Who is not interested in Prime Time Anytime?

[sparc]

I think PTA is a very good idea that Dish can really market, but it doesn't do anything for me personally. I already record the prime time programs that I am interested in watching (and sometimes don't get to them for months), so I have no use for PTA.

Not sure what you mean. You can save specific shows out of PTAT and keep them pretty much indefinitely until you run out of hard drive space.

If you're already recording primetime programs, PTAT would allow you to record more programs that have time conflicts and only uses one of your tuners.

 

[gregleg]

A nice enhancement (but probably difficult to implement and potentially confusing for end-users) making use of the "record a whole transponder" thing would be a timer pooling mechanism -- if two or more "big 4" shows OUTSIDE of PTAT are scheduled to record at the same time, only one tuner could actually be needed to grab both of them. (It could even be done for ANY two channels that share the same transponder, but that's even less predictable for customers)

 

[Bobby]

or, because you are already allocating a tuner to a station, you simply just record a 4 for the added time. Slam dunk!

 

[ScottChez]

Wish they could extend it to include the Local news and Jay and David letterman

 

[dfergie]

Wish they could extend it to include the Local news and Jay and David letterman

That would rock if it was "adjustable" to not just primetime (work around to Sundays in the season)...

 

[GaryPen]

It's probably not that difficult from a programming perspective to add a user adjustable start/end time to the PTA feature.

 

[dangue]

It's probably not that difficult from a programming perspective to add a user adjustable start/end time to the PTA feature.

I'd imagine the biggest challenge would be HDD space. If the Dish partition allocates X space for PTAT based on 3 hours x 4 channels x 8 days, is there enough additional space to allow the user to adjust PTAT for 5 hours of recording each day. And if there isn't enough space, can they direct the extra to the user's side of the partition? If they go this route, how do they explain and market this to a typical user? This same issue holds true for those of us that are hoping that they will expand PTAT to cover all HD locals in the future.

 

[fbara]

I don't understand why it's limiting us to just the network channels? Why can't it let us decide which 4 channels we want to record?

Personally, the main networks have the worst shows out there in prime time. My family rarely watches any of them. They're mostly based on appealing to the lowest-common denominator viewer.

I would be much more interested in this feature if we were allowed to choose the channels to record. Go ahead and limit the number of channels and the time block, but otherwise leave it up to the user what to record.

 

[dare2be]

I don't understand why it's limiting us to just the network channels? Why can't it let us decide which 4 channels we want to record?

Personally, the main networks have the worst shows out there in prime time. My family rarely watches any of them. They're mostly based on appealing to the lowest-common denominator viewer.

I would be much more interested in this feature if we were allowed to choose the channels to record. Go ahead and limit the number of channels and the time block, but otherwise leave it up to the user what to record.

The 4 channels chosen HAVE to be sent through same transponder on the same satellite, so being able to pick ANY 4 channels will not work. Does the average user know which transponders their channels are coming from? No.

 

[GaryPen]

The 4 channels chosen HAVE to be sent through same transponder on the same satellite, so being able to pick ANY 4 channels will not work. Does the average user know which transponders their channels are coming from? No.

But, it is easy enough to program the software to limit the choices to the same transponder.

 

[eurosport]

I like the idea, but I just got my PBS station in HD and I really want it included. If the receiver is recording the entire transport stream from one transponder anyway, it should be possible.

 

[Hall]

I like the idea, but I just got my PBS station in HD and I really want it included.

I'm certain the logic is that PBS doesnt really show the typical "primetime" programming.

Sent from my SkyRaider Zeus Thunderbolt!

 

[dwarren2]

I most probably will not activate PTAT. There is so little that we watch on the major networks. Most of what we record is either PBS or from Dish channels. For us, an ota tuner is a must. We receive 2 different PBS stations and they often have different programing. Especially one that does not do begathons. It just pauses briefly to ask for donations and then goes back to whatever special they were showing. Plus we record shows from their subchannels.

 

[fbara]

But, it is easy enough to program the software to limit the choices to the same transponder.

I guess that's my point. If you look at the list of stations available on a transponder (SatelliteGuys.US_TheList - Subscription subdish) it's just software programming to only allow you to pick those stations. It's not difficult, it's only software.

 

[356B]

It could mean I don't have to keep up with new shows, reruns, specials....I don't mind keeping up though, it makes my wife think I'm taking care of her programming, which is good for me......maybe I won't tell her....
Seriously though it seems kind of gimmicky, but I'm sure if it works properly I'll get into it and I won't have to keep up. Hopefully after the Sling debacles Dish has learned a lesson.....or not.
Regarding the PBS issue, I'm just glad KQED is finally in HD.

 

[GaryPen]

Regarding the PBS issue, I'm just glad KQED is finally in HD.

Amen to that.

 

[dare2be]

But, it is easy enough to program the software to limit the choices to the same transponder.

And then what? It would generate a nightmare of upset customers complaining that Dish chooses which channels that can be grouped together and why can't the customer. We here at SatGuys understand, but the average customer won't.

 

[BobaBird]

I don't understand why it's limiting us to just the network channels?

Because those 4 channels are the source of 53% of the recordings made in prime time. The other 47% are made from the rest of the Dish lineup. Figures are from the Dish press conference.

 

[the mack]

Well then it's probably best that you don't upgrade to the hopper when it becomes available and leave it to someone who thinks this is a great idea and benifical to their households tv watching.

thanks for the advice, I have no plans to upgrade because how would I stack with the hopper?LMFAO......thanks for the loose spelling lesson too, although it is beneficial not "benifical", seriously there really is a difference and it isn't that hard to figure out.......

 

[jbrelish]

I personally am not interested at all. Having said that, I also don't mean I don't want it to be a part of Dish. Many people will have great use for it, but just not me. We are not big "network" watchers.

Personally I could care less about RSN's, but again I am not saying RSN's should be gone, just not my area of interest. All subscribers of Dish have their primary interests. I respect all the Dish subscribers interest, so this feature will be attractive to them and should be viewed as a good benefit.