Retailer Chat Recap - July 10, 2008

[cforrest]

Have they announced this?

My understanding was that D11 will mostly be for locals...

Scott, didn't you mention this at one point?

Satelliteracer just announced that Universal HD will be in MPEG 4 as well as HD NET Movies, 2 HD-lite channels in the HD Extra Pack, by the end of this month. D10 is maxed for capacity, which would mean D11 will be moved into place in the next few weeks and turned on.

[d777jj]

These are the only two charges on my account (minus taxes):

DISH NETWORK DVR SERVICEFEE 5.98
DISHHD ABSOLUTE WITH LOCALS 34.99

Total before tax = $40.97

Thank you

[dmendenjr]

I counted 41, not counting the HD premiums, HD lil, HD RSN and PPV.

Currently: 41
TNT
ESPN
ESPN2
A&E
SCI-FI
HISTORY
DISCOVERY
USA
CNN
TLC
HDNET
HGTV
FOOD
HD THEATER
TBS
MHD
WEATHER
TRAVEL
CNBC
DISNEY
ABC FAM
ESPNEWS
CARTOON
ANIMAL PLANET
NFL NET
BRAVO
TOON DISNEY
WGN AMERICA
TENNIS
BIO
HALLMARK MOVIE
GOLF/VS
SCIENCE
NAT GEO
UNIVERSAL
MGM HD
WFN
NHL
HDNET MOVIES
SMITHSONIAN
NBA

Coming 8/1: 45
PLANET GREEN
CBS COLLEGE SPORTS
LIFETIME
LIFETIME MOVIES

I am going out on a limb and going to assume that the HD Only Turbo Packs won't have the 7 Ultimate Channels.

[danknapp76]

Satelliteracer just announced that Universal HD will be in MPEG 4 as well as HD NET Movies, 2 HD-lite channels in the HD Extra Pack, by the end of this month. D10 is maxed for capacity, which would mean D11 will be moved into place in the next few weeks and turned on.

Yep, I guess the only question is...turned on for what? Locals? National? Both? I've seen some assumptions but nothing more...

[rad]

Yep, I guess the only question is...turned on for what? Locals? National? Both? I've seen some assumptions but nothing more...

A quick look at the DirecTV web site turns up
The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - DIRECTV Satellite Launch Sets the Stage for Delivery of Up to 150 National HD Channels

which says:

"EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Mar 20, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- A powerful, new DIRECTV satellite, launched successfully today from the Pacific Ocean-based Sea Launch platform, will further boost DIRECTV's HD capacity, enabling the industry's HD leader to deliver up to 150 national HD channels when the satellite goes into service this fall. With the additional capacity, DIRECTV will also expand its delivery of local HD channels to more than 100 markets, representing 84 percent of U.S. TV households.

DIRECTV will launch another satellite in 2009 that will enable the nation's leading satellite TV service to offer consumers up to 200 national HD channels.

...

The DIRECTV 11 satellite's powerful spot beam transponders will also begin delivery of local HD channels to new markets across the U.S., expanding the number of markets where DIRECTV offers local HD broadcast networks to more than 100 by the end of 2008. DIRECTV now offers its customers an industry-leading 92 national HD channels and provides local HD broadcast channels in 77 cities, representing approximately 76 percent of U.S. TV households. "

Does that clear up the assumptions that others have stated?

[atlind01]

Currently: 41
TNT
ESPN
ESPN2
A&E
SCI-FI
HISTORY
DISCOVERY
USA
CNN
TLC
HDNET
HGTV
FOOD
HD THEATER
TBS
MHD
WEATHER
TRAVEL
CNBC
DISNEY
ABC FAM
ESPNEWS
CARTOON
ANIMAL PLANET
NFL NET
BRAVO
TOON DISNEY
WGN AMERICA
TENNIS
BIO
HALLMARK MOVIE
GOLF/VS
SCIENCE
NAT GEO
UNIVERSAL
MGM HD
WFN
NHL
HDNET MOVIES
SMITHSONIAN
NBA

Coming 8/1: 45
PLANET GREEN
CBS COLLEGE SPORTS
LIFETIME
LIFETIME MOVIES

I am going out on a limb and going to assume that the HD Only Turbo Packs won't have the 7 Ultimate Channels.

You mean, Smithsonian, HDNET, WFN, UNIVERSAL, MGM, HDNET MOVIES & HD THEATER?
That doesn't make sense, which tier will have those 7 ultimate channel, remember most of them are purely HD only channel, the only other possibility is that they go the Voom way disappear all together

It seems silly but Dish is again and again proving they don't do a professional job, I think at the end of the day we are going to have 45 channels, they just didn't thought thru this while preparing the slides. We have regularly seen mistakes when it comes to slides, web site posting etc and this is again one of those cases.

[atlind01]

You mean, Smithsonian, HDNET, WFN, UNIVERSAL, MGM, HDNET MOVIES & HD THEATER?
That doesn't make sense, which tier will have those 7 ultimate channel, remember most of them are purely HD only channel, the only other possibility is that they go the Voom way disappear all together

It seems silly but Dish is again and again proving they don't do a professional job, I think at the end of the day we are going to have 45 channels, they just didn't thought thru this while preparing the slides. We have regularly seen mistakes when it comes to slides, web site posting etc and this is again one of those cases.

Oh Oh, I just read the press release and they are going to charge additional $10 to get the 7 ultimate channels and it is called "TURBO PLATINUM"

[HDRoberts]

What a load of crap. So, essentially, (pending further details), us HD Absolute customers on a budget got (1) a big price increase just to maintain service, more if we want the new stuff, and (2) most of Dish's remaining bandwidth being taken up by premiums, meaning we will probably see very few mainstream channels added in the next couple years. How much space will be left for new offerings after these 17? What plans does Dish have to add bandwidth for all subs (as Ciel-2 will only help those at 129)?

Seriously, this makes me want to cancel in favor of Directv far more than the Voom debacle. Dish has nearly evaporated their price advantage while at the same time mortgaged their future on channels only a minority subscribe to.

[jwestpfahl]

Currently: 41
TNT
ESPN
ESPN2
A&E
SCI-FI
HISTORY
DISCOVERY
USA
CNN
TLC
HDNET
HGTV
FOOD
HD THEATER
TBS
MHD
WEATHER
TRAVEL
CNBC
DISNEY
ABC FAM
ESPNEWS
CARTOON
ANIMAL PLANET
NFL NET
BRAVO
TOON DISNEY
WGN AMERICA
TENNIS
BIO
HALLMARK MOVIE
GOLF/VS
SCIENCE
NAT GEO
UNIVERSAL
MGM HD
WFN
NHL
HDNET MOVIES
SMITHSONIAN
NBA

Coming 8/1: 45
PLANET GREEN
CBS COLLEGE SPORTS
LIFETIME
LIFETIME MOVIES

I am going out on a limb and going to assume that the HD Only Turbo Packs won't have the 7 Ultimate Channels.

Wasn't NBA TV dropped by D* this month from their HD packages because now you need to subscribe to NBA League Pass to get it? If so, then E* might be dropping it as well. That leaves you at the 40 channels for Gold. Seems like someone didn't add the new channels to the count.

[rad]

Wasn't NBA TV dropped by D* this month from their HD packages because now you need to subscribe to NBA League Pass to get it?

You don't need NBA LP to get NBA, just the Sports Package addon or Premier package along with the HD Access charge.