Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (
More info?)
Thanks for the info.. I was pulling my hair out trying to find out any
info on this sad situation. Unfortunately for us DirecTV also has the
stranglehold on the NFL season ticket as well for a few more years.
arg.. well atleast I have my Explorer 8000HD already and can put that
to some good use. I don't know who to blame more - Disney or TWC. If
they don't want to pass the cost along to the customers, then they can
create another HD tier that would include it. Do you know if there
are any HD on-demand channels offered now?
Dennis Mayer <Polaris1@execpc.com> wrote in message news:<412E4D3C.83CFA7B5@execpc.com>...
> Duane wrote:
> >
> > Football season is almost upon us, and I'm pissed we still don't have
> > ESPNHD. Anyone know the status of this? Also when is FOX dumping
> > that widescreen format for real HDTV?
> >
> > Thanks
>
> From the Milwaukee HDTV web site:
>
> I read an interview with TWC head honcho on AVS Forum, and it doesn't
> look like TWC is gonna get ESPN-HD any time soon. Basically Disney wants
> multi-channel carriage contract renewals with TWC for big bucks before
> it will let TWC carry ESPN-HD. This is for ALL the Disney channels that
> TWC carries including all the ABC's, Disney channels, etc.
>
> The TWC head said that they felt passing on that extra cost to the
> consumer was not in their best interest.
>
> Here is a reprint from a letter from an AVS Forum member to a TWC VP:
> _________________________________________________
> My letter:
> Mr. Dressler,
>
> I am a customer of Time Warner Cable in the Kansas City area. I'm a
> self-proclaimed "tech geek" and very excited about innovative new
> technologies and the recent speed of growth of HDTV. While I am
> generally very happy with the offerings and service of Time Warner, I'm
> disappointed and surprised at the inability of Time Warner to come to an
> agreement to carry ESPN-HD in particular. I understand this is an issue
> at the corporate level and not a local one.
>
> While I sympathize with Time Warner's fight to keep carriage fees - and
> thus our cable bills - low, I have difficulty understanding why an
> agreement hasn't been reached after nearly 1 1/2 years after ESPN-HD
> signed on. The availability of this channel is very important to me, and
> I'm growing very frustrated with the lack of progress. It's also
> disappointing to have no news about the progress coming from my local
> provider. Every other cable company, including one competitor in my
> area, has been able to come up with an agreement to carry ESPN-HD, yet
> there's no progress with Time Warner. I'm already subscribed to an HDTV
> tier and am willing to pay for quality offerings. I've been patient, but
> waited a very long time. Since ESPN-HD now has much more HD programming
> available than when it launched, I feel as though I'm missing out more
> every day. This is important enough to me that I'm considering changing
> carriers, either to the cable competitor or a satellite provider. This
> is disappointing to me, because otherwise, I couldn't be happier with
> Time Warner's services.
>
> I just wanted to voice my concern and see if you could provide any
> insight as to what the problem is and if/when we can expect ESPN-HD or
> other high definition choices to be available. I'm quite certain I'm not
> your only customer in this dilemma. I would appreciate it if you could
> respond.
>
> Thank you for your time.
>
> Respectfully,
>
>
> Overland Park, KS
>
>
>
> His response:
> Thanks for your interest in our services and your continued support.
> Please understand that we are more frustrated than you about the ESPN-HD
> situation. ESPN simply REFUSES to sell us this product unless and until
> we renew every other contract we have with the entire Disney company. We
> are working on this diligently, but we cannot seem to make it go any
> faster. We will continue to try to get you ESPN HD as soon as possible
> and hope you will stick with us in the meantime. While other
> distributors may currently be offering ESPN HD, I don't believe anyone
> else has more or better HD product than time warner cable.
> ________________________________________________
>
> Sorry.
> Matt
>
>
> __________________
> Sometimes it's easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask for
> permission.....
>
>
>
>
>
>
> And my local FOX-HD reception from FOX-HD national in 720p
>
> should begin within the 1st 2 weeks of Sept 2004...
>
> For the past 3 weeks the GBay, WI FOX local FOX has been in
>
> upconvert 720p HD Full Power... But no pure HD programs yet...