CABL Forum - Re: Pecking order

Dcable,

I disagree with those who said know everything or get out! You could be the guy to fix things from inside.
I'll type slow for ya.

Both Dish and Directv buy and resell programming. They compete with each other, OTA local channels and CATV for mostly residential business. I'll skilp the history and differences between DISH & DirectTV.

Some things to know = Cable companies, the big CATV operators, built Primestar to allow a small dish installation of their cable feed to allow their systems to service many more addresses that could be reached within about 200' of their "plant."
As folks like Comcast discovered that their CATV customers were cutting the wire off the wall and giving the finger to Comcast crappy service..these same customers were flocking to PrimeStar. Comcast and the other PrimeStar "partners" discovered that their bandaid little dish company was effectively competing with their cable companies BECAUSE the PrimeStar Partners were all covering the losses to provide a superior system.

Eventually PrimeStar Partners sold their customer lists to ........wait for it....Directv! Brilliant!

Now DISH and DirecTV grind each other. The generalizations = DISH is a little cheaper. DirecTV has superior sports offerings. The owners & stockholders of DISH make more money than the owners and stockholders of Directv. In spite of all the stupid ads from both sides customers will change service for short term savings, loss or gain of ONE channel / program and crappy reception (like the CATV folks.)

+A choke point for North American satellite service = a clear Line of Sight (LOS) to the south. North facing customers without a clear south shot will never get either sat service.

The other part of your question can be answered with the summary question; ... How far can you drive and make money?
What has been happening is DirecTV has developed an in-house sort of / independent but, butt to butt contractor relationship with Home Service Providers (HSPs) who have done the local solutions (screw jobs). These HSPs find local subcontractors who have no problem stealing from local labor.

And that is some of what you are inheriting. If you try to hire local labor yourself they already have the tee shirt because they were on the tour and will not work for you. But look at the bright side; ...if the previous HSP contractor shows up they may kill him and post the pictures here.

Enjoy!

Joe.................who could be wrong about everything above.

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Re: Pecking order