It's official - DirecTV to carry HDNet Movies, Discovery HD, ESPN HD - July 1, 2003! - Page 22  

Oops,
That's exactly what I was doing (confusing HDnet PPV with HDnet movies).
My Bad :rolleyes:
Woo hoo! That turns out to be one more unanticipated bonus to the new package.
Bring it on!

:D

Actually, there is no HDNet PPV.

HDNet is a private company run by Mark Cuban (www.hd.net). They've got two channels that will be part of this package: HDNet (which we currently get for free on 199) and HDNet Movies (movies 24 hours a day, no extra fee in addition to the $10.99/month).

HD PPV is a DirecTV channel that works like all the other PPV channels. It's not part of the $10.99/month package. It's currently available on channel 198.

I would not think it is stupid to try to order a package before its "start date." You can order NFL Sunday Ticket right now and there are no games for a couple fo months.

But NFL Sunday Ticket launched several years ago. This new package doesn't launch until July 1.

Check out what The Smoking Gun found: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/cnnobit1.html

Talk about stuff you don't want getting out early! How embarrassing!

On their HDTV page on D* they have the free Sat C Kit offer up finally.

THe CSR saw the webpage as well when I called but couldnt add me in for the free Sat C kit without me being a Showtime Subscriber. She went ahead and gave me a few free months of Showtime to be able to add the package.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/imagine/HDTV.jsp

So, I suppose that no one could buy the NFL ST package in its first season until after the first game was supposed to be shown?

Certainly, it is true that it might be futile trying to get a CSR on the phone that knows about this package, much less one that can hook you up. I just don't think it is foolish or stupid to believe or for a customer to expect that a pacakge can be ordered earlier than the first day it goes on the air. There is no language in any D* PR that I have seen stating not to call until after 7-1.

What channel numbers will these new stations use?

Well there are still many days before July 1. Personally I see no reason how it makes a difference to me if I'm able to sign up today or on June 30th. I still won't be able to watch until July 1.

Man, I hope one of you guys wins this argument. In the meantime, I guess it adds posts.:rolleyes:

Ken

How lame can this thread get let's see.

So can I sign up yet? :D

Calling 1800-531-5000 DirecTV

Hello Mister Custumer, this is DirecTV

Yes Hi DirecTV
I wanna find out if i can sign up for the HDTV Package Yet ? Because i wanna Sign Up For IT RIGHT NOW

(DirecTV) Yes Mister Customer Please hold while i go and check,

(DirecTv)
Yes You can Sign up for the HDTV Package Right Now
But all you be paying is $11.00 for just watching a black screen on the channel in Full HDTV Picture.

(Mister Customer) Oh DirecTv I don't want to pay $11.00 for just watching a black screen on the Channel In Full HDTV Picture.

(DirecTV) Oh Im Sorry, Mister Customer, Please Hold while i go and check to find out a little more infomation on this to make you a happy customer with us.

(DirecTV) Oh Ok Im Back, here is what i found out, I found that we can put a Big Blue And While DirecTV Logo On the Channel, So You Could Watch It In Full HDTV Picture For 24/7.
Thats all i can do for you right now.

(Mister Customer) Ok DirecTV Please Sign Me Up Now.

(DirecTV) Ok One Moment please, while i add it to your account.
Ok It should be on right now,
Thank You For Being a Very Good Customer With Us For all These Years,
and Thank you for Paying us $11.00 more for just wacthing a big blue and white DirecTv Logo In Full HDTV Picture.
Thanks And Have a Great Day.
Bye
:D

I was in the Cambridge Soundworks in San Francisco today, and one of the guys told me that DTV is now "passing" the HD signal for local channels in the Bay Area. I called DTV and of course they said no way. Did the guy maybe mean national network feeds? Anyone have any ideas?

Cheers,
JB

The guy didn't know what he was talking about.

They are probably doing the same thing that is going on here in San Diego. They pass the Digital feed via fiber, which is then down-converted by D* before going out over the D* system. It's still 480i, but the picture quality is much better. We have that on ABC and CBS and it's obvious when you look at Fox and WB. ABC and CBS look significantly better.

This seems like a good as place as any to ask....
I just went looking for Ch 198 HDPPV and it no longer shows up
on my Zenith 520. I only have an oval dish for the time being. Did
198 move off of the 101 sat?

thanks

larry

I had lost it too with a single lnb round dish. I got my 3 lnb dish installed today and it's back. Yep they moved it awhile ago.

Thanks betterdan. It's been a couple of weeks since I looked for it.
I just wanted to make sure my equipment is ok. I'm waiting for
some trees to be cut down so I can install my new dish.

larry

The things we do to watch television!:cool:

Ken

I called DirecTV to order the Sat-C kit. I was told I would have to commit to a year of Showtime HD. I said I had no interest in Showtime, but I was keen to receive ESPN HD and Discovery HD. I was told I would need to wait because there was no other promotion offering the Sat-C kit.

I then checked the HDTV page, clicked on the "right equipment" link, and read where the Sat-C kit was "free with self-installation" so long as I commited to a year of Total Choice. Nothing about Showtime.

I called back, was transferred to "sales", where "Heather" took my information. No problem at all the second time. I was on the phone longer the first call when I came away empty handed.

David

DirecTV is definitely passing on passing the HD feeds for now. Alas, they are definitely not passing them.

So pass on the advice of Cambridge.

Confused?

Just take a pass.

Jander,
Thanks for posting this. I spent about 30 minutes last week unsuccessfully trying to get them to give me this offer. I'd already read of numerous people here getting it.

Thanks to your link I was able to call and get it. However, I had to spend another 30 minutes on the phone because the CSR said I had to get a 1yr. committment to Showtime as well. I took her to the website and after a long wait they "waived" the Showtime requirement.

DirecTV, do you read this forum? I like your service, but how hard is it to get your act together with what you are offering and what you aren't? It can't take a monumental effort to coordinate your website with your CSR/order systems. Just lame... I had better things to do than spend an hour getting this all right.

Anyway thanks again Jandar.

Not to be a conspiracist, but how many people do you think they have contacted or have called them that didn't know about the non-Showtime requirement? Sounds like a sneaky revenue enhancer.
They called me the other night. I already subscribe to HBO & Showtime, and one of my receivers is a Samsung 160. They wanted to know if I had a an oval dish with the 3 lnb's and if I wanted to subscribe to Showtime to get the new HD package.
I think I made a post on this forum about D* needing to improve their drug testing. Tongue in cheek, and a disclaimer that this forum is not responsible for my behavior. :rolleyes:

Kem

They called me last week about the C kit and I told her I didn't have a 3 lnb dish yet so I would pass. She told me I should get it now and install it when I get another dish or the price would go up. She also said I had to commit to Showtime. This is ridiculous. They need to have a big meeting and tell all the csrs what the hell is going on.

WHAT channels are the new HD offerings going to be on ?? Do they have any test material going out yet ???

Check out Ch 99, just the blue logo presently. Seems 579 / 580's what ever, but no matter it will be very hard to catch them testing me thinks ;-)

You might do better on BUD / 4DTV catching someone doing something.......

Im probably completely off base on this one but i noticed 3 channels 433, 434 and 435 that are listed as 'to be announced' on the guide of my HD box (t160). These channels do not show up on my regular box in the bedroom (sony b60). The logo indicates ParaTodos, so who knows....just an observation.

Hey, isnt 426 espn hd?.........just kidding :)

-j

and I did have to commit to Total Choice for 1 year ( no biggie, because DTV is the only Sunday Ticket provider), but my question is....what will I be able to receive with just the 110 bird? The installer guy couldn't get all 3 to come in, so my choice was 101 and 110 or 110 and 119. Since most programming is on 101, I went the 101-110 route. Like Larry, I may need to cut down some trees (LOL.....hey nothing gets in the way of HDTV), but if the misses says no go on the Stihl saw route, what's gonna be on 110? Thanks.

I haven't heard of having line-of sight to all 3 sats, but not at the same time.

If you want HDTV, you'll have a problem. Most of the HDTV channels are/will be on the 119 sat. SHO-HD is currently on 110, and I think most of the newer locals are also.