Announcing the new Digital 5.0

Early last month, I wrote here about changes that are coming to Insight. I’ve already given you a first look at our new web site, MyInsight.com. Over the next couple of days, I’m going to give you a preview of the other innovative changes that are happening. Last year, we introduced our best TV service ever — and immediately began work on ways to make it better. Today, we’re announcing the next stage of that work.

Digital 5.0 is here.

We’ve made every channel 100% digital for incredible picture and sound quality. We’ve added exciting new DVR features and made our onscreen guide easier than ever to use. We’re bringing you more free HD channels. And we made the best On Demand in cable even better.

The new digital picture will change the way you look at your television, providing crisp, clear picture and sound. These changes will also have long-term impact for freeing up bandwidth on our network to provide additional services, like more HD channels and faster broadband.

We’ve made your DVR experience better with Digital 5.0, with overlap protection and live recording extension — so you don’t have to worry about recording conflicts if one recording runs long when another is starting.

Digital 5.0 introduces Total Home On Demand. You can start watching an On Demand movie or show in one room of your home and finish it in another, a great feature that works with all Insight Digital receivers. Another cool new feature is your ability to view some movies the same day as they’re released on DVD. And if you don’t have time to finish your On Demand selection, you’ve got more time with extended movie rentals —a number of movies are now available for 48 hours.

A word about HD

I know many of you are counting on more HD channels.  And I want you to know that we are totally committed to more HD -- much more.  Our Digital 5.0 release is not primarily about HD though.  It's about the features mentioned above, which I'm sure you will appreciate once you experience them, and a handful of more HD channels.  Even before we announce a new release of service, we're already long working on the next.  We're busily freeing up bandwidth and planning to reallocate it to advanced broadband and phone services, as well as lots more digital video services.  Stay tuned here for further announcements.

So, what the new HD channels you will get with Digital 5.0? Here’s the list for each area Insight serves.

Louisville, Kentucky and surrounding areas – Lifetime, WGN, and Speed.

Columbus, Ohio – MSNBC, Turner Classic Movies, TruTV HD, CNN HN HD.

Lexington, Kentucky – Lifetime, WGN, ABC Family.

Bowling Green, Kentucky – MSNBC, Turner Classic Movies, FSN South HD, Cartoon Network, Disney XD, Lifetime, Lifetime Movies and Speed.

Evansville, Indiana and surrounding areas – Lifetime and Fox Sports Midwest HD.

Northern Kentucky –  Big Ten, ESPN News, Bravo HD, CNBC HD, Fox Business, Speed, ABC Family, WGN, and Lifetime.

If we're missing your favorite channel in your district, let me know and I'll discuss your request with our video product folks.

Enjoy the new features, picture quality and HD channels that Digital 5.0 will bring to your television. And, remember that even though we’re proud to be rolling out these exciting changes today to our customers, we’re already at work on Digital 6.0’s offerings and features for a future roll-out that you can read about here first.

Comments

[JDF]

Umm, Fox Sports Midwest HD is nothing new. We've been watching Cardinals and College Football games in HD here in Evansville on the "Special Events HD" channel for over 3 years. Just changing the name of an existing channel doesn't make it new. Honestly, I can tell that this update isn't just about new HD channels because looking at your list, there's nothing to write home about. Really, all that's happening is that all of the markets are finally getting into sync with one another. I've been hearing talk about TCM HD and Encore HD... that's the type of channels that I want to hear about, not to mention Spike HD and Versus HD...

I will say that I am impressed that we're finally going all digital, but the other additions really aren't much. Maybe we should rename this Digital 4.5 or 4.25...

[Dark_Sinner]

Living in the Louisville market I am disappointed in our HD additions. Like the other poster mentioned Digital 4.5 is more like it. I do appreciate the new services but man my kids and my self would love Cartoon Network in HD. I don't understand how you guys pick your lineups. I mean I would think every Insight customer would enjoy Cartoon Network HD or TruTV in HD. Why only introduce it in certain markets. One day I am going to wake up and decide I need more HD and will end up switching to the dish.

[ARGO]

Will PC Cable Cards be available soon?

[Brian]

Where is the DOCSIS 3.0 upgrade for high-speed Internet????

Your upgrades on cable are keeping you, at best, caught up to Dish Network and DirecTV. Both of them are all digital (have been for years), have more HD channels, and have ability for multi-room DVR.

Show us something your competition does not have .... even faster Internet speeds.

[Michael]

I'm in the Columbus market and would love to get BBCA in HD. It's the only non-HD channel that my family watches.

[Richard]

So you've made everything 100% digital, are you trying to tell me that I can no loner just plug a cable line into my tv? Now I need to get a box?

[GW]

The HD additions are very disappointing for the Lexington market. Where is Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, and BBC America? Why bother adding new HD channels that primarily show repeats - add channels that create content and air original programming. And please introduce a reasonably priced HD cable box - $16 per outlet is unreasonable just to get HD programming, which is now the norm, not the exception.

[Matt Nolan]

Mr. Willner,

I know you are probably swamped with e-mail today but I want to congratulate you on the launch of Insight Digital 5.0. I think it is a great first step and having everything in digital will be great. I know you and I have discussed this issue before when I wrote you about RCN doing this very same thing. I asked you at the time why Insight was not doing this and you posted a blog about it. Like I said, a very good first step.

Now there are a few things that I do not understand right now. Why is it that Columbus, and Bowling Green are getting HD channels that people here in Louisville, Evansville, and Northern Kentucky are not getting? I know in Columbus you have a lot of competition and that you have to "keep up with the Jones" to maintain your customers. But why not offer all of the channels that you have contracts for to all markets? As you know AT&T has started offering U-Verse here in Louisville, and they will very soon start offering it in Southern Indiana right across the river from Louisville. I can tell you for a fact there is a lot of buzz about this and how Insight will now have to compete with AT&T. Also the channels that have been added to all networks. Most of the channels do not offer original HD content on their channels. Most of the channels just up convert there SD signal to fill the HD channel (Lifetime, WGN, MSNBC, and so on). Why not offer channels that actually produce content in true HD. Examples of this would be The Golf Channel HD, Versue HD, or CBS Sports Channel HD, which I know is in the Columbus market. All three of those channels offer HD programming that are filmed in HD. There is a perfect example of this this past weekend with the Golf Channel. They carried the first two rounds of "The Presidents Cup" exclusively. This was a big time event just like the Ryder Cup last year that was played here in Louisville. Everybody in Insight's markets had to watch this in SD on the digital platform. I know that Comcast owns most of the channels that I am talking about, but you have contracts with them to offer the SD verison of this channels so why not in HD.

Any how, I just wanted to drop you a note and let you know how I was feeling. I just want all of the markets that Insight covers to be equal. Thanks again for your efforts in moving Insight forward, and I look forward to more moves in the future.

Thanks

[Patrick]

I am really happy to see these changes coming. As an engineer, I really appreciate the advances that lead to better use of the spectrum leading to better quality services. I find that digital SD is quite superior to analog and at a fraction of the bandwidth.

I do have to echo the concerns of other posters. I am concerned that the conversion will require all televisions to have set top boxes. I have TVs in my house (eg kitchen) where there is no room for a box. I really hope that this conversion provides more clear QAM stations for those situations. Quite frankly, I find your commercial's claim that many HD channels are provided for free is disingenuous when there is a monthly fee per set top to receive the channels.

[Jeff]

Could not agree more with Patrick about the whole "FREE HD" Most television providers charge about $10 for HD and about $5 for DVR. Insight charges $15 for DVR and says HD is FREE.

Instead of giving FREE HD like you claim, your really just making all your DVR customers purchase HD, and all your HD customers purchase DVR. I have no problem paying for a service, just call it what it is, and don't disguise it as FREE when it's not.

[Steve in Northern KY]

I am very glad to see more HD channels added to the Northern KY area, but the one I want the most is: MLB TV HD. I have asked and asked why Insight doesnt offer it and nobody can give me an answer. The only response I get is " I Don't Know. "

Please add MLB TV HD sooner than later. My parents had MLB TV HD, the moment it went on the air on their cable system.

Thank you for adding more HD channels and keep the process going.

[Steve in Northern KY]

I am very glad to see more HD channels added to the Northern KY area, but the one I want the most is: MLB TV HD. I have asked and asked why Insight doesnt offer it and nobody can give me an answer. The only response I get is " I Don't Know. "

Please add MLB TV HD sooner than later. My parents had MLB TV HD, the moment it went on the air on their cable system.

Thank you for adding more HD channels and keep the process going.

[Tim from Northern Kentucky]

I would love to have the MLB Network added. I am a huge baseball fan and would love to watch some of the programming that they offer. I emailed Insight about this in January when the channel launched, but received no reply.

[MRN]

You wouldn't hear anything from Insight on the MLB Network because they are not part owners in it. It is primarily owned by Major League Baseball. Comcast, DirecTV, Time Warner and Cox Communications have minority ownership of the new network, with MLB retaining a controlling two-thirds share. Insight only carries the NFL Network because of how big a fan Mr. Willner is of the New York Gaints. MLBN is carried in the most households of these four networks, largely because of the financial participation of the cable systems. I would not look for the MLB Network on Insight's lineup anytime soon.

[DM]

To me, this is a signal that Insight recognizes they have a problem with bandwidth constraints, specifically regarding HD channels. One of the reasons that non-cable providers offer so many HD channels is that they are using more efficient video encoding to deliver the video streams to subscribers. This efficiency can also lead to better perceived picture quality.

The growth in HD channels has also influenced providers to become more innovative with their services. Maybe there are business agreements in place that prevent Insight from changing their business model, but the satellite companies began MPEG-4 distribution three years ago and are slowly migrating all of their subscribers to MPEG-4 systems.

I don’t expect Insight Digital 6.0 to be introduced until about this time next year. I think that there could be additional HD channels added in roughly six months (5.1 perhaps?), but it seems to me that Insight has often been slow to add new channels when they become available, especially when compared to the other non-cable providers.

I subscribe to DISH Network for TV service, and I have been very happy with both the picture quality and amount of HD channels that I receive. I switched after I became tired of the customer service issues and seeing a trend of complacency by Insight in regards to improving service. However, I think that Insight will be neither proactive nor reactive towards these issues until they start to see a decline in quarterly revenue and profits, which may be occurring presently.

[Justin Ashley]

i'm in columbus, oh. i'd like to see MTV, Comedy Central and VH1 HD channels added.

[Dave]

I'd love to see FSN South in HD in Northern Kentucky. When will that happen?! Any chance before the UK Basketball Season?

[HD Nuts]

Hmmm... so many words but very little "real" updates and additions :(

[Ryan]

Interesting... I am still glad I switched to Dish Network. I was hoping this announcement would make me want to switch back to Insight, but definitely does not. Evansville is definitely getting screwed on the channels. I have been enjoying Cartoon Network HD, Comedy Central HD & all other channels listed for sometime now. And may I say for the same price with a lot more channels.

It sounded like you were saying the quality of HD would increase which I hope is true. AT&T, Dish, and Direct all blow Insight HD out of the water in terms of Clarity, Crispness, Color, etc.

The only thing I miss is the Cartoon Network VoD that Insight offers, but I can get the same from CartoonNetwork.com

Let me know when Insight offers more channels, better quality and better DVRs.

[TM]

I too am disappointed with the Louisville area's channel selection. I understand bandwidth and all of the other assorted technical layout required for HD, however, the Louisville area getting only 3 new HD channels is very disappointing. Especially when Bowling Green is getting 9. Louisville got Speed Channel HD, which I don't get as I don't subscribe to the sports package, Lifetime, which my wife doesn't even watch, and WGN, which is only good for me when watching Tom Skilling, which I enjoy. 1 out of 3 for me. How were these channels chosen for their respective markets? I don't care about sports, so alot of the offerings available don't mean anything to me. In fact I get fewer HD channels because I don't watch/care about sports. I'm fortunate, however, to have a cable card in my HD set, so I'm only shelling out $2.00 a month versus having a box at $15 a month. I agree with the previous poster on Comedy Central HD, MSNBC HD and Cartoon Network HD. I'd love to watch "Clone Wars" in HD. I'd be pleased as anything to get those 3. It's too bad I live in Shepherdsville, out of AT&T's reach, or I too would've signed up with UVerse at the first opportunity.

[Bill in Louisville]

Wow. Virtually nothing has changed. It looks like this will be the last Insight upgrade I'll be seeing. If this is the best you can do, it's time to leave the business, Mr. Wilner.

[Greg]

Mr. Willner, people want a higher quality HD picture and better HD channel selection for a fair price. Insight is charging a premium for a sub-par product, and many of us are going to be leaving Insight for a different provider.

Are you listening to your customers?

This update is virtually meaningless to me and many others. I will be switching to DirecTV or DISH in the near future.

[Pathfinder]

Congrats Mike, It may be worth while for you to start considering taking the Insight Xperience global...

regards,

[Do it now!]

5 things I'd really love to have.

1)Spike HD
2)Nick HD
3)Cartoon Network HD
4)Remote access to DVR

and increased upload speed without charge!

[Randy Sheppard]

hey i live in louisville,ky i would like to see spike hd cartoonnetwork in hd nick in hdtv comedy central in hdtv