Will you leave DTV when the Series 3 is available?

[BlankMan]

Just curious. I stumble upon a lot of posts in different thread contexts where people are saying they can't wait till Series 3 TiVo's are out, implying they're going to dump DTV. I'm planning to, even if I have to go back to TWC. So let's see what the general consensus is.

Darn. I worded that wrong, meant to say "with a content provider" not "from a content provider".

[rminsk]

Most of the HD I record is OTA. If the monthly cost of the series 3 and cable is less than DirecTV then I may switch. So another answer to your poll should be "When the price is right"

[super dave]

I just left for Dish. When I called to cancel, she asked why, I answered HD programming and the ability to record it. That was that, no offers no empty promises. I changed because I wanted HD and I waited long enough (1 year) for DTV to get their act together. With the new season approaching it was time act. The only thing I miss is the "bloop bloop" from the DTiVo when I pressed the buttons. The 622 is silent, but extremely fast. No waiting for even a millisecond for the menus or guide to pop up. Records HD and has passes for first runs, just what I need. The PQ is awesome! So far so good.

[BlankMan]

I'm recording more and more HD from OTA too lately, could that be because DTV's HD sucks? :D But if I have a choice to record a HD program via DTV or OTA I always pick OTA, PQ seems to be better. IMO. And the majority of my HD SP's are OTA.

Dave, the 622 is good? It's very seldom I hear anything good said about Dish DVR's.

[jbusa]

I'll have to give my vote to the YES side as well. With the advent of HDTV at least 90% of that gorgeous HD programing is OTA. I'm disappointed it DTV for not having more HD programing, actually I'm disappointed in all the networks for not having more HD programing (HEAR this NASCAR). I've been a devoted TIVO fan for years, my Dad has my original Series 1 w/ Lifetime.

I must say I'm surprised Tivo has taken this long to come out with a SA DT HD box of their own. Hey TIVO, hurry up!


Jim

[drew2k]

There needs to be a simple "No" or "Not right away" choice in the poll, so I didn't answer it. My plan is to stick with DirecTV through at least the end of 2007 to see what additional national HD channels are added and compare to what my cable company has done. I also want to see how DirecTV will handle the MPEG4 HD DVR rollouts and what kind of offers will be made to me as far as "upgrade" costs, etc.

[kimsan]

There needs to be a simple "No" or "Not right away" choice in the poll, so I didn't answer it. My plan is to stick with DirecTV through at least the end of 2007 to see what additional national HD channels are added and compare to what my cable company has done. I also want to see how DirecTV will handle the MPEG4 HD DVR rollouts and what kind of offers will be made to me as far as "upgrade" costs, etc.

I'm in a similar camp as drew.

Dish *cannot* offer me HD DNS, but I'm grandfathered with DirecTV. Cable is not available so not an option.

Content, convenience (spelled T-i-V-o), and price win the game. DirecTV provides me with these for now. Someone else may top them later. If that happens, I'll certain reassess.

[phox_mulder]

I was thinking about dropping D* once the S3 came out, but I've rethunk my decision.

Right now I can record 2 shows in HD at the same time,
add an S3 and I'll be able to record 4, but will still need D* to record 2 of them.

Add in the other 2 simultaneous recordings I can do with the R10, that's another S3 I'll have to find funds for.

It will cost a lot more than I can afford to switch to cable and have the ability to TiVo 6 things at the same time, 4 of them in HD.

Maybe once my R10 or HR10 completely dies, or is incapable of receiving/recording DirecTV programming,
then I'll ditch them and switch to cable.

For now, I'm staying with DirecTV and planning on getting at least 1 Series 3 TiVo.


phox

[DVRaholic]

I will wait it out until the CableCard and Switched video issues are resolved.
I have heard lots of problems getting CableCards to work properly and Cablevision here in NY
is rumored to start testing Switched Video
(hopefully not on HD channels but certainly a possibility)

[Stanley Rohner]

I just left for Dish. When I called to cancel, she asked why, I answered HD programming and the ability to record it. .....

There's a product available called the HR10-250 that records HDTV from DIRECTV and over the air HDTV.

It's been around for a year or 2 now.

I know the DIRECTV HDTV programming package sucks but it's still kinda funny you said part of the reason you cancelled was something about the ability or lack there of to record HDTV.

[annenoe]

None of the choices worked for me - I'm taking a "wait and see", but this is my personal set of circumstances.

+ Just installed new D* HD dish so am 6 months into 2 year contract
+ Setanta Channel - rugby (Think of it this way. if you could only see NFL games on D*, would you switch to cable?)
+ Just invested in an HR10-250
+ I am lucky enough to get good OTA

Right now, I have everything I need. The stuff I really want to watch in HD is available over my local OTA.

I'm also thinking there will be a lot more churn in the next two years while all of this is being sorted out.

[super dave]

There's a product available called the HR10-250 that records HDTV from DIRECTV and over the air HDTV.

It's been around for a year or 2 now.

I know the DIRECTV HDTV programming package sucks but it's still kinda funny you said part of the reason you cancelled was something about the ability or lack there of to record HDTV.
I made that statement because DTV does have my locals on the bird, but the 250 cannot record them. An OTA antenna will not hold a steady signal (I have tried), so that is out of the question. I was watching my local HD through my Comcast HSI connection, so it was "live", and that sucks. DTV keeps pushing their box back and it will be buggy for a while. If they get it together I can always sign on again, it's just at this point in time I was not going to commit for 2 years for more empty promises.

Blankman, yes the 622 seems to be quite the little box. HDMI is working, the menus are fast, the PQ is just as good as OTA for HD, and there are 29 of them plus my locals. I have read complaints about the box, but the one I have is great. I hit the guide button 3 times and it lists only the HD channels, love it! And I have read complaints about the HD content, but to us it is all new. My wife watches HGTHD for hours, and when FoodHD comes on at the end of the month she will be in heaven. NGTVHD is gorgeous. We are happy, and if that changes we will check out other options.

[ToddAtl]

I wish I could, but for me the Sunday Ticket will keep me anchored to DTV. Hopefully the HR-20 will be at least servicable and I will still have the 2 DTivos as backups.

[Markman07]

I wish I could, but for me the Sunday Ticket will keep me anchored to DTV. Hopefully the HR-20 will be at least servicable and I will still have the 2 DTivos as backups.

Same reason for me!

[dswallow]

I'll be watching my options. There's nothing coming to DirecTV on the MPEG4 side that will matter to me at all for at least a year, so there's no rush to make a decision one way or another. I get everything I need in HD over-the-air and then there's just a handful of channels via DirecTV to supplement them that I care about having.

If there were something compelling about a series 3 unit I might get one sooner; such as, for example, if it provided easy access to downloadable shows over the internet. But until FIOS TV comes around these parts, I really can't see dropping DirecTV entirely; Comcast is simply not going to see my business no matter what.

[cheer]

I've still got a commitment to D* so I won't be leaving real soon. And it's still the cheapest way (BY FAR) to be able to DVR 4 or more shows at once, including OTA.

Cable isn't an option, because my bill would skyrocket and I'd lose OTA DVRing, which I don't want to do. The S3 isn't an option for me either, again because of the financial impact in the sub fees alone (not even addressing the cost of the boxes).

I wish I could get my RSN in HD via a Tivo. That kind of sucks.

I will also be watching U-Verse very closely as they add HD, etc., to it. That may be the service that finally yanks me away.

[Brewer4]

I would consider a move but my Comcast does not offer HDNet. Their HD package is ok but its not better then D* right now and despite D* issues, they have more upside. If Comcast came out with 10 more HD channels in the next 6 months, then look out D*. You better hope cable doesnt up the ante. I like Tivo more then D*.

[BlankMan]

I appreciate all the suggestions for additional options in the poll, I had thought of some of them but I wanted to keep the poll short and simple. What I sensed in reading peoples posts about waiting for the S3 was a sense of frustration and people chomping at the bit to dump DTV. I myself feel that way but after reading the posts in this thread I'm starting to rethink that and may look at such decision a little more analytically now.

What I was looking for in the poll were the people that were frustrated enough to jump ship without really worrying about cost for one thing. Early adoption will always cost a little more and I sometimes will pay that premium. In my case, as for TWC monthly costs, I may save a little while retaining the same programming. Just as long as I get the channels I typically watch and more HD that interests me, not just more HD. From a few of the posts here it sounds like Dish has a better line up. I never considered switching to Dish but now I am going to take a look.

DTV, Dish, TWC, they all pretty much carry the channels I watch, I just want to watch them in HD, like National Geographic for one. Thus whomever has that will have an edge, among others, and being able to use TiVo DVR's will have a big edge. I watch more HD via OTA then via DTV even though DTV (channel wise) outnumbers OTA by about 20 to 1. DTV is wasting all their effort and bandwidth providing local station HD which only affects a few as compared to the whole (in each market) whereas if they would have focused on national HD channels for all, all DTV subscribers could benefit from that, then go after the local HD markets. Just seems back asswards to me.

[hhh222]

As long as my HD Tivos are working, I'll probably stay with DTV.

[Brewer4]

I appreciate all the suggestions for additional options in the poll, I had thought of some of them but I wanted to keep the poll short and simple. What I sensed in reading peoples posts about waiting for the S3 was a sense of frustration and people chomping at the bit to dump DTV. I myself feel that way but after reading the posts in this thread I'm starting to rethink that and may look at such decision a little more analytically now.

What I was looking for in the poll were the people that were frustrated enough to jump ship without really worrying about cost for one thing. Early adoption will always cost a little more and I sometimes will pay that premium. In my case, as for TWC monthly costs, I may save a little while retaining the same programming. Just as long as I get the channels I typically watch and more HD that interests me, not just more HD. From a few of the posts here it sounds like Dish has a better line up. I never considered switching to Dish but now I am going to take a look.

DTV, Dish, TWC, they all pretty much carry the channels I watch, I just want to watch them in HD, like National Geographic for one. Thus whomever has that will have an edge, among others, and being able to use TiVo DVR's will have a big edge. I watch more HD via OTA then via DTV even though DTV (channel wise) outnumbers OTA by about 20 to 1. DTV is wasting all their effort and bandwidth providing local station HD which only affects a few as compared to the whole (in each market) whereas if they would have focused on national HD channels for all, all DTV subscribers could benefit from that, then go after the local HD markets. Just seems back asswards to me.

There is no doubt about it but D* is frustrating me. Fortunately for them they still have the HD Tivo and a better HD lineup then my current cable. But the frustrations has changed my view of D* and opens them up for evaluation and a prime candidate for replacement. 4 years ago that was never a thought. But the whole merger stall, the News Corp management shakeup, and a lot of misteps (especially dumping Tivo) over the past 2 years has made this company vulnerable in my opinion.

I have hopes left but its all about delivery isnt it? This HD TIvo 6.3 upgrade is ticking me off. The fact that its taken this long for the new HD DVR is very frustrating. I got MPEG4 stuff but no way to record it. What will be interesting to see if the new HD DVR is any good. I've seen the Dish 622 and like it. And of course there is nothing like the HD Tivo.

Did I mention not getting the 6.3 upgrade is ticking me off? I do think its coming but give me a break already. I dont really care if its been officially announced or not, just get that thing out there!! :mad:

[stim]

My local cable company SUCKS, so I guess I won't be leaving any time soon.

[mattn2]

My Comcast is so backwards that they just went thru an upgrade (system wide) over the past 2 years, yet failed to up the bandwidth. They only installed/upgraded to a 500 (800 MHz?) system vs 800 (1.* GHz?). This limits the whole system to only be able to add the HD OTA stations. Which is better than nothing since the Denver DMA is stuck in the quagmire of NIMBYs and low power Digital OTA that can not be received by >80% of my city.
Since these HD OTA stations are available "free"* to me on cable in QAM, I'll probably get the S3 to add to my system for the alphabet networks, and keep my HR10 for HD from the Sat + FOX/CW (which I do get OTA).

# Matt

* I use cablemodem, and for $10 I add basic cable TV and get a $10 discount on the modem. Hence "free".

[cheer]

So this is an analysis that I go through semi-annually (programming, costs, etc.). For a baseline, I pay a little over $90/mo to D* for TC+ w/locals, HBO, the HD package, and five total receivers (all DirecTivos).

Dish...well, Dish frustrates me. I was actually with them for a year before I switched to D*. I made the move to D* for Tivo and no other reason -- at the time, Dish PVRs were awful and single-tuner. (They had a dual-tuner model out but wouldn't let me get it -- only for new customers. There's marketing for you.)

So now I go to dish.com to try and figure out what the hit would be. But there's just no way. Dish, it seems, is a big proponent of using their newer DVRs in some goofy mode where you hook two TVs up to one box. That's not what I want. I have four rooms in which I want service, and I want each room to have its own DUAL TUNER DVR. They won't let me select that on the web. Guess I have to call. If I DID use their wacky system, I think my bill would be about the same as my D* bill. (Again, I can't even figure that out, because I have a fifth receiver in my son's truck -- he's a long-distance trucker. ) So it says $84/mo, but that no doubt goes up if I want two more actual boxes at home, not to mention the truck receiver. This is for AT120 w/HBO and locals.

So then there's Comcast. I can't quite figure out how to spec all the stuff I want here either, but I'm closer than I am with Dish. Seems as though my new bill would be just over $50/month MORE. And I wouldn't have the fifth receiver. Anyway for their Silver Plus package w/HBO it'd be $145. O U C H.

So now let's think about the S3. Obviously if I get the S3 I don't need Comcast DVRs -- or even boxes. Just cablecards. Can't figure out how much they would cost, so let's assume free. Removing the additional boxes and DVRs (can't remove the first one, it seems) gets me down to $81/mo. Now let's assume I can pay for the S3 in such a way as to get the $12.99/mo Tivo fee. That would be $12.99, plus $6.99 x 3 for the other three. (S2DT not an option 'cos I'd need cablecard.) So that's $34 to Tivo, plus $81 to Comcast = $115/mo.

But then, programming counts, right? So I went through the programming options offered to see if maybe some extra cost might be justified.

Looking at Comcast's lineup, the only channels I don't currently get that I might be interested in are INHD/INHD2 and NFL Network HD. But I'd be losing ESPN2, HDNet and HDNet movies -- not a trade I'm willing to make. I LOVE HDNet Movies. One of the only channels out there that actually understands OAR.

Looking at Dish's lineup, I see NO HD channels that I'd really like to have. My wife might like HGTV HD. In an hour of boredom I might watch Film Fest HD or World Cinema HD. Or maybe not...a quick scan of what's scheduled on FFHD showed names like "Adam Baldwin," "Shannon Tweed" and "Gary Busey." *shudder*

Ah but coming soon, the dark horse...U-Verse. U-Verse will give me lots of channels, plus all the movie channels (not just HBO)...three receivers (one of which is a DVR, *but* they're networked and DVR'd programs can be watched from any receiver), AND 3mb downlink Internet for $114. Now they haven't added HD yet (expected in a few months), and there are other questions (how much for a fourth receiver, can I get additional DVRs so as to record more than two things at once, how many HD streams are supported, etc.). And it's new, so there are likely bugs and quirks. But it's attractive. And I can pay a bit more for even faster Internet. It's not available here yet, but probably will be by the end of the year.

We shall see. The surprise here is that cable w/S3 units isn't quite as outrageous as I thought it would be. But then there are cablecard fees that I haven't worked in, not to mention the purchase price of the S3 units.

[BlankMan]

I think I heard around here the CableCards from TWC are $1.49 a month. A buddy told me that when he was looking at getting one.

[yunlin12]

How about an option for "Already did, S3 will just be icing on the cake"

I left D to go Comcast because:
1) Too far to get OTA HD, don't want to deal with recording MPEG4 locals using any future DTV HD DVR
2) DTV does not carry FSB-HD. Comcast carries it on the same channel as INHD2. they also turned on ESPN2 recently. It's still missing Universal-HD for Battlestar, but I just about have everything I want.
3) DTV's HD-Lite broadcast (1280X1080 instead of 1920 X 1080)
4) Don't want to install another dish and run more cables

Either the S3 or the ComcasTivo would be icing on the cake.


So then there's Comcast. I can't quite figure out how to spec all the stuff I want here either, but I'm closer than I am with Dish. Seems as though my new bill would be just over $50/month MORE. And I wouldn't have the fifth receiver. Anyway for their Silver Plus package w/HBO it'd be $145. O U C H.


Just tell them you are coming from satellite and watch them bend over backwards. I got Comcast Silver w/ HBO, HD DVR, cable broadband for 103/month for 1 year. I was also offered a free second receiver with a much lower rate than the 103 but a 6 month deal, when I told them I was coming from DTV.

[OldFantom]

How long is the NFL exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket contract? That is pretty much my commitment to the DirecTv system. If they think this two year agreement that they keep pushing on me every time I blink is my deterrent for leaving, they are wrong. Similarly, if they think their stunning customer service, HD lineup or technology is keeping me here....

[dswallow]

How long is the NFL exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket contract?
The current NFL Sunday Ticket contract with DirecTV runs through the 2010 season.

[JimSpence]

I would opt for the S3 only if my local cable company offers more than what I get from DirecTV.

[tbb1226]

I have zero interest in buying another $800 TiVo - especially one with more than double the monthly DVR fee that I pay DirecTV now for two DVRs.

That's not to say I won't switch from DirecTV. I just won't do it for the S3 TiVo.