Programming News from Dish Network

[Scott Greczkowski]

Here is the latest in Programming news which I have received from Dish Network. Not much to report this month but for all those of you who crave this info, here it is.

• Cleveland Indians: Unfortunately, FOX Sports Ohio has made some of the Cleveland Indians games available to DISH Network subscribers for additional fees. The fee would ultimately lead to an increase in our customer’s monthly bill. Therefore, to protect DISH Network customers, we will only offer about half of the 150 Indians’ games this season. We would like to offer the extra games on an a la carte basis to customers that wish to purchase them, however FOX Sports Ohio has not allowed us this flexibility. Make sure to check the program guide or dishnetwork.com for information about the games DISH Network will broadcast on FOX Sports Ohio.

• Great news for international customers! We recently announced that we are preparing to launch up to 100 new international television channels this summer! We intend to launch new channels from India, Middle East, Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Africa, China and more! DISH Network will be able to provide a one-dish solution for customers seeking news, sports, and entertainment from around the world, in addition to a robust selection of American programming packages! These new channels will launch with the EchoStar IX Satellite which is being launched to the 121 orbital location, will be broadcast in Ku-band, and will require a slightly larger size dish.

LOCALS UPDATE (Remember: a DISH 500 system is required to activate locals)

• Sioux Falls, SD: On April 10, 2003, we launched Sioux Falls local programming with ABC, CBS, FOX and two PBS stations. At this time, however, we do not have an agreement with NBC. These local channels are available for $5.99 a month with a $1.00 credit until NBC is included.
• Huntsville, AL: On March 20, 2003, DISH Network launched local programming from the Huntsville DMA. At this time, however, we do not have an agreement with ABC or FOX. We will charge $5.99 a month with a $1 credit until the ABC and FOX Networks are available.
• Individual stations are not sold a la carte, and Sioux Falls and Huntsville locals are not available as Distant Networks. With these additions our total number of local markets has now reached 63!

• Soccer fans? Beginning April 12, 2003 through October 26, 2003, don’t miss the Major League Soccer Shootout on Channels 455-465. This package is only $49 which includes regular season and select playoff games! Go to dishnetwork.com/soccer to order!
• Boxing fans? For only $49.95, tune in to see De La Hoya vs. Campas, May 3, 2003, 9:00 pm E.T. Go to dishnetwork.com/ppv to order or for more information.

And there you have it!

[RAD]

Scott, you forgot to mention no new HDTV programming announced. But hurry and get your 8PSK module, so if we ever do provide any new programming you'll be ready. Sorry, but I'm tired of hearing Dish say they want to be the leader of HD programming but they refuse to carry HD channels that are available to them.

[Scott Greczkowski]

RAD you know whats funny, is that they are indeed jamming the 8PSK module down your throats now, but what makes it funny is when the new channels are available you might also be required to buy a new Dish which can point at 110, 119 and 121!

[Darkman]

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski

• Great news for international customers! We recently announced that we are preparing to launch up to 100 new international television channels this summer! We intend to launch new channels from India, Middle East, Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Africa, China and more! DISH Network will be able to provide a one-dish solution for customers seeking news, sports, and entertainment from around the world, in addition to a robust selection of American programming packages! These new channels will launch with the EchoStar IX Satellite which is being launched to the 121 orbital location, will be broadcast in Ku-band, and will require a slightly larger size dish.

hey Scott or Anyone,
This 121 location at KU, with a slightly larger dish - what size dish will be sufficient - 30 inch, etc?
And will one be able to use his existing receiver with existing dish setup, and just add that 121 location (with a separate larger dish) with the help of a switch or extra switch etc (depending on individual scenario) - instead of upgrading to some kinda new type of a dish that is designed to get several locations on it's own?

[Scott Greczkowski]

Darkman I wish I knew. When 121 goes up I would still like to keep my 61.5 Dish, so this means I would need a switch which could see all 4 birds.

There are a lot of unanswered question about 121 that need to be answered or there are going to be a lot of unhappy people when 121 is launched.

[Darkman]

Scott - or have a separate IRD for the 121 location only (or with one more bird on it (to add to 121) with sw21 or something)) :)

[RAD]

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski
RAD you know whats funny, is that they are indeed jamming the 8PSK module down your throats now, but what makes it funny is when the new channels are available you might also be required to buy a new Dish which can point at 110, 119 and 121!

Yea, I know. I'd like to know what they're going to do for folks that would need those three slots plus one of the sides (a couple of my LIL's are on 61.5 plus the HD programming I get now). Would the new Dish come with only DishPro LNB's and would I then also need to pay for the adapter for my 6K so I can use it and another switch??? Maybe I should have stayed with D* in the first place. :confused:

[BobMurdoch]

They may HAVE to pay for the switch and additional costs to keep the FCC must carry hawks off their backs (I"m surprised the two dish solution has lasted this long as far as the FCC is concerned.)

[P Smith]

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski
RAD you know whats funny, is that they are indeed jamming the 8PSK module down your throats now, but what makes it funny is when the new channels are available you might also be required to buy a new Dish which can point at 110, 119 and 121!
I see other reason for using bigger dish - a distance between LNBFs; for 18" or 24" we can't add new LNBF for 121 - it's only 2 degree difference , i.e. ~1/2" distance aside existing 119 LNBF.

[Scott Greczkowski]

P Smith, not only that but the 121 satellite is using KA Band technology while Echostar 110 and 119 is a form of KU band

[Ken_F]

This 121 location at KU, with a slightly larger dish - what size dish will be sufficient - 30 inch, etc?At a press event, Dish showed the new dish for 110/119/121; it was 26", up from the 20-21" of the Dish500. They claim this size will be sufficient to receive KU-FSS service from Echostar IX at 121.

And will one be able to use his existing receiver with existing dish setup, and just add that 121 location (with a separate larger dish) with the help of a switch or extra switch etc (depending on individual scenario)The 121 slot will probably use a different type of LNB, so I doubt you could just use a standard dish and lnb. It will be easiest just to replace the Dish500 with the new 26" dish; if you install a traditional, non-elliptical dish for 121, it may need to be 32" or larger.

I suspect the current HDTV on 61.5 will remain in place for a long time, but all current and all future HDTV will be on 121. I expect anyone subscribing to the HDTV package (maybe for a year?) would receive the new dish and associated equipment for free. Let's hope they pay for the installation too. Future HDTV receivers like the 921 would include this dish and equipment.

Yea, I know. I'd like to know what they're going to do for folks that would need those three slots plus one of the sides (a couple of my LIL's are on 61.5 plus the HD programming I get now). Would the new Dish come with only DishPro LNB's and would I then also need to pay for the adapter for my 6K so I can use it and I think the plan may be to migrate those locals off 61.5.

[Mike123abc]

The 121 Ku-FSS side has 100+watt transceivers. They are actually as strong as the 61.5 or 148 transponders. An 18" dish would work if the neighboring satellites were not so close. It takes a bigger dish to see a smaller spot and not get mixed signals from adjoining satellites. Normally 30-35" dishes work well. Dish's 26" dish is probably about the minimum, and will require pretty good aiming.

With 32 transponders they could get 320 - 400 channels on the satellite. With smaller markets having 4-8 stations, that is a lot of small markets. I bet they put 100 internations, and 50 markets on it.

As far as HDTV is concerned, I bet they try to put it on 110 more than 121. 121 for LIL is perfect since only small markets will need the new antenna (all the big ones are on the main birds).

[Chris Freeland]

Originally posted by Mike123abc
The 121 Ku-FSS side has 100+watt transceivers. They are actually as strong as the 61.5 or 148 transponders. An 18" dish would work if the neighboring satellites were not so close. It takes a bigger dish to see a smaller spot and not get mixed signals from adjoining satellites. Normally 30-35" dishes work well. Dish's 26" dish is probably about the minimum, and will require pretty good aiming.

With 32 transponders they could get 320 - 400 channels on the satellite. With smaller markets having 4-8 stations, that is a lot of small markets. I bet they put 100 internations, and 50 markets on it.

As far as HDTV is concerned, I bet they try to put it on 110 more than 121. 121 for LIL is perfect since only small markets will need the new antenna (all the big ones are on the main birds).

This is what I am thinking also and I also think that many or possibly all of the extra locals currently on 61.5 and 148 will eventually migrate to 110 and 119 spotbeams once they can squeeze them in or possibly place a few on National 110 and 119 beams. Doing the above can drastically reduce any IRD's needing to see 4-orbital locations and thus a IRD upgrade for some with older hardware and only subs with the new International channels and or locals and or possibly HD programing on 121. I too feel that the most popular HDTV channels will eventually migrate to 110. I feel the only subs that will need to see 4-orbital slots are the few that may want International programing or Sky Angel on 61.5 or 148, have one of the AT or Latino packages and their locals are a small market on 121 or live in Philly with locals on 129 and the same combo as 121 scenario. If extra locals on 61.5 and 148 are re-located to 110 and 119, this will also free up space on 61.5 and 148 for even more Internationals and or small market locals.

[Ken_F]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but it was my understanding that KU-FSS transponders were actually 36MHz, rather than the 27MHz of traditional DBS (KU) transponders.

In that case, 36Mhz FU-KSS transponder would yield about 52.8Mbps with 8psk modulation @ 2/3 FEC, compared to 36.86Mbps for a 27MHz DBS transponder at 8psk 2/3, or 46.08Mbps at 8psk 5/6. Dish may be able to hit 5/6 FEC for 8psk at 110 on a double-powered transponder, but I'm not certain that 8psk is workable on FU-KSS given the adjacent satellites and E*IX's 120 watts per transponder. You'd think Echostar would want all the gain it could get to use that 26" dish and minimize rainfade.

I understand the Japanese BS digital satellite service (18" dish) with HDTV does use 8psk modulation @ 2/3 FEC on 34.5 or 36MHz KU transponders--yielding about 52Mbps per transponder---but they don't have to worry about adjacent satellites (afaik). They're also at 120 watts per transponder, afaik.

Dish has given every indication that there will be no more HDTV until Echostar IX is launched in May, so that means they either plan to launch future HDTV at 121, or they are waiting for a successful launch, so they know they have 121 available for locals and internationals before HDTV goes to 110.

[Steve Mehs]

or live in Philly with locals on 129 and the same combo as 121 scenario

Hopefully if this all plays out there will be no more need for 129. Currently I see no real point in having the smaller Philly locals on 129 rather then 61.5, between the cost of renting space on TS7 and the cost for the extra Ku dish they must provide to subs, why would E* even consider using 129. If it's bandwidth on 61.5 they're worried about why not put other markets on TS7 not just Philadelphia.

[mjschuyler]

Scott, do you think E* will ever provide CT locals? I know you live in CT and I live in Torrington, CT. Do you know how many subs E* has lost to D* over locals and YES?

I don't even try to get anyone to sign with E* since D* has CT locals. I've had E* since 1996.

Murray

[Jacob S]

I have always wondered the same and to have to pay for all those bigger dishes and lnbf's and installation and lease spacing and all of this just for one local city? Why did they just not add them like they do so many others if it was going to be that big of a problem?