[facethemusic]

When shopping for an HD set a year ago, I was told by someone on this forum that HD programming would be the "norm" in 2006. I caught a blurb on one of those 30 min cable news programs saying that the FCC was considering pushing this date back to 2009! Can someone who's well-informed tell me when HD will be the full-time way of broadcasting and watching TV? Isn't there a timetable for when all new tvs being made will have to be HD-ready as well?

 

[cliffmarc]

HD Time line


2010 direct Tv adds TNT HD

2011 Comcast completes total transition over to HD

2012 Direct TV add all the HD LIL

2013 Dish adds HD Distant network feeds

2015 All cable news networks start broadcasting in HD

2016 Direct TV and Dish start a new Tier for HD news 7.95 a month

2020 All Cable companies carry every HD channel

2025 D* and E* catch up to cable

2030 Most old shows converted over to HD

2031 All cable Companies and D* and E* offer TV classics package 10.95 at month

2039 Everything has been converted over to HD

average cable bill $495.00 average Sat bill $395.00


Just kidding.... the real question is why are you waiting? I know it might seem as if their is not much HD to watch but believe me their is and sometimes it can be breath taking..

 

[Shark73]

Quote:

Originally posted by facethemusic I caught a blurb on one of those 30 min cable news programs saying that the FCC was considering pushing this date back to 2009!

That date is when broadcasters have to go digital. Digital and HD are not the same. It's only a guess if HD will become the norm. We hope so but nothing is set in stone.

 

[Karyk]

I had a different interpretation of the word "norm." I thought you meant when would HDTV be the most common. If you limit yourself to the major networks, it already is the most common (with mainly news and reality shows being SD, and sports being spotty still). Most "cable" channels are still SD, in part, because most systems still don't have the ability to have a lot of HD channels. So they will lag.


So basically, under my interpretation of "norm" the answer depends on what you watch.

 

[hefe]

Quote:

Originally posted by facethemusic Isn't there a timetable for when all new tvs being made will have to be HD-ready as well?

Yes and no.


As stated in a previous post, the whole conversion is to Digital TV, not HD TV.


When TV is broadcast with a digital signal, it can be sent with High definition, Enhanced Definition, Standard Definition, varying levels of picture quality.


Over the next couple years, rules are phasing in that require new TVs to contain digital tuners, so they can receive these digital signals.


But just because you have a digital tuner, it may not mean you have a display capable of showing you the full HD quality. People are going to have to be careful that they know what they're buying. It will be interesting to see what kind of products are out when all TVs, even the little ones, have to have digital tuners.

 

[bgall]

Move to Japan?

 

[facethemusic]

To cliffmarc,

My wife and I bought at Mits 52525 DLP set about 6 weeks ago and we have been enjoying HD on the major networks made possible by it's built-in OTA tuner. And you're right - HD looks awesome. That is what partially prompted my question - because we want more HD sooner than later! I guess from reading the responses, it's more of a matter of people taking the plunge and buying the HD-ready sets than any preset date from the FCC.

 

[Marissadad]

For me, the "Norm" is today, I have access to 34 HD channels and the only thing I ever watch in SD anymore is Survivor.

 

[cliffmarc]

Quote:

Originally posted by facethemusic To cliffmarc, My wife and I bought at Mits 52525 DLP set about 6 weeks ago and we have been enjoying HD on the major networks made possible by it's built-in OTA tuner. And you're right - HD looks awesome. That is what partially prompted my question - because we want more HD sooner than later! I guess from reading the responses, it's more of a matter of people taking the plunge and buying the HD-ready sets than any preset date from the FCC.

Facethemusic,

I was trying to be funny. I often wonder the same thing actually. I want more HD and sometimes I do feel as if its going to take another 10 years before everything that we watch will be in HD.... I guess I can be a

smart A** sometimes

 

[ccallana]

My question (posted in another forum) is when will the DT stations start showing their already widescreen (or maybe widescreen-looking) commercials in actual widescreen. Half the commercials out there at least *look* like they were shot widescreen - why do I have to watch with bars on all 4 sides, or be pushing my AR button all the time.

 

[Marissadad]

Quote:

Originally posted by ccallana My question (posted in another forum) is when will the DT stations start showing their already widescreen (or maybe widescreen-looking) commercials in actual widescreen. Half the commercials out there at least *look* like they were shot widescreen - why do I have to watch with bars on all 4 sides, or be pushing my AR button all the time.

1) I can't beleive you actually WATCH commercials.

2) I can't believe you actually change AR for a commercial.

That aside, I have noticed that many of the WS commercials actually look better than the 4:3 counterparts, is this because they were downrezzed from HD or is it just the smaller image?

 

[videojanitor]

Quote:

Originally posted by ccallana Half the commercials out there at least *look* like they were shot widescreen - why do I have to watch with bars on all 4 sides, or be pushing my AR button all the time.

The "widescreen" commercials are done that way simply to look "hip." That is, when they're viewed in 4:3, they're letterboxed and look more "movie-like." Unfortunately, this doesn't translate well at all when that's shown inside a 4:3 window on a 16:9 display, but I suspect that most advertisers don't really care about that right now, as most of the eyeballs are on what's seen in 4:3.

 

[ccallana]

No - I don't actually change the AR when watching commercials! Was just trying to make a point. Once I can get me an SA-HD-Tivo for a *reasonable* price, I won't care so much

 

[Steve_in_L.A.]

I interpreted "the norm" to mean something along the lines of "when will HD replace SD for most things." That's the way I think about it. Of course, no one really knows, but I'd say not until after 2010. However, if you accept an alternative definition of "when will an alternative HD version of most things be available in addition to the SD equivalents," that answer does finally seem to be "now" if you accept "most things" to mean the most established US media (major networks, oldest premium cable channels like HBO, Showtime, etc). That's basically why I bought into my first HDTV this month.

 

[Joxer]

I think there will always be some SD channels and SD programs, especially for old reruns of older shows. I don't see nostaligia channels like TV-Land or GoodLife going HD with 40year old programs - they still air old Black&White shows 40 years after color became the "norm". Network primetime is already mostly HD available and it will continue to increase.

 

[MnGuy]

Quote:

Originally posted by cliffmarc HD Time line 2010 direct Tv adds TNT HD

This a little optimistic, don't you think?

 

[facethemusic]



Originally posted by Steve_in_L.A.

I interpreted "the norm" to mean something along the lines of "when will HD replace SD for most things."


You hit the nail on the head for what i meant "the norm" to be. Thanks.

 

[QZ1]

Quote:

Originally posted by facethemusic When shopping for an HD set a year ago, I was told by someone on this forum that HD programming would be the "norm" in 2006. I caught a blurb on one of those 30 min cable news programs saying that the FCC was considering pushing this date back to 2009!

As others have mentioned those dates are for the transition to all Digital. However, I should point out that the proposed delay is actually only two years, not three. It would go from the last day of '06 to the first day of '09. For the sake of uniformity they should have just said the last day of '08.