How many HD channels do you get?

dsb411 · 09-14-2006, 08:46 AM

I have Comcast HD. I get all the HD channels they offer. 14. Of those 14 channels how many do you actually want to record? I just dont get the craze over the ability to record "Sunrises around the World" or the "Competetive Eating League" in HD. Is it the HD movies, which actually arent really HD? Or is it just the networks? Somebody please explain.

Amnesia · 09-14-2006, 09:09 AM

I get 20 HD channels:

PBS
CBS
ABC
NBC
Fox
UPN (soon to be CW)
WB (soon to be something else)
MHD
UHD
TNT
ESPN
ESPN2
NESN (New England Sports Network)
INHD
INHD2
Discovery HD
HBO HD
Cinemax HD
Starz HD
Showtime HD

I've probably recorded off about half, which is pretty good...

Chip Chanko · 09-14-2006, 09:17 AM

Most of the stuff I record hasn't gone to HD yet (bravo, food, Comedy Central) so $800 doesn't add that much value for me (esp w/out in-the-clear QAM mapping).

Gregor · 09-14-2006, 09:28 AM

Of the channels on Comcast I would probably record off:

* PBS
* CBS
* ABC
* NBC
* Fox
* TNT
* ESPN
* ESPN2
* Comcast Sports Net
* INHD
* INHD2
* Discovery HD
* HBO HD

I don't need as much space in hours for HD as there isn't as much content. What I will do is remove many season passes from my Series 2s for HD content that I record as backups because the Comcast DVR is so unreliable.

rainwater · 09-14-2006, 09:28 AM

If you watch sports you will never want to watch it in standard def again after watching it in HD.

Gregor · 09-14-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainwater

If you watch sports you will never want to watch it in standard def again after watching it in HD.

The #1 reason I bought an HD TV. Sports are gorgeous, even if they do waste the outside edges to keep the picture for SD customers.

Ereth · 09-14-2006, 09:38 AM

All the prime time network shows are in HD now.

And there's things on Discovery HD that are just so beautiful that you watch them even if you have no interest in the topic whatsoever. I remember watching some special about people who lived in floating houses on top a lake and grew grass on the lake to cut and sell to townspeople. And it was just stunning.

And there's always "Bikini Destinations", which looks absolutely beautiful in HD.

toots · 09-14-2006, 09:39 AM

I get the same lineup as amnesia.

But the secondary draws for me are:

1) I can record the SD channels off cable without worry of a missed channel change (which still happens to me at least once a week)

2) I can record the SD digital channels off cable without the decode/re-encode steps required now with my Series 2 units

And, for what it's worth, even though I don't have a series 3 yet, I have been recording the unencrypted channels on my Mac (EyeTV-500), and note that not only are the locals represented in HD, but you can also get SD digital copies of the local feeds unencrypted (for those who want to go the manual DVR route). Recording the SD locals is a plus if you know the show you're recording isn't in HD, you can save yourself about 6G/hour by recording the SD feed instead.

Chip Chanko · 09-14-2006, 09:40 AM

I just watch all my sports live in HD (already have an HD tuner...another reason the HD Tivo wouldn't add $800 of value to my life). There are more than enough commercials for me (the networks pause live tv even more than i would!).

charlesd81 · 09-14-2006, 09:49 AM

I have Comcast as well and for me, right now, I don't see the benefit in migrating to a Series 3. This is just my opinion. I believe I get all of the channels Amnesia listed. I will definitely migrate once more stations go to HD and I see more of a benefit. I believe TiVo is making the right move and I will wait until the price decreases.

drwtsn32 · 09-14-2006, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsb411

Is it the HD movies, which actually arent really HD?

Are you serious? Most movies on the HD channels are noticably better looking than DVD. At least on my 60" TV.

BTW I use Charter and have the following HD channels:

HDNet
HDNet Movies
ESPN HD
Discovery HD
HBO HD
Showtime HD
Cinemax HD
ABC
NBC
PBS
Starz HD
The Movie Channel HD
TNT HD

wdave · 09-14-2006, 09:57 AM

Howard County, MD Verizon FIOS TV has 22 non-premium HD channels, although some are duplicate network channels from both DC and Baltimore:

FOX - DC
CBS - DC
ABC - DC
PBS - DC
NBC - DC
NBC - Baltimore
ABC - Baltimore
CBS - Baltimore
WB
FOX - Baltimore
PBS - Baltimore
TNT HD
ESPN HD
ESPN 2 HD
NFL Network HD
HD Net
HD Net Movies
Universal HD
Discovery HD
Wealth TV HD
National Geographic Channel HD
MTV HD

And 5 Premium HD Channels:

HBO HD
Cinimax HD
Showtime HD
TMC HD
Starz HD

Moving to Verizon FIOS, I'm going to be giving up INHD and INHD 2 that Comcast has, both of which I like, but I'm gaining other new channels that Comcast doesn't have

bap · 09-14-2006, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ereth

All the prime time network shows are in HD now.

Most of which I don't bother to watch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ereth

And there's things on Discovery HD that are just so beautiful that you watch them even if you have no interest in the topic whatsoever.

Agreed. I'll regularly flip by that and the INHD channels just to see what's on. I'll find myself sitting and watching shows just for their visual quality. I've never done that with SD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ereth

And there's always "Bikini Destinations", which looks absolutely beautiful in HD.

Never heard of that one. I'll have to search for it once I get my S3!

I'm also on Comcast so I get all the usual suspects: ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, UPN, ESPN, Discovery HD, INHD, INHD2, as well as HBO. I'm probably missing a few here as well.

dt_dc · 09-14-2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bap

Most of which I don't bother to watch. Never heard of that one. I'll have to search for it once I get my S3!
(...)
I'm also on Comcast so I get all the usual suspects: ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, UPN, ESPN, Discovery HD, INHD, INHD2, as well as HBO.

Bikini Destinations is on HDNet which is not available on any Comcast system AFAIK (except for the ones they just acquired from Adelphia).

Dan203 · 09-14-2006, 10:09 AM

I get...

ABC
CBS
NBC
FOX
PBS
Discovery HD
TNT-HD
ESPN-HD
HBO-HD
Sho-HD
Max-HD
Starz-HD
HDNET
HDNET Movies
MTV-HD

The only one I'm missing that I really want is The CW. Unfortunately my local station is still using a low powered "temporary" transmitter and only broadcasting in 480p.

Dan

bkdtv · 09-14-2006, 10:15 AM

In Northern Virginia on FiOS:

ABC - DC
CBS - DC
FOX - DC
NBC - DC
PBS - VA
PBS - VA (yes, two different HD feeds)
UPN - DC
WB - DC
TNT HD
ESPN HD
ESPN 2 HD
NFL Network HD
HD Net
HD Net Movies
Universal HD
Discovery HD
Wealth TV HD
National Geographic Channel HD
MTV HD

All of the above with 180 digital channels for $34.95/mo ($39.95/mo if you don't get FiOS Internet), about half the price of Comcast.

And 5 Premium HD Channels:

HBO HD
Cinimax HD
Showtime HD
TMC HD
Starz HD

They tell me a few more HD channels are being added in November.

wdave · 09-14-2006, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ereth

All the prime time network shows are in HD now.

Actually, most of my favorite prime time network shows are not in HD, and it really bugs me. Most importantly: Survivor, Amazing Race.

When are the reality shows going to finally switch to HD?

cekauzl · 09-14-2006, 10:16 AM

Available HD channels, * indicates actual recording

Comcast Sports East
ESPN 1
ESPN 2
Discovery HD *
TNT HD
INHD 1 *
INHD 2 *
UHD
HBO HD *
Showtime HD
Cinemax HD
Starz HD *
ABC *
CBS
NBC
UPN
Fox *
PBS * (Seems to be a national feed of all HD programs, not the local WITF feed, not a bad solution because the local affilate is available in SD)

George Cifranci · 09-14-2006, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dt_dc

Bikini Destinations is on HDNet which is not available on any Comcast system AFAIK (except for the ones they just acquired from Adelphia).

That's really unfortunate as both HDNET and HDNET movies have some really good programming. Mark Cuban who owns those channels is a major HD fan and advocate. Among other things they carry the live shuttle launches in HD (they supplied the cameras to NASA) which are pretty cool. All the movies they show on HDNET Movies are in true HD (they showed Kubrick's 2001 which looked STUNNING on my 60" Sony SXRD). They also show lots of concerts, TV series, sports etc... and of course as was already mentioned.... Bikini Destinations (The greatest HD show in the history of HD).

Check out this page....

http://www.hdtvgalaxy.com/whatson.php

They list all or most of the HD channels and what they show in HD (and in what resolution).

Quote:

Is it the HD movies, which actually arent really HD?

Most of the movies I watch on HBO HD, all the movies on HDNET Movies, and many Showtime HD movies are True HD (720P or 1080i and are not upconverted). While initially many of the movies used to be upconverted that isn't the case as much as it used to be. So I don't know what your talking about there. Once again, HDTV Galaxy lists all the HD channels and shows what is and what isn't upconverted...

http://www.hdtvgalaxy.com/whatson.php

Some of the recent movies I have watched, Star Wars EP3, Shrek 2, 2001, Kingdom of Heaven, Troy, Madagascar, Cinderella Man, I Robot, Million Dollar Baby, A Clockwork Orange and many many others look absolutely incredible and way beyond even what my Oppo upconverting DVD player puts out.

wdave · 09-14-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkdtv

[Northern Virginia FiOS] tells me a few more HD channels are being added in November.

Do you know which ones? I'm assuming your lineup and mine will be similar.

mattn2 · 09-14-2006, 10:37 AM

Well, here in one of the high tech areas (AMD, Xilinx, Seagate, IBM, Maxtor, etc), we are crippled by both OTA and Cable. SW Longmont can only see:
OTA: FOX and CW.

And Comcast did an "upgrade" over the past 2 years that did not increase bandwidth.
CABLE: FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS

Only choice to get HD besides the above is w/ E* or D*.

# Matt

Ereth · 09-14-2006, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Cifranci

All the movies they show on HDNET Movies are in true HD (they showed Kubrick's 2001 which looked STUNNING on my 60" Sony SXRD).

Oh god yes! 2001 was simply amazing in HD.

cotton168 · 09-14-2006, 10:45 AM

I found it funny that when I went to BB's Magnolia stores, they actually had Bikini Destinations playing on all their HD screens. The guys were all checking it out while I just continued on ingnoring the screens. LOL

jmoak · 09-14-2006, 10:58 AM

WESH (NBC)
WKMG (CBS)
WFTV (ABC)
WMFE (PBS)
WOFL (FOX)
WRBW (My Network TV)
WKCF (WB)
HBO HD
Showtime HD
INHD
INHD2
HDNet
HDNet Movies
Universal
TNT HD
ESPN HD
Discovery HD Theater

17 channels, I'd like to record all of 'em.

talmania · 09-14-2006, 12:12 PM

Interesting to see the different Comcast HD lineups...here's mine:

ABC
CW
CBS (finally after years of local fighting over HD programming)
Discovery
NBC
PBS
FOX
Starz
Espn
Espn2
HBO
TNT
Universal HD
Cinemax
MHD
Showtime
iNHD

bkdtv · 09-14-2006, 02:10 PM

David,

Don't know. Food-HD and CSN-HD are likely suspects, though.

davecramer74 · 09-14-2006, 02:20 PM

i mainly just record HD primetime shows (24, greys anatomy) and HD concerts. I record alot of the IMAX specials too that are on INHD. Some of those look frickin great in HD. My dvd player is pretty good quality, so i dont get a huge boost on movies in HD. At least i cant tell that much of a difference. HD is obvioulsy better, but not enough to where i dont use my DVD player.

heres my hd channels although its not accurate. We have NFL HD now and i think Music and universal HD. But our guides been changing left and right lately, so im not sure anymore, hehe.

702 KTVU-2 (FOX) HD High-Definition TV
703 KNTV-HDTV High-Definition TV
704 KRON-HD High-Definition TV
705 KPIX-(CBS) High-Definition TV
707 KGO-HDTV High-Definition TV
709 KQED-HDTV High-Definition TV
719 InDemand - HD High-Definition TV
720 FSN Bay Area - HD High-Definition TV
720 INHD2 High-Definition TV
722 Discovery - HD High-Definition TV
723 ESPN - HD High-Definition TV
724 ESPN2 - HD Sports
725 HDSE Sports
725 ESPN2 - HD Sports
730 HBO-HD High-Definition TV
732 Cinemax-HD High-Definition TV
734 Starz!-HD High-Definition TV
736 Showtime-HD High-Definition TV

heroineworshippe · 11-12-2006, 06:16 PM

Comcast seems to have cancelled Discovery HD service for the San Francisco Bay Area as of Nov 11. That was probably the best deal in the limited basic package and it wouldn't be suprising if it was bumped to a premium plan.

Bierboy · 11-12-2006, 06:37 PM

I refuse to pay the cable company's outrageous fees for upgrading from basic --> expanded basic --> digital --> HD tier. So, therefore, what I get in HD is strictly OTA --

ABC
CBS
NBC
Fox
PBS

But most of what I want to watch is network fare anyhow, so I'm a happy camper paying about $25/month for analog cable and getting my HD "free".

Jerry_K · 11-12-2006, 07:38 PM

I am like Bierboy at this point OTA, I get the networks from both Washington and Balitmore. Once in a great while the programming is different. PBS from three sources, Baltimore Washington and Annapolis. And some goofy channels like My20 or somesuch, and one from a university. My lovely wife and I have some favorites on the networks, CSI of all kinds, Law and Order of all kinds, Numb3ers, etc. I like Desparate Housewives, she likes ER. At any rate thee will be plenty to put on Season Passes as soon as the S3 arrives.