I’m very new to the world of HDTV, so forgive me if I don’t use the proper phraseology.
We’ve created a channel “forum” which groups up all the HDTV channels which Dish Network provides (not too many), and I spend a lot of time with the channels in this forum. I’ve gotten hooked on a couple of these shows just for the sheer gorgeousness of the picture. These shows are Smart Travels with Rudy Maxa, Destination HD, and Sunrise Earth. The last-named show is really something: just an hour of film of some lovely spot on earth, taken at dawn, from various angles. Minimal editing, no narration, no commercials, and only natural sounds recorded during filming.
Now I learn of something called “Voom” which is a service that provides many more HDTV channels. This is not good - I’ve already become more of a couch potato and I need no temptation to spend more time in front of the screen. Do I? Does anyone get Voom and can tell me about it?
I don’t get VOOM. AFAIK, VOOM is just a different content provider. Meaning you would need to subscribe to them and get a new receiver etc. IOW, it isn’t something that you can add on to your Dish Network subscription.
Also, did you get the HD PVR? I got one, from Dish Network, and I love it. I would recommend keeping your eyes peeled for a show, on Discovery HD IIRC, about the Truk Lagoon. They visit a WWII shipwreck and the coral and the fish and whatnot in HD is stunning. That is really what HD is all about.
Personally, I am getting peeved that Discovery HD is starting to show the Monster Garage crap in HD. Screw that and at least show nature shows where the HD makes a difference.
VOOM looks good, but until they get a DVR I am not interested. I have written to them and they claim they will be getting a DVR system soon - until then, I will stick to my rip-off Cox cable connection, with the extra fee for digital, and the extra fee for HDTV, and an extra fee for some of the HDTV shows and the extra fee for the remote and the extra fee for…well, you get the idea.
As soon as VOOM gets that DVR, I think I will switch over.
HDTV can really transform your TV watching, if you have a screen big enough to take advantage of it. I actually seek out nature shows, documentaries, and arts shows now, because they can just astound you in HD. There’s a series on PBS-HD called “Great Museums”, where they just tour various museums and talk about them. On regular TV, I find this show dull as dishwater and would never watch it. But in HD - WOW. It’s like you’re actually there. I’ve a front projection system with an 8’ wide screen, and when they tour you through the Louvre or the Smithsonian, it feels like you’re actually there. Amazing.
Unfortunately, my cable provider (Shaw) absolutely sucks with their HD offerings. All we get are the three networks and two ‘omnibus’ channels where they rotate content from numerous channels through. They keep promising more channels, but nothing so far.
Oh, and get a PVR. It will revolutionize the way you watch television.
VOOM is kind of . . . doomed. As of April 30. Just announced today. In an SEC filing posted this morning, the Cablevision board (who owns VOOM) decided to put a halt to Cablevision Chairman Charles Dolan’s efforts to secure additional financing and spin the service off.
VOOM had been losing money hand over fist, and at the beginning of the year agreed to sell their satellite transponders to Echostar, owners of Dish Network (this sale is pending FCC approval). Charles Dolan objected to this, since he sees VOOM as his baby. But Cablevision directors and shareholders were increasingly concerned with the huge losses and the drag on the share price, causing a big boardroom fight. One of the directors who has advocated ditching VOOM is James Dolan, son of Charles. Father’s Day ought to be pretty interesting at the mansions those two live in, which are right next to each other on Long Island.
So right now your choices are Dish Network, DirecTV, and cable. And off-the-air for your locals, maybe.