New HD Channels in Jan???

[Pakbackr]

I am currently a D* customer, but have been considering moving to Dish now for months. Today, I finally took the time to call Dish to get all my questions answered.

The rep I spoke with (Carlos) said that Dish plans to increase their HD channels from 31 current to 45 in January. He also said that they would increase to 75 HD channels by end of June and then over 100 by the end of 2007. I have to admit that I seriously don't believe any of this, but again, it came directly from a Dish representative. If not true, then he out and out lied!

So, just curious; any of you long-time Dish customers heard this one before and is there any truth to it? If so, I am calling back tomorrow and scheduling my install date!

 

[AlexTheOne]

While we are all hoping to soon see additional HD channels (like: INHD, MHD, RSNs, A&EHD, Wealth...) I think the numbers CSR gave you represent more the local markets E* is trying add local HD programming. To my best knowledge at this moment there is just no 75/100 different national HD channels offered by studios or providers to match such numbers.

Also, you will soon learn that every time you call E*'s support each CSR will probably give you different answers. For more and better info I would stick with message boards like this one or if you call E*'s support always try to get to tech support (most of us got better help from them).

In any case, E* is, at this moment, offering more HD programming than any other provider so it is not bad service to have.

 

[lakebum431]

My guess is the increase to 45 is the RSNs. The next increase I have no idea.

 

[Jim5506]

Considering that some Dish reps dont know what an HDMI cable is, I would not rely on their competency in predicting what Dish's programming will be. But, I hope you are right.

 

[mdonnelly]

A CSR lied? I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you!

Don't believe anything from Dish until you see it in a press release.

 

[Kikkenit2]

D* and E* are both promising lots of new hd channels soon. Crap shoot. They have no bandwidth available at this time.

 

[BFG]

dish has not counted local hd channels in their counts and it would be false to count rsns to because they are local as well and wont be received nationally

now elminating that I can't really think of 14 channels they could be wanting to add so it was probably fluff

 

[Foxbat]

Maybe they'll add HD music channels to get their HD channel count up?

 

[Tom Bombadil]

If they drop the bandwidth per channel down to around 8Mbps, they could squeeze some more in.

 

[BlackHitachi]

If they drop the bandwidth per channel down to around 8Mbps, they could squeeze some more in.

NOOOO don't give them any new ideas!

 

[Kikkenit2]

If they drop the bandwidth per channel down to around 8Mbps, they could squeeze some more in.

I hope you were joking.

 

[Claude Greiner]

The rep I spoke with (Carlos) said that Dish plans to increase their HD channels from 31 current to 45 in January. He also said that they would increase to 75 HD channels by end of June and then over 100 by the end of 2007

Why do people have to lie to potential customers just to make a dam sale. As a dealer I have to put up with hearing this crap about 2-3 times per week and then having to spend the time explaining the truth, and being under the impression from the customer that they don't believe me.

The biggest pet peeve I have right now is customers who call and says "DISH Network is going to have internet by the end of the year" People lets face it, DISH Network is not going to be offering their own internet service anytime soon.

Dish did offer Starband, and they are reselling Wild Blue and some DSL service, but lets face it Dish does not have internet!.

The HD is believable, and I could see them adding the RSN's but I know just about as much as Scott when it comes to this stuff, and he hasn't heard anything solid and I haven't heard anything. Best case scenario, I'll find out in January at CES!

 

[MikeD-C05]

Claude how much is the hdpack going up by the end of next year to compensate for the 100 hd channels? I know that Dish isn't going to give us them for the same $20.00 right? They just jacked the price up by $10.00 on the Plat pack so I know that they aren't going to give them to us free.

 

[jimboeau]

D* and E* are both promising lots of new hd channels soon. Crap shoot. They have no bandwidth available at this time.

D* has no bandwidth now. E* does have plenty of bandwidth available now.

 

[nlk10010]

D* has no bandwidth now. E* does have plenty of bandwidth available now.

I have no expertise in this area but I really find it hard to believe that E* has bandwidth available. One of the reasons is that the NHLCI-HD, NBA-HD and HD-PPV all share one channel (9467). E* can only show one at a time. If only to get more revenue I would think they would try to show as much PPV as they could.

I have a sneaking suspicion we're not going to see any more HD from E* until they get more satellites up. D*, maybe. However, I'm still happy I switched from the latter to the former: I've been enjoying all the extra HD channels and when (if) D* gets more I can always switch back.

=NLK=

 

[Poke]

Well right now there is only so many new "National Channels" of HD out there. I would like to see the RSN added. I see Dish and Direct mainly adding more locals in HD due to there are more of them available. The other National Channels which everyone could get would be like MTVHD,A&EHD,History Channel HD. If Sci-FI channel gets a HD channel sometime next year that would be nice. Either way we some channels added next year.

 

[HokieEngineer]

If they drop the bandwidth per channel down to around 8Mbps, they could squeeze some more in.

They are testing 6 h.264 HD channels on one 8psk transponder @ 148W

 

[animalhouse]

They are testing 6 h.264 HD channels on one 8psk transponder @ 148W

X 10

 

[Poke]

Hmm is their a uplink report showing what channels they are testing??

 

[Tom Bombadil]

If they are using the next generation of Tandberg h.264 encoders, those are supposed to easily handle 6 HD channels per transponder, supposedly at very high quality.