Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)
One man's protest: No HD, then No NBC
This probably still won't mean much to anybody but unless people combine
action with protests, it's meaningless.
After a major expenditure in HD equipment, roof-top antenna system and HD
programming this past year, I patiently awaited the coming of the Olympics
in glorious HD, comfortably self assured that everything was in place for it
to happen.
The first hint that I may have deluded myself came last Friday afternoon
when I noticed that, although the guide on my 811 indeed listed the Olympic
channels both on 9425 and 148, they both also stated that the program was
"blacked out" in my area.
Must be some mistake, I live in Vermont - there is no digital OTA here
(except PBS) and won't be for years. I qualify and receive the distant
analog NBC & Fox and the distant CBS HD from NY. I'm as "signal white area"
as one can get. Must be another Dish mistake, I'll just make a quick call.
After an hour long conversation with a Dish CSR and advanced tech Friday
night, the harsh reality set in that I was not going to be allowed to watch
the Olympics in HD.
The rhetoric will pile up on this and other lists for weeks about why this
has happened to me and many others but the bottom line is greed triumphs
over integrity.
When the smoke clears, this basically boils down to a clever attempt between
NBC and Sony (with necessary compromises to the affiliates) to attract new
customers into the world of HD (and Sony equipment of course). Nothing wrong
with this - they are in business to make money. Clever, because it
circumvented existing SHIVA / FCC regulations.
However while their left hand was luring the public's credit cards into the
showrooms, they were shaking their right hand with all the affiliates that
would close the door on any chance of many of these new customers ever
seeing the Olympics in HD. As for the big DBS providers - they knew full
well what was going down but greed prevailed and they signed on anyway.
Ask yourself, how many affiliates are likely to say:
"Gee, we're sorry but we don't do HD yet. In fact we may never do it, but
you the viewer shouldn't have to suffer for that. What's the number of your
satellite provider and we'll make sure they provide you with the NBC HD
signal. After all your happiness is important to us - even more important
even than all that local advertising money. Please watch the Olympics in
glorious HD and don't worry about us, we'll limp along somehow."
Well, for what ever it's worth, I bite the bullet and so far have not
watched ANY NBC - Olympics or otherwise. Piss on 'em. I'm feeding the CEO's
of NBC, Sony, Dish Network and Channel Master by what I've spent this past
year and they turn around and deny me the HD broadcast - a broadcast I might
add that in no way threatens any of the concurrent analog broadcasts since
what comparatively little coverage is available is so delayed, it's almost
mote. My plan had been to watch my local for much of the up to date coverage
and follow up with the HD coverage.
Now I'm watching none of it and you know what ? My face feels just fine with
my nose missing. In fact I like this feeling so much, I'm seriously
considering canceling 90% of my $130 a month Dish programming and just watch
DVDs and PBS HD OTA.
WaltinVt
One man's protest: No HD, then No NBC
This probably still won't mean much to anybody but unless people combine
action with protests, it's meaningless.
After a major expenditure in HD equipment, roof-top antenna system and HD
programming this past year, I patiently awaited the coming of the Olympics
in glorious HD, comfortably self assured that everything was in place for it
to happen.
The first hint that I may have deluded myself came last Friday afternoon
when I noticed that, although the guide on my 811 indeed listed the Olympic
channels both on 9425 and 148, they both also stated that the program was
"blacked out" in my area.
Must be some mistake, I live in Vermont - there is no digital OTA here
(except PBS) and won't be for years. I qualify and receive the distant
analog NBC & Fox and the distant CBS HD from NY. I'm as "signal white area"
as one can get. Must be another Dish mistake, I'll just make a quick call.
After an hour long conversation with a Dish CSR and advanced tech Friday
night, the harsh reality set in that I was not going to be allowed to watch
the Olympics in HD.
The rhetoric will pile up on this and other lists for weeks about why this
has happened to me and many others but the bottom line is greed triumphs
over integrity.
When the smoke clears, this basically boils down to a clever attempt between
NBC and Sony (with necessary compromises to the affiliates) to attract new
customers into the world of HD (and Sony equipment of course). Nothing wrong
with this - they are in business to make money. Clever, because it
circumvented existing SHIVA / FCC regulations.
However while their left hand was luring the public's credit cards into the
showrooms, they were shaking their right hand with all the affiliates that
would close the door on any chance of many of these new customers ever
seeing the Olympics in HD. As for the big DBS providers - they knew full
well what was going down but greed prevailed and they signed on anyway.
Ask yourself, how many affiliates are likely to say:
"Gee, we're sorry but we don't do HD yet. In fact we may never do it, but
you the viewer shouldn't have to suffer for that. What's the number of your
satellite provider and we'll make sure they provide you with the NBC HD
signal. After all your happiness is important to us - even more important
even than all that local advertising money. Please watch the Olympics in
glorious HD and don't worry about us, we'll limp along somehow."
Well, for what ever it's worth, I bite the bullet and so far have not
watched ANY NBC - Olympics or otherwise. Piss on 'em. I'm feeding the CEO's
of NBC, Sony, Dish Network and Channel Master by what I've spent this past
year and they turn around and deny me the HD broadcast - a broadcast I might
add that in no way threatens any of the concurrent analog broadcasts since
what comparatively little coverage is available is so delayed, it's almost
mote. My plan had been to watch my local for much of the up to date coverage
and follow up with the HD coverage.
Now I'm watching none of it and you know what ? My face feels just fine with
my nose missing. In fact I like this feeling so much, I'm seriously
considering canceling 90% of my $130 a month Dish programming and just watch
DVDs and PBS HD OTA.
WaltinVt
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