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Post by dkennedy on Jan 6, 2006 5:55:59 GMT -5
Dish Strengthens HD Offerings
January 5, 2006
By Linda Moss, Multichannel News
Las Vegas -- EchoStar Communications Corp.’s Dish Network is mounting an aggressive expansion into local HD channels this year by offering such programming via satellite to as many as 50 markets, with plans to reach roughly 50% of U.S. homes in 2006, company officials said Thursday.
Dish also claimed that with the addition of five new channels from Voom HD Networks, as well as ESPN2 and Universal HD, it will have 25 national HD services, making it the largest HDTV package in the nation.
That will be effective Feb. 1, when the distributor starts transmitting the new additional HD channels in MPEG-4 (Moving Picture Expert Group).
Consumers will pay $54.99 per month for the 25-channel HDTV tier.
In terms of local HDTV channels, Dish’s effort will kick off in February in Los Angeles, New York, Boston and Chicago, EchoStar president Michael Neuman said during a press conference at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show here.
In markets where Dish can’t deliver local HD channels by satellite, it will provide subscribers with off-air antennas to pick up those signals.
Last year, Cablevision Systems Corp. sold its “Rainbow 1” satellite to EchoStar for $200 million and closed its Voom DBS service. EchoStar got a 25% stake in Rainbow’s Voom HD Networks and agreed to carry them for 15 years.
Dish had been offering 10 Voom HD channels, but it will add five new ones, bringing its total to 15, officials said Thursday. Dish also plans to add five to 10 more HDTV channels to its 25 later this year.
During its press conference, EchoStar said it will launch a new satellite this year, “EchoStar X,” and it unveiled its new line of receivers, the “ViP Series,” which combine MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 signal capability.
One of those set-tops, the “ViP622 DVR,” is a multiroom HDTV and digital-video-recorder box that lets customers have their primary TV receive HDTV signals and their secondary set get standard-definition signals, providing independent TV viewing at two TV sets.
Such a Dish subscriber would not have to pay for a secondary receiver.
Dish’s plans also include a special “Winter Olympics Mosaic.” Mosaic is Dish’s entrée home page to its service, and it includes six TV screens with different networks simultaneously displayed. During the event, Dish will put the NBC Universal channels offering Olympic Games coverage up on its Mosaic screen.
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Post by dkennedy on Jan 6, 2006 6:54:43 GMT -5
Dish unveils HDTV menu
Network to offer 1,700 hours of programs a week
January 6, 2006
By Joyzelle Davis, Rocky Mountain News
EchoStar Communications's Dish Network satellite-television service unveiled a slate of new high-definition channels, giving it the most high-definition channels in the pay-television market with more than 1,700 hours a week of programming.
Dish added five VOOM channels, bringing the total to 15, as well as ESPN2 HD and Universal HD. Douglas County-based Dish is also unrolling local high-definition channels in 50 markets this year, starting with Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York next month, the company announced Thursday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The introduction of local high-definition channels eliminates a longtime knock against satellite-television providers. Cable companies offer local broadcast stations in high definition, while subscribers of satellite services have had to use an antenna for the feed. Larger rival DirecTV also is launching locally in high definition with plans to unroll in 150 markets by 2007.
Dish Network, which passed the 12 million customer mark last month, is positioning itself to take advantage of the booming market for HDTV sets, which offer crisper pictures and clearer sound. Spurred by plummeting prices for the once-pricey technology that debuted in 1998, about 17 percent of television-owning households will have at least one HDTV set by the end of this year, up from 0.6 percent in 2000, according to Kagan Research. More than 80 percent of U.S. households will have HDTVs by the end of 2010, the research firm said.
The package of 15 VOOM channels will be available to customers Feb. 1 as part of the new DishHD package, which starts at $54.99 a month. Subscribers also will have to upgrade to a new receiver to get the new channels. The ViP211 HD receiver runs $49.99, and the multiroom ViP622 digital video recorder is $299 for new lease customers.
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Post by dkennedy on Jan 6, 2006 7:01:50 GMT -5
DISH Network Launches the Nation's Largest HD Package
January 6, 2006
CES 2006 News Release
DishHD, Featuring Local HD Channels and New VOOM HD Channels. Most National Content plus World's First MPEG4 HD DVR Establishes DISH Network as Industry Leader for HDTV EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network satellite TV service announced today from the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show the rollout of its new high-definition television package, DishHD. By offering the most HD channels in the pay-TV industry and with the introduction of a new line of advanced satellite receivers, DishHD gives its customers more than 1,700 hours a week of HD content from the nation's top programmers. DishHD, Featuring Local HD Channels and New VOOM HD Channels. Most National Content plus World's First MPEG4 HD DVR Establishes DISH Network as Industry Leader for HDTV
EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network satellite TV service announced today from the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show the rollout of its new high-definition television package, DishHD. By offering the most HD channels in the pay-TV industry and with the introduction of a new line of advanced satellite receivers, DishHD gives its customers more than 1,700 hours a week of HD content from the nation's top programmers.
DISH Network is expanding its HD channel lineup in 2006 by adding five new original VOOM channels -- bringing the total to 15 -- as well as other new HD networks including ESPN2 HD and Universal HD. In addition, DISH Network will launch high-definition local channels through its satellite service in up to 50 markets in 2006, starting with Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York in February, and reaching more than 50 percent of U.S. TV households with local HD channels. The remainder of the country's local HD channels will be offered to DISH Network customers via an off-air antenna solution.
DishHD offers 25 national HD channels plus local broadcast channels where available, providing more than 200 hours of HD programming every day. Cable companies, with a national average of just 10 HD channels, cannot come close to the robust lineup of DishHD.
With up to four different programming packages to choose from, DishHD customers can find an option that best fits their viewing needs. For as little as $54.99 a month, customers can access the entire 25-channel DishHD lineup, and get more than 70 all-digital standard definition channels plus their local channels in standard and high definition.
Current DishHD channels include:
VOOM Networks
Discovery HD
ESPN HD
Animania HD
Monsters HD
HBO HD
Equator HD
Rave HD
HD Net
Film Fest HD
Rush HD
HD Net Movies
Gallery HD
Ultra HD
HD Pay-Per-View
HD News
Kung Fu HD
Showtime HD
TNT HD
On Feb. 1, DISH Network will begin transmitting newly added HD channels in MPEG4, a signal compression standard developed by MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group). MPEG4 allows DISH Network to maximize the bandwidth available on its satellites and offer the most robust lineup of HD channels in the nation.
New DishHD channels available only in MPEG4 include:
VOOM Networks
ESPN2 HD
Universal HD
Family Room HD
HD Local Stations
Gameplay HD
Treasure HD
World Cinema HD
WorldSport HD
DISH Network is also introducing at CES a new series of satellite receivers that combine MPEG4 and MPEG2 signal capability. The cutting-edge ViP Series combines state-of-the-art imaging technology with life-like Dolby(R) Digital 5.1 surround sound for the best picture and sound quality available. Existing customers with MPEG2 equipment, such as the DISH Player DVR 942, will continue to receive all their current content and will need to upgrade to a ViP Series receiver to receive the new HD channels. DISH Network will offer a convenient upgrade package for existing customers who want to expand their HD lineup to include the new channels.
The ViP211(TM) HD satellite receiver, the first model in the ViP series that supports both MPEG4 and MPEG2, is available through DISH Network for only $49.99 for new lease customers.
Also included in the ViP series is the ViP622(TM) DVR, the world's first MPEG4 multi-room high definition and digital video recorder satellite TV receiver with the ability to view independent programs -- one in high definition and one in standard definition programming -- on two televisions at once. No other pay-TV company offers this innovative combination. It features a massive hard drive with a recording capacity of up to 25 hours of high-definition and up to 180 hours of standard-definition content.
The cutting-edge ViP622 DVR also features reverse, fast-forward, and pause as well as a picture-in-picture feature on any TV and the ability to record Dolby Digital(R) when available. The ViP622 DVR will be available in the first quarter of 2006 for a one-time upgrade price of $299 for new lease customers, which includes a dish antenna and free standard professional installation (monthly DVR fee applies).
The ViP622 DVR also features:
* Digital/analog off-air tuner
* Up to 9-day, Picture-In-Guide, Widescreen Electronic Program Guide (EPG)
* High-Definition Resolutions: 480p, 720p, 1080i (480i is up-converted)
* Records two programs simultaneously in high definition, but programs can be viewed in standard definition on other TVs in the home.
The ViP622 DVR offers DISH Network's convenience and features that customers have grown to depend on, including parental controls, electronic program guide, picture in guide and name-based recording.
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