The Announcement Shouldn’t Come As a Shock.
It’s been 15 years since DIRECTV first introduced HD channels, and with the new technologies that the company has rolled out the past few years it was only a matter of time until they replaced the SD services. In 2019 DIRECTV will be stopping the use of all SD services, and the date is almost right around the corner. During this gap it is important to weigh the options and start considering making the new changes.
DIRECTV’s SD service was first started in 1994, a time where HD technologies where still far from being developed. Throughout the years, DIRECTV has allowed more satellites to add SD, HD, and 4k capacity. However, years ago DIRECTV made the decision that the future was HD-only, and stopped adding SD capacity to new technologies. So what does this mean? Satellites that carry SD channels are getting older and older by day. When 2019 comes around, the last of them will have reached their operational limits and DIRECTV will finally stop all SD service.
Plans for DIRECTV’s new SD-free life have been in the making for several years now. First they stopped lighting up new MPEG-2 markets, and in 2015 DIRECTV stopped the activation of new SD-only customers. Now, the only way for someone to get an SD receiver activate is to replace a damaged one. GUESS WHAT THOUGH… DIRECTV doesn’t want you to do that! They want you moving on to an HD future, right now.
The 3 year process to swap out the remaining millions of boxes and get every customer HD-ready was started last year. DIRECTV will be working with manufacturers of mobile dishes as well to assure nobody is left out.
Little by little, local markets will have their SD feeds turned off, by the time that happens we’ve would already have awareness of this change. It’ll be the perfect time for you to get on the HD train if you haven’t already! Without SD local feeds, all local channels with be lost, and at some point nation channels will begin the same process, marking the final end of SD as we know it.
If you’re ready to leave behind SD and learn more about the future of HD, give QCTV a call at 281-583-1000 or fill out a form here.
But what happens with the DirecTV techs all say you can’t get HD without cutting down old growth trees on land you don’t own? We’ve tried switching to HD, and that’s been the consistent answer.
Simple. I can not and will not cut down a forest of trees when cable tv is right here at the end of the wire which brings in my phone and internet.
OR use my existing ANTENNA since I really don’t need to pay for 150 channels I never watch.
We lived without pay tv before. If we overcome the addiction we can do it again.
I was told that I won’t be able to get the other satellite.
Not possible to go hd on in motion satellites in rvs and semis so an instant loss of a million or more customers not a good move
I have been a Directv customer almot since the beginning but since I have an RV I will be switching to DISH since you CAN get HD INMOTION with them.
Just wondering , is anyone developing a portable HD antenna that is compatible with DirecTV HD signal. I know there is a HD antenna compatible with DISH HD signal but I’ve had DirecTV service since 1995. I’m not ready to change providers I really don’t want to pay the $1800/$1900 plus instillation costs to have the DirecTV antenna installed on my RV.
There is a$2300 rooftop stationary forthe RV but that’s the cheapest I’ve found. Nothing portable other than a home dish on a tripod, good luck aiming that!.
The satellites are the same for HD as SD. Sounds like the tech is lazy.