Dish Adds New HD Channels

[Gregg Lengling]

EchoStar announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas plans to expand its high-definition offerings with the rollout of a new HD package starting Feb. 1 that will allow it to deliver more than 25 national HD channels total, including new additions ESPN2 HD and Universal HD.

The satellite provider is also adding five new channels to its Voom HD service. The new Dish HD package will start at $54.99 per month for 25 HD channels, 70 standard-definition channels and local channels in HD where available. The new package represents an increase of seven national HD channels to the satellite provider's lineup.

As part of this expansion, EchoStar said it will transition to using MPEG-4 compression format, which essentially allows a provider to deliver twice the amount of HD channels in the same bandwidth. That transition not only allows EchoStar to offer these addition HD networks it also enables EchoStar to expand into offering HD broadcast channels in up to 50 markets this year, including Boston, Los Angeles and New York.

[russellj]

Do you know if Milwaukee is included in the 50 markets that are going to get HD locals?

[gparris]

I wonder if TWC is watching closely at these new additions to DishNetwork.

Adding local HD channels, including Milwaukeeland this year and Universal HD and ESPNHD2 channels, which TWC does not have, including of course, Voom channels, could make current subs flee to DishNetwork this year.

Especially if Dish adds that HD DVR on rental - how could anyone really resist not changing to them then?

I wonder why Directv has not made any HD national addition announcements at CES like at least adding one channel like TNT-HD to match DishNetwork (now). :confused:

[AndrewP]

Do you know if Milwaukee is included in the 50 markets that are going to get HD locals?

Yes, Milwaukee is in the list.

[gparris]

Do you know if Milwaukee is included in the 50 markets that are going to get HD locals?

Milwaukee is the #33 DMA and unless Dish has some other way of looking at it on its way to the top 50 markets, Milwaukee should be in there.
I just wonder if the HD locals will be all of them as in more than just the basic 4 HD channels by the end of the year and will the HD DVR be available by then?

[AndrewP]

Milwaukee is the #33 DMA and unless Dish has some other way of looking at it on its way to the top 50 markets, Milwaukee should be in there.
I just wonder if the HD locals will be all of them as in more than just the basic 4 HD channels by the end of the year and will the HD DVR be available by then?

MPEG4 Vip622 HD DVR will be available by Feb 1, 2006. It has 2 sat. tuners (that means in dual mode one can watch two seperate programs on two TVs at the same time) and 1 OTA tuner, so in single mode one can record three HD programs at the same time and watch one of these programs or another pre-recorded program (same as MPEG2 HD DVR 942). In addition to 942 this receiver has S-Video output for TV1 and ethernet port (disabled now, for future use, IPTV VOD?). With Feb Echostar 10 launch HD LIL plan will speed up.
My only dissappointment is that Voom HD will be HD-Lite. But at least major HD programs (HBO, Showtime, TNT, Espn, Espn2, HdNet, HdNet Movies, Discovery) are still in full HD resolution.

[russellj]

AndrewP what do you mean by "HD light"? Also I have been told that you will need a second dish to get the HD locals. Does anyone know if that is true?

[StarvingForHDTV]

My only dissappointment is that Voom HD will be HD-Lite. But at least major HD programs (HBO, Showtime, TNT, Espn, Espn2, HdNet, HdNet Movies, Discovery) are still in full HD resolution.

What is HD-Lite?

[Sparkman87]

This picture, posted at satellite guys.us, shows the 50 markets.  Milwaukee is listed.

[Sparkman87]

Milwaukee is the #33 DMA and unless Dish has some other way of looking at it on its way to the top 50 markets, Milwaukee should be in there.
I just wonder if the HD locals will be all of them as in more than just the basic 4 HD channels by the end of the year and will the HD DVR be available by then?

Milwaukee is among the planned cities.  There is a thread on satelliteguys.us which shows a picture of all the planned cities and Milwaukee is one.  It is only the 4 networks though, no WB, UPN or local HD stations.  HD DVR scheduled fpr 2/1, Monday nights CHarlie Chat should have more details.

[AndrewP]

What is HD-Lite?

HD-lite is D* introduced and now E* adopted for Voom HD pack lowered resolution. I think it is 1280x1080i instead of 1920x1080i. This term is used at avsforum.com. Of course, D* and E* never use and never disclose their actual HD resolution. But people know anyway and report it at avsforum. :p

[russellj]

I just watched "Charlie Chat" on Dish channel 101 where he talked about the new HD line up and HD locals that would be offered. He showed a map of the markets that would be getting HD locals. There was a dot on the map for each city that would get them. Milwaukee did NOT hat a dot. What gives?

[SRW1000]

HD-lite is D* introduced and now E* adopted for Voom HD pack lowered resolution. I think it is 1280x1080i instead of 1920x1080i. This term is used at avsforum.com. Of course, D* and E* never use and never disclose their actual HD resolution. But people know anyway and report it at avsforum. :p

This is true, but HD-Lite is an unfortunate misnomer.  1280x1080i is not a valid HD format.  By branding it HD-Lite it adds legitimacy to the down-rezzing practice.

Scott

[GADGET71]

1. I looked very closely too and could not see a dot on the map for Milwaukee.  Can anyone confirm with E* if Milwaukee is included?

2. Can we start the changeover to a VIP211 or VIP622 Today, or do we have to wait, nothing on the E* website says anything about them, however Charlie claims they are available for upgrade?  

3.  IF I have an 811(nondvrHD) and a 510(sddvr) NOW, would I be better off switching to a two room VIP 622, even though it will cost me $299. I mean monthly would it be cheaper?

4.  If I have a SUperdish, will I need to upgrade to a Dish 1000?

All questions I have after the Charlie Chat?
________
Chrysler Flathead engine history

[Sparkman87]

I just watched "Charlie Chat" on Dish channel 101 where he talked about the new HD line up and HD locals that would be offered. He showed a map of the markets that would be getting HD locals. There was a dot on the map for each city that would get them. Milwaukee did NOT hat a dot. What gives?

That dot on the second map was supposed to be in Milwaukee, it looked more like Chicago though.  But Chicago was included on the 1st map.