Locals in HD **coming soon**

[jpdublin]

I wanted to let everyone know that I spoke with Directv today and they informed me that they expect to carry Columbus locals in HD sometime in the Spring 2006. We would have to have an upgraded MPEG-4 HD box and they are working out the details on how this equipment upgrade will happen. Again, take this for what it is worth, I know how getting information from Directv is, but this person seemed more informed than some that I have spoken with in the past.

Happy Holidays!

[zelig2]

HD locals minus anything Sinclair owns unless they're paying them a pretty penny.

[Robbiee19]

Quick ?. Just got a 52" RCA for the basement. Was wondering if I should get a HD reciever added or wait for the upgrade? Already have a Sammy 61" DLP for the great room with HD Package from D*. The price for the RCA was just to good to pass up and it gives the kids a good TV for the PS2 games.

[Scott]

Quick ?. Just got a 52" RCA for the basement. Was wondering if I should get a HD reciever added or wait for the upgrade? Already have a Sammy 61" DLP for the great room with HD Package from D*. The price for the RCA was just to good to pass up and it gives the kids a good TV for the PS2 games.

Purchase an HR10-250 (HD TiVo) from them now while the price is cheap. You'll get a free swap-out to the $1,000 MPEG-4 DVR when the conversion is complete :D

[Robbiee19]

ScottB. Would that swap-out include the Sammy 360 reciever too?

[Scott]

ScottB. Would that swap-out include the Sammy 360 reciever too?

If precedence is an indicator, then yes, I believe DirecTV will be swapping out all MPEG-2 boxes during the MPEG-4 conversion.

[snodgrass23]

But aren't only the locals going to be using mpeg-4 starting out? If so, they probably won't swap the boxes until the whole conversion is done, which could be a while yet.

[jpdublin]

As for FOX and ABC, maybe now that WOW is carrying is HD, I would hope that Directv could sign a deal with Sinclair to carry, we can only hope!

[lbostons]

The locals are really not a big deal for me b/c I would think that the OTA reception would still look better. The catch would be when D* starts adding HD Channels b/c the two birds help expand their bandwidth capability. Would love to have more options from D* when it come to the HD lineup! Peace and have a great Christmas!

[MeHDTV]

DirecTV had a national agreement in place with Sinclair before launching HD LIL, so 6 & 28 will be on DirecTV come April.

[digitalfreak]

Fortunately, I can already get all the local HD channels via OTA. Unless D* releases their MPEG4 HD DVR before the Columbus upgrade, I'll stick with my HD10-250. Hopefully they'll be showing it off at CES in January, so we can get an idea of what the interface looks like.

[Girevik]

I wanted to let everyone know that I spoke with Directv today and they informed me that they expect to carry Columbus locals in HD sometime in the Spring 2006. We would have to have an upgraded MPEG-4 HD box and they are working out the details on how this equipment upgrade will happen. Again, take this for what it is worth, I know how getting information from Directv is, but this person seemed more informed than some that I have spoken with in the past.

Happy Holidays!

Woo-hoo!! Maybe now I'll get an HD-DRV that is actually reliable! My HD Tivo has given me headaches ever since I got it.

[MeHDTV]

I wanted to let everyone know that I spoke with Directv today and they informed me that they expect to carry Columbus locals in HD sometime in the Spring 2006. We would have to have an upgraded MPEG-4 HD box and they are working out the details on how this equipment upgrade will happen. Again, take this for what it is worth, I know how getting information from Directv is, but this person seemed more informed than some that I have spoken with in the past.

Happy Holidays!

Woo-hoo!! Maybe now I'll get an HD-DRV that is actually reliable! My HD Tivo has given me headaches ever since I got it.

Columbus is sceduled for HD LIL on, ... I'm not joking on this.....April 1.

In regards to the new HD PVR it doesn't look good until the summer..

http://www.hometheaterspot.com/htsthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/775103/an/0/page/0#Post775103


If you can get good reception OTA there is no reason to upgrade, the LIL will be no better than OTA, and most likely lower res.

When Direc starts to add national HD channels in Mpeg-4 the story will change, but those sats aren't launching until next year.

[Girevik]

I spent some time with customer support this weekend thanks to my flaky TiVo -here's what I was told.

Columbus is scheduled for 1st quarter, but they didn't give me a hard date.

It's not a free upgrade - they are charging $99 for the new dish.

It will probably be June until they have a HD DVR - the rep didn't know if there would be an additional charge to upgrade to that.

They still have no clue what's wrong with my setup tha keeps screwing up my TiVo. :(

[TvPat]

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:
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.

"The expansion of local HD programming is one of the cornerstones of our brand strategy to provide the best entertainment experience for DIRECTV's customers and sets us apart from our competition," said Dan Fawcett, executive vice president, DIRECTV, Inc. "With the rollout of 24 new local HD markets, we will offer access to DIRECTV-delivered local HD programming to 58 percent of U.S. television homes. We expect to expand our HD local coverage to even more markets later this year."

DIRECTV currently offers standard-definition local channels in 141 markets, covering nearly 94 percent of television households in the country, as well as 12 HD local channel markets, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tampa and Washington, D.C. With the launch of two new satellites -- DIRECTV 10 and DIRECTV 11 -- in 2007, DIRECTV will have the ability to deliver more than 1,500 local HD and digital channels and 150 national HD channels, in addition to new advanced programming services for customers.

All DIRECTV local HD programming is being transmitted via MPEG-4 AVC, the new standard in digital video compression and advanced modulation that more than doubles the efficiency of DIRECTV's capacity.
Customers can receive local HD channels by purchasing the new H20 HD receiver and a satellite dish that has the ability to receive programming from five different orbital locations and Ka-band signals. Through Feb. 28, DIRECTV is offering new and existing customers a $200 mail-in rebate on the purchase of a DIRECTV HD Receiver. (Limit one rebate per account.) Receiving equipment is available at major consumer electronics retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City, and through DIRECTV.

About DIRECTV, Inc.
DIRECTV, Inc. is the nation's leading digital television service provider with more than 15 million customers. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV (NYSE: DTV) is a world-leading provider of digital multichannel television entertainment services. DIRECTV is approximately 34 percent owned by News Corporation.
CONTACT: DIRECTV, Inc.
Robert Mercer, 310-726-4683
rgmercer@directv.com

SOURCE: DIRECTV, Inc.

[Gimpy McFarlan]

Columbus, Ohio

Woo Hoo!

:D

[mikebaby]

Woo Hoo!

:D

I wouldn't get too excited. Today is the last day you can purchase your D* reciever. After today everything is going to a lease deal, where you pay a monthly payment for your equpiment. I wouldn't surprise me if we don't get a free box to swap out our D* HD TiVo. Time will tell I suppose.

mikebaby