Rochester, NY - HDTV - Page 68

Ask TW - could be a lot of things (like an amp went out in your local node). Only TW knows - but from what I have seen of DTAs on a Comcast system, it would be all channels that you subscribe to - but NOT On Demand channels.

Anyone heard if Channel 8 news is finally going hi def? They are broadcasting the news from a temporary set today & Maureen McGuire said they are building a better newscast with exciting news to come. I can't believe they would be building a new news set at this late date if its not for hi def broadcasting. Is Rochester the only major TV market in NY where all the major network affiliates are not broadcasting local news in hi def?

That would also mean that WUHF will have HD news too - leaving WHEC the lone local SD newscast.
Edited by davehancock - 8/10/12 at 8:11am

First with local HD news, last with 5.1. Personally, I'll take the local HD, over 5.1

Missing, so far, at all commercial local stations are:

• Ability to delay network HD programs
• Show local HD commercials
• Show syndicated programs in HD.

So who will be the first ALL HD station?

I think you mean WHEC

ah YES! me too i was so use to having to crank up the volume on my receiver on that station when i changed to it....threw me for a loop..i couldn't put my finger on wtf was goin on when it was louder than usual lol

Right I corrected the original post.
Edited by davehancock - 8/10/12 at 8:16am

It's not really the networks, but rather the infrastructure of the local stations. Most of the syndicated programs are available in HD, it is mostly a matter of the local stations being able to receive that signal in HD, store it in HD, and then route the HD signal in their system.

No apology needed. I just wanted to point out that a lot of stuff yet needs to be done on the local level.

BTW, if I was a local advertiser, I would be screaming bloody murder that my commercials are not being presented in a manner that projects a progressive image.

I just read on Stop The Cap TW renewed their agreement with Fox News Channel without negotiating the price. We will now be paying more than $1 for Fox News Channel, Fox Movie Channel & Fox Business Network. I smell a rate increase that will make my Cable bill more than $100 a month. If that's the case i better get some quotes for Dish & DirecTV. Here's a link to the article if you want to read it. http://stopthecap.com/2012/08/08/fox-news-channel-time-warner-cable-deal-will-increase-cable-rates-for-millions/

I don't know why Rochester has to be such a technological backwater with most of our network affiliates slow to implement local programming in hi def (Channel 13 excepted). Many smaller markets than Rochester have all their network affiliates broadcasting local news in hi def. Channel 8 was probably one of the last network affiliates in the nation to upgrade to hi def transmission of network programming. Nextstar starting broadcasting local news in hi def at its station in Utica (DMA #172) a year ago while here in market DMA# 79 we are stuck watching SD.

Anyone know anything about the IP based dvrs coming to TW?

I found this article that says they are 1tb and 6 tuners.

http://www.fiercecable.com/story/time-warner-cable-deploy-video-gateways-iptv-set-tops/2012-08-02

To me it sounds like TW wants to replace QAM with IP.

Well, just on the heels of the loss of the Rainbow channels, Dish is planning to drop all Sinclair owned stations when the agreement expires this Thursday, Aug 16. In Rochester that is limited to WUHF Fox 31. For neighboring markets, in Syracuse, WSYT Fox 68 and WNYS My 43. And in Buffalo WUTV Fox 29 and WNYO My 49.

http://www.nasdaq.com/article/sinclair-broadcasts-retransmission-deal-with-dish-scheduled-to-terminate-20120813-01154

Didn't Dish & Sinclair already go through this last time their re-transmission deal expired? I already saw a message on WUTV saying Dish Customers will loose access to Sinclair Owned Stations.

I just noticed TW added an Auto HD feature to my Cable Box because most of the local channels, ESPN, ESPN News, ESPN U, MLB TV, NHL Network & Fox Soccer Channel automatically go to the HD version of that station when you select the SD Channel. I like this new feature & hope TW puts it on all of their SD Channels that are available in HD. The only way to tell if Auto HD will work on a specific SD channel is to go to the channel & see if you see the words HD next to the clock.

Probably. Dish likes to pick fights with any and all programming providers, and Sinclair has had issues with a bunch of MSOs, so there's a good chance this has happened before, but I've lost track of all of the programming disputes Dish has had.

Just noticed the Auto HD myself, great feature for those who want it.

My Aunt currently has Dish Network & may be thinking about switching TV providers because she doesn't like loosing channels anymore but she doesn't know if she should choose DirecTV or TW. Which one would you recommend. I'll post her current setup below.

Dish Network - America's Top 250, Dual DVR 625 on 2 SDTV's. Currently Pay's around $70/month.

What does she use for phone and internet currently? Time Warner will be more expensive at $81/month for digital cable standalone, plus DVR fees and franchise feeds. Bundling that with internet and/or phone will bring the overall cost down. But there are no upfront costs, with DirecTV, depending on what you get there may be some initial costs. Both have some great intro promos going on. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the Dish 625 is a single DVR that has two tuners that can feed two TVs for independent viewing? If so, neither DirecTV or Time Warner has ever offered something like that, so each TV will need it’s own set top box for independent viewing. If both TVs do not need DVRs, with TW you can get a DVR on one TV and run analog cable to the other, or get a non DVR. With DirecTV you can get an HR24 and an H25. And for $3/month extra whole house DVR can be enabled so while the other TV may not be able to record content, it will be able to play back previously recorded stuff, in addition to watching live TV. There plenty of different configurations, but the considerations are bundling and intro rates. I believe TW still offers the $99 for one year promo for internet, digital cable and phone. But I don’t believe that price includes a DVR and the internet is just RR Basic.

DISH isn't dropping Sinclair. It's Sinclair cutting the feed to DISH due to lack of a contract. Time will tell if Sinclair and DISH come to an agreement. Only WUHF is a Sinclair station here in Rochester..

And if his aunt also lives in Genesee County, it will two stations, WUTV and WNYO. Personally losing Fox would be kind of big for me. Glad I don’t have Dish, especially since game two of the Yankees/Red Sox series will be on Fox this Saturday afternoon.

In addition to Steve's comments - I should note that TW does not force customers into a long term agreement. She probably does not want to jump from Dish to DirecTV, only to find 6 months down the road that Sinclair pulls the plug on DirecTV. If that happens with TW, she could switch at no cost (might even get a particularly good deal from TW to stay).

Well, the shut off did not happen with Sinclair. 2 week extension. Agreement in princioal.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/488549-Dish_and_Sinclair_Reach_Tentative_Retrans_Agreement.php

Too bad, I was looking foward to getting a few more Time Warner and maybe a few DirecTV converts. But then again, now that I think about it, I can only think of one person who still subscribes to Dish Network that I know personally.

I've been with Dish for over 15 years. I had RR plus the super basic cable. Called to cancel the cable portion. Got an offer of Digitl cable, dvr and digital box for a 2nd TV, for $49.99 for 2 years. Was paying $63/mo. Couldn't refuse. Gives me MSG for the Sabres.

Sounds like a great deal. I'll keep that in mind when my 2 yr commitment to DirecTV is up in Nov. I'm paying $100/mo now. So the $49.99 includes dvr fees & everything except taxes?

Still keeping my Dish. Wife knows how to use the DVR. I will most probably upgrade to the Hopper/Joey when the ota module comes out.

So the $49.99 deal was from TWC not Dish? I may have misread your post.

Yes, but Dish does have it's promos. For info on Dish this forum is a great place to start
http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-forum/
There are employes of Dish in the forum (DIRT=Dish Internet Response Team). Their names will be in red on their posts.

For the first time, I'm considering getting one of the new tivos. The tw boxes seemed so cheap back a few years ago, but they are so unreliable and have gotten as expensive as the $14.99 tivo fee. At least it might be reliable...

http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/10/tivo-premiere-xl4-review/

Does anyone have one?

WROC made the formal annoucement yesterday that they are upgrading to HD for local news. Will be interesting to see how long WHEC waits to upgrade to HD. Their news ratings have been in decline for awhile with WROC improving their news product & WHAM having upgraded to HD 2 yrs ago. Hubbard's station in Albany launched their news in HD in April so it will be interesting to see when they make the same investment in their Rochester station.