36 HD Local markets by Mid 2006?

[Jimbo713]

Saw that a total of 36 HD locals will be up and running by mid-year. Anybody have a list of which markets will be included?

[SpankyInChicago]

Saw that a total of 36 HD locals will be up and running by mid-year. Anybody have a list of which markets will be included?


http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html

You are #37.

[HogarthNH]

http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html

You are #37.


That having been said, D* has swapped the order here and there -- they're not going down the list in order.

Ya never know.

If they expect 36 by the end of Q2, I'd expect 48 or so by the end of Q3, if they maintain the current pace.

[AbMagFab]

And no MPEG-4 recorder in that timeframe. What a weird prioritization for them...

HD still is a higher-end customer. Most people with an HDTV want a DVR (at least the 50% that actually can receive HD).

But you can't get that with DirecTV until "mid-2006", which, based on past CES dates, means we'll be lucky to see it in 2006 at all.

[JimSpence]

So when can I expect them?
He asks rhetorically.
DMA is 156.

Rant On
Stupid waste of bandwidth.
Rant Off

[newsposter]

I feel bad...you should 'move' Jim...if possible. it aint right to make you wait that long!

you'll kill me for saying, but I actually looked at my local cable co web page today because UPN and WB aren't on the birds for a few years (if at all). Unless I can get my antenna set up right (I can't get fox in at all right now), I may have to explore that option. I dont know squat about a moxi box but seems almost the same as tivo, i dare say. Even said they have FF compensation according to their pdf file. I didn't do a channel by channel comparsion but for 11 HD channels it's 11 bucks and it's a much better deal than DTVs 11 bucks and the premium package has more stuff like all 5 HD channels.

I can see why people go with cable. Except I remember we had more outtages years ago than we have had with DTV so far.

sorry for the OT response

[bidger]

So when can I expect them?
He asks rhetorically.
DMA is 156.
Probably before me.
DMA is 173.

Don't you have waivers for all the nets, Jim? I could be satisfied if I could get all the distants in HD, lacking ABC & NBC.

[JimSpence]

Yes, I do have waivers for the four main networks, but DirecTV just won't offer the same for WB and UPN.

The HD offerings by our cable company (TWC) aren't very good. In fact, our OTA offerings stink as well, only ABC and PBS.

BTW, I also subscribe al-a-carte to Dish Network's Superstation pack. But, to time shift those I have to use my DVD/HDD recorder. And, it ain't no TiVo. :)

[IOTP]

Yes, I do have waivers for the four main networks, but DirecTV just won't offer the same for WB and UPN.

The HD offerings by our cable company (TWC) aren't very good. In fact, our OTA offerings stink as well, only ABC and PBS.

BTW, I also subscribe al-a-carte to Dish Network's Superstation pack. But, to time shift those I have to use my DVD/HDD recorder. And, it ain't no TiVo. :)

Question for you, I have a friend of mine that lives outside the Phoenix area.

Since he's a long time DTV subscriber, he gets the local Phoenix, AZ (eg 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, and 15) markets PLUS the out of market feeds (eg channels 380-389).

He is thinking of getting the HDTV update. Here is the question, will he get the High Def out of markets too? (eg ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX HDs, channels 80-90)?

He's about 200 miles from the OTA broadcasts, with 3 mountain ranges, OTA HD locals just will never happen in Pinetop/Lakeside, Arizona.

[Chuck_IV]

That having been said, D* has swapped the order here and there -- they're not going down the list in order.

Ya never know.



Correct. Directv seemd to go by THEIR market penetration which doesn't necessarily jive with the Nielsen list. I know when SD locals were coming, Hartford/New Haven was passed over when the top 35 were added, even tho they were #27 in the Nielsen lis, at the timet. We didn't come online till the top 50 hit. Hopefully this won't be the case, this time around tho.