WRGB and ESPN HD on TWC

[OldMatador]

First time poster and new HDTV enthusiast. I have a Sony 34" XBR, which I'm VERY pleased with, along with an Explorer 8000HD STB from TWC. Unfortunately, I can't get OTA signals since I don't have a ATSC tuner in my TV, and I don't want to purchase a STB just for Over the Air Channels... Just had some questions now that TWC's HD lineup has increased to 12 channels:

What's the latest word on WRGB and their refusal to provide a proper HDTV signal?

When will ESPN and TWC get their heads out of their respective butts and get them on the air? I've tried to contact both parties on this matter and have gotten nothing.

Just read that WEWB has a (pretty weak) HDTV signal? Shouldn't it be easy for TWC to hook up their HDTV signal since they're owned by he same parent company? What about UPN? Isn't that a TWC thing?

There are other HDTV channels out there (Starz, Bravo, etc). Any news when those channels will be provided.

Sorry for the long-winded post, but I'm excited about it all. It's an amazoing picture, and I can't really watch SDTV anymore.

Thanks,
Bill Lehecka

[Skaggs]

Welcome to AlbanyHDTV.com. Sorry it took a few days to get back to you, but I've been busy with end of summer type things and should be back to near daily updates in mid-September.

OldMatador said:

What's the latest word on WRGB and their refusal to provide a proper HDTV signal?

It has been said elsewhere in this forum that WRGB wanted some sort of payment in return for providing their HD signal to TWC. There was also an issue if TWC will show WRGB's sub-channel(s), like 6-2 and 6-3. I have personally been to the WRGB studios and seen that they are ready to provide the signal to TWC. Literally, all they need to do is pull out a jumper wire and the HD signal will go to TWC. With WNYT HD on TWC now and both WNYT's and WTEN's sub-channels also on TWC, WRGB looks like they are being unrealistic holdouts (at least in my opinion) if they are being offered the same conditions as WNYT and WTEN.

OldMatador said:

When will ESPN and TWC get their heads out of their respective butts and get them on the air?

There has been some discussion in another thread about how ESPN is owned by Disney and Disney wants to renegotiate the terms of all their cahnnels with TWC in order to provide ESPN HD to TWC. The viewers are the losers in this battle, especially with Sunday night baseball and football.

OldMatador said:

There are other HDTV channels out there (Starz, Bravo, etc). Any news when those channels will be provided.

There has been no news from TWC regarding either of these channels. If I hear any news it will be posted here.