SatelliteGuys.US DishNetwork Uplink Activity Discussion - Week Ending 12/08/2007

[SarKen]

I have to admit that was a shock........but not getting too excited until it goes from "Not Available" to "Available". Some channels are in NA status for a long time.

Ya, there have been some HD RSNs uplinked for over a year.......

 

[hrxtreme]

Looks like they are testing their MPEG4 Encoders to see what their limits are for channels on one xponder... 25 SD channels and a handful of RADIO channels.... Imagine the bandwidth possibilities...

 

[ptech]

Thanks for the good news Digi. now I'm off to change my pants. Got a little too excited.

 

[ptech]

So, now that SPIKV is "available", anyone checked out what it is, for us poor saps who are stuck at work?

It's Spike TV, Star Trek Voyager playing now.

 

[digiblur]

Looks like they are testing their MPEG4 Encoders to see what their limits are for channels on one xponder... 25 SD channels and a handful of RADIO channels.... Imagine the bandwidth possibilities...

Think about it though. 8PSK vs QPSK adds 25% in bandwidth. So we go from about 30 megabits to about 40 megabits. Then you go from MPEG2 to MPEG4 which is almost double the efficiency. So in MPEG2 terms you are getting about 80 megabits of video bandwidth out of the TP versus the old method of 30 megabits.

The numbers aren't exact as there is some other TP overhead and MPEG2 to MPEG4 ratios, but it's a good ballpark figure to go by.

 

[pdxsam]

What are they generally running SD channels at now? ballpark 3mbs? if they kept the 3 mbs they'd get a tremendous increase in video quality and be able to fit a good chunk on one tp.


I wonder if the bandwidth reclaimation project is going to reclaim SD channels soon, converting to mpeg4. It'll piss a bunch of people off but open up a fair bit of bandwidth

 

[jcrash]

These are two of the three I really wanted.

Now for FxHD and we are all set!

 

[kstuart]

I wonder if the bandwidth reclaimation project is going to reclaim SD channels soon, converting to mpeg4.

They can do two things right now to gain bandwidth:

- Launch more satellites, costing hundreds of millions of dollars.

OR

- Replace all MPEG2 receivers with MPEG4, costing hundreds of millions of dollars.

Previously, I was sure that number 2 was too expensive to consider, but launching satellites is not cheap either, and when you upgrade people's receivers, you also allow new possibilities for revenue (VOD being only one example).

In a similar way to only installing certain large dishes for specialized customers (International channels and locals from small DMAs), it is possible that they could require some customer segments to convert to MPEG4 (with a basic model receiver available for free swap).

AT250 includes a lot of extra channels, but probably has a small user base with non-ViP receivers - that might be a good starting point. (Whereas AT100 probably has millions of customers with older basic MPEG2 receivers only).

 

[kstuart]

I'm speechless!!! Check out what was added on 110W in HD. SciFi HD and USA HD!

CLICK HERE for the Report

Note that USA is one of the most watched "cable" channels, and is part of AT100.

It's possible that E* wants to keep AT100's HD channels on 110.

So, what was the exact date that D* turned on those two channels ?

I ask because we might be able to tell whether the problem was "exclusive rights for X weeks"...

 

[Poke]

Well either way everyone falls into this which is you need to be on MPEG4 Hardware and Dish and Direct will need to put up new sats at some point. Just like cable companies are going to half to get on MPEG4 Hardware and upgrade their networks to MPEG4. Which with cable companies will have more overhead due to they physical half to go an upgrade their networks when Dish and Direct just send up a new bird. So folks with cable or Sat will at some point time half to get on MPEG4 Receivers as compaines make the switch to MPEG4.

 

[Bountykiller]

OMGGGGGGG DISH IS ALIVE... I AM VERY IMPRESSED!!!!!

Now.. wheres my CNN HD, SPIKE HD & FX HD ;0 (I need something new to bitch about now!)

*WOW*

 

[Voyager6]

Note that USA is one of the most watched "cable" channels, and is part of AT100.

It's possible that E* wants to keep AT100's HD channels on 110.

So, what was the exact date that D* turned on those two channels ?

I ask because we might be able to tell whether the problem was "exclusive rights for X weeks"...

SciFi HD and USA HD were lit on D* on 10/03/07. Just about 60 days ago.

 

[Bradtothebone]

So now we have two HDPPV channels on TP 31 of 129, and I think these two channels are the ONLY channels on that TP. Since they didn't also add those two channels to 61.5, what does this mean?

1. This is only a temporary move to free up two channels on 110.
2. There will be another uplink report showing 531 and 534 HDPPVs added to 61.5.

I hope it's the second, because that might indicate that more HDPPVs will move off 110 TP17 to make room for more national HDs. Doesn't 61.5 have a "vacant" TP?

Brad

 

[Poke]

Yeah but it took Direct allot longer to get most of their HD up and running that Dish had longer than that. Either way it always takes time no matter who you get service from to get new channel up and running.

 

[Poke]

Well the more things they get moved over to MPEG4 the better.

 

[VinceT3]

we're waiting!

 

[Poke]

we're waiting!

Well if these two channels go live I would say their making some progress. Either way good news today!

 

[long_time_DNC]

This is good news and I'm glad they're on 110 and not 129!

 

[B_Kranski]

Wow, it is like a breath of fresh air, maybe now "Tin Man" can be re-DVR'd in HD

 

[redsalmon]

I'm glad they're on 110 because that is truly viewable nationally, as in Alaska being part of the nation. All the HD available on 61.5 and 110 isn't available here. Now if they would only light up the HD locals that are uplinked but not available.