Echostar invests in CinemaNow: HD VOD soon?
by Erik Hanson 
posted Jul 13th 2006 at 5:15PM
Late yesterday, online movie service CinemaNow announced it had raised US$ 20 million in financing, including a large amount from satellite company Echostar Communications, which operates Dish Network. Joining LionsGate and other investors with a seat on the board of directors, it's a safe bet that CinemaNow and Dish could announce some cross-licensing or cross-promotional deals in the future. Up for speculation, however, is whether this could add CinemaNow's high-definition video-on-demand for the satellite provider. Echostar has been aggresively adding HD content and channels to its lineup in recent months, and this could be another step towards defending against DirecTV and cable providers in maintaining its strong lead in the HD area.Do you think Dish will be offering even more HD because of this strategic investment, or do you think DirecTV and cable will still end up on top?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John @ Jul 13th 2006 5:44PM
Well I love my High speed internet that I get from Cox (which was recently upped to a 9dl/1ul connection). But I really want more HD content. In theory it should be easier for Cable companies to add more HD channels, but Dishnetworks current offering is almost enough to make me contemplate switching (If it wasn't for my highspeed internet access I think I would switch).
Belcho @ Jul 13th 2006 7:38PM
How will they provide it? From my understanding of VOD there has to be 2-way communication for it. Which satellite only does with a phone line, but I don't think that's enough bandwidth for VOD. I've heard rumblings about satellite boxes with ethernet ports that could function in that way, but nothing on the market for it yet. And it would still require broadband service, which everyone doesn't have.
This will be pretty interesting to watch, as cable heavily touts VOD as something that satellite can't offer. It would be a great equalizer and competition is always good for the consumer.
The reason there's less HD on cable is because analog channels hog all the bandwidth. It's a double-edged sword. All digital is great, but you need some kind of converter (box or card) to decode it, right now anyway. Analog allows you to do that very easily without any extra eqipment.
I say bring on the digital transition, but I'm not sure exactly how that will effect cable companies. Because that transition is a mandate for all OTA broadcasters to go digital. Cable companies don't broadcast OTA.
James @ Jul 13th 2006 10:58PM
This will work with the 622 receiver. Movies will be uploaded via the internet and billed to your account after viewing.
dslate @ Jul 14th 2006 8:45AM
You don't have to cancel your High-Speed Internet to get DISH.
And Yes, DISH's vip622 (mpeg4DVR) which has been out for a while has Ethernet.
L3 @ Jul 14th 2006 6:26PM
I just don't want to pay per movie. I pay about $140 per month for everything I can get from Dish and another $4 here and there is just an insult. Am I the only one that wants this included in my Super Double Platinum Elite package? Or is everyone else still under the ether(net?)
Chris K. @ Jul 17th 2006 3:12AM
My lower end Dish 211 HD reciever (non DVR) also has an ethernet port and USB. I was curious what those were for. Now maybe they'll finally get some use.
Radames Pera @ Aug 30th 2006 12:54AM
All of these competing technologies will be moot once MetaCinema goes online within the next few weeks, (www.MetaCinema.tv) as we will deliver HD-DVD-grade content (w/6.1 DD audio) over the internet. 6 years in development, and with compression ratios of approximately 20:1 for 720p and 15:1 for 1080i - there will be no need to takes sides in the bloody forthcoming format war (Blueray/HD-DVD = beta/VHS) and simply invest in a dual-core Intel MacMini (which plays HD-DVDs, by the way) to start downloading full HD content from around the globe, bypassing Hollywood and empowering filmmakers everywhere by letting the world be their screening room.