CSR-- Local HD Launch Date

[Spike]

I just got off the phone with one of our INFORMATIVE CSR's. According to the information that she was given, Dish Network is going to launch the first installment of local HD Networks in March of 2006. Please remember that this is coming from a CSR, so take it as a grain of salt.

 

[long_time_DNC]

That'd be great, if it's true. Is there a speculative list of DMA's out there that they plan to go to HD with?

 

[mike123abc]

If the launch of E10 is early February they might be able to make a late March date, but it would be pressing it. I suspect it will be a bit after since they have to test all the spots on E10 before moving it to 110. Then once at 110 they will have to start moving all the channels to E10.

Maybe announce in March but May/June availability.

 

[rolodoc]

DMA list: http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html

From the last Charlie Chat recap: "local HD channels NY, Atlanta ,Boston, LA and Chicago in January and in each month we expect 5 new city's to roll out next year"

Does anyone believe the January launch?

 

[BrettTRay]

I believe that they will launch HD locals in January. What resolution they will be in is what I'm worried about. I'm sure Fox, ABC, and WB (if they launch it) will be in 720p but CBS and NBC I'm afraid will get the screwing.

 

[MikeD-C05]

So I guess that we will see no more analog locals added then? From now on they will just add hd locals . So for all of us that still don't have our locals I guess we will still have to wait. So at the rate of 5 cities each month they will have all the hd locals done in less than 4 years?

 

[dodge]

No Locals??

No Locals??
What DMA are you in??

 

[SatinKzo]

I heard the same thing as the OP from the tech support. Made some small talk while waiting for the receiver. He mentioned however, only the top 25-30 DMA's by year end and that is with the new bird going up in Feb.

 

[MRUSS]

Just think how much room they would have if they would swap out all the old receivers to new ones with 8PSK. A 30% gain in bandwidth from all the SD channels would free up alot of space.

I know it would be expensive to do this, but it would probbably be cheaper than building another new bird. But what do I know, I'm just an old dumb hick farmer that likes HD.

 

[David_Levin]

Actually, wouldn't it be cheeper to build a bird then replace 10 million receivers? But, that's not really the issue, it's bandwidth.

In any case, it'll take years to get all the SD receivers swapped out. You're not gonna want to wait that long.

 

[Airblair]

FWIW, Scott says that in last night's Retailer chat there will be 5 markets up in HD within 45 days.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showpost.php?p=428541&postcount=15

 

[MRUSS]

Actually, wouldn't it be cheeper to build a bird then replace 10 million receivers? But, that's not really the issue, it's bandwidth.
In any case, it'll take years to get all the SD receivers swapped out. You're not gonna want to wait that long.

I can see it is a big problem for E*, they can't keep building receivers without MPEG4 now. I'm sure it will take at least 3 years to build and exchange all receivers with new MPEG4 ones.

I believe they are doing the right thing now by makeing all receivers HD,MPEG4, and 8PSK.

 

[long_time_DNC]

DMA list: http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html
From the last Charlie Chat recap: "local HD channels NY, Atlanta ,Boston, LA and Chicago in January and in each month we expect 5 new city's to roll out next year"
Does anyone believe the January launch?

Thanks for the DMA link! 13th on the list... I'm a bit optimistic at this point now.

 

[RIRWIN1983]

I heard the same thing as the OP from the tech support. Made some small talk while waiting for the receiver. He mentioned however, only the top 25-30 DMA's by year end and that is with the new bird going up in Feb.

damn, so i miss out being 32nd

 

[SimpleSimon]

I'm sure it will take at least 3 years to build and exchange all receivers with new MPEG4 ones.

Hmm. A lot longer than that. Do the math.

3 years = 780 work days = 6240 hours = 374,400 minutes = 22,464,000 seconds

That's 1 box every 2 seconds, or 14,400 per day. Not gonna happen.

 

[MRUSS]

Hmm. A lot longer than that. Do the math.
3 years = 780 work days = 6240 hours = 374,400 minutes = 22,464,000 seconds
That's 1 box every 2 seconds, or 14,400 per day. Not gonna happen.

Thats some good math SimpleSimon. I believe someone is going to have to work overtime.

I don't know the answer so I will just keep paying them to figure it out.

 

[long_time_DNC]

That's a lot of overtime.

 

[The Big Wood]

Hmm. A lot longer than that. Do the math.
3 years = 780 work days = 6240 hours = 374,400 minutes = 22,464,000 seconds
That's 1 box every 2 seconds, or 14,400 per day. Not gonna happen.

That's why the large factories have 50+ lines building products...it can be done! On the other hand, will Dish require every receiver to be installed by them? That would be the impossible feat!

 

[SimpleSimon]

It's not just the production issues, the logistics of getting the boxes to the right places isn't trivial either.

 

[mike123abc]

I would not be surprised if the entire MPEG-4 transition was done in 5 years. Dish churns 1-2% of their customers/quarter. In 5 years that adds up to 20-30+% of their base if they do nothing. Not to mention all the new customers will be getting MPEG-4. As people do things like order LIL HD service they will be switched out, just like they have to do over at DIRECTV. I would speculate just minimal work by Dish will get the transition 75%+ in 5 years.

The extra capacity they can get with MPEG-4/8PSK combination makes it worth Dish's while to change people over. They will start to add new channels only in MPEG-4, they will offer a minimal cost way to upgrade, people will upgrade. Before long they will be able to change whole tiers over to MPEG-4. I bet by the end of 2006 all the HD will be MPEG-4.

Given churn and new subscriber growth Dish has installed the equivalent of everyone in the system in less than 5 years. You have to remember they have thousands of installers working on this.