Dish HD Channel Moves Coming...

[Islandguy43]

I fully believe, with DirecTV already being the exclusive satellite provider of MLB EI and NFL ST, most mega sports fans who buy these out of market packs are already at DirecTV.

Wrong! There are many of us who have stayed at E* for the superior NHL CI Package. However, the problem some of us are facing is that Ergen won't make a deal with Cablevision to get us the MSG Product Famly in HD, and leaves fans of the Buffalo Sabres, NY Rangers, NY Islanders and NJ Devils, SOL when it comes to watching their team in HD. So like stated before, if they don't add these others in HD, some of us will be jumping to other services to get them, and it my case it won't be over to D* but TWC, because of the sweet deal they are willing give me with no committments attached.

[crimpshrine]

Wrong! There are many of us who have stayed at E* for the superior NHL CI Package. However, the problem some of us are facing is that Ergen won't make a deal with Cablevision to get us the MSG Product Famly in HD, and leaves fans of the Buffalo Sabres, NY Rangers, NY Islanders and NJ Devils, SOL when it comes to watching their team in HD. So like stated before, if they don't add these others in HD, some of us will be jumping to other services to get them, and it my case it won't be over to D* but TWC, because of the sweet deal they are willing give me with no committments attached.

How many games does TWC show in HD on the NHL CI package? I'm curious if they show as many as D* or E*?

[espaeth]

They have already killed MLB EI. I wish I could find numbers on the percent of Dish subs that actually sub to these multi-sport packs. I personally believe 95% of subs would be perfectly satisfied with just THEIR local RSNs in full time HD.

Making all of the RSNs a HD feed is the easiest way to make sure everybody gets their favorite games in HD. There are several reasons that have been discussed about why MLB EI was out for Dish -- the leaders being the cost of carrying the package and the lack of agreements with channels like YES to actually show all of the games.

In the case of Center Ice, Dish has carriage agreements with all of the necessary providers to show all games, including CBC and Rogers Sportsnet feeds from Canada (albeit in crappy standard def only) based on their relationship with Bell.

I fully believe, with DirecTV already being the exclusive satellite provider of MLB EI and NFL ST, most mega sports fans who buy these out of market packs are already at DirecTV.

D* has MLB and the NFL locked up -- no question about that. For die hard MLB and NFL fans, that is certainly the service they are going to subscribe to.

Not every fan becomes a huge follower of every sport. I know quite a few folks like myself that will dig in to Center Ice and watch a ridiculous number of hours of hockey in the frozen months in northern states, and yet get by just fine with just local RSN / local channel coverage of other sports like baseball / football.

In the case of Center Ice, Dish has had an advantage the last few years in that they got access to Canadian feeds from CBC and Rogers Sportsnet (albeit dismal standard def feeds) due to the business relationship that Dish has with Bell. For NHL fans, Dish really has had the better service offering over D* up until maybe last year.

However, the problem some of us are facing is that Ergen won't make a deal with Cablevision to get us the MSG Product Famly in HD, and leaves fans of the Buffalo Sabres, NY Rangers, NY Islanders and NJ Devils, SOL when it comes to watching their team in HD. So like stated before, if they don't add these others in HD, some of us will be jumping to other services to get them, and it my case it won't be over to D* but TWC, because of the sweet deal they are willing give me with no committments attached.

MSG is a whole different issue.

CableVision is owned by the Dolans. The NY Rangers are owned by the Dolans. MSG is a channel developed by CableVision -- so they're trying to lock fans of their team to subscribing to their cable service if they want to see games in HD.

Even though D* does carry MSG in HD, they can only broadcast it within the NYC area and it has been yanked for distribution with Center Ice. See: http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-...t-disupte.html

It's interesting to note that Verizon is currently petitioning the FCC because CableVision refuses to sell MSG-HD access to Verizon at any price, and to be successful with FiOS TV deployments in NYC they're going to need to carry that channel. See:
Verizon | Verizon Petitions FCC to Rule on Cablevision's Refusal to Make MSG Channels Available in HD

[DishSubLA]

Not rumored.... that's already here and has been. Look at EA. MPEG4 SD and HD on the same transponder.

Or there is a rather unique one... MPEG4 HD and MPEG2 SD on the same transponder. SatelliteGuys.US - Subscription 129°W

The only SD STB's that have 8PSK capability are the 311 and 322, but I am not certain about the 522 and 625. Everything above those (in model generations) are ViP.

[DishSubLA]

Yep, Thats the main issue why Im not with dish today! Still love the company, but if they cant fill my needs then I obviously have gone elsewhere. Its like sex.. If you cant get that lovin feeling, then obvously your going to get it elsewhere !

I don't blame you. If more people voted with their feet (at least those not in a commitment) instead posting really long and nasty rants, it would go a lot further is making Dish get moving on some issues. Complaining and even ranting is fine, but it is those who do it over and over are so completely unhappy and miserable, yet still choose to stay with Dish even though they could leave without penalty. If any company make one that unhappy, then go to the competition. Otherwise, it is obviously serving one sufficiently.

[navychop]

I'm still curious how these channels are going to look packing all that into one transponder. Not mention how are they going to look on 77 since 77 doesn't run 8PSK, their transponders are 30 megabit instead of 40.

I thought these satellites were "bent pipes" and would transmit whatever was sent up to them?

[satjay]

There has been alot of talk recently that some of the satellite moves could be for full time RSN's. Do those who are looking at uplinks and technical things like that really think it could be?? That would be nice for sportspack for upcoming college football and of course local games in HD all the time when shown in HD

[tigerfan33]

There has been alot of talk recently that some of the satellite moves could be for full time RSN's. Do those who are looking at uplinks and technical things like that really think it could be?? That would be nice for sportspack for upcoming college football and of course local games in HD all the time when shown in HD

They are making room for a good amount of national hd channels. Could be more premiums but the HOPE is fulltime rsn hd.

[Islandguy43]

How many games does TWC show in HD on the NHL CI package? I'm curious if they show as many as D* or E*?

Currently I believe they only have one dedicated channel on NHL CI for HD. But the real reason for switching would be to get the Sabres games in HD on MSG-Buffalo, which right now on Dish is only in SD. There would still be plenty of other games in HD on VS-HD, NBC and NHL Network with their HNIC feed on Sat nights.

[HDRoberts]

Wrong! There are many of us who have stayed at E* for the superior NHL CI Package.

Care to prove it? I'd love to see someone show the actual numbers of customers that sub to Center Ice and League Pass in HD.

This is an enthusiast board. Finding a couple of you does not prove your point. I still bet 95% of subs care only about their local RSNs.