Something New: Key Quotes from the D* Investor Call 8/9/07

[atp1313]

I have a feeling that PQ will be talked about alot once the new sats are up and operational and people have a chance to see how good thier picture looks compaired to what it was...

Jimbo

With very few exceptions, we won't be able to do a side-by-side comparison since the new HD channels will only display on new receivers. Only existing channels will be comparable, and that's only if they mirror them in MPEG2...which we all assume they will do. We will just have to remember the "bad ole days" and looking lovingly upon the new signals and think about how our kids will never believe us when we say, "when I was your age, we actually had to use antennas to see HD...and it was only in MPEG2"

 

[Jhon69]

I am sure the HD costs will be incorporated into next year's subscriber price increases, rather than its own line item or package. Satellites aren't free and DIRECTV is going to have to produce revenue from DIRECTV-10 and 11 somehow (and to set aside some money for future satellite construction and operation).

They also have D12.

 

[TheForce]

I didn't see the topic of "HD Lite" or rather compressed soft looking HD picture addressed in this write up of the investors call but I decided to do some A/B testing on my own this past weekend.

The channels selected are those that can be received on both Dish and Directv with MPG2, not MPG 4 because I don't have an MPG 4 capability with DirecTV yet.

It appears that DirecTV has much improved their picture quality as they now look nearly identical to Dish Picture quality on HDNET, HDNET MOvies and Discovery HD. ESPN looks a bit softer yet. On Dish Network the new VOOM channels and other known MP4 all look sharper than any of the DirecTV MP2 channels (Apples to Oranges)

So, in my opinion, this age old argument of soft HD PQ on DirecTV is over. From reports, I'd have to assume that the images on DirecTV MP4 are even better. This is all good news for everyone. The message of quality has not been forgotten in this race for quantity.

Also, please understand that I am only viewing on a 720P x 1280 native monitor with 120" full screen, so any resolution beyond that is lost anyway.

When D* finally delivers on it's promise of 100 channels and E* fails to compete, I will then look into flipping my primary service back to D* including the new HR20. Currently I plan to remain with E* who is delivering and has good equipment.