (being an HD snob and all ).

chrisih8u

Where do you live? An article in today's Boston Globe says that Comcast is going to add TBS HD and USA HD on Tuesday. Then CNN HD and History Channel HD before the end of the month.

http://www.boston.com/business/globe..._red_sox_fans/

Superman07

I suppose the big questions - how much of the content is HD? Old shows upscaled/cropped/streched? 4:3 with window boxes?

Amel

This is great, but I'm still a little disappointed that I'm not getting my local PBS and WB in HD. I thought these would be coming with the new satellite but it doesn't appear so. Looks like I'm going to have to start looking at getting an antenna.


The Smithsonian Channel; new to the lineup and HD to boot

aktick

The Big Ten Network looks great in HD, and they have 3 football games in HD this weekend.

Big Worms

They finally got them launched! So happy to finally have some more HD channel choices!

BDB

Just looking at TLC and even though the show wasn't in HD, the pic was excellent.