D* HD, How Much Will It Cost?
-
LIVE: AVSForum Tech Talk Podcast with Scott Wilkinson, Episode 5 Click here for details.
-
Enter to be our Home Theater of the Month Click here for details.
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
They need to come up with new Total Choice packages based around HD. I am unwilling to pay for a SD and an HD version of ESPN, TNT, CNN etc. We need to speak up about this. If we just pay whatever they throw at us, our bills will be 150.00 without sports subscriptions.
Right on!
Comments from a D* spokesman, posted in another thread, indicated that "some channels will be included in the HD package and others will be premium".
Will they tinker with the price of the HD pack again? Most cable providers, at least here in my area, don't charge extra for HD.
Will D* be able to justify raising the HD price, especially in light of the fact that we'll have to upgrade our equipment to MPEG4.
Comments from a D* spokesman, posted in another thread, indicated that "some channels will be included in the HD package and others will be premium".
Will they tinker with the price of the HD pack again? Most cable providers, at least here in my area, don't charge extra for HD.
Will D* be able to justify raising the HD price, especially in light of the fact that we'll have to upgrade our equipment to MPEG4.
Point taken, Ken. But if D* reads this board as you say they do I think there is some value in getting our opinions to them. There are some who would say "Give me all the HD there is, I don't care what the cost...". I'd rather see them add some channels to the (now overpriced) basic HD pack and maybe offer some additional channels in a tiered package. Slightly off topic, I don't mind paying extra for 'new' channels (channels like HDNet & Discovery HD) but to me, the value of the mirrored HD channels is less.
Point taken, Ken. But if D* reads this board as you say they do I think there is some value in getting our opinions to them. There are some who would say "Give me all the HD there is, I don't care what the cost...". I'd rather see them add some channels to the (now overpriced) basic HD pack and maybe offer some additional channels in a tiered package. Slightly off topic, I don't mind paying extra for 'new' channels (channels like HDNet & Discovery HD) but to me, the value of the mirrored HD channels is less.
Joined
·
8,246 Posts
Agreed 100%.
Everyone should know they will be forced to price it to be competitive.
Don't forget the other side of this - The Channels need them to broadcast these HD Channels as much as they need the HD Channels - as most MSOs do not have the bandwidth to roll them out.
If these networks want to be on the ground floor of HD - they need to get in now - and there is no reason to price them out of reach of most D* Customers - as that does no good.
Let's remember that UHD and MHD among others have already failed to find an audience and balance that makes sense to the network from an economic perspective - despite UHD being on virtually every cable system and both DBS suppliers.
Agreed 100%.
Everyone should know they will be forced to price it to be competitive.
Don't forget the other side of this - The Channels need them to broadcast these HD Channels as much as they need the HD Channels - as most MSOs do not have the bandwidth to roll them out.
If these networks want to be on the ground floor of HD - they need to get in now - and there is no reason to price them out of reach of most D* Customers - as that does no good.
Let's remember that UHD and MHD among others have already failed to find an audience and balance that makes sense to the network from an economic perspective - despite UHD being on virtually every cable system and both DBS suppliers.
I doubt ESPN, TNT, CNN, et all will permit that. Well they might but they'll tell D* that they rather then pay $2 for ESPN HD and $1 for ESPNHD that they can sell ESPN HD alone for $3. So it's not going to save D* any money, so dont count on it.
(MADE UP numbers for illustration)
I doubt ESPN, TNT, CNN, et all will permit that. Well they might but they'll tell D* that they rather then pay $2 for ESPN HD and $1 for ESPNHD that they can sell ESPN HD alone for $3. So it's not going to save D* any money, so dont count on it.
(MADE UP numbers for illustration)
All good points.
But "competitive" will be a tough thing to define. Since D* could be offering 3 times more then the next competitor and maybe 5 times the average number of channels carried, it will be tough to draw a comparison to anyone else's HD pack since there really will be no competitor at first. FIOS might match the lineup on day one and keep their tv cost at $45 ish that they charge now- but since there footprint is likely to be very small for a time D* doesn't really need to watch them all that much at first.
Will they charge 3 times as much as the next guy- not likely. Will they price what everyone else charges- not likely either.
All good points.
But "competitive" will be a tough thing to define. Since D* could be offering 3 times more then the next competitor and maybe 5 times the average number of channels carried, it will be tough to draw a comparison to anyone else's HD pack since there really will be no competitor at first. FIOS might match the lineup on day one and keep their tv cost at $45 ish that they charge now- but since there footprint is likely to be very small for a time D* doesn't really need to watch them all that much at first.
Will they charge 3 times as much as the next guy- not likely. Will they price what everyone else charges- not likely either.
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
