Poll: Have you switched carriers due to lack of HD?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
shawn @ Oct 25th 2008 12:36PM
ive really thought about just turning my cable off altogether seeing there hasnt been anything worth watching on tv
Rob @ Oct 25th 2008 12:38PM
OTA FTW. My cable company wants me to pay for their "full basic package" in order to get HD, which is over $50+. Then I'd have to add HD service for another $20. And, I'd have to pay for my cable cards for my Tivos ($6+). At the end of the day, I'm looking at an almost $100 after fees, taxes, and other bs is added. No thank you. They're already getting $50 from me for 7mbps from me. That's all they'll ever get from me.
mjpd1 @ Oct 25th 2008 12:41PM
I ditched WOW cable in favor of Dish Network's HD-only package. Was paying WOW over $80/mo for 200+ standard definition channels that I didn't watch, and 20 or so HD channels. Switched to Dish, and I now get 80-some HD channels for about $40/mo (with DVR). Couldn't be happier.
Jason @ Oct 25th 2008 12:44PM
Havent needed to change as I have been a DirecTV subscriber for a long time. I have been extremely pleased with their efforts in adding national HD content. If only they were as persistent about getting my local channels in HD. I use OTA for local channels. However if I had my local cable company (Charter) I would have switched months ago. They offer a whopping 14 HD channels in my area, and only offer 3 of the 5 locals in HD. I feel bad for those who live in areas where they are not allowed to put up a dish!
tony @ Nov 19th 2008 1:47PM
Time Warner Albany went all SDV on my CableCards last year, ran to DIRECTV that next week. Best move I ever made, well in regards to TV anyway ;)
John B @ Oct 25th 2008 12:53PM
No, but I'm going to be switching to satellite if Comcast compresses their HD any more and Verizon doesn't get FiOS TV released to their customer base soon. (FiOS TV apparently is installed and being tested by employees who live in the area.)
Flatcat @ Oct 25th 2008 4:59PM
Hmm. The poll could be asked better. I didn't switch providers to get HD as I have had DirecTV since 2001. However, I almost switched to Dish over the current lack of a TiVO branded DVR from DirecTV. Since they announce a couple of weeks ago that they will be providing a Tivo branded HD DVR in late 2009, I am sticking with them. They are pricey, but rule in content and customer service.
MHAithaca @ Oct 25th 2008 1:09PM
Yeah, I ditched DISH Network in favour of Time Warner Cable last fall because DISH showed no sign of offering HD network affiliates to me (they later added Syracuse affiliates in HD, but Syracuse has never interested me) and they had no means of supporting HD TiVo functionality.
The good news is that TWC in Central New York is finally on the Tuning Adapter bandwagon!
http://www.timewarnercable.com/CentralNY/Products/Cable/sdv/default.html
MoFro @ Oct 25th 2008 1:11PM
I would be switching from Comcast to DirecTV or Dish Turbo HD, but my condo is on the wrong side of the building and we can't put dishes on the roof. So I guess I'm a "something else" until our HOA decides to give us some slack.
WebDev511 @ Oct 25th 2008 2:15PM
Tell your HOA to look up the Telecommunications Act of 1996. They can't stop you from mounting a dish just because they don't like where you're putting it.
shawn @ Oct 25th 2008 7:47PM
i have the same problem , i live in a condo and wanting to switch but they couldnt put the new dish anywhere. condos blow
chuckf1 @ Oct 25th 2008 1:28PM
I'd love to switch from TWC to either Dish or Direct, but due to line of site issues at my apartment, I can't. But I would, if I could.
theefman @ Oct 25th 2008 1:50PM
Nothing worth watching on TV.
mitchelljd @ Oct 25th 2008 2:02PM
I already had directv. So if i didn't then i would switch to them. but since i have Dtv. i am pretty happy.
GoFer75 @ Oct 25th 2008 2:10PM
Moving to DirecTV from Time Warner was one of the best decisions I've made. I spend less and get to watch almost everything I like in HD. I had a pathetic selection on TW. Couldn't be happier with DirecTV!
Unknown @ Oct 26th 2008 5:35PM
I agree that DirecTV has great selection, but I'm paying $130 a month to get it.
adding insult to injury they really get into you wallet even further, the MLB package
is a few hundred bucks but that's not HD, so if you want to watch the "out of market" games in HD you need to pay even more...... it's like how the have "superfan" on top of the NFL ticket.
DirecTV is the best but it'll cost you.
Trevor @ Oct 25th 2008 3:02PM
Cox has added a trickle of HD stations, but most of them don't have HD content anyway. What's the point of saying HD if there is nothing on the station actually in HD? I use OTA for locals since I prefer the Boston stations over Providence. It's also very interesting to switch between the HD cable feed and the OTA feed during the same show. The difference is obvious. I doubt the average viewer even notices (or cares). If FIOS ever gets to my area, I would give it serious consideration.
kcmurphy88 @ Oct 25th 2008 3:23PM
No. DirecTV since 1994. Most cable companies haven't been AROUND that long, what with all the mergers.
Mike @ Oct 25th 2008 3:57PM
Switched? Yes, of course! I have access to FiOS.
Long, long time subscriber to DirecTV (have still kept the basic service, due to several DirecTiVo SD set top boxes; I did turn off the premium channels, though. Did not want to invest in DirecTV HD boxes, becuase of no TiVo, and perceived lower quality HD)
Long time subscriber to Comcast; like HD/SD on-demand, but none too happy about degraded picture quality for both SD and HD. Had full Premium access, so was quite content. Now reduced to basic service as contingency, and QAM access for some TVs.
FiOS? Full premium support and very, very happy. Living with the FiOS DVRs, and still watching the TiVo HD situation. Not willing to invest in the TiVo HD for this generation of set top boxes.
For FiOS, our market just had the channel expansion to over 100 HD channels. Wow! great.
Improvements wanted? More HD on-demand of standard and premium channels, since the hard disk in the supplied DVRs is quite small.
For Internet, still keep both Comcast 5/2 service as backup to my upgraded 20/5 FiOS service.
Oh, and the switch to FiOS was "less expensive" than Comcast..
burick @ Oct 25th 2008 4:14PM
i see alot of people here talking about line of site and dish placement issues. what if i told you that you could still get the service and not have to put the dish at your home. if your interested check out my blog and drop me an email www.directv360.blogspot.com
EDWARD @ Oct 25th 2008 6:41PM
just this week we switched from Comcast and getting FIOS in here. Cannot wait!
bobjfs @ Oct 25th 2008 11:37PM
We switched from Comcrash to DirecTV. Other than the occasional software update that crashes the DVR, DirecTV is a better service all around. Clear picture, lower price, many more HD channels, and HDNet and HDNet Movies. Compared to Comcrash, they are lacking in HD OnDemand.
The best news in a while is they apparently stopped outsourcing their nighttime customer service calls. They appear to handle all calls in the US. Hallelujah!
sideshowRaheem @ Oct 26th 2008 12:06AM
FIOS just became available in my area and I could drop Comcast fast enough only 11 HD channels(I'm not counting network because I could get that for free) sure if I ordered more premium channels I could get more HD channels but I don't really watch movies on cable and I'm already paying about $250 a month for TV and Internet combined for that price shouldn't I at least be getting USA and Sci-Fi in HD? Can't wait to call Comcast and tell them why I'm canceling my service.
Miggity @ Oct 26th 2008 1:10AM
I have progressed from Comcast ---> Dish Network ---> DirecTV in the course of 3 years. No regrets.
Only wish Verizon FIOS was available where I am at in Portland, OR.
GhostDoggy @ Oct 26th 2008 9:20AM
The competition is lacking. While I have cable modem service, the amount of HD provided by that cable operator is paltry. And the telephone company (ahem, AT&T) is a joke. When competition actually shows up, maybe I'd have an opportunity, but I do not currently.
Now, switching between satellite carriers wasn't much more of an option (more than nothing?) and their prior operating behavior not tolerated.
Bryan @ Oct 26th 2008 3:27PM
I just switched to DIrecTV three weeks ago after being with Time Warner for 11 years. I cannot believe what I have been missing! There are more HD channels with interesting content and they look fantastic. DTV just added my locals in HD, which was what put me over the edge. That, along with being tired of not getting the NFL Network.
Big Sam @ Oct 26th 2008 3:28PM
From TWC to DirecTV. Very happy and not looking back.
Chad @ Oct 26th 2008 3:31PM
I have no reason to switch. I already have Direct.
TrentD @ Oct 26th 2008 7:53PM
Left Insight six months ago for DirecTV - I've never looked back. I switched primarily because of HD content - Insight only had about 12 channels at that point.
tim @ Oct 26th 2008 8:24PM
Had Dish for 11 years. Had their HD package for a year and a half. I got tired waiting for my HD locals. Switched to directv about 8 months ago. Could not be happier. With Dish I watched about 4 channel in HD. Now almost everything I watch is HD. Thank you.
David @ Oct 26th 2008 9:19PM
Cablevision => DirecTV
Jason Chapa @ Oct 27th 2008 9:30AM
I switched from Time Warner Cable to Directv. I ordered it last week and it should be installed soon. I couldn't handle TWC's 10 HD channels. It was a joke. And they didn't even carry my ABC afilliate's HD channel. Directv and DishNetwork don't carry my local HDs. So I'll be getting my HD locals OTA and connecting directly to the Directv receiver. We only have ABC and NBC anyway. Then i'll be "moving" to another market to get HD local stations. :)
Schwinn @ Oct 27th 2008 9:44AM
With all the choices I have in my location (no DSL, no FIOS, no line-of-sight for Satellite) I am stuck on Cable. Hurray for the FCC who says there is plenty of competition!
:(
Maybe I'll consider an OTA antenna when I get a DTV-capable TV... it's probably the only way I'll be getting HD (other than QAM channels on cable).
Loban @ Oct 27th 2008 12:10PM
I haven't switched yet (I have Crapcast right now), but I'm going with DirecTV next month when they finally turn on my locals in HD.
-=- @ Nov 7th 2008 5:56PM
Guys just a thought, don't be fooled by DirecTV's offerings and promises, it's a bait to enrich their company with bad practices! Don't take my word go to trustworthy source like below to see how they got you when you are under contracts:
http://hometheater.about.com/b/2008/02/26/consumer-alert-class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-directv.htm
I'm in a mission to inform all people who is thinking of signing up with them, get other service and a peace of mind instead! I'm not calling them names but please do your research and be an informed customer. I did read all of those bad reviews but since I love gadgets and all the bells and whistles they offer so much I decided to give them a chance and boy don't I get dissappointed, they are out to get your money and you won't be able to do anything short of suing them so please I've experienced it and you don't have to. Those that haven't experienced it probably hasn't deal too much with them but you will eventually and hopefully eventually they learn that bad practices doesn't pay off and change their style. So help me people!