Switching from DirecTV to Comcast...good idea?

[yikchi]

I live in New Jersey (Central). I have subscribed to DirecTV for the past three years. The sole reason I picked DirecTV back then was because it carried FSW and Comcast didn't.

Anyhow, I am now looking to upgrade to HD programming and thinking about switching to Comcast cable now that both DTV and Comcast carries FSC and GolTv.

I am wondering if comcast offers the EPL package and/or the $20 a la carte.
How about all the World Cup qualifiers PPV?

Any advice or comments will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[GutBomb]

comcast doesn;t have the world cup qualifiers. they also do not have setanta (which may or may not be an issue for you)

where directv shines is in picture quality. on FSC and GolTV on comcast, since they are niche channels, they are over-compressed to the point of looking terribly artifacted (the picture is divided up into little blocks that are noticable when the camera pans horizontally, as it constantly does in soccer). these artifacts are MUCH mroe noticable on comcast than directv because directv compresses the satellite stream less. to make matters worse, compressed artifacted pictures look HORRIBLE on HDTV (worse than if you see them on a standard tv)

Another reason to stick with directv is that if you like MLS you might want HDNet, which is not available on Comcast. if you don't like MLS that's not really a concern.
'
one final reason i can think of is that ESPNHD and HSPN2HD are already available on Directv. comcast only has ESPNHD and no one knows if they will get ESPN2HD by next summer (ABC-HD, ESPN-HD, and ESPN2-HD will all be broadcasting all 64 games of the 2006 world cup in HD)

[geordienation]

The ESPN2-HD is the big thing for me.

I've currently got Comcast here in Chicago. I do have to say that their customer service has been extremely good when I've had a problem. I've thought about switching to DirecTv for the ability to watch WC games in HD.

Comcast's HD lineup is pretty good here. If you're into HD, Dish might be a better solution, as they've got the former Voom stuff in their lineup.

I got Direct Kick through them this season and didn't have a problem.

Their DVRs are adequate. I like TiVo's menuing better, but they're gonna start rolling out TiVo DVRs to Comcast customers sometime next year.

[GutBomb]

i actualyl had dish's voom pack for a while, and while they do have one channel that shows La Liga games, it's only 1 a week. I think they show a UEFA cup game too.

directv for me though, because of ESPN2-HD and Setanta. also, DirecTV offers an HD DVR (for about $600) that is actually powered by tivo, so you've got that now too if you want to spend the bux

[HiFi]

Comcast is the Devil.

[GutBomb]

Comcast is the Devil.
that point is also valid

[yikchi]

What did Comcast did to you guys?

I think I am probably staying with directv and upgrade to their HD package. BTW, talked to a DTV rep earlier, the offer she gave me is $99 plus $15 s&h for the new dish and hd receiver.

[billf]

Comcast is satan and much more expensive for a comparable package. DirecTV's HD offerings will steadily improve as well.

[GutBomb]

comcast has it's plusses and minuses

Comcast:
Plusses:
+HD DVR's are cheap. only $10 a month with nothing up front
+HD Locals come through the cable, so no need for an antenna
+InHD 1 & 2 are available, showing some MLS and some internationals

Minuses:
-DVR software leaves much to be desired, very unstable and scheduling is hit or miss
-SD channels look absolutely horrible, too much compression
-hidden charges and misrepresented fees. if you ask exactly how much something will cost on the phone 90% of the time it's higher when you actually get the bill
-no setanta (probably never)
-no espn2-hd (for now)
-no HDNet

DirecTV:
plusses:
+Setanta
+ESPN2-HD
+Tivo Based HD DVRs
+HDNet

minueses
-antenna required for HD locals (either rabbit ears or aerial... it feeds into your HD reciever so it is transparent that they are actually antenna based, and they also will still record in your HD dvr)
-no InHD1 and 2 (these are exclusive to cable - and proud of it)

[billf]

HD Locals are coming to DirecTV soon.

[geordienation]

Comcast is satan and much more expensive for a comparable package. DirecTV's HD offerings will steadily improve as well.

Here's the question I've got . . .

Over the long run, will bandwidth issues affect the satellite providers more than the cabple providers?

You're talking about a much fatter signal for HD. Will adding the HD locals adversely affect their ability to add other HD channels?

[GutBomb]

the HD channels they are adding are actually going to be on new satellites that they are launching specifically for that purpose, so by adding new satellites they are adding more bandwidth. some of these satellites may require new dishes, and only the largest of the large markets HD channels will be carried. if you're in a major city, great. if you're in columbus ohio, not so great.

[billf]

Satellite has more bandwith. The new satellites and the eventual demise of SDTV will see to that. There are only so many channels that you fit down the coaxial pipe and they are using the same pipe for internet as well.