Satellite companies false Advertising?

[Gugi47]

Satellite companies false Advertising?
False Advertising?

November 17, 2009
For the past few years there has been an ongoing debate between satellite companies on who has more HD channels. Dish likes counting regional sports networks which are not true 24 hour HD channels, instead Dish only carries select games from these RSN’s in HD. DirecTV on the other hand counts the number of HD pay per view channels they offer. Using creative math both companies can call themselves the HD leaders.
If you are shopping for a satellite provider and HD is an interest to you, be sure to check the HD channel lineup to make sure the HD channels you want are carried by the satellite provider your thinking of going with.
Another thing I have seen both satellite providers advertising a lot lately is 1080p High Definition. Both Dish Network and DirecTV offer some PPV and VOD movies in 1080p. But what I saw from Dish Network the other day floored me.
In a commercial where Dish toots its horns for its great technology it mentions that they offer 1080p then show a picture of a screen showing ESPN with a graphic on the screen showing 1080p and 16 x 9 ratio.

(above is a screen shot of the ad in question)
To me this ad needs to be pulled immediately. While Dish does have 1080p content in the form of Pay Per View and VOD, ESPN is not broadcast on Dish Network in 1080p. In fact at last check ESPN only broadcasts in 720p format. The ad makes it seem like ESPN is being broadcast in 1080p when it’s not.


Don’t think that DirecTV is innocent here, a number of ads from DirecTV lately have been declaring its HD is 1080p and again only Pay Per View and VOD offers 1080p not your regular broadcast programming.



At this time don’t fall for the 1080p hype from either provider unless you love watch PPV or VOD movies, as that’s all you are going to get from them in 1080p. And honestly in a number of tests many people really can’t tell the difference between 1080i and 1080p.
Don’t be fooled by the hype, instead take a look at both providers for yourself and decide which is best for you and your family.