Yeah the DVR option I think hurt Voom and offering tons of HD paints only part of the picture, I really want a DVR to record HD games and movies BIG time... I'm willing to stick through it. If the rumor mill IS true then damn we will all be D* customers and I'll have to brush up on the use of their HD-Tivo. What I am not thrilled with a is a payment option on the HD-Tivo or a even a lease plan, gotta fork out 1k looks like of my dough up front for it. That kind of sucks.
However I think all this is premature speculation, I don't see Voom selling, instead looks like they cleared their debt with Cablevision and have some millions to upgrade Voom, AMC, IFC, and WE and polish it up for more HD competition. A couple of months ago in a discussion I mention the D* E* and V* wars for HD viewers, whether D* or E* were really motivated about it before will no longer be the case. I think the bigger Voom gets the more HD and HD channels will start popping up around the country with the big 3 probably trying to find a way to compete and air those channels first.
In the end, it is us, who spent money on our home theatres that are going to win.