Rental is under All-In-One located here. (http://www.bell.ca/shopping/PrsShpTv_AIO_Pkg.page)
On that page you can select "Would you rather buy your equipment? (http://www.bell.ca/shopping/PrsShpTv_Dth_Equipment_Landing.page)"
Both options are still available.

SensualPoet, 75 million is around the correct swap cost, but let me ask you something, what is a $4 price increase times 1.8 million subs times 12 months, if you said $86,400,000 then you are correct.

End of year ExpressVu will not show a dip in their revenues even with the swap.

Is inside information bad?To the contrary, having insiders post on forums like DHC is very advantageous to the forum members.
Knowing whether the post originates from an insider helps separate the marketing (PR, brainwash, FUD, etc.) part from the real information.

In most cases, if the question about the insider status is ignored is the best answer you can hope for, I think.

Diogen.

Thanks diogen, that is exactly my point, most people are reasonably intelligent and should be able to sort through the crap one is spewing.....lol....I hope.

As long as we are all speculating here ....

It's quite plausible ell ExpressVu will have new HD Receivers and HD PVRs in market sometime in April (or perhaps a little earlier). The units that have been suggested as replacements are 8PSK and MPEG-4 capable. To make use of those features, Bell will have to devote satellite signal space to those methods of modulation and encoding.

At the moment, Bell hasn't a lot of extra capacity so what do they do? Light up HD channels that only brand new customers can see? Allow people to swap out boxes at no or low cost?

Logistically, this is a nightmare.

(Much deleted)

Bell, as the proverb goes, lives in interesting times in 2007.

Bell could follow Dish...that is lock the old HD channels in MPEG2 and new channels are MPEG4 only. They could do an IRD swap and all HD channels are MPEG4 only.

Bell has a few options and are not limited to my two suggestions... I can see loads of people activating their old 6000s to get a free or low priced (I will not hold my breath based on Bells past performance) upgrade program.

Just my $0.02 cents (Canadian)

Bell could follow Dish...that is lock the old HD channels in MPEG2 and new channels are MPEG4 only.If I'm not mistaken, there is no HD channel on Dish that is MPEG-2, for over a year (except maybe a promo channel).

To minimize cost, I think BeV will try to replace receivers without an installer visit: unplug the old, plug in the new and it should work. May be a phone call to "turn" it on. Until this phase is over, no switching to MPEG-4/8PSK should take place, of course.

After the receiver replacement is done, they will start switching channels, one by one, just like they did going from Nagra1 to Nagra2: PPV hidef, movie channels (MC/TMN), Discovery, HDNet, etc. They might even run them for a short time in both formats MPEG-2 and -4 (on different transponders). BeV won't need more than 1-2 transponders to get this going if they can squeeze 6 hidef channels on 1 transponder (e.g. 4PPV+2 movie channels): the process of switching will free up more and more transponders.

Just like workforbell mentioned a while ago, hidef will be switched first (just like Dish). And just like Dish, they might not bother with SD channels for a while. Assuming there are around 200K hidef subscribers, this many new receivers have to be installed in homes before any changes will start happening.

It took BeV the best part of a year to replace N1->N2 card (for all subscribers, though). I can't see how replacing 200K receivers can take less. It must be business as usual until this year holiday season.

Diogen.

But depending on how they do a swap, decides on who will incur the cost.

"SensualPoet, 75 million is around the correct swap cost, but let me ask you something, what is a $4 price increase times 1.8 million subs times 12 months, if you said $86,400,000 then you are correct."

Good point!

Swap out all your gear to new technology to fend off pirates for a few more months and look good to shareholders and the government and do it all on the backs of legitmate paying subs.

What a great business model, where can I buy some more stock!

The purpose of a receiver swap, if there is one, would be to move to MPEG4. They wouldn't spend all that money just to help fend off piracy. The choices are that or another satellite with changes to every dish. I think a receiver swap is the quickest and least expensive move.

That said, I really like my 9200, and I hope the replacement is just as good.

Imagine how much more HD we can record with the switch to MPEG4!

-Mike

If I'm not mistaken, there is no HD channel on Dish that is MPEG-2, for over a year (except maybe a promo channel).


Just like workforbell mentioned a while ago, hidef will be switched first (just like Dish). And just like Dish, they might not bother with SD channels for a while. Assuming there are around 200K hidef subscribers, this many new receivers have to be installed in homes before any changes will start happening.

Diogen.

Diogen,

The original HD pack (the channels that were HD when they released the MPEG4 stream) are still being broadcast in MPEG2 for those with grandfathered MPEG2 HD pack on grandfathered legacy equipment (6000, 811, 921 etc.). You can no longer sub to the MPEG2 HD channels as MPEG2. You can no longer activate MPEG2 HD IRDs to get HD (you CAN get MPEG2 SD channels on them!!!) All the HD channels added since are MPEG4 only.

Vis (a Dish HD customer and a Bell HD customer) -> yes I have paid subs for both!!!

The original HD pack... are still being broadcast in MPEG2 for those... I didn't know that.
I thought MPEG-2 for hidef is non-existent on Dish.

Thanks.
Diogen.

If Bell is switching out the current HD receivers why would they be promoting the current units so heavily. At a local mall today I saw a couple of guys in Bell shirts at a display of HD boxes set up in the middle of the food court. Why make the effort to sell these boxes if they are soon to be obsolete?

Some places still have a fair bit of stock, all must go. A typical retail cycle.

If Bell has a deal with the manufacturer to replace subscriber machines with new units, the deal probably only applies to those units they've sold to customers. Any stock left in the stores may not qualify for the exchange or qualifies at a different rate.

Just spec on my part.

I didn't know that.
I thought MPEG-2 for hidef is non-existent on Dish.


Actually MPEG4 HD is non-existant on Dish. All of the national HD channels are still MPEG2 - but only the 211 and 622 can display the channels added since the original HD Pak/Voom channels.

This (http://www.lyngsat.com/hd/echo5.html) table shows that there are both, MPEG-2 and -4.
All are 8PSK.

Diogen.

Are customers going to be able to trade up?
This is what I want to know too.

If you have a 6100 can you "trade up" for the new PVR equivalent (for a fee of course).

I'm gonna probably get yelled at for asking a repeat question here, but I'll go for it anyhow. :) So from my reading, ALL HD receivers are going to be replaced by Bell for free? I *just* picked up a 9200 PVR about 3 weeks ago. I also already have a 6100 HD receiver and also a much older 6000 HD receiver. All are active on my account. I'd considered Ebaying the 6000 as I don't really use it that much, but am I correct in assuming that this actually could get replaced in the very near future with a shiny new receiver?

Does anyone have more details on how this replacement program would work exactly? I'm fine with holding on to the 6000 for a little longer if it turns out I can get a replacement for it for free.

It's complete speculation at this point, don't get too worked up about anything until it actually happens, IF it actually happens.

The arguments for a receiver swap do make sense but at this point there is nothing concrete to go on.