I just upgraded to Directv HD and I contacted Directv beforehand to make sure that NESN was offered as an HD station.(Before upgrading NESN has always been offered as part of my regional sports network--in other words I did not need to get the baseball package to see Sox games)

HOWEVER, after I upgraded, I saw that NESN HD is not offered as a separate channel, and the regular NESN(Channel 623) does not come in in High Def. After much wrangling, no one at Directv can give me an answer.

Does anyone get NESN HD by way of Directv in the local Red Sox Market? If so, where are you from and did you go through this to get it? If anyone can offer any insight into this, it would be appreciated.

Where do you live? Supposedly, NESH-HD is offered as Regional Sports Network in the Boston DMA, but necessarily everywhere that NESN is considered the RSN. Since Direct TV has its bandwith issues, when it comes to HD channels, they spotbeam the local HD channels to areas that are supposed to receive them. If you are outside of the spotbeam, chances are you won't receive it. I live in North Andover, MA and get NESN-HD. Its the "second" channel 623.

Thanks for the info. I live in mid CT(not Fairfield County). Does NESN spotbeam from their satellite?

Do you or anyone know if this issue will be fixed anytime soon? You can imagine my surprise when I saw YesHD but not NESN

I have asked this question dozens of times (I live in California). DTV has launched their 2 new satellites, and expects to have 150 new HD channels by late June/early July. I have lobbied to DTV and their customer retention people to make sure that NESN HD is included in these 150 channels and they said they would pass the word along.

I think that if more Red Sox fans complain to DTV about wanting NESN HD, they might just do it. I have already seen more Sox games on NESN HD on channel 95 this year than last year. Still, more Sox fans outside the Boston DMA need to make the call (you have to ask for customer retention, the direct number no longer works).

Bob G

Thats intersesting. I wasn't aware that they launched already. Where did you get that information from? Everything I've read pointed to a May/June launch for the first bird (Direct TV 10) and then later on for the other one (due to the Sea Launch problems). I doubt they'd have the increased channel lineup available by July if they aren't launched at all yet.

Here is the Directv response to my inquiry:

Thanks for asking about NESN in HD. We recognize you as one of our valued customers for almost 6 years now, and we certainly appreciate your business.

Furthermore, while we do carry NESN in HD in certain parts of their coverage area, we cannot provide NESN in HD to you because our HD satellite “spot beam” doesn’t quite reach your area.

Some background:

We deliver NESN’s HD feed to the coverage area using the same technology we use to deliver local channels to the Hartford-New Haven CT area. This technology is known as a satellite spot beam and it covers the areas immediately around the city like a spotlight. In zip codes near the outer edges of a "spot beam," we aren't able to offer local channels or NESN in HD because there is a possibility that another satellite spot beam will overlap and cause interference. As a result, even though you do live within the NESN local coverage area, you live in a zip code where we are not able to deliver it to you. I’m sorry for any inconvenience.

We’re in the process of expanding our HD offerings and, as we gain more capability to broaden the coverage of the territory, we will do so and expect to continue expansion of these HD offerings in 2007.


In response, I asked when will this happen and received this:

Thanks for asking about NESN in HD. We’re in the process of expanding our HD offerings to include RSNs in many cities, but we are not yet able to offer local sports programming in HD in every city yet. As we gain more capability to broaden our RSN in HD coverage, we will do so and expect to continue expansion of these HD offerings in 2007.

This is about as non-committal as you get. Lobbying is needed.

Their customer retention people told me. I asked them back in late March and they said both their birds were up. They are looking at late June/early July to begin adding more channels.

Bob G

I hate to break it to ya, but they lied. The satellites, from what I understand, will be programmed down here before being launched. In the past, most of the work was done in orbit. This is supposed to speed up the time it takes to make the new channels available. It should take at least four weeks after launch. I think best case scenario for the new HD channels is early 4th quarter.

I live in central CT and have the Dish Network. I'm as frustrated as everyone else that I have a HD TV, but can't get the broadcast. As part of my package, I also get SNY (Mets new network.) I just noticed today that the Dish Network now carries the HD broadcast. Perhaps there is hope that NESN will follow.

Yeah, you'll have to wait until they get DirecTV 10 running. They do have two birds for HD up, but they're MOSTLY for local HD channels. DTV10 was launched on the 6th. It will take 2-3 months to get it programmed and get it positioned, and the channels available. The anticipated launch date of the new HD channel lineup is Sept. 15th. NESN HD SHOULD be a part of that. This would make it what we call CONUS, which is the beam that covers the well...continental US (and some other areas).

Update: No NESN HD through Directv until at least the last quarter of the year(that means no Sept games). I WAS told that NESN HD will be among the HD channels offered with the big HD upgrade, although I don't have all that much confidence in the customer service people, so you may want to call and ask to see if you get the same answer.

Patience should pay off.

Don't forget; the last quarter of the year starts 9/1. I wouldn't be surprised if we start getting it around the middle of the month.

The kick in the pants for me is I get YES and SNY in HD...and last night's game wasn't on YES, so no HD.

I've been reading September 19th for a while now, so I'd guess shortly before or after that.

Sorry, Q4 start on 10/1.

Directv / NESN (SD/HD) / Bennington County, VT



Does anyone know if Directv offers NESN (SD or HD) in their standard packages in Bennington County, Vermont? I currently have DishNetwork which includes NESN SD in the local package. I'm interested in switching to Directv, especially if it means I can get NESN HD.

I don't see anything on the Directv web site that shows NESN as an option in my zip code (05262), but I also tried a Boston zip code and it doesn't show it there, either. I tried calling Directv and they really couldn't give me an answer except to say that if I pay the extra $12 for the Sports Pack I would probably get it. When I mentioned that I already get it through DishNetwork, they said that Directv must included it, too (though they couldn't really confirm that and they have no risk-free trial or satisfaction guarantee offers).

Bennington County, VT is a little unique in that we are in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy viewing area, though we do still have Vermont channels available to us in the local package.

If there is anyone else out their in Bennington County with Directv, please let me know if you get NESN SD or HD in one of the standard packages (i.e. Choice, Choice Extra).

Thanks!

-Scott

I'm no expert, but as long as you get NESN and you pay for the HD receiver/content, I think NESN HD is automatic with DirecTV. I live in Southeastern Connecticut, and pay for the DirecTV HD service, and I get two NESNs ... one HD and one not (that's the way it is for all the HD channels, of which there are about 100).