POLL: IS SD (IE NTSC) dead?

I don't know how to answer the poll, but for me, there are only two channels I ever actually watch, that aren't broadcast in HD. And even with those I'm seriously considering switching to one of Dish Network's HD only TurboHD packages.

I record almost nothing in SD anymore. My primary "tuners" are my HD Homerun (2x ATSC) and my Hauppauge HD PVR recording off my Dish VIP 211 HD STB.

I don't think I'd go so far as to say SD is "dead for the HTPC", it will still be functional for quite a while. But for me, SD is dead (HTPC or not) and I do believe SD is now more a fallback than a primary option.

I get most of my channels through the analog converter box supplied by Comcast. I use my analog capture card to record and watch them through the HTPC.

Why? Because the upconversion makes them look very good and I do not feel the need to pay extra for something which is only marginally better.

I have the HDHomeRun to snag the digital channels which are not encrypted.

Since the FCC requires that cable channels contiue to carry it till 2012 for local stations and since all standard DVDs ar encoded in NTSC standard 480i resolution I don't known why anyone would even think that it is dead. To think that all TVs in the US that can only play SD NTSC content are obsolete is absurb, maybe 30 years from now.

I agree, but tell that to all the people who think all the HD-DVDs suddenly disintegrated the moment the format war ended...

There's really three different (though not unrelated) question/issues here.

1. How long will SD content be around?
2. How long will SD be broadcast?
3. Does it make sense to build SD only capture systems?

I think we can all agree SD content will be around for a long time. Lots of content was shot with SD cameras and thus can never be remastered to HD. Even today some stuff is still shot in SD (though that is rapidly ending).

How long SD will be broadcast is more complicated. If you look at Dish Network and DirecTV, you'll find that most every major network has a High Definition channel. I don't think it's a stretch to think that before long they'll realize it's illogical to waste bandwidth maintaining SD simulcasts of HD networks. The HD arms race is definitely on. It's to a point where you need basically everything in HD to be competitive these days. Then there's cable, where lots of MSOs are moving to all digital and SDV (with the hope being they'll transition clear analog to clear digital). Now of course boxes will be able to output SD for white a while for backwards compatibility.

Which brings us to the last question. If everything is available in HD, how long are we going to "accept" recording downconverted HD. At this point I think no, it doesn't make sense to build SD-only capture systems. At the very least I think you want hybrid analog SD/ATSC/QAM systems. And ideally I think we want to start looking for more Hauppauge HD PVR solutions.

This morning, after more than two years, I reconnected one of my analog tuners, as my local Time Warner is encrypting more and more channels.

Well you can't capture NTSC analog today from satellite since all satellite is digital.
Cable, satellite and coupon OTA digital STBs will contiue to output analog NTSC SD content for years over their RF coax or S-video output connedtions.
Also the FCC conversion of analog OTA NTSC broadcasts only applies to High powered stations. Many low powered OTA analog broadcast stations have no plans to shutdown or convert to digital since they do not have to.

There are devices and old video shot on NTSC we'll still want to watch. Much of it will be converted, but there will be the occasional need for good ole NTSC.

Mike