http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/ Engadget HD Comments for The Engadget HD Interview: DirecTV's CTO RE: HD Lite http://www.engadgethd.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgethd.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/
I can not say whether DirecTV's is or isn't a quality HD feed but I have I can say that with Dish Network's, I am sometimes disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the HD feeds look amazing and are at least 10x better looking than the SD feeds, but I still feel like they could be better. The same can be said about Dish's SD feeds (which I honestly think look terrible when compared to my analog cable feed).

Sometimes I wonder if the HDMI cable that I use to connect my satellite set-top-box to my plasma may have an effect on the picture quality. Could someone clarifiy this for me: Since HDMI is a digital signal rather than analog, for the most part, the quality of the picture is not going to change with the quality of the cable, right? I know that for analog signals, having a good cable is essential to having a good picture. But with digital, you either get the full signal or little to none at alll, right?]]>Jan 11th 2007 4:38AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 11th 2007 9:46AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 11th 2007 9:09AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 11th 2007 10:38AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 11th 2007 10:32AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 11th 2007 10:33AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 21st 2007 2:18PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 11th 2007 10:59AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 11th 2007 11:44AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/
His implication that MPEG4 provides higher PQ than MPEG2 is a distortion. MPEG4 is merely a more efficient compression format. By stating that MPEG4 will be a leap better in terms of quality he's only promising they will not be overcompressing the signal as they are now. It's all too aparent how well DirecTV keeps it's promises.

As far as the new HD channels go(is it 50, 70, or 150?), I suspect, even if DirecTV fulfills this one promise, we(DirecTV subs)will still be the last ones to get them.]]>Jan 11th 2007 12:49PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Lies on top of lies side-stepping all of the questions.

"the configuration we have today is the configuration that is the best video quality for the consumer, I don't want to tell you how, because it is a trade secret. Consumers should judge by the video quality."

Consumers have judged. It's not called HD Lite for nothing.]]>Jan 11th 2007 1:06PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/
Anyone else notice this? I've particularly noticed this on HBO. The last few shows I've watched live or via my HR-20 look outstanding!

Frankly, I'm staying w/ DTV no matter what until the Ticket goes elsewhere. But I really hope they come through w/ this HD stuff!! I can't afford to add cable as well.]]>Jan 11th 2007 1:57PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 11th 2007 7:32PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Wait a sec....

You had the chance to ask this gentlemen about whether DirecTV would go back to partnering with TiVo for DVR technology - now that Rupert Murdoch and his NDS company are out of the picture (no pun intended) - and you blew that chance to ask questions that you knew this executive would sidestep due to the pending class action lawsuit? Genius.]]>Jan 11th 2007 8:54PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 11th 2007 8:58PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 11th 2007 8:57PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/
Maybe its just the portions of the interview that you chose to publish, but it seems you beat a pretty dead horse with this line of questioning when you could have dug for some future direction technology platform questions... MS Partnership, VOD delivery mechanism anything but this HDLite BS. My DTV picture still looks better than my neighbors crappy Comcast picture. Crappy interview Ben.]]>Jan 12th 2007 12:01AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 13th 2007 8:57PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/
Guess what? Your picture quality SUCKS compared to cable.

Nice try.]]>Jan 12th 2007 12:23PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 13th 2007 8:58PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 13th 2007 8:58PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/
Maybe you could befriend these people and get some real answer, break a story first, etc. As it is now, he will never want to talk to you again.

]]>Jan 15th 2007 11:00PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/I have a pair of the HD DirecTiVo HR 10-250 units and I just do not want to give up TiVo! all the problems that I have heard about the HD DVR that the sell to replace it just add to that conviction.

Also these receivers were EXPENSIVE when DirecTV sold them to me just a few years ago...

If they are going to render them obsolete less than 5 or 6 years after selling them for $1000 each (I know they ended up dumping them for almost nothing but we at the Bleeding edge spent big bucks for them) then I sure hope they have some plans for folks like me!

I was one of the first 100 users of DirecTV in New England when they launched the service and it would be nice to see them treat the charter users fairly!]]>Jan 27th 2007 3:51PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/
It's got Tivo and that works quite well. Better then my Comcast HDDVR at home.

I'm in the Chicago market and to be honest I don't see a quality issue with either my Comcast or the DirectTV HD channels. They both look real good with the right TV. Comcast has done a lot in the last 5 months cleaning up the picture.

I like TIVO and am simply mad at both of them for not letting me have access to the DVR throught the usb or network port. Now I'm in the process of trying to build a HD DVR of my own. So I can watch my shows on the road. I even have a Sling box classic with a video downconverter so I can watch a HD signal through the sling. (best sling picture possible) There's a new HD option for the new sling box but I don't need it. (there video downconverter isn't a good as the comercial one I'm using. Oh you though the sling was going to transmitt at the higher rez? Nope you would be wrong)

Anyway, It would be nice to see more free HD movie channels. If there just going to add HD pay-per-view and Premium channels then that's just stupid.

I think of the HD package as a premium package so there better be something there for me to watch.

]]>Apr 10th 2007 11:26PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Jan 31st 2007 11:47AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Feb 2nd 2007 3:35PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/
It doesn't matter what type of signal it is, the better the cable, the better the picture.]]>Feb 7th 2007 4:00AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Get this issues resolved and addtional HD chs and Direct TV will become a viable alternative to Dish or your local cable service...specially if they get their new satellite up and running!]]>Feb 24th 2007 3:35PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/
Here's my explanation:
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/hdmi-cable-ripoff-continues-cable-prices-go-even-lower-elsewhere-238443.php]]>Mar 3rd 2007 6:16AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/
while it is possible, i don't see a tv station even going for it myself

generally the sats either grab them off antenna, or grab them at the antennas where the feeds are sent already encoded]]>Feb 29th 2008 11:37PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/Feb 29th 2008 11:38PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/11/the-engadget-hd-interview-directvs-cto-re-hd-lite/May 21st 2008 11:24PM