If You Want Satellite HD, Prepare to PAY UP.

[The Cleaner]

New technology is coming about in the satellite TV world...and if you want to take advantage of your spanking new HDTV's High Definition capabilities, prepare to pony up and purchase brand new equipment in addition to paying more $$$ for HD programming.

Note: This article was written October 2006.

Double note: If you don't want to spend the $$$ on cable or satellite, go to www.antennaweb.org to see what kind of digital antenna is right for you. With a digital antenna, you can receive local HD programming - for FREE (so long as the station airs in HD, which a few are now).

With big changes like MPEG-4 come big sacrifices. Older DirecTV and Dish Network dishes and set-top boxes aren't compatible with MPEG-4 services. DirecTV and Dish Network plan to broadcast the existing MPEG-2 HD lineup; for the time being, however, you'll need to replace your current satellite equipment to watch the new local and national HD channels. Luckily, both satellite carriers offer discounts to existing HD customers to make the transition less painful.

For MPEG-4 customers, Dish Network has 4 HD packages starting at $50/month. Local channels via satellite, including HD locals, cost an extra $5 per month. Each of the four packages offers the same 7 main channels as the DirecTV package, as well as 22 additional national high-def channels, far surpassing DirecTV's current HD offering...

DirectTV and Dish Network subscribers also have their choice of pay-per-view HD movies and events ($5 per movie for DirecTV, $6 per movie for Dish Network), while subscribers to DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket will get about 110 games a season in HD.

http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5108854-3.html

Edit to add one more interesting tidbit about HD. On HD channels, some of the programming you are watching may not necessarily be HD after all:

If you're watching an HDTV that's plugged into your new HDTV cable box and tuned to an HDTV channel, then you're watching high-def, right? Not necessarily. Some HDTV channels, such as DiscoveryHD and HDNet, broadcast everything in high-def, including commercials. But most are simulcast, meaning they have the same shows on both the high-def and standard-def channels. The catch is that not every show on the HD channel actually appears in high-def. Many games on ESPNHD, for example, don't actually appear in high-def, and a number of TV programs on the major networks--especially reality shows and local news--aren't in HD yet either. Non-HD shows on HD channels won't look nearly as sharp as the high-def shows do and usually don't fill the wide screen properly. All of the major networks, namely ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, are simulcast in HD and non-HD versions, and by this point, almost all major sporting events, prime-time shows, and specials are in high-def. See our HDTV listings for details.

http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-6635863-1.html?tag=tnav

[NMDemDist2]

1. i have two new decks (that run 4 TVs) and the full line up of programming

from DishNetwork and it's running me about $90 a month

I consider it a cheap entertainment budget since we have no decent movie theaters in town :shrug:

[The Cleaner]

4. I guess it is a matter of perspective.

True, if you don't have any movie theatres in town and live out in the country it's probably worth it.

[NMDemDist2]

7. yup, we are in a very rural area and have odd times to watch so hving

the DVR capability to record shows we enjoy to watch at our leisure is good

we've considered a netflicks thing, but we never know when we can sit and watch a movie. with the DVR it works out fine, and with HBO and SHO we get most of the major releases shortly after they come out on DVD so it works for us

[hardcore]

2. Both cable and satellite prices will start dropping soon

VIOS is eating their lunch everywhere it's becoming available. All fiberoptic network that delivers high speed internet at 7-10X cable modem speed plus home phone service, movie's on demand and full range TV. The real broadband is here.

[The Cleaner]

3. That's FIOS (Verizon): Fiber Optic Systems.

I know because they came out to install the wiring in my apartment last year. I'm about to tell our apartments to tell Verizon to BACK OFF, because their damn salespeople keep knocking on my door with, "Hi ,what cable or internet provider do you use?" I keep telling them I don't want FIOS and they keep coming back.

Anyway, FIOS Internet is rather expensive right now, $40 for the most basic service. However as you say even the most basic service is faster than anything out there.

I haven't checked out FIOS wireless TV yet, but I assume it's pricey as hell. In apartments it's hard, because you don't want to commit unless you KNOW you'll be staying around a few years. If we move into a house, for example, in an area FIOS doesn't service yet, we'd still be obligated under the FIOS contract from our apartment. Or else pay absurd $$$ to break the contract.

[Roland99]

5. A point to add and a tip to add, too.

First, re: HD broadcasts, many of the local station will run sub-channels that take away bandwidth from the main HD broadcast. I have a local NBC affiliate that broadcasts a horrible-looking 4:3 SDTV sub-channel and some weather sub-channel, too. When watching NBC HD programs, the pixellation/aliasing/etc. is just horrid, esp. on sports programs. So, even if you are watching HD, you may not really be seeing HD.

And for the tip, here's the best board I've ever seen re: HD discussions:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/

[Robson]

6. Thanks

That's probably the reason I'm getting pixelation on my NBC HDTV as they broadcast a weather channel also. My Sony set has an HDTV tuner and I should probably just take it off the air instead of through the cable box.