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I agree, having some statistics at hand is good for starters. I don't think however, they'll share it. In fact, I already asked before on this forum, never answered. I only seen some pain expressions, but no analysis from sponsors, even less any stats that would allow FTA hobbyists (not dialers) to collectively discuss vision for a new business model.

As to equipment prices dependence on sales volume, its true. However, retail prices are mostly driven by local demand, and less by wholesale prices, which in turn are driven by order volume, but differentiated much less. Remember, Korean and Chinese STB makers won't stop making boxes, as they were making them for European and Asian markets, where FTA signals are plentiful, long before mass retail US Ku-market ever existed.

In fact, today's "fix" market (first fast growing and then nearly dying) seems to be indirectly prompted by more successful and technologically superior E* and similar guys, who created real Sat Ku-market in NA. FTA dialers followed, with most newcomers looking for easy money by addressing the "demand", as they seen it, or more precisely actively creating the demand for plug-n-play signal theft equipment. I like SatAV, Sadoun's, WSI and such tendency to work with equipment makers on designing new FTA equipment, pushing new specifications on them. But most did next to nothing to create a new business model for FTA in terms of signal source, and then complain, FTA market is dying. How about investing in FTA signal source, guys? Why don't collectively ask for public policy review on funding such FTA signal sources in NA? Of course, I must admit successful SatAV efforts in promoting religious programming. But the need is obvious for more diverse approach, with movies, sports and local news being the new FTA focus.

Now with signal market being monopolized by two companies, its not surprising to see their efforts to shut down others directly or by example. But it just shows that FTA today's business model is DOA, if stopping signal theft can make FTA disappear. It should start from signal market getting alive. I like Radar's idea about it, but without thoughtful public funding policy it may be DOA as well. For starters, how about this site sponsors supporting Radar's idea of a new FTA Station by cash influx? May be they can express their vision about future FTA market here? I wonder, if anyone in NA studied European FTA business model - how it survives?

zamar23 said:

I agree, having some statistics at hand is good for starters. I don't think however, they'll share it. In fact, I already asked before on this forum, never answered. I only seen some pain expressions, but no analysis from sponsors, even less any stats that would allow FTA hobbyists (not dialers) to collectively discuss vision for a new business model.

As to equipment prices dependence on sales volume, its true. However, retail prices are mostly driven by local demand, and less by wholesale prices, which in turn is driven by order volume, but differentiated much less. Remember, Korean and Chinese STB makers won't stop making boxes, as they were making them for European and Asian markets, where FTA signals are plentiful, long before mass retail US Ku-market ever existed.

In fact, today's "fix" market (first fast growing and then nearly dying) seems to be indirectly prompted by more successful E* and similar guys, who created real Sat Ku-market in NA. FTA dialers followed, with most newcomers looking for easy money by addressing the "demand", as they seen it, or more precisely actively creating the demand for plug-n-play signal theft equipment. I like SatAV, Sadoun's, WSI and such tendency to work with equipment makers on designing new FTA equipment, pushing new specifications on them. But they did next to nothing to create a new business model for FTA in terms of signal source, and then complain, FTA market is dying. How about investing in FTA signal source, guys? Why don't collectively ask for public policy review on funding such FTA signal sources in NA?

With now signal market being monopolized by two companies, its not surprising to see their attempts to shut down others directly or by example. But it just shows that FTA today's business model is DOA, if stopping signal theft can make FTA disappear. It should start from signal market getting alive. I like Radar's idea about it, but without thoughtful public funding policy it may be DOA as well. For starters, how about this site sponsors supporting Radar's idea of a new FTA Station by cash influx? May be they can express their vision about future FTA market here?

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How about we start finding local network stations willing to allow their signal being uplinked to some satellite if all costs are covered? Then the only thing we need to do is raise enough funds through some sort of co-op where members would contribute a certain amount each month to pay for the uplink time. We could all use the same satellite to try and get a group discount on uplink fees. The more members the co-op gets, the more stations get uplinked. Business co-op memberships would be more expensive as these members would most likely profit from these additional channels via increased FTA equipment sales.

Does one have to order online and then pick it up? Or can one just go up there and look around and buy?

pwrsurge said:

How about we start finding local network stations willing to allow their signal being uplinked to some satellite if all costs are covered? Then the only thing we need to do is raise enough funds through some sort of co-op where members would contribute a certain amount each month to pay for the uplink time. We could all use the same satellite to try and get a group discount on uplink fees. The more members the co-op gets, the more stations get uplinked. Business co-op memberships would be more expensive as these members would most likely profit from these additional channels via increased FTA equipment sales.

Click to expand...

Maybe this idea could be a part of or adjunct to AcWxRadar's programming threads...

Correct me if wrong, but aren't there rules where programming is (what is the right word...) territorial or proprietary within a market and/or from market to market?

Blacked out shows are what result from these contracts or rules...

What is this called?

guapoharry said:

Maybe this idea could be a part of or adjunct to AcWxRadar's programming threads...

Correct me if wrong, but aren't there rules where programming is (what is the right word...) territorial or proprietary within a market and/or from market to market?

Blacked out shows are what result from these contracts or rules...

What is this called?

Click to expand...

Harry:
You are probably thinking of "Syndex" where most Syndicated shows are offered on one station per market area..And woe to anyone that tries to pick them up by "Illegal means"

Bill_KY said:

Does one have to order online and then pick it up? Or can one just go up there and look around and buy?

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you can look around. They have a shop

TimLones111 said:

Harry:
You are probably thinking of "Syndex" where most Syndicated shows are offered on one station per market area..And woe to anyone that tries to pick them up by "Illegal means"

Click to expand...

yep. Cable likes to blackout stuff. Had that a long time ago when I lived in Duluth, MN and had cable. Duluth had no UPN so they pumped in (at the time) KMSP 9 from Minneapolis. During the day all those judge/talk shows were blacked out because they were on one of the Duluth stations (usually at 2AM)...but they were blacked out on cable

Syndex - that's it.

Does anyone know if there is a similar Satellite store in the Nashville, TN area?

I took a ride up there today, somewhat over 2 hours each way. I needed some DiSEqC switches and got a couple of the WS7630 dishes they had on sale for $35 each and some assorted items. I couldn't look around the warehouse/shop, I waited in the show room. Good to know that they are kind of close by in case I ever need anything again. Salesman mentioned that they will be getting some new 90 cm dishes in soon.

BTW...Gas was even less expensive there in the Columbus area off I-270 @$2.43 a gallon, here it is $2.55 a gallon.