----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
DirecTV has not moved completely to MPEG-4 yet, but are in the process.
They will turn off the first of the MPEG-2 channels this summer beginning
with the LA Local HD channels. I was told that once they begin the
transition, they will have a free upgrade program, but anyone wanting to
upgrade prior to that will pay $99.
I posted a couple brief articles about it while at CES:
Dish info: http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/20 ... _day_1.php
DirecTV info: http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/20 ... _day_3.php
-- M. Shane Sturgeon
|---------+--------------------------------->
| | "Howard A. Blackstead"|
| | <[email protected]> |
| | Sent by: "HDTV |
| | Magazine" |
| | <hdtvmagazine_tips@ilo|
| | vehdtv.com> |
| | |
| | |
| | 01/11/2006 12:07 AM |
| | Please respond to |
| | "HDTV Magazine" |
|---------+--------------------------------->
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| To: "HDTV Magazine" <[email protected]> |
| cc: |
| Subject: DISH HD MPEG4 |
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
Following tonight's "Charlie-Chat" there are a lot of excited DISH subs,
but not all are happy.
It seems that there will be new HD channels, but all will be in MPEG4
and not accessible to older receivers.
There appear to be no "free" upgrades.
My Questions:
1) Can a service provider REDUCE the number of channels to present SUBS?
2) Will DISH be "stuck" with those of us with obsolete equipment?
I suppose this is even more severe with regard to SD equipment!
When the digital transition occurs, will a large number of providers
(the vast majority of cable and DBS channels) convert to SD 480i 4x3
programming?
There is a claim that the new MPEG4 channels have a "header" which is in
MPEG4, but that the actual channel data is in down rezzed MPEG2, which
if true suggests that the new channels are sort of like "bait" to get
users to purchase new equipment.
So, the question is at what point (if there is a point) would the MPEG2
service would be discontinued and DISH do free upgrades?
3) It seems that DIRECT at one time claimed it would provide free MPEG4
upgrades,...did it?
With say 12 million SUBS x $200/STB (an estimate of the cost of MPEG4
boxes)=$2.4Billion to convert all SUBS to MPEG4 STB's. This is about the
cost of two satellites. Plus all of the dish installations, the total
would be about $4Billions!
However, conversion to STB lease would generate a very substantial
revenue stream say $10/STB/Month x 10 million SUBS x 12 months =$1.2
Billion/year. Look for DISH to go to a lease system.
I hope that fiber to home becomes a rapid reality!
Howard in South Bend
To unsubscribe please click: [email protected]
To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that same
day) send an email to:
[email protected]
To unsubscribe please click: [email protected]
To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that same day) send an email to:
[email protected]
DirecTV has not moved completely to MPEG-4 yet, but are in the process.
They will turn off the first of the MPEG-2 channels this summer beginning
with the LA Local HD channels. I was told that once they begin the
transition, they will have a free upgrade program, but anyone wanting to
upgrade prior to that will pay $99.
I posted a couple brief articles about it while at CES:
Dish info: http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/20 ... _day_1.php
DirecTV info: http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/20 ... _day_3.php
-- M. Shane Sturgeon
|---------+--------------------------------->
| | "Howard A. Blackstead"|
| | <[email protected]> |
| | Sent by: "HDTV |
| | Magazine" |
| | <hdtvmagazine_tips@ilo|
| | vehdtv.com> |
| | |
| | |
| | 01/11/2006 12:07 AM |
| | Please respond to |
| | "HDTV Magazine" |
|---------+--------------------------------->
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| To: "HDTV Magazine" <[email protected]> |
| cc: |
| Subject: DISH HD MPEG4 |
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
Following tonight's "Charlie-Chat" there are a lot of excited DISH subs,
but not all are happy.
It seems that there will be new HD channels, but all will be in MPEG4
and not accessible to older receivers.
There appear to be no "free" upgrades.
My Questions:
1) Can a service provider REDUCE the number of channels to present SUBS?
2) Will DISH be "stuck" with those of us with obsolete equipment?
I suppose this is even more severe with regard to SD equipment!
When the digital transition occurs, will a large number of providers
(the vast majority of cable and DBS channels) convert to SD 480i 4x3
programming?
There is a claim that the new MPEG4 channels have a "header" which is in
MPEG4, but that the actual channel data is in down rezzed MPEG2, which
if true suggests that the new channels are sort of like "bait" to get
users to purchase new equipment.
So, the question is at what point (if there is a point) would the MPEG2
service would be discontinued and DISH do free upgrades?
3) It seems that DIRECT at one time claimed it would provide free MPEG4
upgrades,...did it?
With say 12 million SUBS x $200/STB (an estimate of the cost of MPEG4
boxes)=$2.4Billion to convert all SUBS to MPEG4 STB's. This is about the
cost of two satellites. Plus all of the dish installations, the total
would be about $4Billions!
However, conversion to STB lease would generate a very substantial
revenue stream say $10/STB/Month x 10 million SUBS x 12 months =$1.2
Billion/year. Look for DISH to go to a lease system.
I hope that fiber to home becomes a rapid reality!
Howard in South Bend
To unsubscribe please click: [email protected]
To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that same
day) send an email to:
[email protected]
To unsubscribe please click: [email protected]
To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that same day) send an email to:
[email protected]