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Time Warner Cable Runs Out of HD DVRs

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the selling-like-hotcakes dept.

jalvear writes "According to TV NewsChannel 9 in Syracuse, NY, Time Warner Cable said that they have run out of HD digital video recorder (DVR) boxes. Apparently, there's a shortage of HD DVRs because the company that makes the boxes have been 'overwhelmed by requests for them.' Seems like almost everyone has bought an HDTV during the holidays and wants to watch the Super Bowl in HD format."

23 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. cabele companies by thebear05 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wow cable companies doing a piss poor job of taking care of consumer needs. I'm Shocked

    1. Re:cabele companies by Elm+Tree · · Score: 2, Funny

      Wow... You've done what I thought was impossible. You've made Canadian cable providers seem generous and fair.

  2. Not a problem by Keeper · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Fortunately it's possible to receive HD cable programming without one of their HD boxes ... Oh, wait, you can't...

    1. Re:Not a problem by thebdj · · Score: 2, Interesting

      DiscoveryHD (which is worth it), TNT-HD, ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, Comcast SportsNet HD, INHD (which shows VS. NHL games), the OTA stuff (which living as far away from the transmitters as I do, it is a good thing to have cable). There is also Universal HD (I don't get it, but I know it exist.), HBO HD, Showtime HD, Starz HD, Cinemax HD (I think), and HD On-Demand.

      There is tons of content, and it isn't all crap. If you watches Sports then ESPN and ESPN2 in HD are both well worth it. If you like the movie channels, then why not have HBO, Showtime, Starz, et. al. There is also a good share of content on Discovery HD that I enjoy watching.

      Apparently, the satellite companies are adding tons more HD channels, which is hopefully going to start driving Cable Companies to increase the numbers as well. So, do you not like HDTV because you think "the content is still crap", you haven't watched enough of it to know, or do you not like HDTV because you do not have it or cannot afford it? (BTW, if you think Discovery HD is crap, are you sure you belong with the nerds on slashdot?)

      --
      "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb."
    2. Re:Not a problem by CheSera · · Score: 2, Informative

      This is pleasantly untrue. If you have a TV with a QAM tuner, or any device with a QAM tuner, you would be able to pick up the HD signals for the local broadcasters just fine. Also, since we're talking about local broadcast here, you could go one step further and pick up an OTA and HD tuner and not have to have cable at all. Not to mention what has been already said, that you could still pick up a non-dvr hd box. So you can still get your hd without one of their boxes.

    3. Re:Not a problem by aboyko · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Fortunately it's possible to receive HD cable programming without one of their HD boxes ... Oh, wait, you can't... Sure you can. Most cable companies don't encrypt the digital QAM feed for at least the local broadcast channels (and sometimes quite a few more channels), so a QAM tuner (built into many HD TVs, or available as an set top box or as a computer peripheral) will let you get HD content to do with as you will. I get something like 8 HD channels unencrypted. plus a few dozen SD digital channels, as a regular analog customer with no cable company-provided box.
    4. Re:Not a problem by thebdj · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You know, anyone I hear someone say they don't care for a product why does someone come along and say "you don't like [insert technology here] because you can't afford it." or roughly insinuate the same. It's a real nice backhanded argumentum ad hominem for when people really don't have much of a case to debate with the person but don't like what the person said. Cute. Because I can name a number of cases where this has been the case. You will find a number of people in this world who will berate things merely out of some degree of envy or jealousy. Are there people who do not want HD and could afford it? Yes, but he blatantly attacked a lack of content which is a terribly false assumption as I can list a fair number of HD channels.

      Why do you join in on the lack of content? I know a lot of adopters who are sports fans, and maybe the fact that there is a good deal of sporting content in HD has something to do with that. Most prime time shows are now shown in HDTV. Of the top 20 rated shows from 1/17 - 1/21 of this year, I know that 14 of them are in HD. We have at least one local newcast in the DC metro in HD. If you get premium movie channels, there is an HD version available for the main channel of each. HD On-Demand is offered here. PBS has HD content and so does Discovery channel. INHD has shown movies older than me that have been converted to HD and they look GOOD. I hate using this as a source, but it will have to do.

      One good channel doesn't validate dropping $100 let alone a thousand to most people -- sorry. Could I buy it? Sure. Just paid my new car off in 2 years. Would I care to waste my money on it at this point when I can wait 2 years, get a much higher quality set, and most likely 10-20x the amount of content? No thanks, I think-- you know, I'll invest some of that cash and maybe purchase a computer upgrade or two. I love your wait two years argument. You talk about spending money on computer upgrades, so you should know as well as anyone else that you can always wait for more features, for more power, or for lower prices, but at some point, you have to say it is time to invest. BTW, a lot of HDTV can be had for under $1000 if you know where to look. The price as actually gotten to the point where the difference between a regular definition set and an HD set is close enough to get some people to switch when their old TV blows up.

      If someone wants to argue against HDTV, can you please come up with a better argument then a lack of content?
      --
      "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb."
    5. Re:Not a problem by jeaton · · Score: 4, Informative

      Fortunately it's possible to receive HD cable programming without one of their HD boxes ... Oh, wait, you can't...
      Sure there is: Cable cards.

    6. Re:Not a problem by powerlord · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Sure you can. Cable-Cards into a TV of Series3 TiVo.

      Mine is working just fine without any need for an HD-DVR from TimeWarner.

      In fact, since they have a shortage, I feel altruistic for helping lower the demand for their crappy HD-DVRs. :)

      --
      This space for rent. All reasonable inquiries will be entertained at proprietors discretion.
  3. Watch superbowl? by ForestGrump · · Score: 3, Funny

    Why! why for the love of HDTV?

    Just go download the commercials on your fav torrent site or youtube. Don't waste your life watching the filler.

    Grump

    --
    Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
    1. Re:Watch superbowl? by DingerX · · Score: 2, Funny

      Dude. It's all about the live experience. With an HD DVR, you can start the party, then have everyone sit down two hours after kickoff and watch the commercials without sports interruption. And yeah, you can also avoid the halftime show with "Hooray for Everything" (shudder), without missing the eventual nipple.

  4. Is that real? by WinKing · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It might be, but I think most of these type of stories are created for publicity or an advertising stunt. Will like to read others comments.

    --
    With Regards, V Raimond
  5. Debunking by robbiedo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A considerable amount of commentary concerning the format war between Blue Ray and HD-DVD is based on the notion that standard definition is "good enough," for most owners of HDTV's, thus neither format will achieve deep penetration in the short term. However, this run on HD-DVR shows a clear demand for HD content. Comcast offers rental for their HD-DVR for a modest price, and no contract, and customers are snapping these units up. ON DEMAND had HD movies that can be viewed at the customers leisure, much of this content is at no additional charge. It has been posited that the format war is irrelevant due to people downloading HD content over the intertubes; however, the cable companies may make this argument irrelevant with the ON DEMAND feature, and the growing HD content. People want HD content, but are not willing to get hosed in the process by greedy corporations trying to win an unnecessary format war.

    1. Re:Debunking by Xugumad · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I don't know what broadcast TV in the US is like, but here in the UK SD broadcast TV isn't even close to DVD quality, while the HD broadcast is generally around HD-DVD/BluRay quality, meaning there's a much bigger improvement visible.

    2. Re:Debunking by mikael · · Score: 2, Informative

      The best example of poor quality is watching one of those orange fireball explosions. Then the JPEG compression blocks are clearly visible.

      --
      Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
  6. uh, no... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Many people (including me) got an HD-DVR not because they have an HD TV set at home (I don't). The disk in those HD-DVRs are the largest ones (160 or 120GB) and they work just fine on standard definition TV sets. The disk space is the only reason why I and many others went with an HD-DVR. I was about to replace my other old Explorer 8000 with an 8300HD this weekend. I sure hope I will be able to get one.

  7. Re:Wow by robbiedo · · Score: 2, Funny

    Actually NFL footbal was revitalized for me by HD broadcast, and the large screen format. I had not watched football for years because it just was not very much fun to watch on a 32 inch fuzzy square picture. I bought a external HD antenna for my 52" HDTV, and was wowed by the over the air broadcasts for free, especially the NFL broadcasts. The technology that the networks are employing to exploit the format is just amazing. I was blown away by it, I bought an HD 720p projector about 6 weeks ago, and I am just stunned by HD on a 106 inch bright, high contrast, colorful HD wonder. I can't wait until I can afford a true 1080P projector.

  8. hddvr, not hd boxes, are out. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    is everyone but me ignorant? this says they are out of DVR boxes. DVR > but not = HD Box.

    Just because they are out of DVR's does not mean they dont have Non-DVR HD boxes.

  9. Re:one ? by Shads · · Score: 2, Informative

    What you expect people to know what they're talking about before they spew bs comments?

    --
    Shadus
  10. it's their pricing model. by Deathlizard · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'm a recent Adelphia to TWC transfer. Adn I can tell you that it's not exactly HDTV demand that pushing these units.

    Under Adelphia, it was roughly $5 for a standard digital box, and $10 for a HD DVR. last month, I get a rate adjustment that raised the Standard box by $3 and dropped the HD DVR by $2. That's right, the HD DVR is now the same price as the cheap SD box with no DVR. So basicially, if you already had DVR service, you might as well replace all of your SD units with the HD DVR's because you're paying the same price anyway for the SD units, and you can get the free HD channels as well. (even without an HDTV, the HD local channels are much clearer than their analog equivelant)

    I'm sure I'm not the only person from the Adelphia changeover that noticed this.

    --
    In Soviet Russia, Trojan exploits YOU!
  11. Re:one ? by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The problem here, is patents.

    The enitre HD scene is chock loaded with patent upon patent dealing with nearly every aspect of the hardware, software and content of the Cable/PVR/TV suite. It is impossible for competitors to emerge when the big companies involved are bristling with frivolous lawsuit ready patent portfolios.

    Without fear of patents, imagine the possibilities. There's probably two dozen people reading this story who could string together a company selling linux based PVRs. I've half toyed with the idea of setting up some kind of company making pimped out terabyte TiVo/PVR home servers streaming content wirelessly to Joe SixPack's TV. I'd sell it to him like a microwave oven, and I'd make it usable. Off the shelf parts, screw it together yourself. You could make 30 a month in your garage.

    But its a fantasy, and not only because I'm no real entrepreneur. For a start, thanks to the cable monopoly, I could never really get the PVR to "Just Work" with the cable signal. And that's before TiVo et al come pounding on my door with cease and desist orders.

    Imagine how real entrepreneurs must feel. There's honest to goodness market out there, waiting with its cash for a good product. People want it, you can make it, but you just can't sell it.

    But hey! Thats what patents are all about right? Stopping those greedy garage geeks dishonestly profiting from the tireless innovations of companies like Time Warner. Without patents, Time Warners CEOs would starve!

    --
    May the Maths Be with you!
  12. What happens after the Super Bowl? by Rearden82 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Headline the week after the Super Bowl: "Time Warner Cable runs out of storage space for returned HD DVRs".

    I've been told that a surprising number of people buy a big-screen HDTV, watch the game, and return it the day after. People like them are the reason the rest of us get sacked with restocking fees.

  13. Re:Pixelation, bitches! by Mean+Variance · · Score: 2, Insightful

    And then, when consumers complain, Cable companies will then have to switch out all that MPEG2 hardware for MPEG4, just like the Satellite companies did, and its just going to be bloody hell on you folks.

    Yes, pure hell. I'll just kill myself now. I have Comcast HD with the HD DVR. The DVR is flaky at times, but the HD channels rarely pixelate. For $10 extra per month for both the DVR and HD, I'll live with it. If this calamatous world view you predict pans out, well, I think my life will get along just fine nonetheless.

    Bloody hell? Uh, not really.