How decides on the channels?

1048 Views 12 Replies 10 Participants Last post by DCSholtis, Aug 22, 2008

cmtar

Discussion Starter · Aug 20, 2008

I am just curious on how D* or any cable/sat for that matter decides on what channels to offer in HD. Do they just pick random channels or...?

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Nick

· #2 · Aug 20, 2008

They put the channel logos on a wall and throw darts.

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turey22

· #3 · Aug 20, 2008

Nick said:
They put the channel logos on a wall and throw darts.

I KNEW IT!!!

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cmtar

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 20, 2008

Nick said:
They put the channel logos on a wall and throw darts.

lol thats how it seems sometimes but is there something they really do or do they just do the channels THEY THINK people want?

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I thought it was more like the guy on the desert island who used his putter to decide where his next branch office was going to be - they put the channels on the golf balls, then some high level exec sees which ones he gets into the cup.

Or if no one is that proficient, they could put them all in a D* bucket truck, then do a ball drop to see which ones come closest to the flag!:lol:

cmtar said:
I am just curious on how D* or any cable/sat for that matter decides on what channels to offer in HD. Do they just pick random channels or...?

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carl6

· #6 · Aug 20, 2008

If bandwidth/capacity is an issue (which it was until D11 came on line), they have to pick and choose, which is done based on viewer preferences (on the large scale), combined with negotiations with the content providers. If the cost of channel x is three times the cost of channel y, and roughly an equal amount of customers would watch either/each, then channel y will be provided.

Now that bandwidth/capacity is not a constraint, it all comes down to negotiations with the content providers, as well as what content is actually available in HD. If a channel provides HD, but only has 10% of it's programming in HD, it might get a lower priority for being added - take longer before you see it. I would expect that DirecTV will offer virtually all possible HD content as soon as they are able to do so (have completed negotiations, and the content is available).

Carl

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bryanw3535

· #7 · Aug 21, 2008

carl6 said:
If a channel provides HD, but only has 10% of it's programming in HD, it might get a lower priority for being added - take longer before you see it.

What if it's a channel such as MTVHD which offers 0% of its programming in HD?

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jefbal99

· #8 · Aug 21, 2008

bryanw3535 said:
What if it's a channel such as MTVHD which offers 0% of its programming in HD?

DirecTV may have a clause in the retrans agreement, where they had to offer it by X date, or perhaps, they are getting it for free.

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Nick

· #9 · Aug 21, 2008

bryanw3535 said:
What if it's a channel such as MTVHD which offers 0% of its programming in HD?

Watch MHD instead!

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carl6

· #10 · Aug 21, 2008

bryanw3535 said:
What if it's a channel such as MTVHD which offers 0% of its programming in HD?

Like I said: "it all comes down to negotiations with the content providers". What channels are provided and when is a business decision that has many variables to be considered.

Carl

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evan_s

· #11 · Aug 21, 2008

There is also bundling issues. Most programing is owned by large companies that have multiple channels and they may want several of their less popular channels carried in addition to their popular channel.

Espn requiring espn classic to be carried along with espn for example.

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