From the AVSforum TWC thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=11481551&postcount=2300

Quote :

"Scrambling? They (TWC) could care less. For example, here's an excerpt from a response I got today from George Douglas, VP of Mktg for TWC NC: "I don't believe Raleigh will be able to add HD channels until switched digital is in place." This was in response to an email I sent asking why other TWC divisions are adding numerous HD channels (A&E HD, National Geo HD, Versus/Golf HD, CNN-HD (Sept), HGTV (Sept), TBS-HD (Oct), HD Showcase, etc.-- all not on the TWC NC system) and TWC NC is doing absolutely nothing for HD customers. Keep in mind, TWC NC has been promising switched digital for about a year. In other words ... no more HD for TWC NC customers for the foreseeable future. The exodus to satellite continues ..."

Obviously, I dont take this as fact as its a message board, but AVS is no PackPride either. Supposedly a contract has been awarded to start installation/deployment, but nothing else has happened. Anyone else taking a serious look at a dish, or already done so? I know I could potentially be getting 2-3 times as much HD for what Im paying now.

9/3/2007 6:54:01 AM

damn, i might take a look, if i could get past the shitty interfaces on sat dvr boxes...

9/3/2007 9:12:01 AM

I'm thinkin about it. When I saw what my cousin got from cablevision in NYC and for how little I was really pissed. They pay like $40/month for 1000ish channels, 40ish of them hd (all the old voom channels), and way more digital channels, $30 for 10mbit/5mbit fiber internet and $30 for digital phone with unlimited calling.

[Edited on September 3, 2007 at 9:38 AM. Reason : and we used to have cable vision down here.]

9/3/2007 9:38:15 AM

right now i just have comcast cable internet

twice as much bandwidth as time warner for the same price

9/3/2007 10:08:12 AM

shohd hbohd hdnet hdnmovies discoveryhd espnhd espn2hd and the regular cbs abc nbc and fox... i don't really think i need anymore

9/3/2007 8:59:08 PM

yeah I don't need anymore either except TBS-HD when they host the NLCS this year

and while I wish cable were cheaper, it's just too easy to stay with when your house is pre-wired for it

9/3/2007 9:04:51 PM

Saying "I don't think I need more" is a fucking dumb argument in the context of half the country paying less for more.

Yea sure you may be satisfied with the abysmal selection TWC-NC has, but you'd have to a complete drooling retarded to think paying as much money as other people who get 2x as much content is ok.

9/3/2007 9:16:36 PM

This is true.. the thing is i don't want a stupid fucking satellite on or near my house. and when the weather is shitty... i like my cable to work.

9/3/2007 9:21:54 PM

Quote :

"damn, i might take a look, if i could get past the shitty interfaces on sat dvr boxes... "

DirecTV's boxes are pretty good actually. They outclass Time Warner in several areas.

I'd switch to DirecTV, but we can't get satellite here.

[Edited on September 3, 2007 at 10:04 PM. Reason : because of trees]

9/3/2007 10:04:32 PM

Quote :

"This is true.. the thing is i don't want a stupid fucking satellite on or near my house. and when the weather is shitty... i like my cable to work. "

keep in mind it hasnt rained in raleigh for the last 2 months. Also my satellite has never gone out in the rain.

but hey, youre welcome to enjoy whatever you pay for.

9/3/2007 10:51:56 PM

with the new TWC interface continuing to roll out and continuing to suck, i hope a lot of people switch within the next year

9/4/2007 6:02:33 PM

Satellite may be cheaper for the maximum-channel lineups, but the "basic" satellite program is SHIT

its like 50% religious channels, 48% kids channels, and 2% news

9/4/2007 10:50:09 PM

too much news imo

9/4/2007 11:35:12 PM

Fios is becoming available in parts of Raleigh and Durham.

AT&T U-Verse is *supposed* to be coming up over this year and next.

10$ says TWC magically discovers the bandwidth to up the amount of HD channels and RR premium dl/ul speed.

9/5/2007 12:11:15 AM

if i wasnt in an apt i'd be switching to sat - purely for the HD content

9/5/2007 12:46:53 AM

does TWC dvr not have the ability to skip over commercials when watching a recorded show?

9/5/2007 12:54:25 AM

it does...its the >> button.

9/5/2007 1:05:53 AM

Yeah, I mean, I'm not gonna say I'm "satisfied" with TWC or don't want anything better. My reasons for sticking with them is pretty simple, familiarity. I think satellite vs. cable is one of those "grass is always greener....." arguments, and I don't see the point of switching from one shitty unreliable service that costs way too much to another shitty unreliable service that costs way too much. I'm used to using TWC hardware, used to dealing with their customer service, and yes, used to debugging their shit when it stops working right.

I'll be first in line to switch to FiOS when that becomes available, because that actually represents a significant upgrade in quality over TWC. I'm not gonna go through the trouble of switching to satellite when, to me at least, it amounts to nothing more than a marginal "upgrade".

9/5/2007 7:44:20 AM

^ bingo

9/5/2007 7:49:05 AM

do you have a link about FIOS in this area?

9/5/2007 8:47:00 AM

The Fios web site seems to think it is available in my general area, just not at my particular address. And it looks like a great deal! Internet costs the same as RR, but has a substantially higher uplink. But TV would be quite a bit cheaper! 200 channels for $43, not a promotion, verse the $60 I will be paying when my TWC promotional period comes to an end. I'm going to wait until my TWC promotional period ends to switch.

http://www22.verizon.com/content/consumerfios/

9/5/2007 9:44:59 AM

I'm pretty ticked that all of Cary is AT&T and despite the state contract they just received, there's been absolutely no visible work done to bring U-verse here.

Its going to be balls out when Ma Bell ACTUALLY competes with cable. Maybe this time when I call TWC to cancel they won't go "LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWL DSL"

9/5/2007 10:25:44 AM

If Xbox Live!'s media marketplace had a subscription plan I'd probably change to one of the higher bandwidth DSL plans and completely drop cable. The quality on the HD content is usually better; I think whatever compression TWC and DirectTV use washes out the colors or something

9/5/2007 10:33:29 AM

^^^That link is for FIOS Internet, which I believe is available in some locations in the area. FIOS TV, however, is not. If FIOS TV was available in Raleigh, I wouldnt have even started this thread, other than to say "Peace out TWC". Im pretty sure if it does come here, it will only be in Durham and other Verizon areas, whereas Wake County will have to wait for U-verse (I could be wrong here, but I would assume they would stick with their current local phone provider markets).

9/5/2007 2:21:52 PM

Call and double check

I'm pretty sure my worker stated he was getting TV and internet.

9/5/2007 4:16:38 PM

Fuck verizon and fuck fairpoint communications.

Verizon was all like "hey lets roll fios out to maine"

They start running a test program and one of my co-worker's gets it. He says its fucking awesome. Of course it is.

Then verizon is like "oh fuck yea. Our sale went through and now all you fuckers in maine are fairpoints problem. Have fun with your shitty economy dudes. PEACE!"

So they're gone and fairpoint comes in and they're like "check dis fios shit ya we got dat. But now you dont" ~*pulls plug*~. "we're gonna bring shitty dsl to the 50 potato farmers who live way fucking north in da county instead. haha faggots owned."

state regulators are a bitch.

[Edited on September 5, 2007 at 4:37 PM. Reason : .]

9/5/2007 4:37:30 PM

i just tried, it said it was available at my address but i have to call them to order

totally doing this tomorrow

fuck roadrunner and paying $60/month for 8mbps/512k

i want my damn 15/2 for $50

9/5/2007 6:01:57 PM

i wouldnt touch fios if they PAID ME

9/5/2007 6:42:55 PM

^^ You actually get 8? for some reason mine varries wildly between 6/2 and .3/.05

9/5/2007 6:44:36 PM

quinn you worked for the company that made the equip for fios, why wouldn't you touch it?
and what the fuck are you doing these days?

9/5/2007 11:36:36 PM

Quote :

"i wouldnt touch fios if they PAID ME"

THEY LET CO OPS BUILD THE GOD DAMN THING.

9/6/2007 10:04:41 AM

Quote :

"quinn you worked for the company that made the equip for fios, why wouldn't you touch it? and what the fuck are you doing these days? "

designing flyback power supplies so you rich kids with hdtvs and fios service can watch hd video.

i still work there.

Quote :

"THEY LET CO OPS BUILD THE GOD DAMN THING."

I think a trained ape could design a buck regulator (hell they already code software ). You can actually hear it if you fucked up too awful bad. Thats the beauty/downside of working with control loops as slow as in power supplys. Oscillations can be audible frequencys.


[Edited on September 6, 2007 at 6:43 PM. Reason : .]

9/6/2007 6:41:07 PM

Well, you work there, you'd know. Why don't you like Fios?

9/7/2007 12:21:37 AM

yea i'd be interested in what the downside is for a faster connection at a lower price.

9/7/2007 8:38:07 AM

I dont dislike anything about it. It was a clever joke aimed at those who know what I do for a living. It's probably in my best interest career wise if it doesnt suck but I am all for high bandwidth at a low cost. I could care less how it gets to my home.

9/7/2007 6:07:34 PM

Dish Network installation setup for October 10th

Girl on the phone said Raleigh is getting a lot of new customers lately...I wonder why?

9/17/2007 3:37:12 PM

On TWCNC's website:

Quote :

" October 1: TBS HD will be added to Digital Variety Ch. 282. In early October, Events On Demand will be added to Ch. 506. Events On Demand will feature popular event titles such as WWE, UFC, Ring Sports, Music Events and more – On Demand. Prices will vary per title. Most major events on Saturday or Sunday will be available On Demand the following Monday. October 15: Fox Business Network is scheduled to launch on Digital channel 121. Versus/Golf Channel HD and A&E HD will be added to Digital Variety on channels 283 and 284, respectively."

9/19/2007 7:30:04 PM

its about fucking time they add VS HD

almost in time for hockey season, a little late


...checking

BUT NOT IN FUCKING TIME FOR THE FIRST HURRICANES GAME

they better switch it on mojo

[Edited on September 19, 2007 at 7:42 PM. Reason : ]

9/19/2007 7:41:08 PM

^ only the October 9th game.. It would be nice if they'd carry FSNHD

9/19/2007 7:43:42 PM

^They do have FSN-HD, its just only on when theres an HD game available. The games are available on MOJO, 291. They arent always listed though. Right now they have 1-2 college football games in HD every weekend, and should have at least 1 ACC Sunday Night Hoops game every weekend as well.

That news isnt enough to make me second guess signing up for Dish though. Still no BTN, still no NFL Network, etc etc. TBS is going to be the same stretch-o-vision as TNT, and A&E has apparently just went the same route. Versus/Golf, yeah, about time.

I do wonder, assuming the information in my original post was accurate, if this means there will be downrezzing taking place?

9/20/2007 4:31:00 AM

Quote :

"TBS is going to be the same stretch-o-vision as TNT"

TBS HD in Atlanta is 4:3 with all of its shows that I have seen so far. It does true HD (not stretched) for the Braves games and Im assuming the upcoming playoffs.

9/20/2007 8:06:32 AM

WTBS in Atlanta != TBS Superstation

The HD content will be true HD, such as the MLB playoffs, yes...but:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=866874

Quote :

"TBS in HD will be broadcast in 1080i 24 hours a day and use Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound across all TBS in HD programming. In addition, TBS in HD will present all of its programming, including promotional content and commercials, in 16:9 wide-screen, giving viewers a consistent viewing experience."

Which means anything that is originally 4:3 will be in stretch-o-vision.

9/20/2007 8:52:58 AM

I didnt know that, thanks for the correction

9/20/2007 3:33:54 PM

i'd rather have stetch-o-vision than those damn side bars.

(i'd rather have letterbox on a standard TV than vertical stretching.)

9/21/2007 9:09:53 AM