Retailer Chat highlights from 2/07/06

[rgerst]

I currently have a superdish pointed at 110/119 and 105 for locals feeding a 510 and a 301. If I read this correctly my locals will be moved over to 110 which would allow me to receive the HD channels at 129 using the Dish1000?? I was about to call for an upgrade to 622 and I was told I would need a 2nd dish for HD. Should I wait until my locals move to 110 so that I only need 1 dish?

 

[Chris Freeland]

Thank goodness for the riddance of SUPERD105!!! I wish they'd get rid of SUPERD121 too. But I guess there's no slot for them right now with HD on 61.5 and more western cities going 129 for locals leaving 148 to die out maybe.

I doubt 148 will die out, I suspect only HD locals from the largest West and Midwest markets will go 129, most will end up on 148. E* needs to leave enough space on both 129 and 61.5 for additional National HD channels as they become available. I suspect that the 121 SuperDish will remain the main spot for International channels for years to come. It will be interesting to see what E* does with 105 once the locals their are moved to 110.

 

[Jason Kragt]

How much does all of this channel swapping cost Dish? I'm no expert, but it seems like they made short-sighted decisions about how they were going to use Superdish, and now apparently phase much of it out. I know that from the consumer's point of view, Dish will probably pay the bill for dish swaps (assuming they can get a programming committment from the customer in return), but these swaps and home visits can't be doing much good for Dish Network's bottom line.

 

[TNGTony]

How much does all of this channel swapping cost Dish?

If the channels move from anything other than 110/119 to 110/119 it costs Dish virtually nothing to move them. In the mean time they were able to sign up millions of customers who otherwise would have not signed up because locals was a "must have". Dish owns 121 so that one will remain. They lease 105 so that will be the first to go. One thing I see is Dish coming out with a SuperDish1000 (or Super-Duper Dish) which can get 110/119/121/129. The superdish 121 can already do this with minor modification.

See ya
Tony

 

[SummitAdvantageRetailer]

If the channels move from anything other than 110/119 to 110/119 it costs Dish virtually nothing to move them. In the mean time they were able to sign up millions of customers who otherwise would have not signed up because locals was a "must have". Dish owns 121 so that one will remain. They lease 105 so that will be the first to go. One thing I see is Dish coming out with a SuperDish1000 (or Super-Duper Dish) which can get 110/119/121/129. The superdish 121 can already do this with minor modification.

See ya
Tony

That's a good dish for almost anyone out there EXCEPT for those in the Northeast where the 129 footprint doesn't cover it. They'll need to come up with a 5-satellite switch or a 6-satellite switch once they make those dishes.

Here's one "nightmare" scenario for which I'm talking about:

Customer that wants DishHD Gold package with Baltimore, MD locals AND Great Wall (or German or similar programming that's ONLY on 121)

105 - Baltimore, MD locals
110 - National channels
119 - National channels
121 - Internationals
61.5 - MPEG4 and Voom HD channels for the northeast US.

The setup above will require SuperDISH105, SuperDISH121, and a D300/D500 for 61.5. Until they put the 105 locals on the 110, this customer will need some sort of 5x4 switch!

 

[Juan]

I thought they were "abandoning" the 105 slot?

 

[Chris Freeland]

That's a good dish for almost anyone out there EXCEPT for those in the Northeast where the 129 footprint doesn't cover it. They'll need to come up with a 5-satellite switch or a 6-satellite switch once they make those dishes.

Here's one "nightmare" scenario for which I'm talking about:

Customer that wants DishHD Gold package with Baltimore, MD locals AND Great Wall (or German or similar programming that's ONLY on 121)

105 - Baltimore, MD locals
110 - National channels
119 - National channels
121 - Internationals
61.5 - MPEG4 and Voom HD channels for the northeast US.

The setup above will require SuperDISH105, SuperDISH121, and a D300/D500 for 61.5. Until they put the 105 locals on the 110, this customer will need some sort of 5x4 switch!

Only 4 will be needed, which most E* receivers can already support with the proper switch installed, all Baltimore, MD and all other 105 and 121 locals locals are being moved to 110 once E10 is up and operating(launching in about 1 hour), so that means that your Baltimore, MD sub that you mentioned would only need a SuperDish for 110, 119 and 121 and a Dish 300/500 pointed at 61.5. Their will be no more locals on 105 or 121 after E10 is operational.

I thought they were "abandoning" the 105 slot?

They are as far as locals go and possibly all together since 105 was a leased location. E* could however decide to keep it and possibly place more Internationals their, move some or all 61.5 and 148 Internationals their or mirror the one's on 121 if 105 can reach area's that 121 can't, or do some kind of business service or even sub-lease over their, who knows for sure.

 

[Stargazer]

Isn't 105 where they were going to do the internet from?

What about those markets that went from 105 to 129 and still has locals on 105? If they do not move those markets to 110 then they would have to swap those customers to a Dish1000 dish.

 

[russ222]

will the universal be on my 811???

 

[mike123abc]

That's a good dish for almost anyone out there EXCEPT for those in the Northeast where the 129 footprint doesn't cover it. They'll need to come up with a 5-satellite switch or a 6-satellite switch once they make those dishes.

Here's one "nightmare" scenario for which I'm talking about:

Customer that wants DishHD Gold package with Baltimore, MD locals AND Great Wall (or German or similar programming that's ONLY on 121)

105 - Baltimore, MD locals
110 - National channels
119 - National channels
121 - Internationals
61.5 - MPEG4 and Voom HD channels for the northeast US.

The setup above will require SuperDISH105, SuperDISH121, and a D300/D500 for 61.5. Until they put the 105 locals on the 110, this customer will need some sort of 5x4 switch!

Actually you can do this already. I have my 811 hooked up to 61.5, 110, 119, 121 and 129 at this time.

You just have to have a DPP44 and a DP21(s). I have tested it with the 921/301/811. Of course there are disadvantages like you cannot use the DPPseparator and you have to have a DP21 for each of the connections.

 

[Chris Freeland]

Isn't 105 where they were going to do the internet from?

What about those markets that went from 105 to 129 and still has locals on 105? If they do not move those markets to 110 then they would have to swap those customers to a Dish1000 dish.

It does seam like I read this somewhere a while back too, however according to several reports in the media, D* and E* are in negotiations to do a terrestrial Internet service (Wi-Max) in a joint venture, which would not have the latency problems as satellite Internet. E* might continue to pursue some satellite Internet as a back-up for their D* and E* Wi-Fi service, perhaps for those who live to far from a cell phone tower to receive service terrestrially. If E* does this they could use 105 and a Superdish for those so far out in the boonies that they are out of reach of the cell towers that D* and E* are using.

I suspect that those markets that went from 105 to 129 and still has locals on 105 will also move to 110. Those current subs that have either a Dish1000 or a Superdish will still have 110 access, they will not even notice. I suspect all SD locals on 129 will also move to 110 as well as those with split SD locals. E10 is a large spotbeam satellite and it only makes since to move locals from conus or partial conus to spotbeams, this way they can make room on 129 for additional National HD's, some local HD's, 61.5 would have a simulcast of all National HD's and local HD's, Rainbow 1 at 61.5 is a spotbeam satellite and could handle quite a few East coast local HD's. I also expect their will be many local HD's on 148 as well and I would not be surprised to see all Internationale's that are currently on 61.5 and 148 moved to 121 or possibly some could go to 105, most are already simulcast or exclusively on 121 already. When all the dust clears, I believe 129 and the 61.5 and 148 wing location's will be all or mostly all HD.

 

[SummitAdvantageRetailer]

Actually you can do this already. I have my 811 hooked up to 61.5, 110, 119, 121 and 129 at this time.

You just have to have a DPP44 and a DP21(s). I have tested it with the 921/301/811. Of course there are disadvantages like you cannot use the DPPseparator and you have to have a DP21 for each of the connections.

Thanks, buddy. That was my second question. We've yet come across a customer that'll need a 5 satellite solution in the Baltimore, MD locals area but I'm sure we'll see at least a couple before the 105 locals move over to 110. Let's see the economics of doing a 5x4 system:

DPP44 Switch: Retail $199 x 1 = $199
DP21 Switch: Retail $29 x 4 = $116

Wow, a costly setup. Hopefully 105 will go away soon! The sight of 2 SUPERDISHes are not very neighborhood friendly!

 

[BoisePaul]

Thanks, buddy. That was my second question. We've yet come across a customer that'll need a 5 satellite solution in the Baltimore, MD locals area but I'm sure we'll see at least a couple before the 105 locals move over to 110. Let's see the economics of doing a 5x4 system:

DPP44 Switch: Retail $199 x 1 = $199
DP21 Switch: Retail $29 x 4 = $116

Wow, a costly setup. Hopefully 105 will go away soon! The sight of 2 SUPERDISHes are not very neighborhood friendly!

Wait, wouldn't this solution require 4 dishes now (1 SD121, 1 SD105, and 2 dishes for 61.5?)? Otherwise how are you going to get 4 feeds from 61.5 to run into each of the DP21's? I've never seen a single-position LNB with 4 outputs.

 

[Darkman]

It was a long Chat.. almost 2 hours :

 

[Darkman]

I got this from a friend of mine who works for Dish, and since Scott felt so bad about missing the chat this morning, I thought I would just pass this highlight reel along for him. From what I understand, they really pushed the new Pre-Paid Dish solution for retailers. Remember, this is just the talking points, for complete explinations of the points, you will have to catch the chat, for I can't help much there. Enjoy!

This was great piece of Info! (The Recap)

Can you get something simular for every future Retailer Chat as well, maybe?

Would be great...

 

[RVD420]

Why do I see the new Dishnetwork Prepaid Plan as something that may cater to pirates?

 

[Darkman]

Should not be a big deal though.. (Re: DISH's Pre-Paid vs. pirates)

Or so i think anyhow.. - cuz pirate would have to pay $99 (receiver) + $30 (a Pre-Paid Card) .. and maybe $19.99 (self install kit) as well (but more likely That's optional) .. so it's $129 dollars minimum already right there...

And i am sure pirates might have other alternatives where to find something simular for $129 dollars or less...

 

[dogpoobob]

When will the Olympic HD channels (9419 and 9426) begin to broadcast? I checked today and they aren't yet listed. Do you think they will be on during the whole Olympics?

 

[Stargazer]

Dish Network may figure that it would be better to get something than nothing and to get new subscribers that still owe a previous balance.

 

[Darkman]

Universal HD .. they said will be on 9426 and 9427 (NOT 9419)