hd channels

[ediemash]

i noticed most other providers have alot more hd channels than bh, will bh ever catch up. direct tv and dish net definitely has more i think its cox cable or some cable company that starts with a c has voom channels and mgm hd. and i see bright house is really slacking in this department, they appear to be way behind of everyone else.

 

[stevenl]

Yes they will catch up. They are fighting Bandwidth crunches right now but those are being resolved.

 

[SideFx]

Yes they will catch up. They are fighting Bandwidth crunches right now but those are being resolved.

How are those bandwidth crunches being resolved (ie: SDV)? How soon can we expect more HD channels as I know they announced at the beginning of the year that 08' we would see more HD channels, but does this mean the last day of 08' before 09' rings in?

 

[stevenl]

SDV is suppose to be live (in Orlando at least) by about September. They also have begun migrating some analog channels to digital (which for each analog channel it frees up space for 2-3 HD channels) between reclaiming old bandwidth and SDV and also the upgrading in some areas to 1ghz they should have plenty of BW to keep up with HD demand.

 

[Saxamoophone]

I'm surprised Brighthouse isn't bringing attention to the new HD coming this year. They might not be dropping A LOT of customers...but there has to be a fair number leaving Brighthouse because of the lack of HD. And once they go Dish, you lost them for 2 years....

If it's really only 4 months away isn't it time Brighthouse rolls out some ads, puts up the channel listing of hd-coming-soon, and start to put up a fight?

 

[Curtis0620]

Will they get FSN-HD? Or NFL-HD?

 

[stevenl]

Well sept is the goal for SDV does not mean that they will launch the HD right away. But it would not be long after they add some new ones..

To answer curtis Doubtful unless they agree to be on a special tier. or lower their rates.

 

[iceturkee]

Will they get FSN-HD? Or NFL-HD?

never

 

[stevenl]

The NFL Net wants over 250MILLION a year from the cable industry to carry it. Can you tell me if 8 games a year are worth it? I don't think so. The biggest rip off ever, and you guys are falling for it hook line and sinker.

 

[Lkr]

The NFL Net wants over 250MILLION a year from the cable industry to carry it. Can you tell me if 8 games a year are worth it? I don't think so. The biggest rip off ever, and you guys are falling for it hook line and sinker.

8 games isn't all you get. You also get the replays, which are VERY good. Not to mention all of the classic NFL Films, and studio discussions. I used to fall for the old cable line that its a rip off, but now that I have it, those cable subs are missing out on a ton.

 

[ediemash]

i just did one of those survey things for brighthouse and it was on hd channels and they were asking you what hd channels would like, and do you watch the vod and how much time do you spend watching certain channels. i noticed among those hd channels they mgmhd,hallmark movie channel,starz,cinemax,movie channel,smithsonian,etc. hopefully we will get some of these in the near future

 

[stevenl]

8 games isn't all you get. You also get the replays, which are VERY good. Not to mention all of the classic NFL Films, and studio discussions. I used to fall for the old cable line that its a rip off, but now that I have it, those cable subs are missing out on a ton.

Its worth 280million? a year. From the cable industry.

 

[Saxamoophone]

8 games isn't all you get. You also get the replays, which are VERY good. Not to mention all of the classic NFL Films, and studio discussions. I used to fall for the old cable line that its a rip off, but now that I have it, those cable subs are missing out on a ton.

Yeah but it also sounds like you are a big NFL fan too...

I'm pretty sure Brighthouse offered both FSN and NFL network the option of going into the digital-sports-pack, but they decided they wanted to ONLY be in basic/digital cable.

That way ONLY the people that care about it are forced to pay for it. Simple enough concept right?

If NFL network was only asking for a few pennies, it would probably be added in a second.

But let's explore the facts if this was added to basic cable like a math equation:
* Brighthouse is going to make X amount/percent per customer.
* NFL network is going to cost EACH customer Y dollars.
* Brighthouse will end up dropping J number of customers due to the raised costs of Y
* Brighthouse will end up dropping I number of customers do to the lack of NFL network

So if J > I, you figure brighthouse isn't going to add it.

But either way, I think X will stay about the same. Brighthouse won't "take a hit" in their profit margin to add a channel.

 

[stevenl]

Thats the best dam way I ever saw it explained.

But they do "take a hit" often as they only raise rates once a year, so if they add a channel today, they eat it till next year. Also Programming costs went up this year about 1.45 and bhn only raised rates about 1.30 so they ate 15cent per sub. Does not seem a lot but multiplied by 900k and by 12 and its a lot of money.

 

[skottey]

I'm surprised Brighthouse isn't bringing attention to the new HD coming this year. They might not be dropping A LOT of customers...but there has to be a fair number leaving Brighthouse because of the lack of HD. And once they go Dish, you lost them for 2 years....

If it's really only 4 months away isn't it time Brighthouse rolls out some ads, puts up the channel listing of hd-coming-soon, and start to put up a fight?

BHN, not unlike Dish network, has been horrible about announcing upcoming plans. Yes, they have said 50 channels or whatever by the end of the year, but that is pretty vague. It could be Dec 31, as suggested.

I don't know whether to sign up for Dish's HD only pak now that they have more channels again, go with DirecTV, hold out for more HD from BHN or wait for Verizon FIOS (which is also up in the air as far as new HD).

I wouldn't mind getting the DISH HD only pak for $30/month plus the receiver fees (which would make it over $50) to get all those extra channels but I think they make you sign a 2 year contract. I am not crazy about signing a contract. If I do, BHN will magically roll out all the channels Dish has and I'll be stuck with the remainder of the two years.

In the end I am going to go with whoever offers the most premium mulitchannels in HD. If FIOS comes to St. Pete and offers all 26 HBO/Max multichannels in HD that are now or soon will be offered, I will go with them. I used to love all those multichannels but barely watch them now because I can't stand SD since having other channels in HD, and high def discs. We are all spoiled with HD now and SD is for the most part no longer acceptable.

If somebody came along and offered a package of all available national HD channels plus your locals in HD, I would easily scrap BHN and pay them $200 for the service. I'd be happy to pay that price. But no, we are stuck in the transition period between SD and HD. Ten years from now things will probably be fantastic, but not now. We are left wanting more.

 

[skottey]

i just did one of those survey things for brighthouse and it was on hd channels and they were asking you what hd channels would like, and do you watch the vod and how much time do you spend watching certain channels. i noticed among those hd channels they mgmhd,hallmark movie channel,starz,cinemax,movie channel,smithsonian,etc. hopefully we will get some of these in the near future

They obviously need to add at a minimum, Starz HD, TMC HD, and Cinemax HD. It is nuts that they don't offer these at a point in time where other providers are rolling out premium multichannels in HD. Those should have been the first channels to be added in HD. It adds value to pricey premium packages and makes customers happy.