Is it the interface that's much better? Better DVR and Guide? I notice that in the Sports package there are a number of FSN channels available from different regions. Does that mean that we can watch local broadcasts of NBA games on all those channels, or will they be blacked out? That would certainly make up for the lack of NBA TV and League Pass.
I didn't choose the DVR option but I believe that is an additional $5/ month. It comes with all your basic and HD channels, i.e. ESPN HD, Discovery, Food Network, Comedy Central, CNN & all your local channels. Also got HBO & Stars free for 3 months and Cinemax free for a year for doing auto-billpay. There is a $50 rebate off your first bill as well. If you don't choose the 2 yr commitment, there's a $99 receiver fee but I think that's about it. Nothing up front or for installation and your first bill covers 2 months, minus the rebate ($60-50). I didn't choose to have Embarq because I wasn't sure it was in my area so I couldn't tell you about any bundle.
They are blacked out, although one of Utah's pre-season games slipped through the cracks and was available in Houston.
They regional FSN channels are blacked out. YOu only get what is local to you . At least that's the way it is in my case. I really like the guide though. I particularly like the fact you can watch the recorded shows from any box in the house. Also i enjoy the channel browsing preview wherey ou can still watch the channel but browse with a small window through other channels so it doesn't cover up the current channel with a big guide. That's probably my favorite.
Interface and features. The program guide is far slicker and nicer looking. It has PIP so you can preview while flipping through channels without leaving the current one you're watching. DVR is awesome, and you can watch from any TV in the house. You can even stop watching a recorded show in your living room, go to your room and resume where you left off. That's tight. And then they have some of these little niceties like viewing online photo albums and a customizable "U-bar".
So that's what I wondering. With U400, the NBA games on other regional channels are still blacked out? I would assume so, but if not that would be pretty sweet.
I have the U400 with the sports package and the NBA games are still blacked out. It's really only good for college sports.
