Let say it is 2009, or 2010, or maybe 2011, and all or nearly all of the networks have switched to HD. Will DirecTV start offering HD as a default in their packages, and stop charging a premium for HD?

Sorry if this has been discussed 1000 times already...just point me please.

Let say it is 2009, or 2010, or maybe 2011, and all or nearly all of the networks have switched to HD. Will DirecTV start offering HD as a default in their packages, and stop charging a premium for HD?

Sorry if this has been discussed 1000 times already...just point me please.

Dish has a HD-only package. $29.99 for some 50 HD channels.

I would guess next year when analog gets shut off you will see more HD only packages. But I dunno if they will be $29.99. Cable is charging twice as much for SD.

I really hope cable and others do away with the HD technology fee. If someone pays for TBS then why pay a second time for TBS-HD?

I really hope cable and others do away with the HD technology fee. If someone pays for TBS then why pay a second time for TBS-HD?
Going the opposite direction, I can see why some people might still want the SD versions of these channels as long as some of them (like TBS) stretch SD content on their HD channel.

Let say it is 2009, or 2010, or maybe 2011, and all or nearly all of the networks have switched to HD. Will DirecTV start offering HD as a default in their packages, and stop charging a premium for HD?

Sorry if this has been discussed 1000 times already...just point me please.

I think the premise is wrong. In 2009, local broadcast stations are switching to digital, not necessarily to HD. The cable networks have pretty much already moved on their HD goals. The channels likely to move to HD are there with few exceptions.

as agregjones said he is correct. Will D* or E* eliminate the "extra" for HD? yes but I don't think so for many years.