DirecTV relies on Where Is HD? data for quantity comparisons

by Darren Murph posted Apr 4th 2008 at 6:54PM

We're not entirely sure how long this has been going on, but on DirecTV's "Stomps the Competition" page, it relies on data from Where Is HD? in order to stack cable providers up against itself and DISH Network. In reality, there's no question that DTV currently holds the crown as the provider of the most HD in America, but given the pool of complaints from commenters about the accuracy of Where Is HD?, we're curious to know if the figure shown is just an average of zip codes sampled or something else. Overall, it's a petty matter -- after all, 55 HD channels on cable is a heck of a lot more than a huge chunk of cable users get today, so it's not like DirecTV is giving coax an unfair rub. Check the full spread below.

[Thanks, Cody]

Gallery: DirecTV relies on Where Is HD? data for quantity comparisons

Filed under: Misc, Satellite

Tags: directv, hd channels, HdChannels, locator, where is hd, WhereIsHd

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Eric @ Apr 4th 2008 7:53PM

Most of DirecTV's exclusive HD channels have little to none actual HD content. They are mostly placeholders for when the HD content becomes available. Nothing really to get excited about. By the time these placeholder have real HD content to show, most providers will have added them by then.

Neutral

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Apr 4th 2008 9:34PM

Most is perhaps a little overstrong statement now. But a lot of them are just placeholders, true.

If you had cable, you could get crappy Voom channels (Treasure HD) in HD all the time. Except they never really show anything of value.

Highly Ranked

bslenter @ Apr 4th 2008 8:09PM

I think this "who has the most channels" race is WAY overplayed. A few years ago, it mattered a whole lot more, because the average number of HD channels on a given cable or satellite system was pretty low, so every new channel added counted for a lot. But now we're talking about the difference between 50 or a few more, and many of these are regional sports channels or other "limited audience appeal" channels. So now we're just splitting hairs IMO.

I'm on Dish, and I don't care that they've been passed up, becase I have LOTS of HD channels to watch, they all look pretty good, and I'm sure I'll have more soon.

My only gripe is not having SciFi HD in time for BSG Season 4, but I know that's coming soon.

Highly Ranked

Britboyj27 @ Apr 5th 2008 4:01PM

I'm pretty sure my cable channel has... let's count.

PBS HD
CBS HD
NBC HD
ABC HD
FOX HD
NBC's other affiliate in HD (so the same as above except for news)
History HD
A&E HD
TNT HD
ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
HD Theater
Universal HD
Mojo HD
NatGeo HD
MHD

That's it. I can get HBO and Showtime HD, but I really don't feel like it.

So 15, counting a double-channel, and 17 if I pay way more than I need to for shows I don't particularly want to watch.

I'm pretty sure that's a little shy of the 55 Where is HD? Is telling me I should be getting.

Fuck you Cox of NWA.

Neutral

Joe @ Apr 4th 2008 8:38PM

55? What cable company is this??

Highly Ranked

JimC @ Apr 4th 2008 9:01PM

Bye Bye Time Warner, I ordered DirecTv HD DVR package today. Will be getting all my locals OTA until DirecTv offers them via satellite. Time warner, you could have kept my business had you simply kept a stream of HD channels coming....but too little too late...

Neutral

Michael @ Apr 5th 2008 12:28AM

Well, for the area I am about to move to I checked it out (on WhereIsHD of course) and tallied only the channels that appeal to me (i.e. - No premium channels I'd have to pay extra for, and no Sports channels... and I only counted duplicate channels once like the west coast and east coast versions of the same thing). Here is what I got:

Burlington Telecom: 6
Comcast: 18
DirecTV: 31
Dish Network: 24

So it looks like, for me at least, DirecTV really would be the better option. Too bad I'm only paying $9 extra per month for my HD television service from Comcast over what I would pay for just my internet. If I was paying full price I might consider the switch.

Neutral

Michael @ Apr 5th 2008 12:30AM

Oh, and no, I'm not getting a great deal on my television service... I'm getting a raw deal on my internet service and the combo package doesn't seem too bad compared to it.

Neutral

John Cloudman @ Apr 5th 2008 11:34AM

If DirecTV is using Where is HD for this (which I'm not sure they are any more - the tag on the image is gone as of 9:30 Saturday mtning), they're not doing themselves any favor. I just found 14 NATIONAL (ESPNEWSHD, BravoHD, Cartoon Network HD, CMTHD, CSTVHD, Disney Channel HD, Fuel HD, MTV HD, NBA TV HD, NHL HD, Nick HD, Toon Disney HD, Tennis Channel HD, VH1 HD) channels that whereishd.com doesn't indicate that I get.

Neutral

Ordeith @ Apr 5th 2008 6:30PM

DirecTV:

Get that Media Center compatible tuner out and we'll talk.

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