Dish and DIRECTV

[mikehbkwm]

Hey guys just a little info for you and I dont know why ive never mentioned this before... I used to work for Dish Network and Directv so heres whats happening... By the end of this year the merger will go through for the 2 co's. Dish is buying out direct but they will keep the Directv name also satellites 101' and the 101' spotbeam will be used for main prog the everybody eatches including locals. Sat's 110 and 119 will be used for HD and other locals.. Also more then likely all and I mean all Dish customers will have to have their equipment switch to Directv equipment cause all the new recievers that are coming out are Multi-sat recievers also almost all dish's made in the future will be 18' by 22' in dishes. Just thought I'd update everybody from someone who knows...

[woodman]

Jus' kidding - I knew that you meant 18" X 22" ... not 18' X 22'.

Glad to hear that you're optimistic on the merger getting approved - I wish that I was that optimistic myself. But I'm not for the reason that there are a lot of powerful forces trying to block it, and very few consumers seem to be willing to take the time to write, call, or e-mail their representatives in the Congress and the FCC in support of the deal. For that matter, I'd bet that there are literally tons of consumers who aren't even aware of what's going on. Of those that are (mostly HDTV freaks) many of them are OPPOSED to the merger! They (mistakenly, IMO) feel that it would not be in their best interests for it to happen.

I disagree with your assertion that all Echostar equipment will be swapped out though. The subject of signal piracy dictates that the security system used by DirecTV will be the one that will be abandoned - not Echostar's.

[kevinw]

I have to agree with WOODMAN to much effort is being put into Dish 508. the Dual tuner PVR-720 and the soon to arrive dual HD PVR-921.

[billw]

Is this the HDTV box that JVC is calling their new 9000 series?
I am hearing that they are releasing something with a hard drive this fall. I havent been able to get a straight answer from JVC or Echostar.


I have a HD JVC TV with the new DVI connection and I am trying to get the story on this. They have a 6000 series box that does HD but does not record nor does it have a DVI connection.

Bill

[kevinw]

Bill,

It just may be, The guy I talked to at the Dish retailer said that JVC is making boxes for them.
Sort of suprised me, because I thought Echostar made all the equipment their self.

[billw]

This is the link to the JVC website

http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?productId=PRD4000000

This is another link talking about the DVI stuff. It is an old link. There was supposed to be some sort of chat early in this week about what this new receiver will offer. I am still waiting on the word. If anyone has info I would greatly appreciate it.

http://www.dvhs.co.uk/100046.htm

[kevinw]

Interesting product but IS it an OTA HD PVR with or without Comp.outs? Is it a DISH HD PVR? Seems that it may be useless to those of us without DVI or similar.

[bubbaj]

Mike,
Do you or anyone else know if there are any plans for delivering local HDTV broadcasts via satellite? I think that as soon as directv does this, they will get a hell of a lot of business away from cable companies who won't be offering such a service for years. I would switch in an instant.
bj

[woodman]

Bubba:
Dish Network is already providing CBS network HDTV programming for the East coast and West coast. The other networks (NBC, ABC, Fox) are soon to follow according to Echostar. How long it will be before they can provide such programming to the entire nation is anybody's guess. A lot of it hinges upon the pending merger between the two DBS providers. If it goes through, a lot more services can be the result.

I don't know about DirecTV (I don't care to know what they're doing or not doing), but if the merger goes through, it'll all be one big happy family anyway.

[billw]

I am in the process of trying to figure out what I am going to do.

I live in Baltimore and I am looking to do satellite.

Direct TV offers locals.
Dish Network does not - and no one seems to know if and when.

My understanding is that the locals offered by DirectTV is not HDTV.

The locals if offered by Dish Network in my area would not be HDTV - at least not for some time.

Here is my thought. Please tell me if I am misguided.

I was going to do a Dish Network HDTV receiver (hopefully the new 9000 series or 921 PVR) if I can find out when they are being released.

I was going to have a Channel Master UHF HDTV antenna tied into the satellite dish with some sort of switch.

Keep in mind that I really want the locals for my HDTV as I want them for sports and the Discovery channel.

I realize that I would only get locals on the HDTV. I am not overly concerned with this.

I was going to have the guy install a Terk antenna that wraps the dish for the other tv's in the house but I am not seeing postive feedback on this antenna.

Does this make sense?

Bill
JVC HDTV w/ DVI

[kevinw]

It would be very tough to get the CBS hd feed. If you live in a metropolitan area you would have to have a waiver unless your station is owned and operated --see http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/locals/cbshd/index.shtml

An Over the air Antenna is still the best way for locals.
Bill,
From your location, with the right set up you could pull stations from Baltimore and DC. http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/stations.asp