Can they turn around and double this as an MPEG4 service for DISH customers?
Certainly would expect this is the beginning of the all MPEG4 service they previously mentioned. Would seem silly to use still another set of satellites for that service.
Can they turn around and double this as an MPEG4 service for DISH customers?
VIP-TV appears to be the first IPTV service using Ku band. But there are already two competitors on the Cband side, SES-Americom's IP Prime and Intelsat IPTV.
I think Echostar's has the potential to be the first of those 3 IPTV services to be made available to consumers directly at some point.
BTW, ViP-TV is not active in its supposed new home satellite yet, but there are a couple signals on Ku-band at other slots so the press release seems to be a ways ahead of actual availability to small headends, etc.
NPS is trying to set up an IPTV service for Cband dish owners.