A solution for locals in HD

[korsjs]

I have emailed this question for the charlie chat tonight (12/8) and will also be calling trying to get it answered. Does anyone think this could work?


Subject: Locals in High Definition

I understand the bandwidth limitations that prevent Dish Network from offering Locals in High Definition.

Question: Can you obtain a national feed for the major networks. I understand local cities want their commercials shown.

Suggestion: If someone subscribed to local channels for their area - they then could become eligible for national feed in High Definition. Couldn't your tech people easily write software that when someone is watching the HD feed, that it would automatically switch to the local city channel during commercial breaks. This should satisfy local markets for not losing the advertisement time with commercials. You would only be adding four HD channels.

[korsjs]

Well, I got through and they basically said they would not take my call because there is no future plans to add local HD channels. I don't think they understood what I was trying to tell them.

Does this seem like it would work?

[heatho]

That seems like that would work... it would be some major software programing though...

[kevinw]

As you could see last nights focus on Charlie Chat is adding small market locals and poker. I would save your question for the the next Tech Chat and see if that works.

[DoubleDAZ]

That is basically what happens everywhere, particularly here in the Mountain Time Zone where everything, except live broadcasts, is taped. When I toured our local CBS, they showed us the controller that was programmed to insert local advertisements, etc., as the programming is being aired. The problem you have with satellite is that they do not have access to the local content (ads, etc.), so you'd need a way to send that to the satellite and coordinate it all, and this from all the locals around the country, daunting at best.

[korsjs]

I really don't think it would be that hard to do. They already have VCRs that do commercial advance. I believe it reads when there is a break in the action. All they would have to do is make the channel switch to you local one.

To me it seems like they don't want to take good or tough questions. I quess the next time I will have to lie and tell them my question is about foreign networks or am inquiring about my local in "Timbuktu, Somewhere"

I have been trying to get another question on as when they are going to convert more movie channels to 5.1 sound. They won't take that one either.

I guess I will go for the sneak attach next time.