...and then there was HD...sort of

The MCTV (Barbados) High Definition (HD) receiver

So without any research I believe the award for the longest delay in offering High Definition television channels to its cable TV lineup would be given right here in Barbados. Just about last month, MCTV in Barbados started offering High Definition channels. With the announcement of HDTV channels, I was obviously excited, having had to get my HD fix via HD-DVD, Blu-Ray, YouTube and other online sources. The opportunity to be able to watch my favourite sporting event, drama or comedy show in crisp, clear, glorious high definition was alluring. In fact the thought was magical. I have watched HD cable before while on vacation in the United States and Canada but being able to watch it here in my living room in Barbados...nice. That was until I realized what they were offering.

I must admit I was never a fan of our cable provider MCTV but that is too long a story for this blog. But a quick summary, MCTV has always had a history of receiver boxes not working properly (the remote does not respond to button presses, basically the box sticks, no programme data etc...) and that long tradition continues with the new HD box.

In addition, as can be seen their website....yeah...you get the point. If they don't put effort into their website how can you expect them to put effort into anything else. Of course there may be reasons why MCTV has the issues they have but again too long of a story for this blog. So then upon reflection it really did come as no surprise when I found out their HDTV offering was a "whopping" four (4) channels...yes...4 channels. To make it even more depressing only 2 of them sounded worthwhile to have in HD and then for the reality check only 1 of those 2 is actually in HD. The channels are CTV Toronto HD, Justice Central HD, FightNow HD and WGN HD. Now WGN HD is not actually in HD, which leaves CTV HD as the only real choice. One can only imagine what MCTV management was thinking when they thought to add Justice Central HD and FightNow HD. If those two channels were part of a 20 or 30 channel HD package then it may be more understandable but with a small offering of 4 channels MCTV offers Justice Central and FightNow HD? Not really the best channel choices with such a limited HD offering.

I should add that sometimes NBC Sports and CBS are in HD or near HD. Obviously MCTV's offering is way to small for the year 2013...and to think they are offering this when a new cable provider has entered the Barbados marketplace. So for MCTV's sake they better improve. For years they had the luxury of having the best channel package in Barbados but the new entrant into the Barbados cable TV market is offering more channels and more importantly more channels in HD. More on that new provider tomorrow.

And to be honest, MCTV's paltry HD offering is a pity, because the picture quality of CTV HD is really quite good. Hopefully management at MCTV will improve the HD product offerings soon...in fact it is in their own best interest.