Comcast vs DirectTV vs. Dishnetwork

[Buzz05]

Originally Posted by X-Terminator

Verizon is going to be offering FiOS TV over their new fiber optic network in several communities in the Pittsburgh area soon and will be a direct competitor with Comcast primarily. It's only available in the Philly area right now, but it's cheaper, they offer more than 200 channels, a good HD channel lineup and On Demand. I can't wait for it just because it's cheaper - I'm getting raped by Comcast every month.

Have you tried the 'Triple Play' Its the phone, internet and cable for $99 a month. Thats what we are getting. And as far as FiOS Tv goes..they need to hurry up and distribute it in Baltimore as well.

[X-Terminator]

Originally Posted by Buzz05

Have you tried the 'Triple Play' Its the phone, internet and cable for $99 a month. Thats what we are getting. And as far as FiOS Tv goes..they need to hurry up and distribute it in Baltimore as well.

At this point it might not be a good idea - they're supposed to roll out FiOS Internet sometime within the next 2 months, and as soon as they do, I'm dropping Comcast for my ISP. And as soon as they offer the TV service, Comcast will be a distant memory.

[Buzz05]

Originally Posted by X-Terminator

At this point it might not be a good idea - they're supposed to roll out FiOS Internet sometime within the next 2 months, and as soon as they do, I'm dropping Comcast for my ISP. And as soon as they offer the TV service, Comcast will be a distant memory.

I dont blame ya. If they had it here we would be getting that

[Hammer67]

I heard good things about their Internet service and their TV service, but there wasn't much info on HD quality or options. It is intriguing as the bandwidth of fiber is immense. So, I imagine that there will be kinks to iron out, like anything else, but the potential is huge.

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by Hammer67

I heard good things about their Internet service and their TV service, but there wasn't much info on HD quality or options. It is intriguing as the bandwidth of fiber is immense. So, I imagine that there will be kinks to iron out, like anything else, but the potential is huge.

Do any of you feel that we are just at the edge of a mountain of technological increases?

We haven't seen anything yet.

[Hammer67]

Originally Posted by Preacher

Do any of you feel that we are just at the edge of a mountain of technological increases?

We haven't seen anything yet.

Reminds me of a quote from a patent official During the 1890's who said something like "I don't see how we can invent anything else?everything man can think of has been invented already."
Before radio, cars, planes, computers, TV, etc??LOL!

But, seriously, in regards to television, the High Def resolutions have been the first major update to television technology since the advent of color in the 50's. So, I find it will be a long time coming before they agree on another standard. It will take years for the 1080p standard to be commonplace.

What I do think will continue to change is the avenues for programming to get to us?i.e. the televisions, service providers, bandwidth and other infrastructure that passes signals.
The past 110 years have been the most technologically inspired period in human history.

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by Hammer67

Reminds me of a quote from a patent official During the 1890's who said something like "I don't see how we can invent anything else?everything man can think of has been invented already."
Before radio, cars, planes, computers, TV, etc??LOL!

But, seriously, in regards to television, the High Def resolutions have been the first major update to television technology since the advent of color in the 50's. So, I find it will be a long time coming before they agree on another standard. It will take years for the 1080p standard to be commonplace.

What I do think will continue to change is the avenues for programming to get to us?i.e. the televisions, service providers, bandwidth and other infrastructure that passes signals.
The past 110 years have been the most technologically inspired period in human history.

Absolutely... but I also think the WAY which the picture is presented will be unreal... that is, LCD, CRT, Etc.ETc... So much is coming down the pike... We will look back to the turn of this century and just be amazed that we lived so simply!

[Atlanta Dan]

Originally Posted by MACH1

Yep right now Direct has some HD lite, But they launched a new sat. last month and launching another in Dec. The new sat. thats up right now is in the final testing and should be good to go in sept. where all the new hd channels will be so there will no longer be a bandwidth issue. They will be switching to MPEG-4.

MPEG-4 is a newer encoding used currently on local HD channels & for the future HD channels.
It doesn't have anything to do with other channels.
The "goal" is to not have to compress the signal as they are doing now.

I have DirecTV becuase of Sunday ticket but HD Lite is an issue and I do not know if the new satellites will fix it, since DirecTV has decided it will add HD of crap like the Food Channel rather than increase the bandwidth for sports and movie channels where the full HD would actually make a difference.

The weak spot of DirecTV is getting the satellite capacity to spot broadcast local stations - no way they can avoid compressing HD signals for the locals, which is a big issue since the network broadcasts on the locals are still what most viewers watch and DirecTV cannot offer an uncompressed network feed from NY or LA since the local stations & networks will not permit out of local market network feeds to be received.

My understanding is FIOS (which will have little compression) is a Verizon format rather than an AT&T format (my phone company in ATL) . Given the options of AT&T, Comcast, and DirecTV here, I will stick with DirecTV to get the Steelers every Sunday (hopefully more consistently in at least HD Lite if CBS will spring for some more HDTV broadcast capacity).

[MACH1]

I seen on the science channel that sometime in the not to distant future that having a tv screen as big as your wall will be as simple as painting it.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0329140351.htm

Just think a life sized game on your wall.

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

I have DirecTV becuase of Sunday ticket but HD Lite is an issue and I do not know if the new satellites will fix it, since DirecTV has decided it will add HD of crap like the Food Channel rather than increase the bandwidth for sports and movie channels where the full HD would actually make a difference.

The weak spot of DirecTV is getting the satellite capacity to spot broadcast local stations - no way they can avoid compressing HD signals for the locals, which is a big issue since the network broadcasts on the locals are still what most viewers watch and DirecTV cannot offer an uncompressed network feed from NY or LA since the local stations & networks will not permit out of local market network feeds to be received.

My understanding is FIOS (which will have little compression) is a Verizon format rather than an AT&T format (my phone company in ATL) . Given the options of AT&T, Comcast, and DirecTV here, I will stick with DirecTV to get the Steelers every Sunday (hopefully more consistently in at least HD Lite if CBS will spring for some more HDTV broadcast capacity).

Yep.

Until I get to see the Steelers in something else... it is DirecTV for me too.