Echostar's New Dish To Boost Programming Options

[rtt2]

http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/031030/1427001595_2.html


Dow Jones Business News
Echostar's New Dish To Boost Programming Options
Thursday October 30, 2:27 pm ET
By Ellen Sheng, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Echostar (NasdaqNMISH - News) is preparing to introduce a new " Superdish" in mid-November that will enhance the company's ability to offer more high definition and local programming.

Speaking at SkyForum, the Satellite Broadcasting Communications Association's semi-annual gathering in Manhattan, Chief Executive Charlie Ergen said the new dish will boost high-definition capacity to 50 channels and enable local-to- local programming in 20 to 30 more markets.

The dish was originally scheduled for an earlier autumn launch, but got pushed back.

Echostar currently offers eight high-definition channels and local programming in 74 markets. The Littleton, Colo., company has plans to offer local programming in 100 markets by year end.

The Superdish is slightly larger than current dishes and elliptical in shape. The dish will capture signals from three satellites; current dishes capture signals from two...........

 

[Stargazer]

Enable only 20-30 more markets? Adding another 26 markets by year's end would be that 20-30 markets range. Hopefully the new satellite Dish will launch to 105 next year will enable more local markets and HD channels once it goes up.

Also if the SuperDish is going to be 36 inches that will absolutely NOT be slightly larger, it wll be signifigantly larger (Twice The Size). If it goes to 26 inches I would consider it slightly larger.

 

[wcswett]

Chief Executive Charlie Ergen said the new dish will boost high-definition capacity to 50 channels and enable local-to- local programming in 20 to 30 more markets.

Adding 105 isn't going to boost HD capacity to 50 channels and add 20 to 30 local markets, at least not with AMC-2. Maybe AMC-15 will be able to do 30 local markets with spot beams but will that still leave capacity for 50 HD channels??? I somehow doubt it.

--- WCS

 

[James Long]

The dish is the first step ... AMC-15 is the final. Even if AMC-2 had the capacity for 20-30 markets plus HD Dish wouldn't be able to get them all set up in the time before AMC-15 is ready. Look at Tony's list --- look at the market release dates from the retailer chat. Note the MANY 105 markets that won't be online on "Day 1".

It takes time, and Charlie's dish is the step in the right direction.

JL

 

[mike123abc]

AMC-15 will have more power. That will let them lower the error correction rate (FEC), resulting in more bits of programming to get through. With a lower FEC they will be able to increase the number of channels carried by the satellite.