Does anyone know when cable channels are going to switch to HD?

[kelman3]

I've been watching HDTV for 4 days now and I'm really disappointed with the range of programming. Most channels only provide HD programming in primetime and even then, not all the primetime shows are HD. They just have regular shows broadcast at 4:3 all day long on an HD signal. Does it cost them too much to produce HD content?

The only 24/7 HD channels I've got are PBS, TNT, HBO, Discovery and ESPN. There's only 5 or 6 more available but after examining their lineups I felt it wasn't worth the investment. I'm really surprised there's no MTV HD, Comedy Central HD, Cartoon Network HD, etc.

Does anyone know when most of the channels will offer a 24/7 HD version of their content? At this stage that looks 10 to 20 years away.

And why are HDTVs being marketed so aggressively if there's nothing to watch? HDTV is a luxury at this point and if it wasn't for the world cup I would turn off my service right away.

Is anyone here having a positive HDTV experience?

[jshumate]

I don't know when the cable companies (by the way, if you haven't figured it out, the OP and me are American) will switch. I'm guessing that they will wait until the last possible minute, which means late 2008 since I believe everything has to be digital by Jan.1, 2009. I think that the right date.

I think HDTV is really good for sports. I have enjoyed the World Cup quite a bit in HD and the Super Bowl was pretty good too, but you are right that there is a real dearth of programming in America at least in HD.

To make things worse, keep in mind that 480i and 480p are also "HD" resolutions, so there's absolutely nothing to force anybody to produce content in what most of us would consider true HD (720p or 1080i).

[mike_lee]

"Very Soon" straight out of the cable guys mouth. Swear to god.

[W3ird_N3rd]

You mean the regular channels? On satellite they won't show HD either, I think.

But you're right. I'd love to see some Trance musicvideos in HD (Oceanlab - Clear Blue Water/Ferry Corsten Remix.mpg in highdef would O-M-F-G AWESOME, I'd pay €50 to see that if it's good quality), so I have no idea why there is no MTV HD, Viva (Germany) HD, TMF HD, or anything.

In Europe you can watch HD1 on cable or satellite, they have some live music-stuff, concerts and all. But not really videos.

I think for the near future we'll have to stick to the movies (and sports).. Celluloid has been capable of high resolutions already for a long time, but to see regular video in HD the studios will probably have to trade in their cameras for HD-capable versions, and that takes time. Big events (like the WC, big music events, etc) are already recorded with such equipment, but it'll take time till all studios use such camera's. Given how long professional equipment lasts, competition will have to do it's work in this market. One switches, all have to switch, probably.

Nobody can guess when they will switch.

So far HD is almost totally new for Europe. However, in a few months, we have an almost-comparable High Definition supply. Not the same amount (still less), but the same stuff. Movies, big events, Discovery. Still no 8 o'clock news or cheap soaps in HD. And we probably don't have to expect these in HD for the next 8 years or so.

On the other side, who is waiting for cheap soaps and HD news? If I could see Mythbusters, movies, Top Gear and musicvideos in HD, I'd be pretty happy. Digital SDTV with enough bandwidth and 16:9 pulse isn't that bad after all for the rest.