Recently Filed in Satellite

While I can’t cut the cable cord, a mix of the current economy and increasing options online have more households getting rid of their cable, according to the Wall Street Journal. In response to the number of people who are watching TV on Hulu and other cheaper alternatives to cable and satellite, telecom companies are increasing their focus on their online properties. Comcast is adding more content to its Fancast Web site, while Time Warner is testing a program where HBO cable subscribers can download… View this story
Cable • Satellite • Info and Answers

The NFL has extended its contract with DirecTV. Sigh. Through 2014 (at a cost of about $1 billion per year), the satellite provider retains the rights to broadcast Sunday Ticket. For those not in the know, Sunday Ticket is the wife’s worst nightmare. The package allows you to watch every NFL game on Sundays, not just the ones broadcast on local channels. It’s heaven for fans not living in the same TV market of their team (think Steelers fan in New Hampshire). I currently live… View this story
Cable • Satellite • Sports • Product News

It appears that Sirius XM Radio won’t have to file for bankruptcy thanks to a $530 million investment by Liberty Media Corp., according to the Wall Street Journal. The satellite radio giant had hinted at possibly filing for Chapter 11 as soon as today. Speculation was that Charles Ergen, owner of Dish Network and EchoStar who recently bought up much of Sirius’ debt, might move to acquire the company. Instead, it’s Liberty, a Colorado-based competitor of Ergen’s companies, that comes to Sirius XM’s rescue. The… View this story
Satellite Radios • Satellite • Product News

The speculation continues to grow about Sirius XM and a potential bankruptcy filing. The satellite radio company has hired advisers to prepare for a possible Chapter 11 filing, the New York Times reports. Without getting too financial, Sirius XM is $3 billion in debt, of which $175 million is due at the end of February. So what does a looming bankruptcy mean for subscribers? It doesn’t appear as though customers will immediately lose service. But the big names - Howard Stern, Martha Stewart - will… View this story
Satellite Radios • Satellite • Product News

The nation’s largest satellite-television provider added 301,000 new subscriptions over the final few months of 2008. That’s the company’s biggest quarterly increase in more than three years. All told, just over 1 million customers signed on with DirecTV last year. The monthly churn rate - industry lingo for the percentage of customers who bail on service - was flat during Q4. I can’t imagine anyone with NFL Sunday Ticket discontinuing service midway through the football season. These numbers help prove the theory that people are… View this story
Industry • Satellite • Product News

Add DirecTV to the growing list of TV service providers who are increasing rates this year. The following plans will see a monthly increase of $3 - effective March 4 (according to the satelliteguys): Basic ($9.99 - $12.99) Select ($45.99 - $48.99) Choice ($52.99 - $55.99) Plus DVR ($62.99 - $65.99) Plus HD-DVR ($72.99 - $75.99) The Premier service will jump from $104.99 to $109.99 and the fee for DVR service will rise from $5.99 to $6 (yes, one penny). Cablevision, Charter, Comcast and Mediacom… View this story
Satellite • Product News

People often ask us what their best bet is regarding web, TV and telephone service. Everyone has their favorites; even “Consumer Reports.” The mag just announced results that fiber-optic services seem to be the leading choice, when it comes to the trifecta. Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse were cited as the best bang for your buck, as well as providing some of the best customer service. Sadly, those services are not available everywhere. In that case, the report says to go with “a highly-rated cable… View this story
Cable • DSL • Satellite • Ethernet • Fiber/FiOS • IPTV • Telephones • VoIP • Home Theater • Networking • Product News

I feel really, really bad both professionally and personally that satellite radio is going away. What? You say the merger will preserve the longest running alternative to the slowly dying, little choice over-commercialized terrestrial radio? I don’t think so! No matter how this transition pans out, satellite radio will never be the same. Last week’s morphing of music and other radio content may do little to prevent the real fans of satellite radio from eventually walking away from the dial. A few months ago, the… View this story
Industry • HD Radio • Satellite • Audio • Info and Answers

Dish vs. DirecTV? DirecTV vs. Dish? The debate rages on as rumors and speculation of a possible merger brim to the surface every few weeks. And with both satellite companies ramping up their offerings as of late, it’s hard to keep track of who has the edge. Dish Network recently launched its 100-percent TurboHD package, and boasts over 100 HD channels available. DirectTV is claiming over 130 HD channels. Both have moved to MPEG-4 and both want to be “Master of the Universe.” Since there… View this story
Satellite • Home Theater • Info and Answers

DISH Network is raising the bar for the next-generation HD standard by becoming the first in the pay-TV industry to offer high definition programming in 1080p. This new functionality is part of their latest expansion in HD services, which includes the rollout of a new service called TurboHD. According to DISH, it is the industry’s first 100 percent, all-HD suite of programming packages featuring 1080p resolution (DirectTV rolls out their 1080p programming later this year). DISH Network’s new “turbo-charged” system upgrade is being rolled out… View this story
HDTV • Satellite • Home Theater • Product News

Q. I’m considering switching from cable to DirecTV. I’ve been hesitant to do so because I have 9 TV’s (7 are HD) and I didn’t want 9 receivers. However, it looks like I can easily centralize almost all of my receivers in a storage room with IR technology. Can I have one receiver serve multiple rooms and can TVs sharing a receiver watch different shows at the same time? - Darren, NC A. You can have one receiver serve another room but the other room… View this story
Satellite • Multiroom AV • Ask a Pro

The World Wide Web is the place to be, and the options for getting there have never been greater. We’ve investigated the deals, the speeds, and the availability to help consumers choose a high-speed bandwagon to jump on. Comparison Points When placing an internet service provider under the microscope, we’re looking for a few things, including price, speed, and availability. Today’s ISPs are giving consumers a wide range of choices regarding the first two categories. It is not uncommon to see two or three “packages”… View this story
Networking and Communication • Cable • Satellite • Fiber/FiOS • Internet • Networking • Info and Answers