DISH Network made their first public comment since the AMC-14 satellite launch was deemed a complete failure. While the comments generally rehash the same company line from DISH Network, they do raise a question or two.
The filing notes that DISH was planning on leasing the entire capacity of the satellite to expand its HD offerings. While DISH Network admits that the failure of the satellite could impact its “longer term” plans to expand HD offerings, they state nothing will be affected this year.
Why no impact on this year’s plans? That is where DISH Network continues to spin on what it can offer the customer in HD. Because the company has two additional satellites set to launch in the next few months, they continue to say that they are on track as far as adding additional content. While technically true, how much more content, and how much sooner could it have been added had AMC-14 been successful?
Of course, the public won’t find out the answers to those questions. DISH Network is of course doing the “political” thing, reassuring current and potential customers that the HD is coming, just be patient.
DISH Network has publicly stated the goal of reaching 100 local HD networks and 100 National HD channels by the end of 2008. The local HD train has left the station, and DISH has been adding 3-4 local markets a week over the last month. Currently, DISH now reaches 46 local markets.
DISH currently broadcasts 70+ national HD channels. While that technically may be true, many of the HD channels offered by DISH do not have any sort of following. The satellite TV broadcaster carries all of the VOOM HD channels, 15 in all which are not seen anywhere else except for Cablevision customers.
Subtract also 9 HD Pay-Per-View (PPV) channels and the majority of regional sports channels, which are generally of interest only in certain areas, and the actual number of HD channels that a customer really wants to see drops into the 30-40 range.
But 30 or 40 “good” HD channels won’t make for a good press release. Expect to see DISH Network, and all other pay television providers for that matter continue to say they have “the most HD.”
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