I predict...

[nicholassjenkins]

Keep in mind that I know nothing

If, and it's a big if, they did do it, they wouldn't use Voom boxes, or replace current Dish boxes with Voom-capable boxes. They would use Voom's bandwidth and content, encoded for existing Dish hw. Of course, they would need to swap out existing Voom subs' hw...all 48 of them.

As a technical question, oh Sagely-types...
I thought that the Dish boxes worked on MPEG2, and that the VOOM boxes worked on MPEG4 and/or WMP9 formats?

If so, is this being done in software (hard to imagine), or on a hardware accelerator? If the latter, then how would either receiver be directly useful with the others' content, without major rework?

Thanks,
-NICK

 

[GaryPen]

That is why E would need to replace V's boxes, as contained in my quote above.

 

[rtt2]

V* boxes are on MPEG2 now. They have a slot on the right side that will fit a module that will be able to upgrade them to MPEG4/WM9. VOOM will mail the module to subscribers when the technology is ready.
Until then they are MPEG2 using 8PSK with Digicipher 2 & NDS encription

 

[Juan]

I predict that D* will start making their own buggy receivers(that will be worst than e*) yet all the rupertites will still claim that D* is better

 

[Stargazer]

See, Voom makes their receivers upgradable with a module, why does Dish and Direct not do that?

 

[Juan]

See, Voom makes their receivers upgradable with a module, why does Dish and Direct not do that?

Didn't E* do that with the 6000?

 

[jzoomer]

I predict this thread was created to increase the hits at this web site.

 

[gpflepsen]

I predict this thread was created to increase the hits at this web site.

WTF???

 

[SimpleSimon]

I predict this thread was created to increase the hits at this web site.

Don't worry I get it.

The previous poster must really be the brew in the pic

 

[SummitAdvantageRetailer]

Predictions from a retailer standpoint

By the year's end, there'll be bundled package savings for SBC, SIRIUS, and other partnership companies. That means combined billing, specialized customer service, and different promotional offerings.

As for HD content, national HD local feeds will be available in rural markets. TNT-HD will get added to the HD Pak when another viable HD channel is available for bundling. Starz HD will be available when purchased with Starz premium pack. These new HD channels will come on 110 as more and more locals will be carried by 105 SuperDISH until the next AMC satellite goes into that slot.

As for local HD, Dish Network will introduce a promotion for customers to get locals on off-air antenna installed at the time of activation. Customers will get a choice of a few different antennas to choose from and retailers will get incentives to do this. But due to antenna limitations, the installer will use their discretion on the "line of sight" for the antennas.

More international channels to be offered. Dish Network has at least 1 to 3 million customers that have Dish Network solely because of international programming. The new international channels will be offered on the 121 SuperDISH and current customers getting international channels on the 61.5 location will eventually get free SuperDISH 121 upgrades as 61.5 will be cleared for HD. I'd suspect 61.5 to be for HD as Voom is also on 61.5 and an acquisition will make moving those Voom customers over easy.

As for existing customer promotions, the $99 DVR upgrade will continue and HD 811 upgrade will go down to $149 as more receivers ship. The 921 will probably drop to $750 or less by this year's end. The 250GB hard drive on the 921 is already not the biggest drive on the market.

The next big receiver for Dish Network should be a networkable receiver. One that can allow people to surf the web while viewing TV when Dish Network launches two-way internet in 2005/6. Not only that, it should be a complete entertainment center with a slot to read CF, SM, and MemoryStick for digital photos, have a module for SIRIUS so that you can take the module to the car, and be a DVR.

Also, DHA will go away in about a year. At least I hope it will. The current no-commitment deal is a deal-breaker for many retailers. But it won't go away until the erosion to cable companies has slowed down. The Free DISH promotion will allow customers to get an 811 HD, two 311's for 1-year contract without a $99 upgrade fee. Or a 510 DVR, and two 311's for a 1-year commitment without a $99 upgrade fee.

And Dish should introduce a new DVR model that allows the customer to activate the DVR functionality whenever and pay $4.98 VOD fee when using the DVR functions. And when they decide not to use it, they'll not be charged $4.98. I always had a hard time explaining to customers why they have to pay additional $4.98/month if they're getting it for "free" upfront. Or they'll waive the $4.98/month DVR fee for AT180 customers.

A lot of wishful thinking on here and it's too bad that there isn't much good news in the horizon for Dish Network. The Congress is going to really hamper Dish Network's growth in some areas.

 

[Stargazer]

I think Dish Network wants to be the first television provider to offerd DVR standard in every receiver for every new customer. The 522 is a good start. This may be considered part of a promotion to get more customers to switch from cable since DVR would become standard. In order to make this work they will have to either eliminate the DVR fee or adjust the prices of their packages accordingly.

Having no additional outlet fee on top of that would help as well. If Dish wanted to do DVR for every new customer but still wanted to get the $5 DVR fee then they would be charging every new customer an extra $5 fee even if they didnt want the DVR functionality if they did not want to pay extra for it.