Comcast Launches New HD Info Site

After a few false starts it appears that Comcast has finally launched its new High Definition information website. The website (http://www.hidefhigh.com) gives visitors information on Comcast’s HD offerings plus gives them access to an easy to use TV Planner.

Comcast also compares its offerings to satellite and claims that they have an 11 to 1 advantage to satellite in HD offerings. Of course these numbers are based largely on their On Demand offerings.

DIRECTV 10 – It’s Alive!

Satellite Technology junkies were “feeling the joy” on Wednesday when the first transponder on the new DIRECTV 10 satellite lit up. The online forums were filled with people from around the country reporting their satellite signal readings. If they are this excited just watching their satellite receivers signal meter screen, I can’t wait to see how they react when there is real programming coming from these transponders.

Being Part of the News Headlines

I admit it, I am a lover of television technology. It does not matter if it’s HD, Satellite, Cable TV or IPTV. If you can get a picture from it, then I am a fan of it.  

Over the last 10 years that I have been online, I have shared my love of the technology with others,  I take great pride in helping people learn about and get more out of all these cool technologies. Little did I know when I woke up one day earlier this week that I would be caught in the crossfire of the headlines (and the scope of DIRECTV’s legal department)

Ever since DIRECTV launched its new DIRECTV 10 satellite there has been lots of excitement and speculation. Also there has been plenty of speculation and “leaked” documents posted on the internet. Some of these documents appeared to be real while others appeared to be anxious customers HD wish lists.

One such “leaked document” was posted to my website late last week. And much like the rest of these documents that have been posted over the past few months most people (including myself) took it with a grain of salt.

On Monday afternoon I received an email asking me to remove the document and to provide identifying information about the person who posted the document. I flat out refused both requests. It is part of my websites privacy policy that to not provide any members personal data without a court order. I got an email back assering that I would be hearing from DIRECTV’s legal department.

On Tuesday evening my cell phone rang, I answered it and a voice identified himself as a “Lawyer from DIRECTV” (No name just a lawyer from DIRECTV). He requests that I remove the document and give him the users information. Again I refused. He then said  something to the effect of “fine, if that’s the way you want to play.” He abruptly ended the call.

I called around to other friends and colleagues in the industry and asked them if I did the correct thing. Unanimously, they told me “Yes!”

I then posted a message to my website about what happened. A number of press sites picked up on this story including some of my competition. It was a total refreshing act of solidarity from other members of the press. In addition a number of sites picked up on these leaked documents and reported on them. Now the cat was really out of the bag. (Thank you guys!)

I don’t want to fight with DIRECTV over First Amendment issues. I hope they understand I am just a technology geek who loves helping people learn more about these amazing technologies. This week I changed from someone reporting on the industry to being a news item about the industry.

I would rather just continue being that guy helping people out and reporting, thank you very much.