DISH Network announced yesterday it is the first in the television service industry to offer all MPEG-4 based video encoding. In the eastern half of the U.S., in 21 markets, DISH customers with the MPEG-4 HD or HD DVR receivers will be the first to receive the advanced encoding service. At the same time, the satellite television provider is promoting its all high-definition package TurboHD.
The 21 markets include: Cleveland; Richmond, Va.; Baltimore.; Columbia, S.C.; Tampa, Fla; Green Bay, Wis.; Greensboro, N.C.; Providence, R.I.; Greenville, S.C., Knoxville, Tenn.; Raleigh, N.C.; Chicago; Detroit; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas; Nashville, Tenn.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Philadelphia.; Washington, D.C.; New York, N.Y.; and Hartford, Conn.
“DISH Network once again leads the pack in providing customers with an unparalleled entertainment experience. Our complete MPEG-4 solution — which will offer up to 150 HD channels by the end of the year — uses the most advanced technology in the industry to deliver the best quality picture to any television set in the home,” said Jessica Insalaco, Chief Marketing Officer for DISH Network.
DISH recently released a new DTV converter box for customers who want to receive free over-the-air local digital channels. The TR-40 CRA will sell for $40, $20 less than the company’s DTVPal which is basically the same converter. Why the difference in price? DISH may have been looking for that extra $20 that many other retailers were trying to squeeze out of customers with $40 DTV coupons.
