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(sorry if this has already been posted here)
Buy Dish, Win HD receiver
By Steve Donohue -- Multichannel News, 1/12/2004
Las Vegas— On the heels of a record quarter for DirecTV Inc., rival EchoStar Communications Corp. has launched an aggressive strategy to sell branded HDTV sets for $999, and plans to shed its longstanding policy of forcing Dish Network subscribers to commit to one-year programming contracts.
Not only has EchoStar dipped below the $1,000 mark for the HDTVs, but it's also offering high-definition set-tops to customers for free.
EchoStar chairman and CEO Charles Ergen — perhaps eager to steal headlines from DirecTV and its new owner, News Corp. — also touted plans to drop one-year commitments for new customers, attacking a vulnerability versus cable, which lets customers drop service without penalty. Previously, EchoStar hit subscribers with a $140 fee if they cancelled subscriptions before the one-year contract period ended.
Ergen said EchoStar would subsidize the cost of the HDTV sets and receivers but expects the tactic to reduce churn and pay dividends in the long run.
"Some day we hope to make money," he said last Thursday at EchoStar's booth at the Consumer Electronics Show here.
For existing customers who already own HD monitors, EchoStar is offering its DISH 811 HD set-top for free. The boxes previously retailed for $399.
Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing CEO Char Beales, who toured CES with a group of about 40 cable executives, downplayed EchoStar's HDTV-box giveaway, pointing out the risk taken in subsidizing hardware. "I think it's a way to give them a loss-leader," Beales said.
Ergen acknowledged that the strategy would add to EchoStar's subscriber-acquisition costs, which currently run at about $500 per customer.
EchoStar cut a deal with Thomson Consumer Electronics to manufacture the televisions, which contain EchoStar's logo on the bottom of the front panel. Subscribers can choose from either a 34-inch tube type HD monitor or a 40-inch rear projection monitor.
In addition to the $999 offer, EchoStar is pitching a high-definition DVR capable of recording 25 hours of HDTV programming or 180 hours of standard definition shows, or a combination of the two. That DVR and HDTV set bundle costs $1,599.
EchoStar's announcement came on the same day DirecTV reported that it added 405,000 net new subscribers during the fourth quarter, the best performance in the company's history and a 39% improvement over the fourth quarter of 2002.
DirecTV picked up a record 3,006,000 gross subscribers in 2002, which worked out to 1.2 million net new customers after accounting for a monthly average churn rate of 1.5%.
Beginning Feb. 1, EchoStar's Digital Home Advantage plan will offer new subscribers free equipment, free installation and the company's local channels package for $29.99 per month — a $5 discount over the previous plan.
EchoStar also changed the names of its most popular programming packages to reflect new channels that have been added to the tiers. The America's Top 50 package becomes America's Top 60, and America's Top 100 becomes America's Top 120.
Ergen told reporters EchoStar will probably hike its rates for the programming packages this year, and the new rates may be tied to a renewal EchoStar is negotiating with Viacom Corp.
(link - http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA374076?display=Top+Stories)
Buy Dish, Win HD receiver
By Steve Donohue -- Multichannel News, 1/12/2004
Las Vegas— On the heels of a record quarter for DirecTV Inc., rival EchoStar Communications Corp. has launched an aggressive strategy to sell branded HDTV sets for $999, and plans to shed its longstanding policy of forcing Dish Network subscribers to commit to one-year programming contracts.
Not only has EchoStar dipped below the $1,000 mark for the HDTVs, but it's also offering high-definition set-tops to customers for free.
EchoStar chairman and CEO Charles Ergen — perhaps eager to steal headlines from DirecTV and its new owner, News Corp. — also touted plans to drop one-year commitments for new customers, attacking a vulnerability versus cable, which lets customers drop service without penalty. Previously, EchoStar hit subscribers with a $140 fee if they cancelled subscriptions before the one-year contract period ended.
Ergen said EchoStar would subsidize the cost of the HDTV sets and receivers but expects the tactic to reduce churn and pay dividends in the long run.
"Some day we hope to make money," he said last Thursday at EchoStar's booth at the Consumer Electronics Show here.
For existing customers who already own HD monitors, EchoStar is offering its DISH 811 HD set-top for free. The boxes previously retailed for $399.
Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing CEO Char Beales, who toured CES with a group of about 40 cable executives, downplayed EchoStar's HDTV-box giveaway, pointing out the risk taken in subsidizing hardware. "I think it's a way to give them a loss-leader," Beales said.
Ergen acknowledged that the strategy would add to EchoStar's subscriber-acquisition costs, which currently run at about $500 per customer.
EchoStar cut a deal with Thomson Consumer Electronics to manufacture the televisions, which contain EchoStar's logo on the bottom of the front panel. Subscribers can choose from either a 34-inch tube type HD monitor or a 40-inch rear projection monitor.
In addition to the $999 offer, EchoStar is pitching a high-definition DVR capable of recording 25 hours of HDTV programming or 180 hours of standard definition shows, or a combination of the two. That DVR and HDTV set bundle costs $1,599.
EchoStar's announcement came on the same day DirecTV reported that it added 405,000 net new subscribers during the fourth quarter, the best performance in the company's history and a 39% improvement over the fourth quarter of 2002.
DirecTV picked up a record 3,006,000 gross subscribers in 2002, which worked out to 1.2 million net new customers after accounting for a monthly average churn rate of 1.5%.
Beginning Feb. 1, EchoStar's Digital Home Advantage plan will offer new subscribers free equipment, free installation and the company's local channels package for $29.99 per month — a $5 discount over the previous plan.
EchoStar also changed the names of its most popular programming packages to reflect new channels that have been added to the tiers. The America's Top 50 package becomes America's Top 60, and America's Top 100 becomes America's Top 120.
Ergen told reporters EchoStar will probably hike its rates for the programming packages this year, and the new rates may be tied to a renewal EchoStar is negotiating with Viacom Corp.
(link - http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA374076?display=Top+Stories)
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3903 views
bugs or no bugs.
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/N2oPp-plZEw
Direct YouTube Link - Agentic AI Security: Why Unconstrained Agents Alarm CISOs #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/N2oPp-plZEw
Direct YouTube Link - Agentic AI Security: Why Unconstrained Agents Alarm CISOs #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
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5 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHY_0D10LGw
Direct YouTube Link - AI, Coding, and SpinRite
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHY_0D10LGw
Direct YouTube Link - AI, Coding, and SpinRite
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
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7 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8ylZleSQCE
Direct YouTube Link - The OpenCode Cyberattack
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8ylZleSQCE
Direct YouTube Link - The OpenCode Cyberattack
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
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5 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu8iBMhokOk
Direct YouTube Link - Apple's Foldable Phone Is Finally Here
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu8iBMhokOk
Direct YouTube Link - Apple's Foldable Phone Is Finally Here
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
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6 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....
68579 Replies
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2676162 views
Why are ViP922s So rare? like its crazy how ebay has none, i checked everywhere, also, i got a ViP222k now, which is actually activated!
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774 views
I remember this in the news too...
www.nbcnews.com
$14,000 spent on rented rotary phone
A widow rented a rotary dial telephone for 42 years, paying what her family calculates as more than $14,000 for a now- outdated phone.
www.nbcnews.com
That is a misnomer. In the old days you subscribed to telephone service. That included the telephone line and one telephone. An extension cost $1 a month extra. So that $14,000 over 42 years was for the service not the leased telephone. There is no way they paid $28 a month for 42 years for a leased telephone.I remember this in the news too...
$14,000 spent on rented rotary phone
A widow rented a rotary dial telephone for 42 years, paying what her family calculates as more than $14,000 for a now- outdated phone.
Lifetime Supporter
Schedule drops tomorrow. Mandatory mini camps in June. Hall of Fame game August 6th.
126 Replies
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2161 views
I haven't posted in almost 17 years. Over the air, sat, offline, anything-but-the-internet is still one of my avid pursuits. Been playing with offline tv viewing and offline web browsing. I have great appreciations for this site still being here. It's so hard to find public communities that haven't sold out to social media company.
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24 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Hello folks, well my luck ran out last week with a nasty thunderstorm and after 39 years here, finally took a hit. Now, the FTA receivers I had for some years worked great until now. Recently picked up a fairly cheap receiver, online, KOQIT and seems to be good, but for the life of me, I cannot get the HDMI output to work with 3 of my Samsung monitors. I can hook it up to my Samsung TV and its HDMI input and it works fine. The 2 receivers I lost also worked fine with them, so am I going crazy? anyone have come across this or have any suggestions? And, since this is a somewhat cheap unit but works, what is everyone out there using for receivers these days? without breaking the bank? I enjoy watching FTA TV, so I will invest more if needed, what is a really good, detailed unit these days. I'm so use to watching a few of them HD channels. Right now I'm down to composite hookups, yuck! Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Frank 
46 Replies
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1143 views
Take the cover off, show me pics of the board of the bad one and also the bottom of the board. I'm an old hardware electronics tech plus a satellite dealer; I fixed a lot of FTA and regular receivers. I may be able to fix it for you. And yes, they got hit by lightning; it's best to email me the pics at diamondsatellite@snet.net or call me at 203-232-8888. I give you a 50-50 chance of fixing it; I do have spare parts. my phone is a fliptop phoneHello folks, well my luck ran out last week with a nasty thunderstorm and after 39 years here, finally took a hit. Now, the FTA receivers I had for some years worked great until now. Recently picked up a fairly cheap receiver, online, KOQIT and seems to be good, but for the life of me, I cannot get the HDMI output to work with 3 of my Samsung monitors. I can hook it up to my Samsung TV and its HDMI input and it works fine. The 2 receivers I lost also worked fine with them, so am I going crazy? anyone have come across this or have any suggestions? And, since this is a somewhat cheap unit but works, what is everyone out there using for receivers these days? without breaking the bank? I enjoy watching FTA TV, so I will invest more if needed, what is a really good, detailed unit these days. I'm so use to watching a few of them HD channels. Right now I'm down to composite hookups, yuck! Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Frank
Gary
More room for the return of the Plague & Pestilence?
S
a good surge protector will help to.Hello folks, well my luck ran out last week with a nasty thunderstorm and after 39 years here, finally took a hit. Now, the FTA receivers I had for some years worked great until now. Recently picked up a fairly cheap receiver, online, KOQIT and seems to be good, but for the life of me, I cannot get the HDMI output to work with 3 of my Samsung monitors. I can hook it up to my Samsung TV and its HDMI input and it works fine. The 2 receivers I lost also worked fine with them, so am I going crazy? anyone have come across this or have any suggestions? And, since this is a somewhat cheap unit but works, what is everyone out there using for receivers these days? without breaking the bank? I enjoy watching FTA TV, so I will invest more if needed, what is a really good, detailed unit these days. I'm so use to watching a few of them HD channels. Right now I'm down to composite hookups, yuck! Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Frank
Pub Member / Supporter
Now that I'm retired, obviously I have different health care insurance. I take 2 prescriptions. With my old insurance I didn't have to pay for either of them, now I do. It's not a huge amount but it led me to dig a little into the cost of prescription medications. I have been using Walgreens for the longest time. But what I found was that Walgreens price is 4.8 times more for one of my prescriptions and the other is 2.3 percent more compared to the lowest price pharmacy. If you pay for prescription medications you might want to have a look at trumprx and see if you can get a lower price.
11 Replies
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91 views
Actually I take just 2 prescriptions, Atorvastatin and Lisinopril. They cost me $6 each for 100 pills. Next year that will be nothing.That's ok. I probably take enough for the two of us.
God knows what Bobby takes. Maybe so much they count as a meal?
