Eastern Arc type service for Directv??

[sundude90]

Why doesn't Directv offer A Eastern Arc Service like Dish.
- Dish offers there SD nationals in MPEG4 on there Eastern Arc service. Therefore providing them with an even better quality SD National Channels! Directv does NOT offer a service like this, but I feel they should!

I know Directv is mainly focusing on new HD channels, but they could focus on Both!

What do you think about this??

 

[charper1]

My feeling is they don't need to and it would be a waste of time, money and any R&D they needed to do. They should stick with HD and MPEG4 conversions.

 

[sundude90]

My feeling is they don't need to and it would be a waste of time, money and any R&D they needed to do. They should stick with HD and MPEG4 conversions.

Why?? Just saying if htey have Sat room, then why not do that. And dish can do it then why can't Directv. What is R&D? They can still focus on HD too!

 

[rad]

Why doesn't Directv offer A Eastern Arc Service like Dish.
- Dish offers there SD nationals in MPEG4 on there Eastern Arc service. Therefore providing them with an even better quality SD National Channels! Directv does NOT offer a service like this, but I feel they should!

I know Directv is mainly focusing on new HD channels, but they could focus on Both!

What do you think about this??

Have you read Scotts review of EA, he says it doesn't improve picture quailty IIRC, in fact E* went with the same lower resolution for the SD channels that their MPEG2 service has matching D*'s resolution. MPEG4 doesn't mean that PQ will be better, it just allows the companies to get comprable PQ using less bandwidth.

 

[Hemi 6.1]

My feeling is they don't need to and it would be a waste of time, money and any R&D they needed to do. They should stick with HD and MPEG4 conversions.

I agree, D* doesn't have the line of site issues that E* has. Quite honestly I think and always had thought D* has a better SD PQ then E*

 

[sundude90]

Have you read Scotts review of EA, he says it doesn't improve picture quailty IIRC, in fact E* went with the same lower resolution for the SD channels that their MPEG2 service has matching D*'s resolution. MPEG4 doesn't mean that PQ will be better, it just allows the companies to get comprable PQ using less bandwidth.

I have. I am saying all this, because I would really like Directv to offer some of my SD Nationals in MPEG 4. And because of the MPEG4, Directv wouldn't have to compress it as much as they do in MPEG4. But they could be like dish and compress it more, but I dought they would do that. My SD locals are in MPEG4 and the quality is better than my regular SD nationals, so becuase of that, I wish my SD nationals were also using the same technology, and hoping that Directv wouldn't have to compress them as much.

This is the only reason I want such a thing like this. I have never tried dish, so I don't know and i hope to never have too!

 

[goaliebob99]

While we all agree that they need to convert National SD to Mpeg 4, can you imagin all the boxes out there that would need to get replaced. Who's going to cover that cost.

 

[rad]

I have. I am saying all this, because I would really like Directv to offer some of my SD Nationals in MPEG 4. And because of the MPEG4, Directv wouldn't have to compress it as much as they do in MPEG4. But they could be like dish and compress it more, but I dought they would do that. My SD locals are in MPEG4 and the quality is better than my regular SD nationals, so becuase of that, I wish my SD nationals were also using the same technology, and hoping that Directv wouldn't have to compress them as much.

This is the only reason I want such a thing like this. I have never tried dish, so I don't know and i hope to never have too!

Yes, it would be great if D* would convert everything to MPEG4 but as others have responded to you in other threads, it would cost D* a ton of money to replace millions of set top boxes just to get to MPEG4 for improved PQ. What's the real CBA for D* to do this? IIRC, D* is the #3 provider out there and yes they might pick up some subscribers if they had better PQ but I doubt that it would be enough to justify the many millions of dollars for box swap outs. IMHO, if D* had plans to go to an all MPEG4 service they would have been putting in MPEG4 chip sets when they started their own line of receivers ( back to the R15 rollout ) but didn't.

BTW, D* customers had b*tched about SD PQ when they started adding all the SD local into local channels and nothing has ever happened. Back before then PQ was VERY good, it was close to DVD quailty, but I doubt you'll ever see that again.

 

[Matt9876]

DirecTVs 99-101-103 HD/SD service is actually much better than the eastern arc due to the Ka band satellites and location in the sky.

 

[gadgtfreek]

I just cant get over the hard on for SD. I say quit worrying with SD and do what is needed to add HD and great PQ.

 

[sundude90]

I just cant get over the hard on for SD. I say quit worrying with SD and do what is needed to add HD and great PQ.

I would say do both. I really wonder if Directv could broadcast some MPEG 4 SD Nationals from another satellite while still broadcasting the normal SD MPEG 2 Nationals from 101. If they have the room to do that, then I think they should do it!!!

 

[shibby191]

First off, DirecTV doesn't need an EA type service. They don't have the bandwidth or satellite issues that Dish does. They are just fine from their core slot locations of 99/101/103. Besides, HD is their focus as that is were everyone is going.

Second, cost. It would cost hundreds of millions to replace 40+ million SD receivers. Again, just not worth it. However their long term plan seems to be going in that direction and let attrition take care of it. They are really close already to only giving out MPEG4 receivers to new subs and as replacements for any existing customers. Reason is below. So over time, with more and more people getting MPEG4 receivers in 5-8 years the majority of their customers might just have it and if they chose to switch to all MPEG4 it wouldn't cost as much. But for now they isn't a single reason why they would need switch all their SD to MPEG4.

I would say do both. I really wonder if Directv could broadcast some MPEG 4 SD Nationals from another satellite while still broadcasting the normal SD MPEG 2 Nationals from 101. If they have the room to do that, then I think they should do it!!!

Actually they do in some cases. There are already several SD locals in MPEG4 on the new KA sats (99/103). Most likely many of the SD markets at 72.5 will be moved to the KA sats. And the LA DNS channels are in MPEG4 on the 101 sat (or were over the summer, I think they were shut down by now in favor of the versions on the KA sats). So they are using MPEG4 for SD and on the main 101 sat as needed.