Satellite Dish Tips: December 2004

Tuesday

Adding HDTV To Your Dish Network System

For new subscribers, you can get an HDTV receiver for the same price as a normal receiver which is an incredible deal. The HDTV programming package is $9.99 per month which includes HDNet, HDNet Movies, ESPN HD, Discovery HD and TNT HD.

If you subscribe to the HBO or Showtime packages you will also receive an additional HD channel with each of those. CBS HD is also available in select markets but requires a special dish. Any of the online dealers located to the right will be able to answer any questions you may have.

At time of this writing, Dish Network was offering the first 6 months of HD programming free. To take advantage of HDTV programming, customers must have a DISH Network HD receiver, HD television and a dish antenna pointing at an appropriate orbital location

Sirius Satellite Radio Programming

The Dish Network Top 120, Top 180 and America's Everything all include Sirius Satellite Radio Channels. The Top 120 contains approximately 30 channels of digital music and the Top 180 contains approximately 64 channels.

You can also purchase a totally portable Sirius Satellite Radio from Dish Network for only $99 after rebates with a 3 month prepaid subscription. ( $12.95 / mo. )

DISH SR200 is a portable satellite radio receiver that allows you to enjoy your favorite SIRIUS radio entertainment anywhere, anytime. Featuring raised push-button channel commands, a convenient tuner knob and an easy-to-read programming display, the SR200 from DISH Network makes your car, home, or even your office a personal music studio. SIRIUS PROGRAMMING AND FEATURES:

Over 120 digital channels of music, sports, news and entertainment FOR ONE LOW PRICE!
65 Music channels, ALL 100% commercial-free
Variety - 55 Channels of sports, news and entertainment
Sports coverage - Most extensive sports lineup with live play-by-play from the NFL and many college teams
SIRIUS First Traffic & Weather - With updates every 4 minutes in the 20 top metropolitan areas
Quality digital coast-to-coast coverage, 24/7
No hidden costs! Get all this exclusive programming for only $12.95 per month
30-stream preset capability
Parental Control locks
Infrared remote control that mimics the unit’s front panel commands

Adding DVR To Your Dish Network Plan

Adding a DVR to your Dish Network Plan is just $4.98 per month. Both the DVR 510 and 522 have 120GB hard drives that allow you to record up to 100 hours of programming. Once recorded you can skip commercials with a touch of a button and spend much less time watching your favorite shows. After using DVR the past 3 years, I can't stand to watch normal television.

The DVR 522 is a dual tuner so you can access the DVR features from 2 tvs for only $4.98 per month.

If you only want the DVR for one television you can order the DVR 510 for the same $4.98 so most people will choose the 522 for the dual tuner feature.

If you want DVR on 3 or 4 tvs you will need a DVR 522 and 1 or 2 DVR 510's. Under the Digital Home Plan, Dish Network only allows 1 DVR 522 per package at this time, so you would have to pay an extra $4.98 for both the 3rd and 4th tv.

Dual Tuner Satellite Receivers Reduce Progamming Costs

A major issue in the past with satellite tv has been needing a tuner for each tv in order to control the channels independently. But now Dish Network uses primarily dual tuner receivers called the 322 and 522 DVR. This allows 1 receiver to independently control 2 different televisions and eliminates the extra $5 that was previously charged for the 2nd unit.

DVR 322

DVR 522

Now all basic digital home plan prices apply on 1 or 2 tvs and if you have 3 or 4 it will only be an extra $5 per month for equipment and programming. Previously, if you had 4 receivers it would've added $15 per month to the cost of programming.

Dish Network: America's Everything Pak

The Dish Network America's Everything Package includes the Top 180 plus all the movie channels. The movie channels included are:

HBO - 8 Channels
Showtime - 10 Channels
Cinemax - 5 Channels
Starz - 8 Channels

Under the Digital Home Plan this package starts at $82.99 for 1 or 2 TV's.

Sunday

Wednesday

Voom Doomed?

If you are looking for High Definition programming, you may want to avoid VOOM. More than a year after it's launch, with only 26,000 subscribers it looks like Cablevision will be trying to divest itself of the Voom satellite business.

Cablevision had been telling analysts the past several quarters that it planned to spinoff the Voom (Rainbow Media Enterprises) subsidiary along with other more stable assets, but those plans were scraped yesterday.

With Dish Network and DirecTV expanding their HDTV offerings and including the equipment as part of their promotional packages, Voom couldn't compete.

Analysts expect that Dish Network could be a potential buyer for the Voom assets as they have been struggling to add satellite capacity at a fast enough rate to keep up with demand for Local Channels, HDTV and Broadband services.

A sale at any price would be welcome news for Cablevision shareholders who have been leary of the venture right from the start. Cablevision stock closed up nearly $3 on the news.

Monday

L211 Software Download for Dish Player-DVR 921

The Dish Player-DVR 921 recently received the following functionality:

* Off-Air channel info in the Electronic Program Guide
* Local Channel Mapdown
* Teach remote capability
* Enhanced switch/LNBF support and fixes
* Many video, picture-in-picture, caller ID, timer, DVR and modem fixes

Name Based Recording for Dish Player-DVR 522 Customers

Name Based Recording: Dish Network announces new product features for DishPlayer-DVR 522 customers.

They will now have name-based recording which has two key benefits:

Program recording based on the name (instead of date and time) a program is listed by in the Electronic Program Guide. If a program moves to a different day or it's length is extended (special episode etc. ), it's recording time will be automatically adjusted. You will also notice two new "timer frequency" choices: "All Episodes" and "New Episodes".

Second, if you set up a new Dish Pass timer, the 522 receiver will automatically set up timers each time a program matching your search criteria appears in the EPG.

Customers will receive a "New Product Features" video on their hard drives next week, after they receive the software download. For more information, see the name-based recording document at http://www.dishnetwork.com/522

Sunday

Hezbollah TV Loses Satellite Feed to U.S

Hezbollah TV Loses Satellite Feed to U.S

By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Al-Manar, the television station of Lebanon's Hezbollah militants that has glorified suicide bombers, lost its satellite feed to the United States on Saturday after Washington put it on a list of terror organizations.

The exclusion from U.S. TV screens came less than a week after France banned its broadcasts, but al-Manar's troubles airing its anti-Israel message abroad don't seem to hurt its popularity in the Arab world. The station till enjoys the support of the Lebanese and Syrian governments and a broad and sympathetic Arab audience.

The station, which ranks fourth or fifth among Lebanon's nine stations, has drawn protests from across the globe for airing anti-Israel programs that include videos glorifying Hezbollah and other Arab suicide bombers who target Israelis, describing the attacks as "heroic martyrdom operations." Its presenters refer to Israel as "the enemy."

"We are sorry to lose our audience in France and America. We will work to change that. Meanwhile, we still have our faithful viewers elsewhere," said Hassan Fadlallah, Al-Manar's news director.

The United States placed Al-Manar on its list of terrorist organizations Friday, dismissing freedom of speech objections and accusing Al-Manar of inciting violence in the Middle East.

"We don't see why here or anywhere else a terrorist organization should be allowed to spread its hatred and incitement through the television airwaves," said U.S. State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher.

Fadlallah told The Associated Press, "This is a blatant attack on press freedoms and an exercise in intellectual terrorism against the voices that are opposed to U.S. and Israeli policies. It is part of an organized Israeli campaign against Al-Manar to keep it from transmitting the facts of the Arab-Israeli struggle."

Lebanese authorities have threatened to reciprocate against French channels for the ban. Lebanon considers Hezbollah — a militant Shiite Muslim group high on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations — to be a legitimate resistance organization fighting Israeli occupation.

Al-Manar's broadcasts to the United States through satellite operator Intelsat, were halted Saturday, Fadlallah said. French authorities banned satellite television broadcasts by the station on Dec. 13, soon after a Nov. 23 program that quoted someone described as an expert on Zionist affairs warning of "Zionist attempts" to transmit diseases such as AIDS (news - web sites) to Arab countries.

Al-Manar — the self-proclaimed "Channel of Resistance and Liberation" — airs documentaries, dramas, political talk and health shows — but even some of its entertainment programs are centered on "the struggle" against Israel, with some of its game shows featuring questions on the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Youssef Fawaz, a 42-year-old grocer, said he watches Al-Manar and will continue to do so "because it speaks for all Arab people." He rejected accusations that Al-Manar incites violence, saying the station "shows facts on the grounds. They (Americans) are the violent ones, they are the terrorists. Look what they've done to Iraq (news - web sites)."

The station is widely seen in the Palestinian territories for its interviews and quick coverage of events affecting Palestinians. It is also popular with Shiite Muslims, believed to be the largest group in Lebanon.

"Al-Manar is committed to the truth, and the Americans are afraid of the truth reaching the public there," said Ali Sharefeddine, a Lebanese student.

___

On the Net:

Al-Manar: http://www.manartv.com
Hezbollah: http://www.hizbollah.org

Thursday

DISH Network Adds South Asia World to International Programming Schedule

Press Release Source: EchoStar Communications Corporation

DISH Network Adds South Asia World to International Programming
Thursday December 16, 11:09 am ET

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 16, 2004--EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH - News) announced today that its DISH Network(TM) satellite television service has added South Asia World, a channel exclusively for South Asians, to its international programming line-up. This channel addition brings the number of South Asian channels available through DISH Network to 17. Overall, DISH Network broadcasts 99 international channels from over 25 countries in more than 25 languages such as Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, Portuguese, Mandarin, Japanese and Russian.

"The addition of South Asia World reinforces DISH Network's commitment to offer our subscribers comprehensive international programming and exclusive content," said Tracy Thompson, EchoStar's vice president of International Programming. "South Asia World provides customers with the news and views from their native countries, connecting them to their home country thousands of miles away."

South Asia World is a 24-hour news and infotainment channel exclusively for South Asians living in the United States. The channel, broadcast from studios in New York, London, New Delhi and Mumbai, covers politics, sports, entertainment, Bollywood, cricket, business and the arts from India and the subcontinent. The channel also has a special focus on the issues and needs of the Indian American community.

South Asia World's programming includes its signature news program, "Our World Today," and "The Diaspora." "Our World Today" provides viewers with the latest political news from India and the subcontinent. This show also contains breaking news and information regarding cricket, Asian markets and entertainment. "The Diaspora" is broadcast from the South Asia World studio in the Empire State Building in New York City and profiles successful and prominent Indians.

With entertainment programs such as "Show Time India" and talk shows such as "Talk Time," South Asians are able to keep in touch with the traditions, culture and news from their native homeland. The innovative show "FAQ" answers frequently asked questions by non-resident Indians on topics such as relocation, finding employment, making investments in India and legal concerns on issues such as immigration and citizenship.

Customers can add South Asia World on an "a la carte" basis for $4.99 a month, or they can get one month free by paying on an annual basis. A subscription to America's Top 60 or above, DISH Latino or above, or any South Asian channel or package is needed to subscribe to South Asia World. Additional equipment may be required to receive these channels.

For more information on subscribing to South Asia World, customers can contact 1-800-333-DISH, their local retailer or visit www.dishnetwork.com to learn more about DISH Network's international programming offers.

About EchoStar

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH - News) serves more than 10.4 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), the fastest growing U.S. provider of advanced digital television services in the last four years. DISH Network offers hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. J.D. Power and Associates ranks DISH Network No. 1 in Customer Satisfaction among Cable/Satellite TV Subscribers. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network at www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).

-----------------------------------------------------
Contact:
EchoStar Communications Corporation
Julie Popp, 303-723-2023
julie.popp@echostar.com

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Source: EchoStar Communications Corporation

DISH Network Brings Local TV Channels To Meridian, MS

"ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 16, 2004--

EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) announced today that its DISH Network(TM) will offer local TV channels by satellite television to Meridian, Miss., and the surrounding area. With this market addition, DISH Network local channels are now available in 152 U.S. markets, covering more than 93 percent of all U.S. TV households.

This is the first time local TV channels are available on satellite in the Meridian area, providing an alternative to local cable TV service. The following local TV channels will be available: ABC Ch. 11 (WTOK), CBS Ch. 24 (WMDN) and NBC Ch. 30 (WGBC).

DISH Network, with the lowest all-digital price in America, now offers local channels as part of its Digital Home Advantage. Starting at $29.99 per month, this package offers customers free installation for up to four TVs, with no commitment and no hardware to buy and includes more than 60 popular TV channels such as ESPN, Discovery and TNT, plus local Meridian TV channels.Customers can call DISH Network or a local satellite TV retailer to learn how to get a free multi-satellite dish antenna required to receive Meridian-area local channels.

DISH Network also provides digital video recording technologies, high definition TV and nearly 100 international channels to the Meridian area.'DISH Network has expanded its ability to serve local markets with local channels over the years, growing at a rate unmatched by any pay-TV company,' said Eric Sahl, vice president of Programming. 'We are proud to add Meridian to our list of markets served. Customers in Meridian now have more programming and product choices at a bet"

Digital Satellite TV Platforms Continue to Gain Subscribers

Digital Satellite TV Platforms Continue to Gain Subscribers

According to In-Stat/MDR countries such as Japan and India will drive growth in the coming year. "We expect 40 million worldwide DTH pay-TV subscribers to be added through 2008 as compared to the 61 million digital DTH pay-TV subscribers that were active at the end of 2003,” says In-Stat/MDR analyst Michelle Abraham.

Wednesday

Another Article About the New Dish Network Satellite Launch

Spaceflight Now | Atlas Launch Report | AMC 16 satellite

"AMC-16 is strategic for AMERICOM in that it will enable the next generation combination of direct-to-home services to be enjoyed by DISH Network subscribers. As we expand our pivotal relationship with EchoStar, our collaboration on the development of advanced video and broadband solutions is clearly aiming at totally integrated, efficient and affordable systems," said Romain Bausch, chairman of the SES AMERICOM board.

Dish Network To Offer Advanced Video & Broadband Internet?

Rocky Mountain News: Business:

"EchoStar Communications Corp. might soon begin offering advanced video and broadband Internet services using a new satellite scheduled to launch Friday morning from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

The Douglas County-based company, which provides satellite TV through its Dish Network service, is leasing all the capacity on the new bird, owned by SES Americom Inc. and built by Lockheed Martin Corp. "

Tuesday

Satellite TV Service to Add Network

Yahoo! News - Satellite TV Service to Add Network:

"ENGELWOOD, Colo. - EchoStar Communications Corp.'s Dish Network plans to add an English-language television network targeting South Asians living in the United States.

The 24-hour network called American Desi will offer morning newscasts, animated children's programming, a late-night comedy block and the American Pro Cricket professional league games.

The Dish Network will charge $5 a month for the new channel. EchoStar, based in suburban Englewood, has about 10.5 million subscribers.

Headquartered in New Jersey and New York, the privately held American Desi takes its name from South Asian terminology that identifies people 'from the homeland,' including India, Pakistan and other countries in Southern Asia.
___
On the Net:
American Desi: http://www.AmericanDesi.tv
EchoStar: http://www.echostar.com

Monday

Dish Network To Carry Fox Reality TV channel in 2005

Can't get enough reality tv? Dish Network has signed on to carry the new Fox Reality TV channel that is due to launch in 2005. It will air a mix of original series as well as reruns of old favorites.

If you are a reality tv buff, check out the story below.

MSNBC - Fox to launch reality TV channel in 2005

TV That Goes Anywhere

You may have seen the recent Sony ads that show a wireless TV that can go with you around the house or even into the backyard. But imagine being able to take your TV anywhere in the world. That is exactly what Ken Schaffer of TV2Me has been working on. Here is a quote from his website.

"Time Shifting" happens when television viewers record programs for their later, personal, use. TV2Me introduces Space Shifting, the ability to move the entire media environment of any one place to any other place. With TV2Me Personal, view whatever you can watch at home, anywhere, anytime.

How cool does that sound! I would love to be able to take my satellite dish with me on vacations.......

Below is a recent article about Ken and his inventions.

Inventor creates way to take his TV everywhere he goes

Sunday

The Oakland Press: Local News: Cable vs. Satellite

The Oakland Press: Local News: Cable vs. Satellite
( Link To Full Story )

"When Joan Hoover heard that Comcast cable service is going up 6.2 percent in her area, the Lake Orion resident frowned. 'My first question is, why?' Hoover said. 'It seems like an awful lot.' Hoover said the cable giant - Michigan's largest with 1.4 million customers in the state - should drop one channel from its services to cut costs. 'What are we getting for the increase?' said Hoover, who manages a small shop. 'I wish I could run my business like that.'

Depending on where a customer lives in Oakland County, two of the county's four cable providers - Comcast and WideOpenWest - will besending out bills that average $2 to $3 more per month, prompting some customers to price satellite dish systems.

As for the reason behind the cable increase, Jerome Espy, director of communications for the Philadelphia-based Comcast, called it 'a business move. In general, Comcast is trying to make price matches for value of service.'
He also said that providing additional programming is adding to expenses.
'Customers want more choices,' he said. Comcast increased rates by about 7 percent a year ago.

Satellite dish companies DISH Network and DirecTV report they aren't planning any increases in the near future."

Saturday

Lansing State Journal:Schneider: Comcast compromises on vanishing satellite equipment

Lansing State Journal:Schneider: Comcast compromises on vanishing satellite equipment

My Comments:

The digital home plan from Dish Network is basically a lease program where you don't own the equipment. This is very good if anything ever goes wrong with your equipment, because it is fixed or replaced for free. However, you are responsible for returning the equipment when you cancel the contract. As was the case in this story, a cable installer hauled away the equipment without asking any questions and Barb Francis found herself on the hook for $383.63 worth of satellite tv equipment. Make sure you understand your subscription and return the equipment if you need to in order to avoid problems. It's no different than returning the digital box to the cable company, they would come after you too if you threw it in the garbage.

Friday

Satellite TV pirate gets seven years; DirecTV to get restitution - 2004-12-09 - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

Satellite TV pirate gets seven years; DirecTV to get restitution - 2004-12-09 - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:

"Martin C. Mullen, who was convicted for pirating DirecTV signals, was sentenced to seven years in prison today at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Mullen was also ordered to pay DirecTV and a subsidary of NDS Ltd., which provides the 'smart cards' used in DirecTV decoders, a total of $24 million in restitution, according to a statement by DirecTV.

Throughout the 1990s and into 2001, Mullen made thousands of illegal smart cards, used to descramble the DirecTV signal. He started out in the 1980s, making technologies that descrambled C-band satellite signals.

By the time the piracy scheme was busted, there were reportedly more than 100 sub-dealers of the pirated DirecTV cards.

After the piracy scheme was broken up, DirecTV and NDS has been working to make new smart cards that are not as easily pirated.

DirecTV (NYSE: DTV) is based in El Segundo and is the second-largest pay television service in the United States, with more than 13.5 million customers. "

Tuesday

TiVo Can't Shake Cable Colossus

Interesting Thought: Is DirecTV going to walk away from Tivo? Watch the outcome of the EchoStar / Tivo court case for a clue to the answer.

TiVo Can't Shake Cable Colossus: (link to full article)

An Interesting Excerpt:

"One theory is that DirecTV, which is now majority owned by Fox Entertainment (FOX:NYSE - commentary - research), will walk away from the deal and come up with its own DVR application. Earlier this year, DirecTV Vice Chairman Eddie Hartenstein resigned from his position on TiVo's board of directors. We believe the move signals DirecTV's intention to separate itself from TiVo. This belief is confirmed by the fact that DirecTV also sold its entire 3.5 million-share stake in TiVo around the same time. "

Satellite Dish Tips

Tuesday

Adding HDTV To Your Dish Network System

Sirius Satellite Radio Programming

Adding DVR To Your Dish Network Plan

Dual Tuner Satellite Receivers Reduce Progamming Costs

Local Channels On Dish Network

Dish Network: America's Everything Pak

Dish Network Top 180 Channel Listings

Sunday

Dish Network Top 120 Channel Listings

Dish Network Top 60 Channel Listings

Wednesday

Voom Doomed?

Monday

L211 Software Download for Dish Player-DVR 921

Name Based Recording for Dish Player-DVR 522 Customers

Sunday

Hezbollah TV Loses Satellite Feed to U.S

Thursday

DISH Network Adds South Asia World to International Programming Schedule

Digital Satellite TV Platforms Continue to Gain Subscribers

Wednesday

Another Article About the New Dish Network Satellite Launch

Dish Network To Offer Advanced Video & Broadband Internet?

Tuesday

Satellite TV Service to Add Network

Monday

Dish Network To Carry Fox Reality TV channel in 2005

TV That Goes Anywhere

Sunday

The Oakland Press: Local News: Cable vs. Satellite

Saturday

Lansing State Journal:Schneider: Comcast compromises on vanishing satellite equipment

Friday

Satellite TV pirate gets seven years; DirecTV to get restitution - 2004-12-09 - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

Tuesday

TiVo Can't Shake Cable Colossus