Information about Voom!

[Chris Blount]

Alpert, Casamo to Lead Cablevision's Voom

Rainbow DBS, Cablevision's satellite TV division, said it will introduce its Voom DBS service on Oct. 15 with a comprehensive slate of HDTV programming.

The offering will have as many as 39 HD channels, including an exclusive package of 21 HD channels from Rainbow Media. In addition, as many as 88 cable/satellite channels will be provided in standard-definition format, along with local digital over-the-air programming.

Hardware for the Voom service will include a satellite dish and set-top receiver manufactured by Motorola, as well as a digital antenna for local broadcast signals. In markets with local HDTV programming, local channels will be integrated into the same user interface with Voom offerings, the company said.

The company also announced that satellite TV veteran Mickey Alpert will lead Rainbow DBS as senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, reporting to Cablevision Chairman Charles F. Dolan. CableFAX Daily reported that former DirecTV executive Bill Casamo will serve as executive vice president of marketing and sales, and Jay Aldrich will work as executive vice president of finance.

CableFAX also reported that Voom is slated to launch into beta-test homes today.

Customers who want to be among the first to subscribe to the Voom service can submit contact information beginning today at http://www.voom.com.

http://www.skyreport.com (used with permission)

[Cyclone]

Today is Voom at Sears launch day right? I'll have to stop by at lunch and see if its set up yet.

[rollua1]

I hear that they are going to let people beta test it :)

[rcbridge]

I stopped in my local Sears today, it is not one of the larger stores, no Voom hardware yet but they did give me a brochure
and stated that dish will remain.

[AndyMon]

I hear that they are going to let people beta test it :)
Yes, but you have to pay $750 for the privilege, ;)

[bryan27]

I can't get their webpage to load on Netscape or IE :( All I get is the Voom shockwave with voom all over the area and nothing else.

Is there any other info? All I want is a receiver. I already have an antenna for HDTV with a pre-amp and FM block(which is probably better than the one they use), I have a dish pointed at 61.5 and don't need the dish either.

[waydwolf]

I can hardly wait to see their line-up. NESN-HD would get me to commit as soon as I can lay my hands on an HD TV set.

[bolco]

I believe that I read somewhere that this will cost about $40 per month. Initial reports show the following lineup...

· HD Rave - The first music television channel in HDTV.

· HD Ultra - Fashion TV, home design, & travel. Leading worldwide fashion designers and shows as well as insider tours of the trendiest restaurants, hotels, home and gardens.

· HD Gallery - World of art, architecture and cultural performances.

· HD MOOV - a channel where the view constantly changes. A continuous flow of imagery set to music. Real world scenes such as nature walks; a fireplace; a field trip through many major cities.

· HD Animania - Animation of all sorts. Children and families animation shorts feature films and cartoons. Also cutting edge video game shorts.

· HD VOOM News - News, weather and sports updates 24 hours a day.

· HD Cinema 10 - 10 different channels of movies in HD. Each channel features one title playing throughout the day. So you can choose between 10 different movies each day.

· HD Epics - Cinema and performing arts programming. Lush costume dramas to stunning dance performances. Literary epics and sweeping cinematic dramas including programming like a season pass to Lincoln Center, BAM, and the BBC.

· HD Monsters - All horror, thrillers and sci-fi in HD. Titles such as Horror of Dracula and Frankenstein, to Freddy and Jason. Also the KillaThrillaZilla-thon, a marathon of Godzilla movies.

· HD Rush - Fast moving action sports. Extreme surfing, kite surfing, heli-skiing, mountain biking and mountain boarding to name a few.

· HD Worldsport - The Wide World of Sports meets the wide world of HD. A diverse lineup of top events from around the world. With live, exclusive presentations of the finest soccer action in the world from the top two soccer leagues Italy and Spain. Plus track and field, motor sports,
horse racing, cycling, Grand Prix, sailing and more.

· Other HDTV channels include the usual suspects: HBO HD E&W, Showtime HD E&W, Discovery HD Theater, and soon to include Cinemax HD & Starz HD.

[Richssat]

OOOOH, F1 in HD.

That alone would make me buy one if....

I had LOS to 61.5

I had an extra $800

I had an HDTV

Still waiting for the winning lottery ticket.

Rich

[Jacob S]

This might become the next "AlphaStar".

[tahoerob]

I stopped in my local Sears today, it is not one of the larger stores, no Voom hardware yet but they did give me a brochure
and stated that dish will remain.

Are you able to scan the brochure in to allow us to see it!?!?!
You might be able to just email the scan pic to the moderators here to post.

Robert

[tahoerob]

Looked on the Sears website and found this about VOOM:
Sears Voom (http://www.sears.com/sr/framework/home.jsp?targetPage=/splash/voom_splash.jsp&vertical=SEARS&adCell=P4&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes)

I called the 800 number!
Actually talked to a live person. He said that I will basically need to wait until the 10/15 date to truly get more info online & at a local Sears store.
He confirmed the $749 price for: OTA antenna, receiver ("with THE LATEST technology"), DBS dish, installation.
Interesting that they are INCLUDING an OTA antenna! I asked whether they would discount my already having one, and he stated that he believes NOT.
Well I guess I will have to wait until 10/15.

Robert :)

[Sonnie Parker]

This is probably going to temp me tremendously unless Dish steps up to the plate and starts adding more HD channels.

Surely Voom will offer a "receiver only" for those that already have the OTA antenna installed and dish pointed at 61.5 and don't need professional installation.

[tahoerob]

This is probably going to temp me tremendously unless Dish steps up to the plate and starts adding more HD channels.

Surely Voom will offer a "receiver only" for those that already have the OTA antenna installed and dish pointed at 61.5 and don't need professional installation.

I asked that to the 800# guy. He said non-Voom dish already poiting at61.5 would not work & its an all or none package. I hope that they do make it flexible for us who have researched & had installed an OTA antenna that works!

Either way the real info will be out on 10/15.

Robert

[Sonnie Parker]

Yeah, that's just around the corner. I'll probably end up giving it at least 6 months to a year to get up and going before I take the plunge anyway. Unless of course it does turn out to be truly spectacular then I might have to make an exception.