Dish Network Satellite TV Names 42 New Local Channel Markets for 2003

[Mark Holtz]

From Yahoo/Businesswire (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030501/15705_1.html):

Dish Network Satellite TV Names 42 New Local Channel Markets for 2003
With New SuperDish Technology, DISH Network Plans to Deliver Local Channels Via Satellite to 106 Markets Nationwide by Year End

EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network(TM), a leading provider of satellite television entertainment services, announced today 42 new designated market areas where it plans to launch local TV channels, provided retransmission agreements with local TV stations can be formalized in each of the markets.

This will bring the total number of markets DISH Network serves with local channels to 106 by year end. DISH Network is also announcing that it plans to offer local channels via satellite in more cities across the nation by end of 2004. Today, consumers have a choice of receiving local TV channels from DISH Network in 64 U.S. cities.

Customers in these 42 new markets will require the use of either DISH Network's existing DISH 500 antennas or its new SuperDish, a multi-satellite dish unveiled to satellite TV retailers today. The SuperDish, an elliptical 66-centimeter dish, is capable of offering customers access to hundreds of popular DISH Network channels, local channels in new markets, HDTV channels and international programming. The SuperDish will be capable of receiving satellite signals from three orbital locations.

Markets planned for launch by the end of the year include the following:

1. Albany, N.Y.
2. Anchorage, Alaska
3. Baltimore, Md.
4. Boise, Idaho
5. Champaign, Ill.
6. Charleston, W.V.
7. Chattanooga, Tenn.
8. Columbia, S.C.
9. Columbus, Ohio
10. Davenport/Moline, Iowa
11. Duluth, Minn.
12. Eugene, Ore.
13. Evansville, Ind.
14. Ft. Smith, Ark.
15. Ft. Wayne, Ind.
16. Green Bay, Wis.
17. Greensboro, N.C.
18. Jackson, Miss.
19. Jefferson City, Mo.
20. Johnstown-Altoona, Pa.
21. Knoxville, Tenn.
22. Lincoln, Neb.
23. Little Rock, Ark.
24. Madison, Wis.
25. Memphis, Tenn.
26. Milwaukee, Wis.
27. Missoula, Mont.
28. Mobile, Ala.-Pensacola, Fla.
29. Richmond, Va.
30. Roanoke, Va.
31. Savannah, Ga.
32. Sherman, Texas/Ada, Okla.
33. Shreveport, La.
34. South Bend, Ind.
35. Springfield, Mo.
36. Tallahassee, Fla.
37. Traverse City, Mich.
38. Tri-Cities, Tenn./Va.
39. Wausau, Wis.
40. Wichita, Kan.
41. Wilkes Barre, Pa.
42. Yakima, Wash.

Full Article Here (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030501/15705_1.html)

[sampatterson]

Beat your post by 1 minute! ;-) You beat me on the HDTV news...

[Karl Foster]

I didn't see Hartford or New Orleans on that list.

[platinum]

Wow a super dish that can see all three orbital slots....I believe I have one of those...oh yeah I have D*

[Karl Foster]

Really, though, this is good news. I thought that the only way to get all these DMA's was with a merger.

With both D* and E* adding all of these local markets, the overall effect is good for consumers and investors. The more customers that will "feel the joy" and "Wow" to the DBS providers, the more the cost of programming can be spread around.

[platinum]

Originally posted by karl_f
Really, though, this is good news. I thought that the only way to get all these DMA's was with a merger.

With both D* and E* adding all of these local markets, the overall effect is good for consumers and investors. The more customers that will "feel the joy" and "Wow" to the DBS providers, the more the cost of programming can be spread around.

I agree Karl, this is why competition is a wonderful thing.

[Mark Holtz]

I've already shot off a e-mail to a friend of mine who lives in one of those markets. Waiting for response.

[Lyle_JP]

2. Anchorage, Alaska
Huh. I've been told that Dish can't even get one station in this DMA to agree to a retrans agreement (and they've tried them all multiple times).

I guess hope springs eternal.

[Mike Russell]

I can't believe it,Springfield Mo. I believe that will bring them alot of new customers from this area.

[Darkman]

hmm - nothing for North Dakota i see (no Grand Forks nor Fargo)...

I guess, to be expected though... :)
(if Scott's Hartford not there neither)

[jeffwtux]

Still no Buffalo or Hartford(poor Scott G :( ). Didn't somebody spread a rumor that Hartford was on the list?

[Steve Mehs]

Hugh? Buffalo has been up since November. No Rochester though :(

[Chris Freeland]

It looks like I might be getting one of those new Super Dish'es since Chattanooga is on the list and we are missed by the spotbeams. Now I just hope are local stations here play nice. :)
Also it appears from the press release their will be some additional locals added in 04, anyone who's locals are not up or on this list still have a shot early next year.

[wildzeke]

YES! Baltimore is number 3 on the list to be added!!

[tampa8]

It was I who posted that Hartford would be on the list. I'm waiting for the source (usually a good source) to get back to me on why they are not. In that post you will see my source did get the HD PAK correct (I posted that yesterday) but got the 121 slot very wrong by saying it would be all spotbeam. That is certainly wrong - Hartford, well I'll wait and see.

[shilton]

Yeah!!!! after all my crying and moaning, I finally get my Johnstown/Altoona locals...its been a few years coming. Doesn't mean too much to anyone else, but I am thrilled. Dish says look for a launch in September

[Jacob S]

I wonder how much this new superdish is going to cost? I think its wonderful news that they are getting Charleston, WV just as DirecTv is.

[shilton]

Originally posted by Jacob S
I wonder how much this new superdish is going to cost? I think its wonderful news that they are getting Charleston, WV just as DirecTv is.
Correct me if I am wrong...but if the Superdish is required, won't they upgrade it for you for free since you need it to get the locals????? Sort of what they did with the markets that needed a 2nd dish

[Scott Greczkowski]

Damn no Hartford. I should have said something to Joe Leiberman when I saw him this morning. :(

Come on Charlie....

[Jacob S]

That was another question I was going to ask, since a second dish is required for some markets to receive some of the locals in and its provided for free by the law, if they would do the same with this, but maybe they would not be required to do so if it is a solution unless you look at it this way, that you would have to put up an additional dish to pick it up if you currently have a dish 500.

[Chris Freeland]

Originally posted by shilton

Correct me if I am wrong...but if the Superdish is required, won't they upgrade it for you for free since you need it to get the locals????? Sort of what they did with the markets that needed a 2nd dish

No, it is not the same, with the 2nd dish situation, the locals are split between 110 or 119 and 61.5 or 148, thus the FCC requires E* to provide 2nd dish and instillation. In the markets that the locals end up on 121, more then likely all of those markets locals will be on 121, thus the SuperDish will be required to receive any of the locals, E* will likely have the right to charge for this upgrade, just like D* charges for their larger dish for local markets on their 119 bird. I suspect E* will have a discount or Free offer with a minimum basic programing + locals commitment for a year, just like E* does now for Dish500 and DishPVR upgrades. I suspect E* will try to make it as pain free as possible in the effected markets to encourage subs to take locals on E*. I suspect their will not be a Free no strings attached offer for upgrade to SuperDish.

[Jacob S]

Another issue I see is if they would have some of the locals at 61.5 for some of the cities that require the super dish then would that mean that they would have to put up the 61.5 and the super dish both? How about the switching arrangement and would they be required to pay for that as well?

[Mike123abc]

It makes me think it would be cheaper in the long run to simply move all LIL to 121 from the wings. That way people do not need a second dish just a new triple dish.

[Chris Freeland]

Originally posted by Jacob S
Another issue I see is if they would have some of the locals at 61.5 for some of the cities that require the super dish then would that mean that they would have to put up the 61.5 and the super dish both? How about the switching arrangement and would they be required to pay for that as well?

I highly doubt that their will be a locals split in markets that are on 121. I suspect that E* is close to running out of room on 61.5 and I believe that E* will want to reduce the need for seeing 4 orbital locations as much as possible.

[peallen]

Well if this turns out to be true I know plenty of people that will switch in my area from cable. This is very good news!

[mattb]

9. Columbus, Ohio <-- That will make me very very happy.. I sure hope WBNS doesnt give E* beef again about their crappy ran out of a rent-a-moble-office news channel "ONN" not being on DBS..


Id really like to see locals come to my area :) I am happy with E* minus being able to get locals.

Tis will give me insentive to take it out of vacation mode and hang a super dish (maybe ill even sign another programming agreement if they give me one free) and finally be able to unplug that thing we call "cable" :P

[Jacob S]

Yes, I agree that its very good news. This isn't P Allen Smith that comes on The Weather Channel is it?

Does it make sense that the smaller markets will be able to have all their locals from one satellite dish yet some of the bigger markets have to have two dishes to receive all the channels?

Would you rather have a dish 500 and a dish 300 at 61.5 or this new super dish? Another advantage to the superdish is that you would be ready for HD dishwise.

Now what are we going to do when those hat have the dish 500 had to have a second dish as well to receive the locals at 61.5 and then those customers want to have HD channels?

[shilton]

anybody got a pic or a link to a picture for this new "superdish"??? I am curious to see it. Also, didn't I read somewhere that the bird at 121 really would not be very good for actual DBS transmissions??? I thought I read before that its primary purpose was supposed to be for Data services (internet) and HDTV and stuff???

[Geronimo]

Try this link

http://www.skyretailer.com/teamsummit1.shtm

[shilton]

Originally posted by Geronimo
Try this link

http://www.skyretailer.com/teamsummit1.shtm
Am I looking at this thing wrong??? How can it pull from 3 satellite locations when it only has 2 lnb's on it??? Does it have to strictly with the shaping of the dish??? Also, sure hope it fits where my old one is now. I'd hate to relocate all my wiring, etc.

[Steve Mehs]

The dish in the picture is for demo purposes, they just stuck a twin on it, instead or creating a demo LNB that could see 121 as well.

[Mike123abc]

I would assume that there are 3 LNBs in the LNB holder. The picture does not show how many LNBs are in there.

[Jacob S]

Why would it not be good for DBS purposes? It sounds like it would be better for DBS purposes if anything.

There would be a tri-lnbf instead of a dual lnbf, or maybe perhaps a dual with an add on adapter to it so they can use their current product with the new product. This would save money because they could use the current lnbf on the Dish500 to put onto the new dish and add the new lnbf to it or use the individual lnbf for a seperate dish of its own such as a Dish300. This would be like the upgrade kits they had before in which they used the lnbf off the Dish300 to put onto the Dish500 and added switches to it.

I am sure that some would want it to be an all in one piece for the same reasons why the current ones are all in one piece, it would be simpler to install, and less problems.

[TNGTony]

Folks, there is still quite a bit of room on the spot beams. I'm willing to bet quite a few of these cities will be on the standard Dish 500.

See ya
Tony

http://ekb.dbstalk.com/19 now has all the "coming soon cities listed.

See ya
Tony

[Darkman]

well - lol - in that case they would need to speed it up, to increase the "per month average of 1 or 1.5 local markets" :)
(to have all of those 42 more locals in 2003)

[johnsmith22]

No Puerto Rico locals I see, that seemed to be a given at one time, has it fallen by the wayside?

[TNGTony]

John,

Thank WAPA and WKAQ for this.

See ya
Tony

[Scott Greczkowski]

And still no Hartford :rolleyes:

[Jacob S]

Some of the cities do not have enough room for spot beams, WV for example.

I thought I had seen someone post where DirecTv puts the Para-Todos dish in all systems in the markets where it is required to get the local channels, would Dish do the same?

[Stu]

I cannot for the life of me understand Charlie adding Richmond and Roanoke, but not Norfolk????????

Oh well...... maybe next year..... sure....

[MikeP]

Anybody think this will mark the end of the distant nets choices outside of Los Angeles and New York?

[Jacob S]

What is the DMA #'s for Richmond, Roanoke, and Norfolk? Maybe Norfolk is a higher DMA # or an agreement has not been met for that city yet and will be added next year.

Also for those that still cannot get a locals market yet why not let them get the distant networks? Could they offer the closest DMA or is it not legal to do this? It would not make sense to allow the distant networks farther away than the closer one.

I dont think its going to be long before Dish and Direct will have their packaged tailored to include locals at a price increase of around $5 and those that cannot get them may either get the closest market or free ppv's, the distant networks, or a credit on their bill which is the most likely choice.

[Stu]

Norfolk #41, Richmond #59, Roanoke #67...... all of which also have "D" locals....

Not sure why we were stiffed this time around........ but I guess others left out feel the same.

Maybe next time........

[shilton]

does anyone know who a tv satation rep can contact at Dish (and how) if they wish to expedite retransmission consent deals? Johnstown/Altoona is on the list of planned locals and the local CBS affiliate has been trying to contact someone at Dish for a while now to speed up the process in offering retrans. consent and no one seems to know anything, or no one will call her back. They are practically dying to set up a deal so I cannot understand why no one will talk to her. Can anyone offer me any ideas???

[TNGTony]

My guess would be Michael Schwimmer vp of programming.

See ya
Tony

[RichW]

Originally posted by MikeP
Anybody think this will mark the end of the distant nets choices outside of Los Angeles and New York?

No, I don't think so. The selection of distant nets is a feature that distinguishes E* from DirecTV, especially the Denver choice which covers the Mountain Time Zone, and which has been offered on C-band (the Denver 5) for a long time.

[DmitriA]

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski
Damn no Hartford. I should have said something to Joe Leiberman when I saw him this morning. :(

Come on Charlie....

Maybe you should follow Al Sharpton's example and picket his house. Oh, wait. That doesn't work either :D

[shilton]

Does anyone know if these markets will be added in the order they were listed in the press release or does the number really mean nothing at all??? Just curious as to how long it may take for us to see some of these.

[TNGTony]

They were listed in alphabetical order. No, they will be added in no particular order.

See ya
Tony

[TNGTony]

Folks may be interested in a new map I just threw together at http://ekb.dbstalk.com/19

See ya
Tony

[Mike123abc]

wow WoW WOW now that is a great map. You have been busy Tony. It looks great. There is still a lot of white on that map. You should email it to Charlie and let him see how much more there is to do!

[Jacob S]

I am surprised that a lot of Texas is still not going to be covered by the end of the year.

[shilton]

Am I to assume from the posting I have read that nearly most or ALL of these markets will be offered on the new bird and thus the Superdish will be required to receive them? I do not have HD and won't for a few years to come, so it seems to be a waste to pay for the superdish just to get 4 local channels. Seems to me there may still be some spotbeam space even in the crowded NorthEast for a few more on 110??? But many have said "oh no...all of these are going on the new bird and will NEED the Superdish". Who is right and who is wrong???

[Mike123abc]

Some spot beams on 119/110 have space on them still for new markets. Mostly smaller markets that have fewer stations that can squeeze on there. Alaska and Puerto Rico both have empty spots pointing at them. Other spot beams on 119/110 are at capacity. So, if the spot beam over your market has room, it will probably go on the spot beam. If not it probably will go on 121 and you will need the "SuperDish". Superdish is nothing really special, it is just a bit bigger than Dish500 and can get 121/119/110 and maybe 105 all on the same dish.

But, Dish has reserved 119/110 for the major stations in each DMA, and put the secondary stations on the wings. Probably in the future all these minor stations will go on 121. So, if you want all the locals you will have to get a superdish installed even if your major locals are on 119/110. The idea is if you do not want these extra stations you will not have to worry about the upgrade.

[DaYooper]

Unlike most people here I'm not too happy that my local are going to be added in 2003. Am I going to be forced to take them instead of keeping the distant nets I have now? If so that sucks. I like having east and west coast feeds for time shifting purposes.

[Jacob S]

I think that most of the people that are going to get a satellite that are in those local markets already have gotten one so they will probably keep the extra markets on the side satellites since they dont got their second dishes up already and it would just cost them for another dish again to switch them to the 121 dish plus this would save them space on 121 for more channels.

Also I would think that the smaller markets have fewer channels and fewer channels like the ones they put on the side satellites in the major markets. I would think that people would pay the price of the dish to get their locals, because I know people around here would do about anything to get them seeing how hard they are to get.

One way to make up for the distant locals time shifting issue is to get a pvr, but some do not want to pay that price to get one. People should be grateful that their locals are even being offered on the satellite, especially the smaller markets.

[catman]

Are you sure the locals will be available ? dishnetwork is in court over this right now

[Lyle_JP]

They're in court over the delivery of "distant locals". LIL shouldn't be affected.

[Jacob S]

This will cause Dish to want to add as many as possible as soon as possible if they have problems with the distant networks issue. Them having 150 markets by the end of 2004 leads me to believe that in 2-3 years all the locals may be available from one if not both providers.

[Jacob S]

I thought it was going to be a 26" dish used? According to this site its going to be a 24" dish.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/business/article/0,1299,DRMN_4_1931300,00.html

[Geronimo]

While they are in court over the delivery of distant nets the remedy may be stopping all locals. We shall see.

[Chris Freeland]

Originally posted by Jacob S
I thought it was going to be a 26" dish used? According to this site its going to be a 24" dish.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/business/article/0,1299,DRMN_4_1931300,00.html

I saw that too, do not no if the press release stating a 24" SuperDish is a mistake or if we here just assumed it was a 26" based on a early reports of a 66m dish, which adds up to 26", I think. I also found it interesting that the article indicated that some markets that now use the 2 dish solution may relocate their locals to 121 or 105 and thus a need for a SuperDish. I guess if E* does relocate some of these 2-dish markets to 121 or 105, other markets left on the spot beams could have their fringe tv stations currently on 61.5 or 148 moved unto the 110 or 119 spotbeams thus reducing or eliminating a 2-dish solution for any locals. If E* does move many or all locals and or HDTV off of 61.5 or 148, this would free up space to place many of the new International channels to 61.5 and 148 instead of 121. Things are getting interesting again in DBS land and I am starting to believe that the merger getting turned down may not have ben a bad thing after all. ;)

[Jacob S]

I also thought it was interesting in that article that it said that the people in the market accept anything 24" and below but if it is a 26" dish and made a typo then that would actually be saying something against that dish. I wonder if it would work with a dish a little smaller than 26".

[Chris Freeland]

Maby the article should have read that people in the market accept anything 26" and below . :D

[Jacob S]

Yeah, thats what I was trying to say, lol.

[BBiles]

Originally posted by wildzeke
YES! Baltimore is number 3 on the list to be added!!


Baltimore is listed as #3 because it is in alphabetical order. That does not mean that out of all those cities, Baltimore is actually #3 to be added. ;)

[Jobair]

I read that transcript and Charlie says, "the 121 satellite, we still don't have a definite launch date on that. ... I think were relatively confident the satellite will launch this year."

I was hoping to get all the new international channels, soon. That might not be the case.

[Chris Freeland]

From all that I have read recently on news from Team Summit and other sources being reported on the two DBS forums, it appears to me that the HDTV and the 42 new local markets being added for 03 that are not going to spotbeams will likely go to 105, since their is already a satellite in place their. New International and locals going to 121, might not appear until 04, depending on how soon E9 can be launched and placed into service.

[wildzeke]

Hey, I have been waiting years for the Baltimore locals to be added. Therefore I have the right to disillusion myself that Baltimore will be the third city added this year.

Originally posted by BBiles



Baltimore is listed as #3 because it is in alphabetical order. That does not mean that out of all those cities, Baltimore is actually #3 to be added. ;)

[TNGTony]

Well Chris, So far two of the 42 have been uplinked to ConUS 110 transponders. Both Roanoke and Jackson, MS are uplinked right now to transponders 17 and 14 respectively. I keep saysing that there is still quite a bit o room up there. Not a lot, but enough for about 10-15 more cities

See ya
Tony

[Chris Freeland]

Originally posted by TNGTony
Well Chris, So far two of the 42 have been uplinked to ConUS 110 transponders. Both Roanoke and Jackson, MS are uplinked right now to transponders 17 and 14 respectively. I keep saysing that there is still quite a bit o room up there. Not a lot, but enough for about 10-15 more cities

See ya
Tony

I do not doubt that more local markets will be added to the 110 spotbeams. My point is that in order for E* to be able to eventually have a one dish solution for all local channels in a market, it may require a few local markets to move off of the spotbeams unto 121 or 105 to make room for other local channels in split markets to be placed on the 110/119 spotbeams. But E* may just leave well enough alone and some markets will continue to require a 2-dish solution to receive all locals indefinitely, who know what the future will bring? But it sure is fun to speculate. ;)

[Jacob S]

Maybe they are waiting until 121 is launched before adding some of the markets. I didnt think Charlie would launch all of this onto 105 to a satellite that has exceeded its life expectancy but I guess he is taking that chance seeing that he can relocate the channels to 121 if that would happen until the new satellite went to 105 3rd quarter 2004.