DirecTV ruled to stop claiming their HD is superior
A federal judge ruled yesterday that DirecTV could no longer claim that their service was better than cable in their commercials, in Time Warner markets. We all know that DirecTV has been accused of reducing their own quality in favor of quantity and are even being sued for as much. This made many of us laugh when we saw these commercials with Jessica and William claiming that DirecTV has better HD picture quality than cable, not because they were intended to be funny, but because it is so far from the truth. DirecTV's spokesman still continued to tell the associated press that DirecTV has "better overall pictures quality", whatever that means.
Filed under: Regulatory, Cable, Satellite
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
KissTheRing @ Feb 6th 2007 12:08PM
Well I know that Directv's HD service looks better than my cable provider (Charter Communications), but in my area Directv's broadcast of my local channels (NBC, Fox, CBS, PBS, ABC) still don't come in HD (yet). So until locals come in HD I'd have to say Directv isn't better.
picaso @ Feb 6th 2007 12:17PM
DirecTV has the best HD quality*
*(in a survey of DirecTV marketing employees)
Yankees368 @ Feb 6th 2007 12:20PM
DirecTV is full of crap. How can they possibly claim the best picture?!? Get the hell out of here...
HD Tom @ Feb 6th 2007 12:23PM
I'll admit, the ads are full o' crap (at least wait until you've rolled out your "100 channels", or at lest my GD HD locals), but I have to say - I've been quite pleased w/ my HD quality from DTV lately - especially HBO. Maybe they improved the signal behind the scenes to offset the lawsuit or something? Also - count me as one who has had little issue so far w/ his HR-20. Maybe I'm lucky?
HD Tom @ Feb 6th 2007 12:25PM
Also, my in-laws just got Time Warner's HD service yesterday. While the difference is minimal, I'd give the victory to DTV based on what I've seen. Same TV BTW so that's not it.
Ken @ Feb 6th 2007 1:05PM
I am wondering what the h3ll DTV thinks they are doing? WHERE ARE THE HD CHANNELS!!!??? I know they have been launching new satellites, upgrading their equipment, etc. - BUT WHERE ARE THE HD CHANNELS!!!???
Year after year, all we hear is talking, people are realizing that the grass may be greener on the other side.
We have had DirecTV since a few years after it came out, and unless they get it in gear, we will explore other options.
HD Tom @ Feb 6th 2007 1:42PM
While I'm happy lately w/ the picture quality, I couldn't agree more!!! I'm tired of waiting.
In fact, if it weren't for the Sunday Ticket, I would switch to TW tomorrow. My in-laws had at least nine more channels than I get (including four locals).
Dean @ Feb 6th 2007 1:35PM
I don't know if it is my Panny plasma vs. my friend's Samsung LCD, or something else about our different setups, but the Superbowl looked MUCH better on my DTV system than it did on my friend's Comcast HD system.
Michael levine @ Feb 6th 2007 2:40PM
Its all about FiOS TV, which made even a 10-year-old, rear-projection bigscreen look good.
High-Def...even better.
Dean @ Feb 6th 2007 3:17PM
The HD channels will be here when the new satellites, Directv 10 and 11, are launched later this year. DTV is just maxed out with bandwidth now, and pending any disasters with the satellites, the quantity (and hopefully quality) of HD at DTV will increase enormously in 2007.
HD Tom @ Feb 6th 2007 3:44PM
We know this, but I think what gets most DTV subscribers (like myself) upset is they've been saying this for two years now? Remember those 2005 commercials where the guy starts out as a kid watching like 1950s TV - then proceeds through many rooms, each time growing older while the TVs get better. He finally ends up as an old man and DTV says "this year" television takes the next step or something like that related to HD. That was 2005!!!! What's the delay. They've been talking about these two sats for more than a year now. Launch them already!!!
tcc3 @ Feb 6th 2007 9:57PM
They cant help it the old man died. =P
Gaber @ Feb 6th 2007 7:06PM
I am just glad DirecTV was challenged on their claims. It is too often that we let large companies like this make claims that are either not true or not proven.
Mitchel Augustyn @ Feb 6th 2007 8:48PM
I'm waiting for DirecTV to produce some High Def channels.
Jason Wood @ Feb 6th 2007 9:12PM
Since when did anyone start caring about truth in advertising. Who monitors any of that, everyone always says that theirs is the best, does anyone ever believe it? I sure don't, besides quality is in the eye of the beholder.
nothing now @ Feb 6th 2007 10:15PM
their only advantage in florida (my home state) and the rest of the gulf is the satilite system great after hurricanes and never anytime else. so those better than cable ads are bs everywhere but the desert.
Bill @ Feb 6th 2007 10:53PM
Yeah I've been waiting for DirecTV to add HD channels too, but I don't care anymore how long they take because I switched to Dish last year. :-)
In my opinion, waiting is always a bad choice if you can switch to something better. Once DirecTV gets off their arse and actually OFFERS the new channels, I'll re-evaluate.
Mitchel Augustyn @ Feb 7th 2007 8:54AM
Hello DirecTV
Mitchel Augustyn @ Feb 7th 2007 8:56AM
I thought of switching back to Cable, then realized I've waited this long, might as well stick it out.
Kassim Rasoulian @ Feb 7th 2007 1:36PM
you know dish network has been having HD locals for a while now...and Dish has more hd channels...why doesnt anyone mention this? I do not think directv is worth having...