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Comcast has a added a weapon for fighting the cable wars: a high-definition digital video recorder.
The dominant cable carrier in the market is quietly making the recording devices - based on the same technology as the famous TiVo recorders - available to about 350,000 Sacramento-area customers.
DVRs record television shows on a computer-style hard disk rather than on tapes like a video cassette recorder. They allow users to record two shows at once, watch a partially recorded program as the ending is taped, and pause and rewind live TV.
The rental of standard DVRs would put Comcast on equal footing with satellite providers Dish Network and DirecTV, which have had DVRs for at least four years. SureWest Broadband expects to offer them sometime in 2005.
But Comcast is upping the ante. Its DVRs also include a converter for receiving high-definition broadcasts and the ability to record high-definition programming - at a much lower price than is available from the satellite carriers.
Comcast charges $9.95 a month for the DVR and high-definition programming, on top of the roughly $55 a month customers pay for the lowest tier of digital cable service.
Satellite programming fees vary, but DirecTV is charging $1,000 - and Dish, $549 - to buy a high-definition DVR.
With high-definition TVs expected to hit sales records this year, analysts say such offerings could help cable companies like Comcast regain some of the ground they have lost to satellite, which now has about 23 million of the 108 million television households in the United States. That compares with about 10 million in 1999.
"Comcast and other cable companies generally provide a better high-definition offering than satellite, and their high-definition DVR is more affordable," said Phillip Swann, an industry analyst and president of TV Predictions.com. "Put it all together and cable has a better offering."
Comcast spokeswoman Susan Gonzales said the company's high-definition business is increasing by 5 percent to 7 percent a month as more of its customers buy the sophisticated TVs.
She expects it to grow even more when the system begins broadcasting most Kings home games in high-definition beginning Sunday, something that won't be available from satellite.
One convert to DVRs is Stan Atkinson, the longtime Channel 3 news anchor who retired in 1999.
"I have friends who have TiVo, and they can't stop talking about it," said Atkinson, who got his Comcast DVR installed last week.
After seeing the TiVo in action, he called friends at Comcast to put him on the waiting list for the new DVRs.
"I'm really enjoying it," he said of the DVR, adding that he was particularly pleased with not having to juggle videotapes, and with the ability to schedule a recording with one push of the remote-control button.
But Teresa Hahn, a DirecTV subscriber and TiVo user in Sacramento, said she wouldn't be tempted to switch to Comcast, even if she bought a high-definition television.
"I really love satellite; I love their customer service," she said. "If I can afford my own high-definition TV, then I can afford the ($1,000) box."
Satellite companies hope to build on that kind of customer loyalty with offerings of their own.
Though Dish Network's high-definition DVR costs $549, it is offering a free basic DVR to customers who pay a $4.99 monthly fee.
The company also offers a free high-definition receiver (but not DVR) to its subscribers. "We find that when cable companies upgrade their service, it increases the number of people who start (comparison) shopping," said company spokesman Marc Lumpkin.
DirecTV spokesman Bob Marsocci said he didn't think Comcast's offering put his company at a disadvantage. He said the company's $1,000 high-definition DVRs were "flying off the shelves."
The company that might be most hurt by the moves of Comcast and other cable companies is TiVo Inc., the Silicon Valley company that pioneered DVRs and whose name has become synonymous with digital video recording.
Founded in 1997, TiVo was never able to catch the public imagination. The company has lost more than $550 million since it went public in 1998, including a loss of $26.4 million in the most recent quarter.
Vamsi Sistla, an analyst with ABI Research in New York, said customers were also put off by the $12.95 monthly fee TiVo charges to use its service.
But since consumers are already used to paying monthly cable bills, adding a DVR fee to the charge won't faze them, he said.
Swann, the television analyst, thinks cable's participation could kick off a surge of DVR usage.
"There are 4 million to 5 million DVRs out there right now," he said. "But 2005 will be a year of serious growth."
Comcast has a added a weapon for fighting the cable wars: a high-definition digital video recorder.
The dominant cable carrier in the market is quietly making the recording devices - based on the same technology as the famous TiVo recorders - available to about 350,000 Sacramento-area customers.
DVRs record television shows on a computer-style hard disk rather than on tapes like a video cassette recorder. They allow users to record two shows at once, watch a partially recorded program as the ending is taped, and pause and rewind live TV.
The rental of standard DVRs would put Comcast on equal footing with satellite providers Dish Network and DirecTV, which have had DVRs for at least four years. SureWest Broadband expects to offer them sometime in 2005.
But Comcast is upping the ante. Its DVRs also include a converter for receiving high-definition broadcasts and the ability to record high-definition programming - at a much lower price than is available from the satellite carriers.
Comcast charges $9.95 a month for the DVR and high-definition programming, on top of the roughly $55 a month customers pay for the lowest tier of digital cable service.
Satellite programming fees vary, but DirecTV is charging $1,000 - and Dish, $549 - to buy a high-definition DVR.
With high-definition TVs expected to hit sales records this year, analysts say such offerings could help cable companies like Comcast regain some of the ground they have lost to satellite, which now has about 23 million of the 108 million television households in the United States. That compares with about 10 million in 1999.
"Comcast and other cable companies generally provide a better high-definition offering than satellite, and their high-definition DVR is more affordable," said Phillip Swann, an industry analyst and president of TV Predictions.com. "Put it all together and cable has a better offering."
Comcast spokeswoman Susan Gonzales said the company's high-definition business is increasing by 5 percent to 7 percent a month as more of its customers buy the sophisticated TVs.
She expects it to grow even more when the system begins broadcasting most Kings home games in high-definition beginning Sunday, something that won't be available from satellite.
One convert to DVRs is Stan Atkinson, the longtime Channel 3 news anchor who retired in 1999.
"I have friends who have TiVo, and they can't stop talking about it," said Atkinson, who got his Comcast DVR installed last week.
After seeing the TiVo in action, he called friends at Comcast to put him on the waiting list for the new DVRs.
"I'm really enjoying it," he said of the DVR, adding that he was particularly pleased with not having to juggle videotapes, and with the ability to schedule a recording with one push of the remote-control button.
But Teresa Hahn, a DirecTV subscriber and TiVo user in Sacramento, said she wouldn't be tempted to switch to Comcast, even if she bought a high-definition television.
"I really love satellite; I love their customer service," she said. "If I can afford my own high-definition TV, then I can afford the ($1,000) box."
Satellite companies hope to build on that kind of customer loyalty with offerings of their own.
Though Dish Network's high-definition DVR costs $549, it is offering a free basic DVR to customers who pay a $4.99 monthly fee.
The company also offers a free high-definition receiver (but not DVR) to its subscribers. "We find that when cable companies upgrade their service, it increases the number of people who start (comparison) shopping," said company spokesman Marc Lumpkin.
DirecTV spokesman Bob Marsocci said he didn't think Comcast's offering put his company at a disadvantage. He said the company's $1,000 high-definition DVRs were "flying off the shelves."
The company that might be most hurt by the moves of Comcast and other cable companies is TiVo Inc., the Silicon Valley company that pioneered DVRs and whose name has become synonymous with digital video recording.
Founded in 1997, TiVo was never able to catch the public imagination. The company has lost more than $550 million since it went public in 1998, including a loss of $26.4 million in the most recent quarter.
Vamsi Sistla, an analyst with ABI Research in New York, said customers were also put off by the $12.95 monthly fee TiVo charges to use its service.
But since consumers are already used to paying monthly cable bills, adding a DVR fee to the charge won't faze them, he said.
Swann, the television analyst, thinks cable's participation could kick off a surge of DVR usage.
"There are 4 million to 5 million DVRs out there right now," he said. "But 2005 will be a year of serious growth."
2 Replies
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2972 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68753 Replies
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2684764 views
Linus Tech Tips
Time for another AWESOME video from Linus Tech Tips!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao9IQyaH0fk
Direct YouTube Link - "Tesla Hater" Finally Tries Full Self Driving
Linus on Facebook
The LTT Store
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao9IQyaH0fk
Direct YouTube Link - "Tesla Hater" Finally Tries Full Self Driving
Linus on Facebook
The LTT Store
0 Replies
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6 views
Lifetime Supporter
Looks like dish is Bankrupt. Filling tomorrow Tuesday June 30th
451 Replies
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15435 views
Can't remember where or who I saw predict this.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Elon soon own all of DISH / Echostar in the future.
SpaceX boldly goes into 'huge' 5G network rollout with Qualcomm
After trying satellites and small cells, Elon Musk's SpaceX is to build a terrestrial mobile network across tens of thousands of sites with Qualcomm.
www.lightreading.com
M
Is Dish like Iran in one way...they both will totally collapse by end of week 
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
10 Replies
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171 views
Booredatwork.com
Time for another AWESOME video from BoredAtWork!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgFbRDSD59w
Direct YouTube Link - MacBook Pro PROLED XDR vs ASUS ProArt P16 (2026)
Booredatwork.com Website
Booredatwork on Facebook
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgFbRDSD59w
Direct YouTube Link - MacBook Pro PROLED XDR vs ASUS ProArt P16 (2026)
Booredatwork.com Website
Booredatwork on Facebook
0 Replies
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5 views
I have Dish with Hopper3. I choose to get local channels OTA and had a "guide list" established at my previous home. Having moved a few miles away, I wanted to update the list by appending a couple new stations via a rescan. As many would know, some stations come in with the UHF/VHF antenna aimed in one direction, while others come in better with a different direction.
Unfortunately, when a scan is done (bringing in 25-30 stations for that particular antenna aim), the dialog screen does not present the established guide list; it presents an empty field to the right that the scanned stations may be selected one by one and added to the empty guide. But because of antenna aim, some stations originally saved are missing, and would have to be retrieved with a different antenna aim. But as I explain, if a 2nd scan is done with a different antenna aim, the stations saved from the first scan are lost.
It troubles me that Dish didn't develop software that would allow a user to simply append only 1 or 2 channels to the established list.
Any thought on this? Has anyone experienced this or heard of this from others?
Unfortunately, when a scan is done (bringing in 25-30 stations for that particular antenna aim), the dialog screen does not present the established guide list; it presents an empty field to the right that the scanned stations may be selected one by one and added to the empty guide. But because of antenna aim, some stations originally saved are missing, and would have to be retrieved with a different antenna aim. But as I explain, if a 2nd scan is done with a different antenna aim, the stations saved from the first scan are lost.
It troubles me that Dish didn't develop software that would allow a user to simply append only 1 or 2 channels to the established list.
Any thought on this? Has anyone experienced this or heard of this from others?
12 Replies
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454 views
Lifetime Supporter
Schedule drops tomorrow. Mandatory mini camps in June. Hall of Fame game August 6th.
138 Replies
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2852 views
Mahomes is the biggest cry baby I have ever seen. He thinks he's privileged or something.
Y
Well you see him more because he is incredibly talented. And yes, typically players try to spin things being in their favor. This isn't cricket where sportsmanship (except in Australia) is expected.Mahomes is the biggest cry baby I have ever seen. He thinks he's privileged or something.
He wants to be BradyMahomes is the biggest cry baby I have ever seen. He thinks he's privileged or something.
Booredatwork.com
Time for another AWESOME video from BoredAtWork!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/45BmpjlVWec
Direct YouTube Link - MacBook Pro PROLED XDR 16-inch
Booredatwork.com Website
Booredatwork on Facebook
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/45BmpjlVWec
Direct YouTube Link - MacBook Pro PROLED XDR 16-inch
Booredatwork.com Website
Booredatwork on Facebook
0 Replies
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7 views
iJustine
Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NAcPAr13btM
Direct YouTube Link - PROLED MacBook Pro Unboxing
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NAcPAr13btM
Direct YouTube Link - PROLED MacBook Pro Unboxing
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
0 Replies
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4 views
iJustine
Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTaRLfPa3oc
Direct YouTube Link - Touching my Mac! The new PROLED MacBook Pro is here!
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTaRLfPa3oc
Direct YouTube Link - Touching my Mac! The new PROLED MacBook Pro is here!
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
0 Replies
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7 views