Recent content by graphiteRT

Dog with a bone sure fits. Did you notice the 10k says approximately? Care to address that one Mr. Spin Doctor? Did you notice that when D* quotes HD subs in their CC that they use nice round figures of 500k HD subs and 25k HD Tivo subscribers? You think those numbers are spot on or just...

What? Who said anything about "trying to save HDTV"? I for one don't think the HDTV exclusive marketing approach has worked. The FCC statement makes it clear they want more competition in the space and not less. Don't know where you get your 5 million figure, but if you've worked up a...

Name calling? It's a joke, son, a joke! Do you have ZERO sense of humor? Justalurker isn't an appropriate nick because you don't just lurk, so I made a joke about your avatar. Lighten up already or maybe just change the avatar? Perhaps you don't have thick enough skin to be partaking in...

A casual side note, the 1500 channels that D* keeps harping on are nationwide. It's not like a single customer will have access to that many channels on his STB. Hughes is shifting satellite usage away from broadband data and over to video. Those satellites were planned to go up anyway. The...

I'm not dodging any questions. Let's call it "the agreement" if that makes you happier. LOA or definitive is not the point. We obviously disagree on what a transitionary period is. Let's see if the SEC and FCC do, since those are the opinions that count. I say it looks bad if you show up to...

The DVRs are not yet in beta according to Wilt H. There was also a rumor posted about problems with downloading updates via satellite. That's rather ominous if you're trying to deploy boxes that most certainly will need bug fixes along the way. It remains to be seen if and when the DVR rolls...

Wrong. I suggested that Dolan can show three viable satellite companies. There are two seperate but related issues. 1)Dolan can show the possibility of three viable DBS providers, something which CVC seems intent on killing. Who commands a more sympathetic ear with the gov't who's watching out...

Which part is difficult to understand JL? If they shut the Voom service before the deal is even approved, they haven't exactly "continued to provide service to its current customers during a transition period". Technically they are not holding to the terms of the agreement. My question is...

Isn't 157 in hibernation? I was reading a bit where Telsat is opening up their sats to US companies. Not sure all the impliations of that. The biggest problem is Voom has an installed based with Dishes already pointed to R1. A significant changeover requiring a realignment would be disasterous.

I'm not discussing who is bound by what. I'm talking about the potential decisions, the required government agency approvals and how consumer protection will play into it. Who's to say the DOJ doesn't jump in the middle at some point? Get off the "poor me" bit. Details are fine, if they are...

It's simple math of reducing 3 competitors to 2. Forget the confusing details. Forget the financials. It hurts the consumer's choices in the marketplace. If Chuck Dolan makes it clear that 3 can remain operating, you have a tough sell for CVC to force the issue to 2. Which gov't agency...

I've asked this before. The LOA with Echostar for the satellite and uplink facility sale also contained the provision that customers would be supported through a transitionary period. Is a total shutdown a violation of that contract now? Any legally versed types want to take a stab at that...

Here's a link to an old article by the American Anitrust Institute on the old D*/E* merger proposal: http://www.antitrustinstitute.org/recent2/213.cfm It has a few interesting tidbits within, including the cost estimate at the time of $2 Billion for a new entrant to the DBS space. With...

I beg to differ JL. Part of the FCC's job is to act in the best interest of the taxpayers. Technically we own those airwaves. Promoting competition is one of those ways to act on our behalf. The DOJ and the FCC acting on behalf of Congress made it clear by shooting down the D*/E* merger that...

Just to add to Bradley's excellent comments; I've never liked the way Voom markets itself with a slant toward HD exclusivity. Change that to full service DBS with a heavy HD slant. HD has not reached critical mass and you're limiting your potential customer base with that marketing approach...