Washington, D.C. (July 16, 2008) -- Dish Network this morning successfully launched a new satellite designed to expand its High-Definition capacity.
The rocket carrying the EchoStar 11 satellite lifted off at 10:21 p.m. Pacific time (1:21 p.m. ET on July 16) from the Sea Launch rocket platform in the Pacific Ocean.
Sea Launch says at its web site that the spacecraft has separated from the booster rocket and the first signal was acquired an hour later.
"After the second burn, and nine-minute coast, the spacecraft separated from the upper stage over the Indian Ocean, off the East coast of Africa. A ground station at Gnangara (Perth), Australia, acquired the first signals from the spacecraft in orbit, a few minutes later," Sea Launch stated.
The launch's success is considered crucial to the satcaster's long-term hopes of competing with DIRECTV, telcos and the cable TV operators. The company's first satellite launch this year failed when the rocket did not reach its proper orbit. (The company has a third launch planned later this year.)
Dish recently announced that it's adding 17 national HD channels on August 1, which it says will bring its total to 100 HD channels, roughly the same as rival DIRECTV.
However, the company needs more capacity to keep pace with DIRECTV, which says it will have the capacity for up to 150 HD channels by year's end.
The Wall Street Journal yesterday quoted Wall Street analyst Craig Moffett as saying the satcaster has a "lot riding on a successful launch." Moffett notes the first launch failure and recent unflattering quarterly reports that show Dish's subscriber growth waning.
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Las Vegas Dave
Just make sure you read the fine print. I wouldnt use dishnetwork again if I had any choice.
I’ve toyed with dumping cable and going to a dish. Primarily because I don’t like Time-Warner.
Having lots of trees around my house the satellite would have to be almost directly overhead or cut some trees (booo).
Is this one going to be parked in the SW (relative to the East Coast?)
Also, I’ve heard Dish HD doesn’t have the definition of cable. True or False?
So unless you're buying the premium movie channels, not much.
UPDATE-UPDATE-UPDATE
http://www.tvpredictions.com/dish114073108.htm
Dish Network: We Now Have 114 HD Channels (August 1st-LVD)
Washington, D.C. (July 31, 2008) — Dish Network said today that it will have up to 114 High-Definition channels starting tomorrow, more than any other TV provider.
The satcaster is scheduled to add 17 national HD channels on Friday. However, until now, Dish was only counting around 80 HD channels, which would seem to put its total at 100 at best.
But in a press release issued today, Dish Network said:
“As previously announced, (we) will also launch 17 new national HD channels tomorrow, surpassing its goal of reaching 100 national HD channels five months ahead of schedule. Dish Network now offers up to 114 national HD channels and plans to expand that lineup to 150 channels by the end of 2008.”
DIRECTV says it now has 95 national HD channels, but will increase that number to 130 on August 14.
Asked how Dish is able to reach the 114 mark, Dish spokeswoman Kathie Gonzalez said the total includes 14 Video on Demand channels, six ‘HD PPV’ channels and 25 regional sports channels.
Here is a list of the 114 channels that Dish Network says it will offer by tomorrow:
A&E HD
ABC Family
Cartoon Network
CNBC
CNN HD
Discovery Channel HD
Disney (E)
ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
ESPNews
Food Network HD
HD Theater
HDNet
HGTV HD
History Channel HD, The
Lifetime
MHD
SCI FI Channel HD
TBS in HD
TLC HD
TNT HD
Travel Channel
USA HD
Weather Channel
Animal Planet HD
Big Ten Network HD 2
Bravo
CBS College Sports
Lifetime Movie Network
NFL Network HD
Toon Disney
WGN America
Biography
Encore (E)
Golf Channel/Versus HD
Hallmark Movie Channel
National Geographic Channel HD
Planet Green
Science Channel HD, The
Tennis Channel
5StarMAX HD
Cinemax HD (E)
Cinemax HD (W)
ActionMAX
HBO HD (E)
HBO HD (W)
HBO2 HD
HBO Signature HD
HBO Comedy
HBO Family
HBO Zone
HBO Latino
Showtime HD
Starz HD (E)
Starz HD (W)
Starz Comedy HD
Starz Edge HD
Starz Kids and Family HD
HDNet Movies
MGM
NBA TV
NHL Network HD
Smithsonian
Universal HD
World Fishing Network
DISH Network HD PPV – 6 Channels
Regional Sports Networks – 25 Channels
VOD – 14 Channels
Locals – 4 Channels (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC)
TOTAL 114
The satcaster also said today it will be the first TV provider to offer high-def movies in 1080p resolution, the same resolution offered on Blu-ray high-def discs.
DIRECTV earlier this week said it would air some movies in 1080p, but did not give a launch date other than to say “later this year.”
Dish said its 1080p resolution will be offered when it unveils a new subscription package next month. The company said that starting August 1, a new system upgrade will be rolled out to all MPEG-4 HD DVR receivers.
The upgrade will activate a feature in the set-top that improves the current standard of high-def delivery used by pay TV providers, such as the ability to output 1080p programming.
By early August, Dish said in a press release, all Dish customers with MPEG-4 HD DVRs will have set-tops that can display 1080p.
Dish said that starting August 1, Will Smith’s movie, I Am Legend, will be available in 1080p resolution on Dish’s VOD service.
DISH Chief Marketing Officer Jessica Insalaco told Reuters that the satcaster plans to start promoting more of its high-end products, such as high-def , even with the economy sagging.
“Television is still a huge part of people’s lives, and with rising gas prices the whole home video experience is more important than ever,” she told the wire service.
A recent study found that DIRECTV and Comcast customers spend more money per month on their TV service than Dish customers.