Now that we received are free 30 days HD package from D*. Just want to know who is going to keep it or dump it until more HD channels are added. I for one is still thinking about it. I am really not to impressed w/ HD movies. The only thing I really watch alot is HD Discovery and ESPN when they have HD games. Other than I don't know if it's worth $10.99 a month. I think it's should be $5.99 a month or the $10.99 w/ the HD HBO & HD Showtime included. What do guys think?

It sounds great to me.I live in NYC and HBO alone costs $13 a month, plus TW cable (the only cable available in my neighborhood) does not carry ESPN-HD or Discovery-HD.

not woth 10.99 to me, should be 4.99
i would reconsider if ESPN greatly increased numbers of events in HD. we'll see what they do with nfl, nba, and nhl coverage this fall.

We'll never see an HD package with HBO HD and Showtime HD in it for $10.99 per month anywhere. It would be more like $33 per month, maybe higher. That's like saying, I'll buy a new Porsche Boxter when they sell them for $25,000. That won't happen either.

I've enjoyed Discovery HD and a number of movies on HDNet Movies. I haven't watched much ESPN HD because I'm not a big baseball fan, but I am looking forward to SNF in HD. I've got a tree top growing across the street that's starting to interfere with my SAT B reception. HDNet and HBO HD are breaking up regularly. If I can't move my dish this week to improve this situation, it may also effect my decision to keep the HD Package. I don't want to pay for HDNet, if it's unwatchable most of the time.

Would I like to pay less for the HD package...yes. Am I planning on cancelling...no. But, I do expect D* to add several HD cannels to the package at no extra costs in the months ahead (and they better not be on SAT B). And, when the football season is over, if no new HD channels have been added, I will reevalute my viewing habits and decide if it's still worth it to me.

I am still waiting for an HD only package - no SD.

I am a huge sports fan and I can not say I am impressed at all with the quality of ESPNHD's broadcasts. Technical problem aside (ie - Last nights game shown in HD for less than 3 innings) They are using the same angles as if it were SD. I also have noticed a drop off in PQ on all HD channels. I would probably pay 4.99 a month.

I agree - I am on the fence on keeping the HD package or not. The Discovery is nice for us - and we watch a little HDNet - but rairly the HD movies or ESPN HD.

It sure would be great if we could get just the HBO and SHO HD channel(s) in the HD package - just the one channel and not all 14 or so offered ...

thanks
Dave

I am enjoying all the HD on D* even with the flaws and plan to keep the package.

I made a mistaken assumtion several years ago that when the the Networks and PBS began HDTV broadcasting, that it would be available on all affiliates and cable at near the same time. I still have no HDTV on OTA (just 4 SDTV digital stations) or on Charter Cable which seems to lag everywhere. So D*HD is it.

I find here that a lot of people outside major TV market areas are interested in HDTV, but have never seen HDTV until they see it on D*HD! I hope they then find and start reading this forum.

Like a lot of things in life, decisions are affected by the choices you have.

I am delighted to keep the HD package.
Considering ONE premium net (HBO, Showtime, sports, etc) starts at $12, $10.99 for four channels is a bargain.
I am always amazed at the sense of entitlement people seem to get when they hook up their HD set.
Did anyone bitching about the $10.99 ever bother to thank Mark Cuban (or D* for that matter) for the two years of FREE HDNet...which included 80 MLB games in 2002 (about 45 more than ESPN-HD is giving us this year?)
Does an instruction book on whining come with every HD STB?

I just got my direc tv statement. It looks like I was charged for the hd package twice. Did not get a free month. I think I will still buy the package.

As a reminder to any who did not get the notice in the mail from D*.

You will no longer get HDNet for free after September 1. You have to have the HD package.

Thank you Mark Cuban for showing how HD can be done.

Now its time to pay the piper.

It is a bit pricey but I'll continue to pay $11/month for it to have as much HD programming to view on my multi-thousand dollar home theater setup as possible. It's not great (yet), but it's a small price in comparison to what we all here have invested in hardware. ESPN-HD will get better, and I really enjoy Discovery HD (as well as HDNet). the moveis aren't the best in the world, but every now and then a good one comes on. I fell the same way about movie channels. Hollywood has put out so much garbage in the last 5-10 years, I am rarely interested in many movies. I keep some movie channels for an occasional viewing of one I'm interested it. If I watch just 3 movies a month, I've equaled wha tthe rental cost would be, and that's justification enough for me. HBO HD, HDPPV, and HDNet Movies are that way too. My daughters watched VeggieTales in HD on HDPPV the other morning and went nuts! They loved it! Gems now and then are good enough to keep me sticking around.

It's kind of like supporting this magazine, sometimes you have to pay some more for the longterm goal you want to see. If we throw money at the HD programming even if it's not ideal, Direct and Dish will view it as a differentiation point between them and put more effort into it. It won't improve as fast if we don't put our money where our mouth is!

I also got my bill in the mail yesterday and was charged for the package. I called them last night and they gave me a free month of Showtime (a $12 value) to correct the mistake. I'm going to stick with it because like anything else, more and more will be going HD and I enjoy the opportunity to throw on any of the channels at any time and amaze my friends

Doug

I will keep the D* HD package. I want to support D* in their efforts to bring us more channels. I expect some problems as it is still early days. I guess it helps that I actually like the old movies on HDNet. I'm a huge Mark Cuban fan so I guess I'd subscribe anyway. I thnk Dale is right about HDTV being good for society as a whole so I try to support is as much as possible.

Im dumping it. I watch DiscoveryHD and HDnet, and will miss them, but those two channels alone arent worth the price of the package.

HDnet Movies sucks, there hasnt been a movie worth watching yet. I cant tell the difference between ESPNHD and regular ESPN. I already have the HBO package and am assuming that the HBOHD will stay with the HBO package.