|
When
is this likely to happen? Getting MPEG-4 up and
running is not something that is possible overnight. It requires
completely new encoding equipment as well as subscriber set top boxes.
DirecTV has begun transmissions of locals using the MPEG-4 (H.264) format and
has recently added many national HD
channels also using the new format. Dish Network (EchoStar) is also actively marketing its
ViP 211 MPEG-4 capable receivers and is currently
broadcasting many channels using the format. Theses new channels begun as being broadcast with
MPEG-4 headers (tagged as MPEG-4) but actually MPEG-2 encoded. To our
knowledge these have all now been switched over to H.264 encoding. Older MPEG-2 only receivers
will not be able to
receive any of these channels as users are encourage to migrate to the new receiver
modes.
Will this put an immediate end to MPEG2
broadcasts? Almost definitely not, if past deployments are
any indicator. Take a look back at the switch over to 8PSK modulation by
Dish Network. They co-broadcasted HBO-HD and SHO-HD in both the new and
old modulation schemes for over 18 months before finally switching to
8PSK exclusively. This way the existing HD subscriber base was not saddled with
instantly obsoleted equipment and given plenty of time to make the
switch-over. Only the newly added channels like DISC-HD and ESPN were
offered in 8PSK only. This is the plan being followed by DirecTV; in
addition to the locals, new national HD channels will be
offered in the new MPEG-4 format.
We strongly believe that the switch-over to MPEG-4 will be handled in a
similar manner for these reasons:
- There is now a much larger HD
subscriber base than ever before with a huge amount invested in HD
receivers and even more expensive PVRs. To switch everything over to
MPEG4 would instantly obsolete every one of these products. The
service providers would then be either faced with tremendous
customer ill-will (and risk loosing market share to cable which has
no similar dilemmas) as their subscribers are forced to buy new
equipment or take a big financial hit if they decide to subsidize
the new receivers and PVRs all at once.
- DirecTV has already launched one of 2
additional satellites giving them plenty of capacity to spot-beam
local channels. D* has announced the broadcast of these local
channels using MPEG-4 and this is the first roll out of the new
technology. Those subscribers who cannot receive OTA locals now have
incentive to purchase the new MPEG4 capable receivers.
- Look at the much simpler and less
costly Dish Network
"yellow card" upgrade. All new purchases were immediately
shipped with the new yellow card. Of the existing subscriber base,
first the HD folks were converted over, then adult/PPV, then Starz
and other premium services and lastly, everybody else. And it is
just becoming complete as of Feb. 2006. Doing a
multi-user upgrade is expensive and difficult to manage, and
switching the entire user base to MPEG4 would be the most complex
and expensive upgrade attempted to date. It just makes the most
sense to do a slow, progressive upgrade.
|
Will
the R5000-HD be able to record MPEG-4? YES. We have been shipping
(as of Feb. 2006) an "MPEG-4" compatible modification for the Dish Network
models 211and 411receivers as well as the ViP 622 DVR. Recently added
was support for the new Bell 9242. These represent the latest in satellite
receiver technology and are capable of receiving all current MPEG-2
offerings as well as the new "MPEG-4" channels.
In
conclusion. MPEG-2 satellite broadcasts will most likely be with
us for a very long time. With MPEG-4 broadcasts coming on strong there is
still no talk of converting over all the existing MPEG-2 channels.
Subscribers who wish to take advantage of the new channel offerings will
have to purchase new equipment, however, to take the existing MEPG-2
channels off-line would require a massive and expensive replacement of
millions of receivers.
If you are aware of any Free-to-Air or any other MPEG-4 satellite
broadcasts, please let us know!
R5000-HD MPEG-4 Captures |