I’ve said it before, and I will probably say it again, all 1080p content is not the same. There is more to picture quality than lines of resolution or pixel count, bit rate is equally important, if not more so. With DirecTV, DISH Network, VUDU, and others touting their 1080p content they’re often comparing it to the gold standard in home video - Blu-ray Disc. As DISH Network did just the other day: “Blu-Ray Disc quality 1080p resolution”. And that doesn’t get into the audio, which doesn’t come close to the lossless audio available on many Blu-ray titles. Well, it looks like the Blu-ray Disc Association has finally had enough, according to David Mercer at StrategyAnalytics:

These claims have clearly struck a sensitive nerve within the Blu-ray community, which, given their strategy as outlined above, is perhaps not surprising. Today the BDA has given me the following statement:

“A number of companies have recently launched advertising campaigns claiming their products deliver high definition picture and sound “equal” to that delivered by Blu-ray Disc. These comparisons are irresponsible and are misleading to consumers. Up conversion and satellite broadcast cannot provide a true Blu-ray high definition experience, as neither is technically capable of producing the quality delivered by Blu-ray players and Blu-ray discs. To that end, the Blu-ray Disc Association is exploring these claims further and will take appropriate action, as necessary, to prevent consumers seeking the ultimate in high-definition home entertainment from being misled.”

I’m happy to see this. Blu-ray has struggled to educate consumers about higher quality home cinema, and now that it is started to gain recognition and traction in the market other vendors are trying to ride their coattails by tricking consumers into thinking they offer the same quality experience just because they’re also ‘1080p’.

Picked up from EngadgetHD.

DISH Network now offers all of the standard- and high-definition programming via MPEG-4 AVC in 21 markets: Cleveland, OH; Richmond, VA; Baltimore, MD; Columbia, SC; Tampa, FL; Green Bay, WI; Greensboro, NC; Providence, RI; Greenville, SC, Knoxville, TN; Raleigh, NC; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Charlotte, NC; Dallas, TX; Nashville, TN; Minneapolis, MN; Philadelphia, PA; Washington, DC; New York, NY; and Hartford, CN. The all-AVC service will be rolled out to additional markets over time. DISH is the first pay-TV provider to offer all-AVC service.

The migration to MPEG-4 AVC away from MPEG-2 will allow DISH Network to add additional channels, especially HD content, as the new codec is more efficient and allows for more channels to be carried by the available satellite transponders.

Dish issued a press release, though I take issue with the phrase “Blu-Ray Disc quality 1080p resolution”. While it may be 1080p HD content, and Blu-ray is indeed 1080p, DISH sure as hell is not coming close to the bitrates delivered by Blu-ray (nor would I expect them to), so they can’t match the overall image quality. Not to mention the lossless audio available on many Blu-ray titles. Here’s the release:

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Back at CES, EchoStar announced the TR-40 ATSC digital converter with an expected MSRP of $39.99. That would make it free after the $40 government coupon. Then it appeared to be rebranded as the DISH Network DTVPal, which launched with a $59.99 MSRP.

To muddy the waters a bit more, DISH Network is now offering the TR-40 CRA for $39.99 - free with a coupon. And it looks like the TR-40 CRA is identical to the DTVPal, save for the labels. From the site’s FAQ:

What is the difference between TR-40 CRA and DTVPal?

TR-40 CRA is a special limited production version of the DTVPal. Offered at the government coupon price of $40, the TR-40 CRA includes the highly-acclaimed features and functionality of the DTVPal.

DTVPal has garnered much praise in recent months and is recommended as a “top choice” by CNET. DTVPal’s amazing features and consumer-friendly technology make it a great value at only $19.99 with a $40 government coupon.

So if you’re in need of a set-top box for the DTV transition you can get the TR-40 CRA free with a government coupon, and get the same hardware and features as the $60 DTVPal, which is $20 with the coupon.

Interestingly the NTIA list of approved set top boxes also includes the EchoStar TR-40 and a DISH Network DTVPal Plus, both of which are listed as approved, but currently unavailable. At first I thought the DTVPal Plus might be the EchoStar TR-50 ATSC DVR shown at CES, but it can’t be as having the TR-50s capabilities make it ineligible for a coupon, hence it wouldn’t be on the approved list. Curious.

Disclaimer: I work for Sling Media, which is owned by EchoStar.

EchoStar Monday announced that they’ve signed a tru2way Host Device License Agreement with CableLabs, which allows them to implement devices using CableCARD and OCAP/tru2way. This may seem odd at first, since EchoStar is often conflated with DISH Network, but remember that EchoStar and DISH split into separate companies, and EchoStar is pursuing non-satellite markets such as OTA with the DTVPal (ironically being marketed by DISH Network) and cable with devices like the SlingModem, from EchoStar subsidiary Sling Media.

This license does open up new possibilities. A CableCARD-enabled Slingbox, perhaps. EchoStar could take their DVR platform, as used by DISH Network, and re-purpose it as a CableCARD DVR for cable MSOs and/or consumers. Something like the recently announced 722s DVR with built-in Slingbox & SlingCatcher features, only for cable, could be quite an interesting product. (Perhaps waiting for the final act in the DVR patent lawsuit with TiVo to remove any uncertainty for customers.) They could produce a whole new cable STB unrelated to any of their current platforms. It will certainly be interesting to see what they do with the license, I’m sure they didn’t sign it just for laughs.

Their press release is below:
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I think Wednesday must have been a slow news day in Illinois. WCIA Channel 3 decided to do a little filler news piece on the DISH Network vs. TiVo patent suit. It’s a little chopping on the details, not surprising for a <3 minute light piece on a lawsuit that has run for a few years. The main focus seems to be the threat that DISH Network could be ordered to disable their DVRs in the field if they’re found to be in contempt by the court. (Personally I don’t see that happening. If DISH were ordered to disable their DVRs I foresee a very quick license agreement with TiVo to keep them on.) The story also appeared on the associated IllinoisHomepage.net and in their discussion forums.

Disclaimer: I’m employed by Sling Media, which is owned by EchoStar.

DISH Network just reported their most recent financial results, and Reuters’ MediaFile blog has several quotes from DISH CEO Charlie Ergen on a variety of topics. But the one I was most interested in, and likely of most interest to readers of this blog, was on the ongoing lawsuit with TiVo:

On on-going litigation between DISH and TiVo which might impact 4 to 6 million DISH subscribers if the satellite company loses:

What we did was we designed around the TiVo patent and patent law encourages people to be innovative and our guys were very innovative and used some very sophisticated algorithms and so fourth to design around the TiVo patent. I believe we’ll prevail but TiVo, we’re going to have conversations with TiVo one way or the other about how we work together, and again, I’m just stubborn. I know this case inside and out. I’ve sat through trials. I’ve sat through the engineering models. I’ve sat and had the best and the brightest explain this to us, and I’m just stubborn. We don’t violate their intellectual property today, and I want to prove that. And so we’re going to go to the September 4th hearing and see who is right and so far, TiVo has been right.

We’re a month away from the September 4th hearing, when we’ll see the next chapter in this ongoing saga play out.

Disclaimer: I’m employed by Sling Media, which is owned by EchoStar, which also has Charlie Ergen as CEO.