Re: When Will Directv add more channels?

"martyp" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> Its true what you say  about the big dish, But you forgot to say you cant
> see what you want on a different TV in the same house. I pay about 100 a
> month for  all channels on 4 TVs in the house .
> 
> Martin Poles
> 
> "4dtvman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > 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.

For me the bottom line is Directv has the sunday ticket.