Charlie Chat Summary 4-11-05

[Chris Blount]

All text ©2005 www.DBSTalk.Com (http://www.dbstalk.com/) and Chris Blount
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Welcome to the Charlie Chat. Hosted by Charlie Ergen and Jim Defranco.

Customers from Texas are in the studio this evening to tell their story about Dish Network.

Jim talked about a customer that painted his dishes the same color as the roof for camouflage. It actually looks pretty cool.

Now a video about the in studio guests talking about Dish. The video was shot in their home. They are talking about how much they like their DVR and so on and so on and so on….

Back to the studio. Charlie and Jim attempt to interview the couple. Nothing much to tell here.

If you want to e-mail your story and pics to Dish, e-mail them at this address: whatistv@dishnetwork.com

Now on to Henry at the Cyber Café.

Question: I do not get channel 100. How do I bring my equipment up to date?

Answer: Dish home (channel 100) is available on almost all 3 digit receivers (i.e. 301, 501 etc except for the 921). Dish home is also available on the 3800, 3900, 4700 and 4900 receivers. All older model receivers do not have Dish Home. Call Dish to find out about upgrading your receiver.

Question: I tried shopping on Dish Home and loved it. Are there any other interactive shopping opportunities coming up?

Answer: We just launched Dish Mobile. Go to Dish Home and select Shopping then Dish Mobile.

Back to the studio.

Programming info with Eric Sahl.

Local markets. Up to 157 local markets. Two markets launched March 31st. Twin Falls, ID and Rapid City, ND.

Additional launches coming up. Casper, WY, Erie, PA, Great Falls MT, and Minot/Bismarck, ND.

Now a PPV promo for the fight between Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell. Also a video about MLB. Dish also offers a smaller MLB package.

Eric talks about a 24 hour a day reality show for the Latino package. Available on channel 826 at no additional charge. The channel is temporary.

Question time!

Question: Any update about the legislation that allows Dish to offer channels from other DMA’s?

Answer: Charlie answers that the FCC has written their report and that this summer Dish will offer some channels but it depends on where you live. It won’t affect most customers. The first channels will roll out in June. Dish must offer the local broadcast network in the market in order to also offer the significantly viewed channel.

Question: If you don’t broadcast my local channels in HD, will I ever be able to receive a national HD feed of a major network?

Answer: We will offer some of the larger city's local channels in HD next year. We are evolving to MPEG 4 so it will take some time. The legislation does allow us to bring in a national HD feed. You will only get an HD feed if your local broadcaster does not make an HD feed available.

Question: I have the HD receiver and package. Are you going to offer any additional HD like sports and movies?

Answer: There is a lot of HD to add. When MPEG 4 becomes more available later this year, we will launch more HD. The September Charlie Chat should reveal what channels will be launched.

Question: Are you ever going to be leasing an HD DVR?

Answer: We have a new model that we will make more readily available for leasing. We don’t plan to do it for several months.

Question: Do I have the National Geographic Channel?

Answer: It’s part of the Top 180 on channel 186.

In studio guest! Dennis Weaver! He’s the host of Encore Westerns. Not much to talk about here of interest. They gave away a few prizes.

More questions

Question: Can you expand on the purchase of the VOOM satellites?

Answer: At 61.5, we entered into a contract to purchase the VOOM satellite. There is some opportunity there to use the 21 channels of HD programming already located on the satellite. We are still waiting for FCC approval and hopefully be able to use the satellite this fall.

Question: When we change over to MPEG 4, will the extra bandwith allow some of the local channels to get pulled off the spot beams and back to the main satellites so RV’er can receive their local channels anywhere?

Answer: MPEG 4 allows us to take a lot of the local channels and place then back on a single dish. The bad news is that we are mainly doing that with spot beams. But, the RV waiver allows you to receive two distant cities.

Question: The Pentagon Channel (95) requires a second dish. When will this channel be available on one of your primary satellites?

Answer: A long winded answer turned out to be, not any time soon.

Question: Where do I get a PPV listing?

Answer: The monthly movie listings can be found on the Dish web site or on channel 500.

Next month is the Tech Forum on May 9th, 2005.

Thanks for joining us!

[mick70]

This "chat" was a total waste of time. No new info at all.

[bavaria72]

Chris - You are the man! Bad subject though!

[Laverne]

Chris - You are the man! Bad subject though!He's the "Good"! ;)

[bavaria72]

He's the "Good"! ;)

Righhhhhhhht.........

[larrystotler]

Question: Any update about the legislation that allows Dish to offer channels from other DMA’s?

Answer: Charlie answers that the FCC has written their report and that this summer Dish will offer some channels but it depends on where you live. It won’t affect most customers. The first channels will roll out in June. Dish must offer the local broadcast network in the market in order to also offer the significantly viewed channel.

Ok, but what if I can get those channels in that market? What if I can get them via antenna? Why can't we get them on the dish and get a more reliable(and yes, this statement will be debated) picture? This sounds like more of the unusal unfortunately, and they said channels and not DMA as well....



Answer: We will offer some of the larger cities local channels in HD next year. We are evolving to MPEG 4 so it will take some time. The legislation does allow us to bring in a nation HD feed. You will only get an HD feed if your local broadcaster does not make an HD feed available.
Answer: There is a lot of HD to add. When MPEG 4 becomes more available later this year, we will launch more HD. The September Charlie Chat should reveal what channels will be launched.

Gee, what ever happened to the "lock of compelling content"? Now we have "a lof of HD to add"???? And since when do they offer anything other than CBS?

Answer: At 61.5, we entered into a contract to purchase the VOOM satellite. There is some opportunity there to use the 21 channels of HD programming already located on the satellite. We are still waiting for FCC approval and hopefully be able to use the satellite this fall.

Boy, this is new. Earlier they were swearing that they only had the sat and uplink. Now they are looking at the content. Of course I'm sure it's not compelling yet.......

[bavaria72]

Sad part is that we will not have any additional HD content until, at best, Nov 2005 and quite frankly I don't think we see anything until Q106. Bummer. I feel sorry for my brothers and sisters that don't have OTA available. Of course what the heck can D* do in the same time frame?

[Richard King]

Boy, this is new. Earlier they were swearing that they only had the sat and uplink. Now they are looking at the content.I suspect this is because they didn't know if VOOM was going to continue as a going business. If VOOM had continued they wouldn't have access to the programming. Now that VOOM is going BOOM it might open some other doors for DISH to get the programming. Maybe. Possibly. Sort of.

[Richard King]

Good job, Chris. Sorry I missed the chat. Maybe, possibly, sort of. :D

[Hoxxx]

yes sounds like the usual fluff and no stuff. I am really getting used to the tune in a couple of months for more info, but the couple of months never seem to come.

[James Long]

All text ©2005 www.DBSTalk.Com (http://www.dbstalk.com/) and Chris BlountNice to see a chat summary worth protecting. Keep up the good work!

JL

[Ron Barry]

He's the "Good"! ;)

Well if he is the good, that leaves the bad and ugly for the rest of us to split up.

I have to ask.... What type of ratings does the Pentegon channel get? I dont even have a clue where that one is. Wonder if it beats the NASA channel?

[RickB]

Guess 942 will be offerred in a few months for lease with MPEG-2 ofcourse. I am holding off so I will not be obsolete when MPEG-4 is here. Won't lease it until it complies with MPEG-4. Tired of obsolescence. They are making leasing attractive.

[Mike Richardson]

If you lease the 942 and then HD changes to MPEG-4, they'll have to change out the receiver to one that has it.

I still think they ought to scratch MPEG-4 and just move the whole system over to 8PSK. Swap out all those old crusty 2000 boxes and stuff.

[Laverne]

Nice to see a chat summary worth protecting. Keep up the good work!

JLI thought they (the summaries) were all worth protecting..... ;)

[Chris Blount]

The copyright message is just so we have better control on where the stuff is going. If anyone wants to reprint somewhere else, just ask! Doesn't take long.

I found Charlie's comments about the VOOM satellite interesting. If he can pull off using VOOM's programming from 61.5, my hat will be off.

[James Long]

I thought they (the summaries) were all worth protecting..... ;)All the ones on this site ... :D
I have to ask.... What type of ratings does the Pentegon channel get? I dont even have a clue where that one is. Wonder if it beats the NASA channel?I don't expect it even is recognized as a channel in ratings ... Narrow interest but apparently carried on a few cable systems in military base towns. Content wise it is a bit of a mix. First, the Dish EPG doesn't match the actual content. Second, the channel seems to schedule programs to appear randomly throughout the week. Same time next week but for normal folk it would seem better to put DAILY programs on at the same time of day where we can find them.

I have not watched NASA lately (even though that channel was one of the reasons I chose satellite over cable) but The Pentagon Channel, especially with its random schedule, reminds me more of ARTS (all art, all the time) or the new Holistic TVN (all aerobics, all the time). More of a channel for a subject/theme than for a specific program. NASA's schedule seems to be more educational and better produced. Going on feelings, I'd have to say that NASA would have a bigger audience.

When initially launced The Pentagon Channel looked pretty good ... but now the colors have faded. I suppose I should drop a note to dishquality.

JL

[lujan]

You may want to check on the spelling and grammar before putting the summary out there. Unless that it the way they talked, you may want to correct some misspelled words. For example, "Question: Of you don’t broadcast my local channels in HD, will I ever be able to receive a national HD feed of a major network?"

[RandallA]

It's "grammar" not "grammer".

[Chris Blount]

You may want to check on the spelling and grammer before putting the summary out there. Unless that it the way they talked, you may want to correct some misspelled words. For example, "Question: Of you don’t broadcast my local channels in HD, will I ever be able to receive a national HD feed of a major network?"Thanks. I know I'm not the greatest writer in the world but I try. :) It seems like no matter how many times I look over the document, I still miss something.

[datwell]

After this last Charlie Chat, I'm not sure we know much more than we did before!

I would note the following however...

1) Charlie is now (at last) acknowledging the demand for HD

2) Charlie is aware of the Voom programming and other HD content available

3) Charlie seems to be aware his current subs want to lease the 942

4) Charlie has stated that E* will become a leader in HD

5) IMHO, E* today is the best value out there - they give you a bit more for your money, in spite of their missteps

6) Therefore, based on all of the above, I feel that in time E* will eventually be the best of the bunch for HD too. Charlie may not be the fastest to deploy, but he will be the most economical - Charlie is a sharp businessman who always has his eye on the bottom line. IMHO, if past performance is any indicator, in the end it will be well worth the wait for E* subscribers.

[Darkman]

It's "grammar" not "grammer".
hehe :D

[mrdectown]

After this last Charlie Chat, I'm not sure we know much more than we did before!

I would note the following however...

1) Charlie is now (at last) acknowledging the demand for HD

2) Charlie is aware of the Voom programming and other HD content available

3) Charlie seems to be aware his current subs want to lease the 942

4) Charlie has stated that E* will become a leader in HD

5) IMHO, E* today is the best value out there - they give you a bit more for your money, in spite of their missteps

6) Therfore, based on all of the above, I feel that in time E* will eventually be the best of the bunch for HD too. Charlie may not be the fastest to deploy, but he will be the most economical - Charlie is a sharp businessman who always has his eye on the bottom line. IMHO, if past performance is any indicator, in the end it will be well worth the wait for E* subscribers.

If this thread ended with your post it would rock. well said

[boylehome]

The previous Charlie Chat, Charlie mentioned adding a couple of HD channels this summer, before the MPEG4. CHARLIE, "RUNNER BACK!"

And, concerning the question and answer about HD national network, Question: If you don’t broadcast my local channels in HD, will I ever be able to receive a national HD feed of a major network?

Answer: We will offer some of the larger city's local channels in HD next year. We are evolving to MPEG 4 so it will take some time. The legislation does allow us to bring in a national HD feed. You will only get an HD feed if your local broadcaster does not make an HD feed available. The compression on the lil's for my area are severe the quality is crap.Why do we have to wait a year? Our local CBS-KHSL and NBC-KNVN are operated by the same outfit, and in my discussions with the Chief Engineer, they will continue low power and will not upgrade to HD until the end of 2009.

[tonyp56]

If you lease the 942 and then HD changes to MPEG-4, they'll have to change out the receiver to one that has it.

Really? Why would they do this, what would make them swap you out? What I think will happen is that when they do go to MPEG4 all customers that leased the 942 will be told that they are not eligible to upgrade to any of the new receivers because they haven't went two years yet! Besides, even when they do go to MPEG4, it will take awhile before it would be required for anyone to upgrade their receiver, because the only thing that they will do MPEG4 on is the new channels. Of course new customers will receive MPEG4 receivers but they won't offer a upgrade option for current customers until they start changing all channels to MPEG4. Which they could add thirty HD channels before they start doing that and we (current customers) would be left in the dark!

[N7OR]

"Unless that it the way they talked"

It that how you talk?

[DonLandis]

Chris, nice review as always!

Datwell- your first 4 were observations and I'd like to point out some things as well-
#4 Charlie has always stated E* is the leader in HDTV. But, he is quite dilusional because he never has stated how he measures this. Most of his HDTV subscribers measure it by the number of channels a.k.a bandwidth share he contributes to HDTV programming that people watch and want. This means the Demo channel or channels that few people can receive nationally do not really count. As such, I think it fair to say that E* has 7 HDTV channels that are open and available with consistent variety of programming. I didn't count the PPV HD channel because it is rarely if ever offering new changing programming daily. But, I haven't checked in months so I may stand corrected on that channel. Last I did check E* was the highest cost per PPV as well.


#5 and 6 are not Charlie Chat observations but your personal opinion of the E* service as managed by Charlie. I can agree with you that "in Time" E* could be the best HDTV service out there" But that assumes D* will fail as did VOOM and not proceed with their announced plan. The point I would make is, as a subscriber to 4 services, E*, D*, V* and Comcast, I believe I'm in a unique position to judge who has the best/worst value in HDTV. Frankly, E* has moved from #1 position in the year they added Showtime HD on premiere day to Last position today. That's a bunch of HD catchup to do, my friend. But, soon they will be in #3 position by the simple attrition of VOOM!
If E* was serious about HDTV, Charlie would have announced immediate additions of the channels Cinemax E&W HD, starz E&W HD, TMCHD, UHD, Playboy HD, without the subject of MP4 entering the picture. Especially in light of the new satellites at 61.5 which had been HDTV and still is for their CBS HD channels( but few qualify for). Many of us who have been with E* since the 5000/HDTVmod days have that 61.5 dish as well as all VOOM subs already installed so it becomes a no brainer for HDTV programming. However, what do we hear? We hear that in order to consider more HDTV we have to wait for MP4 and that will only begin late in year 2005. Add a year for new programming and receivers DVR's etc to hit the streets and what you have is E* staying in the shadows in HDTV for another 18 months minimum.

Remain with E* as your sole provider if you choose, but rest assured, none of us believe that HDTV enthusiasts remain with E* for it's HDTV offerings. That notion is one ROFLMAO scene. I suggest that you and others remain with E* mainly because you really don't understand what the alternatives offer nor have seriously considered how to possibly move to a better service with HDTV.

Finally, economics- Based on the offerings and costs involved, my E* service has grown to be the most expensive service I have per viewing hour as well as my highest single provider invoice per month! This has to do with a variety of reasons- Mostly due to two major issues which is first, programming in HDTV and second, the 921 hardware has had updates downloaded that has rendered the $1000 921 receiver unwatchable for all channels between December and end of March, or 3 months. I pay the most per month to E* with AEP and HD pack and a few other services, second to VOOM for all their channels they offer and 3rd to D* for 3 movie channels and HDTV pack plus the HDTIVO. The most watched is VOOM, close second is D* with HDTV time shifting. Due to the erratic reliability of the 921, I find I rarely can watch the system anymore. I won't mention Comcast cost because I have a unique position as a vendor of programming so my Comcast service is comped, I only pay for their internet service.

E* could correct this, in my case, with offering the above HD channels I listed that Charlie could have announced for 61.5. Plus, either fix the 921 to work debendably or offer us a trade up deal to the 942(assuming it is working) as a lease option with none of this crap of $250 for the first months lease payment. Just a send in your 921 and receive a 942 for $10 a month lease. But that ain't gonna happen. We both know that. Therefore, I predict that when VOOM goes black I will reduce my AEP costly package on E* and beef up my D* service which will become the #1 HDTV provider I will have. I don't know what to do about my 921 then. I sold my boat 13 years ago so I don't need an anchor!

[bavaria72]

Thanks. I know I'm not the greatest writer in the world but I try. :) It seems like no matter how many times I look over the document, I still miss something.


Welcome to English 101.......

[DonLandis]

Hey Chris- I read through any of the typos etc if they were there. I'm no wherenear as anal as NIck is about correcting other people's typos.
But while were on this subject, you could make an effort to find a much better spell checker. I run it on every post and it misses many common typos. In my long one I noticed it missed "Thier" and I went back and corrected the juxtaposed typo to "their" Other forums have much better spell checkers, you could use a better one!

[bavaria72]

So why when I run the spell checker "DBSTalk" aways comes back "Deerstalker"?! Better watch out or PETA will be coming after you! :lol:

[tahoerob]

Well said Don.

I have recently added Adelphia back. I decreased my Dish to Top 60/locals/ HD from AEP/locals/HD.
I get the major nets in HD on cable (the crappy 921 OTA could NEVER get NBC well). I now have more HD with cable then then Dish including HBO HD, Sho HS & Starz HD. The only 2 channels that I do not yet get with cable are TNT-HD & Disc HD. I keep the 921 now really only for Disc HD. I do get PBS HD OTA with the Dish though, but maybe only would watch 1 show per month.

Adelphia has the SA 8000 HD dual tuner DVR which is MORE STABLE than the 921. It even does name-based recording. Have not lost a timer yet!! Also, they just recently added the Video on Demand (VOD) services. Very nice & they commit good bandwidth for great PQ.

This all started when I switched to a cable modem. Now I actually pay the same price for all cable & modem as I did for AEP with same channels in addition to Starz HD, InHD, & InHD2 plus local HD.

[Big Bob]

It's "grammar" not "grammer".
My vote for post of the year

[the_bear]

Is there a receiver coming out beyond the 942 soon? I have not heard any rumors. I noticed Charlie did not specifically name the 942 when he said there would be an HD DVR lease option for existing customers. Several months is longer than the next month people have been speculating about. I just wonder if the 942 will really be made a lease option for existing customer or will it be something newer (more waiting)?

[datwell]

DonLandis: Thanks for reading my post! I live in Fairfax County, VA - sadly "served" by Cox. Our problems here over the years are well documented and the stuff of legends. My daughter & son-in-law have Cox and it is weak - to put it kindly. Further, I am on the back side of a large hill and I have no OTA at all. So my real decision is D* or E*? Period. IMHO, E* is the better buy for me at this point in time. I will continue to keep my eyes open however.

da Doug

[James Long]

#4 Charlie has always stated E* is the leader in HDTV.Actually, starting with the last Charlie Chat Ergen has said E* WILL BE the leader in HD. He did lead when E* was the only service with HD, and his current spiel is that he WILL lead again.Other forums have much better spell checkers, you could use a better one!This forum has better content. I can read through a few uncaught words to get better content. :D

JL

[moedog]

Well said Don.

I have recently added Adelphia back. I decreased my Dish to Top 60/locals/ HD from AEP/locals/HD.
I get the major nets in HD on cable (the crappy 921 OTA could NEVER get NBC well). I now have more HD with cable then then Dish including HBO HD, Sho HS & Starz HD. The only 2 channels that I do not yet get with cable are TNT-HD & Disc HD. I keep the 921 now really only for Disc HD. I do get PBS HD OTA with the Dish though, but maybe only would watch 1 show per month.

Adelphia has the SA 8000 HD dual tuner DVR which is MORE STABLE than the 921. It even does name-based recording. Have not lost a timer yet!! Also, they just recently added the Video on Demand (VOD) services. Very nice & they commit good bandwidth for great PQ.

This all started when I switched to a cable modem. Now I actually pay the same price for all cable & modem as I did for AEP with same channels in addition to Starz HD, InHD, & InHD2 plus local HD.

No doubt, Adelphia is rocking in the Shenandoah Valley of VA. They have all the services you listed in Staunton VA as well. I've seen a few HD programs on a 12 foot screen via Adelphia in Staunton, and the quality knocks your socks off. E* and D* better watch out!

[Curmudgeon]

"Why do we have to wait a year?"

For the 1000th time...Dish doesn't have the available bandwidth! They need mpeg4 and new sat's to even think about local channels in HD.

And btw, there's no requirement that local stations EVER offer HD...only digital in whatever mode/format they choose. And they're using low power cause there's no advertising revenue stream to pay the power bills for the digital transmitter. That will probably only change when analog goes dark.

[BobMurdoch]

A few observations......

As one of the prime offenders in the typo wars (when you post thousands of times, they are bound to occur) can we all just agree to relax a little? We usually can understand each other, except for those times when someone comes up with some Yoda-speak sentence that doesn't make sense after the first or second reading. In that case, feel free to request a clarification from the poster, but keep it polite. Treat others as we would like to be treated and stop adding unnecessary stress to your life (our multichannel providers will give us plenty to deal with for those masochists who need "drama" in their lives).

As for the Charlie Chat snorefest, it looks like 2005 is gonna be the "lost" year (...and I'm not talking the J.J. Abrams show here). Rainbow 1 is tied up for another half a year until the FCC blesses the transfer. Mpeg4 is still "baking" in the labs, so no meaningful channel adds will happen until the new technologies are ready for prime time. The subscriber churn numbers are surprisingly low, so Charlie has no impetus to worry about the mass of subscribers who seem to be happy from an aggregate standpoint (except for the Satellite Intelligentsia here who are constantly wringing our hands in frustration at the slow march of "progress" towards an HD future). The new #3 Satellite Provider is imploding, and the wired ones are still erroneously touting VOD as the satellite killer (while the rest of us shrug and say that our PVRs are just fine thank you), and haven't gotten smart enough to sufficiently advertise their current HD superiority (which they currently DO possess here in central NJ as Cablevision has added 2 dozen HD channels over the last 2 years). Basically, as far as the numbers are concerned, things are rosy in Littleton, and they are content to move forward at their current glacial pace until D* can get THEIR act together over the next year.

Sooooo, there will be another year of useless channel adds (Erie, PA.... come on down! You've got local channels now....... People raising llamas in Botswana may get an international channel, but otherwise they seem content to stand pat.), and continual moaning and graoning about receiver bugs (as the 921 continues the 1 step forward 3 steps back method of software "improvements"). With a lack of anything meaningful to offer, the Charlie Chats will remain painful, as they dodge most meaningful questions (although at least they dealt with SOME of the burning issues last night, even if they didn't give the answers we wanted).

At this point the only thing I am still holding out hope for is the addition of Universal HD (COME ON! THEY STARTED SHOWING BATTLESTAR GALACTICA IN HD THIS WEEK!!!!!!). Even ESPN2 HD is losing its appeal as ESPN HD is still showing upconverted content on many broadcasts......

[Mark Lamutt]

At this point the only thing I am still holding out hope for is the addition of Universal HD (COME ON! THEY STARTED SHOWING BATTLESTAR GALACTICA IN HD THIS WEEK!!!!!!). Even ESPN2 HD is losing its appeal as ESPN HD is still showing upconverted content on many broadcasts......

That's what I really want right now as well. Heck, if Comcast in Denver had UHD in their lineup, I'd be a comcast subscriber for the next 13 weeks. But, alas, they don't...

[larrystotler]

No doubt, Adelphia is rocking in the Shenandoah Valley of VA. They have all the services you listed in Staunton VA as well. I've seen a few HD programs on a 12 foot screen via Adelphia in Staunton, and the quality knocks your socks off. E* and D* better watch out!

Huh? Up here in the Winchester area, Adelphia is the most overpriced, useless POS I have ever dealt with. Sure, they have the locals in digital. However, their Scientific Atlanta boxes are garbage. 50 hours SD/8 hours HD is their best DVR so far. Their analog service is $50/month, then you have to add digital to that. And, with the lease and outlet fees, just to have all your channels on all your TVS is over two times to price of a comparable E* or D* package. The only channels they have that sat don't is the InHD 1 & 2 other than the digital locals. Heck, 1/2 the time my cable modem doesn't work right. I've already had to replace that Tehrayn POS with a Motorola, and for the past week is has just cut out and done nothing until a dozen resets. "Rocking" you say? Not in my opinion. My customers are just floored by the difference in PQ on the channels they actually watch.

[larrystotler]

Really? Why would they do this, what would make them swap you out? What I think will happen is that when they do go to MPEG4 all customers that leased the 942 will be told that they are not eligible to upgrade to any of the new receivers because they haven't went two years yet! Besides, even when they do go to MPEG4, it will take awhile before it would be required for anyone to upgrade their receiver, because the only thing that they will do MPEG4 on is the new channels. Of course new customers will receive MPEG4 receivers but they won't offer a upgrade option for current customers until they start changing all channels to MPEG4. Which they could add thirty HD channels before they start doing that and we (current customers) would be left in the dark!

Both E* and D* have plans to replace all current receivers with MPEG4 receviers. V*'s receivers were supposed to be MPEG4 ready as well. They have announced plans to replace all current HD customers with new receivers and then will work towards replacing the rest. My opinion is that when they actually have a good supply of receivers, they will start phasing out the current buch, and start selling the new batch and doing upgrades as well. But they are going to have to have a really good supply, and with everything E*, don't you think that waiting would be a little better to get a better box? The 942 was delayed for a year, and so far it has proven itself much better overall than the 921 has been. Perhaps E* is finnaly doing it right? We will have to see. D*'s plans are to replace with MPEG4 receivers when their subs add the digital locals and then start on the rest. However, this all requires that their new spaceways and D* 10 & 11 sats work properly and that their stuff is ready. As always, a bunch of ifs......

Nice tag on open office. However, do you use Linux as well?

[Phil T]

Mark,

Let me know if you want to borrow/rent my Samsung 360 for a few weeks. :)

[DonLandis]

Again, UHD is on DirecTV. If you guys want it bad enough, you will get it. Nobody but you are stopping you. My guess is this is all just rhetoric because Dish has said, no more HD until next year when mp4 is out. I think many of you love Charlie much more than the desire to have the programing you want. Hey, I guess I do to because I looked at what I used my 921 to record in the last 3 months ad it was just Charlie Chats and the tech chat. One of those I couldn't watch because it was so jittery.

"For the 1000th time...Dish doesn't have the available bandwidth! They need mpeg4 and new sat's to even think about local channels in HD.
"

You need to look at the bigger picture. They have plenty of bandwidth, however they choose to use it for what they consider more important programming like locals in Casper, and foreign language programming. But that is the real reason you choose Dish Network, it's because they offer you those unique channels that others don't. You certainly don't stay with them for HDTV or the superiority of the hardware or cheaper rates. If that is your reason , you are dilusional and really haven't looked at the competition's price and program offering!

[lujan]

It's "grammar" not "grammer".


So much for spell checking...

[DonLandis]

Actually, starting with the last Charlie Chat Ergen has said E* WILL BE the leader in HD. He did lead when E* was the only service with HD, and his current spiel is that he WILL lead again.This forum has better content. I can read through a few uncaught words to get better content. :D

JL

First part true! But, E* was never the "Only" service with HDTV. Seems that D* was first quickly followed by E* and then soon, E* took the lead with adding Showtime HD. In those days D* was struggling with some people who were anti DD5.1 as well as HDTV in their LABC. It took Mark Cuban and tech team to finally get things turned around at D* WRT HDTV and DD5.1. So much for history... Will CE be the leader again in 3 years? maybe but that's a long way off and D* has certainly demonstrated a spearheaded approach during the past 18 months with all they have done, NFLST and all. I suspect the two will eventually be matched up but that will have to wait until the next decade.
Meanwhile with the loss of VOOM we all will have to take a step backward as far as DBS HDTV is concerned.

[Mark Lamutt]

Again, UHD is on DirecTV. If you guys want it bad enough, you will get it. Nobody but you are stopping you.

In my case, it's definitely me stopping me. I don't have unlimited funds to throw at a year's worth of contracted programming to watch one 13-week show. Doesn't mean that I don't want it on Dish (eventually) though.

[boylehome]

"Why do we have to wait a year?"

For the 1000th time...Dish doesn't have the available bandwidth! They need mpeg4 and new sat's to even think about local channels in HD.

And btw, there's no requirement that local stations EVER offer HD...only digital in whatever mode/format they choose. And they're using low power cause there's no advertising revenue stream to pay the power bills for the digital transmitter. That will probably only change when analog goes dark.
E* can make room for some expansion. They can't make a lot of room but they can add 3 - 6 HD channels if they wanted too. I know of two HD channels that show zip: HDEV1 (110) always Off Air; 9466 NBAHD (110) always Off Air; A third, 9443 HDTV3 (61.5) Demo channel and is very old content! They should open up Rainbows 61.5 HD content now and worry about their MPEG4 in future. This way they are at least keeping people happy.

[monetnj]

Sad part is that we will not have any additional HD content until, at best, Nov 2005 and quite frankly I don't think we see anything until Q106. Bummer. I feel sorry for my brothers and sisters that don't have OTA available. Of course what the heck can D* do in the same time frame?

They can launch Spaceway F1, Spaceway F2 and Directv 8

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=40728
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=38051&highlight=spaceway

Start the transition to MPEG4, roll out several new MPEG4 receivers including a Home Media Center HD DVR and deliver LIL HD for the 12 largest markets.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=37221&highlight=spaceway

However, E* could have a feather in its cap if they managed to secure HD programming from the VOOM deal.

[BobMurdoch]

I want Universal HD.

I just don't want to pay the price of $1000+ in new hardware (I have 4 PVRs active in my house now), having to give up waivers to distant networks to go along with my New York Locals, Showtime Beyond, HBO Comedy, and several other movie channels that I enjoy that D* doesn't have. I also don't like the slow Tivo Guide and the random scrambling of channels that D* seems to do (E* seems to group channels much more logically). I also don't like the HD Lite posts that I am seeing from D*. I want HD, but I don't want to dumb the feeds down to mere "ED" (Enhanced Definition) vis heavy compression to get it.....

[Vodad]

Nice tag on open office. However, do you use Linux as well?

what you mean not everyone does.

James
Marketing Contact
Central U.S.
OpenOffice.org

[Paul Secic]

This "chat" was a total waste of time. No new info at all.
No news, just junk. If there isn't any news they should cancel it!

[James Long]

They have plenty of bandwidth, however they choose to use it for what they consider more important programming like locals in Casper, and foreign language programming.Foreign channels are out of the way on the wings and 121. Having 157 (not 130) local markets is also very important to E*'s future. Carrying local channels often is the tiping point between subscribe/not subscribe.

E* will do HD when they can get it right and not be rushed in to doing it wrong and going bust. Meanwhile they are running a profitable company - And there is a lot to be said about the value of being profitable. It puts you in a place where you can afford to do it right.

JL

[lazaruspup]

E* will do HD when they can get it right and not be rushed in to doing it wrong and going bust. Meanwhile they are running a profitable company - And there is a lot to be said about the value of being profitable. It puts you in a place where you can afford to do it right.

JL

You mean do it right like Superdish implementation, so-called saving grace for HD on DISH, or did you mean Dishwire... oh wait that never happened either. Oh, I know, you meant the 921... oh no, not that either. The only reason DISH doesn't do more HD is......

they don't have the ability to.

There is no selling point for other content right now and DISH only loses money by adding more unless they restructure the HD package IF THEY HAD THE BANDWIDTH. DBS companies are getting themselves screwed by trying to provide the locals to everyone though it is a must for them.

Until MPEG4, both DBS companies are going to experience a slowdown in HD and even then, we aren't going to see much at once, a trickle here and there along with a likely price restructuring ala several tiers of HD programming. They are already overcompressing what they have, why would they add more.

[James Long]

You mean do it right like ...E* has had plenty of past problems. So has D* (the company that had so much trouble getting D7S in the air that they went stagnant on the number of locals, provides some local markets to less than their full DMA and is relying on the lowest power ka for their HD future) and V* (the company that chose to market to 1% of America as a virtual add-on service and folds at the end of the month).

I hope E* moves forward making less mistakes than they have in the past.

JL

[lazaruspup]

I hope E* moves forward making less mistakes than they have in the past.

JL

That's probably more like it. I don't wish them bad fortune, I just can't believe that they can't get it right. D* made a huge turnaround for themselves with the Tivo partnership and the expansion of locals, etc. I wish E* could do the same for themselves and get some good competition for the DBS industry again.

I sold E* in college and thought they were a great company to work with. Commissions were great and their customer service wasn't all that bad. That was about the time of the first Dishplayers... after that debacle started, it seemed like everything they tried turned to rot. I have a friend that works for the same company now, the largest E* dealer in the midwest, and he said commissions are down and they will not work with the dealers at all on getting people upgraded etc. A total change from my days with them as a customer/dealer.

[RandallA]

So much for spell checking...

Just playing with you! Sometimes we just type too fast and miss the most obvious mistakes. LOL

Let me run my spell check before I post. Hee, hee.

[larrystotler]

what you mean not everyone does.

Huh? Open Office, last I checked, was also available on windoze and solaris. It is the open source version of StarOffice 5.x, and that was available on all 3 platforms. So, no, you don't have to run linux to use it. Personally, Linux is all I use. My kids have 1 Windoze PC for their games, and that's all it does.

[larrystotler]

This all started when I switched to a cable modem. Now I actually pay the same price for all cable & modem as I did for AEP with same channels in addition to Starz HD, InHD, & InHD2 plus local HD.

Robert, you are right here in my hometown.....do I know you?

[jsanders]

[...] and V* (the company that chose to market to 1% of America as a virtual add-on service and folds at the end of the month).

Voom would have never even got past the first round of funding if their business plan stated that they were choosing to augment a 1% share of a market.

[UT_Texan]

correct me if I am wrong but when I listened to the show tonight I thought I heard Charlie say when answering question about an hd dvr for lease he said they would have one in several months when mpg4 is out. To me it sounded like they weren't leasing any until mpg4 and didn't mention the 942. definitely think I am going to wait this one out. would very much hate to get 942 to only in 8 months learn they have an mpg4 receiver coming out for lease

[passing_ships]

Thanks. I know I'm not the greatest writer in the world but I try. :) It seems like no matter how many times I look over the document, I still miss something.

The quality of the summary is excellent, even if the material to summarize is not particularly news-worthy. Why nit-pick the odd typo?

[Ron Barry]

Excellent Recap Chris!!! Hell if I ever do the recap it will be riddled with Typos I can assure you.

I fall into the bad typing catagory and to add inslut to injury I tend not to re-read what I typed. I am Just too busy and my mind is usually about two steps ahead of my fingers.

Since I am Mr. Glass I tend to not throw rocks if possible.

[Paul Secic]

I wonder why Charlie didn't say anything about CH: 157 IMF?

[Darkman]

maybe HE is actually, simular to us here, does NOT always know ahead of time ( or does NOT remember at the least :) ), on what's upcoming in the upcoming Uplink Activity...

Unless he is informed in advance about something like that, he might have NOT known about it.. ;)

Oh well, something to announce i guess, on the next Chat :D

[James Long]

I wonder why Charlie didn't say anything about CH: 157 IMF?The court order was after the chat.

JL

[boylehome]

E* can make room for some expansion. They can't make a lot of room but they can add 3 - 6 HD channels if they wanted too. I know of two HD channels that show zip: HDEV1 (110) always Off Air; 9466 NBAHD (110) always Off Air; A third, 9443 HDTV3 (61.5) Demo channel and is very old content! They should open up Rainbows 61.5 HD content now and worry about their MPEG4 in future. This way they are at least keeping people happy.
I thought that I would reserect this post as this is basically what Charlie has done with the Rainbow 61.5 satellite!!!