HDedmond
Member
Here is an excerpt from an email I received this week from Cox/OKC:
>> We are planning on adding several new HD channels in September and October... Some of the new channels scheduled to be added are: Spike HD, Comedy HD, Hallmark Movie HD, Lifetime Movie HD, plus a few others. <<
Anyone else as underwhelmed by these additions as I am? (Yawn.)
It is pretty disappointing to have waited 4 or 5 months for Cox to add more HD channels to its paltry HD line-up, and then to get this news. Bummer.
cpcmge0
Member
I feel the same way. I have emailed, phoned and asked within the Cox office for HD NET and they tell they either don't know what I'm talking about or it is a channel they aren't interested in. Man there is a lot of good programming on that network, too bad Cox can't get away form all of the lifetime and Halmark stuff.
HDedmond
Member
I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of AT&T uverse service to my neighborhood in Edmond.
HDPokeFan
Member
HDEdmond - If it is HD you want, U-Verse is not your answer. Yes, they have three channels that Cox does not have HDNet, HDNet Movies, and WGNHD (which is a joke). None of those warrant IMO, losing a couple of HD channels that Cox has like MoJo and the HD On Demand (which U-Verse does not have).
I had U-Verse installed, but I kept Cox as well as a back-up. I have now given U-verse 45 days - going to disconnect it Tuesday and just keep Cox.
Plus the Cox rep told me they are adding 9 new HD channels at end of September. So Cox will have more HD than U-Verse - and that is not counting the HD On Demand (I hear FreeZone HD On Demand is just around the corner - reading online that a couple of other Cox systems have it).
HDedmond
Member
Thanks for the update, PokeFan. I'm hearing mixed reviews about U-Verse.
I'll definitely stick around to see what the 9 new HD channels are -- but it is very discouraging to know that Lifetime Movies and Hallmark Movies will be among them.
Hopefully Fox News Channel, HDNet, MGM, and/or Smithsonian will also be among the new HD channels, but I am not counting on it. (I suspect many of the 9 new channels will be premium channels and/or so-called HD "choices" such as VOD -- not basic HD channels.)
HDedmond
Member
Here is Cox's current HD line-up in the OKC Area.
27 "Basic" HD channels. These are mostly simulcasts of SD cable channels.
1 Part-time sports channel (FSN-HD), but Cox's Guide is not kept up to date for this channel. The Guide often shows "OFF AIR" even when sporting events are on.
4 Premium channels (HBO, Max, SHO, & Starz).
1 VOD pay-per-view movies, @ $6 per movie.
6 Local HD channels that most of us can receive for free with rabbit ears or a roof antenna.
----------------
That's an okay HD line-up, but it is not great. It will be interesting to watch the Cox vs. sats vs. U-Verse competition continue to develop over the coming months and years.
Right now, Cox is behind in the HD game, IMHO. But they can get back in it if they add enough channels to get up around 45 or 50 BASIC HD channels in the next 6-12 months (not counting the locals, premiums, and VOD).
I'm pulling for Cox in this competition, because I would prefer not to have to switch to another provider. (I imagine it is a question of whether Cox can free up enough bandwidth to add the dozens of new HD channels they'll need to remain competitive.)
Sooner Al
Member
Here is the actual list of Cox HD channels as of today.
HDedmond
Member
Yep. That's the place where I got my count, Sooner Al. Thanks for posting the link.
HDPokeFan
Member
Looks like yesterday Cox announced the nine channels new HD channels: MTV, Comedy, VH1, CMT, Nickelodeon, Spike, Hallmark Movie Channel, Lifetime Movie Channel, and Planet Green.
HDedmond
Member
Yawn.
Not much there to improve my enthusiasm about Cox's HD lineup.
Sooner Al
Member
I noticed the old MHD music channel is now PAL on the on screen guide here in the Norman area as of today sometime. Do you have an online link for the Cox announcement about the new channels?
HDPokeFan
Member
Sooner - The announcement was in my Cox bill that I received this week. And MHD is now called Palladia (MHD spent a lot of time in August announcing the upcoming name change)
Edmond - So Cox will now have 49 HD channels compared to AT&T's 40 (DirecTV has 61 - excluding duplicative channels, and regional sports networks since pro games are blacked out). Plus Cox has HD On Demand and AT&T does not. And Cox is getting ready to add FreeZone HD On Demand content. And Cox is free HD and the others charge $10 at a minimum. Again, if HD is what you want -- why would you consider U-Verse?
HDedmond
Member
PokeFan, I'll try to be more positive and start looking at my Cox HD service as a glass half-full instead of half-empty.
Actually, Cox probably lacks only about 10 of my must-have HD channels. (Unfortunately, none of my must-haves are among the new 9 HD channels.) I will be positive right now and say that I have every confidence that Cox will add many more HD channels before the end of 2008, and that some of my must-haves will be among them! :-)
IMHO Cox needs to focus it's bandwidth on adding more HD CHANNELS, not so-called HD "choices" like on demand and freezone. Others may disagree, but that is my preference.
Sooner Al
Member
HDedmond...
We never use OnDemand in SD or HD so for us its a complete waste...
HDPokeFan...
I never see the bill so my wife may have simply tossed whatever was in the envelope besides the bill part and not read it. Thanks...
nmajdan
Member
I got a mailer about a week ago from Cox saying they were going to be making improvements in my area (Sand Springs). Seemed to be more infrastructure-related. Don't remember exactly what it said and I threw it away.
HDME
Member
These 9 new channels are now listed on cox.com/oklahoma on the front page headline
HDedmond
Member
Thanks HDME.
6 of the new 9 HD channels are owned by Viacom (Comedy Central, Spike, Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1, CMT). Planet Green HD and Hallmark Movies HD are owned by Discovery. I also recall an announcement made earlier this year about an agreement that required Cox to add Lifetime HD and Lifetime Movies HD.
I'm guessing these 9 additions have more to do with broader carriage rights agreements with Viacom, Discovery, and Lifetime, than with actual customer demand. (Which explains the "yawn" reaction some of us had to this possible line-up change.)
Unfortunately, this is the nature of the pay TV business. To get rights to a popular channel, Cox also has to add some filler.
I'm trying to be more positive -- so I'll say that ANY new HD is a good thing, even if I am not excited by the actual line-up. I still have hope that Cox will add more and better HD channels this fall! :-)
jedicurt
Member
so Comedy HD is no longer listed on the Cox site as a "coming soon" channel!!! are we not getting it now?
EDIT:
Wait... it is shown here as channel 755
http://www.cox.com/oklahoma/digitalcable/okc.asp
but not listed here
http://www.cox.com/oklahoma/hdtv/hdchannels.asp
so maybe they just left it off on accident
CoxEmp
Member
jedicurt - Unfortunately, Comedy Central changed plans on their HD channel. Simply put they don't have a Comedy HD channel available. It will launch at the end of the year - and Cox will add it then.
BTW, the 5 other HD channels (Nick, MTV, Spike, VH1, CMT) will launch tomorrow.
HDedmond
Member
Hey CoxEmp:
When are we getting Fox News HD? It would be nice to have that channel added before the election.
And what of HDNet? Any hope on that front?
cpcmge0
Member
HDedmond, I have called Cox repeatedly about HDNet and almost every time they tell me they have never heard of it and that NO ONE else has requested it. I just can't believe that, but people have requested this other BORING stuff! Ok I'll step down off my soap box and go back to the race.
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