DISH Network Charges Forward With Another Round of National HD Channel Launches

**NightRyder** · 05-12-2008 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by Cameron3395

I thought a couple of months back they said they were going to offer a HD Movie pack where it's just the HD versions of the premium channels for $10 a month?

No that was some posters wish or misunderstanding - The premiums would never allow such a package.

NightRyder

**mntwister** · 05-12-2008 06:20 PM

I knew if I waited and didn't rush out to Directv Dish would deliver, just some patience is all it took. I love their service, I love their dvr and I love my external hard drives, THANKS DISH you are awesome. Now the only thing left is locals in HD for Duluth, MN but it was on the map as coming soon.

**mntwister** · 05-12-2008 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by Cameron3395

I thought a couple of months back they said they were going to offer a HD Movie pack where it's just the HD versions of the premium channels for $10 a month?

Now I would really get into that. In order to get HBO, Cinemax and Starz HD you need to get all the other standard def channels in those catagories and I never watch them, sorry I don't watch pan and scanned films. I would love to be able to just buy the HD versions.

**M Sparks** · 05-12-2008 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by kstuart

( BIO-HD looks like the only turkey so far - A&E-HD is the worst HD channel ever - did we need a second A&E ? )

You forget Cartoon Network. Those are the only 2 stretching on the new channels.

I've actually seen SOME things in HD on A&E, but I can't imagine Cartoon Network will have anything.

BUT...there's some good news! It APPEARS that CN is just stretched evenly, not "stretch-o-vision". I am watching on a 4:3 monitor in my office that is fed from the s-vid on my 622...and it looks perfectly normal! No distortion. Can anyone confirm that Cartoon Network doesn't suffer from the usual S-O-V fate of Turner HD channels? Could it be that they are listening?

Regarding the 300 level channels...looks like 360-369 will be general interest, 370-379 educational, 380-389 movies, 390-399 sports. I wonder if this is a jab at Voom, as they are now the ONLY HD channels that are only available in the 9000s.

(Forgive me if this has been covered...I'm not going to read all 18 pages, just the last few.)

**M Sparks** · 05-12-2008 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by mntwister

I would love to be able to just buy the HD versions.

But it would cost the same. What's the point?

Do people really still not understand how premium multiplexes work? The providers pay for a certain window to show programming. I'm sure there are exceptions, but generally, they can show something as many times as they want in the window. The multiplexes were started as a way to make their service seem more valuable. Rather than pay $11 for one channel, you got 2 or 3. (or 7 or 8 nowadays.) But the programming was the same.

Encore is the only service that charges separately for every channel. The only thing keeping DISH from adding the extra premium channels (1 HBO, 4 Cinemax, 3 Showtime) is bandwidth and economics. They've kind of reached a point where adding more SD Premium channels isn't going to attract more people as much as other, more exclusive channels. But more HD might...which is why we now have 3 for Cinemax. But those HD channels don't cost them any money, just bandwidth.

That's like the 10th time I've posted that.

**Lkr** · 05-12-2008 06:59 PM

anyone else not getting TWC and CNBC?

**M Sparks** · 05-12-2008 07:03 PM

So what happened to Mojo, The Movie Channel, WGN, and the two Showtime channels? Didn't make the cut, I guess.

**Thwockage** · 05-12-2008 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by M Sparks

You forget Cartoon Network. Those are the only 2 stretching on the new channels.

I've actually seen SOME things in HD on A&E, but I can't imagine Cartoon Network will have anything.

I beg to differ... remember that this fall "The Clone Wars" premieres on Cartoon Network and will showcase what HD is all about... by adding ToonHD, Dish just made the right move to ensure they keep my business (in conjunction w/adding SciFi HD)...

**M Sparks** · 05-12-2008 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Thwockage

I beg to differ... remember that this fall "The Clone Wars" premieres on Cartoon Network and will showcase what HD is all about...

Gee...how could I have forgotten?

(I don't know what that is/means, but anything that makes people happy is good.)

**EricBskiVT** · 05-12-2008 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by Lkr

anyone else not getting TWC and CNBC?

I'm not getting Bravo, ESNEWS, Disney E, TDisney among others. I was getting pixelation and freezes on one of the new Cinemax channels. All are on 61.5 and showing signal strength from 15 to 24. I've rebooted and done a check switch, but no change. I guess it's time to call tech support.