Comcast: Bring Back INHD 2!

Commentary
Comcast: Bring Back INHD 2!
By Samuel Smith

Editor's Note: Comcast (and other cable TV operators) do not offer the same programming lineup in every market. In some cities, for example, Comcast subscribers get the high-def network Universal HD, while in others, they might get INHD and INHD 2 (both HD channels) but not Universal HD. Below, our HD Observer complains about Comcast recently removing INHD 2 from his lineup in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Washington D.C. (August 19, 2006) -- I would like to rant about Comcast taking INHD 2 off of the line up! They said it was to free up bandwidth to add two new unnamed HD channels that I have yet to see.

I am not a cable technician but I do not think dropping one channel will provide the necessary bandwidth for two HD channels! Then Comcast acts like they do not care when you call or email them with much needed HDTV channel requests. They are concerned with their own agenda, surely not the needs of their customers.

Speaking of Comcast`s customer service, it has fallen, I have the DCT6412 HDTV DVR and all last week it was freezing up the DVR .It took (Comcast) five days to get out here (to fix the problem.) However, they did come out here on a Sunday to resolve the issue.

It just seems like (Comcast is) stalling on adding new HDTV channels. The arch nemesis Echostar's Dish Network has so many HDTV channels. (Editor's Note: satcaster EchoStar has 30 national HD channels; Comcast offers approximately 12-15 national HD channels, depending upon the market.) I was strongly thinking of switching to them to get their HDTV DVR.

However, with today's patent news (A Texas court judge ruled Friday that EchoStar must discontinue DVR service due to a patent infringement; EchoStar is appealing the decision.), it wouldn't do me any good.

I hope Dish Network clears things up with their HDTV DVRs.

Samuel Smith is an HD Observer for TVPredictions.com If you would like to be a HD Observer for TVPredictions.com, send an e-mail to: swann@TVPredictions.com

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