Dish Network HD Channels question
 

This may be a very stupid question, but why aren't all available channels on Dish Network in HD? I've read that some of the Disney channels aren't available in HD due to a contractual dispute they had around 2009/10, but I find it ridiculous that in 2022, where most TVs are now 4K and 8K, there are still a huge amount of channels that Dish only shows in SD. Channels like MeTV, Laff, many of the premium movie channels of Starz and Showtime, MTV2, Heroes & Icons, Cartoon Network West, Boomerang, TVLand, ect. Many of these channels are available in HD over the air and others are available in high definition in other cable and satellite systems, but on Dish they are only presented in SD and honestly, they look like shit on modern TVs. Why is this still happening? Is it a technology restriction? Is it just disputes with companies like Disney? Or is it just Dish being cheapskates?

Re: Dish Network HD Channels question
 

Not a dumb question, but rather shocking that Dish's tech is so behind the curve in the back-office, that default delivery in HD of pretty much all the network/basic cable/premium channels is not the case. Sure, xfinity also has a long list in their guide of channels that air in standard def, but at least 90% (I could be wrong, but it kind-of looks that way when I look at the channel guide) have a mirror channel that pipes out the same content in HD. I think there is a network that is based in Utah where if I want to catch a show it is only available to me in standard def, but that is usually the exception not the rule.

Is Dish kind-of falling behind when it comes to picking up new subscribers? What you are describing creates a conundrum for Dish, they need to spend to make sure more of their content comes out in HD quality to keep current subscribers from cancelling, and bring in new customers, but it is possible that they are just in a financial situation that makes it hard to spend money to make money.

Also, Elon Musk's new satellite service might be primarily designed to provide high speed internet vs a service to consume lots of tv content to folks who are not able to simply call up ATT/Xfinity/etc., and get their latest and greatest high speed internet tier, but it certainly is a hindrance to Dish that yet another Satellite service has entered stadium. I have not paid attention lately to the number of folks in my apt complex who have sat dishes installed, but it is rare that I see a dish removed from where it is installed on the balcony of an apt. People are still turning to Dish or DirectTV for their TV/Internet needs.

However, yeah, in 2022 delivering content in HD is not a luxury anymore and is more of just something that is expected when you sign up for cable/internet.