Re: When Will Directv add more channels?

Marc A. Leckstein <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> I have been a happy Directv subscriber for three years now, but
> recently I have become concerned as to my local cable company's
> ability to provide more programming.
> 
> When I originally signed up for Directv back in 2000, the program
> offerings were far superior to anything my local cable provider
> (Comcast) had.   There simply was no comparison.  Directv had more
> movie channels....
> 
> Now however, I am discovering that Comcast has moved ahead in the
> programming department.
> 
> My local Comcast currently offers the following movie channels: 
> 20 HBOs, 8 Cinemaxs, 13 Showtimes, 5 TMCs, 7 Starz, 2 Flix, 2 Sundance
> Channels, 12 Encores 
> 
> They also offer 4 MTVs, 4 VH1s, C-SPAN's 1, 2 & 3  and the On Demand
> Service.
> 
> Directv only offers the following movie channels:
> 8 HBOs, 3 Cinemaxs, 6 Showtimes, 2 TMCs, 4 Starz, 1 Flix, 1 Sundance,
> 8 Encores and 1 IFC
> 
> Additionally they give: 2 MTVs, 2 VH1s, C-SPAN's 1 and 2 
> 
> If I switched to Comcast Ditigal Cable, it would cost me $ 101.04 a
> month to get everything .... right now my total DirecTV bill is
> $94.98.   
> 
> So what is the real advantage of my staying with Directv at this point
> when I can get more channels on Cable for less than $10.00 extra
> month. 
> 
> My question is, when is Directv going to step up to the plate and
> start competing again?  Why haven't new channels been added?  They
> appear to have the room on the dial ... so where are they?
> 
> I want to stick with Directv but I'm beginning to have second thoughts
> for the time in ages.
> 
> Anyone have info?

Here's the bottom line, Marc: Directv (ditto for Dish Network) is
using all of its extra bandwidth to try to eventually add local
channels for every market in the country. Your local cable company
only has to worry about the local channels in your area. Any time some
bandwidth becomes available, Directv uses it to add more local
channels instead of more HBOs, Cinemaxs, or MTVs. Just imagine how
many channels Directv could have if it didn't have to worry about all
of those local channels. This problem will only be resolved when they
put up enough spot-beam satellites. Spot-beam satellites will allow
Directv to divide the country into many geographical sectors and only
beam into each sector the local channels that geographically belong in
that sector. This will free up the bandwidth on their national
satellites for more channels like you are wanting.

Right now, I still have one of those big ugly dishes (BUD). I've had
it since 1992 and plan keep it until one of the following happens: (1)
it breaks (they're very expensive to fix and besides, it's hard to
find people to repair them anymore), (2) I move (they're very
expensive to move and set up), (3) it's programming costs become more
expensive than cable or the small dish, or (4) it's channel selection
becomes less than that of cable and the small dish. The reason I'm
sticking with my BUD until then is because the channel selection and
prices cannot be beaten. I have all the channels you listed plus a lot
more at a price of about $70 a month.