Dish Hates Ohio?

[JaguarJoJo]

Ohio has four major metropolitan areas: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Dayton/Springfield, and none have HD locals! Do I sense a bias here?

JoJo

[convem24]

I checked the local HD LIL list for D* to check if they have those markets and they have HD LIL for D* except Dayton/Springfield. It is interesting that D* would carry local HD in those markets and not E* but there is the reverse that E* has locals in markets that D* should have. It also might be a bandwidth problem. D* is not adding additional local HD markets until D10 is fully fucntional. E* might be waiting until they launch their new mpeg 4 sats later this year. Typically from what I know about how local HD works D* and E* add local HD based on market size and number of customers in market along with market opportunity. It is not a fair or equitable to individual customers but it is about adding new subs at that point.

[JaguarJoJo]

I checked the local HD LIL list for D* to check if they have those markets and they have HD LIL for D* except Dayton/Springfield. It is interesting that D* would carry local HD in those markets and not E* but there is the reverse that E* has locals in markets that D* should have. It also might be a bandwidth problem. D* is not adding additional local HD markets until D10 is fully fucntional. E* might be waiting until they launch their new mpeg 4 sats later this year. Typically from what I know about how local HD works D* and E* add local HD based on market size and number of customers in market along with market opportunity. It is not a fair or equitable to individual customers but it is about adding new subs at that point.

The smallest of the four metropolitan areas I mentioned is Dayton/Springfield, which was 850,000 in the 2005 census. Compare those areas to Spokane, for example, which has had HD for more than a year. I could cite several other examples. Columbus, which is the largest of the four, isn't even on their prospective list. Of course their lists are fables anyway--both Cleveland and Cincinnati were supposed to be up in 2006. Last I checked my calendar, it was mid-2007! DirecTV is just leaving E* in the dust. Time to go back.

JoJo

[James Long]

Dish hates everyone. :)

There ... now we can all go enjoy something on TV. E* didn't just miss Ohio in their HD buildout. For some reason they are moving much slower than announced and expected. Hopefully that will turn around at the end of the year.

[Stewart Vernon]

Probably because it is round on both ends, and hi in the middle ;)

[Richard King]

Dish hates West Palm Beach, Florida also. :(

[Mike D-CO5]

Well I am finally feeling the LOVE by DISH in Beaumont/Pt.Arthur Texas . Unfortuanately it is only a SD love, when they added our locals last October. But then again all our locals are in sd anyway except CBS. With the antenna connected I can feel the hd joy there.

[Bill R]

Most subscribers don't realize it but there are some "politics" involved in adding the HD markets. For example, in the Cincinnati market I know at least one vendor wants more money to carry its HD feed (I have no idea if DirecTV is paying additional). There is also the question of resources. Where is DISH going to put (on which satellite) the HD locals and make the most of their bandwidth at the same time? I find that a lot of people don't want a third dish or even the "extra large dish" (as my neighbor calls it). DISH is working on a solution (read some of James' excellent posts about the new satellites) that will include HD locals (on a 20"dish). And if anyone has seen how bad DirecTV's HD locals are (at least in the Cincinnati market) they would be glad that DISH is waiting until they have the proper facilities (bandwidth) to offer customers the HD local channels.

[psnarula]

DISH is working on a solution (read some of James' excellent posts about the new satellites) that will include HD locals (on a 20"dish).

link?

[James Long]

I don't believe we have all the comments in one location ... most is spread out across the threads. Which makes sense, since there has not been one glorious announcement from E* telling us exactly what is going on.

There was a mention on the Charlie Chat of two new satellites by December ... and knowing what we know about E11, a high power replacement for E8 at 110°, and other adjustments in E*'s fleet we can have confidence that there is a plan. I have my own opinion of what that will be - but that would be speculation.

[bthessel]

Most subscribers don't realize it but there are some "politics" involved in adding the HD markets. For example, in the Cincinnati market I know at least one vendor wants more money to carry its HD feed (I have no idea if DirecTV is paying additional). There is also the question of resources. Where is DISH going to put (on which satellite) the HD locals and make the most of their bandwidth at the same time? I find that a lot of people don't want a third dish or even the "extra large dish" (as my neighbor calls it). DISH is working on a solution (read some of James' excellent posts about the new satellites) that will include HD locals (on a 20"dish). And if anyone has seen how bad DirecTV's HD locals are (at least in the Cincinnati market) they would be glad that DISH is waiting until they have the proper facilities (bandwidth) to offer customers the HD local channels.

I agree Bill, my father in law has D* here in Cinci and his HD locals are garbage compared to what I am getting OTA. I would just be depressed with the picture quality if that is what E* rolled out. Of course he is happy since he went from TW to it. (Wow was TW bad no one should ever complain about HD-Lite if they have seen a TW HD signal. ) He tried to get E* but the installer said no way with the trees behind his house. D* came out the next day and had no problems. :confused:

[An-Echo-Star]

The smallest of the four metropolitan areas I mentioned is Dayton/Springfield, which was 850,000 in the 2005 census. Compare those areas to Spokane, for example, which has had HD for more than a year. I could cite several other examples. Columbus, which is the largest of the four, isn't even on their prospective list. Of course their lists are fables anyway--both Cleveland and Cincinnati were supposed to be up in 2006. Last I checked my calendar, it was mid-2007! DirecTV is just leaving E* in the dust. Time to go back.

JoJo

I would disagree about E* being left in the dust in terms of HD channels. E* will announce tomorrow the addition of at least 12 new HD channels to all be launched by Labor Day, and the majority to be launched 8/15. I think that puts the count to well over 40 national channels while D* still has 17 or 18. I would agree that D* is certainly talking the talk but the have yet to walk the walk.

FYI, the Hartford DMA has over 2 million HH's and has desirable demographics ie; homeowner, educated, high income, and E* has yet to add HD locals.

[psnarula]

I have my own opinion of what that will be - but that would be speculation.

speculation is why i'm here. if i wanted to read press releases i would have no need for the message boards. so if you feel like sharing, i'm interested in reading...

[Mike D-CO5]

Come September I wonder how many real HD channels DIRECTV will launch to counter DISH's 40 or so HD channels? I mean Directv will have a lot of bandwith if they want to add up to 100 hd channels. My bet is that they mean hd locals in over 150 markets this year, with some catch up on national hd channels that DISH already has.

[James Long]

Catch up is redefined ... seven more HDs on E* next month, more in September. :D

[lovswr]

Ohio has four major metropolitan areas: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Dayton/Springfield, and none have HD locals! Do I sense a bias here?

JoJo



I am a D* subscriber, but as someone who grew up in the Greater Miami Valley Area, I can assure you, that Dayton is not a Major Metro area by any stretch of the imagination. :D

[JaguarJoJo]

I am a D* subscriber, but as someone who grew up in the Greater Miami Valley Area, I can assure you, that Dayton is not a Major Metro area by any stretch of the imagination. :D

As I stated earlier, it is the smallest of the four with 850,000 as of the 2005 census. That is larger than several who have had HD for a while. Of course Indianapolis has much more right to bitch--Dish put their HD up for about a week! The Columbus market is huge.

JoJo

[rocatman]

As I stated earlier, it is the smallest of the four with 850,000 as of the 2005 census. That is larger than several who have had HD for a while. Of course Indianapolis has much more right to bitch--Dish put their HD up for about a week! The Columbus market is huge.

JoJo

To set the record straight, Cleveland is the 17th largest television market by DMA while Columbus and Cincinnati are 32nd and 33rd respectively. The Dayton market is 58th.

[bobukcat]

I don't know if they actually hate Ohio, maybe KY for passing the tax on Sat subscribers :rolleyes: , but I do wish they would put the Ohio HD RSNs on 61.5 instead of 129!!!