Posted on 06/06/2007 2:16:43 AM PDT by Las Vegas Dave
Washington, D.C. (June 5, 2007) -- DIRECTV says it can offer more than than 150 High-Definition channels next year after it launches two new satellites. But Time Warner boasted yesterday that it will have "virtually unlimited" high-def capacity by year's end.
That's according to an article by Multichannel News.
The publication reports that Time Warner Cable CFO Landel Hobbs told the Deutche Bank Securities conference in New York that DIRECTV has done a better job of marketing its future high-def prowess than Time Warner has.
But he said a new technology called Switched Digital Video will give cable operators such as Time Warner the capacity to offer as many or more channels than DIRECTV.
“Shame on us because we haven’t really done a good job of marketing it (HDTV)," Hobbs said, according to Multichannel News.
He said the Switched Digital Video system will be in place by year's end, giving Time Warner "virtually unlimited" capacity for high-def channels.
The SDV system allows cable operators to transmit only the channel the viewer requests rather than hundreds of channels at the same time. This enables the cable service to save system space and offer more choices.
Hobbs' remarks are likely to stir further debate in the high-def community over which TV provider will be the HD leader in 2008 and beyond.
DIRECTV next month will launch of the first of two satellites designed to increase its high-def capacity. The satcaster says it will offer 100 HDTV channels by year's end.
EchoStar, which now has more national HD channels than any other TV provider, says it will launch two new satellites at year's end to add more HDTV networks.
The pinged subjects will be those of HDTV technology, satellite/cable HD, OTA (over the air with various roof top and indoor antennas) HD reception. Broadcast specials and any and all subjects relating to HD.
Lasvegasdave
Pinging the HDTV list...
whatever TW....
I think I only have 10 HD channels here in Houston.
and I have all the movie channels... (no HD sCINAMAX either!!!)
Still don’t have NATGEO in HD... I’d make the switch the sat if it didn’t rain :)
Here in the Twilight Zone our CBS affiliate and TWC can’t even agree on terms for rebroadcast which made everyone who wanted to see the Super Bowl here mighty ticked off. The station is still promoting “See us free on Digital Channel 7!”
It’s a hoot! I still watch my $50. 18” set at the Cottage and it is just fine, thank you!
My TWC and local CBS affiliate still can’t come to terms either. All the other major network are already in HD. Despite promises to the contrary, both superbowl and march madness were broadcast in the same old muddy analog resolution.
>>But he said a new technology called Switched Digital Video will give cable operators such as Time Warner the capacity to offer as many or more channels than DIRECTV.
57 Channels and Nothing’s On
Ping for ON THE LIST, thanks!
Still waiting to join the HD bandwagon. Prices for TV’s have come way down but the channel lineup is still not good. Looks like early next year will be the time to jump in.
Ok, that’s good TW. But when? And are you going to get the NFL Network and Sunday Ticket soon too. You all are on the clock to show some results because by September if the above does not happen with TW in my town, I’m gone to Direct TV.
yada, yada, stop the bleeding to DTV, blah, blah, blah
Wonder how long it will take to switch channels??? 5 seconds?? Not worth it...
I am not as concerned about the number of channels. I am concerned more with how much they are compressing the few channels I want to watch. My hope is that if they really do have lots of bandwith they will use that space to give us nice high quality hi-def.
That’s the big question. As of now, the best way to get high def is over the air. It’s free and the picture quality is superior to satellite or cable.
If they’re smart they’ll rig the system so it does intelligent filtering. When you’re watching a channel they really won’t be just sending that channel they’ll be sending the 2 or 3 channels on either side, that way if you use the channel up or down buttons you’ll get instant change. And when you engage a channel change by the numbers they can make “guesses” so if you hit 5 it can start sending all channels that start with 5 (5, 50-59, etc). And if you bring up the guide they can start sending all of the channels that are currently listed on your screen. There’s enough room in the cable bandwidth for 20 or more full HD channels if that’s all they’re sending to your box, that’s more than enough to make the selective send transparent when you change channels if they make the system smart enough.
Then it would be down to 10, but the channel guide would be in those funky see through window things that apparently the people at MS think are really cool.
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