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From: jimb@tekcbi.UUCP (Jim Boland)
Newsgroups: net.video
Subject: Re: Satellite Signal Scrambling
Message-ID: <529@tekcbi.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 27-Feb-86 19:08:43 EST
Article-I.D.: tekcbi.529
Posted: Thu Feb 27 19:08:43 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Mar-86 18:28:21 EST
References: <156@jc3b21.UUCP> <733@ihlpm.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR
Lines: 89
Summary: not all dish owners care about scrambling

In article <733@ihlpm.UUCP>, terry2@ihlpm.UUCP (Nelson) writes:
> 
>   Emery Mandel writes:
> > Earlier this year, HBO and Cinemax started
> > scrambling their satellite signals. They said that
> > they were losing millions because people were able
> > to get their signal and not pay for it through
> > "relatively inexpensive" backyard satellite
> > dishes.
> > 
> > Did they think about how much satellite dish sales
> > would go down?
> 
>   (mild dish flame on)
> 
> Why should HBO care about sagging dish sales?  Who do you
> think is paying indirectly for HBO's losses?  I'll bet I'm paying
> more for HBO because of those lost revenues from satellite dishes.
I agree.  HBO (and other programmers) should not care what happens to
dish sales as that is not the market they are interested in.  They are
in the business of supplying programming for cable viewers.  That programming
costs money and that money must come from somewhere.  Owners of satellite
dishes do not possess any "rights" to view that programming without paying,
contrary to their belief and any laws which have been passed.  However, I
doubt that you are paying more for HBO because of lost revenues.  
And besides, HBO has publicly stated that they are not after the individual
dish owner.  They are after the bars, taverns, hotels, and motels - the ones
who use one dish to feed many people without paying.

>Did they think about how people
> > might turn to home video rather than cable and
> > satellite programming?
> 
> What people?  You mean the people who paid $2000+ for a satellite
> dish knowing they would get HBO (and others) free?  What about MOST
> HBO viewers who regularly pay for the service through their cable
> company?  Sounds like Mr. Mandel is a satellite dish owner who has
> enjoyed HBO "free" and is now upset that he'll have to pay for it
> like most people.  Note that the $2000+ paid for the dish and the
> electronics does not pay for, or contribute to, the programming that
> dish owners receive.  Furthermore they all knew that when they
> paid for them..
> 
People would turn whether HBO (and others) scrambled or not.  Those
of us who have had dishes for some time (I've had one for four years)
long ago realized that there is nothing on HBO (or the other movie
channels) that we really care to see, anyway.  I would much prefer to
rent a movie when I want to for $1 than pay HBO for all the repeats and
other stuff they have.  My feeling is to let them scramble.  Who really
cares???  They have a right to protect their investment.  I realize that
this may be no-no for a dish owner to say, but that's how many of us feel.

> 
> > Did they think about how customers they had on
> > CABLE might have discontinued service because of
> > disgust with the greedy attitude of HBO?
> 
> Greedy?  Hmmm.. Just who is being greedy here?  HBO is just trying
> to get everyone who watches it to pay for it.  Doesn't sound too
> greedy to me.  However, dish-owners who get upset because they
> can't get HBO free anymore........
I agree with your statement completely.  Many dish owners feel that since
they have invested $1000 in a satellite dish then they are entitled to 
watch everything.  They even use the argument that it was american taxpayers
who paid to put up the satellite and therefore the american people should be
able to watch anything that is up there.
Happily, there are also many dish owners who do not agree to any of this 
crazy logic.

Besides, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH.

Basically, If I have a dish and happen to see something up there, then I
see it.  If that program supplier doesn't want me to see it, he will 
scramble it.  Fine. No problem.  Most of the stuff will be eventually
scrambled.  I am not worried.  What do I watch, you ask??
Well, I would say that I probably watched about three movies in the last
two months, probably on Movie Channel (cause it's in stereo) - as opposed
to renting about 10-12 movies in the same time frame for $1 each.
(Special dollar nites).  I use the dish to watch David Letterman @9:30
instead of staying up.  Usually, most of the time, it stays parked on
the ABC east coast feed.  I used to park on the NASA feed when they were
up. Sometimes I watch the Dallas station (which is not carried on cables
here).  I look at the Mexican stations occasionally.  Most of the time
I just scan looking for different things.  I also get to see the PBS
programs that aren't carried by our local affiliate.  
Sounds like I watch a lot of satellite TV.  Not hardly.  My total TV
time is less than 4-5 hours a week including rented movies.

And of course, these are only my opinions.