I am currently subscribed to the All-in-one pack (with HD channels). Not sure if that's the correct term, pero basta ung HD package nila. I actually have no choice but to subscribe to them kasi sila lng accredited sa area nmin. They are also offering Cable Internet, but it is way too expensive than SkyBroadband and it offers no discounts on your cable subscription. Anyway, Coming from SkyCable (digital only) and Cignal (HD in my parent's house), I could make a pretty fair comparison. Hope this helps:
PROS:
1. HD Channel quality is on par with Cignal (1080i/720p)
2. HD package is more affordable than Cignal and SkyCable (comparing the high end plans only)
3. Digital channels are DVD quality just like Sky Cable's and Cignal's (Digital/non-HD)
4. Cablebox has PVR function (can record live shows via attaching HDD through USB.SkyCable's iRecord has additional fees)
5. Based from the last major PPV, HD All-in-one subscribers get this free. Cignal and Sky charges additional fees for PPV. Though I wouldn't know if this will apply to future PPVs.
CONS (a lot!!)
1. If you get the all-in-one, Digital and HD channels go through the Cablebox, Analog local and cable channels go directly through coaxial cable, meaning you have to switch sources on the TV everytime you want to watch local channels or HD/digital channels. Therefore, you can't really straight up channel surf, you have to have the two remotes ready for this. BTW, guys, gurus, help, i have a series 7 Samsung and it says in the specs that it is digital tuner ready, does that mean I can get some digital signals working through direct connection? Haven't tried though.
2. Since some of the channels are analog, picture quality is below par. I mean, I can do away with a stretched picture (analog channels converted to digital by Cignal and Sky), but displaying analog channels through a 46 incher looks like crap.
3. EPG function of the box doesn't work. No program guide/schedule. In this function, Cignal's box is the best since you can set the box to switch channels when a particular show you marked starts. Since the EPG doesn't work, it kind of limits the functionalities of the PVR since you can only record live shows, can't schedule recordings.
4. They don't have the best channel lineup. There is a lack of basic digital and HD channels. HBO, CNN, Discovery and Star Movies are analog, there is no ESPN (replaced by Fox Sports I think, which is analog). Actually, all the Analog cable channels really bugs me..
Comparison:
ESPN - Cablelink (none); SkyCable (Digital at least); Cignal (HD)
HBO - Cablelink (analog); SkyCable (Digital at least); Cignal (HD)
Star Movies - Cablelink (analog); SkyCable (Digital at least); Cignal (Digital)
Local Channels - Cablelink (analog); SkyCable and Cignal (digitally converted/upscaled analog)
5. Not so sure about this, based from ads, Fox Movies Premium HD broadcasts in 5.1 Dolby Digital. Now, I wouldn't know for Cignal since it doesn't really say in the channel information that it is outputting 5.1 Dolby surround sound, but comparing HBO HD and Fox Movies Premium HD on Cignal, there is really a significant difference in terms of sound quality, I'm not sure if it's 5.1, but it's better than Stereo (HBO HD). For CableLink, the channel info clearly says, the FMPHD broadcasts in 720p and Stereo only. Not a very big deal though.
To all other subscribers, I have several questions.
1. Are they going all-digital eventually? if yes, when?
2. Will they offer HBO HD, ESPN HD and Food Network HD in the near future? The HD package of Cignal has these channels and the difference in the MSF is just 90 pesos.
3. Will they upgrade their Box firmware so that the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) can work? I mean Cignal's EPG is not perfect, and not all channels are supported, but it still works, unlike CableLink's