Is Voom Mpeg-4 Yet?

[BobMinn]

I did a quick check of file size on a couple of Voom channels today and they were Mpeg-2 not Mpeg-4 size.

Are they waiting until later to switch over? I thought that it would happen today to free up space for the new HD channels that were added.

BobMinn

[Stewart Vernon]

Dish had room to add these new channels without messing with Voom. Heck, they may have enough room to add more next month too... then Voom will be icing on the cake when that converts.

I personally viewed this Voom-to-MPEG4 move less about immediate bandwidth necessity, and more about being the next logical step to get folks to convert.

First people had to pay through the nose to get a ViP, but new channels were the carrot... now new customers can get a ViP free and existing customers for a really good deal... so the next step is to start converting blocks of programming from the old HD packs to MPEG4 to force the remaining stragglers onto new MPEG4 hardware.

This goes a long way towards the plan of having a new MPEG4 total service offering next year for new and existing customers who have already gone to MPEG4.

[cornflakes]

Are there plans for them to convert the rest of the MPEG2 HD channels over to MPEG4? If so, are there timetables?

[Stewart Vernon]

Are there plans for them to convert the rest of the MPEG2 HD channels over to MPEG4? If so, are there timetables?

I am sure there are plans to do this... but no timetables have been set that I have seen anywhere.

It may also be possible that the new MPEG4 service talked about for next year could supercede the need to convert any more, as they could repoint all the MPEG4 customers at the new stuff and let the MPEG2 customers live on the legacy service until the birds fall from the sky.

[dhclaypool]

Dumb corollary question: if MPEG4 takes up less broadcast bandwidth, does it take up less hard drive space than an MPEG2-HD show?

[Stewart Vernon]

Dumb corollary question: if MPEG4 takes up less broadcast bandwidth, does it take up less hard drive space than an MPEG2-HD show?

Yep. Some informal comparisons for me have been... recording a 1:10 HD program only takes away 45 minutes roughly when I record from an MPEG4 channel. So just a shade over half the space... which means your effective hard drive space could be close to double what it indicates since it is based on an estimation from MPEG2. Not all programs are created equally, though, so your mileage may vary.

[kmcnamara]

To answer the OP's question, the switch to MPEG4 occurred last night.

[P Smith]

Switch to "For ViP Only" ?

[James Long]

Switch to six channels per transponder or "it better not be in MPEG2" mode. :D

[kmcnamara]

Based on the file sizes being reported, the Voom channels are definitely using MPEG4 now.

[P Smith]

Well, it is mixed.

Some VOOM channels still MPEG-2 [91]; some converted to H.264 [A4], some of them marked as "For ViP Only" [A6].

JL, if you need last full Service Data Table, you could have it for analysis.

[P Smith]

Switch to six channels per transponder or "it better not be in MPEG2" mode. :D
Now the ball on your side :).

[P Smith]

JL, is there any word of wisdom about a status of VOOM switching to H.264 ?

[BobaBird]

5 Voom channels still on my 921 as of 2 hours ago. Fortunately one of them is Rave.

[P Smith]

JL have full list of all channels, but keep silence. Probably took days off. :)

[James Long]

Let's just say work has been interesting. :)

[Mike D-CO5]

When are the rest of the Voom channels going to real Mpeg 4 and 1440 x 1080?

[P Smith]

Soon ;).

[P Smith]

OK. I would try to count HD channels.

1. MPEG-2 [27]:

HDTS5 5854 14 148.0W
TNT 9420 7 110.0W 138
DSCHD 9421 13 110.0W
HDNET 9422 7 110.0W
HDNMV 9423 7 110.0W
ESPN 9424 7 110.0W 140
HDPPV 9428 13 148.0W
SHO-E 9430 17 148.0W
HBO 9440 17 148.0W
HDTV3 9443 20 61.5W
HBO 9456 13 110.0W
SHO-E 9460 13 110.0W 62
NHLHD 9463 13 110.0W
HDEV1 9465 13 110.0W
NBAHD 9466 13 110.0W
HDPPV 9467 13 110.0W
RAVE 9470 13 61.5W
RAVE 9470 31 129.0W
EQUTR 9471 7 61.5W
EQUTR 9471 23 129.0W
ANIMA 9474 13 61.5W
ANIMA 9474 31 129.0W
FILMF 9480 13 61.5W
FILMF 9480 31 129.0W
MNSTR 9481 7 61.5W
MNSTR 9481 23 129.0W
BTV 9615 13 110.0W


2. "For ViP Only" MPEG-2 [8]:

TRESR 9473 9 61.5W
TRESR 9473 11 129.0W
WORLD 9475 9 61.5W
WORLD 9475 11 129.0W
WSPOR 9477 9 61.5W
WSPOR 9477 11 129.0W
FAMLY 9486 7 61.5W
FAMLY 9486 23 129.0W


3. H.264 {MPEG-4} [249]:

CSNWS 359 8 129.0W
ALTUD 360 8 129.0W
PRIME 361 8 129.0W
MSG 362 30 61.5W
FOXNY 363 30 61.5W
FOXRM 364 8 129.0W
FOXAZ 365 8 129.0W
FOXSW 366 8 129.0W
FOXW 367 27 129.0W
FOXMW 368 8 129.0W
FOXBA 369 8 129.0W
FOXS 370 8 129.0W
SUN 372 30 61.5W
FOXFL 373 30 61.5W
CSNMA 374 8 129.0W
CSNMA 374 30 61.5W
FOXNW 376 8 129.0W
FOXCN 377 8 129.0W
FOXPT 378 8 129.0W
FOXPT 378 30 61.5W
CSNCH 379 27 129.0W
FOXD 380 8 129.0W
STO 381 8 129.0W
FOXNE 385 30 61.5W
FOXN 386 27 129.0W
SPSOU 387 8 129.0W
SNY 388 30 61.5W
NHLHD 389 30 61.5W
NHLHD 390 8 129.0W
NHLHD 391 8 129.0W
NHLHD 392 8 129.0W
NHLHD 393 8 129.0W
NBAHD 394 30 61.5W
NBAHD 395 30 61.5W
NBAHD 396 30 61.5W
NBAHD 397 8 129.0W
NBAHD 398 8 129.0W
NBAHD 399 8 129.0W
DSCHD 5500 12 110.0W
TNT 5501 27 110.0W
ESPN 5505 12 110.0W
ESPN2 5506 27 110.0W
NFL 5507 12 110.0W
HDNET 5510 12 110.0W
HDNMV 5511 12 110.0W
UNIHD 5512 12 110.0W
HBO 5515 27 110.0W
SHO-E 5516 27 110.0W
KTVA 5604 4 110.0W
KTUU 5608 4 110.0W 2
KTBY 5612 4 110.0W
KAKM 5621 4 110.0W
KUAC 5646 22 148.0W
KITV 5655 23 110.0W
KGMB 5659 23 110.0W
KHON 5667 23 110.0W
KFVE 5671 23 110.0W
KHET 5674 23 110.0W
HDSKD 5781 30 61.5W
HDSKD 5782 30 61.5W
HDSKD 5783 30 61.5W
HDSKD 5784 30 61.5W
HDSKD 5785 30 61.5W
HDSKD 5786 8 129.0W
HDSKD 5787 8 129.0W
HDSKD 5788 8 129.0W
HDSKD 5789 8 129.0W
HDSKD 5790 8 129.0W
HDSKD 5791 27 129.0W
HDSKD 5792 27 129.0W
HDSKD 5793 8 129.0W
MP201 5837 20 148.0W
MP202 5838 20 148.0W
MP203 5839 20 148.0W
MP311 5843 31 148.0W
MP312 5844 31 148.0W
MP313 5851 31 148.0W
MP314 5852 31 148.0W
MP204 5853 20 148.0W
MP315 5883 31 148.0W
MP316 5884 31 148.0W
MP317 5885 31 148.0W
WABC 6300 17 61.5W 7
WCBS 6301 17 61.5W 2
WNBC 6302 17 61.5W 4
WNYW 6303 17 61.5W 5
KABC 6306 10 129.0W 7
KCBS 6307 10 129.0W 2
KNBC 6308 10 129.0W 4
KTTV 6309 10 129.0W 11
WLS 6312 12 129.0W 7
WBBM 6313 12 129.0W 2
WMAQ 6314 12 129.0W 5
WFLD 6315 12 129.0W 32
WCVB 6318 21 61.5W 5
WBZ 6319 21 61.5W 4
WHDH 6320 21 61.5W 7
WFXT 6321 21 61.5W 25
KOAT 6324 7 129.0W 7
KRQE 6325 7 129.0W 13
KOB 6326 7 129.0W 4
KASA 6327 7 129.0W 2
KMGH 6330 2 129.0W 7
KCNC 6331 2 129.0W 4
KUSA 6332 2 129.0W 9
KDVR 6333 2 129.0W 31
WKRN 6340 13 129.0W 2
WTVF 6341 13 129.0W 5
WSMV 6342 13 129.0W 4
WZTV 6343 13 129.0W 17
KSTP 6347 9 129.0W 5
WCCO 6348 9 129.0W 4
KARE 6349 9 129.0W 11
KMSP 6350 9 129.0W 9
WPVI 6353 11 61.5W 6
KYW 6354 11 61.5W 3
WCAU 6355 11 61.5W 10
WTXF 6356 11 61.5W 29
WJLA 6359 5 61.5W 7
WUSA 6360 5 61.5W 9
WRC 6361 5 61.5W 4
WTTG 6362 5 61.5W 5
WSB 6365 4 129.0W 2
WGCL 6366 4 129.0W 46
WXIA 6367 4 129.0W 11
WAGA 6368 4 129.0W 5
KTVX 6371 18 129.0W 4
KUTV 6372 18 129.0W 2
KSL 6373 18 129.0W 5
KSTU 6374 18 129.0W 13
KMBC 6377 1 129.0W 9
KCTV 6378 1 129.0W 5
KSHB 6379 1 129.0W 41
WDAF 6380 1 129.0W 4
WFAA 6383 31 110.0W 8
KTVT 6384 31 110.0W 11
KXAS 6385 31 110.0W 5
KDFW 6386 31 110.0W 4
KTRK 6389 4 110.0W 13
KHOU 6390 4 110.0W 11
KPRC 6391 4 110.0W 2
KRIV 6392 4 110.0W 26
KXTV 6395 18 110.0W 10
KOVR 6396 18 110.0W 13
KCRA 6397 18 110.0W 3
KQCA 6399 18 110.0W 58
WPLG 6401 12 110.0W 10
WFOR 6402 12 110.0W 4
WTVJ 6403 12 110.0W 6
WSVN 6404 12 110.0W 7
KGTV 6407 29 110.0W 10
KFMB 6408 29 110.0W 8
KNSD 6409 29 110.0W 39
XETV 6410 29 110.0W 6
KOMO 6414 4 110.0W 4
KIRO 6415 4 110.0W 7
KING 6416 4 110.0W 5
KATU 6420 29 110.0W 2
KOIN 6421 29 110.0W 6
KGW 6422 29 110.0W 8
KPTV 6423 29 110.0W 12
KSAT 6426 25 110.0W 12
KENS 6427 25 110.0W 5
WOAI 6428 25 110.0W 4
KABB 6429 25 110.0W 29
KXLY 6432 20 110.0W 4
KREM 6433 20 110.0W 2
KHQ 6434 20 110.0W 6
KAYU 6435 20 110.0W 28
KGO 6438 7 119.0W 7
KPIX 6439 7 119.0W 5
KNTV 6440 7 119.0W 11
KTVU 6441 7 119.0W 2
KNXV 6446 18 110.0W 15
KPHO 6447 18 110.0W 5
KPNX 6448 18 110.0W 12
KSAZ 6449 18 110.0W 10
KTVK 6450 20 110.0W 3
KDNL 6453 11 118.0W 30
KMOV 6454 11 118.0W 4
KSDK 6455 18 118.0W 5
KTVI 6456 18 118.0W 2
WXYZ 6459 4 118.0W 7
WWJ 6460 4 118.0W 62
WDIV 6461 5 118.0W 4
WJBK 6462 5 118.0W 2
WTVD 6465 10 118.0W 11
WRAL 6466 10 118.0W 5
WNCN 6467 12 118.0W 17
WRAZ 6468 12 118.0W 50
WTAE 6477 15 118.0W 4
KDKA 6478 15 118.0W 2
WPXI 6479 16 118.0W 11
WPGH 6480 16 118.0W 53
WSOC 6483 8 118.0W 9
WBTV 6484 8 118.0W 3
WCNC 6485 9 118.0W 36
WCCB 6486 9 118.0W 18
KOCO 6489 3 119.0W 5
KWTV 6490 3 119.0W 9
KFOR 6491 3 119.0W 4
KOKH 6492 3 119.0W 25
WJSU 6495 9 119.0W 40
WIAT 6496 9 119.0W 42
WVTM 6497 9 119.0W 13
WBRC 6498 9 119.0W 6
A&E 9419 22 61.5W 118
A&E 9419 27 129.0W 118
ESPN2 9425 2 61.5W 144
ESPN2 9425 30 129.0W 144
NFL 9426 2 61.5W 154
NFL 9426 30 129.0W 154
UNIHD 9427 22 61.5W
UNIHD 9427 27 129.0W
NTGEO 9429 2 61.5W 186
NTGEO 9429 30 129.0W 186
STARZ 9435 2 61.5W 94
STARZ 9435 30 129.0W 94
MAX 9458 22 61.5W
MAX 9458 27 129.0W
HGTV 9461 2 61.5W 112
HGTV 9461 30 129.0W 112
FOOD 9462 2 61.5W 110
FOOD 9462 30 129.0W 110
VS/GF 9468 19 61.5W
VS/GF 9468 19 129.0W
MHD 9469 19 61.5W
MHD 9469 19 129.0W
GLLRY 9472 22 129.0W
GLLRY 9472 24 61.5W
RUSH 9476 22 129.0W
RUSH 9476 24 61.5W
ULTRA 9478 22 129.0W
ULTRA 9478 24 61.5W
KNGFU 9479 22 129.0W
KNGFU 9479 24 61.5W
HDNWS 9482 22 129.0W
HDNWS 9482 24 61.5W
GAMEP 9485 22 129.0W
GAMEP 9485 24 61.5W
DISC 9487 19 61.5W 182
DISC 9487 19 129.0W 182
TLC 9488 19 61.5W 183
TLC 9488 19 129.0W 183
ANIML 9489 19 61.5W 184
ANIML 9489 19 129.0W 184
SCIEN 9490 19 61.5W 193
SCIEN 9490 19 129.0W 193
HDBTV 9650 2 121.0W


Legend: 1st - name, 2nd - ch#, 3rd - tpn, 4th - sat, 5th - remap ch#.

[James Long]

MPEG2 still three channels per transponder - three transponders for 9 channels.
MPEG4 at six channels per transponder - one transponder for 6 channels.

Looks like they still have some moving to do. (Which will free up space for 9 more channels ... hmmm, other than History HD what nine channels could be added in September. :) )

I am surprised that five Voom channels are still on the MPEG2 list and not the "marked ViP" list.

[kstuart]

This goes a long way towards the plan of having a new MPEG4 total service offering next year for new and existing customers who have already gone to MPEG4.
Don't underestimate the number of MPEG2-SD customers - still a majority of subcribers and the population as a whole.
For example, we visited my in-laws recently, and they asked me "So, what is this HD thing?"...

[Stewart Vernon]

Don't underestimate the number of MPEG2-SD customers - still a majority of subcribers and the population as a whole.
For example, we visited my in-laws recently, and they asked me "So, what is this HD thing?"...

I'm not. Most, by an overwhelming majority, of Dish's customers are SD-only customers... and many of the HD customers (like me) also have MPEG2 SD receivers still in use.

But the MPEG4 service Dish has talked about next year isn't a replacement but rather an alternative. Existing customers can stay as they are with the current hardware and satellites but just would not see new channels most likely anymore. But new customers, and anyone who switched over to the MPEG4 service would be on the future plan.

Dish knows it will take many years to replace all the SD equipment they have in the field. This is the same problem that cable companies face when trying to drop their analog customers, since a lot of analog cable customers operate without a receiver and cable would have to go make swaps at every customer's house before they could drop analog. So it takes time.

Meanwhile, Dish can have the new MPEG4 service and expand that in the future while allowing the old setup to die a slow death and upgrade customers along the way at a reasonable pace.