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Home > Blogs > Movies & TV blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 30 > Entry

Get all your local channels in HD with DirecTV

By Tony Black | Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 03:36 PM

Zack and I switched to DirecTV about a year ago and had a terrible experience with it. Because we live in an apartment, we had to acquire a large bucket and fill it with cement to support the poll that the satellite dish is attached to. Then we learned after we signed up that we were locked into a 2 year contract that we already wanted out of.

The bucket is filled with 100 pounds of cement but that isn’t enough to stop a small breeze from knocking the dish out of alignment and leaving us without TV. One day, the wind knocked the satellite over, but thankfully it didn’t break our balcony’s glass sliding doors or fall off the balcony 11 stories.

All our anger at the dish aside, DirecTV’s programming is very diverse, offering a wide variety of stations, a lot of which are offered in High Definition. The only stations unavailable in HD through DirecTV are local stations (Fox, ABC, NBC, CW, etc.). There is a way to view them in HD but you must buy an extra antenna.

All that is going to change on October 8, when DirecTV will begin offering local channels in HD without the assistance of an antenna. You can learn more about this on DirecTV’s website.

I may complain a lot about DirecTV, but I still feel they are a lot better than Time Warner Cable, whose customer service and HD offerings leave little to the imagination. And if you like NBC programming (offered on WDTN-Channel 2) then you might want to switch to DirecTV since it seems like Time Warner might stop offering the channel to its viewers.

Permalink | Comments (61) | Post your comment | Categories: Television

Comments

By April

September 30, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this

I wonder if this will impact Think TV programming which currently has 10 channels, where only 1 comes up in the DirecTV listing. At any rate, I can’t wait :)

By Barb

September 30, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this

I love DirecTV. Owning my home, my dish is permanent so I don’t have your problems. Honestly, it’s not DirecTV’s fault your dish is in a bucket. ;-) I got it last year when Time Warner didn’t offer the Big Ten Network and I’m glad I changed. I can order equipment, add and remove special packages and channels, and program my DVR all from their web site. Very convenient. And I have always had quick, friendly service. I am thrilled I’ll be able to get local channels in HD. HD was another reason I switched. They just offer more HD. I paid for and HDTV and I want the programs to be in HD. My antenna isn’t that great, so now I won’t have to deal with it anymore. I know DirecTV signed a deal with PBS to carry all their channels, but I don’t know if they will be launched at the same time as the other local channels, but let’s hope so!

By Chase

September 30, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this

The DirecTV website lists the roll out date as October 2008; not October 08, 2008.

By Brian

October 1, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

I emailed DirecTV the other day and they responded that it would be Oct 22nd that local channels will be in HD. I am so glad. Ever since I dropped Time Warner for satellite I have never been happier. I have my dish bracketed to my balcony. Works great.

By Kahuna45324

October 2, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this

Changing from TW to Dish was the best move I’ve ever made. Picture is crisper (use an HDMI cable for best picture quality) and the cost is way below what we were paying TW for the same services. I save over $30 a month now. I did keep RoadRunner through TW and get that for 29.99/mo. (you have to ask for RoadRunner Lite at that price, but you’ll never notice a difference. BTW, during the wind storm when hundreds of thousands of TW customers were without service, even after the power came back on, Dish and Direct TV all worked just fine. I’m very glad I wasn’t suckered into having to count on them to maintain my as well!!

By scooter

October 2, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

I came close to moving to satelite during the BTN fiasco. Glad I didn’t. I hope TW refuses to cave in to those Bozo’s at 2. If I don’t get TV2 so be it. Seeing that obnoxious scroll every other minute during programming was the last straw.

By TRB

October 2, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

I very seldom watch channel 2, but I can if I want to because I have DirecTV. I made the switch from Time Warner to DirecTV 4 years ago and I am so glad.Satelite is the way to go. Great line-up and fantastic customer service.

By null

October 3, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

directv sucks! Uh its really funny when they tell my uncle who is 67 yrs old to get on the roof and knock the snow off it to get your picture because we can’t get anyone out for a week.. and then charge me for the service call.. WDTN can kiss off! Greedy, and stupid for not taking agreements from twc.. If i ever want to watch them ill just hook up my bunny ears or internet and watch the shows for free.. like how it should be on TWC.

By Isaac C

October 3, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this

I am not giving a judgment on DirecTV. Apart from the hassle of the dish, borth DirecTV and Dish Network are far superior in the level of programming and quality of service(Including friendly customer support. However, AT&T U-Verse has become a major threat to both TW and DTV. No hassle of the Dish, but good service. However TW is doing its best to stop AT&T using monopoly techniques. I’ve already complained to FCC about TW locking up the cable access box and refusing to let AT&T access to it. The lady from FCC told me over phone (they called me to know more about it) that they are getting similar complaints and are investigating against TW, ConCast (pun intended) and other existing cable providers tactics that violate anti-trust laws in the markets where Vzon FIOS TV and U Verse are launched.

By dave

October 3, 2008 6:37 PM | Link to this

The best way to watch the local channels in HD is with an antenna. The picture over an antenna is sharper than either through satellite or cable and it’s totally free. If Time Warner doesn’t want to pay for the local channels then they shouldn’t carry them and stop whining. After all if they are available over the air for free, it really shouldn’t matter whether you have them or not. If having the local channels is important or a competitive advantage, then you shouldn’t expect the signal for free. So make up your mind Time Warner.

By Karen

October 3, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this

I like Isaac’s idea - contacting the FCC about this. How can TW not provide us with one of the 3 major tv stations, NBC? They have a monopoly for sure, and more $$ than WDTN will ever have. I think we need to swamp TW hqtrs and the FCC with complaints about this.

By Fairborn TWC Customer

October 3, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this

Question: I pay TWC for a set package. My package has been diminished by 1 with the removal of Channel 2. Am I going to get a reduced bill pro rated for the 2 days of this month that I was able to watch channel 2?

By Isaac C - @ F.born TWC Customer

October 4, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

I doubt it. Because they have replaced the Channel 2 with HBO Family out here. I guess they would claim that HBO Family is of more value (as in subscription rate) than channel 2 and they won’t probably reduce the rate. Also, y’all are right, get a $15 or $20 antenna from Walmart and you can get all these channels at, yes, HD quality.

By Janet

October 4, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this

All I can say is bring on ATT U-verse! The sooner the better - am VERY happy with ATT Wireless internet - both TWC & WDTN can go scratch - only watch the Thurs night shows on WDTN and can get those on the web so buh-bye!

By Pharmdude

October 7, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this

I believe DirecTV’s “October 08” refers to October 2008 not necessarily October 8th.

By RE

October 10, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this

I am complaining to the “Better Business Bureau” and our state representatives about TW. It would be different if we had the option for another cable provider. We need cable competition. Say no to the TW monopoly.

By RE

October 10, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this

By RE

October 10, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this

By RE

October 10, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

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Get all your local channels in HD with DirecTV

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