Comcast HDTV [Text View] - Page 38

Marcus Carr

08-14-09, 02:56 AM

Comcast rolling out more channels, services for Augusta

By LaTina Emerson | Staff Writer

Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009 3:31 p.m.

Comcast is rolling out new HD channels and more services on Sept. 2.
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The cable, Internet and telephone company will launch 39 new HD channels in September and October, in addition to higher Internet speeds, more digital voice services and video on demand, said Abu Khan, the vice president and general manager of Comcast in Augusta.

“This is the culmination of a year and a half project that we’ve been doing,” Mr. Khan said today. “We’re bringing more. We call this the World of More. Our customers want more, they expect more. They want more high speed Internet, digital voice services, HD channels, new programming, video on demand.”

Comcast is switching its expanded basic channels from analog to digital, so these customers will need a digital adapter box to access the new channels, said marketing manager Tina Baggott. All customers will receive two complimentary digital adapters to transition to digital viewing.

“These 39 new channels are coming free based on your level of service. If you’re on a lower level service and you want some of the services on the higher level, you just need to upgrade to the higher level of service. Most of the channels that we’re introducing are digital starter level channels,” Mrs. Baggott said.

Limited basic customers, however, will not receive the new digital channels, she explained.

Comcast is also introducing new sports programming, including ESPN U, NHL Network and MLB Network channels.

In addition, Comcast will double Internet speeds for most existing customers at no additional charge, Mr. Khan said.

Additional new services will include a plan that enables customers to send text messages from their home telephone and an enhanced cordless telephones, which is Internet and telephone service built into one.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/latest/lat_700999.shtml?v=1531

Hampster

08-15-09, 07:38 PM

Sweet. I'm jealous.

Marcus Carr

08-18-09, 09:08 AM

Comcast adds channels in HD, other services

By LaTina Emerson | Staff Writer

Friday, August 14, 2009

Comcast is rolling out new HD channels and more services beginning Sept. 2.

The cable, Internet and telephone company will launch 39 new HD channels in September and October, in addition to more Internet speed , digital voice services and video on-demand, said Abu Khan, the vice president and general manager of Comcast in Augusta.

Comcast is switching its expanded basic channels from analog to digital, so customers will need a digital adapter box , said marketing manager Tina Baggott.

All customers will receive two free digital adapters. Limited basic customers, however, will not receive the new digital channels, she said.

Comcast will double Internet speeds - up to 50 Mb per second - for most existing customers at no additional charge, Mr. Khan said.

Additional digital services include universal caller ID, the ability to send text messages from a home telephone and an enhanced cordless telephone, which is Internet and telephone service built into one, Mr. Khan said.

Comcast is also expanding its video on demand services and plans to have more than 10,000 programs and shows, in addition to more than 1,000 HD choices, when the company completes the transition. This includes Local on Demand programs, such as local high school football, police blotter and dating on demand, Mrs. Baggott said.

Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.

New HD Channels

New Comcast HD Channels Launching in September and October:

MGM HD
WGN HD
The Weather Channel HD
CNN Headline News HD
MSNBC HD
truTV HD
MTV HD
VH1 HD
BET HD
CMT HD
Spike HD
Nickelodeon HD
Lifetime HD
G4 HD
Style HD
CNBC HD
LMN HD
ESPN-U HD
TCM HD
Comedy Central HD
QVC HD
Fox Business HD
Planet Green HD
Bio HD
ESPNews HD
MLB HD
NHL HD
NBA TV HD
Bravo HD
Disney XD HD
Starz Edge HD
Starz Kids & Family HD
Starz Comedy HD
Encore HD, TV One HD
We HD
HMC HD
IFC HD
Fuse HD

Source: Comcast

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/08/14/bus_544321.shtml

bicker1

08-18-09, 09:14 AM

Tybee

08-18-09, 09:35 AM

jhachey

08-18-09, 11:27 AM

Do we have a clear picture yet what the period of time (and variance) is between implementation of "all-digital" (the date the DTAs become necessary -- here, that'll be October 20), and when these new HD channels become available?In Washington and Oregon, we have lost about 40 analog channels. The pattern has been to cut about 20 channels initially and replace them with a message that says you now need a digital adaptor to view this station. That message disappears after a couple of weeks. Four weeks after the first cut of analog channels, Comcast cut another 20 channels and replaced them with a message that says you now need a digital adaptor to view this station. Two weeks after the second cut, Comcast took us to about 100 HD channels.

All-in-all, six weeks time between the first wave of analog cuts and receiving all of the new HD channels.

bicker1

08-18-09, 11:46 AM

Thanks!

keenan

08-18-09, 04:12 PM

Comcast adds channels in HD, other services

New HD Channels

New Comcast HD Channels Launching in September and October:

MGM HD

What tier or package does MGM-HD reside in? I'm curious as there isn't any SD version, and DirecTV sticks it in a special "HD Extra Pack" along with several other "stand alone"(HDNet, etc) channels and charges $10.99 for it.

joeshan99

08-19-09, 10:53 AM

I'm use to direct tv and not sure bow Comcast works. I live in Baltimore and was wondering does everyone get these channels or only certain markets? If we do I picked the right time to switch.

bicker1

08-19-09, 11:10 AM

Practically everyone will get them eventually, but analog reclamation is a project that is necessarily deployed town-by-town.

Marcus Carr

08-19-09, 12:39 PM

I'm use to direct tv and not sure bow Comcast works. I live in Baltimore and was wondering does everyone get these channels or only certain markets? If we do I picked the right time to switch.

Analog reclamation is supposed to happen in Baltimore this summer. New HD channels were announced for Anne Arundel County for October. We should get them sometime this year too.

I called Comcast and DTAs are not available in the city yet. They got them in Baltimore County two weeks later than expected. (Expected date was 6/15.)

DOCSIS 3.0, however, is now available at my address and parts of the city.

maggiefan

08-19-09, 04:16 PM

Will the DOCSIS 3.0 be a nation wide upgrade? I'm assuming a new modem will be required for this.

georule

08-19-09, 04:42 PM

Yes and yes. I've had the new modem here for several months now with the 30mb/s service level. The two (World of More and DOCSIS 3.0) don't necessarily have to happen together --they didn't here-- but probably will in most cities.

keenan

08-19-09, 05:09 PM

Will the DOCSIS 3.0 be a nation wide upgrade?
Most likely.
I'm assuming a new modem will be required for this.
Only if you want DOCSIS 3.0 speeds which would be anything above the 16/2 tier. I think the 22/5 tier will work with current modems but Comcast wants you using the newer DOCSIS 3.0 modem with that tier.

Best info on Comcast HSI can be found at the following link.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/comcast

joeshan99

08-19-09, 07:45 PM

Analog reclamation is supposed to happen in Baltimore this summer. New HD channels were announced for Anne Arundel County for October. We should get them sometime this year too.

I called Comcast and DTAs are not available in the city yet. They got them in Baltimore County two weeks later than expected. (Expected date was 6/15.)

DOCSIS 3.0, however, is now available at my address and parts of the city.

I live in Eastern Balto. County and I have a DTA already. so Are you saying I sould get most of these or all channels in the next 2 months? Thanks

Marcus Carr

08-20-09, 04:47 AM

I live in Eastern Balto. County and I have a DTA already. so Are you saying I sould get most of these or all channels in the next 2 months? Thanks

Maybe.

blitzen102

08-20-09, 01:48 PM

keenan

08-20-09, 03:38 PM

Does anyone have or know of a list of exactly where (which cities/regions) Comcast provides cable TV services?

I found this one:

http://www.comcastspotlight.com/SITES/Default.aspx?pageid=2466&siteid=62&subnav=1

but it is not too detailed.

Did you try the below? It was linked in the page you posted.

http://www.thecab.tv/php/cablesysdirectory/systemdirectory.php?PID=2&OID=MN&Submit=Submit

tamahome02000

08-20-09, 11:41 PM

Hmm, why are both 72 & 126 Cartoon Network SD in NJ?

D_B_0673

08-21-09, 04:35 AM

I live in Eastern Balto. County and I have a DTA already. so Are you saying I sould get most of these or all channels in the next 2 months? Thanks

what is DTA and why does that matter for the new stations

kenvt

08-21-09, 08:55 AM

what is DTA and why does that matter for the new stations

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Comcast+DTA

jhachey

08-21-09, 01:00 PM

what is DTA and why does that matter for the new stationsDTA stands for Digital Transport Adapter. DTAs are used to convert digital signals to analog for older TVs.

DTAs are important because Comcast cannot get to 100 HD channels without removing a large portion of its analog offerings. Removing analog channels means that folks with older TVs can't get most of their usual channels. Comcast's solution is to provide 2 free DTAs to customers.

DTAs are made available in an area about two months prior to the first cut of analog channels. The second cut of analog occurs about four weeks after the first cut. A large number of HD channels are added about two weeks after the second cut (six weeks after the first cut).

If DTAs are available in your area, you are probably within three or four months of having 100 HD channels.

georule

08-21-09, 07:21 PM

DTAs are important because Comcast cannot get to 100 HD channels without removing a large portion of its analog offerings. Removing analog channels means that folks with older TVs can't get most of their usual channels. Comcast, as a cable provider, is subject to regulation and licensing by local governments. The resulting political s**tstorm from people losing their channels, or being forced to pay more to get the box that allows them to keep their same channels, would make the recent "healthcare forums" look tame by comparison. Comcast's solution is to provide 2 free DTAs to customers.

Helped ya connect the dots there. ;)

D_B_0673

08-22-09, 04:58 AM

DTA stands for Digital Transport Adapter. DTAs are used to convert digital signals to analog for older TVs.

DTAs are important because Comcast cannot get to 100 HD channels without removing a large portion of its analog offerings. Removing analog channels means that folks with older TVs can't get most of their usual channels. Comcast's solution is to provide 2 free DTAs to customers.

DTAs are made available in an area about two months prior to the first cut of analog channels. The second cut of analog occurs about four weeks after the first cut. A large number of HD channels are added about two weeks after the second cut (six weeks after the first cut).

If DTAs are available in your area, you are probably within three or four months of having 100 HD channels.

thanks, i will try to find out if DTA's are available in my area. ( Carroll Co MD)

sansri88

08-22-09, 07:26 AM

Hmm, why are both 72 & 126 Cartoon Network SD in NJ?

Because it's the same channel mapped to two different spots.

When they migrated CN to digital they mapped it in the 120s as well so it would be with the other kids channels.

bob2274

08-22-09, 08:08 AM

...and they kept it on the original channel so it would appear to be in the same place if you have a digital box.

BlackwaterStout

08-22-09, 09:42 AM

Just curious to what you guys are paying in different parts of the country. In WV had:
Digital Starter
SA8300 HD-DVR cable box (other TV is just plugged directly into wall)
Cable Internet (great speeds upwards of 20Mbit)
After taxes my bill was $125/month

With football season about to start I upgraded my package to digital classic which will put the bill somewhere around $139/month.

I was hoping I might be able to get in on a promotional deal for 6 or 12 months but they were very unreceptive of the idea when I called. I'm wondering if this is what you guys pay in other parts of the country.

slowbiscuit

08-22-09, 10:34 AM

keenan

08-22-09, 02:56 PM

When you call, press the options to cancel service completely. This will get you transferred to a retention rep who has access to the promos.

If you haven't been on a promo in the last six months, you might get a deal. I recently got a $44.95/mo. deal for all digital channels + HBO + HD DVR for 1 year. Six months prior, I had dropped off of another deal that got me all channels for $39.95/mo. for a year.

I think it's only 60 days per the last rep I talked to, of course, the don't advertise it.

I just got Digital Starter for $29.95 per mo for a year, along with with 2 years of HBO for free, and the $52 I was paying for 16/2 HSI went down to $29.95 for a year. I used to pay $73 a month for just Limited Basic and the HSI, now I get the whole Digital Starter HD lineup plus HBO and I'm only paying $64 per mo.

There was some other deals as well although I don't recall what they were, Comcast seems to be getting pretty aggressive with their promo prices. You generally have to ask for it though, if I hadn't asked, I'd still be with Limited Basic + HSI at $73 per mo.

sgtjim

08-23-09, 12:06 PM

Comcast in Charles Co. Southern Md has now added 35 HD Channels. All HD channels are now in the 800 series from 800-895. They did not ADD TCM AND ENCORE HAS A PLACEHOLDER AT 891. They now total 72 channels with the locals

hdguru

08-23-09, 02:14 PM

Mike99

08-23-09, 05:22 PM

We've got HD and every channel that's not a premium or special tier. 1-HD box and 1 HD/DVR box, cable TV only: @ $100. Last year at the same time, my rate was @ $80, as I was getting a combined promotion of @ $19. Can't seem to get them to move on any current promotions...except bundles with Internet and phone service. After their very slow recovery after Hurricane Ike, I would NEVER give CC my phone or Internet. Comcast was down for 2 weeks, ATT was never down...except for the Internet for very brief periods when their temp generator ran out of gas.

CC did add a number of HD channels in Apr/May and put most of them, along with duplicates of existing HD's in the 600 range. No TCM or MGM HD offered. I expect them to go all digital with DTA's in 2010.

Really beginning to look at sat providers...if I can't get CC to offer some way of getting their prices down.

Every 6 months I have to fight with Comcast to get some sort or promotion. I do not have any premium tiers either. Currently have Digital Starter & Digital Classic & getting $20 off the Starter and $10 off the Classic. Bill is $61 including an HD DVR (plus $3.48 tax/fees).

I've looked at satellite. An equivalent Dish pkg would be at least $54 for 12 months, but you need a 24 month commitment and the second year jumps up to $69. That gives me just slightly less than I get now. Not sure if that includes local channels as one area of their web site states it does yet another states $5 for locals.

I’ve also talked to the DirecTV person at Sam’s Club and come up with about the same prices. $54/mon for 12 mons then jumps to $71/mon.

My promo is about to run out so will be having to talk to several Concast people again in order to get another one.

kenvt

08-23-09, 11:44 PM

Every 6 months I have to fight with Comcast to get some sort or promotion. I do not have any premium tiers either. Currently have Digital Starter & Digital Classic & getting $20 off the Starter and $10 off the Classic. Bill is $61 including an HD DVR (plus $3.48 tax/fees).

I've looked at satellite. An equivalent Dish pkg would be at least $54 for 12 months, but you need a 24 month commitment and the second year jumps up to $69. That gives me just slightly less than I get now. Not sure if that includes local channels as one area of their web site states it does yet another states $5 for locals.

I’ve also talked to the DirecTV person at Sam’s Club and come up with about the same prices. $54/mon for 12 mons then jumps to $71/mon.

My promo is about to run out so will be having to talk to several Concast people again in order to get another one.

I've been on a promo for three years now, but it seems to get a good deal you have to take the whole triple play. I am happy with the triple play because I need a home phone anyway.

-Ken

BlackwaterStout

08-24-09, 06:10 AM

Maybe I'll try calling retention then. It's been over 2 years since I've been on a promo.

Mike99

08-24-09, 08:24 PM

Just got off the phone with Comcast. I politely mentioned that the satellite companies keep sending me info about their low prices & asked what kind of promo Comcast currently has. They offered the Digital Preferred pkg for $44.99/month with a one year signed contract. That's $30 off the regular price of $74.98 and gives me the same channels I now get, which is just about everything except the premium tiers. So I said send me the contract. I have 30 days to cancel. I also have one HD DVR which is still $15.99/month.

keenan

08-24-09, 09:21 PM

What's the status of HDNet on Comcast systems? It's been a year since they had a carriage agreement.

Rammitinski

08-24-09, 09:27 PM

You need a contract now with Comcast? Well, that effectively takes away about the only edge there has been for me for a long time as far as going with them.

keenan

08-24-09, 09:30 PM

You need a contract now with Comcast? Well, that effectively takes away about the only edge there has been for me for a long time as far as going with them.

To get some of the special rate offers you do, but normally no contract is needed with Comcast service.

gakon

08-24-09, 09:55 PM

What's the status of HDNet on Comcast systems? It's been a year since they had a carriage agreement.

We have it here in Denver. I don't recall for exactly how long, but it's been a few months at least.

keenan

08-24-09, 09:59 PM

We have it here in Denver. I don't recall for exactly how long, but it's been a few months at least.

Thanks, it doesn't seem to be rolling out very quickly at all.

Rammitinski

08-24-09, 10:16 PM

To get some of the special rate offers you do, but normally no contract is needed with Comcast service.So, in other words, in order for him to get his price knocked down, he has to agree to a new contract, right?

I'd expect that for new customers, but it sucks that they'd do that to the existing ones.

What if you really played hard ball?

keenan

08-24-09, 10:28 PM

So, in other words, in order for him to get his price knocked down, he has to agree to a new contract, right?

I'd expect that for new customers, but it sucks that they'd do that to the existing ones.

What if you really played hard ball?

Some offers require contracts and some don't don't. The Digital Starter price of $29.99 for a year required a contract, but the the 16/2 HSI price of $29.99 did not.

I've been a Comcast sub for years and years, primarily Limited Basic for the local channels and several other HD channels that were "grandfathered" in, so combining the two promos above, even if it's locked in for a year, was no problem as it ends up being cheaper than what I was paying before, I wasn't going anywhere, so I don't care about the contract length/lock. I would guess that most folks who are current subs would probably feel the same, for all the talk of changing providers that's done on this forum I suspect that the real number is very low, most people stay where they're at.

Mike99

08-25-09, 02:02 AM

So, in other words, in order for him to get his price knocked down, he has to agree to a new contract, right?

I'd expect that for new customers, but it sucks that they'd do that to the existing ones.

What if you really played hard ball?

I've been getting a couple different promos for about the last couple yrs. It started with the Digital Preferred. When that ended Comcast would not renew it, but gave me a discounted Digital Starter IIRC. It was cheaper but I got less channels & with an HD STB there were still quite a few HD channels. When that ended I got a Digital Preferred promo again. But I have to really twist their arm & sometimes talk to several people in order to get a promo. My concern is that when the current Digital Preferred promo ends that Comcast will offer me the Digital Starter again. Not that it's a bad pkg, I just think the Digital Preferred is more bang for the buck. Other than a premium tier or sports pkg it appears I get everything else.

Obviously I'd rather not have a 12 month contract, but it does guarantee me a good rate for a year. I never had a contract with the 6 month promos so I'm not happy about it now. However if I changed to Dish satellite then I would be stuck with a 24 month contract.

I could take a chance & see what kind of a 6 month deal pops up when my existing promo ends shortly, but the $45 for the Preferred pkg is as cheap as I've ever got it.

bicker1

08-25-09, 06:29 AM

I am currently on a six-month promotion, $40 off per month, no commitment.

bicker1

08-25-09, 07:29 AM

But they will be very soon, which is why I made the comment I did.

The forums are littered with complaints from people who were getting something for free and when it gets taken away, they get indignant. Might as well set the expectations correctly from the start.

I can tell you for a fact Comcast will encrypt everything except local and public service channels.

We've said that "time will tell" but that time is apparently now upon us:

LINK (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17058609#post17058609)

Mike99

08-25-09, 01:41 PM

I am currently on a six-month promotion, $40 off per month, no commitment.

May I ask what package(s) you have? The most that I ever received was $30 off per month, and again it was always for 6 months, no contract.

bicker1

08-25-09, 01:50 PM

I am on Digital Starter with the second level up of HSI service.

keenan

08-25-09, 03:33 PM

I am on Digital Starter with the second level up of HSI service.

Is that the 16/2 HSI(20/5 w/Powerboost)? If so, that's what I have and it runs me $64 a month with CCs for a TiVo S3.

bicker1

08-25-09, 04:13 PM

I think that's what I've got... and I'm paying more than that here (though still getting a $40 discount -- I guess where they charge more, they give bigger discounts :)). (And yes, that's in a town serviced by Comcast, RCN, FiOS, Dish Network and DirecTV.)

keenan

08-25-09, 04:42 PM

Yes, I guess different areas, different rates, the services I have are actually about a $52 discount over their going rates, throw in the free HBO and it becomes a monthly savings of $70.:)

Ken H

08-25-09, 04:54 PM

We've said that "time will tell" but that time is apparently now upon us:

LINK (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17058609#post17058609)

Exactly like I said.

From Digital Cable News

FCC Approves DTAs From Moto, Cisco, Thomson & Pace
August 25, 2009 | Jeff Baumgartner

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Media Bureau has granted three-year waivers to Digital Terminal Adapter (DTA) devices made by Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO), Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT), Thomson (NYSE: TMS; Euronext Paris: 18453), and Pace Micro Technology , a decision that looks to benefit Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) the most in the near-term, but could also spur adoption of the devices by numerous other U.S. cable MSOs.

The waivers give Comcast and, potentially, other operators the green light to deploy those inexpensive, one-way "channel zappers" (they cost about $35 each) with security enabled, thereby sidestepping an integrated security ban that took effect in July 2007. Those waivers will also give MSOs access to simple digital-to-analog converter boxes that cost much less than entry-level, interactive set-tops that rely on removable CableCARDs to decrypt and authorize digital video signals.
Comcast, which has tried and failed to obtain box waivers on its own on multiple occasions, has been deploying DTAs by the boatload without security enabled, as part of a larger analog reclamation strategy. However, a firmware download can activate a content protection scheme that's already burned into the DTA chips.

The FCC adopted the order on Monday but, as of this writing, has not posted it publicly. However, Cable Digital News has obtained multiple copies of it.

The FCC, in a six-page explanation granting the waivers, agreed that the DTA models submitted by Cisco, Moto, Thomson, and Pace were no more advanced than two standard-def DTAs from Evolution Broadband LLC that the Commission awarded three-year waivers to in early June. That original waiver essentially allows MSOs to use and deploy the Evolution boxes with an integrated conditional access system from Conax AS without seeking out and obtaining separate waivers.

Monday's waiver award will likely mean the same for Comcast and other MSOs that want to use DTAs with security from Moto, Cisco, Thomson, and Pace. For example, Mediacom Communications Corp. (Nasdaq: MCCC), an MSO that uses Motorola gear, recently revealed that DTAs could play a role in its bandwidth management plan.

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=180850

Marcus Carr

08-26-09, 04:46 PM

Comcast has been a big proponent of the DTAs during its Project Cavalry initiative that is reclaiming bandwidth by converting analog channels to digital.

Comcast has DTA deals in place with Motorola, Thomson and Pace.

During its second-quarter earnings call earlier this month, Comcast COO Steve Burke said Comcast had 10 percent of its systems converted to digital, with another one-third projected to be finished by the end of the year. Comcast deployed 1.4 million DTAs in the second quarter but will start exploring the use of switched digital video in its Motorola systems, according to Burke.

http://www.cedmagazine.com/News-ACA-FCC-DTA-vendors-082609.aspx?terms=

CapeFish

08-26-09, 10:06 PM

Comcast Tallahassee has added ESPNU HD on Channel 396.

valley_nomad

08-27-09, 03:23 PM

Yesterday (8/26/09) my premium HD channels (HBO and Starz - all free for one year in my $29.99 Starter package) were moved into 800s. Comcast also added three extra channels for each service:

801 HBOHDP Pacific Feed HD
805 HBOCHD Comedy HD
807 HBOZHD Zone HD
808 HBOLAHD Latino HD

816 STZHD HD
817 STZEHD Edge HD
818 STZCHD Comedy HD
819 STZKHD Kids & Family HD

Although it is obviously good news, I found that Comcast in the Valley recently has also turned on the copy protection for Starz so that people will not be able to transfer those stored shows from one device (e.g. TiVO) to another (e.g. PC).

Marcus Carr

08-28-09, 12:15 PM

Court Throws Out FCC's Cable Subscriber Cap

The U.S. Court of Appeals agreed with Comcast saying the 30% subscriber limit is "arbitrary and capricious"

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/28/2009 11:17:39 AM EDT

Comcast and the cable industry have won a big victory in court.

The U.S. Court of Appeals Friday threw out the FCC's cap on the number of cable subscribers one operator can serve, saying the FCC was "derelict" in not giving DBS its due as a legitimate competitor.

"We agree with Comcast that the 30% subscriber limit is arbitrary and capricious. We therefore grant the petition and vacate the Rule," said the court, which concluded that there was ample evidence of an increasingly competitive communications marketplace and that cable did not have undue control on the programming pipeline.

"[T]he Commission has failed to demonstrate that allowing a cable operator to serve more than 30% of all cable subscribers would threaten to reduce either competition or diversity in programming," the court concluded. "First, the record is replete with evidence of ever increasing competition among video providers: Satellite and fiber optic video providers have entered the market and grown in market share since the Congress passed the 1992 Act, and particularly in recent years. Cable operators, therefore, no longer have the bottleneck power over programming that concerned the Congress in 1992. Second, over the same period there has been a dramatic increase both in the number of cable networks and in the programming available to subscribers.

"In view of the overwhelming evidence concerning 'the dynamic nature of the communications marketplace,' and the entry of new competitors at both the programming and the distribution levels, it was arbitrary and capricious for the Commission to conclude that a cable operator serving more than 30% of the market poses a threat either to competition or to diversity in programming."

“We are pleased the DC Circuit has vindicated our position," said Comcast executive director, corporate communications and government affairs Sena Fitzmaurice. "This important decision affirms that rules must reflect the changing realities of the dynamic video marketplace where today consumers have more choice in video providers and channels than ever before.”

"We applaud the court's decision to reject an unnecessary rule that can no longer be justified in a market where consumers are enjoying robust competition that is producing a wide variety of world class services at affordable prices.," said NCTA President Kyle McSlarrow. "Today's decision is further affirmation that consumers are benefitting from a vibrant and competitive video marketplace that has undergone dramatic change and is providing more choice and better value than ever before."

The same court had asked the FCC back in 2001 to rethink the cap in light of increased competition from DBS. The three-judge panel, whose ruling was issued Friday, was particularly unhappy with the FCC's failure to give DBS its due this time around as well.

"The Commission’s dereliction in this case is particularly egregious," wrote Judge Douglas Ginsburg. "In the previous round of this litigation we expressly instructed the agency on remand to consider fully the competition that cable operators face from DBS companies...The Commission nonetheless failed to heed our direction and we are again faced with the same objections to the rationale for the cap. It is apparent that the Commission either cannot or will not fully incorporate the competitive impact of DBS and fiber optic companies"

The FCC majority may have defended the decision, but Republican Commissioner Robert McDowell did not, and predicted this outcome from the outset.

"It was clear in December 2007, when I dissented from the FCC decision to once again impose a 30 percent national cap on cable system ownership, that the effort to re-justify the very same cap that the D.C. Circuit first struck down in 2001 was even more vulnerable to court challenge the second time around," said Republican FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell. "Despite the Commission staff’s best efforts to provide post hoc empirical support for the chosen outcome, the court recognized that the 2007 analysis’ aging data and questionable assumptions sat oddly against the facts about new – and successful – competitors to cable systems in the multichannel video marketplace. It should go without saying that, in the future, outcomes in our proceedings should be driven by the facts and law, rather than the other way around.”

"I’m disappointed, but not surprised," said Andrew Schwartzman of Media Access Project (MAP). "Although Congress directed the FCC to establish limits on cable ownership in 1992, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has been disinclined to approve such regulations. It is hard to imagine that any rule the FCC could devise would ever withstand review under the standards established in today’s decision."

Swhwartzman said MAP will consult with the FCC on whether to seek Supreme Court review.

"This is not the end of the fight. Big cable’s anti-competitive ownership structure has increased prices and limited choices for the American public. Therefore, we will consult with the FCC on whether Supreme Court review is feasible. If not, we’ll be asking Congress to pass new legislation to insure more choice and lower prices for cable TV service."

Comcast, which is the only cable operator even close to the 30% cap, filed the suit back in March 2008, calling the FCC's 2007 decision arbitrary and capricious, as well as an abuse of its discretion.

The FCC majority -- in this case, Republican chairman Kevin Martin and the two Democratic commissioners -- voted back in December 2007 to reinstate that cap, with Martin saying that the fact that the FCC did not loosen it was, like the fact that it did not lift the newspaper broadcast cross-ownership ban entirely, a sign that the agency had listened to the complaints of anti-consolidation activists and concluded that no further cable deregulation was in the public
interest.

That FCC decision came after the same D.C. court instructed it in 2001 to either throw out the cap or better justify its continued existence, saying that DBS had not been taken sufficiently into account and even offering up a 60% cap as a possibility.

The FCC majority in 2007 responded to the court by saying that the 30% limit was "designed to ensure that no single cable operator or group of operators, because of its size, could unfairly impede the flow of programming to consumers."

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/338735-Court_Throws_Out_FCC_s_Cable_Subscriber_Cap.php

bicker1

08-28-09, 12:47 PM

I have long held that while overall the FCC does a good job, one thing that they have repeatedly demonstrated was an indefensible bias against cable service providers and in favor of satellite providers. I'm glad to see the courts finally take the agency to task for their irresponsibility in this regard.

Lodef

08-28-09, 12:48 PM

So has Comcast lost enough subscribers recently to the competition that it was used as one of the factors in their decision? Just curious.

bicker1

08-28-09, 01:01 PM

Rather, it sounded to me like the US Court of Appeals scolded the FCC for refusing to acknowledge that DBS represents material competition with cable. It shouldn't be surprising to anyone: I see the same falsehood asserted by consumerist pundits and others quite often.

CRT Dude

08-28-09, 01:09 PM

I agree with bicker but interesting enough Comcast has been losing video subs since 2Q 07 (http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MTIyNzd8Q2hpbGRJRD0tMXxUeXBlP TM=&t=1).

Marcus Carr

08-28-09, 01:47 PM

However:

Comcast, the cable TV systems operator, posted a 53 percent increase in second-quarter profit on Thursday, helped by higher prices and increased customer spending on video and Internet services.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/technology/companies/07comcast.html

georule

08-28-09, 03:08 PM

Last night I wrote an email to the General Manager of KSTC 45 here in the Twin Cities. The primary purpose of my email was to lobby for more Minnesota Wild hockey games (which they broadcast) in HD this upcoming season. But since I was writing her anyway, I asked her when we might expect to find her station in HD on local Comcast, which today Comcast (and DirecTV, for that matter) only provides an SD feed of her station. You need an antenna today to get KSTC in HD.

I got a much more illuminating answer on the second question than I was expecting.

She replied, "Our understanding with Comcast is that they will be adding us to their HD tier in 2010. They hope to begin the transition in February, but it will take several months to make the transition throughout their coverage area."

That answer appears to me to very much indicate her station's HD feed will be part of the Cavalry upgrade locally. Local Comcast has never before done that kind of "several months" rolling implementation of a new HD station in the past in this area. That is, however, an accurate description of the Cavalry process we've seen in other Comcast regions so far. So I believe that while it didn't come from Comcast directly, we've just been told what the timeframe for Cavalry/World of More is in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Comcast region.

I'd also guess that's when the new HD feeds are currently targeted to show up on people's TVs, rather than when Comcast starts notifying people to order DTAs --that would be more likely to be in November or December of this year. The reason I say that, is the GM of the broadcast station would likely be massively disinterested in all the lead-up details --I think all she'd care about is when can Comcast subscribers actually get her HD feed on their TVs. And, after all, that's what I actually asked her.

Marcus Carr

08-31-09, 02:10 PM

Comcast: Digital's coming, get ready

Saturday, August 29, 2009 10:38 PM EDT
By SCOTT WHIPPLE
Staff writer

BERLIN — Comcast wants customers in Avon, Berlin, Bristol, Burlington, Canton, Farmington, New Britain and Plainville to get digital equipment for up to three TVs (one digital cable box and two digital adapters) at no additional cost before the majority of its analog lineup is digitized.

Basic Cable customers aren’t affected by Comcast’s digital network enhancement, which clears the way for more On Demand, High Definition and other digital programming for local customers. The upgrade, underway in these eight communities, is nearing completion in seven others in the Vernon area and will extend to more towns next year.

As part of Comcast’s digital network enhancement, analog channels 25 through 64 will be digitized in two separate phases in August and September. This means that customers who don’t already have digital equipment on all their TVs will need to get it to continue watching these channels. This week, 14 cable networks, including E!, Food Network, HGTV and TLC, were digitized. On Sept. 22 and 24 additional cable networks, including Nickelodeon, NESN and ESPN, will be digitized. A total of 38 networks comprise Comcast’s Expanded Basic lineup.

“Time is running out for customers still watching these channels without digital equipment,” said Doug Guthrie, senior vice president for Comcast’s Western New England Region. “We want to be sure we can get them their digital equipment.”

“Once this digital network enhancement is complete, local customers will have [access to] more than 100 HD channels, more On Demand programming and even faster Internet speeds,” he said.

Comcast has added new channels for customers using digital equipment, and expects to launch additional HD channels within the next few days.

Customers can get digital equipment by visiting comcast.com/digitalnow, calling (877) 634-4434 or stopping by Comcast’s local service center at 275 New Britain Ave. in Plainville; 200 Boston Turnpike in Bolton, or 38 Tunxis Ave. in Bloomfield to arrange to receive their equipment. Customers who go online or call 1-877-634-4434 can choose to have the digital equipment shipped to them at no additional cost so they can install the equipment themselves at their own convenience.

http://www.newbritainherald.com/articles/2009/08/29/news/doc4a99e33c89e71262223792.txt

Ken H

09-01-09, 01:36 AM

Another Detroit area system, Northville/Plymouth/Canton was upgraded to 100 HD channels today.

66 National
25 Premium
8 Local
1 PPV

Marcus Carr

09-01-09, 09:14 AM

New channels added today in Oregon:

http://www.dslreports.com/r0/download/1446388~faf830ed3a806ca381835a2dd9639e14/Picture%2014.png

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22653935-HD-Portland-OR-new-HD-channels-effective-Sept-1st~start=20#end

gakon

09-01-09, 11:28 AM

Why can't we get one of those cards here in Denver?!?!

keenan

09-01-09, 03:21 PM

scowl

09-01-09, 04:03 PM

New channels added today in Oregon:
While several old channels (A&E, MGM) are still barely watchable with blocky streaks during pans and even some nonmoving scenes looking like Lego art.

jhachey

09-01-09, 04:17 PM

Does anyone actually get HBO2 and HBO-Signature on their system? It was listed on a recent mailer about new channels in the SF bay area but we aren't getting the channels, something about a contract. I notice they're are listed in that Oregon mailer linked to above so I was wondering if anyone is getting the channels.Yes, in the analog-reclaimed areas of Washington State, we get all seven HBO channels in HD: HBO-West, HBO2, HBO-Signature, HBO-Zone, HBO-Family, HBO-Comedy, and HBO-Latino.

blitzen102

09-01-09, 04:25 PM

Comcast here will be adding NBA Channel HD here on October 1st and will be moving the TV Guide Channel (SD) from analog to digital-only.

keenan

09-01-09, 04:27 PM

Yes, in the analog-reclaimed areas of Washington State, we get all seven HBO channels in HD: HBO-West, HBO2, HBO-Signature, HBO-Zone, HBO-Family, HBO-Comedy, and HBO-Latino.

That's good to know, at least some areas do actually have them then. Weird how there can be "legal" problems for a national channel(s) in some areas of the country but not in others. I'm curious how that works...

blitzen102

09-01-09, 04:36 PM

That's good to know, at least some areas do actually have them then. Weird how there can be "legal" problems for a national channel(s) in some areas of the country but not in others. I'm curious how that works...

If you heard that "contact" spiel from a CSR, it is their standard line.

I've had CSRs here tell me that's why we don't get some HD channels here that other Comcast systems have. It is clearly not contracts, it is bandwidth.

I think there is probably some technical issue they are having getting those channels turned on for you.

keenan

09-01-09, 04:42 PM

If you heard that "contact" spiel from a CSR, it is their standard line.

I've had CSRs here tell me that's why we don't get some HD channels here that other Comcast systems have. It is clearly not contracts, it is bandwidth.

I think there is probably some technical issue they are having getting those channels turned on for you.

It wasn't from a CSR, but I won't mention who said it until I get a response from him, definitely not a CSR though.

But yeah, I've always assumed "legal problem" was a euphemism for lack of space. :D

madmike

09-01-09, 08:21 PM

Why can't we get one of those cards here in Denver?!?!

No kidding! And when can we get some damned HD!?! I just counted for the heck of it since I didn't know exactly how many HD channels we have here. A whopping 36 including locals, premium and NO hd ppv which chaps my ass.

Comcast, show us some love here in Denver!

deuce1973

09-01-09, 08:34 PM

Comcast in Savannah, GA has added ESPNU in HD on ch 396 (just in time for college football! :-) ). I am hoping that NFL Net Redzone also gets the HD treatment by 9/13. ESPNU is the first HD channel to enter the 300 tier.

I tell ya, the channel designations that Comcast sets are really strange.

Mike99

09-01-09, 11:37 PM

So, in other words, in order for him to get his price knocked down, he has to agree to a new contract, right?

I'd expect that for new customers, but it sucks that they'd do that to the existing ones.

What if you really played hard ball?

Here's a short version update. Had the DVR replaced again, now on #4. Finally got a new one this time. While discussing the situation with Comcast they said I would still get the promo price for 6 months without a contract. However a written contract would give me the promo for 12 months.

D_B_0673

09-03-09, 05:29 AM

Paw Paw

09-03-09, 07:11 AM

I am in a Scientific Atlantic County with Comcast and am told I cannot get a MCard, only Scards. I had hoped to try the Moxi HDDVR but it only takes an MCard. Tivo seems to be having firmware issues since Verion 11 ( grey screen of Death) and the Scientific Box that Comcast offers is a POS.

Is there anyone who is in a Scientific Atlantic area that has gotten an MCard

Thanks

I am in the Houston Texas area. Right now Comcast of Houston is running a dual head end with both SA and Moto equipment but they are in the process of laying down the Moto head end and will only supply SA CableCards. I have the opposite problem since Comcast of Houston will ONLY provide multi-stream SA CableCards and I have two older CableCard ready TVs that will only work with the S-Cards. Thus I am forced to rent cable boxes (or purchase TiVos) for these two sets. I chose to go the TiVo route.

What area are you in? Maybe we can get the various Comcast areas talking to each other and make a swap?

D_B_0673

09-03-09, 07:54 AM

I am in the Houston Texas area. Right now Comcast of Houston is running a dual head end with both SA and Moto equipment but they are in the process of laying down the Moto head end and will only supply SA CableCards. I have the opposite problem since Comcast of Houston will ONLY provide multi-stream SA CableCards and I have two older CableCard ready TVs that will only work with the S-Cards. Thus I am forced to rent cable boxes (or purchase TiVos) for these two sets. I chose to go the TiVo route.

What area are you in? Maybe we can get the various Comcast areas talking to each other and make a swap?

I am in Carroll Co MD, and I have emailed comcast about this...

Are you having any Grey Screen of Death issues with Tivo?
I would try them but there seems to be issues all over the place concerning Version 11 software.

Paw Paw

09-03-09, 08:45 AM

I am in Carroll Co MD, and I have emailed comcast about this...

Are you having any Grey Screen of Death issues with Tivo?
I would try them but there seems to be issues all over the place concerning Version 11 software.

I have had a few minor issues in the last 6 months (one of them I think was a Comcast problem that mysteriously corrected its self). Only once did I have to completely reboot the TiVo to correct a problem and after rebooting everything was fine.

D_B_0673

09-03-09, 09:28 AM

I have had a few minor issues in the last 6 months (one of them I think was a Comcast problem that mysteriously corrected its self). Only once did I have to completely reboot the TiVo to correct a problem and after rebooting everything was fine.

Thanks, I might give Tivo a try because I hate a lot about the SA 8300
Are you using the HD Tivo?

Paw Paw

09-03-09, 11:03 AM

Thanks, I might give Tivo a try because I hate a lot about the SA 8300
Are you using the HD Tivo?

Yes I have the HD. If you are serious about a TiVo read the forums and shop around. I found mine at Sears for $150. With patience and some research you should be able to beat the TiVo retail price of $250.

Marcus Carr

09-04-09, 03:30 PM

Comcast Guides DVRs To Web

Operator Puts ‘Start Over' Service on Hold In Focusing on IPG Upgrade

Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 9/4/2009 2:19:19 PM EDT

Comcast has begun to broadly roll out an upgrade to its interactive program guide that provides several enhancements--including Web-based DVR scheduling--while its version of "Start Over" remains on hold. Previously, Comcast planned to offer Start Over to customers as early as the end of
2008.

"We continue to evaluate the Start Over technology," Comcast said in a statement. The company declined to elaborate on why the service was being sidelined.

Pioneered by Time Warner Cable, Start Over allows viewers to watch certain shows from the beginning (with fast-forwarding disabled) within the linear broadcast window.

For now, Comcast said, it is actively rolling out the next version of i-Guide for Motorola set-tops. That IPG is developed and maintained by GuideWorks, the joint venture between Comcast and Rovi (formerly Macrovision).

With the new i-Guide A28, Comcast is offering myDVR Manager, which lets subscribers schedule recordings on one or more DVRs from the Web at www.comcast.net/mydvr.

Comcast and other cable operators have trailed DirecTV, Verizon, AT&T, TiVo and others in providing the ability to remotely manage DVRs, and it's a feature competitors have touted as part of recent marketing campaigns.

Other new features in the i-Guide A28 include "skip ahead/skip back" to fast-forward or rewind DVR recordings in five-minute increments; a new on-screen keyboard designed to make typing in searches faster; DVR folders that automatically group shows together; the ability to search and set recordings by actor, director or keyword, similar to TiVo's WishList; and bulk deletion of recordings.

Interactive TV features being launched with the IPG are shop-by-remote to make HSN purchases; "request for information" triggers for advertisers; and the ability to set program reminders or recordings directly from certain TV show and movie promos.

The A28 guide also shows viewers who tune to a standard-definition channel an on-screen prompt that lets them switch to an HD version if it's available.

"The enhancements bring customers more choice and convenience by allowing customers to easily skip forward or back during their favorite programs, watch their favorite programs in HD without having to scroll to a higher channel to see if it is available and search for programs by title, director, keyword and more," Comcast said.

Comcast is launching the A28 i-Guide market-by-market, with Chattanooga, Tenn., one of the first systems to receive the upgrade. The MSO expects to continue to roll out the enhanced IPG throughout 2009 and into early 2010

http://www.multichannel.com/article/339614-Comcast_Guides_DVRs_To_Web.php

D_B_0673

09-05-09, 03:50 AM

Yes I have the HD. If you are serious about a TiVo read the forums and shop around. I found mine at Sears for $150. With patience and some research you should be able to beat the TiVo retail price of $250.

I ordered an HD Tivo, (did not have the patience you did) but looking forward to it

rob762

09-05-09, 06:53 PM

OK, I'm torqued.... Installed my digital adaptor on the bedroom tv and now I cannot tune in to the HD network channels that were available before. I don't want to pay for an HD-DVR for the bedroom as I already have one for the "big TV".

However, I did enjoy retreating to the bedroom to watch network hd on 86-431 (abc)

Comcast - Davie, FL

Anyone have a work around other than getting the HD box... The cable co's are getting their )(@$) boxes back again...

bicker1

09-05-09, 07:15 PM

Use a splitter: Watch cable channels via the DTA, and watch HD locals via the QAM tuner in your television.

homcom

09-05-09, 07:37 PM

Use a splitter: Watch cable channels via the DTA, and watch HD locals via the QAM tuner in your television.

That will only work if you have two RF inputs on the TV or if you split and tehn recombine the signal. The DTAs only have a RF out.

rob762

09-05-09, 07:43 PM

That will only work if you have two RF inputs on the TV or if you split and tehn recombine the signal. The DTAs only have a RF out.

TV only has 1 RF in...

bicker1

09-05-09, 08:24 PM

An A/B switch will do the trick.

rob762

09-05-09, 08:34 PM

An A/B switch will do the trick.

Yeah, it will. Unfortunately, that would entail getting out of bed to switch from the HD news to SD 'food channel'.

Seems to me that comcast is 'blocking' the free HD channels. Why not just let them pass through the DTA?

Dear FCC....

JasG

09-05-09, 09:19 PM

That will only work if you have two RF inputs on the TV or if you split and tehn recombine the signal. The DTAs only have a RF out.
You might ask your cable office if you can get (probably $) a Motorola DCT-700 instead of the free DTA. It does the same thing, but has composite output. Add a splitter and you could run the coax (with HD locals) to your TV RF-in and to the 700 which is then connected as 'video 1' for the non-HD channels.

Clunky, will mean two remotes, but it avoids the A/B switch.

rob762

09-05-09, 09:46 PM

You might ask your cable office if you can get (probably $) a Motorola DCT-700 instead

I'll stick to the dta for now. Sure would've been nice if they had put a sleep button on the cheap remote.

Time to look in to the alternatives.....direct tv, dish network, etc...

sansri88

09-05-09, 11:32 PM

I'll stick to the dta for now. Sure would've been nice if they had put a sleep button on the cheap remote.

Time to look in to the alternatives.....direct tv, dish network, etc...

they require a box for all tv's as well, so it's no different than what comcast is doing now. plus you can't even get your locals without a box on sat...at least with a qam tuner you can.

just get a dct700 as said above.

CRT Dude

09-06-09, 04:03 AM

Remote control A/B switch or use a VCR as a RF modulator.

bicker1

09-06-09, 05:11 AM

Yeah, it will. Unfortunately, that would entail getting out of bed to switch from the HD news to SD 'food channel'.The horror!

Seems to me that comcast is 'blocking' the free HD channels. Why not just let them pass through the DTA?There is no blocking going on. The DTA simply doesn't have the components inside to support pass-through. That would make them more expensive, and the whole purpose of DTAs is to be inexpensive stop-gaps for consumers with analog televisions.

Dear FCC....The FCC are the folks who granted permission to use the DTAs.

georule

09-06-09, 09:05 AM

There is no blocking going on. The DTA simply doesn't have the components inside to support pass-through. That would make them more expensive, and the whole purpose of DTAs is to be inexpensive stop-gaps for consumers with analog televisions.

Yeah, not evil just cheap. And to be fair, the purpose of those things is to turn digital into analog. . . the percentage of people who'd need those things to do both analog *and* HD is pretty small. Tho that's no comfort if you happen to be one of them. . . It seems to me I've seen A/B switches with their own remote tho. . .and at added cost. At some point you start asking yourself if the Rube Goldberging is worth the alternatives.

Don S

09-06-09, 09:06 AM

bicker1

09-06-09, 09:14 AM

Yeah, not evil just cheap.Yup, matching how "cheap" some of our neighbors are. I look at it as an easy choice:

0) Limited basic service?
==> Use your own tuner.

1) Analog television, with no more than expanded basic service?
==> Get a DTA.

2) HD television, or more than expanded basic service
==> Get a STB (or CableCARD, as applicable)

bicker1

09-06-09, 09:15 AM

About time. Just for Moto folks? We with SA boxes are out of luck for a while I suppose then?The article was specifically about the release of new Motorola firmware. There is likely no correlation (positive or negative) between upgrades to Motorola-based head-ends and upgrades to SA-based head-ends.

rob762

09-06-09, 09:50 PM

The horror!

There is no blocking going on. The DTA simply doesn't have the components inside to support pass-through. That would make them more expensive, and the whole purpose of DTAs is to be inexpensive stop-gaps for consumers with analog televisions.

The FCC are the folks who granted permission to use the DTAs.

Not allowing the pass through, but requiring a box of some sort would qualify as blocking in my book. Would be different if a box wasn't required - even if you have a digital TV...

Point is, if I have to put a box on every TV, why in the heck have a digital, cable ready tv. Comcast has us back to where we were 20 years ago.

32. Will I need equipment if I have a digital TV with a QAM tuner?
At the completion of the digital upgrade, customers will need equipment on all TVs to receive any channels above the Limited Basic level of service—of course, this is now the case with most video providers, including our satellite and phone competitors. We’re encouraging all customers to avoid any service interruptions by installing and using the equipment provided by Comcast or purchased from their electronics retailer, like a TiVo or CableCardTM enabled device.

bicker1

09-07-09, 06:16 AM

Not allowing the pass through, but requiring a box of some sort would qualify as blocking in my book.There is no rational basis for that. A block is an obstacle, something that impedes. It is not the absence of something that would support. That's called a "limitation" in engineering, not a "block".

Would be different if a box wasn't required - even if you have a digital TV... A box is not needed to take advantage of the in-the-clear capabilities of the service.

Point is, if I have to put a box on every TV, why in the heck have a digital, cable ready tv.Comcast surely didn't tell you what kind of television to purchase. You need to take personal responsibility for those decisions.

Comcast has us back to where we were 20 years ago.You can take full advantage of the service offered from a STB.

And that's how it is for all five competing service providers offering service here in Burlington. All five. Not one of them think your way is better.

georule

09-07-09, 09:45 AM

bicker1

09-07-09, 11:01 AM

Not to mention that "cable-ready" is a marketing term of the TV manufacturersTo be precise, "cable-ready" is a term that pertains to analog television. Comcast is switching to "all-digital"; hence our discussion of Clear QAM. There is no relevance to that which the term "cable-ready" implies, within the realm of digital television.

Rather, within digital television, the concept that corresponds to "cable-ready" is "separable security". Federal mandates require it. It is the means by which consumers can rest assured that they can use their own equipment to receive digital television service from cable companies. It is, however, the consumer's responsibility to choose devices that support "separable security", if they want to capitalize on its advantages, just like it was the customer's responsibility to choose devices that were "cable-ready", if they wanted to capitalize on its advantages. If the customer doesn't want to spent the extra money (and 99% of them didn't, when those choices were available), then that's the consumer's fault. If manufacturers refuse to offer such choices (as is now the case, with two exceptions), then that's arguably a shared responsibility, fault shared by consumers and manufacturers. The service providers are standing-by waiting to support such devices. I know, because I have one and it works great.

It should be noted that satellite service providers managed to get themselves exempt from the separable security mandate, so they refuse to even provide anything close to what cable service providers are standing by, ready to support.

JasG

09-07-09, 03:54 PM

Not to mention that "cable-ready" is a marketing term of the TV manufacturers --I'm pretty sure there was never a huge conference of TV manufacturers and cable/satcos where they all minutely defined the term and all signed in blood to support it going forward. All "cable-ready" has ever meant is a tuner that supports many more channels than the maximum number of channels that were originally designated by the FCC for OTA broadcast.

Of course, the goal of cable-card *was* to pour actual industry agreed standards into that "don't make me take a box and another remote" bucket. . .Actually, I'd be willing to be that there was a 'conference of TV manufacturers and cable/satcos' - at least this report (http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/128722.html) about 'DCR - Digital Cable Ready' would allow one to infer that (but as noted, the satcos probably were not there).

Sadly, somewhere along the way, the ball was dropped and you will be hard pressed to find much in the way of CableCard TV's these days. Even the older ones are problematic (at least mine is) because they may not support the newer releases of cards.

Current CableCard equipment seems to be Tivo/Digeo DVRs and the STB's from the cable companies. The promised 'DCR' replacement, 'tru2Way' will also use CableCards for security.

bicker1

09-07-09, 03:58 PM

It took many years for (analog) "cable-ready" to come about, after the introduction of cable television. Expecting digital cable-ready to come about and be successful so soon is perhaps overreaching.

georule

09-07-09, 10:51 PM

Actually, I'd be willing to be that there was a 'conference of TV manufacturers and cable/satcos' - at least this report (http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/128722.html) about 'DCR - Digital Cable Ready' would allow one to infer that (but as noted, the satcos probably were not there).

Well, yeah, but that is a reference to CableCARD which I referred to previously, not straight-in coax, which is what I understand the other fellow to want.

My 2004 Mits DLP has a CableCARD slot. My 2009 Mits DLP does not. . .

JasG

09-08-09, 11:27 AM

Well, yeah, but that is a reference to CableCARD which I referred to previously, not straight-in coax, which is what I understand the other fellow to want.

My 2004 Mits DLP has a CableCARD slot. My 2009 Mits DLP does not. . .True, but as I understand it, there is no 'straight in coax' when it comes to digital cable-ready TVs. Content suppliers seldom will allow their HD programming to be distributed unencrypted, so some sort of security is usually a contractual requirement. With analog TVs, this was true only for premium services.

There has been some talk (call them wishes on the part of CEA) for a 'downloadable security' function that would replace the CableCard requirement, but AFAIK, nothing has been happening in that area. The CableCo's have decided on tru2Way (which interestingly, may not work with FIOSTV).

So, at this point is is CableCard or nothing - and the CEA seems to have followed the latter route.

bicker1

09-08-09, 12:54 PM

Uh, as I understand it, tru2way doesn't preclude downloadable security. It just doesn't include it, or require a switch to it from CableCARD.

JasG

09-08-09, 04:18 PM

Uh, as I understand it, tru2way doesn't preclude downloadable security. It just doesn't include it, or require a switch to it from CableCARD.True, but I said nothing about tru2way precluding downloadable security.

Interestingly though, CableLabs feels that CableCard is much cheaper than a downloadable conditional access solution. Here is a link (http://www.multichannel.com/article/161959-CES_2009_Comcast_TWC_To_Flip_Tru2way_Switch_By_July_1.php) that says:

"At this point the cost to a television set for a CableCard slot is a couple of bucks. To put the more complex technology into the television to do downloadable security will probably add more cost."

bicker1

09-08-09, 04:23 PM

True, but I said nothing about tru2way precluding downloadable security.Just clarifying for the readers.

rob762

09-08-09, 10:02 PM

I'll stick to the dta for now. Sure would've been nice if they had put a sleep button on the cheap remote.

Time to look in to the alternatives.....direct tv, dish network, etc...

AND - it gets better. 1 day in, the dta is dead....turned on tv sat night and kaput..

Removed the POS - time to get a new one... comcast will get there way and I'll get the DVR for HD after I get my customer service fix...:mad:

rob762

09-08-09, 10:05 PM

There is no rational basis for that. A block is an obstacle, something that impedes. It is not the absence of something that would support. That's called a "limitation" in engineering, not a "block".

A box is not needed to take advantage of the in-the-clear capabilities of the service.

And that's how it is for all five competing service providers offering service here in Burlington. All five. Not one of them think your way is better.

Have a clue... limitation in engineering my A**. Cheapness is more like it. Competing service providers would be a nice thing to have here in South FL. Other than satellite providers, comcast has a monopoly in many areas, but without the regulation that a monopoly has to deal with.

bicker1

09-09-09, 04:30 AM

Your crude remark was unnecessary.

The US Court of Appeals admonished the FCC last week for making the same error you've made. There is effective competition with regard to subscription television service in every municipality in the country. There is no monopoly. That's your own distortion. And despite there being effective competition, there is still regulation, for all essential aspects of the service provided.

What you're really noticing is simply that you wish to pay less. That's not unreasonable; we all do. We can all rest assured that wishing to pay less is worthy enough of a concern that we can express it just like that -- we "wish" to pay less -- without needing to try to make it sound like something else.

Lodef

09-09-09, 09:17 AM

bicker1

09-09-09, 01:22 PM

Makes y'wonder sometimes, though.

BigDaddyRoy

09-09-09, 01:28 PM

Here is the Comcast schedule for the channel changes in Baltimore County, MD. I received the flier in the mail while I was away on vacation. It seems to follow a similar time line that the other "World of More" roll outs have. All dates are listed as "Starting On or about/around" so take with typical two grains of salt:

1st Round Channel moves - Nov 17 (21 Channels moving to digital equipment only - AnimalPlanet, E, EWTN, Food, FX, Hallmark, HGTV, History, Lifetime, MSNBC, Mtv, Syfy, TBN, TCM, Weather, TLC, TNT, truTV, Travel, TVLand, & Versus - some real biggies in there)

2nd Round Channel moves - Dec 17 (24 Channels moving to digital equipment only - A&E, ABCFamily, BET, Bravo, Cartoon, CNBC, CNN, HLN, CSN, Comedy Central, Discovery, Disc Health, Disney, ESPN, ESPN2, FoxNews, Golf, MASN, Nick, Speed, Spike, TBS, TVOne, USA, VH1 - more big names here too)

New High Definition Channel Adds - Nov 28. All of these are HD, to avoid typing 'HD' over and over again.

BET, BigTen, bio, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS College Sports, CMT, CNBC+, HLN, Comedy Central, DisneyXD, E, Encore, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, FoxBiz, fuse, G4, Hallmark, IFC, MLB Exta Innings/NHL Center Ice Featured Games (1 channel), NBA League Pass/MLS Direct Kick Featured Games (1 channel), IND PPV (had this previously, it went away to make room for others, now it's returning?), Lifetime, Lifetime Movies, MGM, MLB Network, Mtv, MSNBC, NBATV, NHL Network, Nick, PlanetGreen, QVC, Spike, Style, TCM, Weather, Tennis Channel, Travel, truTV, tvOne, VH1, We.

By my count, that is 44 new HD channels; 3 of which are PPV (the two sports "season" pack ones, and INDPPV) and 3 which are in the Sports Entertainment Pack (BigTen, CBS College Sports, & Tennis), making the other 38 new national HD cable nets. Add that to Baltimore County Comcast's current 43 channels, including 8 local networks, 2 regional sports nets, and 4 premiums, giving Comcast Baltimore County subs, like me, a total of 87 HD channels, with about 77 of them available to so-called Digital Classic (I think; I get the terms mixed up), customers. Pretty sweet.

iontyre

09-09-09, 02:00 PM

This looks great, anyone know if Harford County is on a similar schedule?

Brian Conrad

09-09-09, 03:05 PM

BigDaddyRoy

09-09-09, 03:18 PM

Any hints as to what tiers are going to look like after all digital and the new HD channels added? I suspect packages may change. But I don't really want to pay a penalty if a few HD channels are in something like the third tier but am NOT going watch anything in the first two tiers. These models really HAVE to change. Otherwise it is just a con game or what I call a "drug dealers" business model.

I don't know. Although it probably should be easier, I just don't always understand the tiers, mainly because Comcast uses so many of terms to describe them, sometimes interchangeably. Classic, Preferred, Gold, Silver, Premium. Ken, one of the mods on these boards, uses a phrase that I've found helpful in figuring it out tho. If the SD channel is on your tier, then the HD channel will most likely be on that same tier. So if you get ESPNEWS now, you most likely will get ESPNEWSHD when it launches. Now what to say about the channels with no SD equivalent, I have no clue!

As for Howard County, iontyre, I don't know. Have they sent out the announcements for your DTA's being available yet? That's usually the first sign.

butsy23

09-09-09, 04:59 PM

Does anyone know if the new NFL Network Redzone channel that Comcast has picked up will be in HD in all of their markets?

butsy23

09-09-09, 05:00 PM

I don't know. Although it probably should be easier, I just don't always understand the tiers, mainly because Comcast uses so many of terms to describe them, sometimes interchangeably. Classic, Preferred, Gold, Silver, Premium. Ken, one of the mods on these boards, uses a phrase that I've found helpful in figuring it out tho. If the SD channel is on your tier, then the HD channel will most likely be on that same tier. So if you get ESPNEWS now, you most likely will get ESPNEWSHD when it launches. Now what to say about the channels with no SD equivalent, I have no clue!

As for Howard County, iontyre, I don't know. Have they sent out the announcements for your DTA's being available yet? That's usually the first sign.

and another question after seeing this post when is ESPNEWSHD launching?

georule

09-09-09, 05:02 PM

Makes y'wonder sometimes, though.

Cable being much more regulated both federally and especially locally, it actually often pays such people to vent publicly in the hopes of impacting their representatives. I think it highly likely that factor had a lot to do with the eventual configuration of "Cavalry" and two free dtas in the first place.

bicker1

09-09-09, 05:09 PM

Nah, they do far more damage (making casual readers think that something is warranted when it is not) than they could possible accomplish constructively. If they want to impact their representatives, they each have email addresses and/or US Mail addresses and/or telephone numbers. If anything, seeing it online detracts from their interest in it.

JasG

09-09-09, 05:11 PM

Cable being much more regulated both federally and especially locally, it actually often pays such people to vent publicly in the hopes of impacting their representatives. ...and even the companies themselves.

I once posed a question (not a rant) and got a PM from the company asking for my phone number. They called the next day and provides tech support!

BigDaddyRoy

09-09-09, 06:21 PM

and another question after seeing this post when is ESPNEWSHD launching?

It already has launched, on March 30, 2008.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/112968-The_News_at_ESPNews_Is_HD.php

bigpatky

09-09-09, 11:03 PM

It already has launched, on March 30, 2008.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/112968-The_News_at_ESPNews_Is_HD.php

just not in most markets

Spartan2k88

09-10-09, 01:18 AM

NFL RedZone added to Detroit, channel 741. Not in HD of course

keenan

09-10-09, 02:16 AM

Does anyone know if the new NFL Network Redzone channel that Comcast has picked up will be in HD in all of their markets?

I asked something similar awhile back. I have my doubts that the channel will be HD in any market.

LongRufus

09-10-09, 03:41 AM

I asked something similar awhile back. I have my doubts that the channel will be HD in any market.

I don't think it is very likely either. Even for the areas that have already finished the migration and have the room to add the HD channel. The cable version is different from the version that DirecTV produces themselves. So it's not like Comcast can just grab DirecTV's HD feed and use that. At least the cable version is being shot in HD, so I guess there is hope down the road.

NFL RedZone, produced by NFL Network, whips around every NFL game on Sunday afternoons delivering the touchdowns and most exciting moments live and in high definition.

http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story?id=09000d5d811f59b2&template=without-video&confirm=true

Lodef

09-10-09, 11:38 AM

I asked something similar awhile back. I have my doubts that the channel will be HD in any market.

FIOS is providing both HD and SD versions of that channel but you need to subscribe to it at a charge of $49.95.

Don't know what Comcast's plans are.

iontyre

09-10-09, 01:29 PM

As for Howard County, iontyre, I don't know. Have they sent out the announcements for your DTA's being available yet? That's usually the first sign.

No mailing that I am aware of. And that is Harford County, not Howard I asked about. Housing it three times as expensive there! Ripoff county!

howardstern

09-10-09, 01:57 PM

Does anybody have any news on when the FVCK the Chicago 'burbs are getting the rest of the channels that Chicago has? It's been over a FVCKING year!!!!

keenan

09-10-09, 02:24 PM

FIOS is providing both HD and SD versions of that channel but you need to subscribe to it at a charge of $49.95.

Don't know what Comcast's plans are.

Yes, I saw that, it's an amazing price. Comcast plans are to put it in the $6 or $7 Sports/Entertainment tier if I'm not mistaken, and I don't recall reading anywhere that they were going to carry an HD version of it.

blitzen102

09-10-09, 03:29 PM

Does anybody have any news on when the FVCK the Chicago 'burbs are getting the rest of the channels that Chicago has? It's been over a FVCKING year!!!!

Classy.

DWPerrone

09-11-09, 12:45 PM

I ordered an HD Tivo, (did not have the patience you did) but looking forward to it

Pardon me for my ignorance but I am a Comcast customer in Carroll County, MD and didn't know I could hook up a Tivo, I thought I had to use the SA DVR?

Does the Tivo hook to their digital box or does it replace their digital box? Is it HD? Do I have to let Comcast know what I'm doing?

JDLIVE

09-11-09, 01:09 PM

bicker1

09-11-09, 01:15 PM

And every Comcast digital cable customer in the country can do so.

PaulGo

09-11-09, 05:37 PM

Montgomery County, MD to add 48 new HD channels effective Dec. 12.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=152382&d=1252703662

Marcus Carr

09-11-09, 05:42 PM

First sighting of RedZone in HD.

keenan

09-11-09, 05:58 PM

First sighting of RedZone in HD.

We've learned here in the SF bay area that those mailers can be inaccurate a fair amount of the time. A Comcast press release listing of what channels are coming would be a more likely indicator of what's really going to be added.

Marcus Carr

09-11-09, 06:16 PM

I have NFLRZ at 734 and NFLRD at 263 near the HD channels. They are on different QAMs. 263 could be the HD version. It wasn't announced like 734 was.

keenan

09-11-09, 06:25 PM

I have NFLRZ at 734 and NFLRD at 263 near the HD channels. They are on different QAMs. 263 could be the HD version. It wasn't announced like 734 was.

So you have it actually showing in the guide then? Well, that's good, I hadn't heard of anyone actually showing it yet until now, wasn't sure Comcast would even do the HD version. I thought your comment was based on the previous post with the mailer in it.

Of course, Sunday will be the litmus test to see if it really is there in HD. :-)

Marcus Carr

09-11-09, 06:33 PM

I thought your comment was based on the previous post with the mailer in it.

It was. I noticed the other channel afterwards. The "D" at the end usually indicates HD, ie ESPND. Can't confirm since I don't have the sports pack.

Just for fun I called customer service, knowing that I know more than they do (nothing) at this point. But while I was on hold I learned about some kind of digital transition happening in June!:D

Ken H

09-11-09, 06:39 PM

Pardon me for my ignorance but I am a Comcast customer in Carroll County, MD and didn't know I could hook up a Tivo, I thought I had to use the SA DVR?

Does the Tivo hook to their digital box or does it replace their digital box? Is it HD? Do I have to let Comcast know what I'm doing?

As noted, the TiVo HD replaces your Comcast supplied HD DVR. It is HD, and will receive all the channels you subscribe to. It does require a Comcast supplied CableCARD, which usually costs $2-$3 per month. In most cases, Comcast will require a service call to initalize the CableCARD and your TiVo HD.

There are two primary drawbacks to a TiVo HD; no PPV and no VOD. If you can live without them, most TiVo users prefer the TiVo to the cableco options.

keenan

09-11-09, 06:41 PM

It was. I noticed the other channel afterwards. The "D" at the end usually indicates HD, ie ESPND. Can't confirm since I don't have the sports pack.

Just for fun I called customer service, knowing that I know more than they do (nothing) at this point. But while I was on hold I learned about some kind of digital transition happening in June!:D

Yeah, I've been on the phone with Comcast a lot lately cashing in on a lot of deals they have going on and they've been pushing the DTA situation very heavily. I think there was a whole menu tree selection for it as well. :)

Marcus Carr

09-11-09, 08:21 PM

Got an email from Comcast:

http://img.delivery.net/cm50content/1611/235683/Comcast_EmailBlast_RZ_02.jpg

Introducing NFL RedZone, the new channel brought to you by the NFL Network. Each Sunday afternoon during the regular season, NFL RedZone jumps from game to game to bring you key moments from around the league – live as they happen on the field. Plus, with Comcast, you'll get 120 NFL games throughout the season in heart-pounding HD and on demand recaps from every game, in addition to insider access, breaking news and expert analysis from the NFL Network.

homcom

09-11-09, 08:41 PM

with Comcast, you'll get 120 NFL games throughout the season in heart-pounding HD

I wonder how they get the 120 number. As far as regular season goes in the best case situation I get a max of 95 games. With playoffs it would go to 106.

keenan

09-11-09, 08:45 PM

That "plus, with Comcast" is a qualifier, indicating new subject/object, I would not take that as definitive proof that RZC is in HD, all it's saying is that you can watch 120 games in HD with a Comcast cable TV subscription.

I hope it is in HD, although I still haven't seen anything definitive that says it will be, the listing in your EPG is a strong indicator though.

Ken H

09-11-09, 11:41 PM

I hope it is in HD, although I still haven't seen anything definitive that says it will be, the listing in your EPG is a strong indicator though.

It will definitely be in HD from NFL, the only question is who will carry it in HD and where. I believe for now we'll see most Comcast systems carry the SD version.

keenan

09-11-09, 11:53 PM

It will definitely be in HD from NFL, the only question is who will carry it in HD and where. I believe for now we'll see most Comcast systems carry the SD version.

Yes, that's what I was getting at, this being a Comcast thread, SD appears to be a certainty, but nowhere have I seen anything about an HD version on Comcast. We'll know soon though.

BigDaddyRoy

09-12-09, 12:03 AM

Yes, that's what I was getting at, this being a Comcast thread, SD appears to be a certainty, but nowhere have I seen anything about an HD version on Comcast. We'll know soon though.

Like Marcus Carr, my Comcast system (Baltimore Country, which IS a different system than Baltimore City) now has two dedicated channels for NFL Redzone, one in the channel range of the Sports and Entertainment Pack, and one in the range of the HD channels. The one in the HD channel range is also labeled NFLRD. I don't have the S&EP, so unless they do a "free preview", I won't be able to say for sure, but maybe I can convince the wife to let me add it for one month just to report in on it.

Either way, I strongly suspect this is the NFL Redzone in HD on a Comcast system, for what it's worth.

Marcus Carr

09-12-09, 12:05 AM

Channel 263 has Sunday 1-8 flagged as HD. 734 does not.

keenan

09-12-09, 12:08 AM

Sounds good, I'll have to take a look at our channel map here in the SF bay area tonight.

Marcus Carr

09-12-09, 05:38 AM

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=152442&d=1252751080

I'd say that seals it.

deuce1973

09-12-09, 02:55 PM

Looks like here in Savannah that 741 is going to be RedZone (sd). No sign of an HD channel allocated at this time. :(

Ken H

09-12-09, 03:06 PM

The one in the HD channel range is also labeled NFLRD.....

Either way, I strongly suspect this is the NFL Redzone in HD on a Comcast system, for what it's worth.
I'd bet on it.

keenan

09-12-09, 03:18 PM

Looks like the real deal.

Daniel Murray

09-12-09, 03:40 PM

Any info on new HD channels or system upgrade for NJ (Garden state system)?

FranklinLabs

09-12-09, 06:45 PM

I'm not sure if this is the proper forum, but I have a strange problem. I live in the Chicago area with Comcast. The problem is I get no audio from CBS (Channel 2). All other channels are fine. I am running Fiber Optic into a Yamaha RX-V663 7.2 receiver. The receiver is set to decode Dolby Surround. The receiver shows a 5.1 valid signal but no audio. If I change to prologic, all is ok. All other stations work in Dolby mode.

I called Comcast and they were basically clueless. They wanted me to replace my box. If it was the box, all the channels wouldn't work. The other thing strange, they had a tennis match on this afternoon. The audio was fine. When it went back to local programming, no audio. This problem just started the other day.

My guess is that there's something wrong with Comcasts up-converter when the encode the local station for rebroadcast.

Any ideas????

Is anyone else experiencing this strange dilemma??

-Tim

sansri88

09-12-09, 06:56 PM

Not sure on Garden State...I know us in Union are getting NBAHD and PPV HD on the 15th, and then the second migration is on the 22nd (or a week or two after, depending on which Union system you're on).

Ken H

09-12-09, 06:59 PM

I'm not sure if this is the proper forum, but I have a strange problem. I live in the Chicago area with Comcast. The problem is I get no audio from CBS (Channel 2). All other channels are fine. I am running Fiber Optic into a Yamaha RX-V663 7.2 receiver. The receiver is set to decode Dolby Surround. The receiver shows a 5.1 valid signal but no audio. If I change to prologic, all is ok. All other stations work in Dolby mode.

I called Comcast and they were basically clueless. They wanted me to replace my box. If it was the box, all the channels wouldn't work. The other thing strange, they had a tennis match on this afternoon. The audio was fine. When it went back to local programming, no audio. This problem just started the other day.

My guess is that there's something wrong with Comcasts up-converter when the encode the local station for rebroadcast. Comcast does not upconvert; they simply pass what the local station broadcasts. It may be how your audio processor is handling the 5.1 signal.

Check your local topic to see if others are having the same issue.

JasG

09-13-09, 11:18 AM

Comcast does not upconvert; they simply pass what the local station broadcasts. It may be how your audio processor is handling the 5.1 signal.

Check your local topic to see if others are having the same issue.I am not in Chicago, but in the early days of HDTV in Seattle, the ABC affiliate had a great deal of difficulty with DD audio encoding. This manifested itself as no or choppy audio. Eventually, the station figured it out.

Interestingly, as we prepare for the analog reclamation, audio problems are popping up on channels what previously worked just fine. I have a cable card set that exhibits the same symptoms as Tim, but only for a small subset of channels - all HD and DD audio. Because DD via my DVR & A/R works, Comcast engineering has decided my set is faulty, but the TV repair shop I spoke with said a set failure would be all or nothing and not just affect some channels.

Does anyone know if Comcast re-encodes audio before the modulate the signal onto a QAM frequency? (Rumor is that video is re-compressed, so I guess the two would go hand in hand).

D_B_0673

09-14-09, 03:46 AM

Like Marcus Carr, my Comcast system (Baltimore Country, which IS a different system than Baltimore City) now has two dedicated channels for NFL Redzone, one in the channel range of the Sports and Entertainment Pack, and one in the range of the HD channels. The one in the HD channel range is also labeled NFLRD. I don't have the S&EP, so unless they do a "free preview", I won't be able to say for sure, but maybe I can convince the wife to let me add it for one month just to report in on it.

Either way, I strongly suspect this is the NFL Redzone in HD on a Comcast system, for what it's worth.

I also have NFLRD in Carroll County Md, Channel 263. But I don't have any of the new HD channels that PaulGo mentions in post 9425

Marcus Carr

09-14-09, 09:09 AM

Also appears in several online lineup listings, including Zap2it and Fancast.

Morac

09-14-09, 12:16 PM

Also appears in several online lineup listings, including Zap2it and Fancast.

That doesn't necessarily mean anything. There are 3 HD channels that showed up in all three places for my lineup a few months ago, yet those 3 channels are not in my lineup according to Comcast.

Marcus Carr

09-14-09, 12:39 PM

That doesn't necessarily mean anything. There are 3 HD channels that showed up in all three places for my lineup a few months ago, yet those 3 channels are not in my lineup according to Comcast.

It matches evidence from previous posts.

Marcus Carr

09-14-09, 12:50 PM

Comcast now offers NFL HD on 262 (in addition to 246) and NFL Red Zone HD on 263 [in DC].

http://dcrtv.com/mailbag.html

ShermyL

09-14-09, 05:53 PM

Montgomery County, MD to add 48 new HD channels effective Dec. 12.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=152382&d=1252703662

How do we find out if this will be happening in our area as well?

homcom

09-14-09, 06:20 PM

How do we find out if this will be happening in our area as well?

Best bet is to check the local thread for your area here on AVS to see if anyone else in your area has any information.

Ken H

09-14-09, 06:23 PM

Does anyone know if Comcast re-encodes audio before the modulate the signal onto a QAM frequency? They do not.

BradleyLX

09-14-09, 07:51 PM

The clock has begun ticking.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009860393_brier14.html

JasG

09-14-09, 08:18 PM

They do not.Thanks Ken - one more question, I said 'encode' and as a non-expert here, what I am wondering if I should have said 'compress'.

I am trying to determine out if the re-compression of a signal (say from USA-HD) by Comcast could have any affect on DD audio. I am asking this with the assumption that the claims on this forum and others that Comcast does extra compression to to 3 HD/QAM channel are true.

slowbiscuit

09-15-09, 07:52 AM

The clock has begun ticking.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009860393_brier14.html
Who didn't think this would happen after they got the DTA security waiver from the FCC?

Nice to see the reporter mention the upcoming 4-tuner Ceton Cablecard tuner as an alternative. With these new tuners and Windows 7 Media Center, you can create an HTPC setup with extenders (up to 4 TVs I think) and only pay for one digital outlet (a single multistream Cablecard).

sansri88

09-15-09, 08:08 AM

So apparently Comcast of Union did not get NBATV HD today as expected, but 2 different HD PPV channels that list different content for this weekend. Hmm..

Morac

09-15-09, 12:10 PM

Regarding Red Zone HD, it looks like it's not happening (for now):

http://consumerist.com/5359648/no-hd-red-zone-channel-for-you-comcast-tells-chicago

ak3883

09-15-09, 12:17 PM

The clock has begun ticking.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009860393_brier14.html

"It works with broadcast TV and multistream Cablecards, a type of converter Comcast gives to expanded-basic customers"

A cablecard is a "converter", LOL. And they don't give them to anyone, they only are given to those with TiVOs or CableCARD equipped devices. I love articles written by clueless journalists.

maxman

09-15-09, 12:40 PM

Any info on new HD channels or system upgrade for NJ (Garden state system)?

My contract w/FIOS is about up. Called Comcast to see what they have now that it's a year later. They still have only about 30 HD channels here (up about 5 or 6 from a year ago), and unbelievably aren't carrying the RedZone channel in HD.

ShermyL

09-15-09, 01:36 PM

Best bet is to check the local thread for your area here on AVS to see if anyone else in your area has any information.

Thanks homcom!! I did so.

Joel Clemons

09-15-09, 01:51 PM

My contract w/FIOS is about up. Called Comcast to see what they have now that it's a year later. They still have only about 30 HD channels here (up about 5 or 6 from a year ago), and unbelievably aren't carrying the RedZone channel in HD.

Just out of curiosity, what did they add? Can't imagine giving up FIOS (and HDNet/Movies, MGM-HD, etc. etc)

maxman

09-15-09, 03:13 PM

Just out of curiosity, what did they add? Can't imagine giving up FIOS (and HDNet/Movies, MGM-HD, etc. etc)

If memory serves me back that far, a year ago in my area they didn't have History, Animal Planet, TLC, Speed, FX, and AMC. Think there's a couple more, but not sure of which as per their website, which by the way, still lists Palladia as 'MHD' (which changed it's name months ago!).

FIOS currently has 123 HD channels, including RedZone HD, with 5 more being added the end of September. So I'm not going anywhere.

Daniel Murray

09-15-09, 05:31 PM

maxman, You are killing me!!. I went to my town Meeting on Monday and they said We should see Fios with in two years. I hope Comcast can catch up by then. NOT! LOL

Satcom15

09-15-09, 07:19 PM

maxman, You are killing me!!. I went to my town Meeting on Monday and they said We should see Fios with in two years. I hope Comcast can catch up by then. NOT! LOL

You are sooooo lucky! I'll doubt we'll see FiOS here in Colorado Springs for a long, long time. :( There's tons of fiber backbone (and they keep adding more), but to the home? No efforts as far as I can tell. Mention FiOS to city council and they look like you're from another planet. Could the fact that we have a Comcast call center here factor into the decision on awarding franchises? Hmmmmm, I wonder. :D

maxman

09-15-09, 08:36 PM

You are sooooo lucky! I'll doubt we'll see FiOS here in Colorado Springs for a long, long time. :(

I know. Daniel Murray (the post above yours) lives just down the street from me and it looks like he's 2 years out.

Marcus Carr

09-16-09, 09:04 AM

Comcast Hiking Cable-Modem Fee to $5 From $3 Monthly Nationwide
Operator Cites Cost for DOCSIS 3.0 Equipment for Increase

http://www.multichannel.com/article/353986-Comcast_Hiking_Cable_Modem_Fee_to_5_From_3_Monthly_Nationwid e.php

slowbiscuit

09-16-09, 09:51 AM

What a ripoff - you can buy one and it will pay for itself in a little over a year. It's not like they go bad that often.

ak3883

09-16-09, 12:27 PM

Glad they are raising the rate of the modem rental and not the internet service. As mentioned, it makes sense to purchase your own modem since it pays itself off before long.

I know we are gonna pay for all this analog reclamation work going on in this year's annual increase, question is how much. They gotta pay for all those DTAs somehow, if they are not charging to rent/use the first 2.

bicker1

09-16-09, 12:35 PM

Remember that you need a cable modem that supports DOCSIS 3.0; is there a general consensus about which ones are the best ones to consider buying?

Ken H

09-16-09, 12:53 PM

Remember that you need a cable modem that supports DOCSIS 3.0; is there a general consensus about which ones are the best ones to consider buying?I don't think there are a lot of retail options as yet; I'm only aware of the Motorola 6120.

Joel Clemons

09-16-09, 12:57 PM

If memory serves me back that far, a year ago in my area they didn't have History, Animal Planet, TLC, Speed, FX, and AMC. Think there's a couple more, but not sure of which as per their website, which by the way, still lists Palladia as 'MHD' (which changed it's name months ago!).

FIOS currently has 123 HD channels, including RedZone HD, with 5 more being added the end of September. So I'm not going anywhere.

Me neither. If all Comcast has added to NJ are the above...well, that's a very tiny drop in the bucket. Just today, I've also noticed that FIOS has added THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD On-Demand. And with even more channels coming in 2010...well, if I ever have to move, I'll be very depressed!!

Morac

09-16-09, 01:58 PM

I know. Daniel Murray (the post above yours) lives just down the street from me and it looks like he's 2 years out.

I've given up on see FIOS any time soon in my area. I signed up with a two year contract with Comcast with the hope that FIOS would be available by the time it expires. The contract expires in 30 days and FIOS is no where in sight. Verizon still doesn't even offer FIOS in Burlington county's county seat, which they are lawfully required to do.

Comcast hasn't even started their digital reclamation in my area (I heard they might start in November) as such I won't be seeing new HD channels for a while.

Glad they are raising the rate of the modem rental and not the internet service. As mentioned, it makes sense to purchase your own modem since it pays itself off before long.

Unfortunately for CDV customers there is no option to purchase your own modem.

Back when I first got Internet service from Comcast, I bought my own modem since the rental charge was $5 and service was $39.95. A year later Comcast lowered the rental fee to $3 and raised the service fee to $42.95. A net addition of $1 for renters and $3 for non-renters.

Now that I have Comcast Digital Voice and am forced to rent a CDV modem (since they aren't sold anywhere), they're going to hit me again with an additional $2 a month. I just can't win.