Consumers still baffled about HD content, channel options
by Darren Murph 
posted Dec 10th 2006 at 12:55PM
After several years of this "HD thing" being around, we'd assume that the general public would begin to catch on and understand the completely unnecessary, yet very prevalent confusions that simply come with owning and operating an HDTV. Apparently there's still a vast majority of potential HDTV buyers and current owners that are still miffed when it comes to fully understanding how to setup, tweak, operate, and enjoy their new set. Research posted in USA Today states that while "about 15-percent" of American homes have an HD-capable television, less than half of them said that their purchase was influenced by wanting to catch their favorite shows in high definition. While we've certainly seen reports showing that we Americans can't get enough once we get a taste, it appears that a staggering amount of owners either don't know how to correctly receive HD content, or simply believe that "digital cable" equates to "high definition." Surveyors attribute the "confusing nature" of actually getting HD content into your home as the primary culprit, as cable and satellite companies don't exactly go the extra mile to clarify the technological mumbo jumbo while siphoning your cash. Notably, many HDTV purchasers were buying in with "gaming and / or DVD viewing" atop their list of priorities, presumably satisfied with stretch-o-vision when watching plain ole TV. Sure, some firms have reached out to addlepated consumers in hopes of clearing up some of the myths, but it seems that there's still a ways to go before the general public can truly grasp the nature of HD.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tlarkin79 @ Dec 10th 2006 1:59PM
Is it that big of a surprise? High definition isn't even standard. Sometimes it's 720p, sometimes 1080i, sometimes 1080p? We don't even have to get into what the cable companies are doing to that HD picture before it reaches your house.
George @ Dec 10th 2006 2:45PM
I use my HD set mostly for gaming/dvd/hd-dvd watching. I live in a small town in California, and I only get NBC and Fox in HD, so I don't really bother with regular tv.
Nelson Cheung @ Dec 10th 2006 2:52PM
The media companies (Time/Waner, Dish etc. ) along with the TV makers (Sony, Sharp etc.) have been complete morons when it comes to advertising the potential of HD! But when it comes to new tech and to guys in stuffy blues suits, those things just don't mix very well...just look at the music industry...great opportunity to capitalize on mp3 tech and they just stumble like a bunch of old outdated geezers!!! Sheeaashhhh!
picaso @ Dec 11th 2006 10:04AM
Absolutely correct Nelson,
I know someone who bought a HD-Ready TV a year ago and has yet to get an HD STB from his cable company. In other words, he has yet to see HD on his HDTV! The blame should be put directly on the providers/producers/manufacturers. None explain the basics well.
Mick @ Dec 11th 2006 10:27AM
I totally agree with the findings. My friends are clueless. I have a Motorola voom STB for OTA HD and my friends are baffled you can receive HD over the air. I have a friend who bought a 42" flat panel Toshiba and has just standard cable running to it, and can't figure out why it looks crappy. (he thinks his cable just isn't "strong enough"
1080i or p, 720p...they are completely clueless. Isn't dvd hd? they ask Perfect victims for BestBuy sales droids.
mroach @ Dec 11th 2006 10:27AM
When I was buying my HDTV at Circuit City, I got talking to the sales guy. He said a huge number of HDTVs are returned every week because people get ticked off when they get the TV home, plug it directly into their cable, and have a crap picture. He said that the employees try to express the importance of getting an HD STB or HD antenna because the picture will look nothing like what they see in the store otherwise, but many people don't want to hear it. They think they know what they're doing or that getting an HD STB is some big moneygrabbing conspiracy. TV is indeed a lot more complicated than it was a decade ago, but with 10 minutes of explanation, anyone should be able to understand the big picture (pun shamefully intended) and make an informed purchase that they'll be happy with.
tbville @ Dec 11th 2006 11:00AM
During thanksgiving I was at my mother in laws house, she had bought a HD TV over the summer and this was the first time I had a chance to see her setup. Well it turns out that Comcast had set her Motorola box to 480i and she had been watching that for about 6 months. The picture looked extremely bad and stretched out, it hurt my eyes. It took me about 5 min to figure out how to power off the box and change the res to 1080i. I blame both consumer and cable companies for these issues, I am pretty sure she would have kept on watching it this way if I would not have fixed the issue.
rijit @ Dec 11th 2006 11:35AM
When my DirectTV was installed, I tried to explain to the installer he was doing something wrong, he spent an hour playing with things and left without everything working right, I took 3 minutes to switch some cables around and had everything hooked up right. Crappy training is probably half of the public's problem with HD, everyone is getting bad information from BestBuy, installers, etc.
Zo @ Dec 11th 2006 2:46PM
Maybe I am lucky in my area. I have Charter Cable. If you want Digital Cable without HD they send you a Digital box that supports component cables. If you want Digital Cable with HD they send you a HD cable box reciever with HDMI. Even the bills break down to Digital or HD right on the bill. Now, the fact that you have to pay $30 extra a month just for HD is a pain in the --- but it seems rather easy to me. Also, the local Best Buys in my area including the Costco in my area all have a sign stuck to every single TV that says, in order to get HD TV you must .... These are big red signs that are impossible to miss. That said, there are plenty of people who still do not understand.
Craig @ Dec 11th 2006 4:41PM
OTA HD - best kept HD secret, and why, rather than falling short, my HDTV experience completely exceeded my expectations. Goodbye Comcast basic cable!