Just popped into my head this morning.

I don't want to pay EXTRA for my already expensive satellite service for HD channels.

So my question is, when will HD be the norm, and not cost a "premium" to your existing bill?

Is that a possibility in the next 5, 10, 15 years? Ever?

Hook up your TV, turn it on and voila! HDTV and that's it.:)

Sometime before will we all be driving electric cars and have bases on the Moon.

For new programming, I suspect sometime in the next 5 years, or so. For older legacy video programming in SD, never.

Even though the analog shutoff next February won't mean all HD, as most channels transition to HD it would seem that premium HD pricing will have to fade away sometime.
The FCC has required cable companies to provide analog SD versions of HD broadcast channels for 3 years. This will actually cost them money since the will have to down-convert the HD channels.

Sometime before will we all be driving electric cars and have bases on the Moon.I think that's a bit optimistic :D

In the UK I suspect it will be a couple of years for the main Pay TV provider - BSkyB - to stop charging their US$20 (GBP£10) HD subscription on top of existing subscription charges.

When they introduced the Sky + DVR for SD, this had a £10 month subscription charge. Then premium subscribers (who paid for the main sports and / or movies services) were given it for free, then recently all subscribers got DVR service for free, and only non-subscribers who use the boxes for free channels (our networks are available at no cost on satellite and the satellite providers provide a subscription free card for those that are encrypted and to ensure the correct regional feed is received)

Most people think Sky will follow the same model with HD. Start charging everyone, then cease to charge extra to premium subscribers, then all subscribers. The Sky HD box costs more to purchase and you sign up for a minimum 12 month subscription. The box is subsidised but isn't rented - meaning if it fails outside the standard 12 month UK warranty period you have to fund repair or replacement (Though under European law this may now be challenged as failure after 12 months may be deemed to mean the goods were "not of merchantable quality")

This charging structure may be hastened by the arrival of Freesat HD - which will provide the main HD networks operated by OTA broadcasters (and lots more SD services) via satellite at zero subscription cost, with just an upfront purchase and installation cost. (It is being launched by the main OTA broadcasters and is designed to allow those who can't get an OTA signal to still get their OTA stations via satellite for free, and ensure a decent audience for the main OTA services still)

As to when all TV will be available in HD - a long time. Whilst production for high-end stuff is switching to HD, there are still going to be SD outlets, and channels that can't afford the extra costs to produce, distribute and broadcast in HD. I suspect that this is the case with low-end shopping channels, religious channels, minority channels etc. (There are, of course, high end channels in these sectors as well who may go HD)

For new programming, I suspect sometime in the next 5 years, or so. For older legacy video programming in SD, never.

I can see this for the major networks and cable channels, but there are dozens of low budget cable networks out there that produce their own programming on the cheap. I can't imagine those networks even having an HD channel much less producing HD programming.

How long did it take for the color transition to be complete?:D

How long did it take for the color transition to be complete?:D


I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners are still being shown in B&W.

Even though the analog shutoff next February won't mean all HD, as most channels transition to HD it would seem that premium HD pricing will have to fade away sometime.Which has nothing to do with the plethora of SD Cable/DBS channels.


The FCC has required cable companies to provide analog SD versions of HD broadcast channels for 3 years. This will actually cost them money since the will have to down-convert the HD channels.Not really. The DTV tuners they've been using for years will downconvert.

Guess I shouldn't have said "when will everything will be HD", but rather when will we have to stop PAYING for HD and most new content to be in HD.

But it's just one of those things that still seems so far off... It gives my wife more reason to let me NOT buy a new TV.

but rather when will we have to stop PAYING for HD

So you think sat/cable is going to lower their rates some time in the future??

What rock have you been under lol?

So you think sat/cable is going to lower their rates some time in the future??

What rock have you been under lol?

More likely, the question is when it will be rolled into the bill as part of a base package. The problem with it being an add-on is that fewer people subsidize the cost.

One of the gripes about the top package now is that you still have to pay separately for HD Access, HD Extra, and DVR.

Guess I shouldn't have said "when will everything will be HD", but rather when will we have to stop PAYING for HD and most new content to be in HD.

When it becomes cheaper to deliver HD than other content. ;)

The FCC has required cable companies to provide analog SD versions of HD broadcast channels for 3 years. This will actually cost them money since the will have to down-convert the HD channels.
All cable and satellite receivers will downconvert HD channels to SD, and always have. All you do is hook up your TV to the SD outputs. So this is a non-issue, no-cost thing.

Posted by lokilarry:
How long did it take for the color transition to be complete?
For those of you old enough to remember:
"The following program is brought to you in living color on...........N..B..C (show peacock)"

Even though the analog shutoff next February won't mean all HD, as most channels transition to HD it would seem that premium HD pricing will have to fade away sometime.
The FCC has required cable companies to provide analog SD versions of HD broadcast channels for 3 years. This will actually cost them money since the will have to down-convert the HD channels.

I believe that only applies to channels that take must carry. Channels with HD programming most likely have Retransmission consent. Also after 2-16-09 if a cable system carrys ANY OTHER programming in HD they must offer the locals IN HD!

So my question is, when will HD be the norm, and not cost a "premium" to your existing bill?
Starting Feb. 1st supposedly, you can subscribe to an "all HD" package from Dish for $29.99/month, as mentioned in another thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=971635). It includes 40 HD channels, but no SD channels.

In the year 2525.