HD TV FAQs

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A: We’ll start with some information put together by ESPN & CTAM:

    Only one-half (52%) of HDTV owners currently subscribe to any HD programming service. (Source: CTAM HD Study: Drivers of HD Loyalty and Adoption, December 2006)
    One major barrier to HD penetration is an overall lack of knowledge that a programming package is needed. Only two-thirds (66%) of HDTV owners were aware that they needed HD programming when they first purchased their set. Moreover, almost half (45%) of HDTV owners currently think a set-top box or antenna is unnecessary in order to receive HD programming. (Source: CTAM HD Study: Drivers of HD Loyalty and Adoption, December 2006)
     Limited knowledge of HD programming has led to poor perceptions of value, which in turn also acts as a barrier of HD programming adoption. Non-HD program subscribers cite poor value (52%), limited number of HD channels (32%), already get good reception (24%) and can get HD without it (13%) as reasons for not subscribing. (Source: CTAM HD Study: Drivers of HD Loyalty and Adoption, December 2006)

    The first hurdle is whether you choose us for your HD programming or another provider you will need a HD-capable settop box to decode the non-broadcast (such as ESPN HD, Discovery HD Theater, etc.) programming and send it to your HDTV.
    The HD-capable settops are very expensive. We could provide HD-only settop boxes versus our HD/DVR settops but there would still have to be a rental charge on the HD-only boxes. Most all of the $17.95/month DVR service fee is for the settop rental. Our Motorola HD capable settops are around $500 each. We are going with the slightly more expensive DVR boxes to add value to an all-ready expensive settop. This simplifies our service (only having one settop box type) and also gives our customers another advanced service (DVR) to add to their HD Basic package.
 

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A: HDTV buyers in close proximity to a HD broadcast stations can buy an HD antenna and connect it to their HDTV via coax. Using their HDTV’s ATSC tuner, the person is able view the free digital broadcast feeds of the local station.

The problem in our area is that it is very rural and not in close proximity to any HD broadcast stations such as a person would be who lives in Kansas City, Topeka or Wichita. So the normal home user in this area probably would not be able to pick the digital signals.

We, on the other hand, have purchased high-gain antennas and have mounted them on towers hundreds of feet in the air.  And with the use of amplifiers and headend digital receivers, we are able to pick up several HD stations and retransmit them over our cable system to our current customers.  If a customer of ours connects their HDTV directly to our cable system, he or she may be able to use the digital tuner in the HDTV to pick up the HD digital signals.  Keep in mind that not all HDTV’s can pick up the QAM-type digital signal and there may be other issues seen with certain models of HDTV’s.  The easiest way to ensure viewing of these off-air HD channels is to subscribe to the HD Basic package.  The included off-air broadcast HD channels will be sent through the HD/DVR settop box and will work with every HDTV.

Not all of the broadcast stations currently have digital feeds. By 2009, all broadcast stations will be required to transmit a digital signal (and shut off their analog transmissions). We will continue to provide digital versions of the broadcast stations as they become available.

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A: The off-air broadcast HD stations we ‘flow-through’ our cable system so customers with an HDTV can connect directly to our cable system and use their HDTV to tune to these channels. Fox HD, PBS HD & CBS HD are examples

The pay HD channels (in our HD Basic package) are channels that are encrypted by the programmer, such as ESPN, and we pay monthly fees to for each of our pay HD subscribers. The pay HD channels require a HD settop box (provided by us) to decrypt the channels and a monthly subscription to the HD Basic package.

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A: There are not a lot of channels that have HD versions. There’s even less HD content available since until recently filming was not done in HD. We picked from what was available to make a best-fit HD Basic package that would accommodate the most subscribers. As more HD programming becomes available we will continue to enhance our current HD Basic package.

Also, keep in mind the equipment to be able to provide HD is very expensive. Consumer settops are currently around $500 and the changes we have made to provide HD are considerable. Everything from new settop provisioning software, headend equipment ranging in the tens of thousands of dollars each, to cable system upgrades needed to make room for the additional HD programming…and even more monthly costs to the content providers for each HD customer we turn up. The investment has been huge but we think it’s a service our customers will want and we’ll want to provide.

Q: What is the DTV Transition and will my TV work after Feb. 17th, 2009?

A: You can find answers to these questions and more at http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html

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Q: What is HDMI and component cables and why do I need them?

A: HDMI and component are two different ways your HDTV can receive high-definition signals from your HD settop box. HDMI is an all-digital format and uses a single connection to go between the HD settop and the HDTV. The component cable is an analog format that uses 5 connectors to send the signal. Both are high definition and, depending on the characteristics of the HDTV, one may look better than the other. We have both in stock..

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