Anyone else have trouble with WGN's HD??

[Manny Trillos Brother]

Okay...now usually I am just a lurker here, but I have a question that I haven't seen addressed.

 

We bought a new Philips 1080i HDTV a few months ago, partially to watch Cubs games in HD. So I flip on the Brewers game the other day and the picture looks terrible, almost worse than the regular def. TV we had. I cycled through all the possible settings I can think of and nothing was better than anything else.

 

Now we don't have WGN on the HD tier of our cable system (Cox Cable in Oklahoma City), but the game is advertised as being broadcast in HD where available and the game yesterday on ESPN looks fantastic. Are the WGN games really being broadcast in HD? Am I missing something or do I have a setting off? Am I the only one with this problem?

 

Any info would be appreciated.

[David]

You probably don't have WGN in HD. And if you do, you're not watching the WGN HD channel. But I'd guess it's the former rather than the latter.

[Guest]

Let's start with the basics. Are you hooked up with an HDMI cable?

[abuck1220]

Now we don't have WGN on the HD tier of our cable system

 

then the game is not in HD.

[Electron Blue]

Let's start with the basics. Are you hooked up with an HDMI cable?

 

That's an important question, but I think David already hit on the even more basic question.

 

If WGN-HD isn't in your HD tier, it sounds like the WGN you're watching is just the regular SD broadcast. The fact that it says "In Hi-def where available" unfortunately sounds like it doesn't apply in your case -- it's probably referring to those areas where the separate WGN-HD channel is available.

[David]

Let's start with the basics. Are you hooked up with an HDMI cable?

 

That's an important question, but I think David already hit on the even more basic question.

 

If WGN-HD isn't in your HD tier, it sounds like the WGN you're watching is just the regular SD broadcast. The fact that it says "In Hi-def where available" unfortunately sounds like it doesn't apply in your case -- it's probably referring to those areas where the separate WGN-HD channel is available.

 

 

I thought B was joking, but who knows. :)

[Guest]

Let's start with the basics. Are you hooked up with an HDMI cable?

 

That's an important question, but I think David already hit on the even more basic question.

 

If WGN-HD isn't in your HD tier, it sounds like the WGN you're watching is just the regular SD broadcast. The fact that it says "In Hi-def where available" unfortunately sounds like it doesn't apply in your case -- it's probably referring to those areas where the separate WGN-HD channel is available.

 

 

I thought B was joking, but who knows. :)

 

Actually, I wasn't. Before I got an HDMI cable, I had some channels come in better than others.

[jersey cubs fan]

You aren't watching it in HD. On directv I get regular WGN although the logo says I'm watching Cubs baseball in HD on WGN. It's not. It's absolutely much worse than any normal non-HD channel. It's like going back to rabbit ears practically.

 

Bottom line, yes, I have trouble with WGN's HD, because I don't get it. And neither do you.

[David]

Let's start with the basics. Are you hooked up with an HDMI cable?

 

That's an important question, but I think David already hit on the even more basic question.

 

If WGN-HD isn't in your HD tier, it sounds like the WGN you're watching is just the regular SD broadcast. The fact that it says "In Hi-def where available" unfortunately sounds like it doesn't apply in your case -- it's probably referring to those areas where the separate WGN-HD channel is available.

 

 

I thought B was joking, but who knows. :)

 

Actually, I wasn't. Before I got an HDMI cable, I had some channels come in better than others.

 

 

Ah. Figured you were just poking fun at the typical Best Buy/electronics store employees. My bad.

 

As long as you're using an HD connection (like HDMI or component), it shouldn't make too much of a difference. There isn't a significant difference, if any, between the two. The main difference is the convenience of having a digital audio signal tossed in with the video on HDMI instead of having to use a separate audio connection. I'd have to know a lot more about your setup to know why HDMI might've happened to have made a difference but it could've been a lot of things.

 

Much more likely that he's just not watching an HD channel given the fact that he said he had a beautiful picture with ESPN.

[Manny Trillos Brother]

You aren't watching it in HD. On directv I get regular WGN although the logo says I'm watching Cubs baseball in HD on WGN. It's not. It's absolutely much worse than any normal non-HD channel. It's like going back to rabbit ears practically.

 

Bottom line, yes, I have trouble with WGN's HD, because I don't get it. And neither do you.

 

Okay...that's the deal and that blows, and yes all appropriate HDMI cables, etc. are connected.

[kujay]

We've discussed this (or at least I have) in another thread, I think. Apparently Directv and various other cable providers don't see fit to pay to broadcast WGNA-HD. And since the sports and the news are about the only thing they show in HD, I guess it makes sense.

[Soul]

You aren't watching it in HD. On directv I get regular WGN although the logo says I'm watching Cubs baseball in HD on WGN. It's not. It's absolutely much worse than any normal non-HD channel. It's like going back to rabbit ears practically.

 

Bottom line, yes, I have trouble with WGN's HD, because I don't get it. And neither do you.

 

Okay...that's the deal and that blows, and yes all appropriate HDMI cables, etc. are connected.

 

Many providers aren't picking up WGN HD because outside of a couple hours of Cubs games, the channel makes it night impossible to justify being added. It really is the worst TV station the planet has ever produced. The vast majority of the time, watching paint dry is preferrable to what is being shown on WGN.

 

So, you aren't getting WGN HD, and you have whoever the idiots are that run that station to blame.

 

Oh, and I'm not getting it either.

[fromthestretch]

You aren't watching it in HD. On directv I get regular WGN although the logo says I'm watching Cubs baseball in HD on WGN. It's not. It's absolutely much worse than any normal non-HD channel. It's like going back to rabbit ears practically.

 

Bottom line, yes, I have trouble with WGN's HD, because I don't get it. And neither do you.

 

Okay...that's the deal and that blows, and yes all appropriate HDMI cables, etc. are connected.

 

Many providers aren't picking up WGN HD because outside of a couple hours of Cubs games, the channel makes it night impossible to justify being added. It really is the worst TV station the planet has ever produced. The vast majority of the time, watching paint dry is preferrable to what is being shown on WGN.

 

So, you aren't getting WGN HD, and you have whoever the idiots are that run that station to blame.

 

Oh, and I'm not getting it either.

 

They recently added it to Verizon Fios. However, if I want it, I have to pay extra for it. They give me USA, TBS, and TNT in HD at no extra cost, but if I want FX or WGN in HD (or ESPN News and MLB Network for that matter), I have to pay extra.

[Guest]

Let's start with the basics. Are you hooked up with an HDMI cable?

 

That's an important question, but I think David already hit on the even more basic question.

 

If WGN-HD isn't in your HD tier, it sounds like the WGN you're watching is just the regular SD broadcast. The fact that it says "In Hi-def where available" unfortunately sounds like it doesn't apply in your case -- it's probably referring to those areas where the separate WGN-HD channel is available.

 

 

I thought B was joking, but who knows. :)

 

Actually, I wasn't. Before I got an HDMI cable, I had some channels come in better than others.

 

 

Ah. Figured you were just poking fun at the typical Best Buy/electronics store employees. My bad.

 

As long as you're using an HD connection (like HDMI or component), it shouldn't make too much of a difference. There isn't a significant difference, if any, between the two. The main difference is the convenience of having a digital audio signal tossed in with the video on HDMI instead of having to use a separate audio connection. I'd have to know a lot more about your setup to know why HDMI might've happened to have made a difference but it could've been a lot of things.

 

Much more likely that he's just not watching an HD channel given the fact that he said he had a beautiful picture with ESPN.

 

I thought I got ripped off from the person I bought the tv from until I hooked up with HDMI. It was that big of a difference. Maybe the other connection was bad, but on a scale of 1-100 my tv went from about a 25 to a 100 in signal quality.

[CarolinaCubFan]

On Dish, I've got WGN, Comcast - Chicago and St. Louis in HD. They just added local networks to HD this past week. Love it, but I don't get MLB TV.

[satxcubfan]

Watching WGN in SD stretched out on an HDTV is like watching a game through a dirty windshield!

[NCCubFan]

Since I get Extra Innings I'd be happy if they just moved all the games to CSN and did away with WGN America altogether.

[XZero771679666304]

Watching WGN in SD stretched out on an HDTV is like watching a game through a dirty windshield!

 

Yeah, it really looks like crap. To the point where I consider watching the other team's HD feed on EI.

[NCCubFan]

Watching WGN in SD stretched out on an HDTV is like watching a game through a dirty windshield!

 

Yeah, it really looks like crap. To the point where I consider watching the other team's HD feed on EI.

For home games I might start doing that with the volume off and listen to Pat and Ron on XM.

[Guest]

What really doesn't make any sense is that we are now living in the 21st century, give us quality programming and quality pictures for cryin' out loud.

 

People have invested thousands and thousands of dollars to view spectacular tv. What do we get? Crap!

 

Don't get me started with WGN or WGN America, not that I really know the difference between the two. One showed crap between Cub games. The other shows crap between Cub games.

 

WGN would be doing themselves a favor if they just went off the air between Cub games.

[Soul]

Watching WGN in SD stretched out on an HDTV is like watching a game through a dirty windshield!

 

Yeah, it really looks like crap. To the point where I consider watching the other team's HD feed on EI.

 

I do that. If you have a DVR, you should be able to delay your video just enough to sync it up with Pat & Ron on the radio.

 

It's kind of sad that people who love the Cubs must resort to tuning into, say, the Pittsburgh broadcast just to get acceptable video of their team.

[David]

It must be terribly sad for the fans of almost every other team (does TBS still do Braves games nationally or did they phase that out completely with their new package?) that don't have a national station broadcasting a bunch of their games, then. ;)

[CubColtPacer]

It must be terribly sad for the fans of almost every other team (does TBS still do Braves games nationally or did they phase that out completely with their new package?) that don't have a national station broadcasting a bunch of their games, then. ;)

 

TBS does not do Braves games nationally anymore.

 

WGN is still one of the best things going and there's still a lot of people that depend on it. And when you don't have any other channels to watch the games besides the 5-6 national games, you better believe that WGN's picture looks just fine. I've never heard somebody complain about WGN's picture that didn't have CSN, and that's including a bunch of people with huge HD packages.

 

I've got CSN now which I'm very thankful for. But I couldn't imagine WGN going away because all the people in my area who are Cubs fans wouldn't really be fans anymore because they could never watch the team. I would trade being able to chat with them over a little better of a picture any day. It's not like WGN is broadcasting in 60's quality anyway.

[Soul]

It must be terribly sad for the fans of almost every other team (does TBS still do Braves games nationally or did they phase that out completely with their new package?) that don't have a national station broadcasting a bunch of their games, then. ;)

 

TBS does not do Braves games nationally anymore.

 

WGN is still one of the best things going and there's still a lot of people that depend on it. And when you don't have any other channels to watch the games besides the 5-6 national games, you better believe that WGN's picture looks just fine. I've never heard somebody complain about WGN's picture that didn't have CSN, and that's including a bunch of people with huge HD packages.

 

I've got CSN now which I'm very thankful for. But I couldn't imagine WGN going away because all the people in my area who are Cubs fans wouldn't really be fans anymore because they could never watch the team. I would trade being able to chat with them over a little better of a picture any day. It's not like WGN is broadcasting in 60's quality anyway.

 

It's not really the Cub broadcasts that are the problem anyway. It's the fact that they offer nothing else outside the sports broadcasts, which causes providers to turn up their nose at adding the channel. Providers don't see the need to add WGN HD because the value of the station is incredibly low. Compare that to TBS HD, TNT HD -- all added universally a long time ago. There's a reason for that. That's what my complaint is. Shape up the station, make it at least a little attractive to be added to the HD tiers.

[Guest]

It must be terribly sad for the fans of almost every other team (does TBS still do Braves games nationally or did they phase that out completely with their new package?) that don't have a national station broadcasting a bunch of their games, then. ;)

 

TBS does not do Braves games nationally anymore.

 

WGN is still one of the best things going and there's still a lot of people that depend on it. And when you don't have any other channels to watch the games besides the 5-6 national games, you better believe that WGN's picture looks just fine. I've never heard somebody complain about WGN's picture that didn't have CSN, and that's including a bunch of people with huge HD packages.

 

I've got CSN now which I'm very thankful for. But I couldn't imagine WGN going away because all the people in my area who are Cubs fans wouldn't really be fans anymore because they could never watch the team. I would trade being able to chat with them over a little better of a picture any day. It's not like WGN is broadcasting in 60's quality anyway.

 

It's not really the Cub broadcasts that are the problem anyway. It's the fact that they offer nothing else outside the sports broadcasts, which causes providers to turn up their nose at adding the channel. Providers don't see the need to add WGN HD because the value of the station is incredibly low. Compare that to TBS HD, TNT HD -- all added universally a long time ago. There's a reason for that. That's what my complaint is. Shape up the station, make it at least a little attractive to be added to the HD tiers.

 

Exactly. You have to offer up something more than Xena and Home Improvement. Otherwise, the station will become extinct. In many people's eyes that aren't Cub fans, that station already is extinct.

 

I'm a channel jumper by nature. I'll watch what I find to be interesting and in decent picture quality. Which basically means that I never even look to see what's on WGN anymore, because I don't venture outside of the HD listings.

 

On my tv, HD channels are 700-799. WGN is channel 26. I have no reason to tune into channel 26, except for Cub games.