[Alan Gordon]

Quote:

Meanwhile, daily trade publication CableFAX is reporting this morning that DirecTV's programming carriage contracts with Disney, which includes ESPN, are under negotiation despite the fact they expired Sept. 30. DirecTV wouldn't comment to CableFAX concerning the matter, but the publication reported that ESPN wants DirecTV to accept the same average yearly increase of 7 percent that some MSOs have accepted.

SkyReport



I've mentioned in posts earlier this year about how DirecTV was going to be having negotiations with Disney later this year. It's nice to once again hear it though. Since CBS-HD happened after contract talks with Viacom and NBC-HD (and Bravo-HD+) happened after talks with NBC, could this mean that we'll soon be seeing ABC in HD on DirecTV... heck, maybe even ESPN2-HD... I guess we'll see!



A word to DirecTV though, do not, I repeat, DO NOT TAKE AWAY MY ABC FAMILY!!


~Alan

 

[CycloneGT]

This is when it would happen. ABC-HD & ESPN2-HD.


Funny thing is that even when contracts are signed, the channels can either appear within a few days, or sometimes it takes months. You never know.

 

[danco]

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed....It sure would be nice to see Lost and Desperate Houswives in HD (can't get OTA!).


--Dan

 

[Alan Gordon]

Quote:

Originally posted by danco I'll be keeping my fingers crossed....It sure would be nice to see Lost and Desperate Houswives in HD (can't get OTA!).

Yeah, I am too! I had so-so luck picking up a fairly close ABC affiliate's HD signal during primetime hours, annoying as it was since they (for a while tended) to forget to turn the HD on until after the show was about halfway over with. Not to mention, no DD 5.1... however, I was still glad to get it when I couldn't pick up WPGA-DT out of Macon. I moved my antenna higher and now I can't pick up my closest affiliate's digital channel, nor WPGA-DT. I can however pick up WSB-DT out of Atlanta but the signal keeps going in and out... which makes watching ABC in HD VERY tiresome. With the majority of ABC's comedies being watched in SD at my house, it wouldn't be that big of a deal except for the addition of "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" to ABC's lineup which is SO much cooler in HD!


Here's hoping that ABC-HD will be added very soon!


~Alan

 

[taz291819]

Quote:

Originally posted by CycloneGT This is when it would happen. ABC-HD & ESPN2-HD. Funny thing is that even when contracts are signed, the channels can either appear within a few days, or sometimes it takes months. You never know.

You're absolutely correct. In the Viacom contract, there was mention of a network UPN feed on DirecTv, I haven't seen that on any bird yet.

 

[CycloneGT]

Even D* announced that FOX-HD would be on D*, back during the SuperBowl CBS-HD announcement. They sure have been taking their time with that one.

 

[rm22whitney]

I am down to getting ABC High Def off the antenna about one% of the time.

Monday Night football, Lost, Desperate Housewives, and everything else

is lost to me. I get CBS, NBC, FOX,WB, UPN. but I can't get ABC no matter

what I do with my antenna. Not getting Monday Nite Football tottaly

ticks me off. Enough so, that I'm tempted to go to cable.

 

[Alan Gordon]

Quote:

Originally posted by taz291819 You're absolutely correct. In the Viacom contract, there was mention of a network UPN feed on DirecTv, I haven't seen that on any bird yet.

That was to be able to provide LIL UPN stations in markets where the UPN affiliate is O&O by Viacom. Sadly, it had nothing to do with providing a UPN feed to the masses. Trust me when I say that I wish it was... even though I have (sorta) a UPN affiliate in my DMA, I can get a better picture off of the CBS affiliate clear on the other side of the state! It would be nice watching "Enterprise" where you can tell what's going on!


~Alan

 

[riga]

Quote:

Originally posted by rm22whitney I am down to getting ABC High Def off the antenna about one% of the time. Monday Night football, Lost, Desperate Housewives, and everything else is lost to me. I get CBS, NBC, FOX,WB, UPN. but I can't get ABC no matter what I do with my antenna. Not getting Monday Nite Football tottaly ticks me off. Enough so, that I'm tempted to go to cable.

I don't know what kind of antenna you have but I too have trouble picking up the distant ABC station at low-power. I have a CM 4228, and found that tilting the mast ever so slightly, in the towards/away plane, gives me enough signal to snap it in.


Cable is not an option for us as our town is Adelphia.

 

[Alan Gordon]

Quote:

Originally posted by CycloneGT Even D* announced that FOX-HD would be on D*, back during the SuperBowl CBS-HD announcement. They sure have been taking their time with that one.

The difference being is that the CBS, NBC and now ABC deals are also tied to the carriage of the SD channels as well. At stake is ABC's O&O LIL channels, ABC's DNS channels, ABC Family, Disney E&W, and all the ESPN channels (including ESPN-HD).


Fox however (to my knowledge anyway), was never tied to any other negotiations, but simply something that made perfect sense for Newscorp to try and do. Also, if I remember correctly, the press release only stated that they were expecting a similar deal with FOX... but due to the legal issues involved with trying to keep yourself out of an anti-trust lawsuit, it took a while, and may still take a while.


~Alan

 

[drgolf]

I thought it was reported on this forum that ABC HD carriage was something ABC wasn't going to do on DBS because their affiliates were against. Was it actually their position or a negotiating ploy? In the absence of another statement from ABC on the issue, only time will tell.

 

[plasmamaniac]

How do we find out what the O&O affiliates are such as in Atlanta. Is Atlanta affiliate an O&O station?

 

[Alan Gordon]

Quote:

Originally posted by drgolf I thought it was reported on this forum that ABC HD carriage was something ABC wasn't going to do on DBS because their affiliates were against. Was it actually their position or a negotiating ploy? In the absence of another statement from ABC on the issue, only time will tell.

They sorta said that they weren't really interested in doing that. However, with CBS, NBC and FOX (sorta) available on DirecTV, ABC might feel like they have to give in. First of all, it would mean that the NY and LA ABC stations are LIL and with the new SHVIA coming into effect soon (hopefully), it will severely cripple those who are getting distants when they shouldn't be able to. It might not happen, but I expect to see it sooner than later!


~Alan

 

[leesweet]

It was a thread headed by a story from the prez of ABC saying in effect 'hell, no' to DBS for ABC HD/E-W. But as some of you say, things change. If they are the only one, and when D* has HD LILs in '05/'06, that could add more pressure, also. Presidents get replaced, also...

 

[Smthkd]

Quote:

Originally posted by plasmamaniac How do we find out what the O&O affiliates are such as in Atlanta. Is Atlanta affiliate an O&O station?

Channel 2 - ABC in Atlanta is not O&O. Cox Communications own this station! See Link: www

. geocities.com/mhking2/stations.html

 

[dgordo]

Quote:

Originally posted by plasmamaniac How do we find out what the O&O affiliates are such as in Atlanta. Is Atlanta affiliate an O&O station?

O&O stations

 

[thepicman]

Quote:

Originally posted by Alan Gordon the new SHVIA coming into effect soon (hopefully), it will severely cripple those who are getting distants when they shouldn't be able to. ~Alan

Why do you care if people get DNS and you can't?

 

[herdfan]

Quote:

Originally posted by leesweet It was a thread headed by a story from the prez of ABC saying in effect 'hell, no' to DBS for ABC HD/E-W.

I would seem to me that ABC will be the odd man out if it comes down to money for ESPN. ie. if the deal for ESPN includes ABC-HD, the president of ABC is going to get the short end of that corporate stick.


Remember, he works for Disney and what Mickey says, goes.

 

[talbain]

i'm not real clear about what the original quote in the first post has to do with ABC-HD. it's not mentioned at all. is all this just idle speculation?

 

[mstahlkr]

I wonder with the (possibly legal) problems in getting Fox HD might mean we would see ABC HD before Fox?