Give Charlie a Chance!!! HD will come

[Horsnuts]

From reading the thread under this one I had to start a positive thread to counter attack all the Charlie Bashing! I think that he's holding an ace up his sleeve, and he'll bust it out at the right time. Why would you sign agreements for new HD channels when you don't have a reciever for sale on the consumer market to show these channels? The 6000 is out of production right? Granted- There are existing customers out there, but not enough to make any sense adding HD channels, especially when you can't mass market it!!! When they announce the release date of the 921, and other new HD sat boxs, then we'll see some channels and packages. Sit tight, and relax. It's coming!!!!!!

[Richard King]

Face facts, people will complain that nothing is announced, then when something is announced they will complain if a specific date isn't announced. If a date is announced and missed, as happens in any business, watch out, more complaints. I think that E* should follow the example of D* and not announce anything until the ink is dry on the contract. Charlie chats should be eliminated and communication from inside should be tightly curtailed.

[bills976]

Originally posted by Rking401
anything until the ink is dry on the contract. Charlie chats should be eliminated and communication from inside should be tightly curtailed.


I agree with you on this one. The less I know about the possibility of channels evaporating from the lineup, the better. Just take a look at the forums here - the Dish forum is usually full of wild speculation about what Dish will or won't have while the Directv one is usually about technical issues/Tivo stuff. As a D* sub, I'm actually happy that I know very little of the inner workings because I have a feeling that if I did, I'd feel the same way about them that I do Dish.

[Darkman]

of course - i agree - that people should not be so negative, cuz Charlie actually is a cool dude :)

But Chats should not be eliminated - they should keep 'em Chats going! :)

[Timmy]

I have never seen a High Definition picture before--is it really worth the extra money for a tv and related programming? Once you have seen High Definition, is it hard to watch anything else?

[Martyva]

Yes and you might stop by a store and pick up some pampers before watching it.

[Nick]

DBS is not a hobby - it's a sickness

[tampa8]

Good to see some positive posts!! I couldn't agree more. This is a great time for Satellite, lots of good things coming. For me, the common "enemy" is cable. I want both Direct and Dish to do well and I think Charlie will come thru. Just give it some time. If cable has improved, which in some markets it has, it is only because DBS is making them.

[Richard King]

I can just imagine the screaming and moaning and nasty comments directed towards Dish from here if Dish added all the HDTV channels in the world (at least the few national channels) and had no receiver to get those channels. The receivers have to arrive before the programming is added. As for those with 6000's, there aren't enough of them in the field to support adding all (the few) channels available without being able to add HD subscribers. I don't think we will see much HD until the 921 hits the dealers. Of course, complaining about the 921 not being on the market yet is another fun hobby. Let's rush it out there so that we can complain that it doesn't work right when it is released. :rolleyes:

[Frapp]

As some here may know, I purchased a huge Toshiba 65" HDTV late last fall in order to start enjoying HD. I made a calculated guess that more HD programming would be available in middle/late 2003 and it seems my lucky guess was correct :)

Although I am not exactly known for being a Dish pom-pom waver, I think Charlie does a good job with Dish and is making reasonable progress to wards more HD content.

I currently have four receivers, two of which are 6000,s. I plan to keep the 6000,s and change out the other two for new 811,s when they become available. With a house full of kids, I like the idea of Discovery HD ( as well as some other channels ) being available all over the house, not just on select receivers.

As far as the new 921 goes, Charlie can keep it. I have no interest in an expensive, buggy, beta test unit to aggravate me when it is released for the holidays this year :(

Lastly, while I understand that Dish is trying to tap the international market, I feel that they over prioritize this somewhat. When I lived overseas many years ago as a teenager, we were happy to have our one channel of American programming that worked some of the time, some days and only if the power was also on at our house that particular day :lol:

[Horsnuts]

Although, I don't have an HD capable T.V. yet, I'm just as excited as the rest of you that do have one. More channels. I started a paper route for some extra cash (Big Screen savings), but then I had to use all my savings to drive to Cali on an emergency trip. So now i'm starting over. Did you guys see the thread on the girl that pan-handled on the internet for a boob job?
I wonder if I set up a donation site for a big screen, will it work for me? You guys might just see it up in a few days. I'm soooo tired of this paper route. I work days too.:(

[RAD]

Originally posted by Rking401
IThe receivers have to arrive before the programming is added.

Gee, so who's fault is it that there are no new HDTV receivers from Dish, Charlie's. So because of poor planning on Dish's part they're holding up new programming from folks that spent over $700 for 6000+8VSB+8PSK. Maybe if Charlie would let other folks make STB's we wouldn't be stuck waiting for Dish to finally get some product out the door, there would be plenty of STB's to pick from and then Charlie could be offering this new programming.

[Chris Freeland]

I am going out on the limb here and making a prediction. The new 811 and 921 HD receivers will be officially introduced at the same time that a new DishHD package for $9.99 per month. The new receivers when sold as a complete system will come with a SuperDish, all HDTV channels will be duplicated for at least two years on both the side 61.5/148 satellites and will also be on 110 initially and moved to 105 once the new satellite is up and operational in 04. The new DishHD pack will initially will include ESPN HD, Discovery HD Theater, HD Net, HD Net Movies, Sharper Movies HD and HD Demo (for demos and special events). I predict all of the above will be announced shortly before the August 14 Tech Chat. of course I could be wrong but I have a feeling I am not wrong and we just need to be patient. Of course it is easy for me to be patient I do not have a HDTV or HD satellite receiver and probably won't have anytime in the near future ;) .

[Scott Greczkowski]

Chris you said what I have been thinking but have been afraid to say. :) You only missed Bravo HD in the package (And when Cinemax HD comes it will only be there is you subscribe to Cinemax)

While I am upset at Charlie for the dangling carrot I know he has the ability today to offer more HD then DirecTV can, and thats without using any more additional satellites. :)

[Chris Freeland]

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski
Chris you said what I have been thinking but have been afraid to say. :) You only missed Bravo HD in the package (And when Cinemax HD comes it will only be there is you subscribe to Cinemax)

While I am upset at Charlie for the dangling carrot I know he has the ability today to offer more HD then DirecTV can, and thats without using any more additional satellites. :)

Is BravoHD up and on any cable systems yet or officially announced yet? If so, you are correct I agree that BravoHD will likely be included with the DishHD pack. I also agree that CinamaxHD will be included with Cinamax package soon after it is turned on, the same goes for StarzHD and the Starz Super Pack. :)

[Curtis0620]

With the launch of Directv7s, at the end of this year, they will be on D* also.

With the launch of the Spaceway satellites next year, D* will offer even more.

[rtt2]

I think that E* will have to give up its 61.5 slot soon to Cablevision's new Rainbow satellite. If I remember correctly E* is using that slot because Cablevision does not have a bird in orbit yet. However once Cablevision launches on July 17 then E* most likely will have to relinquish this slot and transponders.

[rtt2]

If E* loses 61.5 then this is why there is extra room on the satellites right now to migrate existing programming over to E*'s other birds and the new one they are leasing.

[RAD]

Originally posted by rtt2
I think that E* will have to give up its 61.5 slot soon to Cablevision's new Rainbow satellite. If I remember correctly E* is using that slot because Cablevision does not have a bird in orbit yet. However once Cablevision launches on July 17 then E* most likely will have to relinquish this slot and transponders.

I don't believe that's correct. My understanding is that Dish is the licensed holder of 11 transponders at 61.5.

[Mike123abc]

Originally posted by rtt2
I think that E* will have to give up its 61.5 slot soon to Cablevision's new Rainbow satellite. If I remember correctly E* is using that slot because Cablevision does not have a bird in orbit yet. However once Cablevision launches on July 17 then E* most likely will have to relinquish this slot and transponders.

Dish owns 11 transponders on 61.5, R/L DBS owns 11, Sky Angel owns 8 and 2 are up for bids this fall.

Dish leases 6 of the Sky angel transponders. They provide the satellite for Sky Angel in exchange for the use of the transponders.

So, right now Dish has 17 transponders on 61.5, it is unknown if they will be bidding on the 2 unassigned ones or not.

It looks like Dish is using 2 transponders right now that it does not own (or lease) on 61.5. Some of the transponders look lightly loaded at the moment, they could probably compress them down if they wanted. Maybe they are demonstrating the need to get the 2 unassigned ones.

[rtt2]

Thanks for the clarification. I remember hearing that E* was using some of R/L's transponder frequencies but forgot where I heard it from. It looks like your right and only 2 transponders are being used.

From what I saw on LyngSat
HDTV PPV & HDTV Demo are the only large bandwidth consuming channels. The rest seem to be about 8 shopping channels with the exception of mysterious sounding channels named: ETC 1 (9981), ETC 2 (9982), Special 1 (9991), Special 2 (9992), Special 3 (9993) & test card (9980). There is also a showroom promotion channel.

You said that Dish leases 6 of the Sky Angel's transponders. Sky Angel owns transponders 25-32. LyngSat shows only 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 as active. So I wonder why only 5 are active/in operation when Sky Angel has the ability to use them or lease them out. 3 empty and unused is this just merely a result of the satellites capability? If so, theoretically when R/L is launched and E* has to relinquish control of those 2 frequencies, E* can just move those channels to those unused Sky Angel frequencies.
If the satellite has the capability to broadcast more frequencies than they could lease more frequency from Sky Angel for a total of 3 and if they win the next auction they would have a total of 5 frequencies from which to broadcast HDTV.

[Mike123abc]

You have to look under sky angel to see the two transponders they use on lyngsat. They are using #25 and #32. Looks like #26 is not shown on lyngsat atm. Maybe Dish clearing it for 8PSK. Since people on lyngsat really have trouble with 8PSK (getting discovery HDT took 6 months for them to show it), they could be uplinking HDnet/Movies as we speak just waiting to suprise us!

Who knows what is on 26 maybe we will find out soon... Of course tons are unused on 148. To get ESPN-HD they would need to clear another transponder unless they use 110.

[Mike123abc]

Studying lyngsat some more, they are showing dish using 2 of R/L DBS frequencies atm transponder 5 with a bunch of business channels on it and transponder 7 with the HDTV demo channel. They are also using one of the transponders up for bids number 23 with PPV sports.

[Jacob S]

Perhaps they will move some of the stations (locals possibly) to the SuperDish when it comes out and waiting for some space to become availabe there for that if none is available yet.

I think that we will all of a sudden see an announcement of an HD package for those with the SuperDish and that we will not hear much until they have contracts with those channels and have them launched and have SuperDish available. It will be an announcement similar to the long list of DMA's in which the locals will be added to, similar in that they will announce a bunch of channel additions at once.