DirecTV Announces 24 Markets for LOCAL HD

[Area51_FLG]

I'm still keeping my antenna and HDTV Tuner Card


DIRECTV Announces Next 24 Markets to Receive High-Definition Local Channels in Spring 2006; Local HD Markets Will Total 36, Representing More Than 58 Percent of U.S. Television Homes


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Feb. 22, 2006 -- Continuing to widely expand its local high-definition (HD) programming services, DIRECTV, Inc. (NYSE: DTV), the nation's leading digital television service provider, today named the next 24 U.S. markets that will receive local HD programming.

Beginning in April of this year, DIRECTV will roll out the first of the 24 new markets, offering HD programming from the four primary broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC. Customers with the appropriate DIRECTV HD receiving equipment, who subscribe to a programming package that includes local channels, will receive both the standard and HD signals at no extra monthly charge

The 24 local markets to receive HD programming include: -0- *T Baltimore Minneapolis, Minn. Birmingham, Ala. Nashville, Tenn. Charlotte, N.C. Orlando, Fla. Cleveland Phoenix Columbus, Ohio Pittsburgh Denver Raleigh, N.C. Fresno, Calif. Sacramento, Calif. Hartford, Conn. Salt Lake City Indianapolis San Diego Kansas City, Mo./Kan. Seattle Miami St Louis, Mo. Milwaukee, Wisc. West Palm Beach, Fla. *T


Full Story Here (http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/02/22/1397864.htm)

[Area51_FLG]

Another link

http://www.cablecastermagazine.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=52983&issue=02232006

[DeadLamb]

well that cool for those areas that can't get HD now, but I still bet that many will be in the same boat as most in sacramento now. As in now they will be able to pick a provider but they could get HD already..

I just wonder how much of that 50ish % tv market coverage they will now have with HD is 100% new to HD? Plus "MPEG-4 AVC, the new standard in digital video compression and advanced modulation that more than doubles the efficiency of DIRECTV's capacity." errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr?? That's going to be a wait and see, it might suck ass..

I still think it's really lame that HD is just not an option for sooooooo many. Suck to live in the middle of nowhere I guess..

[Chronoglass]

oh it's always an option, my uncle in my home town has a giant hd tv... watches old war movies and john wayne on it mostly.. but it's HD

[WebHog]

Has anyone heard about anyone (Comcast/DirecTV/OTA) carrying 1080p either now or in the future? I was checking out 1080p at a few stores around town and picture looks great when streaming off a hard drive, but I haven't read if anyone will be transmitting in 1080p. So, I was curious if it's worth investing in that feature now or not. Also, do the HD DirecTV boxes support 1080p?

[DeadLamb]

everything I read is that 1080p is a marketing buzz term only.. It's just not going to happen at broadcast anytime soon, at least going by the rants of http://www.avsforum.com/

I don't really see a reason to worry about it to be honest.. main thing to look out for when buying a HDtv now is if it has the connections you want in the back. Some only have one HDMI, some have a connection for a VGA cpu, some don't, etc etc..

[Area51_FLG]

ive had extremely bad luck with hdmi

[enervate]

That's likely because it's not fully supported yet. A lot of people say that their stuff is compliant when it really isn't (ATI), and most are trying to to feel it out. If/when it becomes the new standard, I would imagine that support for it would become more streamlined. Sometimes waiting to upgrade has its advantages - the tech is cheaper and you know it works.

[Area51_FLG]

it's a great product, when it works, I like having one cable instead of 5