[The News Bot]

<p>Sky has confirmed two new hi-def channels for its HD service. Crime & Investigation Network<i> </i>HD (CI HD) and The Biography Channel HD (BIO HD) launch on November 5 and take the number of HD channels on the platform to 28. <span class='read-more'><a href="http://www.homecinemachoice.com/blogs/team_HCC/crime+and+bio+for+sky+hd">&nbsp;read&nbsp;more&nbs p;&raquo;</a></span></p>

[lloydsmart]

The £10 HD "mix" is looking more and more tempting, but it will take a few more channels before I activate it on my HD box, I think. I know they're getting there slowly, but HD simulcasts of all the movie channels would be a great start, along with ITV HD (seriously, freesat have had it for ages now!), and perhaps some more Discovery channels in HD. Still, this is good news!

[rovex33]

Well there are 9 HD movie channels now, and ITV HD isnt on Sky for a number of reasons none to do with Sky really, besides there isnt much on it anyway so no one is missing much there! I think the £10 sub is now good value.

[mudhutts]

I'd like a HD music channel, the concerts on Sky Arts HD are very good.

[Ambient Fish]

With Freesat now available how can Sky continue to jutify a £10 charge, If it's going to continue I for one will be switching to Freesat as soon as my one year contract is up

[HSC]

i got rid of the £10 - i couldn't see why I needed to pay for the same channels twice....for a slightly better picture when most of my viewing is not done at projection sizes....

[rovex33]

Freesat is all well and good, but the box is just as much to buy. aAll you save is the £10. For that you get 26 extra channels over freesat, which only has BBC HD, on which is very little and ITV HD, which is, well a cut down ITV (i.e absolutely nothing on worth watching!).

I think the picture is better than 'slightly better'.

[micramda]

Just signed up for a Sky+HD box. At £90 including installation you can't go wrong (£75 for the box, £30 for the installation and £15 credit to your account when you buy online). I remember not so long ago when the box was £299, then £150. The offer ends 31.10.08 I think.

[Shaun666]

Originally Posted by micramda

Just signed up for a Sky+HD box. At £90 including installation you can't go wrong (£75 for the box, £30 for the installation and £15 credit to your account when you buy online). I remember not so long ago when the box was £299, then £150. The offer ends 31.10.08 I think.

Tell me about it ! I'm one of the ones who payed £299 just over a year ago. Not Happy

[catcher]

SKY HD costs 32p per day.

For someone like me who subscribes to movies and sports, it is probably the best 32p I spend, as it vastly increases my viewing experience and pleasure.

[Sephiroth0000]

Originally Posted by catcher

SKY HD costs 32p per day.

For someone like me who subscribes to movies and sports, it is probably the best 32p I spend, as it vastly increases my viewing experience and pleasure.

Could not agree more. I have the full mix package and can say that SkyHD is the bomb! Spiderman 3, The Bourne Ultimatum, Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, Perfect Stranger, Back To The Future and etc...these were just some of the films playing in the glorious HD last night (Its like having your own private blockbusters) The £10 a month as much as I may not be happy with is worth paying for. ITV HD is overrated aswell as even normal ITV is not proper SD so I doubt that ITV HD is going to be much better in terms of visual quality (besides I thought the only thing ITV HD would be showing is football and thats it, Sky Sports will do exactly the same). Oh and watching WWE in HD (have children so thats my excuse lol) is amazing and jaw dropping!

I really think that Sky are bringing their A game to the table this year and I hope next year is the same if not better. All we need now is Anime central in HD with Cowboy Bebop and I would be over the moon

[Upholder]

Originally Posted by mudhutts

I'd like a HD music channel, the concerts on Sky Arts HD are very good.

Thought I read somewhere about MTV HD about to make an appearance.. but don't quote me...

Oh and if anyone tried to take my SKY HD box away (which I've had since HD day 1) I'd shoot them... It's now terrific value...

[sunderland]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth0000

I really think that Sky are bringing their A game to the table this year and I hope next year is the same if not better.

they will also bring there price increases aswell,dont get me wrong its spot on for what you get but sick of seeing the same movies over and over,

[Sephiroth0000]

Originally Posted by sunderland

they will also bring there price increases aswell,dont get me wrong its spot on for what you get but sick of seeing the same movies over and over,

I never heard of any price increase!?...got a link please?

[sunderland]

no i mean they will just do it like they always do,should of worded it properly sorry

[dunks517]

Originally Posted by sunderland

they will also bring there price increases aswell,dont get me wrong its spot on for what you get but sick of seeing the same movies over and over,

I hope not! A £50.00ish a month we as a family can justify the amount but any more then somethings got to give.

[Sephiroth0000]

Originally Posted by sunderland

no i mean they will just do it like they always do,should of worded it properly sorry

I suppose you do have a valid point. With my HD contract now just under half way through though worst ways I will just cancel it at the end. Then again for Sky to introduce another charge or higher charge as you put it would not be beneficial for them. With the current credit crunch going on the money is just not there anymore. I think I read in one of the other threads on how some Sky rep even said to a member that cancellations have doubled recently.

EDIT: http://www.avforums.com/forums/sky-h...ml#post7936707 post 55

[andrew markwort]

Crime & Investigation Network HD (CI HD) and The Biography Channel HD (BIO HD) launch on November 5 and take the number of HD channels on the platform to 28

Woo hoo - NOT

When I saw the headline, I thought 'great! - which two from ITV, Channel Five, Living TV?' - i.e. the channels showing the good quality series made in HD. Nope - two channels that I'll watch even less than that wretched excuse of an HD channel that does those tedious uncritical progs on various expensive hotels and watch makers.

Sky Arts is brilliant, the Beeb occasionally gets it right, and the sport in HD can at times be stunning. But there is so much that frankly doesn't need or deserve high def. And these latest two channels are prime examples of this.

[Sephiroth0000]

Originally Posted by andrew markwort

Woo hoo - NOT

When I saw the headline, I thought 'great! - which two from ITV, Channel Five, Living TV?' - i.e. the channels showing the good quality series made in HD. Nope - two channels that I'll watch even less than that wretched excuse of an HD channel that does those tedious uncritical progs on various expensive hotels and watch makers.

Sky Arts is brilliant, the Beeb occasionally gets it right, and the sport in HD can at times be stunning. But there is so much that frankly doesn't need or deserve high def. And these latest two channels are prime examples of this.

I would agree with the channels not being the best at the moment but considering we just got all the movie channels now in HD I doubt we are going to get anything exceptional. The real tasty channels will come next year I reckon. That and we have the new EPG to look forward to aswell.

[rovex33]

Originally Posted by andrew markwort

Woo hoo - NOT

When I saw the headline, I thought 'great! - which two from ITV, Channel Five, Living TV?' - i.e. the channels showing the good quality series made in HD. Nope - two channels that I'll watch even less than that wretched excuse of an HD channel that does those tedious uncritical progs on various expensive hotels and watch makers.

Sky Arts is brilliant, the Beeb occasionally gets it right, and the sport in HD can at times be stunning. But there is so much that frankly doesn't need or deserve high def. And these latest two channels are prime examples of this.

ITV haven't made a good programme for about 20 years. Channel 5? great, neighbours in HD, what joy. Living? No.

There isnt much else to warrant HD on the network. A music channel or two for sure, but most other channels are showing old stuff anyway that were never made in HD.

Luxe HD is FTA.

They might not be the best channels in the world, but the more we get in HD the better and we arent paying any more so why complain?

[Sephiroth0000]

Originally Posted by rovex33

ITV haven't made a good programme for about 20 years. Channel 5? great, neighbours in HD, what joy. Living? No.

There isnt much else to warrant HD on the network. A music channel or two for sure, but most other channels are showing old stuff anyway that were never made in HD.

Luxe HD is FTA.

They might not be the best channels in the world, but the more we get in HD the better and we arent paying any more so why complain?

I hate to correct you but ITV have NEVER done a good program lol.

[rovex33]

I stand corrected!

[rigman]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth0000

I hate to correct you but ITV have NEVER done a good program lol.

X factor

[Sephiroth0000]

Originally Posted by rigman

X factor

Oblivously you have not been watching XFactor lol. I mean for the tone deaf I agree it probably ain't that bad lol.

[rovex33]

I despise those types of show and everything they stands for and everything they do to the music industry.

[Sephiroth0000]

Originally Posted by rovex33

I despise those types of show and everything they stands for and everything they do to the music industry.

On a serious note though ITV HD is going to be the worst of all the HD channels when it eventually comes anyway. Resolution wise and codec wise ITV are the cheapest of the cheap.

[andrew markwort]

ITV haven't made a good programme for about 20 years. Channel 5? great, neighbours in HD, what joy. Living? No.

Fair comments, but I was thinking of the good US series that they show rather than the programmes they make themselves (though in its defence, Five does occasionally do some good arts programmes with presenters who don't sound as if they're talking out of their rectums). And with regard to the imported programmes, CSI, Without A Trace, etc aren't bad.

ITV is generally vile, I agree and I was perhaps over-hasty in including it in the list. However, once in a while they get something that looks good in HD (e.g. the F1 grand prix - though, okay, that's only to the end of this season).

[rovex33]

I think the F1 looks acceptable, this is only because the SD broadcast is absolutely foul.

[babybearbarker]

For all you lovely Sky HD subscribers, do any of you have the broadband as well - thinking of transferring all to sky when my contract ends on my current provider next year - can you recommend buying HD over just getting blu ray discs?

[rovex33]

Originally Posted by babybearbarker

For all you lovely Sky HD subscribers, do any of you have the broadband as well - thinking of transferring all to sky when my contract ends on my current provider next year - can you recommend buying HD over just getting blu ray discs?

It depends how many films you watch. There are 9 movie channels but not always something on i want to watch, but the quality is good enough. I cancelled my monthly disc subscription (which i only used for BR rental), so it must be ok.