Another Court Loss for EchoStar, August 15th RIP

[ThomasRz]

I looks like it doesnt matter because everybody will be cut off, legitimate or not. So you cant "move" your way out of this. The only answer I see is getting permission from the local affiliate to get distants but this would only work in an area w/o locals and i dont think there are a whole lot left...

The issue was Echostar's method of determining qualifications and circumventing the system to give distants even if their system said a sub was not eligible. The court case has nothing to do with "moving".

I know that, when I lived in Las Vegas, I had a Grade A signal from KLAS (CBS). For some reason, the methods they used several years ago allowed me to get the distant CBS.

 

[Bob Haller]

How many will downgrade programming futher if distants go away?

I keep the supers althoiugh we dont use them much since they are part of the distants package....

how many will get a slingbox in the area of interest?

 

[SatinKzo]

The issue was Echostar's method of determining qualifications and circumventing the system to give distants even if their system said a sub was not eligible. The court case has nothing to do with "moving".

I know that, when I lived in Las Vegas, I had a Grade A signal from KLAS (CBS). For some reason, the methods they used several years ago allowed me to get the distant CBS.

Well, I was actually referring to the bug in the locals page when they updated the site... It allowed me to select anything I wanted (even PBS if I so desired). Lasted about 2 days. Luckily I clicked away when I could. Then a week later called and asked if they could turn on CBS-HD feed since I already had the CBS from NY. Sure why not they said.

 

[hobojoe]

now theres a bright idea "a sling box" but isn't that the same as barrowing a receiver from someone else i don't feel right in fact its too close to stealing to me. how do you mean use a sling box? how would it be setup legally? on the other hand i don't see whats wrong that's what its designed and sold legally to do. and you throw sports in that mix without black outs!

 

[mikew]

I'd love to see a forum dedicated to Sling Sharing. I'm guessing the makers of Slingbox would frown on such a venture as all of the copyright cops would be looking to shut down Sling. Fact of the matter is, only one conection into the box is allowed. Also, the Slingbox has to be located in the city that you're wanting to watch.

Then only "move" that might work is one to NY, LA, CHI or DEN. That all depends on if Dish keeps those signals CONUS. I'd have to say...advantage would go to NY as the big 4 plus WWOR/WPIX are conus. If you were in LA, you'd be missing "MY TV"

 

[riffjim4069]

I shipped a Slingbox to my parents so I can watch the local sports teams on basic cable (locals, Fox Sport Net) without having to pay an arm and a leg for all the professional sports packages, which I certainly don't need...just want to follow one team. Now I'm lovin' my life as a Slinger!

I wouldn't mind plopping down a pair of Slingboxes and sharing them out, but I certainly don't want the NAB after my arse.

 

[ThomasRz]

I shipped a Slingbox to my parents so I can watch the local sports teams on basic cable (locals, Fox Sport Net) without having to pay an arm and a leg for all the professional sports packages, which I certainly don't need...just want to follow one team. Now I'm lovin' my life as a Slinger!

I wouldn't mind plopping down a pair of Slingboxes and sharing them out, but I certainly don't want the NAB after my arse.

What do you do when your mom wants to watch Young & restless? And I dont think you can do HD. The NAB wont be after you unless you start selling the stream. Personally I dont think its worth all the hassle, you'll be in the middle of the big game and you parents cat will knock out the power plug....And your parents are in Europe..

 

[riffjim4069]

What do you do when your mom wants to watch Young & restless? And I dont think you can do HD. The NAB wont be after you unless you start selling the stream. Personally I dont think its worth all the hassle, you'll be in the middle of the big game and you parents cat will knock out the power plug....And your parents are in Europe..

The broadcast and sports nets are on basic analog cable. The Slingbox has an NTSC tuner that can decode cable and over-the-air antenna...so it sits quiety out of the way behind their computer desk waiting for me to watch Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons, Lions, and Wolverine football. It's a riffjim4069 exclusive! Yep, it doesn't do HD, but that's why I have DishHD Platinum and two OTA antenna that pull in programming from D.C., Baltimore, Richmond and Charlottesville VA. They ought to rename this thing to the Schwingbox, because I get a woodrow each and every time I use it.

On the flip side, it would be best to dedicate a satellite/cable if that's your choice.

 

[Chris Walker]

How many will downgrade programming futher if distants go away?

I keep the supers althoiugh we dont use them much since they are part of the distants package....

how many will get a slingbox in the area of interest?

Yea I'll downgrade to where I am paying $0 and Directv will be my new provider. The distants are VERY important to me and I feel like if they do go, it's 100% due to Dish's incompetence.

 

[Chris Walker]

Does writing your local representatives actually do any good in this case? Is this an issue they can get involved with or is this simply a pissing match between the NAB and Dish? I ask this because I read Scott's comments about pressure on these folks because of an election year.

 

[hobojoe]

OK how about a sling box swapping program two people buy slings we search for the city we want and match that with someone that wants your city you each get a extra receiver to become dedicated to the sling box. kind of like a on line dating match but this is your TVs doing the dating. what do you think?

 

[riffjim4069]

The Slingbox pushes the boundary, but it is still legal for personal use to remotely access your free broadcast or paid cable/satellite programming. However, any Slingbox sharing/swapping program would seem to violate copyright laws. Personally, friends and family are fine, but I would be very careful with whom you share a Slingbox...could be a lawyer with the NAB or MPA on the other end.

 

[dishrich]

I looks like it doesnt matter because everybody will be cut off, legitimate or not. So you cant "move" your way out of this.

Of COURSE you can "move" your way out of this - on the contrary, "moving" will probably be on the increase due to this! The only thing is, if E* ends up dumping ALL distant service & puts ALL existing CONUS distants on spotbeams, you can still move to nearby/adjacent markets, of which their spotbeams cover your specific location. While obviously many people would not be able to get the likes of NY, LA & Denver, they could still get OOM nets & at least get something besides their crummy locals. (such as what ours are here )

At my location, I could choose from over 1/2 dozen DMA's besides my own - while some of them I would have NO interest in, other markets such as Chicago & St.Louis MORE than fill the bill for myself as alternate markets. (although I will miss having NY & LA, but I'll survive... )

 

[waltinvt]

Just wanted to link my post from the other "dns" thread. Maybe these should / could be merged?

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showpost.php?p=635630&postcount=5

 

[Cameron3395]

Well, this stinks for where I live and the 7 counties that surround because we only have 1 local channel (ABC) that we can get OTA and that's it. The only way to get the other networks is distant. Also, does this include the HD CBS from NY or how is that going to work?

 

[ryanvan]

I am a little confused. ARE we all not supposed to get locals?

 

[bhelms]

I am a little confused. ARE we all not supposed to get locals?

Welcome...!

You will still be able to get whatever channels from your own DMA that the sat. providers do local into local...

 

[jayn_j]

The satellite cost is the satellite cost whether its used for 1 or 1000 signals, i think looking at the incremental additional cost is what's important but Im not a economist. and isnt the network responsible for getting the signal to dish facilities?

Not true at all. DISH receives the channels over the air for the most part and sends them via leased lines to the uplink center. The uplink center sends them to the satellite. However, there is a technician who monitors signal quality, inserts the DISH specific materials (seems to be mostly those Enzyte commercials these days) and generally keeps things running smoothly. I have met a couple of the Cheyenne folks, being just down the road here, and they tell me that each technician is responsible for no more than about 3 channels.

Even ignoring expenses, there is a significant lease fee for transmission as well as at least 1/3 of a professional salary associated with each channel.

 

[mikew]

OK how about a sling box swapping program two people buy slings we search for the city we want and match that with someone that wants your city you each get a extra receiver to become dedicated to the sling box. kind of like a on line dating match but this is your TVs doing the dating. what do you think?

A very scary part about the Sling is the fact it is always connected to the internet and is always talking to Sling Media. If lawsuits are ever brought and an injunction against Sling ever comes, they could shut off all boxes with a simple command from their server.

 

[Jim S.]

The Slingbox isn't doing anything you couldn't do with a PC. Programming the IR blaster (I'm assuming it has an IR blaster) would be the only difficult part.