How Far in the Future will HD be Free

[kavula]

I don't know if SD will ever go away, especially since it is done digitally, at least on E*. The difference between most SD and HD channels on E* is not whether they were originally digital or not and then digitized by E* for transmission, but simply the resolution of the picture. HD simply doesn't make sense, right now at least, for anything and everything recorded. Eventually, HD cameras and other stuff will come down in price to close to SD cameras in real dollars. That will go along way in keeping E* package prices the same in real dollars. Also, as more and more people expect HD, it will become the standard definition of tomorrow, making people less inclined to pay a premium for it.

 

[CCMoor]

HD is not a standard. Digital programming is. HD is a bonus and one that we will have to pay for a good long while.

I thought HD was the new standard that is going in place as of end of 2006? Was that not the FTC rule? It keeps changing?

 

[DarrellP]

I thought HD was the new standard that is going in place as of end of 2006? Was that not the FTC rule? It keeps changing?

Sorry, it's DIGITAL, not HD.

 

[Stargazer]

Once the HD feed is provided they would probably do away with the SD feed to save satellite space providing those customers with the MPEG-4 HD receiver.