BCE to sell 20 NIMIQ 2 transponders to Charlie Ergen

[Filthy]

Yes my friends if the F.C.C. approves the SES DBS application for 105 degrees, this opens up US resident reception of DBS signals from foreign DBS slots.

As a result Charlie Ergen will buy at least 20 NIMIQ CONUS transponders from Telesat at 91 degrees.

All Expressvu programming will switch to 82 degrees except HD which will stay at 91 degrees

[Researcher]

so forgive my ignorance, but what does that mean?

[beerme1]

Is there a time frame for this?
Where did you get this info?

[travisc]

It's Filthy - he probably invented it.

[hugh]

All right people, lets be nice and let Filthy respond.

As a note to anyone posting news, please include a URL or a source otherwise In future we'll simply delete hearsay.

[Filthy]

Originally Posted by human

All right people, lets be nice and let Filthy respond.

According to my sources in the US; here is the scenario.

Lockheed has started construction on 2 Ku/Ka satellites (AMC 15 + AMC 16) for SES. They are to be placed at 105 degrees. 1 will be a backup.

The 105 Ka slot is an American slot. SES plans to offer 2 way internet service for North America starting in 2004

The 105 Ku slot is assigned to Gibraltar. SES is going to apply to the FCC to use 105 Ku as a host for US services to directly transmit to consumers. If the FCC approves this will be a reverse of long standing policy of allowing only US slot DTH/DBS services. Mr Ergen wants this application to be heard before the E*/DTV hearings.

Why? So he can then argue that DBS competition still exists in the US even after the merger.

Mr Ergen is the 42nd richest American - 1 crafty businessman - don't forget he beat Rupert Murdoch. Ergen always has a fallback plan.

If SES gets approval and the E*/DTV merger doesn't; the door is wide open for Charlie to crush DirecTV on bandwidth. If SES can use Gibaltar slot; Charlie can apply for Canadian slot approval.

Telesat owns the NIMIQs legally, not Expressvu. Therefore, Teleast sale/lease of NIMIQ transponders falls under Industry Canada, not CRTC regulation. Industry Canada has pushed all Canadian telco companies to get aggressive in global markets. Approval should not be a problem.

In addition, this gives Expressvu the opportunity to amass all Expressvu/Echostar common services on a few transponders (CNN, Boston stations, A&E, Headline news, etc) of the same satellite as Charlie wants to use. Expressvu then could authorize customers from both companies for these services, saving Charlie transponder costs/bandwidth and giving Expressvu more income. Plus Charlie could offer Center Ice at no hardware cost to him.

This scenario may not happen. But by the FCC approving the SES application for Ku 105 degree DTH service; Charlie is in a no lose scenario. And whatever happens, Charlie ends up with the Panamsat satellite fleet.

This would force Directv to need to build new satellites to be launched to non CONUS slots to keep up with Charlie

[tv_guy]

In addition, this gives Expressvu the opportunity to amass all Expressvu/Echostar common services on a few transponders (CNN, Boston stations, A&E, Headline news, etc) of the same satellite as Charlie wants to use. Expressvu then could authorize customers from both companies for these services, saving Charlie transponder costs/bandwidth and giving Expressvu more income. Plus Charlie could offer Center Ice at no hardware cost to him

Very Interesting, it certainly seems reasonable to me except this part.

First, for this to happen wouldn't somebody have to realign some dishes which could be costly

and

Second, how send down two datastreams with one channel?

[Snoman]

Thirdly,have you seen Dishnet's PQ lately? You think analog cable looks bad a lot of BEV subs would have kittens if they had to watch the US stuff off Echo birds. Of course if Charlie migrates enough channels to Nimiq to ease off compression then it would be a good idea 'cept for some BC subs.

[beerme1]

Originally Posted by Filthy

If SES gets approval and the E*/DTV merger doesn't; the door is wide open for Charlie to crush DirecTV on bandwidth.

Plus Charlie could offer Center Ice at no hardware cost to him.


This would force Directv to need to build new satellites to be launched to non CONUS slots to keep up with Charlie

To borrow somewhat from Travis' line of thinking, I don't think that most of the subs are aware of the bandwidth issue. So it wouldn't be that he could take millions of subs from DTV.

I think DirecTV has exlcusive rights for satellite to Center Ice. But if im not mistaken that is up for renewal this off season.

I would imagine that D would be planning on future sats to be launched regardless.

[travisc]

I resent the implication that I was thinking or had a line of thought!

[Arthur]

Originally Posted by Filthy

Yes my friends if the F.C.C. approves the SES DBS application for 105 degrees, this opens up US resident reception of DBS signals from foreign DBS slots.

As a result Charlie Ergen will buy at least 20 NIMIQ CONUS transponders from Telesat at 91 degrees.

All Expressvu programming will switch to 82 degrees except HD which will stay at 91 degrees

What will happen to Bell's lease of the Nimiq transponders?

As far as Nimiq goes, you don't have to own it to control it. Charlie may have a deal in mind but bell has to agree with it.

[Filthy]

Originally Posted by Arthur

What will happen to Bell's lease of the Nimiq transponders?

As far as Nimiq goes, you don't have to own it to control it. Charlie may have a deal in mind but bell has to agree with it.

BCE has already covered that possibilty.

They reponded to theCRTC last year that 28 of 64 NIMIQs tranponders are reserved for HD.

Yah right.

Charlie tells the FCC that a merged E*/DTV with over 18,000,000 subs will have 12 HD services (using 4 or 6 transponders)

BCE tells CRTC 28 transponders for 56 or 74 HD services

Who do you think is closer to the truth?

[Arthur]

Those 28 transponders for HD are at 82 deg and have nothing to do with my question. (no I don't believe it)

How will Charlie take over the transponders at 91 deg when Xvu has them leased?

Now if Charlie and Xvu had a plan to share the transponders at 82 deg, that would make more sense.

[beerme1]

Originally Posted by travisc

I resent the implication that I was thinking or had a line of thought!

Number 43 fall back in line. :lol:

I was thinking of some comments you have made here along the lines of people that come here know what is going on but most of the population does not.
And my implication for the bandwidth issue is that ma and pa kettle watching on their 20" set would know more about soup than bandwidth.
And I suggest that 70 % of subs fit into this.