D*'s biggest mistake may have been letting thier plans be known when it was going to take a few years to impliment, therefore allowing all the D* bashers 2 years to shout "It's not done yet " and making claims that it won't happen. and all the other BS that gets posted about them not being done yet.... daily.
Would you rather your provider (whoever it may be) to not let ANY info out and expect to keep subs happy doing what appears to be nothing, while all along your working in the background to make major changes ???
Jimbo
jimbos - I for one think it was actually brilliant of them to publicize their HD rollout plans back in 2004 - and for quite a few reasons.
1) In 2004 (and even still today), there were not all that many national HD channels (and in fact I believe D* had more than E*) - but VOOM was alive and trying to get that market. It is only due to the failure of VOOM (they peaked at under 40,000 subs nationwide) - that DISH moved ahead. To see them commit the money to a project like they announced was great - and allowed us all to follow their progress (and the slipups). And as stated, overall I believe they are on or close to schedule!
2) Yes, since E* bought Rainbow 1 and committed to a 15 year programming deal, DISH has had MORE CHANNELS than DirecTV, and yes they also have some of them in rull rezz (but most are HD-lite - just like D*). So, almost a 2 year advantage to DISH. And I won't get into the VOOM issue - this is strictly based on number of channels. But (and think about this one), if VOOM had not failed, where would DISH be? Probably in the SAME position as D* I suppose.
3) I am called a D* fanboy, but the reality has always been that I selected DirecTV specifically when the YES network launched, as DISH (still doesn't offer it) and CABLEVISION (didn't offer it until the second season) - didn't have it! This is where the programming part of the argument comes in - no matter how many channels are offered, if they are channels you don't watch, then who cares how many there are? Give me the 10-15 I watch, and frankly they can keep ALL of the others. I'm a fanboy - but only until another provider can match D*s sports offering, then I would move in a moment. So I guess I am a fanboy of sports.
4) I actually get a laugh sometimes out of the comments I read about the DirecTV HD plan, because it is truly a good one and seems to be on target. As I have posted before, the plan is not only about new sats and new channels - but it also about new infrastructure, not only for DirecTV but also IN THEIR CUSTOMER BASE. Remember that they have been rolling out MPEG4 lils for almost 2 years, and that they have been moving their HD base onto the new platform ALREADY. By the time the HD nationals launch, they will have opened up about 70 or so markets (the largest ones for the most part) for HD locals. The fact that they are having so much success in placing the new HR-20 DVR - it also means that those folks have the new dish and are ready to go. Can you imagine the logistics of having to upgrade a national base all in one shot to the Ka/Ku platform - a nightmare for sure, and that would have been disaster IMO.
5) I feel that any reasonably thinking adult would realize the potential for setback and delay in this type of endeavour after all it is almost a BILLION DOLLAR venture, requires MANY different organizations, and lots can happen. But knowing that they are working hard at achieving it is my bottom line.
6) There will always be those that have opposing views, let them speak freely. If they are happy with what they have, good for them. I am happy with what I have - and with what I believe is coming shortly.
7) Even the advertising - it has everybody's attention, both good and bad - but that is the goal - to be noticed. It has accomplished its goal for sure. Brilliant really.
