Could RSNs go to Spotbeams?

[HDRoberts]

This is a question that has been in the back of my mind for a while. I'm sure you will all jump in to tell me why this isn't feasible.

RSN interest is primarily limited to a small geographic area, one or maybe a couple more DMAs. Fox example, not too many people, aside from ultra baseball fans, are interested in seeing Sports Time Ohio outside of Cleveland. Why not place it on a spotbeam instead of using a CONUS spot?

Of course, there are a few problems with this, but I would think the benefits would outweigh the problems. First, there may not be enough space on each spotbeam. But this could be, to an extent, designed for in future satellites with more spots in more locations. It may not work for all, but every CONUS spot cleared helps. Second, this would get rid of the sports pack. It would also prevent Dish from offering HD Extra Innings, The NBA out of market plan (I forget its name) in HD, and HD Center Ice, as these (I believe) are just remaps of the local RSN coverage. But I think most big sports fans are at DirecTV anyway. I think Dish could cede this market to DirecTV, focusing just on making sure the casual fan can catch their local teams.

So what else am I missing? Is this the stupidest idea you've ever heard, or is this a reasonable proposal?

 

[Voyager6]

No, that is a reasonable proposal but both E* & D* are counting the RSN's as national HD channels. D* has converted most of the RSN's to CONUS and made them available to most subscribers. Need to keep that National HD channel count up.

 

[JEFFinINDY]

No, that is a reasonable proposal but both E* & D* are counting the RSN's as national HD channels. D* has converted most of the RSN's to CONUS and made them available to most subscribers. Need to keep that National HD channel count up.

Well, there's that conspiracy theory, plus I think both companies sell sports packages to anyone who wants to have them all.

 

[Voyager6]

Well, there's that conspiracy theory, plus I think both companies sell sports packages to anyone who wants to have them all.

The only way E*, or D* for that matter, can get to 150 HD channels by year end is to count all the RSN's as national HD channels.

 

[tomcrown1]

On dish anyone can buy the sport pack which includes all of the RSN in both SD and never see HD

 

[HDRoberts]

So channel count is the reason? When Dish wills up, can they not swap out a couple RSNs for a regular national channel? That's why I would propose that, to build more space so they could say "We have 130 national HDs, plus your local sports networks available 24/7, while the other guys offer you 20 sports networks you have to pay $XXX dollars to get 24/7" To me, that is more powerful than "We have 150 national HDs" which includes 20 RSNs you don't get.

How many TPs does Dish devote to RSNs, and how many RSNs do they carry (not including BTN)?