More Dish HD Network Feeds?

[mceb]

I currently have Dish 6000 in NJ area. I'm very glad to be getting the CBS-HD feed on channel 9453. Has there been any discusion on when Dish (or DirectTV) will ever be offering more network HD content? I've seen some recent discussions on ESPN and HDNet but nothing about adding ABC or NBC. Seems like adding a network channels might appeal to wider audience.

[Scott Greczkowski]

Welcome mceb :hi:

I don't think at this time we will see additional networks uplinked by Dish.

I believe that the number of owned and operated NBC and ABC stations is less then CBS, thus the signals would be serving a much smaller audience (while still costing the same to uplink)

Dish is always looking for the biggest bang for it's buck. :)

[mceb]

Thanks Scott. Depressing answer but I hope things start to pick up on that front in the future.

I'm probably a little too far out from NYC to pick up HD OTA without a monster antenna that I'm not sure would even work so cable (not yet here) and Dish are my only HD options right now. Funny how I've been watching much more CBS last year or so :)

[Scott Greczkowski]

I dont think NYC has any HD except for the CBS station (WCBS) all the other HD stations were lost on September 11th.

So I don't believe at this time a monster antenna will do you any good.

I know I see in other places people in NY trying to pick up HD signals from Connecticut stations.

[BobMurdoch]

The 921 will allow you to receive Over the air HDTV AND record it so we may not need the channels to be carried if you live close enough to a market transmitting in digital. I know this doesn't help the white areas, but we'll see what happens as 2006 approaches and more channels start moving to shut off their analog transmitters (assuming the FCC grows a backbone and makes them keep to the timetable... a big if, yet mandating digital tuners in all new TV sets was a ballsy move I wouldn't have expected if it didn't just happen)

[HTguy]

In one interview a few months ago an ABC executive said they weren't interested in satellite distribution at this time because they wanted to protect their affiliates' financial investments in the new digital transmitters.

Seems pretty short-sighted overall, especially when you consider the millions of viewers who will never have nearby local digital OTA or have LOS or other issues.

Even in big metro DMAs there are lots of potential HD content viewers via DBS who can't use an OTA antenna acceptably.