Dish Network on HDTV

Is it true that you can pick up a few HDTV channels on Dish Network without
signing up for their HDTV as long as you have a HDTV tuner on your TV?

I thought I read somewhere that newer TV's can pick up a few on standard
digital channels.

If not, is their bronze package worth it? I don't watch a lot of TV.

TIA

"Roller" wrote:
Is it true that you can pick up a few HDTV channels on Dish Network
without signing up for their HDTV as long as you have a HDTV tuner on
your TV?

I thought I read somewhere that newer TV's can pick up a few on standard
digital channels.

If not, is their bronze package worth it? I don't watch a lot of TV.

TIA

No, it's no true.

Chip

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Roller wrote:
Is it true that you can pick up a few HDTV channels on Dish Network
without signing up for their HDTV as long as you have a HDTV tuner on
your TV?
I thought I read somewhere that newer TV's can pick up a few on
standard digital channels.

This would apply to cable TV, not satellite. Some HDTVs have QAM tuners
that can tune digital cable TV channels. The cable companies are supposed
to provide the local channels "in the clear" meaning not-scrambled. AFAIK
there are no free channels coming from DirecTV or Dish Network.

You can put up your own antenna and receive the local channels digitally.
If you live within 20 miles or so of the transmitters, rabbit ears would
probably work well enough.

If not, is their bronze package worth it? I don't watch a lot of TV.

TIA

Anthony Fremont wrote:
Roller wrote:
Is it true that you can pick up a few HDTV channels on Dish Network
without signing up for their HDTV as long as you have a HDTV tuner on
your TV?
I thought I read somewhere that newer TV's can pick up a few on
standard digital channels.

This would apply to cable TV, not satellite. Some HDTVs have QAM tuners
that can tune digital cable TV channels. The cable companies are supposed
to provide the local channels "in the clear" meaning not-scrambled. AFAIK
there are no free channels coming from DirecTV or Dish Network.

You can put up your own antenna and receive the local channels digitally.
If you live within 20 miles or so of the transmitters, rabbit ears would
probably work well enough.
....

I think the O.P.'s confusion comes from the fact that at some time and
in some markets, satelite TV didn't carry the local channels, and some
dishes actually had an OTA antenna attached to them. Now when every
station is broadcasting a digital OTA signal (and the more significant
are broadcasting HDTV), and most large, new TVs have an ATSC signal...
You get the picture. Pun intended.

Dan (Woj...)