Ok , it’s 2010 and still there is only about 5 free HDTV channels, what gives? About 2 years ago we bought a nice Samsung HDTV and I assumed that I would be watching rich, high definition TV show’s on my sweet new set. I was disappointed to find out there were only about 5 HDTV channels available to me. Therefore I assumed they would be adding HD channels every few months or so, as the technology grew more popular, but not a single new Hi Def channel has been added since we got our new TV. I am a Comcast customer and I realize that we could pay extra to get more HDTV channels but what I want to know is… when are more FREE channels going to be available? Did it take this long to convert the 3 lousy channels to color from black and white when color TV was first invented?
Wasn’t HDTV first invented in like the 80’s or something?? Hello?? What are all you HD tech-morons wasting your time on now? Not to go all Veruca Salt on you guys but I want all my channels available in high definition format and I want it now! Not only that but I don’t want to pay extra for it, after all… I am still forced to sit through commercials on high definition broadcasts so I don’t think I should have to pay twice by being subject to a premium channel fee.
When is this movie gonna end?
Dear, technology… you have seriously let me down.
It seems like when other new technologies became available the switch to the new format happened much quicker. For instance, think how fast we all switched from VHS to DVD! There was no 20 year lag time there. Yet here we are over 20 years after the invention and implementation of HDTV and we are still stuck with 5 lousy high definition channels. And to make things worse, do you realize how crappy standard definition broadcasts look on an HDTV set? Please! It’s painful.
So, let the record show that on this day April 16th 2010 I have 5 crappy HD channels. This post will represent a time-capsule (so to speak) and my guess is in a year from now when I come back to read this post I will still be stuck with the same 5 hi def channels that I have right now.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I will be an apologist for the cable company.
The 5 free channels you get are 5 local channels that are also free over the air if you don’t have cable. While it would be nice to get lots of HD channels for free, it’s not very realistic. First, Comcast does pay a per subscriber charge for almost every channel that you don’t get for free. Also the cost of receiving and transmitting the HD channels to you is more expensive that analog channels. I get an HD tier with Comcast triple play Broadband/Phone/TV. I get the following channels in HD. TNT, Fox Sports Net, HDNet, ESPN, ESPN2, Paladium, Golf channel, UHD, National Geographic, A&E, TLC, TBS, Disney, Family Channel, Food, HGTV, SYFY,
Science channel, Versus, MLB Network, FX, NFL Red Zone, USA, Altitude, Animal Planet, Catoon network, History channel, Headline News, CNN, Fox News, Fox Business News, MSNBC, CNBC, Lifetime, Spike, Weather Channel, AMC, E!, Comedy channel, Travel, DX, WE, Green Channel, Speed channel, Biography, G4, History International, ID, BET, WGN America, CMT, GMC, ESPN News,
NHL Network, Outdoor channel, Lifetime Movie, MGM, NFL Network, discovery, Hallmark chanel, Hallmark movies, Fused.
Yeah…and it seems they have actually increased the amount of ads we see per hour. Even when I do see some free “hd” it’s still lopped off on the sides or just not formatted in the right size for the screen…cripes…do we need to pass more laws on this too so we can get some standardization?
Apparently you don’t know more because you entirely missed the point. The point of my rant was that in this day and age we shouldn’t have to pay a premium to get extra (free channels) in HD. In this day and age we should get every channel in HD (assuming that channel is in our cable bundle).
After all… it isn’t as if these free channels remove the advertising since I am paying a premium for them. In a way, that makes me pay for the channel twice (once via the cable company premium and also via my having to watch advertisements).
Even still… don’t get too excited… I’m just ranting. I’ve already settled down on this issue.
Umm, the number of free HD channels available has nothing to do with the technology itself. How many free channels IN TOTAL do you get? This is what determines how many HD channels you can potentially get.
Louise, nice to meet you! I followed you on Twitter for this very reason: communicating with other like-minded folks on the internet!
Hmmmm! Got this note you were following me on twitter…and truly since I rarely go on twitter, not to mention I forgot how to leave twits..Help :/ But having said that, wondered why in the world would I interest you? Truth, I am a conservative, I find your writings funny, love HGTV but I have Cox…and no problem getting them..I am addicted. Louise a.k.a. weezy2033.
HDTV? What is that again?