Ask Engadget HD: Who has the best HD video on-demand?
"I have been hearing about all these different kinds of Video On Demand services from Cable, sat, and telco companies. I was wondering if you guys could do a rundown of the descriptions of the different VOD services and their pros and cons. "
So, when was the last time you perused the VOD catalog of your pay-TV provider, and was it worth the effort? We're sure at least some have already gone all online only for their video libraries, while some may stick to discs, DVR and standard channel browsing. Over here we're checking every ten minutes for that episode of The Closer we forgot to DVR this week, but until it shows up let us know how your VOD experience has worked out.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Big Sam @ Aug 19th 2009 3:31PM
Out of the legal and inconvenient options? I have no idea.
aaron @ Aug 19th 2009 3:43PM
If netflix counts they are by far the best.... because of the value.
Matt @ Aug 19th 2009 3:46PM
I am a tw customer (columbus oh area) and have browsed on demand a few times. More because I was bored and curious. The selection is nice if you want an on demand hd ppv movie, but that's really it.
There should be an option for customers who want to opt out of this junk. NO SD CHANNELS, no on demand, no music, no spanish crap, no jesus tv. Hell, I wouldn't mind getting "ripped off" on the deal, say let me save $15 a month. Time Waner makes out like a fool and I save $15 on junk I will never watch anyway.
kcmurphy88 @ Aug 20th 2009 11:43AM
The religious and shopping channels PAY to be carried, reducing your bill. There are other customers who want what you don't like. Or maybe you think the world needs to revolve around you?
Mez Jr @ Aug 20th 2009 7:02PM
@kcmurphy88
Dude, he said OPTION, I think its inarguable that more options is better.
I think DISH used to have that as an option (HD only), apparently they do not anymore.
Jacan @ Aug 19th 2009 3:54PM
I tried DirecTV HD VOD the other day. On a DSL normally providing 200Kbps ft capability I had to wait over an hour before I could even start to watch the movie. I'll try again sometime, but I'll always plan ahead and start downloads in the afternoon. So much for spontaneity.
Michael @ Aug 20th 2009 9:50AM
This type of download time is what has always confused me, on Comcast I have never waited for more that a minute to download a movie, on average a 2 hour long hd movie takes about 30 seconds to download
Fanfoot @ Aug 26th 2009 1:08AM
Comcast doesn't DOWNLOAD the VOD movie at all. They assign a channel (one of the ones they reserve for this purpose), tune the set top box to that, then stream the movie to you at full bandwidth, 3.75Mbps for SD or 15Mbps or so for HD. No waiting.
Satellite can't do that, since they don't have the bandwidth over the satellite network to assign channels to this sort of use since they have only so much bandwidth and far more users per satellite than the cable company has per neighbourhood (which is where VOD channels are assigned for cable). So they can't do it that way. For now anyway. So they download the movie over your internet connection. And if you don't have a connection that is fast enough, then just like your XBox or Apple TV or whatever, it'll have to buffer for a while before you can watch it.
pete @ Aug 19th 2009 4:02PM
I've used HD VOD on Cablevision, Verizon FIOS, Comcast, Time Warner, and AT&T UVerse and I have to say the combination of Xbox Live Marketplace + Netflix beats them all...
Quake97 @ Aug 19th 2009 4:08PM
I've used both Comcast's and Verizon's VoD and they're terrible. The interface is slow and clunky and HD movies are $5.99. I have an Apple TV and consider that my VoD service outside of the occasionally Netflix stream, when I'm really bored.
Joe
sandfarmer @ Aug 19th 2009 4:38PM
I have DISH as per the picture in the article. Which is old. It is not as glorious as it is made to seem. There is not all that much 1080p fare available and DISH has picture quality problems with their boxes that have yet to be addressed that basically make it pointless to splurge on 1080p rentals. I have been told that they are "looking into" these issues. But with DISH who knows what that means. Also what can you expect for a provider that that sells channels in premium HD packages that only transmit in SD?
For a short time in conjunction with A&E, they had The Beast @ 1080p VOD for free from their huge library of very unique and repeat programming. But it didn't last long. I guess neither did The Beast. Have not seem any 1080p programming on there in a long time.
But by far, despite their many shortcomings and unique sense of reality, DISH is the best. I have had them for 15 years and they may not do the best job at stepping up, but at least they're stepping up. Now if they win the suit with TiVo we won't have to worry about losing our DVR's or paying higher fees if they pay off TiVo.
Tara @ Aug 20th 2009 10:01AM
the Pirate Bay, FTW!!!!!
GaryMc @ Aug 19th 2009 5:04PM
I have no desire to pay 7 bucks for one HD movie. I'll just keep enjoying my Blu-rays from Netflix.
nrb @ Aug 19th 2009 5:25PM
I agree. The price for rentals (VOD or whatever method of delivery) seems to be going up, not down. I'm sticking with Netflix.
EM1 @ Aug 19th 2009 5:22PM
Comcast is good... At stealing your money!
Kidding aside. I've used a TV that had Comcast VOD and all the free stuff was garbage. Never paid for extra programming and never will. My only suggestion is Netflix or Blockbuster online. At least with Blockbuster you can exchange in-store. Or thereis Redbox but Ive never tried that.
rdclark @ Aug 19th 2009 5:38PM
The combination of Comcast HD On Demand and Netflix HD Watch it Now (via TiVo) is working pretty well. But we have occasionally had to settle for SD streams from Amazon or Hulu (via PlayOn/PS3) when we missed an episode of something that was very hard to find otherwise.
But a special stink-eye to FX for the just stupid number of commercials they stick into the On Demand HD version of Rescue Me. Since there's no FX HD in my Comcast lineup that I can TiVo, I have simply dropped the show entirely as a result. Was that what they wanted?
daveak @ Aug 19th 2009 5:39PM
Netflix Blu-ray delivered to my home and Netflix on my TiVo. And sometimes a good Amazon HD VOD I do not want to wait for. Why pay a Cable or Sat company a high monthly fee for less than stellar HD? Especially when I do not even watch half of it?
Ordeith @ Aug 19th 2009 5:52PM
Netflix
Isaac @ Aug 20th 2009 12:13AM
If you have a PS3 (like me!) or an Xbox 360, they both have countless HD movies available "on demand". BUT as the picture above indicates, with the price of these HD movies at $7(!) or thereabouts, its a little ridiculous. Another great example is that South Park episodes cost $2 a piece. To put that in perspective, a single season will run you $28! Alternatively, you can get PlayOn for $20 (like me!) and watch every single episode from SouthParkStudios.com for free. "On Demand" video is WAY too expensive for the time being. I would advise you to get a Netflix w/ Blu-ray plan. Use the blu-rays for the stuff that has to be seen in HD (i.e. Dark Knight, Iron Man, etc.) and use Netflix streaming for the impulse viewings.
Level 5 @ Aug 20th 2009 10:34AM
To me, Netflix with Blu-Ray is untouchable. I have the 3 at a time plan which is $22 a month. I literally need nothing else, I have no cable, and no HD OTA tuner. It just couldn't even be any easier. Get a movie, watch it, send it back, get a new one. I'm sorry, but renting movies on Comcast or the PSN/360 online services at $6-7 a pop is insane. Having 2 weeks to start a movie on PSN is fine, but only 24hrs to finish it once you start it? Please. With NF, I queue my movies, get them in 1 business day, and it's home waiting in my mailbox when I get home from work. I watch it, send it back, and I get new ones. PSN is only 720+ AND it's effing 8GB a piece so I have to wait to even start watching the damn thing. I won't even discuss Comcast.net's bandwidth limits and how THOSE factor into all this. I guess if I cared about what's on TV it'd be different, but I really don't care for that stuff, movies all the way for me.
Liza @ Aug 20th 2009 12:29PM
I have Comcast On Demand, and though there HD movie rentals are overpriced ($7!) there is a large amount of HD tv shows that are free if you get the channel. The picture quailty is decent for HD and I've nevered waited more than a minute before it downloaded.
Chase @ Aug 20th 2009 7:58PM
I have Directv, their on-demand has a great selection. No HBO or Howard Stern, but pretty much everything else. I used TWC for years and wasn't that impressed and rarely purchased a movie. Now I did watch Breaking Bad in HD indemand on TWC. That was about it. As I didn't get AMCHD at the time.
Now with Directv On Demand, they have this Watch Now with 1080p movies, I don't know how it works and haven't really thought about how it works but it does work really good. Movies come up instantly, they only have a few selections (like new release and staff picks). I have to admit that since I switched to Directv at the beginning of the year I purchase about one $6 movie per month. I probably purchased about that in 8 years with TWC.
I do have a rather fast internet and it still takes about 20 minutes to download enough of the selection to watch without having to stop. Its close to spontaneity, but then again it pretty far away, a lot can happen in 20 minutes.
Ed @ Aug 20th 2009 9:40PM
I use Comcast. I can't just watch all movies like others. I enjoy video On Demand for shows like Weeds, Californication, Curb, Entourage, etc, etc. (Yes, I have all the pay channels)
I also like getting into an occasional HD movie from Encore or Starz, even if it is an upconvert. I watched Red Dawn On Demand the other night and loved it.
If you're only considering movies, you're missing a lot of free quality content offered on Comcast.
ChristopherKee @ Aug 21st 2009 10:35AM
Netflix + Redbox + Hulu + OTA HD Tuner = All you need.
With this solution I pay about $15 a month for all my viewing entertainment.
I used Fios, Comcast, Cox, and DTV's OnDemand. They are all clunky and have hardly anything in the HD category that is worth while for a fair price. Even the free SD items are worthless these days. Comcast and DTV used to have a lot of free "How To" stuff but its gone now. I replaced it with just using Youtube instead.
Fanfoot @ Aug 26th 2009 1:50AM
Tivo HD with CableCard plus Comcast = no VOD. I use either Tivo (Amazon on Demand) or Apple TV for VOD, and am generally quite satisfied with the results. Much easier to use than Comcast VOD of course, with its stupid blue pill interface and so many layers you can't even find anything thru all the junk/clutter. I'd still use the Comcast VOD sometimes if I could (e.g. there was such a thing as a Tivo Series 4) but so far it has not been released/defined/rumored etc. For now I'm perfectly happy. Supplement with Hulu or Apple iTunes purchases periodically as needed.