Charlie Chat Recap 3-09-09

**jdmacor** · 03-10-2009 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by mike123abc

It is all part of the negotiation tactics different companies use. It appears that if Dish saves money they will let a contract end before allowing it to be renegotiated to allow a new channel to be added. Dish probably has a great rate on Speed and FX right now, and would have to come up to current rates if they want to add the HD version. So, Dish would rather not add the HD versions that only 10-15% of their customers receive rather than raising the rate on all the SD customers. And yes this is about Dish profits not saving the customer money I am well aware of the arguments that Dish prices are not cheaper than others.

Just out of curiosity, where did you get that 10-15% figure from? The US as a whole shows a 25% HD penetration rate (this encompasses people with an HDTV and an HDTV source). Is Dish Network that far below the US rate, because that would be troubling. It shows poor performance on their part.

**dfergie** · 03-10-2009 12:47 PM

I'm working on some screen caps from the upcoming channels... I will post in post #2 so they will be easy to find...(give me about an hour)

**HDRoberts** · 03-10-2009 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by jdmacor

Just out of curiosity, where did you get that 10-15% figure from? The US as a whole shows a 25% HD penetration rate (this encompasses people with an HDTV and an HDTV source). Is Dish Network that far below the US rate, because that would be troubling. It shows poor performance on their part.

Where do you get your information? Last survey I saw, something like 61% of HDTV owners didn't have an HD source.

Even if we say 25% of customers are HD, that means there are 3 SD customers to every one HD customer. Still a big majority.

**jerryez** · 03-10-2009 12:57 PM

MY inlaws have a LCD HD tv and cannot tell the difference between their Cox Cable HD locals and the SD locals. LCD tvs are pretty clear pictures, but I can tell a lot of difference between HD and SD tv even on their tv.

**jdmacor** · 03-10-2009 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by HDRoberts

Where do you get your information? Last survey I saw, something like 61% of HDTV owners didn't have an HD source.

Even if we say 25% of customers are HD, that means there are 3 SD customers to every one HD customer. Still a big majority.

I got that number from
Nielsen

. This is what the article says in regards to that number:

Nielsen’s estimates are based on a field staff review that identified TV sets capable of receiving and displaying high definition pictures, as well as those that are actually receiving those signals.

It is a little ambiguous. The first time I read it, I interpreted it the way I said it, but I can't be sure. However, the
Leichtman Research Group

said about 35% of households have an HDTV. Of those, about 60% have an HD source hooked up to it. That results in about 21%, which is pretty close to the Nielsen number I quoted.

Now, if it is 20-25%, that is very significant. This is not some tiny minority (like people who watch that Fishing channel

). Additionally, the momentum is an increase in HD subscribers, and not the other way around. In July of 2007, that Nielsen number was only 10%.

**AdamJonny** · 03-10-2009 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by jwgreen68

I think someone mentioned Platinum.

The only one that was confirmed was BET Jazz in the Platinum HD package.

Originally Posted by neljtorres

Yeah April Fool's Day!

I was thinking the same thing!

**Laddyboy** · 03-10-2009 01:10 PM

HDTV penetration was around 13% in 2007, was nearly 25% in Fall of 2008, and I suspect higher now. Those numbers are Nielson numbers via Google.

Only 13% Of US Households Have HDTV; Nielsen Releases HDTV Household Estimates

Almost Quarter Of Households Get HDTV | Benton Foundation

**nmoulton** · 03-10-2009 01:11 PM

A Nielsen article, dated Dec 11, 2008 says 23.3% of households own at least 1 HDTV set.

Another article, in betanews, dated April 24, 2008 tells of studies by ABI and Magid that show among HDTV ownwers, only 56% or 70% (respectively) have access to HD programming.

Let's take the middle ground and assume 63% of HDTV owners have HD programming.

63% of 25% = 16%.

Meaning the actual percent of US households that watch HD programs is only 16%.

**jdmacor** · 03-10-2009 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by nmoulton

A Nielsen article, dated Dec 11, 2008 says 23.3% of households own at least 1 HDTV set.

Another article, in betanews, dated April 24, 2008 tells of studies by ABI and Magid that show among HDTV ownwers, only 56% or 70% (respectively) have access to HD programming.

Let's take the middle ground and assume 63% of HDTV owners have HD programming.

63% of 25% = 16%.

Meaning the actual percent of US households that watch HD programs is only 16%.

First of all, are you sure that Nielsen number doesn't already account for the access to HD programming? The nielsen article I cited above suggested that it did. Additionally, I also showed another source that came up with a 21% figure (including HDTV and HD access).

Realistically, these numbers may be way off. They are based on a sample of 1-2 thousand participants, that are supposed to be representative. And who knows what their confidence interval was...

**urizen65** · 03-10-2009 01:25 PM

last night i saw a graphic containing a logo for G4hd, but just as it came up my wife changed the channel. what was it in reference to? I don't see the graphic in the chat wrap up.