Boston, MA - Comcast - Page 263

I am not sure what those channels are, so I guess I don't miss them. I am guessing they are compressed by Comcast, correct?

I made the switch from Comcast to FiOS and I could not be happier. I am not sure why you would hate to change unless you own Comcast stock or you are really attached to an @comcast.net email address? As far a VOD, I believe the premium content is the same (I think premium content on demand is controlled by the premium channel provider but I could be wrong) and there is a plethora of network and kids programming. Although, since I got the 500 GB DVR (with eSATA expansion coming in a month or two) I rarely use VOD anymore. I just record pretty much everything I want to see as drive space concerns are (almost) a thing of the past. If you have any other questions just let me know.
-Jakes

Down here on Cape we're getting some BBC America shows in HD on demand: Top Gear, Luther, and Primeval. There are some gaps in which shows are covered, like a couple of gaps in episode order of Luther, but they seem to be filling in. First time here I can rememeber getting any HD from BBCA. Provided Dr. Who joins them, I'd be pretty satisfied with this even if we don't get the actual channel.

Not 11 (like i said earlier carriage of 11.2 satisfies the must carry rule,though there is nothing stopping Verizon from grabbing 11.1 Why they have 36 instead I have no clue?

I know it's not HD, but there's a new channel just added today. The Country Network, which is on WLVI-DT 56.2, is now seen on channel 291.

Great, thanks for the info. What about the 30 second skip feature I've had with Comcast, is that available on Fios as well. I'm so sour with Comcast I'm definitely making the change, just haven't had the time to make it happen this week yet.

Yes, the remote has dedicated skip and replay buttons standard. You don't need to program in the skip button. The STB box software lets you independently set the skip amounts to 30 sec, 1 min, 2 min, and 3 (or 4) min and the replay amounts to 10 sec, 20 sec, 30 sec and 1 min IIRC. I use 1 min skip and 30 sec reply. Works perfect for me.

I figured they would come out with some BS like that.

This reminds me, really annoying that Comcast is now injecting ads where the 30 second skip doesn't work.

What are you talking about?

You haven't seen them? I normally use the 30 second skip to go through the ads, like most people. Recently I was watching a show off the DVR and hit the button to skip the first commercial. The next ad starts and it's an ad from Comcast advertising a new PPV movie, including a "watch it now" icon on the screen. I hit 30 sec skip, nothing. Press it again, nothing. I thought maybe it was the DVR acting up as it does sometimes, but during the next commercial break, it was working fine. Then later on watching another recording, same thing happened and it was also a Comcast PPV ad. Somehow they are preventing these ads from being bypassed.

Weird. I have seen those ads when watching live tv, but haven't had any issues using the skip. So either those ads haven't happened to run during shows I DVR or this issue isn't affecting everyone. Can you ffw through them (as opposed to skipping over them)?

No, never seen them.

Can't recall if I tried FFW.

Free Preview for MLB Extra Innings is coming soon i don't know if the date will be either April 1st or April 4th depending on how InDemand chooses but I'm willing to get the package this time around after missing out for the last couple years.

Anyone else looking forward to it?

Once again I'm on the fence. I've ordered it for the last 5 years or so, but each year I get closer to not ordering. I was seriously considering trying mlb.tv this year, since they claim all games are in 'HD quality' and it would be available on my PS3 in the family room and my BD player in the bedroom. But they don't do a trial period and their response to an email from me also said there were no refunds. Not sure I want to take a $100 risk.

I really enjoy EI, but the PQ on the SD games is so poor that the last couple seasons I really only watched whatever game was on the HD channel (plus the Sox, of course), unless there was a no-hitter in progress or Strasburg was pitching.

With MLB network, Fox, TBS, ESPN and NESN I'm not sure EI is worth another $180. I'm going to wait until the free preview and see if the SD PQ has improved any, if it has I'll probably cave again. Or if they add GAMEHD2, but we all know that ain't happening.

Are the Red Sox exhibition games not broadcast in HD on NESN? I've only caught 2 games so far and they were both in the 4:3 format and didn't seem to be of HD quality.

The fifth season of Doctor Who is actually available now in HD on demand here in southern NH. So I guess the only question is how quickly they'll be adding the new episodes when they start in late April.

NESN doesn't broadcast the sox preseason games in HD
this has been the case since they launched thier HD channel

There was a 2 week preview last year (week before all star break/ week after all star break) 14 day free trial for voting players to the all star game, from my experience with mlb.tv it was very slow and made my computer freeze/crash.

Especially on the "so called HD games" the HD feeds of the games i was watching was so bad it constantly froze and the browsers i was testing the trial on (Firefox, Chrome, Opera, IE) wouldn't respond and stopped working.

To me the trial was a total disaster i would rather have SD feed games on EI then ever going though that failure again.

Good to know, Gt. thanks

I tried the MLB TV on the PS3 for a few days last year then called and canceled. The feeds were choppy and froze a lot and the so called HD quality is not real HD. I agree with you on Extra Innings the SD feeds are almost unwatchable and I really only watch the games that are on the GAMEHD channel. I do not think I will dish out $180 for a package that only has games in HD on 1 channel. Indemand really needs to look at adding more HD channels to their programming who wants to watch sports in SD.

I've had MLB.tv for 2 years and the first year it was absolutely terrible as their player on the PC was buggy and I agree with what some of you have said. Last year I had no problems with watching the games on my computer but on the PS3 while it didn't buffer or freeze it felt like it wasn't displaying at 30 fps. If you travel often then mlb.tv has a big advantage. I will warn you they have no customer support and questions and complaints on their forums go unanswered.

Does anyone know what HD channel NESN+ will be on this year? I know in the past it was on 817, but that's now being occupied by WUTF HD.

This Boston.com link from last year says NESN Plus HD is ch. 894
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2010/05/14/finding_nesn_plus/

But since the SD channel has changed from 81 to 84 this year, the HD could of changed as well.

Was just on the INDEMAND website they are now saying up to 24 games in HD for the MLB EXTRA INNINGS package. In past years they have said up to 12 games but now its 24. If that is the case GAME2 HD which we do not have in Massachusetts will show more games than before. You figure on GAMEHD you will get on Monday 2 games, Tuesday 2 games, Wednesday 3 games because always a day game, Thursday 3 games because always a day game, Friday 2 or 3 games will possibly get 3 games if Cubs have day game, Saturday 2 games, and Sunday 2 games. So in that scenario GAMEHD would show 17 games that would mean GAME2 HD would show 7 games a week to get to the 24 total HD games which INDEMAND now is claiming. I am going to call Comcast to see if GAME2 HD will ever be added because if they are showing 7 HD games a week that makes the package much more attractive. The problem is a lot of cable companies do to have GAME2 HD because during hockey season they go head to head with the NBA package so barely any games are shown on that channel. GAME2 HD would only be an asset to Comcast during baseball season because it does not go head to head with another sport limiting HD games that can be shown.

Hello-

This is likely not an issue that many find to be annoying:

I live in Hopkinton, MA. The Rhode Island PBS HD Channel (819) doesn't start coming through until around 8:30 am. Prior to 8:30, there is a message along the lines of "this channel will be displayed shortly." It comes through in SD 24x7 on Channel 9. I believe Comcast stops the HD broadcast for some reason. This is also true of the secondary channel "Learning" on channel 296 (or is it 294?) Anyway, I have young kids and I prefer the 6:30->8:00 programming on WSBE compared to the other PBS stations I receive...

Anyone else see this? Anyone receive WSBE "over-the-air" and can confirm that they're broadcasting in HD during 6:30-8:00am? I need to contact Comcast to see what's going on.

Thanks! AL

Hi,
If it helps, both PBS channels (WGBH & WSBE) are in HD on FiOS during that timeframe so it must be a Comcast issue. Good luck getting that fixed.
-Jakes

I think Comcast gets WSBE HD OTA. And it gets the SD feed via coax. WSBE subchannel is off during overnights. Coax for Cox and Comcast is 24/7, OTA is 9am-11pm.

When will we see more HD channels on Comcast? Like HDNet, and BBC America?