Cable vs Direct TV

[undercoverbrother]

Wuz up fellow HDTV junkies!!!..I have been veiwing this site for a while now and I love it!....Finally registered and I just want to say that I have finally made the move over to TWC. I have had Direct TV since it first hit the market. I purchased my Satelite for about $800 bucks at the local Helig Meyers back in the day at U of Iowa. I said all of that to say that I am a very loyal DTV user but TWC in LA is just awsome. Free hdtv!!!..with more programming on the way; more regular channels; more pay per veiw channels; more adult channels(grrrrooowwwwl); iNDEMAND channels and VOD coming soon. The picture quality is actually better than DTV and the Pioneer HDTV box that they provide actually allows me to put in 720P, 1080I, etc into the video format menu and the box actually recognizes the format being used and it adjusts the output accordingly! (premium channels never looked so good)...STB better step up to the plate or cable will take over!

Peace Out...

[mikehbkwm]

welcome to the forum... im with you in that i honestly think cable is the superior product even though i work for Cox. even when i worked for the 2 small dish co. i always liked cable over sat..... and you are also correct on the different things that cable can do that small dish cant..... glad to hear your a happy cable customer.....

[JDerect]

I have TWC in NYC and I love it. It offers more HDTV programming than DirecTV.

Any word on TWC picking up ESPN HD. I need it!!!

[kevinw]

Man you guys sold me I am going to sign up for cable right now. Can I get my I LUV Cable membership card? Darn I just remembered I am in an Adelphia service area and they do not do HD. Man that just sucks:(

[soze]

I can see people praising Satellite because THEY LIVE IN THE BOONIES!!! Well, generally speaking....unless you have a house in a city, those ugly dishes poking out of apartment patios detract the urban life....I got cable and so far has had a good relationship with Comcast here in Seattle....they definitely been pushing HD the last few months...we have ESPN HD, SHO, HBO, And KCTS <--not as been as you would think....soon local channels will be on board with the exception of CBS(haven't you heard enough!!) Anyway, there is a price in being an early adopter....you can't think you should be privileged to have HD in all channels...I know this because I'm impatient!!(arghh) But it's good that this forum helps us formulate ideas and strategy with numbers in pressuring cable and sat companies that HD TV owners in getting on the ball about finally offerring HD...

my 2 cents....phew

[LeeS]

Comcast Cable here in Portland hasn't done a thing yet. Most of the channels are still analog. I agree with Kevin, it SUCKS!

My broadband costs me about $55 if I don't have any cable TV, and about $55 if I have basic cable, so I had them hook up basic. Hard to do, the guy put a splitter into my broadbad cable and hooked it to one of the RF inputs to my TV. I now remember why I dumped cable for SAT all those years ago. The PQ on analog cable is terrible. I can see why people complain.

I get all my HD from an OTA antenna. When cable goes all digital and all the smoke clears I'll go with who has the best all digital network and HD coverage. Plus that will give more time for the STB folks to get their act together.

Until then I'm not stenciling 'I love cable' or 'I love SAT' on my shorts. Right now it says 'I love HD OTA' :D

Lee

[Palm]

Here in the heart of Silicon Valley Comcast doesn't offer HD cable. Hardly the boonies, but DirectTV and Dish are the only ways to get a HD signal. The majority of people don't have a direct view of Sutro Tower in SF, so over-the-air isn't an option.

:mad:

[LeeS]

"Here in the heart of Silicon Valley Comcast doesn't offer HD cable."

Strange, you'd think that would be one of the first places to get it.

Oh, Portland isn't exactly the boonies either. Although I'd admit there are probably places around that have more people per square mile than we have in the entire state. :)

Lee

[DoubleDAZ]

LeeS. I understand what you are saying, but I'm not sure I'd be willing to wait 3 years or more for a hit movie to finally make it to OTA HD TV with all those commercials. If most of your viewing is standard TV faire and DVD's, then you've got a really good point. But, how many HD enthusiasts here don't want channels like ESPN-HD, DiscoveryHD, etc., not to mention HBO, SHO, and all other cable/satellite HD channels that will be coming?

[kevinw]

I am just waiting for Dish to get the new equipment out....I just do not think cable is the best thing since sliced bread or end all be all...Who knows if Adelphia came up with HD I may reconsider. As for movies I'll rent a DVD. the PQ is good enough. Besides I was just razzing Mike for his undying love for what puts food on his table.

[LeeS]

"If most of your viewing is standard TV faire and DVD's, then you've got a really good point."

BINGO! Very preceptive :) The wife and I do watch some TV and we PVR most all of that. Some of her shows are in HD but until we get some HD PVR's SD will have to do. I'd sure love to see the new season of 'Enterprise' broadcast in HD. Someone, 57U maybe, thought the show was shot with HD cameras but not broadcast in HD, they are already widescreen.

I'm not that keen on watching a HD broadcast of a 480p DVD, especially if I have to pay extra for it. I'm with Kevin, I'll buy or rent for now. I did try out a Samsung DVD player that upconverted to 1080i, I'll wait for real HD DVD. There is that word again "WAIT". Seems I've been waiting for one thing or another all my life.

Comcast will go all digital and offer HD someday, until then Dish or Direct is all we have. I refuse to buy Dish's old HD STB, I'm also waiting for the new STB's with HD PVR.

Nothing personal about cable guys, they are just not ready here.

Lee

[twonami]

We have Charter here in SE Minn and it too sucks. We have Digital cable and that is only above channels 69 in our system. NO HDTV from them on the horizon, service outages, horrible picture quality and Charters rating was just downgraded recently. I'll stick with DirecTV for now.

[durl]

I live in a metropolitan area with about a million people and I've had Directv for 6-7 years. I would never even think about going back to cable. I got tired of rates going up every year and the lousy (and I don't use that term loosely) customer service.

Comcast is our official cable monopoly here and I recently had an experience that really opened my eyes. I helped a friend hook up an OTA antenna so he could receive HDTV. He currently has basic cable and Directv. He put the same channel up on the screen side-by-side with Comcast on one side and Directv on the other. I was actually amazed at how bad the cable picture was. It actually looked like an analog OTA signal with lines and snowy static.

If people want cable, go for it. At least satellite offers us a choice and, in my market's case, it also offers a much better picture for less money.

[Brewer4]

Ditto Durl.

[mikehbkwm]

But can small dish do internet like cable can... and it cant even do telephony.....

[twonami]

Originally posted by mikehbkwm
But can small dish do internet like cable can... and it cant even do telephony.....

I use DSL cause when I had a cable modem it had just as many outages. My biggest resentment was during some of these outages which lasted days I would call tech support which was a totally different division and they would always say it must be in your house check the cables, blah. blah, blah. It was never in my house and with DSL I haven't had any of these problems. Speed wise I am faster than the cable modem I had.

[LeeS]

"But can small dish do internet like cable can... and it cant even do telephony....."

I'll have to agree with Mike on this one. I have no complaints about our cable broadband. We've had it since @home, AT&T and now comcast. A friend has his telephone over his cable and loves it. Neither of us has had an outage problem. I didn't particular appreciate the 20% +/- increase when Comcast took over. Oh but we get basic analog cable thrown in for the $10 increase. Whoop-t XXXXing do.

BUT neither of us will consider cable TV until they get rid of analog and go all digital. (repeating myself).

When US West was running the DSL here it was going pretty good. MSN got involved somehow and it went down hill. I've converted two people over to cable broadband and they are happy. I'm not a DSL expert :) although I did have 128k ISDN when it first came out.

Like most things we have been discussing, it depends on where you live I guess.

I think the small dish had a shot until the FCC wouldn't let Dish and Direct merge/buyout, whatever it was. The government handed it to cable on a silver platter. :( Sat just doesn't have the bandwidth now, maybe later??.

IMHO of course,
Lee

[kevinw]

Originally posted by mikehbkwm
But can small dish do internet like cable can... and it cant even do telephony.....
This is irrelevant. Soon most people will not have a landline except for DSL. Cellular will be the choice as time goes on. Besides what we are talking about is cable's lock on a municipality, unfettered rate changes, poorer PQ and down right lousy customer service. In the last 20 years of having cable in 4 states with the at least 8 different cable companies nothing has changed. You are at there beck and call whenever a service call is needed. If you need an install or service it is an all day waiting process.

[57U]

Originally posted by kevinw If you need an install or service it is an all day waiting process. Many service companies will now provide a 3 hour window, or call before they come (assuming you can be home in under 1/2 hour). If your company doesn't provide this kind of service, ask for it - not saying you'll get it, but businesses do really want to be competitive and if they aren't they "die".

kevinw - I'm sure that not much will help you with Adelphia... so the above comment is a more general comment and not addressed at you.

[twonami]

Originally posted by 57U
Many service companies will now provide a 3 hour window, or call before they come (assuming you can be home in under 1/2 hour). If your company doesn't provide this kind of service, ask for it - not saying you'll get it, but businesses do really want to be competitive and if they aren't they "die".

kevinw - I'm sure that not much will help you with Adelphia... so the above comment is a more general comment and not addressed at you.

I will say the service appointments were excellent when I had Charter cable.

[DoubleDAZ]

Originally posted by kevinw
This is irrelevant. Soon most people will not have a landline except for DSL. Cellular will be the choice as time goes on. Besides what we are talking about is cable's lock on a municipality, unfettered rate changes, poorer PQ and down right lousy customer service. In the last 20 years of having cable in 4 states with the at least 8 different cable companies nothing has changed. You are at there beck and call whenever a service call is needed. If you need an install or service it is an all day waiting process.
Kevin,

I hear what you are saying and agree with most of it, but I don't get your point about PQ. I see no difference between digital cable and digital satellite channels, though I understand it might be different depending on the cableco and location. But, as has been said many times before, that doesn't make one technology better than another.

Analog is another story, but it is analog after all and I don't know what cable is expected to do about that. At this point in time, even if they could technically fix analog PQ, it will also be a moot point in a few years or so and the current crop of 27" TV watchers don't seem to care.

Anyway, as for CS, I totally disagree there, though Cox here is on my bad side at the moment, but not for things like timeliness, simply for being so secretive about some future HD/STB plans. I can't remember when I first got cable, but wherever I was at the time, I got it as soon as it was offered.

Sure, there have been hiccups along the way as there is with ALL technology, but service on total has been excellent from Hawaii to Alabama, Colorado, and Arizona, and with relatives in Wisconsin, Maryland, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

Everyone complains when prices go up and there you have a good point because it's mostly due to the addition of channels one may or may not want. Trouble is, I don't know how to fix that. Ala carte pricing seems to be an answer until you actually work out some numbers, try to offer a variety of channels/packages, and still make a steady profit.

Satellite users pay a little less for the basic package, $10 in my case, but I haven't compared them channel for channel (though I suspect I get more in total numbers if not in desired content). I pay less for premium packages (HBO, SHO/TMC, StarZ, MAX - $10 for the first group and $5 each for any additional groups). To me, the only real draw for satellite is digital locals in some areas and NFL-ST, though that is not a draw for me (I'd never watch that much bad football :) ). HD content had it's moments with satellite STBs doing OTA, but recent/coming additions to cable also make that a moot point for me.

I know you and others don't like cable and that's fine, but you will never convince me satellite is better for me even though you guys keep trying. :)

And, for 57U, ditto on the 3-hour window and call beforehand, get them or get a service credit guaranteed.

[LeeS]

"Analog is another story, but it is analog after all and I don't know what cable is expected to do about that."

Actually the technology is here and I don't think it will be all that long before cable does go all digital. IMHO.

Here's a LINK (http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2003-06-12-cable_x.htm) to an article orginally posted by leadvocal some time back. Pace Micro's website has more info. If you can find the original thread there is lots of info there.

Do check out the link, good info,
Lee

[kevinw]

I see no difference between digital cable and digital satellite channels
Unfortunately "digital" cable is not your locals but only certain channels.
http://www.adelphia.net/cable_entertainment/channel_line_ups.cfm

[57U]

One really should remember that most of these "digital" stations actually start off as analogue....

This means, that if your service provider is providing a good signal, there really shouldn't be a lot of difference between digital and an analogue on your provider, unless the original channel is digital.

[DoubleDAZ]

Originally posted by LeeS
Actually the technology is here and I don't think it will be all that long before cable does go all digital. IMHO.
I know about that device Lee, I was talking more to the MUST CARRY rule and the fact that I don't know of anything that improves the analog signal itself. The Pace thing allows analog sets to receive digital signals, which is great, and would have to be added to every non-digital cable subscriber. I doubt they will make the investment, isn't it something like $80 per unit even in bulk?

Anyway, I suppose they could go with something like that, especially if satellite keeps gaining new customers and stealing more of their current customers. But, I think they will collectively wait until they get locals online with HD in more markets before they make such a decision. They don't yet seem to be overly concerned with subscription numbers as long as the bottom-line remains where they want it. There has been more than one article pointing that out and I think they are correct in that assessment.

I guess I just get tired of all the bashing, be it cable or satellite. Yes, some (many?) cable CSRs are or have been lousy, yes some cableco's delay installs, etc., but there are so many similar complaints about satellite CSRs that I just don't understand the need to keep harping away. Truth be told, I read 3 different forums. I see a lot of posts discussing various satellite problems (lost signal, compression, antenna orientation, etc.) and I see a lot of posts complaining that some or all local HD channels are not yet available on a given cable system. But I haven't seen near as many posts about lousy cable HD PQ once they are providing the channels that customers want, etc. Even in those that do complain about PQ, it's usually directed at the source (ESPN, HBO, etc.) vs the cable itself.

I am happy with cable, Kevin is happy with satellite, you are happy with OTA. To me, that should be enough. I know complaining helps fix things sometimes, but unless you are currently having problems with one or the other service, what happened 10 years ago (myself included), good or bad, doesn't really mean a lot, does it? If you ask 57U, he said Rogers Cable used to be one of the worst and now they are one of the best.

Even though HD has been out for a while, it's still emerging technology, especially from the consumer perspective, and it takes a lot to get it all online and running smoothly. Satellite definitely has an edge in this department, since they are not scattered throughout the country, with hardware in large cities as well as small towns (though it probably takes a lot more work than we think to keep satellites operating). They also don't provide the added capabilities like internet and telephony (though I totally agree with Kevin that this is OBE as I will join the growing list of those dumping land phones and going strictly with the cells we have - not sure why I haven't already).

Anyway, I know I'm just ranting and probably won't stop the bashing, etc., but what the heck? It's Sunday afternoon, my Packers got stomped last night, I missed the race, and my wife has had HGTV on all day. I am going to check out a friend's fairly high-end Home Theater system tonight, so that is something to look forward to. Hopefully, mine won't pale too much in comparison. :D

[DoubleDAZ]

Originally posted by kevinw
Unfortunately "digital" cable is not your locals but only certain channels.
http://www.adelphia.net/cable_entertainment/channel_line_ups.cfm
Oh, I know that Kevin and I know how far behind your cable system is, but that only makes them bad in your area.

And I know you are one of the good guys here and I enjoy your posts, especially the humor. But sometimes I just have to wonder exactly what it would take to make you (as well as a friend of mine here) happy with cable ever again.

I get the distinct impression that based on past and current experiences you still would not like them even if they offered all HD channels available in as good of or better PQ than satellite at a comparable price. They'd still have their monoploy (though I'm not entirely sure that is their fault) and even I don't like that, though I don't have a solution that I think is feasible.

And I agree we probably would not be here now if satellite had not come along and provided needed competition. I just think both have something to offer to different sets of customers. If either gets too out of wack, profits go down and they go away or get gobbled up by someone else, or something new comes along. I wonder too, how much government intervention plays in all this?

[DoubleDAZ]

Originally posted by 57U
One really should remember that most of these "digital" stations actually start off as analogue....

This means, that if your service provider is providing a good signal, there really shouldn't be a lot of difference between digital and an analogue on your provider, unless the original channel is digital.
I have no technical expertise here, 57U, so I can't say much except that I've never read a post that said analog channels (I'm talking those that you can also get locally OTA) look as good as the same channels on satellite (in those markets that get locals via satellite).

When it cmes to channels like HGTV, etc., though, I think you might have a point and those seem to look as good as on satellite, depending on the cable system.

[pradike]

Originally posted by DoubleDAZ
I am happy with cable, Kevin is happy with satellite, you are happy with OTA. To me, that should be enough.

Anyway, I know I'm just ranting and probably won't stop the bashing, etc., but what the heck? It's Sunday afternoon, my Packers got stomped last night, I missed the race, and my wife has had HGTV on all day. I am going to check out a friend's fairly high-end Home Theater system tonight, so that is something to look forward to. Hopefully, mine won't pale too much in comparison. :D
How about that....after all of our back and forth the past few months ...you're a fellow Cheesehead. You just gained 10 points (with me anyway!).

Actually the Packers ruled the first half on defense, took the game in the early 3rd, and then it was 2nd & 3rd stringers against each other and this time (unlike all the previous games), the Packers reserves didn't do as well....that's why the score was what it was. The first half goal line stand was awesome!

Back to the main topic....I love satellite, hate cable, and use OTA to a moderate level of satisfaction (not equipment, just network and local affiliate snafus).

You said it best - whatever makes one happy is all that counts.

By the way....with ESPN-HD, Monday Night Football HD, & NFL ticket...I'll be watching at least 8 of the 16 Packer games in HDTV this season - not too shabby!. Here's my viewing Room --

Room with a View - Theater Photo Album Page (http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=145678&ck=)

[kevinw]

I would consider cable when PVR is offered, when HD programming is available and probaly when the owner gets on TV like Charlie does for DISH.
It is Not very often the owner broadcast an every other month show answering questions from subscribers.
I am not anti -cable I am against monopolies the are notorious for offering an inferior product(digital masquerading as HD), misinformation and poor customer service.
I do not even hold it against them when my cable was out for a week because a line was disconnected down the street or when they left a cable above ground, around my neighbors house, through my front yard for a week. I was irritated when I had to have my box pinged 3 time in one day.

[kevinw]

Back to the main topic....I love satellite, hate cable, and use OTA to a moderate level of satisfaction (not equipment, just network and local affiliate snafus).

Me to and we live about 20 minutes from each other with different cbale providers..

[LeeS]

".......isn't it something like $80 per unit even in bulk?"

The article says $70 but there is no mention of quantities. I'd imagine bulk. The unit or something like it is an option when cable does decide to go all digital and they will someday.

I'm not bashing cable, just 'actively and strongly wishing' they will go all digital and soon :) It will free up a ton of bandwidth. Then there is the PVR issue.

Football! Aaarrrrg! What a terrible waste of bandwidth. I'M JUST KIDDING, I'M JUST KIDDING :D

Lee

[mikehbkwm]

Kevin you see again it depends on where you live... Cox service calls where I live are 2hr time frames not all day and not half a day..... and yes occasionally we are late to some customers house but for the most part we are on time... and if we arent on time and the customer calls in then we give you what is called our On Time Guarantee which is a $20 credit towards your bill......

also Kevin if you have digital cable were im at you do get your locals in a digital format because we have a fiber feed straight from all the main locals here in tulsa.....

[DoubleDAZ]

Originally posted by LeeS
The unit or something like it is an option when cable does decide to go all digital and they will someday.
I've heard you say this before, but I don't know how the MUST CARRY rule figures into your timetable. They technically have to carry analog until the last subscriber's analog set dies (by some definitions anyway). As more and more channels go HD and people upgrade to new HDTVs, I just don't see the need to invest in the Pace device. I don't know what channel you would watch in digital format that would make you get cable that won't already be in digital or HD format in the coming few years. True, it could let them convert to all digital now, but I don't know the technical ins and outs of the decision to go that route or not. I suppose, if they thought they could make more money, they'd do it. But, then, that's the nature of the beast, isn't it? Just like why isn't everything HD now?

[LeeS]

DoubleDAZ,

No timetable, just chalk it up to wishful thinking on my part. You are correct, when it suits them (cable) and they can make money, they will switch.

"They technically have to carry analog until the last subscriber's analog set dies (by some definitions anyway)."

Wouldn't providing an adapter like the Pace unit to analog customers satisfy the MUST CARRY rule? They can switch when they are ready and wouldn't have to wait for all the analog sets to die.

Thanks,
Lee

[gibhunter]

Originally posted by LeeS
Wouldn't providing an adapter like the Pace unit to analog customers satisfy the MUST CARRY rule?

That's what they will do. This makes the most sense. There will be analog TVs for the next 50 years.

IMO, the price of analog vs. digital cable should be the same. With the extra channels you get on digital, most people would just opt for digital, even though that they would have to pay extra for the tuner. As it is, the difference is about $10 and that's enough for some (me for example) to stick with analog...for now.

Once they roll out HDTV, I'll probably bite the bullet and subscribe to digital with HDTV, but for now, it just ain't worth it.

[kevinw]

Originally posted by mikehbkwm
Kevin you see again it depends on where you live...

.. Kevin if you have digital cable were im at you do get your locals in a digital format because we have a fiber feed straight from all the main locals here in tulsa.....

In a small market like Tulsa this may be possible but in general it is not possible in most cities. The Metro Atlanta area has at least 4 cable companies. Tulsa and its county have 2. The Atlanta Metro area has more people in it than the whole state of OK. By and large it is much easier to service a small group of people than a large group.
Just because Cox is good in Tulsa is not a represantion of service across the country. We have Cox in Ga- Limited digital again. http://www.cox.com/MiddleGa/DigitalTV/Digital%20Cable%20Line-Up.asp
Pretty much as what is availble from Adelphia.
You just can not compare a small service area and say it is this way across the board.

I am not picking on COX but in my experiences with multiple cable companies, in multiple cities and states cable is not custumer friendly..It has been a neccessary evil to get programming untill now.

[mikehbkwm]

Kevin see I agree with you thats why I stated it depends on where you live........... And yes Tulsa is small compared to Atlanta but hey it aint tiny;) and OKC isnt really small at all... it covers a look of land mass and is spread out......

[DoubleDAZ]

Kevin, I have to agree with you on your points this time. If satellite has nothing else going for it for me, at least it is the same all over the country. You know what you are getting when you sign up and you know that no one else is getting a better deal just because of where they live (for the most part).

Cable should be no worse and the technology exists to make it so, but....I'll never understand why cable didn't develop over time like the phone companies where service was pretty much the same, just different companies and some differences in pricing.

Had I ever had a reason to switch to satellite, I would probably be singing it's praises, but that still wouldn't mean cable is all bad (and I knwo you are not saying it is). I get a little irritated because so many satellite users sing the praises of sat HD when what they really are talking about is OTA HD in most cases and, like LeeS likes to point out, anyone can get that with or without cable/satellite.

[DoubleDAZ]

BTW, Kevin. If you don't mind my asking, what made you choose Dish over DirecTV and how long ago did you switch?

[kevinw]

Originally posted by DoubleDAZ
BTW, Kevin. If you don't mind my asking, what made you choose Dish over DirecTV and how long ago did you switch?
I switched to DISH about a year ago. The PQ was night and day and I have only two 5 minute outages due to very heavy thunderstorms compared to at least 5 that extended all evening with Adlephia in the previous 1 year period. This did not count the week long outage from construction error.
Picking DISH was a family choice. At the time Direct did not offer ABCFamily channel-Sons had to have it because Power Rangers is on it. The PVR plus The 5 free movie channels that the Dish 150 package offered swayed me. DISH is 5 dollars a month cheaper than cable. Now the PVR is full of Power Ranger episodes. I still really wanted Direct first but being the good Dad...
If the PVR was not important I would have gotten Direct. Direct has NFL Sunday Ticket and more HD choice at the moment. Of course now they have ABCFamily also.
BTW all my HD is OTA. I not a Movie CHannel fan -HBO/SHOWTIME. I prefer to rent DVD's-Netflix. As you can see my choice in providers has not based upon HD but upon service,PVR and picture quality.

[DoubleDAZ]

Originally posted by kevinw
As you can see my choice in providers has not based upon HD but upon service, PVR, and picture quality.
As it should be, thanks for the reply. Judging by your posts, I would have thought you made the switch years ago. And, 2 years ago, I would not have understood the reference to ABCFamily, but having had my 2 grandsons living with me for a while now, I FULLY understand and can appreciate that part of your decision-making. :)

[LeeS]

BTW all my HD is OTA. I not a Movie CHannel fan -HBO/SHOWTIME. I prefer to rent DVD's-Netflix. As you can see my choice in providers has not based upon HD but upon service,PVR and picture quality.

Ditto Kevin, 100%! I do buy the biggies like Star Wars, LOTR, etc.

I can't remember when I switched, it was a long time ago.

Originally posted by DoubleDAZ
my 2 grandsons

Hey, being a grandpa is worth an additional 25 points in my book!

Lee

[hawks066]

Comcast in the NorthEast will be launching some more HD content for anyone that is interested. They are coming out with some ppv hd content for the boxing and whatever else, and are also supposed to be coming out with some discovery stuff within the next couple months. I just heard last week that they will be launching the 2 tuner HD Digital Box with PVR technology in about a year or so. I know a year is a long time, but Comcast is the pioneer in new technology and they will have it first. Can't wait for 2 tuners in a digital box. Also the one thing cable does have is On Demand. Now that's a great service. I do wish Directv let people buy the NFL Sunday Ticket on an a la carte basis.. I would have one, but I also hear the picture quality on the football games are pretty piss poor.

[undercoverbrother]

:D Dudes.....Dudes....settle down!!...Just wanted to give props to TWC in LA. Like I said earlier, it's ALL relative to where you're at. Hopefully the rest of the cable industry will catch on and keep the competition between Sat/Cable ongoing. The consumer (us!!) will steadily benefit.....By the way, I didn't realize this thread would get so many veiws..heck...this post has almost as many veiws as the plea for website ideas!... I guess what do you expect with the title " DTV vs Cable ".....One last thing, it's good to see some good clean , wholesome replies for a change...Just Kidding....Long live debate!!!!:D

[LeeS]

" DTV vs Cable " is something like "720p vs 1080i" :D :D

Its like arguing about what brand of beer is best, its all good!

(But I think that this beer (http://www.portlandbrew.com/oregon_honey.html) is better) ;)

Lee

[DoubleDAZ]

Originally posted by LeeS
Hey, being a grandpa is worth an additional 25 points in my book!
Points? I didn't know we got Points for this stuff. :)

[LeeS]

Originally posted by pradike
How about that....after all of our back and forth the past few months ...you're a fellow Cheesehead. You just gained 10 points (with me anyway!).



That's 35 points you picked up in this thread alone :)

Lee