The lack of transponder space coupled with some legal complication has been the prime explanation of the lack of new National HD for over a year now. And for a long time it was the primary explanation of why DIsh hadn't released any new HD locals too.
But then, even without new sats, Dish managed to move the internationals and get SOME new HD locals lit up on 61.5 before Sky Angel's TPs were released. Of course, Sky Angel's TPs significantly increased the capacity of the spot beams on 61.5 and the full rollout of HD locals picked up steam. The point is that the rollout of new HD Locals was NOT an all or nothing (Legal/Technical) thing that absolutely depended on additional capacity. It was a Strategic thing that required someone to realize that by using MPEG4 only, they could cram a bunch of HD locals on 61.5 in spot beam mode. And furthermore, Dish could have lit up a couple of HD local DMAs months prior to Sky Angel's TP release. What was missing was the strategy or the will to implement it. AMC-14, etc. was probably the catalyst to this strategic shift but thankfully AMC-14 has not been necessary for the HD Locals rollout.
This is why I believe that the delay in releasing ANY new National HD is primarily Strategic too. I find it hard to believe that ALL of the National HD content providers are requiring more channels than Dish has capacity to deliver at this time. IOW that the bundle of channels required by even the smallest National HD content provider is larger than the space available on 110, 119 and/or 129&61.5. IMHO Dish's National HD roll out strategy was (and probably still is) to make a big splash with the most popular National HD channels turned on at the same time. And it is this _strategy_ that has kept them from turning on a few National HD channels to date.
OTOH all I know is what I read in this forum and some of that is suspect
Talon Dancer
But then, even without new sats, Dish managed to move the internationals and get SOME new HD locals lit up on 61.5 before Sky Angel's TPs were released. Of course, Sky Angel's TPs significantly increased the capacity of the spot beams on 61.5 and the full rollout of HD locals picked up steam. The point is that the rollout of new HD Locals was NOT an all or nothing (Legal/Technical) thing that absolutely depended on additional capacity. It was a Strategic thing that required someone to realize that by using MPEG4 only, they could cram a bunch of HD locals on 61.5 in spot beam mode. And furthermore, Dish could have lit up a couple of HD local DMAs months prior to Sky Angel's TP release. What was missing was the strategy or the will to implement it. AMC-14, etc. was probably the catalyst to this strategic shift but thankfully AMC-14 has not been necessary for the HD Locals rollout.
This is why I believe that the delay in releasing ANY new National HD is primarily Strategic too. I find it hard to believe that ALL of the National HD content providers are requiring more channels than Dish has capacity to deliver at this time. IOW that the bundle of channels required by even the smallest National HD content provider is larger than the space available on 110, 119 and/or 129&61.5. IMHO Dish's National HD roll out strategy was (and probably still is) to make a big splash with the most popular National HD channels turned on at the same time. And it is this _strategy_ that has kept them from turning on a few National HD channels to date.
OTOH all I know is what I read in this forum and some of that is suspect
Talon Dancer
So I'm not expecting any new National HD any time errr... soon.
