Four new Dish Network channels are up!

[AndrewP]

DISH Network(TM) Expands HD Lineup to 29 Channels; Introduces New HD Promotions; New Customers Can Save up to $200 by Subscribing To DishHD

Full info is here

[Mark Strube]

They've added StarzHD, National Geographic-HD, NFL-HD, and HGTV-HD. Also, some standard definition channels they've added: Baby and Sleuth.

My review of StarzHD's quality from the DBSTalk Forum:

I'm glad they've added some new HD channels, but I must say I am very underwhelmed with the quality of StarzHD... perhaps this has something to do with the mpeg4?

I'm viewing this on a 50" 1080p Sony SXRD. All of the other HD channels (HBO, HDNet etc) look very nice and smooth, no major issues. I'm viewing on a ViP622 connected thru HDMI.

StarzHD just can't seem to achieve full fluid motion. Anytime there's a scene with the camera steadily moving, it's slightly choppy. Also, there's slightly jagged edges in some scenes, as if my hdtv cannot properly find the progressive frames or something (it's in CineMotion mode which has no issues producing a beautiful 1080p image from all of the other HD movie channels).

Also, in moderate to high motion, there's a good amount of "ghosting."

I don't know if these issues are due to their encoders or my box's decoding, but I've forced it to update and then rebooted, which has fixed none of these problems.

I hope these are just early issues that will be corrected soon, with an update or by fixing the encoding on their end. But if not, then mpeg4 is far from ready for prime time.

I've also sent this to Dish's picture quality control email address: dishquality@echostar.com

[gparris]

Thanks for the update....Dish HD sort of leaves TWC and Directv in the dust. :guitar:

As far as cable goes, TWC doesn't yet offer ESPN2HD and today, Comcast is adding it on their systems, at least for now.

TWC just doesn't think HD channel additions are important anymore, it would seem.

[gparris]

They've added StarzHD, National Geographic-HD, NFL-HD, and HGTV-HD. Also, some standard definition channels they've added: Baby and Sleuth.

My review of StarzHD's quality from the DBSTalk Forum:

I'm glad they've added some new HD channels, but I must say I am very underwhelmed with the quality of StarzHD... perhaps this has something to do with the mpeg4?

I'm viewing this on a 50" 1080p Sony SXRD. All of the other HD channels (HBO, HDNet etc) look very nice and smooth, no major issues. I'm viewing on a ViP622 connected thru HDMI.

StarzHD just can't seem to achieve full fluid motion. Anytime there's a scene with the camera steadily moving, it's slightly choppy. Also, there's slightly jagged edges in some scenes, as if my hdtv cannot properly find the progressive frames or something (it's in CineMotion mode which has no issues producing a beautiful 1080p image from all of the other HD movie channels).

Also, in moderate to high motion, there's a good amount of "ghosting."

I don't know if these issues are due to their encoders or my box's decoding, but I've forced it to update and then rebooted, which has fixed none of these problems.

I hope these are just early issues that will be corrected soon, with an update or by fixing the encoding on their end. But if not, then mpeg4 is far from ready for prime time.

I've also sent this to Dish's picture quality control email address: dishquality@echostar.com

Maybe just because this channel is being tweaked since it is so new to Dishnetwork.
I have seen Starz HD without incident on other cable systems and it looked fine.
Keep us posted on the quality and progess of this channel.
Too bad TWC has not added any more HD channels this year - it was a good decision on your part to get Dishnetwork, so far.

[Mark Strube]

It's a problem inherant to Dish's mpeg4 encoding. (StarzHD isn't in mpeg4 on any other systems which is why it looked good.) Everyone with their locals in HD (which are all mpeg4) have been experiencing the exact problems I've mentioned above.

[AndrewP]

It's a problem inherant to Dish's mpeg4 encoding. (StarzHD isn't in mpeg4 on any other systems which is why it looked good.) Everyone with their locals in HD (which are all mpeg4) have been experiencing the exact problems I've mentioned above.

Didn't watch much StarzHD (World Cup is on  :guitar: ), but it looks very good. I have SuperDish and 61.5 Dish, and not Dish 1000. Maybe signal off 121 is not so strong?

[Mark Strube]

It's not a signal strength problem, I have no issues receiving any of the VOOM channels which are off the same bird. Many people from both DBSTalk and SatelliteGuys.us are noticing this problem as well... Dish is having problems with the new mpeg4 compression settings.

[gparris]

Mark Strube: Has Dishnetwork got FOOD HD channel on yet? :cool:

Something I thought I read in satelliteguys that is was on the grid, but now I read nothing about it.

Got anything to tell Dishnetwork (future) HD subs?
Will this make it 30 HD channels available (including the Voom?)
Please advise, thanks! :wave:

[Mark Strube]

There's no Food HD yet.

Anything I can say? Well... for the most HD content, DISH is still the way to go right now. DirecTV still has no TRUE HD content, and TWC is lacking selection. So, if you're willing to put up with a few growing pains with your hardware or their picture quality on a few of the new stations, DISH is the way to go.

[gparris]

Thanks for  your review about Dishnetwork and I will pass it along for any future clients, including my friends and family that what more HD than TWC (wants) to deliver.

Looks like our "Big HD Channel Addition" :bow: this year from TWC was Universal HD and since some TWC locations other than ours never even got that, I guess you could call us "lucky", huh?

[gparris]

There's no Food HD yet.

Anything I can say? Well... for the most HD content, DISH is still the way to go right now. DirecTV still has no TRUE HD content, and TWC is lacking selection. So, if you're willing to put up with a few growing pains with your hardware or their picture quality on a few of the new stations, DISH is the way to go.

Now satelliteguys talk is mentioning INHD for Dishnetwork
(something Directv wanted awhile ago but balked at the pricing)
is going to be on, too!

[Matt Heebner]

I am really starting to hate Directv. Dish says they are going to have new HD channels and with in a few monthes or weeks it happens. Directv says they are going to have a bunch of new HD channels and it's  "As soon as we get new satellites in orbit, oh, and then we have to tweak them for about 3 months...but wait...in 6 months we will have even better satellites up, and then you'll be able to get thousands of HD channels. Ooops...there was a 8 month delay now in launching the satellite so it will be by next season that you actually see these." And so on and on thats what I hear.

I am sooo sick and tired of Directv's "plan of action" regarding HD. To me it is non-existant.  Directv's line up is , I think, the smallest around. MPEG-4 HD LIL you say? I am sure its nice for the city dweller and country dweller that cant pull in local OTA...but for me BIG HUGE FRIGGIN YAWN .
If you can get locals OTA you are better off cause I hear the MPEG4 stuff aint so grand. Also am not crazy for the HD_Lite going on with Directv...oh but wait, when the new satellites go up that will be a thing of the past !!! I am so sick of hearing that. I want action, not continually delayed promises.

I apologize for hijacking the thread...just had to vent.

Matt

[murdoc]

I am really starting to hate Directv. Dish says they are going to have new HD channels and with in a few monthes or weeks it happens. Directv says they are going to have a bunch of new HD channels and it's  "As soon as we get new satellites in orbit, oh, and then we have to tweak them for about 3 months...but wait...in 6 months we will have even better satellites up, and then you'll be able to get thousands of HD channels. Ooops...there was a 8 month delay now in launching the satellite so it will be by next season that you actually see these." And so on and on thats what I hear.

I am sooo sick and tired of Directv's "plan of action" regarding HD. To me it is non-existant.  Directv's line up is , I think, the smallest around. MPEG-4 HD LIL you say? I am sure its nice for the city dweller and country dweller that cant pull in local OTA...but for me BIG HUGE FRIGGIN YAWN .
If you can get locals OTA you are better off cause I hear the MPEG4 stuff aint so grand. Also am not crazy for the HD_Lite going on with Directv...oh but wait, when the new satellites go up that will be a thing of the past !!! I am so sick of hearing that. I want action, not continually delayed promises.

I apologize for hijacking the thread...just had to vent.

Matt

Well said.  I did some pricing on E*'s website last night.  For the same "basic" channels I have with D* it would cost me $10/month more.  HOWEVER, there are more HD channels, so I think that kind of offsets the price.  I know I'm locked in with D* for another 11 months (I just moved and part of the mover's connection includes signing a 1 year commitment).  I hope D* can get their act together by then cause E* is starting to wet my appetite.  It is my understanding that E* is the only sattelite provider to offer true HD picture, unlike D* HD-Lite.  Am I correct with this thinking?  Also how is everyone liking the new MPEG4 HD DVR?

[Mark Strube]

Murdoc, this post of mine should clear up your questions: http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/forums/showpost.php?p=34106&postcount=6

[Talos4]

I am sooo sick and tired of Directv's "plan of action" regarding HD. To me it is non-existant.

oh but wait, when the new satellites go up that will be a thing of the past !!! I am so sick of hearing that. I want action, not continually delayed promises.

Directv's "plan of action is just that.

All along they have said when the new birds are up the new channels everything else will be activated.  

Are launch delay's D*'s fault?

Is the time it takes to park, and shakedown the birds D*'s fault?

Are construction delays D*'s fault.

Has D* lied/mislead when they state that all new birds in orbit and live in 2007?

I am not a shill for D*  just a long time customer,

However,  in my business I have many "plans of action" that I have provided customers.  If you think that projects ALWAYS go according to "plan"  I've got some swamp land in Arizona available.

The projects get done, the ultimate result is realized.  Were there changes/delays along the way YES!   But of course there are always some customers who will beat me up over material, weather, (their) design change etc, delays that are beyond my control.

When the end of 07 rolls around and D*'s plan has been realized, will we see the same type of threads from the E* customers wondering why Charlie's birds are still on the ground?  

Just my $.02 worth.