Why not integrate Off Air with receivers?

[cicijay]

Why doesn't Dish just offer an off air tuner in all of their receivers that integrates in with the menu's and forget about locals? I have no chance of ever seeing my locals on the Dish (really small market) and wouldn't pay the extra anyway.

In many posts, a big reason for getting the locals is to have the PVR features available. When the 921 comes out, why would I ever want locals from Dish when I will be able to get HD signals integated in with the receiver? It seems like our FCC doesn't want to allow us to have anything but off-air or cable locals anyway. Even if the FCC allowed us 'Free Choice' of networks, (like Canadian Sat), I'd still want off-air locals.

I see no way Dish can go back now

Just something I have been wondering about:confused:

[Bob Haller]

Well in many areas OTA doesnt work good and even digital has it problems. A analog ghost can equal a Digital blackout. With 70% of LILs carried now and truthfully I wouldnt be shocked if one provider goes for 100% LIL carriage.

The need is way reduced.

BTW LIL is more than JUST paying the $ for the channels.

Intergrated guide, no off air antenna to maintain or clutter your roof, no rotor needed if stations are in different directions, its a lot more convenient.

I think the day dbs says top 60 and above INCUDES LIL is nearly here. Cable gets way too much mileage out of DBS charges extra for your locals.

[shilton]

Originally posted by Bob Haller

I think the day dbs says top 60 and above INCUDES LIL is nearly here. Cable gets way too much mileage out of DBS charges extra for your locals.
Have to say I agree...this probably WILL happen but NOT UNTIL Dish and DirecTV can each say they cover MOST of America (At least the top 100-125 markets or so). TH eother DMA's may never make good financial sense to enter into and at least right now, there just isn't the bandwidth. Once they hit this milestone, they most likely will be able to pull off "rolling them in for free". Until then, I doubt it...after all there are those of us out there who would quickly say "Hey...I am paying the same price AND getting fewer channels since my locals aren't offered".

[jerryez]

Dish already offers a receiver that picks up the locals OTA, it is the Dish 6000. I have one and it works perfectly with an outside antenna. If everyone wanted this type of receiver, they would buy the Dish 6000 and other models would not be sold. Other models are only available because people buy them.

[dbronstein]

Originally posted by jerryez
Dish already offers a receiver that picks up the locals OTA, it is the Dish 6000. I have one and it works perfectly with an outside antenna. If everyone wanted this type of receiver, they would buy the Dish 6000 and other models would not be sold. Other models are only available because people buy them.

I don't know about that. I think a lot of customers have absolutely no idea about the different receivers that are available. They just get the ones that are given to them when they purchase the system. When I bougth mine, nobody asked me which receivers I wanted or what features I wanted. They just gave me two receivers. And I would say there are a lot of customers like that who just see an ad and call an installer.

Dennis

[Scott Greczkowski]

Why put tuners into non HD receivers? If they did this you would only get a short period of time you could use your off air tuner.

I do think however that ALL HD Receivers should also have built in off air tuners.

[Rangers Fan]

All digital sets staring in late 2004 will have built in ATSC/cable digital tuners - to receive OTA & cable HD without additional boxes. - satellite is odd player out of the loop
3 different consumer satellite standards in North America alone - just doesn't cut it with the Asian/European TV mfgs

[Mike123abc]

I absolutely love the way the 6000 can recieve OTA and cable. I use it all the time to watch my local channels. It even will do the info button on them to tell me about the shows (you put in the station call letters when you program the locals in).

The 6000 is a bit quirky though. You can press info and it will give you the information on the show you are watching, yet the name of the show just says "Local Programming". It can tell you who is in the show, and what the subject is, but it won't give you the name except during "Prime Time".

The 6000 only has current and next show guide information, no looking in the future. Also, no PiP when looking at the guide, it even turns off audio.

[Jacob S]

Could they use those cable receivers inside the digital tv's be used with satellite or is that just not possible because of the transponders, tuner, and so forth?

If one's locals are not available then they could offer an alternative package to make up for it and if they already have that package purchased then they could offer a discount to that customer or a few ppv's for free each month or something.

[DmitriA]

Originally posted by Bob Haller
With 70% of LILs carried now

Ok. Let's see. 210 DMAs in the U.S. I don't remember the exact number that Dish and DirecTV carry but it's in the 50-60s range (and for a number of them, they don't even carry all the networks - at least Dish doesn't), which amounts to 30% tops. Not even close to 70