Coming up at 11AM PST (2PM EST)...

Two Min Warning Til The Start Of The Show Just Announced Over The Pa

Michael Douglas was just announced and is giving his opening statement. He is proud to be a investor of XStreamHD.

He says XStreamHD will change the way consumers will watch movies, tv, and games. By watching in fullHD (1080p), its the closest you will get to what you see in the movie theater.

George Gonzales (sp?) is now introducing the products, which include:

HD Media Server

and

HD receiver

The way the system works will be that content will be pushed (streamed) to the consumer STB. They will have access to the trailers, promos, of particular movies. The consumer then selects the movies that are interesting to them. They can also pick categories that interest them.

There are no channels or schedules, the movies that you select are stored on the hard drive on the media server.

The server is DLNA certified 1.5 and is compatible with other DLNA clients. IE. Pioneer Plasma Elite tv, bluray players, and PS3.

XStreamHD announced yesterday partnerships with DTS and Seagate. This is the first system available that can present the consumer with DTS master audio.

The media server can stream 4 fullHD streams to various clients on your home network.

Content is delivered to the STB via satellite. It uses existing Ku satellite capacity.

The home media server can also download material from the internet using the consumer's broadband connection. This could be used older titles or less popular movies.

The movies will be streamed over satellite at whatever time the studio will allow it. At that point, you can then watch it from the media server.

Media server also has 3 OTA tuners, and record 3 channels at once. Recordings are stored in your personal library on the hard drive.

XStreamHD has a feature called "Adaptive Recording" which will automatically record the entire sports event or special event even if runs over its scheduled end time.

Q&A now

Q: What type of deals do you have with studios and what type of lead time on the release dates?

A: No studio contracts at this time. Particulars will be released during the year as contracts are signed. Release dates of movies will depend on the studios.

Q: Is this a subscription service or PPV?

A: Hybrid model between the two. Driven based on the contract between XHD and the studio. Charge will not be incurred until the consumer wants to watch the movie.

Okay, the conference is over, sorry we had Internet issues inside the room.

My comments on this service is that it looks like a great idea, but until they announce contracts with the major studios, it is just a concept.

I enjoyed the conference and think they have some GREAT ideas and product developed.

There are some challenges - and big ones- that they face:

Have to install gigabit ethenet, a sat dish, and have huge storeage needs.
Content providers will be tough and will take time to negotiate.
Did I mention how much space is needed for a 1080p movie with full 7 channel audio? Alot!

I think it is a great concept, but will have a very hard time starting up without significant studio backing. When it does, it will be for early adopters, and will be expensive.

People aren't going to want to set up another satellite for ppv movies. This thing seems destined for failure.

Hot CES Dish rumor .
Dish HD pack $10/mo = All HD channels in your Package teirs
Example Top 100 / Top 200 / Top 250
Dish HD $20/mo (no $15 package) = voom / hd net / hd net movies / universal hd
New HD only Pack $29.99 = All HD except prem movies (no other pack required) add locals $5/mo.
Also New option to take only the four HD prem movie channels 1 HBO 1 Showtime 1 starz 1 cinemax for $10/mo. More info to come.

Hot CES Dish rumor .
Dish HD pack $10/mo = All HD channels in your Package teirs
Example Top 100 / Top 200 / Top 250
Dish HD $20/mo (no $15 package) = voom / hd net / hd net movies / universal hd
New HD only Pack $29.99 = All HD except prem movies (no other pack required) add locals $5/mo.
Also New option to take only the four HD prem movie channels 1 HBO 1 Showtime 1 starz 1 cinemax for $10/mo. More info to come.

Almost exactly what I have predicted or "hoped" yet I was repeatedly told no it could not be done, you can't have just the HD versions of HBO/SHO/Starz/Cinemax.

Thanks for the news. So for $45/mo. you can get ALL the HD's on E*, including all movies and HD locals, not bad a deal to start on the right direction. For this to really rock however, E* must add all the available HD versions of cable channels ASAP to make this package truely grab the attention.

This really demonstrates Charlie's negotiation skills, first free Cinemax deal, then HD only premium channels, what he is lacking is the ability to add new HD channels:)

Ok finally got working Internet Again.

The Sprint Network was having some issues so here are are some pictures from the press conference.

i would consider switching to this if the fee was a monthly fee like a block buster or netflix.. even at 30-40, maybe even 50 bux a month.. I would put this in my house connected to all my tvs... 3 ota tuners w/ recording would be great.. plus movies I dont have to wait to come on like hbo, starz, shotime, cinamax..

:p
Hot CES Dish rumor .
Dish HD pack $10/mo = All HD channels in your Package teirs
Example Top 100 / Top 200 / Top 250
Dish HD $20/mo (no $15 package) = voom / hd net / hd net movies / universal hd
New HD only Pack $29.99 = All HD except prem movies (no other pack required) add locals $5/mo.
Also New option to take only the four HD prem movie channels 1 HBO 1 Showtime 1 starz 1 cinemax for $10/mo. More info to come.

I've got a picture of the new HD packages in the Dish Booth Photos thread:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/1182294-post90.html

Something we may have overlooked posting. The press kit showed they are pricing the hardware at $399.

They will not have anything available until October 2008 at the Earliest.

Much is contigent on content providers - especially cost, and model (PPV or monthly or hybrid).

One more picture - front of the box.

Is this thing through a satellite dish? I'm getting more and more confused.

dish to box.. box to network.. network to tvs.. basically :)

I figured they would have to drop the price to $10 eventually and state that the consumer would get all HD versions of their current package for a $10 HD access fee, whatever they may call it. Basically a fee to access their channels that they receive now in HD (or the different HD version) for $10.

I can see a future service offering different movies and games available on demand from satellite and I imagine Dish Network and DirecTv will want to jump on that. What they offer now is just a small offering but the future of television / content is by having everything on demand.

The only thing is that D** offers all HD excluding premium for $10? What gives?

I'm not sure what to make from Stargazer's post there either?

Perhaps two posts merged?

what Ku satellite are they using to deliver the signal to the home

The only thing is that D** offers all HD excluding premium for $10? What gives?

First off there are two subjects in this thread, one is about a Dish Network rumor that is off the subject of this thread title.

It basically says Dish is considering a $29.99 ALL HD package, equivalent to their standard Family pack and AT packs. On top of that with the new ALL HD pack you can add $10 to receive the HD versions of all premium movies channels, and $5 to add your local HD channels where available.

If D* is to have a similar package, it means if you pay $30, you get ALL D* HD channels (no SD channels) and in this case since D* has a lot more HD channels to cover most interests, such package would make more sense because I can easily see people signing on to that one for cost savings.

With Dish’s current HD lineup, a lot of families will not be able to use this deal because for example the kids will have nothing to watch, not a bad thing in principle J but still not going to work.

Something we may have overlooked posting. The press kit showed they are pricing the hardware at $399.

They will not have anything available until October 2008 at the Earliest.

Much is contigent on content providers - especially cost, and model (PPV or monthly or hybrid).

One more picture - front of the box.

I'm sorry I' m so late in joining the conversation.

They haven't made clear where they are going to be beaming this down from. Caribbean and Continental North America (Contiguous US + Canada) is not an answer.

Secondly, I don't see it mentioned -- but Michael Douglas announced he was an investor in the corporation. Is this a new form of venture capital?

Best,

Personally I think this venture's prospect is even dimmer than VOOM but that is just me.

At least VOOM had most of the regular SD nets in addition to their HD offering. This system seems to be limited to movie enthusiasts. Now if they purchase their satellite bandwidth from one of the incumbent operators (Dish or DirecTV) then they may have something, since there would be no additional dish required if you already have that service. Not sure how well it will go, since they are basically competing with Netflix and Vudu. Granted, downloading is the HD medium of the future. How many boxes are consumers going to want to connect to their TV sets? If it can also play and upconvert DVDs then it may have a future.

I think it's an ugly looking piece of crap. And as for content...that's the king here. I don't see how we get away with anything but a $10.00 one or two time movie showing after download.

I think everyone is seeing this all wrong. I don't think they intend this to be just a mechanism for movie distrubution. I'm thinking their contracts will expand beyond movies. If they get Universal, they get SciFi, USA, NBC, etc etc..... So now I can watch SGA, BSG, Monk, Heroes, etc in 1080p/7.1 and on demand. Eliminates the need for DISH, Netflix, my 722, my TiVo series3, my media extender, my HD-DVD/Blu-Ray players, etc etc.

I think this type of setup really is the future of content distribution -- a single server in the home that gets content (semi) on-demand from both broadband and satellite, and then distributes it to set top boxes throughout the home. With DNLA, we won't even need an STB anymore -- just a TV that supports the standard.

They'll have competition. I'm sure Charlie's wheels are already turning.

This is amazing stuff. If it dies a painful death, it will be because of the studios/networks. I hope they're not too far ahead of their time. If they secure the content, I'll be first in line.

Regardless, I think the concept of broadcasting and DVRing (as we do it today) will be dead someday. Automated content distribution and on-demand viewing is the way things will go.

I think everyone is seeing this all wrong. I don't think they intend this to be just a mechanism for movie distrubution. I'm thinking their contracts will expand beyond movies. If they get Universal, they get SciFi, USA, NBC, etc etc..... So now I can watch SGA, BSG, Monk, Heroes, etc in 1080p/7.1 and on demand. Eliminates the need for DISH, Netflix, my 722, my TiVo series3, my media extender, my HD-DVD/Blu-Ray players, etc etc.

I think this type of setup really is the future of content distribution -- a single server in the home that gets content (semi) on-demand from both broadband and satellite, and then distributes it to set top boxes throughout the home. With DNLA, we won't even need an STB anymore -- just a TV that supports the standard.

They'll have competition. I'm sure Charlie's wheels are already turning.

This is amazing stuff. If it dies a painful death, it will be because of the studios/networks. I hope they're not too far ahead of their time. If they secure the content, I'll be first in line.

Regardless, I think the concept of broadcasting and DVRing (as we do it today) will be dead someday. Automated content distribution and on-demand viewing is the way things will go.

This is what I'm getting out of the press conference also!:up

Mattopia -- you are right on -- this is the end of TV as we know it. If you think about it, the vast majority of content is prerecorded, and can therefore be downloaded and stored on a huge server in the home. Xstream has added 3 OTA tuners because you still want to be able to watch some live TV (i.e. sports and news) from the networks. XStream also has some patents that allow them to efficiently download 1080p/7.1 content from the sky. If they can get content then this will be a combined Netflix/TV provider at the same time -- very big concept if it can be pulled off.

Ergen should buy the company and incorporate the service into his line.

I agree, this could be the future of TV. My kids might very well be interested in something like this - like when they are adults. I don't see myself or my wife watching TV in this way, unless they have some kind of serial playback feature. If I want to have the thing play 4 shows back to back for my 3 year old then it should do it. I don't want to be forced to choose something from a massive menu every time I want to watch a show. I may never find anything to watch! Part of the current TV viewing experience is serendipity; tuning across a show by chance that looks interesting. That would be lost with a device like this.

They have no plans to ever offer "channels" such as ESPN, MTV.

Its a movie download service, thats it. (And a damn good one too if it ever becomes reality)

GoalieBob got a half hour interview with the CES of XStreamHD yesterday, and he will post it when he gets home from Las Vegas this weekend. :)

I doubt that they are expecting people to give up on traditional TV at this point. Something like this fills the HD space that BluRay and HD-DVD are trying to occupy. It really should be able to play standard DVDs, so that consumers can eliminate another box from the rack. Or have a giant hard drive that can store your current collection of DVDs. Wait, that's what your PC is for! :D

It basically says Dish is considering a $29.99 ALL HD package, equivalent to their standard Family pack and AT packs. On top of that with the new ALL HD pack you can add $10 to receive the HD versions of all premium movies channels, and $5 to add your local HD channels where available.

Sounds perfect for someone like me who doesn't watch SD (except BBC America and occasionally the news channels), doesn't have kids, and doesn't give a rats a** about sports!

Heck, I'd pay *more* than $45 a month for all the HD if it also included the locals off the Satellite (currently only OTA in my area) plus any new HD channels being added in 2008.

Since I currently pay for AT200 + HD + premiums this would be a huge cost savings! After DVR fee and taxes I'd probably save $40+ per month!

Probably still profitable for E* because they wouldn't be having to pay fees for all those channels I don't watch.

CDH.

I want to know if I have NHL Center Ice will I still get the NHL Network on channel 559 during the off-season??? I do not want to pay $10 just to get Universal HD and HDNet movies when I don't want any of the Voom networks. I would prefer to use that $10 and get the 4 premiums in HD instead. I think that is awsome, I never watch the multifeeds of the premiums cause they are only in SD anyways!

I don't mind this being a movie only service.. I would drop dish like a hot potato if this services is what I want.. which is a simple download service aka netflix/blockbuster via sat.. with the ability to record 3 OTA channels at the same time.. I'm so there.. I dont even mind paying 15 maybe 20 bux for a movie that's still at the movies.. the cost HAS to be low.. can't be 100 bux a month.. wont get any attention that way..