Re: WHY Hasn't There Been Any New HD Channels Added Lately?
bobbo527
Specialist - Level 3

@tns wrote:

@bobbo527 wrote:

... 

But that being said, this conversion from MPEG-4 to MPEG-2 is supposedly to free up QAM space which will allow them to finally add more content.  But like I said in another post, I am not a techie and can't spout off all the specifics about how that works nor do I have any clue on how long it will take them to do it. It's just from what I've read here and on other websites. 



A mpeg-4 channel of the same quality will fit in approximately half the space.  I.e. add two channels where they previously had one Mpeg-2 channel.  So for every channel they convert they can add one.

But, because it means replacing some customer boxes, none of us can guess how aggresive they might decide to be on such switch over.

Note that a large number of the channels, e.g.ESPN, HBO, are already delivered to them as MPEG-4.  That means for those channels they are currently using convertors to switch them back to MPEG-2.  This of couse is an added expense and slightly degrades the quality of the picture they are sending out.


Thanks for the info!! I guess I had it backwards in that they are going from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4.  Isn't it all the 6xxx series boxes need to be upgraded because they do not handle MPEG-4? Would explain why they are doing it a little at a time.

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Re: WHY Hasn't There Been Any New HD Channels Added Lately?
Justin46
Legend

@charliewatts wrote:

Based on this chart .... http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1058081 , Verizon has NO PLANS to add any major HD channels in the near future.

But we do have those great .tv HD channels filling up space.Smiley Frustrated


That chart does not say anything about "plans", it identifies "announced" channels. Verizon very rarely if ever announces new channels ahead of time; they may have any number of channels planned that have not been announced, at least I sure hope so.

I have been watching that chart for years, I like to follow what the other providers deliver vs. FiOS. IMO FiOS is not as far behind as some people think.

__________________________________
Justin
FiOS TV, 25/25 Internet, and Digital Voice user
QIP7232, QIP7100-P2, IMG 1.9
Keller, TX 76248

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Re: WHY Hasn't There Been Any New HD Channels Added Lately?
tns
Master - Level 2

@bobbo527 wrote:

@tns wrote:

@bobbo527 wrote:

... 

But that being said, this conversion from MPEG-4 to MPEG-2 is supposedly to free up QAM space which will allow them to finally add more content.  But like I said in another post, I am not a techie and can't spout off all the specifics about how that works nor do I have any clue on how long it will take them to do it. It's just from what I've read here and on other websites. 



A mpeg-4 channel of the same quality will fit in approximately half the space.  I.e. add two channels where they previously had one Mpeg-2 channel.  So for every channel they convert they can add one.

But, because it means replacing some customer boxes, none of us can guess how aggresive they might decide to be on such switch over.

Note that a large number of the channels, e.g.ESPN, HBO, are already delivered to them as MPEG-4.  That means for those channels they are currently using convertors to switch them back to MPEG-2.  This of couse is an added expense and slightly degrades the quality of the picture they are sending out.


Thanks for the info!! I guess I had it backwards in that they are going from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4.  Isn't it all the 6xxx series boxes need to be upgraded because they do not handle MPEG-4? Would explain why they are doing it a little at a time.


Yes thex 6xxx boxes cannot handle mpeg-4

Note they have reportedly now added 4 or 5 spanish speaking channels in mpeg-4.  Not sure if they were HD or SD.

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Re: WHY Hasn't There Been Any New HD Channels Added Lately?
charliewatts
Contributor - Level 2

I personally don't want it, but posters on this board seem to want GOL HD.

I want BBCA HD, HLN HD, TVLAND HD and OVA HD way before that.

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Re: WHY Hasn't There Been Any New HD Channels Added Lately?
Russmcfaul
Enthusiast - Level 2

Another channel that I have been waiting for that Comcast has as well as Uverse is Funimation HD.  They took away the SD channel they can at least give us the HD version.  

Re: WHY Hasn't There Been Any New HD Channels Added Lately?
aaronwtfios1
Contributor - Level 1

FiOS has added eight HD channels over the last few weeks. They are all MPEG4(H.264) channels. Three baseball channels and five Spanish channels. Although I don't subscribe to the baseball or Spanish package so I don't use any of these new HD channels.

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Re: WHY Hasn't There Been Any New HD Channels Added Lately?
film111
Specialist - Level 1

@spotsydavis wrote:

Exactly--I can only surmise that some executive for the .TV channels has incriminating photos of some Verizon executive locked in a safety deposit box somewhere. That can be the only explanation for those channels taking up QAM space.

If Verizon replaced those six channels with 6 of the following, customer satisfaction would go through the roof:

  

Cartoon Network HD--come on Fios, this is a no-brainer...

BBC HD--this network has slid but is still decent...

GOL HD--not a soccer fan, but hard to argue that soccer and hockey  don't suffer most in SD

Sony Movie Channel--classic movies from their extensive vault...


I'd add FearNET HD as well...Horror/suspense always sells and is popular

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Re: WHY Hasn't There Been Any New HD Channels Added Lately?
johncougar
Enthusiast - Level 3

@Russmcfaul wrote:

Another channel that I have been waiting for that Comcast has as well as Uverse is Funimation HD.  They took away the SD channel they can at least give us the HD version.  


if they didnt wanna waste the bandwith for funmation sd what makes you think they would carry funmation hd which takes up 6 times the bandwith of the sd channel. be realistic.

 
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Re: WHY Hasn't There Been Any New HD Channels Added Lately?
bejay53
Enthusiast - Level 3

"if they didnt wanna waste the bandwith for funmation sd what makes you think they would carry funmation hd which takes up 6 times the bandwith of the sd channel. be realistic."

It's not that verizon didn't want to waste the space on SD, it's because they couldn't squeeze funimation (olympsat) for more $$.

Verizon claims low viewership, but won't provide the numbers. It was a money grab, pure and simple (my opinion). Sudden notice of cancellation, weak negotiation with funimation, dead silence on the boards. They don't care about the customer. Hell they won't offer a replacement other than VOD. While HD would be nice, I'll take the SD feed if that is all they would offer.

The board comments are up to 43 pages and still active. Low viewership? I don't think so. Give us back our funimation channel.

Re: WHY Hasn't There Been Any New HD Channels Added Lately?
bobbo527
Specialist - Level 3

@Russmcfaul wrote:

Another channel that I have been waiting for that Comcast has as well as Uverse is Funimation HD.  They took away the SD channel they can at least give us the HD version.  


Comast does NOT carry the FUNimation channel.  They only offer VOD like Verizon currently does.

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