From Turner Broadcasting Inc.

[ikki]

Turner hasn't had the capability to authorize residential C-Band
receivers for a number of years now. Our last programming distributor
who was providing C-band authorizations was NPS (National Programming
Service) and I understand that they have dropped Cartoon Network from
their line-up as of April 6th.

Unfortunately that was the last option for C-Band, which as you know
(despite the fact that it is a wonderful technology in my view) is
slowly loosing many staple cable services. There is talk that Motorola
may completely shutter the C-Band data-stream by years end as well.

Your best option at this point is to consider switching to the small
dish; either DIRECTV or DISH Network. Wish we had other options for you.

G. Scott Gibson
Director, Satellite and Telco
Turner Network Sales

 

[harshness]

Is it possible that NPS wasn't fibbing?

 

[tvropro]

NPS is full of beans, There is no authorization for PowerVu to the home subscriber. Turner uses PowerVu. Thats why you can't sub to Cartoon or the other Turner master channels. NPS is getting out of C band by years end. The cost of NPS to run there G3 uplinks got to expensive. I also heard NPS does not have a contract with Motorola anymore, this is why they are so sketchy with what is happening there.

The skys are not going dark at SRL & Skyvision. It's business as usual.

 

[lonewolf454]

These large corporations have bean counters that only look at numbers. It has been my experience they are usually full of arrogant bastards too. They think they are too big to fall (think K-Mart, once the largest mass discount merchandiser, Winn-Dixie, once the largest grocery chain, both of which had their head in the sand while Wal-Mart snuck up on them and forced both into bankruptcy)

These are good times over at DishNetwork and DirecTV, but their day will come and go, and I would be willing to bet when their heyday ends I'll still be able to find something to watch on c-band.

 

[harshness]

If broadcasting companies like Turner pull out of C-band altogether, I would have to disagree with your conclusion that C-band will continue to limp along.

 

[tvropro]

Turner has already said they do not have the transmission method to provide direct to home c band subscription in place anymore. Myself I don't consider the Turner channels much of a loss, to others this could be different. I see 4DTV now as service offering the high priced high tier channels (that pizza and cable charge big package costs for) for alacart or in mini packs for a decent price. Many of the basic cable flavor channels have gone away.

So what it boils down to is this. If you mostly like those high tier channels and want them for a decent price 4D is for you. If you want those basic channels? well cable and pizza offer them. Actually what most of basic cable shows is crap or infomercials so I don't miss them. Between my FTA and high tier 4D channels, I have more than enough entertainment to watch and enjoy

 

[truckracer]

I agree

Turner has already said they do not have the transmission method to provide direct to home c band subscription in place anymore. Myself I don't consider the Turner channels much of a loss, to others this could be different. I see 4DTV now as service offering the high priced high tier channels (that pizza and cable charge big package costs for) for alacart or in mini packs for a decent price. Many of the basic cable flavor channels have gone away.

So what it boils down to is this. If you mostly like those high tier channels and want them for a decent price 4D is for you. If you want those basic channels? well cable and pizza offer them. Actually what most of basic cable shows is crap or infomercials so I don't miss them. Between my FTA and high tier 4D channels, I have more than enough entertainment to watch and enjoy

I totally agree. Even if c band ends I will be Fta and ota digital only. Directv and dish with their Cellphone style lengthy contracts and electronic fund transfers don't impress me.

 

[truckracer]

Their contracts are always full of loopholes "programming may change without prior notification" among other similliar "we have you - but you don't have us" type of legal propaganda.

 

[ikki]

A lot of people are responding with emotional comments. This post isn't to start a war on whether 4DTV is viable, or will it be around.

This representative at Turner has:

a. Bought into the story NPS is telling

or

b. Knows something the rest of us don't regarding Motorola and the ACC.


I personally do not care, although I must say it has answered a couple of my questions.

Turner will sell programming to 4DTV uplinkers, and as of now the channel(s) I want are not available. Further more I get the impression (when I read between the lines) that if Cisco had a consumer level set top box and a consumer ACC they wouldn't necessarily be against selling programming.

Again nothing emotional here, a simple post from a television network employee who has been in the business for some time. (Who also likes C Band)

Will Dish and Direct be around in 10 years? Who knows and who cares. I do not do business with them.

 

[Corrado]

I've been reading threads for a while now trying to sort out who to believe. I'll stick with SRL and Skyvision as long as it's available and cost effective. I don't really care much about HD. The retro type TV programming is what I like anyway. I'll continue with my ala carte paks and no contract subs, FTA and 18 OTA channels until then.

Let the others pay $100/month for the Paint Drying channel in HD lite with their 2 year contracts, while waiting for the Grass Growing channel in HD lite next month while paying for local channels.

Gee, the $$ I'll save would pay for DVD box sets of some of my favorite programming without commercials, pop-ads and graphics too... Which I could enjoy on my schedule. I bet I could even read the end credits.

 

[Mr Tony]

Directv and dish with their Cellphone style lengthy contracts

if you own the equipment there is no term.

and electronic fund transfers don't impress me.

huh? What are you talking about? I get my Directv bill and I can either send them a check or pay online with a cc.

 

[pendragon]

Because Turner shifted to DVB/PowerVu, they must have found some reason to leave the Motorola fold. It could be price, it could be technical, it could be a perceived/real loss of support or one of many others. When corporations change a strategy they tend to want to continually reinforce the validity of their decision. Perhaps the Cisco sales force planted doubts in their minds or perhaps Turner knows something we don't. But having left Motorola, Turner does not increase their credibility as a source relative to Motorola's future in C-Band as they have a vested interest.

 

[ikki]

> But having left Motorola, Turner does not increase their credibility as a source relative to Motorola's future in C-Band as they have a vested interest.

Excellent point.

 

[Newbie_McNoob]

Turner will sell programming to 4DTV uplinkers, and as of now the channel(s) I want are not available. Further more I get the impression (when I read between the lines) that if Cisco had a consumer level set top box and a consumer ACC they wouldn't necessarily be against selling programming.

Can you ask Turner if they will sell programming to people with a D9865?

 

[GreatFTA]

"So what it boils down to is this. If you mostly like those high tier channels and want them for a decent price 4D is for you. If you want those basic channels? well cable and pizza offer them. Actually what most of basic cable shows is crap or infomercials so I don't miss them. Between my FTA and high tier 4D channels, I have more than enough entertainment to watch and enjoy [/QUOTE]

Amen! With the 4DTV you can pretty much pick the channels you can AFFORD. And the FTA C and Ku bands offer many great channels that is FREE!
While on the pizza pan, I was paying nearly $80 a month and most of the channels I do not watch. Now I have the channels I want for almost $10 a month and plan on on expanding some more!
And still be way under $80 a month!!!
Oh, I failed to mention the OTA channels, too.
I am very content...

 

[emuman100]

Turner hasn't had the capability to authorize residential C-Band
receivers for a number of years now.

Complete Bull#*@!. They CAN authorize D9432 and the D9834 receivers with no issue. They can do residential subscriptions with no problem whatsoever, but there is more money in large bulk subscriptions for the cable companies and pizza dish companies. Tuner won't do it because they feel their time is better spent dealing with the large cable and pizza dish companies. F^#$ Tuner.

 

[tvropro]

Complete Bull#*@!. They CAN authorize D9432 and the D9834 receivers with no issue. They can do residential subscriptions with no problem whatsoever, but there is more money in large bulk subscriptions for the cable companies and pizza dish companies. Tuner won't do it because they feel their time is better spent dealing with the large cable and pizza dish companies. F^#$ Tuner.

Follow the money trail.

 

[truckracer]

I have a business and do follow the money trail. Your customers and competitors will dictate what you can do even when you think something else is best

 

[ikki]

I was hopeful that Video over IP would offer consumers real options in video content delivery, however after reading today that Google and Verizon are agreeing to see the end of net neutrality I think the only thing we as consumers can be assured of is higher prices.

Turner Broadcasting and Ted turner by extension, were visionaries, fortunatly the current idiots running the company have lost that vision.

The idea was simple, let as many people as possible get your signal and build your empire on the concept of selling advertising and charging cable providers to carry your signal. Blah!

 

[wildbill47]

When I was in a cable headend recently got to look at receivers and Cnn, Turner etc were using SA powerview receivers. I do not think they care about supplying single consumers just the big boys.
Need to visit Atlanta, Ga and the turner building guarded better then the White house. I wanted to talk to a satellite tech but was not part of payed tour.