Sunday Ticket Question

[mluntz]

When D* makes the switch to mpeg-4, will ST be in that format, or will I still be able to use my 3lnb and HR10-250 to get it in HD?

Thanks

[Michael D'Angelo]

It will be moved to MPEG4 at some point. Directv has not said when yet. There has been rumors on here saying it may be this year. I don't know how true that is or not.

[bonscott87]

It would be really hard to do it this year. But it depends if their information indicates that "critical mass" of Superfan customers already have an MPEG4 receiver then they may do it. But timing is pretty tight with the new sat coming online.

I think it's pretty much a given in 2008. MLB EI Superfan in 2008 will be all MPEG4 so by pushing NFL Superfan to MPEG4 as well, that will get the last stragglers over to MPEG4 so they can shut down MPEG2 HD by the end of 2008.

[Tom Robertson]

I have to believe that if SF was going to require a new DVR/receiver this season, you would have received several notices by mail, email, onscreen message and carrier pigeon. I gotta beleive that SF will be MPEG2 one more season.

Now...I would not be surprised if we see new SF features that show up later in the season on MPEG4 after D10 launches.

Cheers,
Tom

[old7]

I have a "gut feeling" that DirecTV will give away a lot of ST SF for free this year. The reason is because some of ST will be in MPEG2 and the rest of it in MPEG4. If you don't charge for SF then people are less inclined to complain and when they do complain offer to a HR20 for a reasonable price.

Any of the games that are already on one of the national HD channels (ABC-NY/ABC-LA and CBS-NY/CBS-LA) will be part of the MPEG2 SF set and if there is room for a couple other HD games without shutting down HD channels then they too will be included. All other HD games will be available in MPEG4 HD. If anyone with MPEG2 HD only hardware complains, then explain the limitations and offer a discounted upgrade to a HR20.

DirecTV has already indicated it willingness to give away SF, look no further than the NFL draft promo. It will be far easier to give away SF and upgrade customers to HR20 than to explain that yes you have new HD Sats and are currently adding new channels, but you still have to shut down existing HD channels for the duration of Sunday football.

[Derwood]

I noticed in the ads for the SAT-GO that D* is touting its use for Sunday Ticket and other sports packages.

As far as I know the SAT-GO is only MPeg2.

[old7]

I noticed in the ads for the SAT-GO that D* is touting its use for Sunday Ticket and other sports packages.

As far as I know the SAT-GO is only MPeg2.

Yes, SAT-GO is only MPEG2, but it is also only SD. All the MPEG4 channels are HD. SD channels will remain MPEG2 for the foreseeable future.