XPost: rec.video.satellite.tvro, rec.answers 
 From: drlev@hotmail.com 
  
 Archive-name: Satellite-TV/TVRO/part3 
 Posting-Frequency: 15 Days 
 Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. 
  
  
  
 PART THREE - Programming 
  
 * What Programming is Available on BUDs? 
  
 In a single word, LOTS! More than any DBS system can shake a stick at. And 
 better picture quality, too. Much better. Since TVRO is the primary 
 distribution 
 system of programming to cable TV head ends, this is where you are going to 
 find 
 virtually all "cable-type" subscription programming. These days, however, 
 the 
 true BUD aficionado probably wants more than just typical cable stuff. Here 
 is 
 a 
 short summary of what TVRO has to offer: 
  
     * News - Not only regular CNN and Headline News stuff, but wild network 
     news feeds from ABC, CBS, and NBC, as well as international news and 
     regional news networks. Don't forget financial news and the weather. 
  
     * Sports - Probably the most sports available for your dollar. ESPN, as 
     well as the regional Fox Sports Net networks and specialty sports 
     programming. Most professional sports backhauls are encrypted but not 
     necessarily *all* of them, not to mention a large amount of college 
     sports backhauls are in-the-clear. Football, basketball, baseball, 
     hockey, you name it, it's on BUD. 
  
     * Movies - This is where TVRO really shines! Not just one measly HBO 
     and Showtime, but all the premium movie channel multiplex packages: all 
     the Cinemax, The Movie Channel, Encore, Flix, and Starz! you can 
     *possibly* imagine! There are also sources of independent movies such 
     as the premium Sundance Channel and the non-premium Independent Film 
     Channel. Older movies also abound with American Movie Classics, 
     B-Mania, Fox Movie Channel, and Turner Classic Movies. HBO and Showtime 
     are also the first subscription networks to have HDTV channels for 
     those with high-definition televisions. You may need a lifetime supply 
     of popcorn for all the movies to be watched! 
  
     * Music - Not just MTV and VH1, but Country Music Television and Great 
     American Country for those country and western lovers, MTV Jams & MTV2 
     for rockers, and VH1 Classic Rock & VH1 Mega Hits for those who like to 
     rock with the volume a *bit* lower! Don't forget the audio of Digital 
     Music Express (DMX) and MusicChoice as well as radio "superstations" 
     like jazz station KLON Long Beach, a long time favorite of BUD 
     listeners! 
  
     * Religion - TVRO wins hands down over DBS here! Whether of the 
     Protestant, Catholic, or any other Christian persuasion, it's here on 
     channels like Trinity Broadcasting and Eternal Word TV Network. Muslim 
     programming is also available, especially with a digital FTA receiver 
     (more on this later). 
  
     * Foreign Language and International - TVRO wins again! Tons of Spanish 
     language programming is available, much of it not found anywhere else. 
     You can also find programming in French, German, Italian, Arabic, 
     Farsi, Japanese, and other languages for the internationally inclined. 
     International programming abounds for those truly interested in 
     television from a different cultural viewpoint. Lots of international 
     and foreign language audio, too. 
  
     * Kids - Whether for learning or just for fun, big dish offers lots of 
     programming for the little ones. Not just Nickelodeon but Discovery 
     Kids, Nick Too, Nick Games and Sports, PBS Kids, and Noggin. Kids' 
     programming in the morning on The Learning Channel. Not to 
     mention...cartoons! Cartoon Network and Toon Disney should satisfy your 
     kids' animated cravings. 
  
     * Family - Big dish is truly a bastion of family-oriented programming 
     served as an safer alternative to much of the not-so-family oriented 
     programming on TV today. ABC Family Channel and the PAX Network are 
     good for starters, but also less well known networks such as America 
     One Television and others provide good, wholesome entertainment for the 
     entire family. 
  
     * Adult - Need I say more? More here than anywhere else.... 
  
     * Educational - This is another area where big dish dominates. Not only 
     do you get PBS, but Discovery Channel and its specialty multiplex 
     channels, TLC, and others. Not to mention university channels from 
     institutions such as BYU and the University of Southern California. 
  
     * Lottery Drawings - Big dish owners have the privilege of being able 
     to view state and interstate lottery drawings from all over the United 
     States. Time to check those lucky numbers! 
  
     * Dr. Gene Scott - A longtime big dish institution by himself. Love him 
     or hate him, he probably isn't going anywhere anytime soon... 
  
 This is just a small listing of the programming available. Enjoy! 
  
 * What about the broadcast networks? Can I get them with my big dish system? 
  
 Yes. But keep in mind that they are probably going to be distant network 
 affiliates to you, and availability is subject to the quality of your 
 over-the-air network reception quality. 
  
 The two sets of major network channels are part of the Denver 5 package and 
 the 
 former Prime Time 24 package of affiliates. The actual affiliates are 
 subject 
 to 
 change at any given time. Currently, they are: 
  
      Denver 5              PT 24 
  
  ABC KMGH Denver      WKRN Nashville 
  CBS KCNC Denver      WSEE Erie, Penn. 
  NBC KUSA Denver      WNBC New York 
  Fox  -     -         - 
  WB KWGN Denver       - 
  
 KDVR, Denver's Fox affiliate, as well as a national Fox feed, are also 
 available 
 separately. These network channels are available via subscription. These 
 networks are also only available if you live outside your locals' Grade A or 
 Grade B signal coverage areas. This is done at the discretion of your 
 subscription provider usually. Since TVRO is *not* a closed system like 
 cable 
 television or DBS, it is NOT subject to network affiliate must-carry rules 
 mandated by the FCC in the U.S. 
  
 Note that other network channels sometimes show up in-the-clear, 
 particularly 
 ABC. NBC is still in the clear, but you need special equipment to receive it 
 (more on this later). CBS is usually encrypted, as well as Fox. WGN 
 Chicago, a 
 popular subscription channel and one of the superstations that still 
 remain, as 
 well as WPIX and KTLA. 
  
 If getting the networks via satellite doesn't sound like an option, your 
 over-the-air antenna will work fine with your satellite system and over-the- 
 air 
 signals will pass through the receiver just fine. Of course, the signal 
 quality 
 will be inferior if it isn't an HDTV digital signal. 
  
 * What are the requirements for subscribing to the networks? 
  
 Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (the "SHVIA") 
  
 [continued in next message] 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)