Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but I noticed how quickly the HD PPV channels were thrown out there--$$$$, Money, $$$$. Do you note that some of the PPV movies are movies that run on other HD Channels we already have OR ARE ABOUT TO GET (MGM)!
Has anyone been stupid enough to pay for the PPV HD movie that has or already is playing on another HD Channel?
How stupid does DISH think we are? If they can pull that one on us, what else will they pull?
So, why would they put anymore "free" National HD channels, when they can milk the $$$$$$ on the PPV channels!!???
Again, sorry for the cynical view, but has DISH give us ANY reason or purpose to not have added the NEW popular HD channels that Direct has (or some of them)--I am shocked we don't see FOX HD or FX or Sci Fi HD at least. I'd love the MGM-HD and Smithsonian.
They got a bargain on the bottom of the barrel VOOM rehash and so we are lucky to get garage-sale HD at this point, I guess.
I have been thinking for weeks of ditching DISH and going to Direct, but am waiting a little longer to see what DISH does AND until I can get a better deal on Direct HD DVR's AND find a way to preserve my HD collection on my External HD which won't work on Direct.
Anyone have any inside information on WHY we don't have the new HD channels? I'd be a lot less liekly to ditch DISH and WAIT if I knew why and how long!
Please delineate the entire process of:
1. Viewership analysis:
- HD versus SD cost benefit analysis
- Installed base of HD equipment and HD subs
- Cost versus estimated increase in HD subs due to added HD content
2. Negotiation of carriage and agreed cost per subscriber
3. Installation of equipment needed to add the channel to E*'s ground to bird transmission system
4. Uplink testing and broadcast certification
5. Implement changes / tracking for all support, marketing, and technical documentation
This is very brief, simple view of what it takes to makes changes in a large corporation responsible to report fully documented business processes and risk analysis to the shareholders, the SEC, and to the subscribers, upon request.
Now with all this riding on your back, make a profit in a cutthroat business where some of your base demands more channels and the others demand lower costs and provide customer support to every caller who can't change the blinking 12:00 on their vcr or program their microwave oven.
Makes me want to run right out and start my own satellite broadcast service company!