3ABN now available to both Dish Network subs and Sky Angel subs

[Pepper]

making sure the picture looks clean has never been a requirement before.

 

[TheKrell]

I'll hazard a guess and say it WONT be 25 & 32...sky angel (duh!)

Given the uplink report channel number, do you still want to hazard this guess?

 

[Mr Tony]

making sure the picture looks clean has never been a requirement before.

you know what I mean

 

[Mr Tony]

Given the uplink report channel number, do you still want to hazard this guess?

I didnt say channel number. I said transponder would change

and it did
9710 - 3ABN [MPEG2 SD] added to EchoStar3 61.5W TP 10 ConUS beam (Not Available)

 

[TheKrell]

I'll hazard a guess and say it WONT be 25 & 32...sky angel (duh!)

OK, then focus on the "sky angel (duh!)" part and forget about the transponder number for a moment.

What I was really trying to get at is whether this is going to be a PI channel requiring everybody on SA to call up Dish and plead with them to turn on the extra channels getting some which they would never in a million years want to see... Or will 3ABN alone magically appear to SA subs on 9710 where it once was? Care to hazard a guess on that?

If it's not obvious, I am hoping for the reappearance of 3ABN on 9710 without further ado on the part of the subs. My 84yo mother is challenged enough these days.

 

[Mr Tony]

What I was really trying to get at is whether this is going to be a PI channel requiring everybody on SA to call up Dish and plead with them to turn on the extra channels getting some which they would never in a million years want to see... Or will 3ABN alone magically appear to SA subs on 9710 where it once was? Care to hazard a guess on that?

the fact that its mirrored on the 129 satellite pretty much tells me its going to be a PI channel. Also because its on a Dish transponder and not a Sky Angel TP tells me that too.

But the 1st part pretty much solidifies it will be a PI channel due to the presence on 129 for people who do not have a dish at 61.5

 

[Pepper]

It all depends on the agreement between 3ABN and Dish. They could make it a PI channel, or add it to the "Dominion" package (or both), or make it FTA just like Angel One and NASA so even unsubscribed boxes get it. We'll just have to wait and see on this one.

 

[SatelliteAV]

According to sources within Dish Network, 3ABN is a now a PI channel that has no affiliation or connection with Sky Angel. 3ABN now has a contract with Dish Network, not Sky Angel. The addition of 3ABN channel on 61.5W is not being done as a goodwill gesture to Sky Angel, it is a business decision to benefit Dish Network.

Sky Angel subscribers do not automatically receive PI channels from Dish Network. As previously stated, it is necessary for Sky Angel subscribers to call dish Network to add the PI channels. Dish Network subscribers automatically receive the PI channels if they have a dish aimed at either 61.5W or 129W orbital slots.

Dish Network owns a 61.5 license with the purchase of Voom and it would be reasonable to suggest that certain Dish Network services will remain at this orbital slot, regardless of what happens with the Sky Angel license which is scheduled to expire on May 14th, 2009. * http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/Orders/1999/da990915.txt

 

[Kountzer]

It's been about 3 weeks since that 3abn would be returning to dish network. Anyone know when?

 

[Mr Tony]

read the previous responses
http://www.satelliteguys.us/showpost.php?p=895525&postcount=59

it is uplinked but Dish hasnt made it available yet to subscribers. When Dish feels its ready to be turned over to subs as a PI channel, then they will

Just because 3ABN said 3 weeks doesn't mean poof its up in 3 weeks

 

[jegrant]

I would add that if E* were to just activate 9710 / 3ABN for SA* customers but no other PI channels, that the other PI channels could sue E* for unequal treatment. All PI channels must be treated alike, AFAIK.

Also - I have seen the May 14, 2009 date mentioned a few times now. I read the FCC document, and while I do not doubt the validity of this date, I question its relevancy. Given that SA* is the sole remaining original DBS licensee, and a distant third in the satellite market, how likely is it that the FCC would refuse to renew the Dominion Video Satellite license? Especially given SA*'s position as faith-based and nominally "family friendly," it seems the FCC could face significant criticism if the license was not renewed.

Alternatively, I can entertain the thought that SA* might opt to sell its satellite assets rather than continue with their current business model. I also wonder whether E* would want another long term lease deal, as they seem to be in the process of transitioning to a new set of "core" nationwide orbital slots, so extra transponders at 61.5 may not be as vital as they were in the past.

 

[TNGTony]

How likely is the FCC to reject a renewal? At this point I probably couldn't say. But if the FCC follows THEIR OWN RULES, there should be no way in HELL that Sky Angel gets a renewal. Have they met even ONE of their benchmarks? Nope! Will they? Nope...not unless they actually order a satellite for US service!

See ya
Tony

 

[RedSavina]

jegrant,

Funny you should mention this... I was thinking just the other day that the addition of new satellites and MPEG4 service for E* coincides with the apparent shift of SA to IPTV. Since E* will have all this capacity across several orbital slots, it doesn't seem too big a stretch for them to create another package for religious programming and include several of the current SA channels.

Consider what they have done to add international programming over the past few years. This doesn't get as much press as the HD channels or their mainstream secular packages, but it must be worth all the expansion. I just don't think it would take a lot to create one or more religious packages in the same manner.

No matter what happens over the next couple of years, there is certainly a lot of interesting stuff going on in the satellite TV/radio sectors. Along those same lines, I would not be surprised to see the SIRIUS/XM merger get denied and then have DirecTV acquire XM and Echostar acquire SIRIUS. But I digress...

Going in an entirely different direction, now that E* has a forecast surplus of satellites they might consider it in their best interests to offer one of their less capable satellites for sale to Dominion. Possibly even at a different orbital location in exchange for the Dominion licenses at 61.5.

There are just too many variables and possibilities (however slight) to make any sort of solid prediction. But it sure is entertaining to speculate!

Whatever happens, I would like to see SA succeed at their original mission - to spread the gospel to the world. It used to be that Satellite TV was the path to the goal. Perhaps that has changed. I'm also glad to see the GloryStar option out there.

Cheers,
Red

 

[TheKrell]

Also because its on a Dish transponder and not a Sky Angel TP tells me that too.

Are you saying that the SA/E* agreement calls out transponders by their number, rather than by their quantity?

I have to agree with the thrust of your argument, which is that 3ABN appears to be returning (or coming) to Dish as a PI channel. If that's so, then I will now point out the obvious. This thread is mislabeled, and the whole dang thing is in the wrong forum! 3ABN is not coming to SA. The sole datum we have to say it will be coming back to SA is the channel number, which is in the SA range.

 

[TNGTony]

That point was made in the first page of this thread. The OP responded with the first post of the second page:

"I am sorry if the title of this thread is a little misleading. 3ABN is not returning to SkyAngel but since it is returning to 61.5, SkyAngel subscribers will be able to receive it."

See ya
Tony

 

[Mr Tony]

Are you saying that the SA/E* agreement calls out transponders by their number, rather than by their quantity?

correct.
SA has 2 transponders that they use just for their programming and those are 25 & 32. So any other transponder is classified as a "Dish" TP. Yes Dish is using 6 TP's that Sky Angel owns but SA only adds channels on 25 & 32

 

[jegrant]

Well, as we recently learned with the whole FamilyNet / Daystar debacle, E* will be unable to create a Christian religious package of any type until their agreement with SA* expires. It is unclear to me when that will be, since IIRC, the agreement lasts for "the operating lifetime of the Echostar III satellite."

I also think that E*'s move to a combination of new satellite slots does open up interesting possibilities. With some of the older satellites freed up, perhaps SA* could trade its eight side slot licenses for a satellite and a few licenses at a full coverage slot.

 

[WayneG]

Well, as we recently learned with the whole FamilyNet / Daystar debacle, E* will be unable to create a Christian religious package of any type until their agreement with SA* expires. It is unclear to me when that will be, since IIRC, the agreement lasts for "the operating lifetime of the Echostar III satellite."

I believe it's the lifetime of Echostar III or 10 years, whichever comes first. The 10 years will be up sometime around 2010. Tony, correct me if I'm wrong. So if this is the case then Echostar could start making agreements now with providers for a possible Christian package in just a few years. If I were Sky Angel I would try to get a new agreement with E* now or else they may be out of the satellite business for good. They may need to change their name to IPTV Angel.

Like many others here I do hope they can make it and at the same time fulfill their agreement with the lifetime subscribers.

 

[laseradam]

I just called 3ABN to ask them if they had any more information about when 3ABN will be coming to Dish Network and what we would have to do to receive it. They said they do not have a set date and they are sort of waiting to see when Dish Network turns them on like everyone else is waiting.

They say that their understanding is that when Dish Network "turns then on" that Sky Angel viewers will be able to see it without going thru asking for the PI channels to be turned on. And that Dish Network subscribers will also be able to see it without asking for the PI channels. They were told that they would probably be on channel 9710 but they did not know for sure they would get that channel number.

I wouder if they will be in the clear like NASA and ANGEL 1? Otherwise how would they make it available to everyone (Sky Angel and Dish) without having to ask for it?

I also wonder if Sky Angel will try to claim 3ABN as part of their lineup?

 

[Mr Tony]

I just called 3ABN to ask them if they had any more information about when 3ABN will be coming to Dish Network and what we would have to do to receive it. They said they do not have a set date and they are sort of waiting to see when Dish Network turns them on like everyone else is waiting.

once dish gets an acceptable picture they'll turn it over to subs. possible this wednesday (not stating anything but that is usually when they turn on new channels)

They say that their understanding is that when Dish Network "turns then on" that Sky Angel viewers will be able to see it without going thru asking for the PI channels to be turned on. And that Dish Network subscribers will also be able to see it without asking for the PI channels. They were told that they would probably be on channel 9710 but they did not know for sure they would get that channel number.

channel # is still 9710 but I have the feeling since its in Dish's setup and not SA you will have to ask for it as a PI channel. Normal subs of DIsh (AT100 or above) will automatically get it.

I wouder if they will be in the clear like NASA and ANGEL 1? Otherwise how would they make it available to everyone (Sky Angel and Dish) without having to ask for it?

nope. Because I scanned with a FTA box and it shows as scrambled.

I also wonder if Sky Angel will try to claim 3ABN as part of their lineup?

They could if its automatically added. If they have to ask for it, then that would be kinda shady