DishNetwork Uplink Activity Report - 5/22/2008 4:09pm - 49 changes

[Oblong Desoto]

No matter how many HD channels Dish adds this month or DirecTV adds next, there are a finite number of national HD sources out there. Like DodgerKing said, these two companies will play leapfrog until there is nothing else to add... and they will run out of truly worthwhile channels long before that anyway.

I switched from DirecTV to Dish this month because they had the HD channels I watch most, plus a far superior DVR. Sure I'd like to have FX HD and a couple of others that D* has, but I'd rather have them recorded in SD on my ViP instead of blank recordings like our friends using HR2x's sometimes get.

If the grass looks greener on the other side, it might be spray-painted but dead underneath.

-OD

 

[jacmyoung]

It is possible that few or none of the new National HD channels will be in the "HD-Only" package.

Why?

Because if they are the HBO and Cinemax HD simulcasts, then they will not be in the HD-Only package (you would need to subscribe to HBO and/or Cinemax). If E* only adds the same channels they currently have in SD, then there would be 9 of those added. Two Showtime HD channels are uplinked, that would make 11 (and there are 7 other Showtime that would be SD only), and there are 6 Starz that are currently SD only.

So there are 24 Premium Movie channels currently in SD that could be added in HD (if they are available in HD) that would require Premium Channel subscriptions, and another dozen HBO/Cinemax that will be available in HD that E* does not carry in SD yet.

So, it is unclear how many "HD-Only Package" channels would be added.

I agree, though I think they will balance the new additions to keep most people happy. Keep in mind what really nailed DISH in Q1/07 was the lack of the new national "free" HDs, and the $30 HD pack is what DISH needs to get back in the game, so this pack will likely continue to get the attention it deserves. Besides, other than the FOX owned HDs, there aren't too many non-premium HDs out there to add.

 

[jacmyoung]

... plus a far superior DVR. Sure I'd like to have FX HD and a couple of others that D* has, but I'd rather have them recorded in SD on my ViP instead of blank recordings like our friends using HR2x's sometimes get. ...

I don't know I have 4 HR21s from D*, have yet experienced any blank recording, in fact a bit less resets were needed compared to when I had two 622s with E*. My HR21's are now finally all networked together, with remote booking, HD VOD download, and next is to add media share to connect to my PCs. I don't think the 722s are that far yet.

But I agree for a meat and potato HDDVR, no one beats E*. They were so much easier to navigate. While the EHD was nice, it was not as useful for me as it for some others. It would be nice by the time I add one 722 back a lot more new features will be installed.

 

[DodgerKing]

I don't know I have 4 HR21s from D*, have yet experienced any blank recording, in fact a bit less resets were needed compared to when I had two 622s with E*. My HR21's are now finally all networked together, with remote booking, HD VOD download, and next is to add media share to connect to my PCs. I don't think the 722s are that far yet.

But I agree for a meat and potato HDDVR, no one beats E*. They were so much easier to navigate. While the EHD was nice, it was not as useful for me as it for some others. It would be nice by the time I add one 722 back a lot more new features will be installed.

Just out of curiosity, besides the fact that the Dish DVR's can record 3 things at once (Direct only 2) with the OTA tuner, what actually makes them "far" superior. Direct DVR's can be networked to a PC (mine is networked to my PC) and other DVR's. Can Dish's do the same? Direct's DVR's can record 2 OTA channels at once. Can Dish's do the same? I have had my HR20 for over a year and have never had a problem with it.

 

[Oblong Desoto]

I don't know I have 4 HR21s from D*, have yet experienced any blank recording, in fact a bit less resets were needed compared to when I had two 622s with E*. My HR21's are now finally all networked together, with remote booking, HD VOD download, and next is to add media share to connect to my PCs. I don't think the 722s are that far yet.

But I agree for a meat and potato HDDVR, no one beats E*. They were so much easier to navigate. While the EHD was nice, it was not as useful for me as it for some others. It would be nice by the time I add one 722 back a lot more new features will be installed.

Glad to hear you've had good luck with your HR21's. I simply could not go without dual live buffers. It would be cool if the 722s could take better advantage of network connectivity though.

 

[Chris_R]

What will the PQ of these new channels be like?

While I'm very happy to see Dish finally getting aggressive at adding more national HD channels, I'm surprised to see that no one seems concerned about the massive amount of compression that certainly will have to be used to get an additional 20+ channels launched. According to the uplink report, 7 HD channels per transponder? I have both D* and Dish, and have done A/B comparisions of various channels and D* by far has the sharpest image with the least pixelation, particularly with the premium movie channels and action scenes. Some channels that are more "static" like CNN, Weather, etc., don't show so much of a difference. Last year before I scaled back on my Dish package, Starz HD was really washed out...picture loss was obvious (at least to me).

So why did I stick with them? Best of both worlds; you can't beat the 622 for a DVR and OTA tuner (plus they have our RSN and local HD nets); D* had the channels I wanted long before Dish, and at a much higher image quality.

 

[Rey]

we are really going off topic here but i guess there is nothing else to talk on the uplinks today

 

[Oblong Desoto]

Just out of curiosity, besides the fact that the Dish DVR's can record 3 things at once (Direct only 2) with the OTA tuner, what actually makes them "far" superior. Direct DVR's can be networked to a PC (mine is networked to my PC) and other DVR's. Can Dish's do the same? Direct's DVR's can record 2 OTA channels at once. Can Dish's do the same? I have had my HR20 for over a year and have never had a problem with it.

Guess I opened a can of worms here! When I said far superior, I was speaking from the point of view of how I use a DVR. If features like networking are more important to you, then your opinion will definitely be different.

Sorry for the unintentional hijack.

My bad!

 

[DodgerKing]

While I'm very happy to see Dish finally getting aggressive at adding more national HD channels, I'm surprised to see that no one seems concerned about the massive amount of compression that certainly will have to be used to get an additional 20+ channels launched. According to the uplink report, 7 HD channels per transponder? I have both D* and Dish, and have done A/B comparisions of various channels and D* by far has the sharpest image with the least pixelation, particularly with the premium movie channels and action scenes. Some channels that are more "static" like CNN, Weather, etc., don't show so much of a difference. Last year before I scaled back on my Dish package, Starz HD was really washed out...picture loss was obvious (at least to me).

So why did I stick with them? Best of both worlds; you can't beat the 622 for a DVR and OTA tuner (plus they have our RSN and local HD nets); D* had the channels I wanted long before Dish, and at a much higher image quality.

If you are from NoCal, Direct had your HD RSN long before Dish (I am assuming you have CSNBA HD?)

 

[kstuart]

While I'm very happy to see Dish finally getting aggressive at adding more national HD channels, I'm surprised to see that no one seems concerned about the massive amount of compression that certainly will have to be used to get an additional 20+ channels launched.

What planet have you been on for the past two weeks ?

Dish removed 15 HD channels from the system, these channels use the vacated space, plus 5 HD channels space that became available when E* decided to use 72.5 instead of 61.5 for mirroring 110/119 content.

 

[DodgerKing]

Guess I opened a can of worms here! When I said far superior, I was speaking from the point of view of how I use a DVR. If features like networking are more important to you, then your opinion will definitely be different.

Sorry for the unintentional hijack.

My bad!

Off topic, but not a hijack imo. Not trying to argue or convince anyone different. Each one has features the other doesn't and that is actually a good thing. I always read about how Dish's DVR's are much superior (not just from you) and I am just curious as to why that is so. Is it just regurgitated internet information, or is there something about them that really stands out?

 

[M Sparks]

20 not on e* challenge:

Viacom - 5 (ish) CMT, MTV, VH1, Nick, Spike, (BET?)
Fox - 5 (yeah righ) Speed, fX, Fox Business, Fox News, fuse (or is it fuel - can never remember)
Tribune - 1 WGN
Rainbow (yeah right) - 2 AMC Ifc
Discovery - 1 (that launches in June or July) Planet Green
Outdoor Channel - 1
Lifetime (another yeah right) - 2 - Lifetime and Lifetime Movie
Mojo - 1
QVC
Wealth TV

Planet Green is a rebrand of Discovery Home, so it will go up in SD for sure. But there is supposedly going to be an HD feed.

I believe there is ONLY a Lifetime Movies in HD, not a standard Lifetime. I might be wrong.

It's Fuel, not Fuse.

I would expect to see more premiums in this batch, since they did the Cinemax channels (which you'd think would be last). They already uplinked Sho-W, Sho-2, and TMC in the last uplink. Scott said something about the technical problem that was messing up 5 Star Max was preventing the launch of the HBO suite. And DirecTV already has 4 Starz HD.

I bet we see at least one new HD in each package, maybe 2. Which would take care of your "Yeah rights".

I really want IFC though

 

[M Sparks]

What planet have you been on for the past two weeks ?

Dish removed 15 HD channels from the system, these channels use the vacated space, plus 5 HD channels space that became available when E* decided to use 72.5 instead of 61.5 for mirroring 110/119 content.

Plus, they already had 5 other channels uplinked BEFORE taking down Voom.

Does that 61.5 space count since they can't do the same at 129?

 

[jacmyoung]

Plus, they already had 5 other channels uplinked BEFORE taking down Voom.

Does that 61.5 space count since they can't do the same at 129?

Dose that mean taking down VOOM was exactly what was needed to add 20 other HDs?

I had been saying this to the VOOMers they did not believe me.

 

[Rey]

Off topic, but not a hijack imo. Not trying to argue or convince anyone different. Each one has features the other doesn't and that is actually a good thing. I always read about how Dish's DVR's are much superior (not just from you) and I am just curious as to why that is so. Is it just regurgitated internet information, or is there something about them that really stands out?

you would have to own one to know. even though i decided to not jump to D i did once have D with a HR20 and i wasn't pleased. after a few months i canceled the service and stayed with E. you would have to try a vip series hd dvr to understand. besides that the HR series is still better than the cable co dvr's. E right now has something new in the works that will blow all of us out of the water. let's see by the end of the year and the start of the next what happens. i will be the 1st one in line to get the new tech. i've had my vip 622 since early 2006 and it's been flawless.

 

[dmendenjr]

Planet Green is a rebrand of Discovery Home, so it will go up in SD for sure. But there is supposedly going to be an HD feed.

"Discovery has announced the lineup that will mark the launch of its latest channel Planet Green, set to debut June 4. Complete with HD simulcast, 50 million homes will greet the launch (it replaces Discovery Home Channel) of more than 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming." Source.

I believe there is ONLY a Lifetime Movies in HD, not a standard Lifetime. I might be wrong.

"Lifetime Networks has launched its second HDTV service, Lifetime Television HD, joining sister channel Lifetime Movie Network HD, which bowed last year, officials said Wednesday." Source.

'course none of that really relates directly to the report, but hey bored at work on a friday night... why not?

And I agree, we can hope that Rainbow won't hold VOOM against e* and allow for AMC and ifc.... hey, stranger things have happened.

 

[socalpanman]

With Dish's track record, it would seem very probable they will wait a few more weeks, then add things like WealthTV, RFDin HD, and comparable stations. Immediately announce the new number and an hour later yank off the Premium Movie channel HD versions to make room for more "quality" channels.

Remember loosing the last satellite didn't affect their rollout plans----right?
I'm now very concerned what staying on track means.

 

[smoeke]

Off topic, but not a hijack imo. Not trying to argue or convince anyone different. Each one has features the other doesn't and that is actually a good thing. I always read about how Dish's DVR's are much superior (not just from you) and I am just curious as to why that is so. Is it just regurgitated internet information, or is there something about them that really stands out?

i think it comes from the ability to record 3 tuners at once (all can be HD), plus play back another one on tv 1 in Hd and also play another show sd or hd converted to sd on tv2,plus if you choose to,can also be transferring an hd show onto the external harddrive

thats six operations which can be in bandwidth intensive Hd if you choose and yet have a dvr that can rip through menus/on screen guides as fast as can be.

the 622/722 just plain have power in most peoples opinion to do a ton of Shi@ with out a hiccup.

i dont know how D* new dvr's are,but i know 1-2 years ago they sucked arse,and the VIP's gained attention for superiority,maybe now the gap is close,but it takes time for the public perception to catch up.

 

[vegassatellite]

Adding premiums in HD will attract customers who spend a lot each month on TV. There's a term that defines the value of the average subscriber and DISH really needs that figure to go up a little. Catching some cable HD subs as well as some DirecTV HD subs will help that.

My estimate:

SPIKE HD
LIFETIME HD
FX HD
SPEED HD

PREMIUMS HD

 

[AriesGodofWar]

Adding premiums in HD will attract customers who spend a lot each month on TV. There's a term that defines the value of the average subscriber and DISH really needs that figure to go up a little. Catching some cable HD subs as well as some DirecTV HD subs will help that.

My estimate:

SPIKE HD
LIFETIME HD
FX HD
SPEED HD

PREMIUMS HD

I sure hope you are right, the moment they flip all those on is the moment I go HD Only Pack...........