Bev Testing MPEG4

  • Thread starter Thread starter SensualPoet
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The entire transponder has to be changed to MPEG4, so testibg 720i to save bandwidth makes no sense.
 
You can add Alarco to the list of channels they will have to find room for.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=66469&page=2
 
that would take care of the rental customers, but what about the purchase ones?
hopefully the transition is as smooth as possible, however, i see a few bumps (hils/mountains) on the horizon
 
If that is the case, they could get away with a lower number of units for upgrade initially. Maybe that's a way to have a slower roll out for a swap?
 
I think I can reveal that the new packaging is BLACK Box's.....

Nimiq 1, who is trying to fill a gap in the info being released to the public.
 
Speaking of their other partners, small commercial sites and cablecos that have chosen their signals to operate an SRDU, I wonder what percentage of revenue that actually is?

I mean I've worked with Bev SRDU's that service entire towns and regions of a province, so anywhere from 1000 to a few hundred thousand people are affected, albeit a few channels at a time generally.
 
Significantly, Bell senior management did not mention HD, even once, at today's quarterly earnings. Nor MPEG-4 or it's importance, if any, for future profits and growth. They did single out with pride cutting off 8000 customers that hadn't paid their bills recently.
 
Yes
What makes you think they dont have the hardware to do it?
Because Bell told you so?
Hmmmm, what is their recent track record with telling lies?
Not too good methinks
Soooo, Dishnet has receivers, and has had them for 2 years
Is it possible, that Bell, could use Dishnetwork as a model, and say, hmmmm, well, Dishnetwork is selling these boxes for $ (X) , so we will sell for around $ (X), and offer a rebate of $ (X), to all those that bought MPEG 2 HD boxes
We are aiming for a release date of (X) , but that is not set in stone
Maybe its just me, but I think it looks better when the company itself releases info, instead of hearing it on the web, and hearing Bell say it isnt true, when you know it is
 
Should read:

People aren't as dumb as Bev seems to think they are.

It was a late night post and my mistake changes the meaning of it dramatically.

I stand by the rest of the statements made.
Interpret it any way you want.

BTW, I operate at sufficient arms length so as not to become infected.
 
Hurricane: it's not a question of Bell being "stupid". And it's not a question of what Bell plans to do in the fullness of time.

Bell will launch more HD channels (in MPEG-2).
Bell will launch HD channels (in MPEG-4).
Eventually Bell will migrate its HD service to MPEG-4.
Bell will launch "updated" 9200s in Q4 with MPEG-4 capability.
Bell will launch additional HD programming theme packs.

All these facts are a given. They come from public Bell statements or simple business logic -- like charging for additional HD Theme Packs (every non-OTA HD channel comes with a programmer fee so at some point you lose money including more -- Star Choice has started down this road).

Yes, Bell has options in the short run -- like removing PPV channels (again, that is exactly what Star Choice is doing) to make room for HD.

Bell did make a strategic error a couple of years ago when it obviously believed the HD market was going to grow more slowly than it has -- otherwise, like DishNet, they'd already have 18 months worth of lead time with MPEG-4 capable HD boxes in customer homes. As a result, they will pay the price with less flexibility to meet HD demand -- until sometime in 2009 it appears -- than they would have had.

Is the sky falling? Of course not. But the evidence is obvious that they have NOT launched Showcase, National Geographic, CBC West, TQS, TVA, RDS, MMORE, SUN TV, OMNI.1, OMNI2, The Score -- the HD ones I can think of off the top of my head that are available from other vendors -- because they are fighting capacity issues, not out of choices made purely on delivering HD programming.

Testing MPEG-4 signals as they are apparently doing is all part of Bell moving forward as you might expect. But the conclusion that this means the sudden appearance of a bundle of new MPEG-4 HD channels in Sep (or Q4 2007) just isn't credible given the current conditions.

Is it technically possible? Yes, probably -- as noted, Bell can lean a bit on DishNet to speed up the engineering tests. But dedicating two precious transponders to deliver 6 or 8 MPEG-4 HD channels that no subscribers can view (or, at best, a few thousand by New Year's Day) makes zero business sense.

I would not want to be the manager telling the new owners why I was spending millions of dollars to launch a channel pack --a year or more earlier than needed -- to deliver services very few folks can buy.
 
It really depends on they they present the offering.
In the *c case, the price for the new receivers was at a very substantial discount (Good) and you got to keep your original equipment (Good) as it was still highly useful as an extra SD receiver and a fair bit better than their legacy units.

So in a Bell world, let use the 6100 and 9200 as examples.
If the MPEG4 equivalents were priced at
 
I am hearing mermaids, singing.

Do you have a source to point to? Otherwise, no problem, we'll know in six weeks if this is a farce, a rumour or reality.

Bell reports Q2 sales figures in about a week. In the analyst call, they often have something to say about short term goals/events. It will be interesting to see how Michael Sabia and company respond to such rumours.

And, just as a reality check, would you mind telling me the rationale behind launching "a package of new MPEG-4 HD channels" in September before even a single Bell ExpressVu customer can receive them?

Even if they concurrently issue MPEG-4 receivers/PVRs in September, it will take months to build a significant base willing to PAY for the channels. In the meantime, is Bell really going to squander its last remaining bandwidth capacity on a package of channels only a few hundred or a few thousand customers will be able to receive in 2007?
 
I guess its true, Im being told by a friend with fta that ch.885 gives him sound and no picture on an fta system.

So looks like bell just might be testing Mpeg4! ... hopefully they start the roll out very soon. im starving for some more HD channels :D
 
According to .US, it was supposed the be the earlier 888 206-4 Channel in Trouble loop.

This ought to drive up HD FTA sales, c'mon Bev, crank it up a few notches.
A few more screw ups and word of desired content not being available to long time loyal subs.
Pretty soon they can just cancel their PO for the new MPEG4 boxes as subs/pirates will already have them.
At least their will be no wheeling and dealing and everybody pays a different price depending upon their negotiating skills.

Now lets see some MPEG4 HD testing, ideally with NEW content, that should get the natives excited.
 
Many posts in this thread have been deleted for being off topic and inflammatory. There is no need for put downs or negativity. Any more off topic posts in this thread or posts putting down other members will be deleted and if the thread cannot get back on topic with a more positive tone it will be promptly closed.

Thank you.
 
That is exactly my point, I raised it many months ago too. This would allow for a slower, more controlled change over of equipment.
 
Part of Bell's stragic error was not selling ALL 20" dishes with 2 lnbs and a sw21 switch or two. I mean that means pain in ass for people to upgrade in the future again.

And no one can tell me they were prepared for the 3lnb dish upgrade once 72.5 is online in a couple years.
 
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