Rumor? Eastern arc is being retired

[przywara]

Had a tech out to replace our western arc dish in Alabama with an eastern arc due to some tree growth signal issues.

Tech said the eastern arc is going away, so he spent time completely relocating dish to avoid trees.

Is there any truth to this? Is the 61.5 lease or orbit ending? I did use the search function, didn't find anything specific.

Is this part of the DirecTV buy and cost containment or just a rumour?

 

[dishrich]

It's possible it might be going away for YOUR particular TV market/DMA, as they have done shifting of some local markets between arcs over the years, particularly now that DISH isn't providing SD dupes of HD (local) channels.

 

[Jim5506]

This sounds like water cooler gossip. Some tech mouthing off with no logic behind his ideas. Without EA satellites New England customers would have a difficult time with satellite dish location since even at Boston the 119 satellite is only 20 degrees above the horizon, trees and buildings become a major hinderance.

 

[HipKat]

This sounds like water cooler gossip. Some tech mouthing off with no logic behind his ideas. Without EA satellites New England customers would have a difficult time with satellite dish location since even at Boston the 119 satellite is only 20 degrees above the horizon, trees and buildings become a major hinderance.

Nope, the EA is going away, possibly as soon as next spring. We are actively moving customers to the WA and have been for months

 

[Jim5506]

Well, I looks like I"ll be moving to WA, hope they add my HD locals to 110 or 119 because much of west Texas is on EA due to lack of spot beams on WA. I got stronger signal and fewer drop outs on 110/119/118. They'll probably do away with the SD locals (if they haven't already).

 

[MikeD-C05]

Nope, the EA is going away, possibly as soon as next spring. We are actively moving customers to the WA and have been for months

So we went to EA in 2008 and now we are going back to just western Arc period? What happens to 61.5 and 72.7 sats now? I also assume that we are going to more streaming channels to take the place of more of the satellite channels - like the SD ones. So you could get them in HD and you can now record them too.

 

[ekilgus]

Nope, the EA is going away, possibly as soon as next spring. We are actively moving customers to the WA and have been for months

What happens to those of us who are currently on the eastern arc? Will Dish send someone out to make the change?

 

[Bobby]

What happens to those of us who are currently on the eastern arc? Will Dish send someone out to make the change?

Eventually, when the time is right.

 

[zippyfrog]

So we went to EA in 2008 and now we are going back to just western Arc period? What happens to 61.5 and 72.7 sats now? I also assume that we are going to more streaming channels to take the place of more of the satellite channels - like the SD ones. So you could get them in HD and you can now record them too.

I wish I could find the filing, but I feel like the leases expire in 2028 or 2029. I am sure someone can help me - it is the government filing that shows the satellites and their date their leases expire or if Dish owns them. If it is 2028 or 2029, that gives Dish quite a bit of a runway before needing to shut it down.

 

[RTCDude]

Nope, the EA is going away, possibly as soon as next spring. We are actively moving customers to the WA and have been for months

Aren't there EA territories that can't or conveniently see the WA?

 

[HipKat]

Aren't there EA territories that can't or conveniently see the WA?

Yes.
And no, I have no answer. I'm just as confused and can foresee a lot of customer loss who don't have LOS for WA

 

[Juan]

Yes.
And no, I have no answer. I'm just as confused and can foresee a lot of customer loss who don't have LOS for WA

Internet might be there work around...just a guess..Directv is switching to a more internet distribution method too

 

[ewindowman]

I hope there is a work around. 110 and 119 were very difficult to get. I have been fine with the eastern arch . If it's switched back with no other options that may be my swan song with dish .

 

[NYDutch]

I hope there is a work around. 110 and 119 were very difficult to get. I have been fine with the eastern arch . If it's switched back with no other options that may be my swan song with dish .

There's no WA LOS anywhere on our upstate NY property. That would rule out any thoughts of returning to Dish from streaming for us.

 

[nelson61]

The Nimiq 5 lease was recently extended to 2029

 

[nelson61]

Perhaps Echostar and Directv have made a deal for Echostar to use Directv's "empty" transponders on the western arc.

 

[telstar_1]

Yes.
And no, I have no answer. I'm just as confused and can foresee a lot of customer loss who don't have LOS for WA

The service is simply in rapid decline and it's evident they're shedding costs. Yes, there will be plenty of subs now on EA whom they will fail to retain due to inaccessibility to WA. They will likely just be offered an internet service. Cost of sub losses will likely be judged outweighed by resource savings.

 

[Bobby]

The service is simply in rapid decline and it's evident they're shedding costs. Yes, there will be plenty of subs now on EA whom they will fail to retain due to inaccessibility to WA. They will likely just be offered an internet service. Cost of sub losses will likely be judged outweighed by resource savings.

Using that example, they could also offer complete streaming for all channels along with internet service. We will have to see what the future has to hold.

 

[navychop]

Assuming they don't lose more content.

Not a happy camper.