DISH caught in a lie, claims 200 HD channels

[Skaggs]

Dish's 200 HD 'Channels' Include 57 VOD Titles
Satellite Operator Also Counts 25 RSNs, 15 PPV Channels in Tally

By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 4/19/2010 5:20:30 PM

Dish Network on Monday claimed that it now offers 200 national HD "channels" -- however, 57 of those represent video-on-demand titles available only to customers who have the recently introduced ViP 922 SlingLoaded DVR.

Dish provides 67 HD networks with its top-tier America's Top 250 package, and offers another 23 HD services from premium networks HBO/Cinemax, Starz Entertainment and Showtime Networks.

In addition, it provides 13 channels in the PlatinumHD tier -- regularly an additional $10 extra per month -- which includes Epix, the movie service from Viacom's Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Lionsgate. Dish also counts 25 regional sports networks in HD in the overall tally, as well as 15 Dish Cinema HD pay-per-view movie channels.

The remaining 57 "HD channels" are available only to ViP 922 customers in the form of VOD content, Dish spokeswoman Francie Bauer confirmed. The Dish VOD service preloads content on the ViP 922, which features a 1-Terabyte hard drive that can store up to 1,000 hours of HD programming.

The ViP 922 SlingLoaded DVR also allows customers to access their TV lineup and DVR recordings over the Internet on a mobile device or laptop, incorporating technology from Sling Media, which EchoStar acquired in 2007.

Dish, the No. 2 satellite TV operator after DirecTV, counted 14.1 million customers as of the end of 2009.

[xzi]

And DIRECTV called them out on it, too: www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/hd/channels

Over 160 around-the-clock HD channels.

The HD channel counts from cable and DISH Network seem awfully exaggerated. At DIRECTV we take a common sense approach. If a 24/7 channel is in HD we count it as an HD channel, just like you would. We don't pad our lineup with "game-only" or part-time HD channels or HD video-on-demand titles that aren't even channels. With DIRECTV what you see is what you get. See our full list of HD channels below. We challenge DISH Network and cable to show you their full list...but we know they won't.

[davidjr]

I guess it's a problem when DISH tells bigger lies than Direct? It's not as though they completely made it up, they are AVAILABLE. It's marketing. Multichannell has shown a bias against DISH for awhile. Both providers spin their numbers to make them look the best.

[adam]

I'd also add that the most HD channels isn't necessarily the best either. TW Albany now has quite a few HD channels but lots of them are premium movie channels and other awful ones like that stupid farming channel.

[davidjr]

All the cable cos and sat cos do fuzzy math to figure their totals. Bottom line is, which provider has the channels you want at the price you're willing to pay. It's all in the marketing. For Multichannel NEWS (emphasis added) to call them out becuase so many are VOD is not what I call objective journalism. How many should be VOD? Who makes the rules on what is counted and what isn't? It is ultimately the customer, not Multi, we vote with our wallet.

[BenJF3]

I thinks it's funny that DirecTV does the EXACT same thing with their channels counts. The count regional, local, PPV, etc as "networks" or channels. The absolute worst are these To Tell The Truth ads. Do they realize they are making the consumers look like idiots in those spots?

[xzi]

May 4, 2010 8:48:26 GMT -5 BenJF3 said:

I thinks it's funny that DirecTV does the EXACT same thing with their channels counts. The count regional, local, PPV, etc as "networks" or channels. The absolute worst are these To Tell The Truth ads. Do they realize they are making the consumers look like idiots in those spots?

DIRECTV does count their PPV channels but why shouldn't they, they're HD, some even 1080p and they are indeed linear HD channels. They DON'T count their VOD offerening like DISH does is the issue. Plus, cable companies don't have the bandwidth to provide that many HD PPVs so it is a distinct advantage for the satelllite companies to provide HD and 1080p movies for $4/ea.

Also, DIRECTV doesn't have any "regional" channels in their count. All their RSNs are available, in HD, nationwide with the Sports Pack. For example, with MLB-EI and Sports Pack subscription, I get EVERY RSN in the country and I live in Albany. Why shouldn't they count those too?

After all, it's no secret they are the focused on being the premier sports programming provider, and it doesn't make sense to ask them to not include them just because the other services don't provide out-of-market RSNs nationwide (DISH does BTW, just FAR less of them and game-only typically)

[davidjr]

The point is, each company counts in a way that puts them in the best light. To say they "lied" to get their count is disingenuous. Every company including D* counts to put themselves in the best light, it is called marketing. Because D* doesn't count VOD, E* shouldn't. OK, they make the "count" rules now.