Formula 1 coming in HD!!!

[templed]

Since F1 has been hot in the news lately, I was reminded of some great news for us fans in the U.S. ...

As some of you may know, DirecTV has recently launched a new satellite which is bringing their HD capacity up to 150 national HD channels, 100 of which are scheduled to be on line by year's end. News has leaked on various broadcast news sites that the first HD channel rollout (~20-40 HD channels) will happen next Wednesday 9/19. The 2nd rollout is supposed to happen at the end of Sept/early Oct.

The 2nd rollout is rumored to include Speed HD!!! And, if anyone watched the U.S., Canadian, French, or British GPs this year on Fox, we all know they are at least capable of delivering F1 in HD ...

Keep your eye peeled, as we may get to watch (albeit early in the morning) the last few GPs this year in HD.

Yeah baby!!!!

[WLH]

Excellent News...

[20ducks]

I wonder if Dish network will be doing the same sometime soon.

[templed]

I wonder if Dish network will be doing the same sometime soon.

By all accounts they probably will eventually. The HD race is on between the sat-casters. Dish/Echostar had a minor setback a few months ago when their latest satellite blew up (KABLAMMO!!!) on the launch pad ... not their fault, the rocket just failed.

Dish is a bit more tight-lipped about their plans, but it's probably reasonable to expect them to catch up with DirecTV by spring or summer of next year in HD totality. That said, Dish does have history of turning on channels (1 here, 2 there) without much hoopla ... History HD getting turned on permanently last weekend for example. If I had Dish, I would just keep checking the listings to see if Speed in HD shows up. I'm sure a few emails from "concerned" fans would help to force the issue as well.

[20ducks]

I remember the good ol days with Direct TV and the infamous "Football" cards.

[templed]

FYI ... the DirecTV receiver updates should start to get pushed down tonight to support the new satellite, so the first round of HD channels looks like it will happen tomorrow as expected

I'll be checking the transponder signal strengths tonight for the new bird which should be showing non-zero values, indicating things are up and running.

[templed]

Well, after some unknown delays, they're finally here ... no Speed yet, but that should happen in October

http://www.tvpredictions.com/dchannellaunch092607.htm