Echostar Press Conference Recap

[wkomorow]

Quote:
DishHD
- 30 National Channels
- Add to any AT package for $20

Looks like Dish is not about to announce much in the way of new HD.

 

[navychop]

I assume that the content is encrypted in such a way, as to make it useless to connect the USB HD to a PC ?

Yes.

 

[PowerMax]

The portable player is called PocketDISH. The DISHPlayer is a model 7100 or 7200 receiver/WebTV box. Some of the newer DVRs unfortunately also had that name attached. I think it's a better name for a portable device than a STB, but the name is already in use.

Thanks, my bad there it is PocketDish.

 

[Ronald_Jeremy]

I assume that the content is encrypted in such a way, as to make it useless to connect the USB HD to a PC ?

hehehe. That is where talented coders on the internet come in to play.

 

[Stargazer]

Positives:

External USB, use almost ANY off the shelf USB HDD for storage or playback - This means we can use our own. Get ready for those USB Enabling fees.

The 1 TB external usb hard drives will work with a released software update.

Portable Media Recorders - No additional fees

Charlie says they can change the limits on what is reserved for VOD (prediction - additional fee for additional storage).

Homeplug ease of installation. I wonder if HD content will work with this. If so then it would be a solution for distributing HD content throughout the house.

VC-1 support.

Negatives:

Still has SD for second tv output on the 222 & 622 dual tuner HD receivers. They should have the second tuner with HD outputs as well.

They are chiming around charging a "small" enabling fee for the External USB hard drives. I bet $4.99-$5.99 will be small enough according to Charlie. No problem Charlie, I will just remove one of the additional DVR's that I have to make up for it and sell it since I use an extra DVR for extra content. I wonder if this fee will be per account or per receiver. I doubt they could do it per hard drive since we would just use our own.

Not looking promising for CourTv being added. It was stated that those that switched services because of it already done so which basically means they do not stand to lose much more by not having the channel.

622 free only to new subscribers = customers going to Directv when they launch their HD services and a loss of existing subscribers. No since in paying Dish $199 just to lease it when I am sure Directv will be more than happy to offer it free as well with LOTS LOTS more HD content.

I am going to add a new signature "Its about time" TO CHARGE MORE MONEY

OINK OINK OINK OINK OINK, the pig keeps getting fatter. The fat pig lady is singing some higher notes.

Charlie goofed when saying it would be $79.99 for AEP, its going to be $89.99 he goofed before.

 

[cosmo_kramer]

"Scott asks a question. First one is about HD RSN's, and second is about CourtTV.

HD RSNs didnt roll out because not a lot of content and providers wanted more money. Carl Vogel (programming) says it will be launched sometime in 2007. "


Not a lot of content It Charlie nuts For me, it's only the ability to watch the Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics in HD. What the hell is he thinking? Dish already provides the NESN SD feed. How much more $$ can providers want? Sounds like another load of BS from Charlie. This just pisses me off! I would have thought they'd be more interested in getting the HD RSN's to their customers. I'd gladly give up a few of the Voom garbage channels, Kung Fu comes to mind, to get NESN in HD.

Amen brother.....

 

[Peter Parker]

I just obtained an HD set. I was hoing to go for the current upgrade deal. i think though that I will waita few days and try this---hopefully I wont find out that it is for new customers only.

 

[navychop]

"...They should have the second tuner (I guess you mean TV2) with HD outputs as well..."

They can't, not the way they've implemented the second TV. That would send HD in the clear, something the copyright owners would freak over. They could come up with some other scheme, which would likely require another box on the second TV, to "protect" the copyright owners. Wonder if they'd use coax?


"...They are chiming around charging a "small" enabling fee for the External USB hard drives. I bet $4.99-$5.99 will be small enough according to Charlie..."

It's a one time fee, not a monthly one.

 

[KingofKaty]

At $100 they would have one user and that would be you. For free they are likely to have ten of thousands satisified, brand loyal customers. You have proven once again that most coders don't even understand the inter-workings of a PC ... and that is why they code.

Tens of thousands? The way people bitch about E* here and on DBSt@!k you'd think there were maybe a dozen brand loyal customers at most!

I don't write code any more. I had forgotten about the PocketDish. In that case at least some of the interface is already written. But even if Charlie wrote it himself in a half hour in his bath robe after an all night poker game - it still belongs to E* and they can charge whatever they like for it.

$5 a month, $100 one time - whatever. Perhaps they will make it free or at a very low cost just to drive customers to the 622 or 612. I'd probably do it if it were free, probably not for $100 plus the cost of the hard drive. My 721 is nearly full, but I haven't come close to using up the 622 HD yet. I'm more interested in it to archive season long shows like "24", and to back up recordings if the 622 has to be RA'd.

 

[Foxbat]

I think it would be great if we could take that USB drive, plug it into our ViP211 receiver, and watch HD/SD content off the drive.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

That feature is in the works.

I have lots of pictures to send up but internet access here sucks. I will try tonight or tommorow morning.

 

[Foxbat]

That feature is in the works.

:up :up :up

 

[dlsnyder]

Court TV is just this year's Lifetime/LMN or OLN dispute. It will be back, and Charlie will make some kind of announcement about how he held out for the best deal on behalf of Dish Network subscribers. I'm sure that DirecTV has been doing similar backroom negotiations. They just choose not to make a public spectacle of it.

There is a fine line between poker and cheap theatrics. Charlie doesn't seem to know where that line is.

One more thing - how are retailers going to compete with Dish Network's offer of a "free" 622? Are they going out of their way to try and kill their independent retailer network?

 

[bobinchico]

You guys are funny. All this pissing and moaning. If you really want to get a good laugh look at the Directv Press Conference recap.

Redman042 on this site made the following post on page 8 of the Directv press conference:

"Not to pour salt in everyone's wounds, but this all makes me SO glad I bit the bullet last year and traded up from D* to E*. I've been loving my 622 DVR and 30+ HD channels, and the E* CES announcements were very exciting. E* is already preparing to release an UPGRADED model of their best HD DVR (the 622-1 with VC-1 and a 500 gig HD), which works damn good already, and they will start using it for HD-VOD and other new services. D* is still trying to convince the world that their DVR isn't a POS which is only marginally better than the Comcast Motorolla box.

As for PQ, I don't know what D* is smoking to say that they have the best HD PQ. I've seen the difference between D* HD channels and E*, and I can tell you first hand that E*'s channels, while still Lite, are MUCH less compressed than D*. Sorry boys, you can't snow us forever. Our eyes can see the difference."

 

[nuzzy]

Will existing 622 users have the opportunity to trade in for a 622-1?

 

[ripnbigc]

Sure we will. Just a trade up charge and a new commitment.

 

[Sean Mota]

I think it would be great if we could take that USB drive, plug it into our ViP211 receiver, and watch HD/SD content off the drive.

If they figure this one out, it will be a great feature for those of us with multiple 622/211.

 

[nuzzy]

Sure we will. Just a trade up charge and a new commitment.

What's sad is, I'm betting you were being sarcastic and it may actually be true

 

[JamesThurber]

In the past there had been some speculation that having multiple ViP series receivers would allow them to watch shows off each other(presumably through the ethernet port). Has this speculation been completely dismissed or is it still a possibility in the future? (I understand that you could possibly archive something off a 622 with a HDD and then restore it to a 612/211/222 from Scott's comments) Thank you.

 

[Cegarrett]

Did anyone ever get an answer on if the "Free" 622 is only for New customers or is it for us Current Customers too? Also, When is this available for whomever it's intended?

Thanks,
cegarrett