Comcast HDTV - Page 7

I just this morning have VOD turned on. I'm in Shoreview - a St. Paul, MN suburb. Unfortunately, I have to head to work. It looks like there is a ton of content - I can't find any HD yet though in my brief hunt.

I've come to understand that the order is this for Comcast:

1. Standardize Channel Lineup (mine was completed two weeks ago)
2. Add VOD (done - as of this morning for me)
3. New iGuide software (required to support new 6412 dual-tuner DVRs)
4. 6412s roll out

5-??? New HD channels???

I'm still waiting on VOD hear in Detroit.

VOD is the best thing since slice bread. Saves your life if you have kids, spongebob on-demand WOOHOO! oh yeah, and NFL games (recaps) are great too. Waiting on VOD-HD

Rich,
Federal Law precludes cable companies from having broadcast channels on a separate tier outside the very first level of service offered. This would apply to HD signals as well. Should Sinclair at some future time allow their signals to be carried by cable operators, they would have to be in the same level as the other broadcast HD's.

The recent posts in this thread seem to be presuming a static position by Comcast as it relates to HD additions. I wouldn't presume that at all. They are indeed focused on establishing a common Digital line-up but that will be accomplished nationwide w/in 60 days.

It's been barely three months since they added Discovery HD where I live and not even two months since they added Fox HD. Last month they started running the NFL Net HD game replays on a separate channel so I look at this as continued progress.

I'm up to 14 HD channels now. That's nine additions in less than two years with three of them over the last 4 months. That 14 doesn't include the separate channel they're running NFL Net HD on.

My glass is half full and I am glad Comcast has chosen to get this content to us without a separate surcharge. Who knows if it will last forever but, for the moment, I'm happy and I expect they'll continue to add compelling content in a consistent, (and ideally economically friendly), fashion.

Regards,
GoIrish

GoIrish,

The Baltimore area is one of the first to get new channels. Consider yourself lucky. I have Comcast and recently did gain FoxHD. They have commercials about the NFL network but I have yet to find the channel anywhere in the lineup. I am still dreaming about getting DiscoveryHD with it being a complete unknown ETA for it. I know that your area has had this channel for some time. I truly wish that your opinion that Comcast is trying to get a channel out to all of the US within 60 days is true but from what I have read and experienced this has not yet been the case.

So I'm still interested in the question this thread poses: "What's the next HD channel for Comcast?" But that question always has some form of regional limitations to it. Unfortunately it is just the way cable is. The same is true for STBs, but that's a different story/forum all together.

I do have to echo your statement that we are fortunate that we get these HD channels / content without any additional surcharge. Although I can not imagine how they would justify charging twice (normal SD channel paid for).

Beaker,

If you don't have Discovery HD yet, it would appear your system has bandwidth limitations. Is your system a 550 Mhz system? Or is it a 750 Mhz system with an overload of analog channels?

Beaker1024 are they currently upgradeing your area? Within a week or two of them finishing the upgrade to my area of Detroit they started adding and moving around channels including adding Discovery HD. Still no VOD yet!

I am unsure as to what they are doing in my area. I was paying attention more back 6 months or so ago and I know FoxHD was delayed till recently due to local bandwith considerations.

SonomaSearcher - I'm not sure which system it is but they do have alot of analog channels still. Just as many as ever.

Renagade - I wish I knew, it sounds promising that they would do an upgrade and add in DiscoveryHD and such but I just don't know.

BTW Funny thing is we have had VOD for a while now (Even HBO and Showtime/TWC VOD channels now). Not that it's really of any use to me.

2nd odd point is that they have commericials and hype about the NFL network channel but I have yet to find it in my area's lineup. *Shrug* I'd rather take more HD channels though.

Area = New London County, CT Comcast; STB = SA3250HD w/SARA software.

GoIrish, thanks for the clarification on local HD. I know that Comcast is not the villain here, but I was looking for some way to allow us to get Fox45 without jeopardizing Comcasts local channel negotiation strategies.

Have you heard anything about when the channels in Baltimore will be standardized or just in the next 60 days?

Actually I don't think that Comcast can or would remain static, nor that they aren't concerned or committed to HD as some said. Their efforts in getting out HD-DVRs this year shows that, as well as DiscoveryHD and NBAHD-TV this spring and the NFLHD recaps this fall.

I realize that Comcast doesn't have a tier, so they have to add HD channels with an eye towards economics and to meet competition. I just know the pleasure that my wife and I get from the INHDs, PBSHD and DiscoveryHD and know that it would be increased with HDNET. And the pleasure I would get from ESPN2HD. And the potential for BravoHD+ (although if, as NBC expands it, it becomes a regular commercial station with HD programming then forget it).

If I gave the impression that I was dissatisfied with Comcast, then I apologize. We are lucky in the Baltimore area to have a Comcast system that is able to assimilate and respond to new changes. Sometimes I just get impatient.

When I got Comcast HD in April 2003 there were 4 channels (ABCHD, NBCHD, HBO, SHO) and then the additions started that summer.

So I really am at the 1/2 full stage, really 3/4 full.

Rich N.

Raidbuck,
My comments actually weren't intended towards you other than the clarification on HD broadcast carriage. A few posts preceding yours stated that Comcast was more focused on other things and HD wasn't important.

I understand the Baltimore area is doing their master digital line-up reset in early December. They have said they will be mailing all customers the week preceding the change with new line-up information. Most channels actually stay the same. HD moves to the low 200's and from what I understand there is a lot of space, channel # wise, committed to future HD growth, so at least they're planning ahead.

Regards,
GoIrish

I stated that I dont believe HD is a priority to comcast, and I stand by that. Tier or no tier. Would I pay extra? I don't know. I have hbohd, but not the others. But I enjoy having the option of having the others and feel the same about other HD channels.

What irritates me is that they boast about HD channels and HD TVs not being complete w/o comcast and then they drag their feet on adding channels. My local WB is HD, but said due to comcasts terms, they refuse to sign an agreement for retransmission.

quote taken from local WB:


I did get foxhd recently, and that is a great addition, but it seems that what directed comcast to add that was football. I suspect the execs dont care much for the nba or it would be a priority to add tnt.

btw, VOD isn't all it is cracked up to be IMO...

Your local WB isn't telling you the truth. Comcast always transmits the full bandwidth of an HD signal (1080i or 720p) from a local station.

what are the odds that the next 3 HD channels added by comcast'll be TNT-HD and HDNET/HDNET MOVIES?

zero, next one will be ESPN2 HD

hopefully after ESPN2 HD those other 3'll get added

This could be an interesting poll. I would vote for Turner Classic Movies HD, which Turner claims will premiere by the end of 2004.

TCM-HD be OAR?

I hope its more which cable company does comcast buy out

cablevision hopefully

They have a very strong OAR policy and even run "tutorials" on the channel (between movies) and on their web site. So one would think so. Certainly hope so!

I was told by a comcast rep (manager level who I attended a class with, not phone support) that they hoped to add 5 HD channels by the end of the year. This was before FOXHD and DSCHD was added.

With that being said, I still do not believe comcast has HD as a priority and I know I generally sound pessimistic, but they provide what they provide, and I enjoy the quality I get, so I can not complain about that. I just complain about them boasting that they offer more than the others when the fact is that the don't.

I believe next year will be a big year for HD, and of course the following year even bigger. There is no way that comcast will be able to stay too far behind.

Therefor, my prediction is that the next calendar year (2005) will double, if not possibly more. I currently have 13 HD channels available, and I think there will be almost 30 by the end of next year.

With six more available that, to my knowledge, are not on any comcast system, or having been announced:

HDNET
HDMovies
ESPN2
Bravo
TNT
TCM

This Would only leave 11 more new channels for all of next year. I feel that that is completely probable.

The only question is 'how are they going to implement this?'

With analog going away, it seems they could have 3 tiers -> 1. digital 2.HD 3. Premium (hbo, MAX, SHO, etc.)

Currently HD is only $5 more, but I think it is safe to say that digital will fill in the current analog spot and HD will fall into Digial.

This is just my guess. But it makes sense to me.

I enjoy hearing various people's perspectives on the level of Comcast HD support. I just don't see how they can offer too many new channels without raising prices somewhere. My priorities are ESPN2HD and non-commercial channels, like HDNET and BravoHD. Others want TNT-HD. Certainly a vexing problem for Comcast.

As for analog going away, I think that may be a few years in the future. I'm sure Comcast will add several national HD channels before then.

Rich N.

The local WB here in Jacksonville plain out sucks. It has a weak signal that is directional, and that directional only covers about 20% of the market with a somewhat decent signal.

Try having a ChannelMaster 3018 mounted outside and not being able to get WB from 21 miles straight away. All other signals from the same tower site had 90-95% signal. Thats how piss-poor the WB here is. Their management has even said they don't see why they should care about the 8 people who can see it:
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/st...highdef1.shtml

Dont blame Comcast for that.

BTW, we have what? 12 available HD channels? (5 locals, CBS, PBS, NBC, ABC, FOX) . I would say that is pretty good service.
Could it be more? Yup, but Im not complaining.

You want to complain? Go yell at the local WB.

It has been said here by someone we all know and love who gets plenty of info from Comcast that they are looking to add 3 channels by years end (at least at the time he said it). I can't remember if it was 3 national channels or 2 national and 1 local.

I think one major holdup with Comcast adding new HD channels is bandwidth. I am going to make an educated guess and say that at least 50% of Comcast systems which currently offer HD channels are bandwidth impacted in some way. So, even though 50% of systems could easily absorb a new HD channel, Comcast's thought is why bother paying $$$ for a new, non-local HD channel when only 50% (or less) of systems have the bandwidth to add it immediately.

Which is not to say Comcast absolutely will not add another national HD channel until some systems free up bandwidth. I am sure that if TNT/TCM, HDNet, Bravo, Encore or TMC came to Comcat with a great deal for their HD channel(s), Comcast would find a way to launch it in the bandwidth rich systems now and the bandwidth challenged systems later.

Comcast is also certainly reserving bandwidth for ESPN2 HD, so that is another factor in whether/when certain HD channels get carriage.

I know most people assume Comcast will carry ESPN2-HD at launch. I'm hoping that Comcast will announce an agreement with ESPN to do so. Is there anything official?

Thanks,

Rich N.

You are probably right. I know a lot of PPV channels have been disappearing lately though. Which I'm fine with because I rarely use them and VOD is better.

Reserving bandwidth? Maybe in CA but certainly not here in the Hartford, CT area. We don't even have DiscoveryHD yet. Nor do we have INHD2 anymore (was removed when ABC HD was added). We did get FoxHD though. Hmmm, Fox or Discovery? Personally I would have added Discovery first.

To me it looks like they are scrambling to GET bandwidth in this area. Yet Comcast does have and is pushing VOD here. How much BW does VOD take away from HD? I'd rather see more HD than VOD. I hardly use the service. How do you find out what type of system they have? ...please don't say call

Andy

We just got a letter from Comcast stating that Cinemax and MoreMax will only be available over digital starting in December. Anyone else get something like that (sorry if this has been posted already)? Hopefully they're freeing bandwidth for more HD.

Nope. Haven't gotten that yet. I'll keep a closer eye out for it rather than just trash the Comcast junk mail.


Amen to that!

Andy