New DishHD Packages to be added February

[technoguy]

Charlie Ergen is on suicide mode.

 

[mdonnelly]

Hmm, Universal HD made this list.

 

[Petrovich]

Well, if it stands as it is, nothing will keep me with E anymore.

 

[Sean Mota]

I am ready to upgrade but this line completly confuses me and does not addresses the current customers with 942

"The ViP622 DVR will be available in the first quarter of 2006 for a one-time upgrade price of $299 for new lease customers, which includes a dish antenna and free standard professional installation (monthly DVR fee applies)."

What is the upgrade?

 

[philhu]

Are the old voom channels staying mpg-2?

 

[tomdkat]

read the press release
The cutting-edge ViP622 DVR also features reverse, fast-forward, and pause as well as a picture-in-picture feature on any TV and the ability to record Dolby Digital(R) when available. The ViP622 DVR will be available in the first quarter of 2006 for a one-time upgrade price of $299 for new lease customers, which includes a dish antenna and free standard professional installation (monthly DVR fee applies).


says nothing about existing subs....

They also had that press release about hitting the 12 million subscriber mark. Wonder how many existing subs they will lose

 

[NightRyder]

Hope I wont lose my distant locals.....

If you drop and become a new customer, you will...along with any grandfathered package/warranty pricing you may have.


NightRyder

 

[CJPC]

Im guessing upgrade from a normal box, a few months ago when i signed back up, it was a $20 'upgrade' fee to get a 625, so probably the same stuff (like with the 942)

 

[Ilya]

I think they mean upgrade price compared to the standard (SD) price.
In any case they are talking about new customers, not the existing ones.

 

[riffjim4069]

I am ready to upgrade but this line completly confuses me and does not addresses the current customers with 942

"The ViP622 DVR will be available in the first quarter of 2006 for a one-time upgrade price of $299 for new lease customers, which includes a dish antenna and free standard professional installation (monthly DVR fee applies)."

What is the upgrade?

I would like to know the answer to that question. I am gladly willing to pay $49 to upgrade my leased 942 ($299 - $250). And I am willing to pay $0 to upgrade the 942 I purchased for Christmas. It's under warranty and if I am unable to subscribe to HD programming with my HD receiver because of changes E* made, then the receiver is being returned.

 

[Sean Mota]

This is all well and dandy but Today is 1/5/06 that means that E* has 26 days in which is going to make the 622 MPEG4 available. This is so frustrating that their plans includes MPEG4 equipment when they do not have any MPEG4 equipment outside their own warehouse.

 

[JohnH]

Well, a DISH1000 will not work in New York City. New York HD likely only on 61.5.

There are press releases about the HD fiasco. I am going to buy a D* AT9, stick it up there and get me some local HD via a receiver which likely will be free. Already get ESPN2 HD and Universal HD. The Leader is lagging, hence the term Laggard.

 

[dont24]

This is all well and dandy but Today is 1/5/06 that means that E* has 26 days in which is going to make the 622 MPEG4 available. This is so frustrating that their plans includes MPEG4 equipment when they do not have any MPEG4 equipment outside their own warehouse.

And the HD chat is the 9th? I doubt they'll announce any type of existing customer upgrades until then. That'll give them 22 days to get hardware in our hands.

 

[patrickpiteo]

What about if you lease the 942?

 

[rthomp03]

They are out of their freaking minds! Didn't Charlie just last month say that Mpeg-4 wasn't ready? Why put new channels in a format VERY few people will be able to view? I know, let's force everyone to upgrade to a new box (it'll work fine, trust us) at a nice profit for us as well. They are really agrivating me.

 

[RIRWIN1983]

Because Dish Network is a bunch of morons.
I might take that free DirecTV deal after all. I can't upgrade for a while anyway, so why pay Dish more. I can get DirecTV for free.

Thats what i've done and so far will not be looking back it seems like, glad that i believed my gut instince and switched yesterday.

 

[Poke]

Well since they are makeing the changes like this for the new HD Channels plus MPEG4. They should give HD Subscribers a free upgrade to the MPEG4 receivers or a really good deal to upgrade.

 

[Lucky]

Thats what i've done and so far will not be looking back it seems like, glad that i believed my gut instince and switched yesterday.

I may be joining you. I have to see what the upgrade policy is. I have two leased 811's and I will not be at Dish for a full year until May so I may just go for the free DirecTV box.

 

[brian24740]

DISH Network Launches Nation's Largest HD Package - DishHD, Featuring Local HD Channels and New VOOM HD Channels

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 5, 2006--

Most National Content plus World's First MPEG4 HD DVR Establishes
DISH Network as Industry Leader for HDTV
EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) and its DISH Network(TM) satellite TV service announced today from the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show the rollout of its new high-definition television package, DishHD. By offering the most HD channels in the pay-TV industry and with the introduction of a new line of advanced satellite receivers, DishHD gives its customers more than 1,700 hours a week of HD content from the nation's top programmers.

DISH Network is expanding its HD channel lineup in 2006 by adding five new original VOOM channels -- bringing the total to 15 -- as well as other new HD networks including ESPN2 HD and Universal HD. In addition, DISH Network will launch high-definition local channels through its satellite service in up to 50 markets in 2006, starting with Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York in February, and reaching more than 50 percent of U.S. TV households with local HD channels. The remainder of the country's local HD channels will be offered to DISH Network customers via an off-air antenna solution.

DishHD offers 25 national HD channels plus local broadcast channels where available, providing more than 200 hours of HD programming every day. Cable companies, with a national average of just 10 HD channels, cannot come close to the robust lineup of DishHD.

With up to four different programming packages to choose from, DishHD customers can find an option that best fits their viewing needs. For as little as $54.99 a month, customers can access the entire 25-channel DishHD lineup, and get more than 70 all-digital standard definition channels plus their local channels in standard and high definition.

Current DishHD channels include:

VOOM Networks
Discovery HD -----------------
ESPN HD Animania HD Monsters HD
HBO HD Equator HD Rave HD
HD Net Film Fest HD Rush HD
HD Net Movies Gallery HD Ultra HD
HD Pay-Per-View HD News Kung Fu HD
Showtime HD
TNT HD
On Feb. 1, DISH Network will begin transmitting newly added HD channels in MPEG4, a signal compression standard developed by MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group). MPEG4 allows DISH Network to maximize the bandwidth available on its satellites and offer the most robust lineup of HD channels in the nation.

New DishHD channels available only in MPEG4 include:

VOOM Networks
ESPN2 HD ------------------
Universal HD Family Room HD
HD Locals Gameplay HD
Treasure HD
World Cinema HD
WorldSport HD
DISH Network is also introducing at CES a new series of satellite receivers that combine MPEG4 and MPEG2 signal capability. The cutting-edge ViP Series combines state-of-the-art imaging technology with life-like Dolby(R) Digital 5.1 surround sound for the best picture and sound quality available. Existing customers with MPEG2 equipment, such as the DISH Player DVR 942, will continue to receive all their current content and will need to upgrade to a ViP Series receiver to receive the new HD channels. DISH Network will offer a convenient upgrade package for existing customers who want to expand their HD lineup to include the new channels.

The ViP211(TM) HD satellite receiver, the first model in the ViP series that supports both MPEG4 and MPEG2, is available through DISH Network for only $49.99 for new lease customers.

Also included in the ViP series is the ViP622(TM) DVR, the world's first MPEG4 multi-room high definition and digital video recorder satellite TV receiver with the ability to view independent programs -- one in high definition and one in standard definition programming -- on two televisions at once. No other pay-TV company offers this innovative combination. It features a massive hard drive with a recording capacity of up to 25 hours of high-definition and up to 180 hours of standard-definition content.

The cutting-edge ViP622 DVR also features reverse, fast-forward, and pause as well as a picture-in-picture feature on any TV and the ability to record Dolby Digital(R) when available. The ViP622 DVR will be available in the first quarter of 2006 for a one-time upgrade price of $299 for new lease customers, which includes a dish antenna and free standard professional installation (monthly DVR fee applies).

The ViP622 DVR also features:

-- Digital/analog off-air tuner

-- Up to 9-day, Picture-In-Guide, Widescreen Electronic
Program Guide (EPG)

-- High-Definition Resolutions: 480p, 720p, 1080i (480i is
up-converted)

-- Records two programs simultaneously in high definition,
but programs can be viewed in standard definition on other
TVs in the home.
The ViP622 DVR offers DISH Network's convenience and features that customers have grown to depend on, including parental controls, electronic program guide, picture in guide and name-based recording.

Consumers can call 1-800-333-DISH (3474) or visit www.DISHNetwork.com for more information.

About EchoStar

 

[Lucky]

Well since they are makeing the changes like this for the new HD Channels plus MPEG4. They should give HD Subscribers a free upgrade to the MPEG4 receivers or a really good deal to upgrade.

Yes, they should but will they ? NO WAY