Posted on 04/24/2010 4:32:13 AM PDT by Las Vegas Dave
During the course of a day, I read dozens of news articles about High-Definition TV. But the articles often leave me asking more questions than answering them.
Last month, I recorded my concerns in an article entitled, "10 Things That Don't Make Sense."
The commentary was well received so I thought I would do another one -- God knows, there are still many unanswered questions out there about high-def.
It's not the fault of the writers (well, not always). Usually, it's the TV executives who are quoted in the stories. They purposely leave things vague or sometimes tell outright falsehoods in an attempt to fool the public.
So, here are 10 MORE Things About HDTV That Don't Make Sense
1. DIRECTV & Netflix
DIRECTV recently issued a statement to selected reporters suggesting that it would have an exclusive advantage over Netflix because it could show certain movies 28 days before they are available via the online rental service.
While DIRECTV will have those movies before Netflix, the satcaster did not add that Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon, Dish Network and others would be able to show those movies before Netflix, too. (Netflix made an agreement with a handful of studios to delay the release of some films in return for a larger library of Net streaming videos.)
Unfortunately, Bloomberg News and other media outlets failed to check whether DIRECTV had an exclusive and, consequently, wrote stories suggesting that it did. The stories, of course, were wrong.
What I wonder is: Did DIRECTV send this Netflix statement only to reporters it thought would be less likely to check the facts? Did DIRECTV trick the media into writing articles that made it look like its movie service was something different from its rivals? Was this the act of a sneaky company?
I know I never got the statement from DIRECTV -- and once I saw the Bloomberg article, I realized how wrong it was.
2. Dish Network's '200 HD Channel' Claim
Did Dish Network really think that the industry media was so stupid, so passive that it would not check whether it actually had 200 HD channels when it claimed this week that it did? (Subsequent reports from TVPredictions.com and Multichannel News proved that the claim was laughable.)
Judging from DIRECTV's successful effort to manipulate the media on the Netflix story, perhaps the answer is yes.
3. Samsung's 3D Warning
Did Samsung and other TV makers decide to invest hundreds of millions of dollars on new 3D sets knowing that a large portion of the public might get sick watching them? Or is this something that they found out later?
4. Samsung 3D Discounts
Did Samsung this week drop the price on its 46-inch 3D HDTV to under $1,500 because it's already getting desperate to sell the new sets? The 46-inch model cost $1,000 more when it was introduced just a month ago. The huge price drop makes you wonder if Samsung is panicking.
5. DIRECTV & TiVo
DIRECTV's decision to delay the new TiVo HD DVR to the "latter part of the year" is very curious considering rumors suggesting that Dish Network may be interested in buying TiVo to end their legal dispute. Is DIRECTV waiting to see if Dish buys TiVo before rolling out what could be a rival's product?
6. DIRECTV & Dish Network
DIRECTV and Dish Network sued each other just about a month over some advertising claims. However, the two companies quietly agreed to drop their suits last week. To say the least, that was a quick resolution and makes you wonder if both companies suddenly needed to eliminate some legal entanglements before discussing merger proposals or other major partnerships.
7. Avatar & 3D
If Avatar is such a 3D sensation, why are so many people snapping up today's non-3D, Blu-ray release of the blockbuster hit? The movie has been the top-ranked video release at Amazon.com for weeks. Maybe people don't care that much whether the movie is in 3D or not.
8. Verizon & Comcast
Verizon is currently running a TV commercial in which an apartment dweller is openly rude to a Comcast technician. When the cable guy knocks on the door to pick up a set-top after the resident cancelled service, the resident all but throws the cable box at him and then rudely closes the door on him. The commercial makes the Comcast guy look sympathetic and Verizon look arrogant. Did some hoity-toity ad agency think this was a cool ad? It's not. It's mean and another case of how this country has put civility on the back burner.
9. DIRECTV's New 30 HD Channels
If DIRECTV's new satellite is running so well, why will it take a "few months" to add 30 new high-def channels? Why can't DIRECTV just add them all at once? The new satellite is supposed to give it the capacity for 200 HD channels -- and by DIRECTV's count (an inflated one at that) -- it now has only about 130 HD channels. What's the deal, DIRECTV?
10. Discovery's Life
Despite its undeniable beauty, Life, the new high-def Discovery nature series, needs an advisory saying that kids under 14 shouldn't watch it. The show is one grisly scene after another of animals chewing up other animals to a fair thee well. Why isn't the media writing about this -- and warning parents? Are reporters so infatuated with Discovery (and narrator Oprah Winfrey) that they have neglected their responsibility to provide important information?
I have Verizon.And before that I had Comcast.Say what you will about their ads but Verizon's service is light years ahead of Comcast....both TV *and* internet.Second only to the satellite providers in the number of HD channels,IIRC.
In my condo complex when Verizon became available I heard that a third of residents switched from Comcast in the first month.
Interested in the HDTV ping list?
Please Freepmail me (freepmail works best) if you would like your name added to the HDTV ping list, ( approximately 375 freepers are currently on the HDTV ping list ).
The pinged subjects can be HDTV technology, satellite, cable, and OTA HD reception (Over The Air with roof top or indoor antennas), Broadcast specials, Sports, Blu-ray/HDDVD, and any and all subjects relating to HDTV.
LVD
Note: if you search Freerepublic using the keyword "“HDTV”, you will find most of the past HDTV postings.
Anyone watch tv anymore?
Our apartment complex was stuck with Dish (via Mosaic) for a couple years. Before we had Cox Cable and were satisfied.
Within a week complaints were pouring into the office. I made it a point to submit a complaint every month. Our apartment manager could do nothing - it was a decision made by the head office. I sent a complaint to the head office, it was forwarded back to the apartment manager. I sent another one, asking it not be forwarded to our apartment manager because there was nothing she could do about it. It was forwarded to our manager.
Finally the head office sent out a letter asking people if we were satisfied with our service. Not one single letter was returned that supported Dish. Verizon FIOS was allowed in last month, the rep would be there starting at 9 AM. A crowd was waiting.
I now have FIOS. I can watch TV even in a heavy rain or with heavy cloud cover. Service isn’t interrupted every few hours waiting for the lost signal to be reacquired or the schedule to be updated. I can even flip back and forth between channels, Dish took 3 - 5 seconds to change channels.
I lead a pretty sad life. I’m getting old, I’m overweight, way to sedentary, failed to prepare properly for my retirement and could list a host of other problems. But I must say, it’s hasn’t fallen to a level of pitiful that having to wait 30 days for this movie or that movie to be offered by Netflix makes much difference to me. Like my Mom used to say, “Thank God for small favors!”
What they don’t show you is that’s one of the twins from Mothra.
There is actually some pretty good stuff on depending on what interests you.
Most of the time my TV is on FOX news but I watch a lot of discovery channel and History channel. CSPAN also comes in handy.
But I like Verizon....lots and *lots* of channels,including *lots* of HD channels and great internet speed.It's a bit pricey,though.
Comcast has everyone by the short hairs in my complex. The association covers cable and Comcast bundles 3 services. So, most people default to Comcast because the only alternative is Qwest.
Comcast’s billing is notorious. I got hassled once over a bill even given that I do electronic bill pay. Then, for months my Comcast bill was $2.00. Some older woman in the area went to the local Comcast office and smashed their glass tops with a hammer. Since then, they’ve been behaving better, but only marginally so. Apparently, all the employees (even those overseas) have been told about the mighty wrath that their shoddiness provoked.
Tell me you are not watching Dr. Who.
That is correct!
Newsflash- Nature is NOT sentimental. Any prime time nature show should be checked out before letting the kids watch.
The little we saw of Life was beautifully filmed, but we couldn't get past having to listen to Okra.
Hey! What's wrong with Dr. Who?
Digital TV has shut down your TV.
This web site will help you-
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Welcome.aspx
Hmmmm.
So you are watching TV.
Nothing wrong with Dr. Who, I will be watching it later today.
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