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Second Dish Issue Surfaces in SHVIA Bill

3K views 31 replies 22 participants last post by  amit5roy5 
#1 ·
House lawmakers took the wraps off legislation aimed at reauthorizing the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA), which includes a proposed mandate requiring satellite TV companies to deliver local TV to consumers via a single dish.

The legislation, introduced in the House Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee during a hearing Thursday, took aim at EchoStar's DISH Network and its offering of a number of local TV channels via a second dish for a select set of markets. The bill would give satellite TV companies deadlines to place local TV channels delivered to consumers on a single dish, but it doesn't prevent the companies from delivering other types of programming via a second dish.

Several lawmakers offered support for the single-dish/locals item, including Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D-Texas). Gonzales said a number of stations in his home state are put on a second dish, including Spanish-language channels and programming aimed at Hispanic audiences.

Representatives of the broadcast community testifying before the subcommittee also voiced support for the proposed mandate.

David Moskowitz, senior vice president and general counsel at EchoStar, defended the use of a second dish for delivery of locals, saying the practice puts scarce spectrum to maximum use and allows the company to deliver local TV to a large number of markets. He also emphasized to the panel that the second dish and installation are free to consumers, and channels received on a second dish are delivered completely transparent to the viewer.

Draft House legislation for the satellite TV law renewal also includes a mandate to modify and improve the testing and waiver process for determining availability of off-air local TV channels, used to figure out eligibility for distant network signals. The draft also provides an extension of the statutory license allowing satellite TV to deliver distant network programming, though those testifying for the satellite TV business and lawmakers suggested that satellite TV should be given a permanent license for the service.

http://www.skyreport.com (Used with permission)
 
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#27 ·
Nick said:
All E* has to do is put all locals for a given DMA on one sat whether it be 61.5, 105, 110 or 148. A single dish solution for each city. Guess Charlie didn't think of that way back when.
Unfortunately that leads to some markets having locals with Dish500, some with a bigger SuperDish, and others requiring two dishes to get *any* locals at all.

Charlie's idea allows him to put up the "major" channels on the "single dish" in many more markets. The bad part is that in most areas the side slots are used for just a couple of channels - so people don't bother. Or they have valid sighing issues and can't see the wing.

I believe the solution will come in 2005 when their new DBS satellite is launched. If this "all channels within a market on the same dish" gets pushed through they will just use more spotbeams.

JL
 
#28 ·
Stosh said:
It's also funny how D* carries considerably fewer locals than E*. I've heard D* will eventually have to go the 2nd-dish route as they increase the number of locals they carry.
The long awaited D7S may launch eventually, getting them to 105 markets on their three orbital locations (one dish). And maxed out.

The next step has been applied for: Service from 72.5 (IIRC). That is a "two dish" step - 2nd dish required for locals.

E* is banking on getting approval for 105.5 and 114.5 as DBS slots. Having 105 and 121 FSS allows for superdish ... geting the tween slots in full power DBS would be terrific, if it works. :)

JL
 
#29 ·
justalurker said:
Unfortunately that leads to some markets having locals with Dish500, some with a bigger SuperDish, and others requiring two dishes to get *any* locals at all.

Charlie's idea allows him to put up the "major" channels on the "single dish" in many more markets. The bad part is that in most areas the side slots are used for just a couple of channels - so people don't bother. Or they have valid sighing issues and can't see the wing...

JL
That's exactly my circumstance. Before I installed a dish looking at 61.5W for HD, I got all but 3 locals on 110. Now seeing the 61.5 orbital location, I get two additional secondary locals plus WTBS which is duplicated elsewhere on the EPG. I wouldn't have bothered to mount a second dish just for those additional locals - even for free.

E* rolled the dice on 105W and crapped out. Therein lies the crux of the problem.
 
#30 ·
Nick said:
I wouldn't have bothered to mount a second dish just for those additional locals - even for free.
That's a great example of what I was saying: There are a lot of folks who just don't want the second dish, mainly because they never watch the additional locals it would provide. And that, IMHO, is exactly what the NAB is worried about. What would happen to the resale value of a second-rate local if lots of its potential viewers have to "opt in" before they can see it?
 
#31 ·
As I have said before if the NAB gets this "all local channels must be on one dish" rule passed (which they will I predict), as long as they allow E* enough time to launch E10 and add a 3rd up-link center, E* will have no problem moving locals off the wings and on to spotbeams for either a single Dish500 or SuperDish solution for locals and core programing for most if not all and may happen even if the new rule is not passed.

Once locals are moved off the wings, this will allow even more International channels and or possibly the return or some HD channels and or possibly the smallest market locals. If HD versions of some network feeds in some of the largest markets are allowed on the wings with the SD versions of the same channels left on spotbeams, we may even see HD feeds of big 4 Nets of Top 8 - 10 markets on 61.5 and 148 (4 or 5 DMA's on each).
 
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