Since I learned about this thing called high definition, I have dreamed for the day that our household would finally be able to have access to this wonderful-wonderful world where everything is crystal clear, every detail is on point, and letterboxes are nothing but a thing of the past (only to be replaced by pillarboxes). Today, we finally made that dream come true.
Our cable operator has had HD available to its subscribers for years now but it’s only until recently that I considered convincing my family to have our existing digital cable box upgraded to something that maximises our HDTV’s full potential in terms of picture quality. But to do that, I have to do a ton of research into what I’m getting myself into.
First off, I snagged a copy of a brochure containing our cable company’s line-up of channels, both in standard and high definition, their availability in either format, line-up packs as well as their respective rates per channel. Afterwards, I called their customer service hotline at different times to learn more and further confirm about their HD service.
Originally, I was kinda hoping I could be able to avail our household of a DVR (digital video recorder) that comes with the HD upgrade so that we may be able to record shows that we may have missed. But unfortunately, that additional feature is not available in our area so yeah…That was quite the setback.
In the end, I did went through with it ONCE I’ve learned less than a week ago that one of the local TV networks have finally launched its own HD channel that is now available to all subscribers of our cable operator. That alone is reason enough to push through with availing that HD upgrade even though we will only get to have just two free channels in high definition after getting to preview every other HD channel there is available for a limited one-week period.
The new remote and the control panel from the HD digital box will take a little getting used to although, by the looks of it, I may not be able to pillarbox any SD channel anytime soon.
The local HD channel, ABS-CBN HD, currently has a limited number of shows currently in high definition, majority of which are all of their daily soap operas, plus one live variety show, a few recent cartoons and live action series.
Hopefully in the near future, we’ll be able to afford more channels into our current cable package as it seems like my dad is enjoying the heck out of our preview high definition channels. Of course, I guess I may have to give my fair share of subsidising our monthly cable bill to make it all worth it.
As the saying goes, “To pretty colors, and high definition!”
