Some Dish Network customers in Colorado and around the country could see their broadcast channels go dark, following a U.S. District Court ruling in Florida. After nine years of litigation, Douglas County-based EchoStar Communications Corp. - operator of Dish Network - must shut off its out-of- market feeds of ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox on Dec. 1. That’s based on an injunction issued Friday by U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas in Florida. “If they turn off distant-network feeds, customers will be irate and angry. There’s going to be an uprising on Dec. 2 when the channels go black,” said Don Bendell, co-owner of Durango-based Louisa’s Movie House and Electronics. “We deal with this on a daily basis. It’s a complete hassle.” Dimitrouleas upheld a May appellate court ruling stating that EchoStar violated copyright law by beaming network programs broadcast from cities such as New York and Los Angeles to households ineligible to receive those signals. EchoStar in August had reached a $100 million settlement on the issue with independently owned and operated affiliates of NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox. Only 25 local Fox stations directly owned by Fox rejected the settlement. Fox parent News Corp. controls DirecTV, EchoStar’s satellite TV competitor Dimitrouleas denied the settlement agreement and EchoStar’s request for a hearing. EchoStar is expected to appeal the decision. “EchoStar will continue to do everything possible to prevent consumers from losing their distant-network channels,” said the company in a statement Monday. “We will ask Congress to clarify the statutory language, and ask the courts to re-consider their decision.” About 800,000 of EchoStar’s 12.5 million subscribers receive distant-network signals. The ruling does not affect Dish Network customers who receive local broadcast channels via satellite. In order to qualify for distant-network access, customers must typically be unable to receive local broadcast programming over the air. In Durango, a large majority of Dish Network customers receive distant-network signals, in order to watch local news and sports programming originating from Denver. The city falls within Albuquerque’s local TV market, so in order to view local programming from Denver, customers must qualify and pay for distant-network signals - about $1.50 per local channel, per month. For Brian Olson of Highlands Ranch, distant-network signals from the CBS station in New York City has allowed him to view the network’s programming in high-definition for more than two years. He said he will keep his Dish Network service. “I doubt many subscribers will give up their Dish Network,” he said. “It (distant-network signals) was a nice thing while it lasted.” http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_4539050

Healthy Canadian Networks (HCN) and Primacy Management Inc. (Primacy) will combine forces to put TV programming content and technology delivery solutions in more than 60 medical centre sites across Canada.

HCN’s PatientDirect TV is a video program, distributed to physicians’ office waiting areas, over the Internet and watched by patients on large-screen video monitors, before their visit with their doctor.

Primacy locations are scheduled to install PatientDirect TV within their waiting areas by the end of this year, the companies describe. Each Primacy site will feature a modified PatientDirect TV health programming on one or more large flat screen LCD monitors, with customized Primacy content included in an approximate 20 minute video loop. Air time will be made available for interested sponsors and advertisers, in conjunction with HCN’s existing PatientDirect TV sites. Once all installations are completed, the combined Primacy and HCN networks will boast video screens in 175 large-clinic physician waiting rooms across Canada and with a monthly audience of 900,000 viewers.

The PatientDirect TV program focuses on prevention, health tips, new clinical research, disease management as well as offering daily news, sports and weather features, specific to various parts of Canada. In addition, HCN offers potential advertisers with the opportunity to promote their products and services by purchasing “air time” on PatientDirect TV video program.

“HCN is excited to have one of Canada’s premier group of Medical Centres join the PatientDirect TV network”, enthused HCN’s President, Dr. Don Wilson. “With 400 family physicians and close to 2.5 million new viewers per annum coming on-board, our health awareness and lifestyle related content will achieve a far greater reach and presence in the Canadian marketplace. Located exclusively in Loblaws retail locations, Primacy’s medical centres will add compelling value for potential PatientDirect TV sponsors and advertisers. After roll-out of the Primacy sites, we look forward to add even more PatientDirect TV sites over the coming months.”

“Primacy is very pleased and comfortable with its decision to use HCN’s programming and technology solution in all of its medical centre locations”, states Primacy President, John Boag. ” HCN’s experience in the area of remote video communications and insightful, stylized, video health content, made our decision to subscribe to their service an easy one. Particularly important is HCN’s close relationship with the College of Family Physicians of Canada, who sit on HCN’s Editorial Board. We are confident that our “Primacy TV” network will be a great success, and will be enjoyed by both our physicians and patients alike.”

Established in 2003, Primacy is a medical management company with an exclusive arrangement with Loblaws Companies Limited to set up and manage family practice and walk-in medical clinics at many of its stores across Canada. To date, Primacy has established 60 medical centers in 9 provinces across Canada.

Established in 1998, HCN is a niche-market media and communications company, specializing in the delivery of services to the health-care sector, including Internet-based delivery of TV programming.

Programming from content providers like the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the CBC, the Weather Network, Dr. Paul, and others, is designed to inform and educate patients while they wait to see their physician. The PatientDirect TV network is funded through advertising and sponsorship programs. The company has offices in Toronto and Ottawa.

http://www.mediacastermagazine.com

I have been a Direct TV customer for years and it seems my controlled way of watching television had gotten the better of me. I always knew that Direct TV offered XM radio on their stations, but I never truly checked them out. As I said earlier, I must have programmed myself to stay in the low hundred’s, because channels 801 through 879 were somewhat foreign to me. A few months ago I left the television on a contemporary

jazz channel while doing chores. It was at the moment when I was screwing in the blown light bulb that a big bright idea hit me. I suddenly realized that “Direct TV offers XM Satellite Radio” essentially for free. You must be thinking what’s wrong with this guy? That is like a totally blond moment right there. I knew it existed; I just never took the time to totally enjoy it, or explore the full capabilities of.

With my real world revelation and my excitement bubbling over, I got to work in making the most of this beauty XM RADIO BABY!!!!!!. In the past month I have set my stereo up to the satellite and used the music from the modern jazz channel as a backdrop for a dinner party I hosted. I also bought a little mini stereo system for my room and connected it to the Direct TV system. I am a person who loves to sleep to music, so now I am able to hear smooth jazz courtesy of XM radio. I can fall asleep and wake up to the lustrous sounds of jazz riffs and guitar strums.

XM & Direct TV is really a perfect combination. There are more revelations I found out, but I will keep that for a later time. I will not overload you with information that will leave you guys saying “Jeez, what’s up with this dude.”