Developer looking to add DirecTV

[browe]

I'm a developer getting ready to break ground on a 70-unit condo project. We will have 8 buildings. Each building with either have 6, 8, or 10 units. I just happened to stumble across this subforum so the timing is perfect.

I'm a longtime DirecTV subscriber and want to offer DirecTV to my buyers but I also need to offer the local cable service as we know not everyone likes satellite. High speed internet is also going to be a requirement.

What do I need to do to make this happen?

What type of costs will I incur as the developer?

What type of costs will my homeowners have?

Will the condo association be responsible for bills or the end users?

[doctor j]

Multiple options.
Probably need to talk to local MDU Directv provider and your local cable commercial representative who can also probable discuss internet.
You can prewire for all of those and incorporate infrastructure into your building costs. A whole lot more expensive to rewire if planning not adequate prior to finalizing construction.
Your tenants will appreciate your forethought but don't expect them to want to pay much for it!

Doctor j

[AntAltMike]

Small building clusters are a "turkey" to set up for multiple TV services, but it is really "now or never" time, since it will never be cheaper and the fact that your condos will have multiple TV options available will be a plus when you market them that will be reflected in their selling price.

It is essential that you run at least two coaxes from a common junction room to each apartment. It is nice if they go through 1" conduit, such that future pulls of fiber or whatever are possible. It is also nice to run two coaxes from the residential junction point to each wallplate, even if you just leave the second coax in the wall, behind the plate.

DirecTV is not for everybody. Probably the best you can do for your residents is to have one DirecTV dish on each building and have an arrangement with a DirecTV MDU provider to have an "exclusive" on the property, such that they will furnish receivers and electronics distribution modules (SWM) as necessary. I wouldn't bother trying to get a deal on "bulk" or "Choice Limited". Your scale does not make that practical.

If you have a lot of foreigeners in your market, you might also want to make DISH Network available, but that is more difficult and awkward to arrange because DISH operates so many satellites, moves desirable programming from one to another, and can fully support no more than two tuners on one coax home run. The only time I tried to arrange for a few units in a condo to share the expenses of maintaining a DISH community antenna, it became too much of a headache for me to bother with.

[DirecTv Chicago]

I'm a developer getting ready to break ground on a 70-unit condo project. We will have 8 buildings. Each building with either have 6, 8, or 10 units. I just happened to stumble across this subforum so the timing is perfect.

I'm a longtime DirecTV subscriber and want to offer DirecTV to my buyers but I also need to offer the local cable service as we know not everyone likes satellite. High speed internet is also going to be a requirement.

What do I need to do to make this happen?

What type of costs will I incur as the developer?

What type of costs will my homeowners have?

Will the condo association be responsible for bills or the end users?


A couple legal things to remember. By law, as the developer, you are the majority owner of the building until you lose control of 75% of the building to tenants.

So initially you will incur all costs for the construction and implementation of whatever system you put in. The tenants will have to abide by any arrangement you develop with DirecTV, Comcast, Dish etc until 75% of the units are sold I believe. At that time they have 6 months to void any outstanding contracts the deveolper had created and begin their own. Some locations will just keep the same contract while others use this law as a way to get out of a bad contract the developer created.

[lifelong]

A couple legal things to remember. By law, as the developer, you are the majority owner of the building until you lose control of 75% of the building to tenants.

So initially you will incur all costs for the construction and implementation of whatever system you put in. The tenants will have to abide by any arrangement you develop with DirecTV, Comcast, Dish etc until 75% of the units are sold I believe. At that time they have 6 months to void any outstanding contracts the deveolper had created and begin their own. Some locations will just keep the same contract while others use this law as a way to get out of a bad contract the developer created.

I'd bet the farm that this isn't the law universally in every state.

[evtek]

We can help you accomplish this. We are a full service integration firm. We offer low voltage infrastructure, automation integration and DTV integration. I can be reached at vcypher@evtekpro.com.

[DirecTv Chicago]

We can help you accomplish this. We are a full service integration firm. We offer low voltage infrastructure, automation integration and DTV integration. I can be reached at vcypher@evtekpro.com.

I believe the previous poster is out of Florida while you provide services in Chicagoland only correct?

[evtek]

I believe the previous poster is out of Florida while you provide services in Chicagoland only correct?

It doesn't mean that I can't answer his questions and give him advice. I have developed condominiums and provided infrastructure for others.

I also teach MDU Sales and Development for CEDIA.

I am always willing to learn from other people's experience.