Audio Video News

The animosity is heating up between the <A HREF="http://www.disney.com">Walt Disney Company</A> and direct satellite broadcaster <A HREF="http://www.echostar.com">EchoStar</A>. Following EchoStar's removal of Disney's ESPN Classic from its offerings, the DBSer is now trying to drop the ABC Family channel, another Disney operation.

Versatile, low-cost set-top boxes are coming soon, thanks to a joint venture announced February 23 by digital television software developer <A HREF="http://www.opentv.com/">OpenTV</A> and direct-broadcast satellite service <A HREF="http://www.echostar.com/">EchoStar Communications Corporation</A>. The device will incorporate both interactive features and a hard-disk recorder, and may be rolled out by EchoStar's DISH Network by the end of the year.

Financial life is looking good for <A HREF="http://www.echostar.com">EchoStar Communications Corporation</A>. The Littleton, CO-based direct broadcast satellite operator reported second-quarter profits of $45.8 million, with revenue up 21%, to $1.17 billion. EchoStar's subscribership increased by 295,000 during the quarter, and the company is predicting that it could add more than 1.2 million new subscribers to its DISH network in 2002, with a total approaching eight million by year's end. EchoStar reported the results August 15.

EchoStar Communications Corporation and Hughes Electronics Corporation, parent company of DirecTV, are still hopeful of a merger, despite regulatory opposition. The two would-be partners are working on concessions that could win over officials at the Federal Communications Commission and the US Justice Department.

<B>DISH Network to offer Warner movies on-demand and in HD</B><BR>
The ever changing face of video distribution continues to evolve. EchoStar and Warner have signed off on deal that will allow DISH Network customers to access to Warner's new releases and catalog titles via its "Dish On Demand" and pay-per-view services in standard and high-definition.

The economy is tanking, Circuit City is dying, and Netflix posted a 30% increase in profits. It makes sense — the cost of a night out at the movies, especially for the whole family costs more than months worth of Netflix subscription fees. ...