The Comcast Network in HD in South Jersey!

[yakfishnick]

And so it begins... I've now missed the first game of the Philadelphia Flyers preseason in HD thanks to the Verizon FiOS current lineup that does not include The Comcast Network in HD.  The game was supposed to be on the NHL Network HD and the Comcast Netword SD (standard definintion channel 99).  However, at 7:00 pm, the NHL Network HD channel was blacked out and I was left to watch the great game of hockey in SD... again.  I don't see why Verizon refuses to add this channel to the current South Jersey lineup.  Channel 577 is currently empty and next on the list after Comcast Sportsnet HD.  It seems like a perfect fit.  More importantly, the request for this channel has been quite popular on this forum.  What else do we customers have to do to make this happen?  South Jersey Verizon FiOS customers want to watch their favorite teams in HD.  The fact that one of the networks, that carries quite a few Phillies and Flyers games, is only available in SD is quite embarassing to the company that supposedly touts itself as an HD leader.  We'd greatly appreciate this channel being added in the next few days.  Many thanks.

South Jersey Phillies and Flyers fans, help me out with this one.  Pepper these forums with requests for The Comcast Network in HD.  Don't stop until we get an actual answer.  Many thanks to you!

[Lee_VZ]

We encourge ideas and suggestions. Please post your request on our Ideas page.  http://bit.ly/cvqh21

Lee_VZ

[Caps09]

From the little things I've heard over the last couple years, it sounds like VHO8 just doesn't have the QAM capacity to add The Comcast Network in HD now. This is because in addition to all the Phila channels, VHO8 has to provide local channels and regional sports networks from New York for central NJ, and an extra regional sports network (MASN) for Delaware. Along with this, New York and Philadelphia each have a few more local HD channels than many other markets, all having to be distributed from VHO8.

Verizon does have HD feeds of TCN HD and MASN2 HD (for Delaware) at VHO8, but there just isn't room to add them to the system right now. Last I heard in April was "it could be some time" before they are added. They probably could compress other channels to add them, but it seems like they don't want to start that trend. Unfortunately, it seems to take forever to make room by other means to add any more HD space.

The good news is that there probably won't be an NBA season, so the Flyers shouldn't have many games on TCN this season if they even have any. That should buy Philly fans at least another few months for Verizon to add the channel.

[yakfishnick]

Thanks for the reply Caps09.  If this is true, then why does Verizon FiOS tout it's ability to bring more HD to us as opposed to competitors in the area, like Comcast.  The truth is fine with me.  Just give it to me up front before you get my money 

[Caps09]

Yeah I know. If what I've heard is true, an answer like "we don't have enough room right now to add regional channels in your area, but we're working on it" would be fine. Even "we're working on it, it will get added, but it will be a while" would be nice. I can deal with stuff like this if there are just reasonable explanations. I hate the way Verizon surrounds itself with this veil of secrecy. Just tell us what's going on.

[yakfishnick]

Indeed Caps09, what do they think they are?  Apple  

I'm very happy to have the NHL branching out to all these channels, but I hate it when the provider can't make them available in HD.  I'm hoping the NHL Center Ice package will allow more than the traditional 1 or 2 HD telecasts per night.  These folks have to understand that people who watch sports find an SD feed to be unacceptable.  

Well, here's to hoping Verizon gets it done.