Any new LIL before new sat??

[mike_augie]

Well they put off OKC and several others that was to be up in Q4 2006???lol??? now that we are in 2007 will we see any new LIL before the new sats go up or should be just not count on any of the locals before then???

[HDTVsportsfan]

I think they are just a little behind. I haven't seen any info. stating they won't until the new SAT's go up.
Maybe Earl can chime in and she some light on it for you.

[markrubi]

I have called Directv yesterday to setup my old hr10-250 for my dad and today to schedule a return visit for the installer to hookup a ground wire which wasn't done.

3 reps told me OKC will be HD sometime 3rd qtr..

[Greg Bimson]

Think about it. DirecTV at the beginning of October, 2006, announced they would have 67 markets available by the end of 2006.

Then, once they added four markets at the end of November, DirecTV revised the number downward to 57 markets, by only adding another eight more by the end of 2006.

And no more were added.

Something techincal must be happening, or DirecTV just doesn't have enough HD receivers to supply new local markets in HD. After all, we did hear about the shortage of HD DVR receivers during the last three months.

No one can miss their own internal schedules twice without having a very good reason.

[Herdfan]

No one can miss their own internal schedules twice without having a very good reason.

Or just plain old incompetance.

[RAD]

Maybe they decided to get the '8mm' problem fixed before rolling out new cities.

[markrubi]

Maybe they decided to get the '8mm' problem fixed before rolling out new cities.

8mm problem? please explain..

[bobnielsen]

Another possibility is that they don't have enough retransmission agreements in place. IIRC, they require at least two in a market before lighting it up. As discussed in another thread, some of the station owners are being obstinate http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=68497.

[RAD]

8mm problem? please explain..

Some D* LIL HD channels have a video frame rate problem where it makes motion a bit jerky, sort of like watching old 8mm home movies. In Austin it occurs on the two stations using 1080i and only when video based matarial is being shown, film and the 720p station are OK. Other cities where this problem has occured have noted that over the past few weeks D* has corrected the problem. Maybe they've decided to fix the problem right from the start causing the delay?

[Greg Bimson]

There is a multiple of possibilities for the lack of HD local additions recently. Amongst two I have already discussed are a lack of MPEG4 HD receivers, which would simply stop the rollouts from occurring as supply could never meet demand, and technical difficulties.

bobnielsen also points out retransmission agreements, but for a very large chunk of the 18 markets that were supposed to roll out in 2006, most of them have at least three local stations that would be available. There are very few markets of the 18 announced where DirecTV doesn't have retransmission agreements.

However, the technical difficulties scenario does intrigue me. If there are problems with the MPEG4 encoders as evidenced by the "8mm problem", and only one company (Tandberg) is currently supplying these encoders, then there are possibilities that DirecTV wants the encoders fixed before going much further.

Last time DirecTV was so off on their roll-out schedule, it had to do with the satellite manufacturer missing deadlines for building the satellite. This time, it appears the satellite is built and waiting for more transmissions, but something else is holding this up. And it appears to be more a technical issue than a contractual one, unless the lack of MPEG4 HD receivers is one of the causes.

[HDTVsportsfan]

There is a multiple of possibilities for the lack of HD local additions recently. Amongst two I have already discussed are a lack of MPEG4 HD receivers, which would simply stop the rollouts from occurring as supply could never meet demand, and technical difficulties.

Are we assuming they are short on the H20's as well. I know the demand is for the HR20, but you're making blanket statment that they are short on all MPEG4's. That's how I read it anyway.:)

[Greg Bimson]

Understood. However, the issue still seems to be what technological issue is holding these markets up? I mean, I've now been a DirecTiVo house for almost 3 years. I wouldn't go back. So if there is a receiver shortage, I am a bit biased because of the fact I wouldn't use a non-DVR receiver.

But that still doesn't address the other issues, such as why DirecTV is 18 markets short for the entire year as addressed from the beginning of October, and 8 markets short from the revised projections back in late November. That appears to be completely a technical issue.

The capacity has been there, so that isn't an issue. The retransmission agreements for the most part are available, so that isn't an issue. That leaves any technical issues and any supply chain issues as the main culprits.

[Dalek1963]

Hi,
Not having an hd tv, I would just be happy if they got sd local channels to my market. I really think they should have gotten up all the sd locals before becoming obsessed with hd locals Just a thought from the peanut gallery.

[Herdfan]

Are we assuming they are short on the H20's as well.

So if there is a receiver shortage, I am a bit biased because of the fact I wouldn't use a non-DVR receiver.

If supply at my local Best Buy is any indication, they have plenty of H20's available.

I'm with you Greg in that I wouldn't have a non-DVR receiver. In fact, I am somewhat surprised that given D*'s push for VOD and similar features that they even make a non-DVR HD receiver.

[HDTVsportsfan]

I'm with you Greg in that I wouldn't have a non-DVR receiver..... .

I agree as well, but if it's a matter of not being able to get my locals in HD I would take the non-DVR in the short term until the HD_DVR became available.

[Greg Bimson]

Not having an hd tv, I would just be happy if they got sd local channels to my market. I really think they should have gotten up all the sd locals before becoming obsessed with hd locals Just a thought from the peanut gallery.During the third quarter analyst's conference call back in November, DirecTV stated in the coming months they would add about another 30 markets in standard definition. Nothing else has been mentioned since.

[slh66]

my installer said they have a whole warehouse full of hr 20s and h 20s that there is no problem here I guess california is were the real problem lies they have none and demand is really high out there.

[Greg Bimson]

I did some digging, because another site (DBSForums.com) posted that Tandberg received an order at the very end of 2006 for more MPEG4 encoders from DirecTV...

First deal was in February, 2005, for $9 million details here (http://www.tandbergtv.com/newsview.asp?n=333)
Second deal was in September, 2005, for $7.5 million details here (http://www.tandbergtv.com/newsview.asp?n=456)
Third deal was in October, 2005, for $7+ million details here (http://www.tandbergtv.com/newsview.asp?n=483)

These three deals in 2005 were for the EN5990, which was the first generation MPEG4 real-time encoder.

Then, it appears that the only deal in 2006 for MPEG4 encoders was three days before Christmas. This deal was for the second generation MPEG4 encoder, the EN8090. If there were technical problems, I may have just found where they are at.

[RAD]

I did some digging, because another site (DBSForums.com) posted that Tandberg received an order at the very end of 2006 for more MPEG4 encoders from DirecTV...

First deal was in February, 2005, for $9 million details here (http://www.tandbergtv.com/newsview.asp?n=333)
Second deal was in September, 2005, for $7.5 million details here (http://www.tandbergtv.com/newsview.asp?n=456)
Third deal was in October, 2005, for $7+ million details here (http://www.tandbergtv.com/newsview.asp?n=483)

These three deals in 2005 were for the EN5990, which was the first generation MPEG4 real-time encoder.

Then, it appears that the only deal in 2006 for MPEG4 encoders was three days before Christmas. This deal was for the second generation MPEG4 encoder, the EN8090. If there were technical problems, I may have just found where they are at.

Found this new release from 10/2006, http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6276786.html

[Greg Bimson]

RAD, that one is the third order in 2005, not 2006.

[Greg Bimson]

Found something else...

DirecTV also bought MPEG4 encoders from Harmonic in February, 2006 (press release here (http://www.harmonicinc.com/ah_press_release_text.cfm?ID=591)). So, I find it plausible that DirecTV was trying to mix and match their vendors, and may not have liked the results.

[JLucPicard]

I'm with you Greg in that I wouldn't have a non-DVR receiver. In fact, I am somewhat surprised that given D*'s push for VOD and similar features that they even make a non-DVR HD receiver.

I think as long as they charge a $5.99 a month DVR fee there will be a need for non-DVR receivers. I'm with you, though. The only non-DVR receiver I have is connected to my Series 2 TiVo w/DVD Burner. :grin:

[RAD]

RAD, that one is the third order in 2005, not 2006.
Dang, can't even read dates anymore, sorry.

[Herdfan]

I think as long as they charge a $5.99 a month DVR fee there will be a need for non-DVR receivers.
Only if you want to use the DVR features. Make one box and charge extra if customers want extra functionality. Give them trickplay and manual records for free, but charge extra if they want SL and NBR.

That way the equipment is there waiting for them and all they have to do is activate it.

[Greg Bimson]

A DVR fee is now standard across all multichannel providers. DirecTV's fee is $5.99 per account for unlimted DVRs; Dish Network is $5 per DVR receiver. I have no problem with this.

[RAD]

A DVR fee is now standard across all multichannel providers. DirecTV's fee is $5.99 per account for unlimted DVRs; Dish Network is $5 per DVR receiver. I have no problem with this.

Any both companies waive the fee if you subscribe to their top tier programming package (I know it's true for D* and thine E* does the same).