All depends on how you want to view what is the "package"....

The HD Access is $9.99; but what channels you get ties directly to your BASE packages.
So if you only get FAMILY CHOICE, that $9.99 only gets you about 10-15 of the HD channels.

If you have the Premier package, that $9.99 gets you access to all 85ish HD channels (minus the HD Extra Package).

The HD Extra Package for the $4.99 gives you access to the additional channels, regardless of what base package you have.

So to get "everything" that is available in HD... $99 + $14.99 = $113.99

And even that doesn't include all the extended sports packages (like Sunday Ticket, NHL, ect)

Also a point of clarrification. Per the information I have gotten

If you have ONLY MPEG-2 based HD equipment (aka not a single piece of MPEG-4 based equipment on your account), you will be grandfathered into the HD Extra Pack.

However, if you have at least 1 piece of MPEG-4 equipment, you will have to optionally signup for the HD Extra Pack.

Dario -

When in the GUIDE: Highlight the channel number. Hit INFO.
It will give you a list of all the programs for just the one channel.

Similar (not the same) as the TiVo List style guide

Ethan...

They are just not flagged as HD in the guide.

Both Flash Gordon and Stargate:Atlantis first runs were in HD this past Friday.

Also some of the repeats from during the week (of other shows aired else where) were offered in HD.

Already have DirecTV...

And yes, I do know the reported amounts that the Big Ten is asking for:

Here is what it calculates to:

For COMCAST:
Basing it off a 22,000,000 subscriber base, 5,000,000 in the 8 Big Ten States:

If the $0.10/$1.10 is the correct price:
17,000,000 X .10 = $1,700,000
5,000,000 x 1.10 = $5,500,00
$7,200,000 per month
~ $0.32 per subscriber per month

If other reports are correct, and it is only $0.75 per sub in the 8 states...
0.23 per subscriber per month... that is not even $0.01 per day

----------

Dish Network:
It comes out to about:
$0.28 per month/per subscriber for AT100
$0.19 per month/per subscriber for AT200

See this thread for the calculation estimates, and basis:
http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=1067809&postcount=344

"Crappy" to who?
There are a lot of Alumni, that are not "fair-weather" fans... that still want to watch the school they love. And that is going to be fantastic, as even though I am in Chicago... I only got 2 or 3 Illinois games last year... now... I can watch all of them.

As for the rest of the year....
You do realize there is a basketball season right? And the Big-Ten is pretty good? and the national coverage is usually only during the weekend (With regards to ESPN).

Then you have several sports that are going to be carried... "Olympic" style sports, the Hockey, Tennis, Volleyball.... This isn't the BTN - Football network...

Also... with DirecTV... it is expected that the "HD" channels, will be the same as SD channel number.
The HR20/H20 will first select the HD version of the channel (when available)... (you can access the SD version via the guide, or using channel up once you tune to the HD).

On non-MPEG4 systems, you will be directly tuned (and only have access to), the SD channel

For DirecTV: Channel 220 is the base channel, then the few channels up and down from it are the overflow channels... (Note: For this week the Illinois game is on ESPN2... so be sure to check your Big Ten School's schedule, to see if it is on BTN or being carried by one of the other national carriers).

On DirecTV
As for HD... It will not be available in HD for at least the first weekend, and probably the second.
If all published "estimates" are correct (see the FCC filings), that new SAT should be in place the first week of September...

So..... Hopefully by week 3.

And yes, you will need the new dish and an MPEG-4 compatible HD receiver (HR20 or H20)

Folks: This is NOT a DVR... this is a non-dvr HD receiver (hence the lack of an "R" in it's model number). In line with the H20 not the HR20.

Where does it state on WeakNess website, that they are just sending you an eSATA enclosure and instructions on how to hook it up?

If that is the case, then it is even more of highway robbery... as the prices are seriously inflated just to give you an eSATA enclosure with drive.

As for concerns of violating your LEASE and your Warranty...
Even if WeakNess sells it to you, the unit is still under the LEASE agreements with DirecTV... not Weakness.

It would be a real shocker if you want to leave DirecTV at a later time, and upon returning your modified unit, you find out that you now have to purchase it (at the higher $800) because you violated the LEASE agreement, by the unit being opened.

As for the warranty... fantastic if WeakNess is going to give you a warranty on it, but what is going to happen when the warranty is up?