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Satellite TV Offers Can I switch to Dish Network to get more HD Channels?» Can I switch to Dish Network to get more HD Channels?I purchased all the equipment for HDTV using DirectTV and subscribe to their HD programming. The store did not give me the info that I would not get a lot of HD stations-mainly locals. After 6 months of TV, I found that directtv now offered HDlocal channels in my area. BUT, even though my TIVO (purchased for $600) states it is from directtv, I cannot get the local channels with it. The service man said he could hook me up to get local channels in HD but did not think I would be able to use my TIVo at all. Will Dish give me the local channels in HD with a DVR that will record in HD also? Can I cancel my directtv? I do not think they have fulfilled their part of the contract. Their ads say that the football package is in HD but since they pick up network feeds, I did not have any HD football this past season except for the ESPN games. I live right on the border of two states and would like to have a different local feed than what directtv gives me. Can Ichoose my local feeds? Comments (5) -> “Can I switch to Dish Network to get more HD Channels?”
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Hi Brooklyn,
Dave will have a lot more information, but your local channels are, for the most part, determined for you by regulation and satellite “spots.”
DISH does not have NFL Season Pass, so if you want to replicate that, you won’t be able too. However, even Season Pass doesn’t get you ALL the games of your favorite team, because home games are subject to the same blackout restrictions as if you received the games locally. You get a lot of football on both DISH or Direct TV, and if you aren’t into the season ticket thing, DISH is probably going to be cheaper. If you know that Season Ticket is for you (it costs something like $200+ a year for one sport. Don’t quote me on that price, but I know it is close) then Direct TV is the only one that’s going to get you as many of your favorite team’s locally broadcast games. It is going to be a while before you can get ALL games in HD - the local broadcasts are done on a very tight budget, and even the big networks don’t yet see the value in broadcasting all sports in HD.
The satellite companies (either DISH or DIRECT) have no direct influence over exactly “who” broadcasts in HD…they can only decide whether or not they can afford to broadcast a channel in HD or not. Right now, DISH has the most HD channels, I believe, but again, don’t quote me on that.
Hi Brooklyn, Thanks for the help Dan!:)
First the problem with the TiVo and your local HD channels. From my understanding with the local HD channels is you need the new HD receiver that is mpeg-4 compatible. Both Dish and Direct have a new HD receiver that is mpeg-4. TiVo does not make Directv receivers for Directv anymore.
The best you can hope for with getting the new HD receiver from Directv is to call customer service and complain and they might give you an extra discount or maybe even for free. Allot of people found themselves in your very same position a couple months ago when the HD locals came available.
Dan is correct, your ability to get a game or any TV show in HD is controlled by the broadcaster.
If you do x/o Directv they will most likely want a cancellation fee.
As far as HD channels being available, Dish is the best choice. They have 25 HD channels available now and more on the way. Dish is also in the best position right now to offer HD because of the purchase of VOOM Satellites. I have a list of hd channels both providers offer on my other satellite tv site.
http://www.satellitetv-site.com/content-index.id-19.htm
On that site I also have more detailed info on what is available with Dish and Direct. Notice on the bottom of that page i have a section that shows the programming options that Dish has with regular and HD channels combined.
I hope this helped and if you want to comment please return to this post and leave your comment in the space provided.
Again, Thanks for the help Dan.
I forgot….
The installer that told you he could get your HD locals working with the receiver you have is very unlikely. The whole reason why the new HD receivers are mpeg-4 is so they can compress HD programming to offer more HD channels like your locals. Also from my understanding, you can not get any additional HD programming without the new mpeg-4 receiver and over time (I don’t know how much) all the HD programming will be switched to the mpeg-4 format.
So, unless your TiVo receiver is mpeg-4, i don’t see this happening. But, if it was mpeg-4, you would not have the problem you have.
I have been in contact with a few people that were able to get the new receiver free so you do have a chance.
Sorry, I forgot something else
An advantage with DISH when it comes to sports. When you subscribe to a programming package that includes the FOX Sports Network you can add $15.00 to your subscription and receive all the Fox Sports Networks for every region, so no matter what teams you follow, if the game is not blacked out you will get it. That’s Dishes way of competing with DIRECTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket and i think it was a great idea.
Thanks for all your input. I realize that it all deals with the mpeg-4 and direct was willing to give it to me. They do not have a Tivo or anything like it for HDlocals at this time. That means I have to choose between HD locals and the use of my Tivo and I won’t give that up. I guess I will just keep on calling direct every month to find out if they have finally gotten a Tivo for the new system. I was told it should be ready in April or May. I just might pay the penalty fee if Dish can give me the whole package.
Thanks for all your help.