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Star Wars
Voom stumbles, DirecTV expands
Cablevision angered some investors by splitting off Voom, a new satellite provider that it now seems isn't doing so well. Meanwhile DirecTV has announced the launch of four new satellites for providing additional local and national high-definition channels, and other bandwidth intensive services. Spaceway 1 and Spaceway 2 will launch in 2005 (with services available mid-year), while DIRECTV 10 and DIRECTV 11 should be launched by 2007. Combined the satellites should provide 1,000 additional local HD channels,and more than 150 national HD channels.
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SuperJudge
Raiden Wins
Premium Member
join:2002-11-14
Atlanta, GA

SuperJudge

Premium Member

WTF?

I'm upset, this news had nothing to do with Star Wars.
version3D
Infidels Won
join:2004-07-24
Deep River, CT

version3D

Member

Re: WTF?

Haha, yeah. It seems like whenever they post an article about anything having to do with space on here, it automatically gets some kind of "Star Wars" title.

SuperJudge
Raiden Wins
Premium Member
join:2002-11-14
Atlanta, GA

SuperJudge

Premium Member

I feel let down, I was waiting for lightsabers.

Tha ReAlEsT
The King Is Back, Where My Crown At?
Premium Member
join:2002-09-28
the past

Tha ReAlEsT

Premium Member

Good for Cv

Cablevision should have made sure, that the CableTv customers who funded this voom was taken care of first.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK

Premium Member

DirecTV HDTV

DirecTV hasn't launched the satellites, they've launched the plan to launch the satellites

I'm seeing this headlined all over as "DirecTV launches new Satellites" etc when they haven't launched anything yet.

It's the smart move, of course tho!

scJohn
@r14.scrchl.infoave.n

scJohn

Anon

Hmmm

Does this mean they will back off on the compression of their current channels? The picture quality has gotten worse over the years as they squeeze more channels into the same bandwidth.
subman87
Another day in the Brentwood
join:2000-11-24
Harrison, NY

subman87

Member

expansion means higher $$$


Directv is launching 4 more satellites, which means to us the CONSUMERS, will dish out more for services. As they say
the rich get richer.

Jeremy341
Bye
Premium Member
join:2000-01-06
localhost

Jeremy341

Premium Member

Re: expansion means higher $$$

said by subman87:

Directv is launching 4 more satellites, which means to us the CONSUMERS, will dish out more for services.
Are you a DirecTV customer? If so, during the time you've been with them, how many times have they raised the rates? I've been with DirecTV for three years, and during the time I've been with them they've raised their rates once. And when they raised the rates, anyone who was under a contract with them for any reason was automatically grandfathered onto the original rates until their contract was up.
subman87
Another day in the Brentwood
join:2000-11-24
Harrison, NY

subman87

Member

Re: expansion means higher $$$


Xm I've been a DirecTV customer since it hit the market,
and I would concur with you that DirecTV has raised my rates
only once. Cablevision service & it's high rates is a joke here in the NY metro area anyway.

Jeremy341
Bye
Premium Member
join:2000-01-06
localhost

Jeremy341

Premium Member

Re: expansion means higher $$$

By the way, the name's Jerw134. "Xm Radio Rocks" is just my posting tag.

wings10
I Am Legend
Premium Member
join:2004-06-09
South Elgin, IL

wings10 to Jeremy341

Premium Member

to Jeremy341
Had DirecTV since October 1997. Have had only on increase of $2.00 in 7 years in all that time. Cable increases rates every year.

thewolfman
join:2003-04-03
Niagara Falls, NY

thewolfman to subman87

Member

to subman87
Switch to dish network. A little cheaper, but, not much.

Count Hogula3
John Forged Kerry
Premium Member
join:2004-07-10
Corona, CA

Count Hogula3

Premium Member

I was going to get Voom...

And had ordered when they had their free equip (rental) promo, but after a 3 week wait THEN not one but TWO failed install attempts (no shows, no calls, no nothin' from the installer) I said screw 'em and went back to DN.

It's one thing to offer what they claim to offer but without a decent install/field tech network, they're doomed. I can't be the only potential customer lost because of this.

It's no wonder they're falling on their face while DN and DTV does just fine against the ever increasing rates of the likes of Comcrap and others.

jhboricua

join:2000-06-06
Minneapolis, MN

jhboricua

Re: I was going to get Voom...

Well I can tell you that you didn't miss much. I had Voom installed in 6/2 of this year and cancelled on 6/11. That's how bad it was. Among the issues:

1. Off the air reception was a joke, it would pick up maybe 2 channels. The antenna they supplied was a cheap plastic/fiberglass antenna that btw was really ugly. I've since then gotten a Samsung SIR-T151 OTA HDTV tuner with a Channel Master 19.99 uhf antenna and can now pick all the HD channels available in my region.

2. The receiver itself continuously locked up while changing channels requiring a complete unplug and replug to come up again.

4. The online guide was a joke. It showed maybe 5 channels and 2 hours of programming per page at the most. The unit interface was horrendous.

3. CUSTOMER SERVICE was the worst. During the first week while experiencing this issues I called 4 times. The first 3 times I was on hold for over 15 and then a msg would kick in to say that I should leave a msg for someone to call back. This was on different days and times. The time I did get a rep, was when I cancelled.

4. It took almost 3 months and several calls to get a refund for the unused time I was billed for.

When it worked, it looked awesome, but the problem was that most of the time it wasn't working.

EliteData
EliteData
Premium Member
join:2003-07-06
Philippines

EliteData

Premium Member

Re: I was going to get Voom...

they rushed this out into the market too soon without fully testing it.
format
join:2001-01-02
Tulsa, OK

format

Member

DTV

DTV already charges a monthly fee for their HDTV package they wont have to raise the cost to pay for the HD channels.Also they recently gained another million plus customers by making pegasux and the NRTC fold their cards and walk away.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: DTV

Pegasux was a reseller of DirecTV to start with. They only offered service in select markets of DTV and in other areas they reseold DN.
chrisbmoore
join:2003-08-28
Elkins Park, PA

chrisbmoore

Member

Don't get too excited

I would not get too excited about Directv launching new satellites. Last time they did it, the satellite was to be launched in 2003 and it didn't launch until about 3 months ago. Those new satellites will get pushed back several times. We won't see them til 2010. I also don't really see why I should get excited over DirecTV adding HD content next year and two years after when Voom has that content now. If they fail, they fail, but I'm happy with their selection of HD content for now and not at all happy with DirecTv's.
openhouse
join:2002-12-14
Chicago, IL

openhouse

Member

Re: Don't get too excited

For Info on HDTV Channels
check out »hdtvtechno.netfirms.com