The EI Free Preview and QAM

[dmendenjr]

FYI:
Doing a weekly "add digital check" on our comcast cable (you never know when something new might show up); I found the extra innings slates on the subchannels of channel 118. I checked back last night and sure enough the free preview is being transmitted in the clear. I don't know if this is true on all of comcast systems or not, but at least hear on the E-town/Columbia PA system that is the case; and they way they have been trying to regionalize the program offerings, I am willing to bet it is more than just my comcast system...

 

[jegrant]

FWIW, I also see a bunch of MLB EI barker channels on clear QAM. (Just bought a new TV that receives analog, 8VSB ATSC, and QAM.)

But I have yet to find any of those channels actually running a game. YMMV.

 

[dmendenjr]

Might vary by system. They seem to slack on our system. There are two channel I get through QAM, that you can't subscribe to via our comcast. WHYY-HD and TCM, neither are supposed to be provided in our system; but both are out there in the clear.

When I checked, it was around 9pm EDT on friday night and I would say about 4-6 of the 13 subchannels (normally with barker slates) had out of market game coverage, about 2-3 of em were a "can't decode" and the rest were the daily schedule barkers. None were HD. I'll check again tonight and report back (or edit this post)

 

[jegrant]

That sounds just like my experience. I've seen several actually showing out of market games, several on the barker slate, and a few that say "Digital Signal Level Too Low."

We're supposed to have more Clear QAM here soon. Comcast says around the end of the month they will move C-SPAN2 from clear analog to Clear QAM, and also the Music Choice package will move to Clear QAM.

 

[dmendenjr]

lets see: 11pm EDT
118.1 Signal can't be decoded
118.2 slate
118.3 Signal can't be decoded
118.4 slate
118.5 slate
118.6 LA Dodgers v Col (FDN Rocky Mtn) SD
118.7 Cleveland v LA Angels (FSN West) SD
118.8 Boston v Seattle (FSN Northwest) SD
118.9 Signal can't be decoded
118.10 Chicago Cubs v Arizona (FDN Arizona) SD
118.11 slate
118.12 slate
118.13 Cleveland c LA Angels (FSN West) SD
118.14 Signal Can't be decoded

The only ones missing per the slate are Washington v San Fran and Boston v Seattle HD

For what it's worth (think there is only one more night of the preview)