> ... Direct TV has given me the
 > verdict:  only one property per head-end.
 > They cite legal, and FCC reasons...
 > Is this another example
 > of the cable company having an unfair regulatory
 > advantage, or is Direct TV being overly cautious in a new market.
 CY> However, it sounds to me like you described one property.
 CY> There are 3 buildings at one location owned by the same
 CY> company.  That is one property isn't it?
 
 Well, the 3 motels I was referring to are actually on separate legally
 described lots, which are adjacent.  I suppose the original lot may have 
 been sub-divided.  That allows the owner to sell the motels singly.  
 Programmers and motel owners tend to refer to their accounts as 
properties*.
 
 > BTW, the Dish Network system was about $15,000 more than the
 > Direct TV/USSB system; the receivers are twice the
 > cost, and the programming is a lot more per month.
 > No competition there at all.
 CY> I am surprised about the programming being higher from the Dish
 CY> Network.  I would have thought that it would be comparable to
 CY> the difference in residential rates.
 So did I, but look at these differences, and bear in mind that both Dish
 network and Direct TV have bundled the channels into program packages, 
 which makes it almost impossible to make direct comparisons.
 DISH NETWORK                           DIRECT TV
        CNN                                     CNN
        Headline News                           Headline News
        Weather Channel                         Weather Channel
        TNT                                     TNT
        ESPN & ESPN2                            ESPN & ESPN2
        ________________________________________USA_____________
                2.90 per rm/per mo.             2.11 per rm/per mo.
        Discovery                               Discovery
        Family Ch.                              Family Ch.
        USA                                     Learning Ch.
        ________________________________________AMC_____________
                1.30                            .47
        Sci-Fi Ch.                              Sci-Fi Ch.
        E! Entertainment Ch.                    E! Entertainment Ch.
        Comedy Ch.______________________________Court TV__________
                .75                             .23
 When you add up 20-40 channels with these kinds of differences over a
 period of five years, you get many thousands.  I have no idea why Dish
 Network has priced themselves out of the commercial business. Perhaps
 they were trying to allign their prices with existing C-band commercial
 rates, or cable rates ($12/rm/mo.).
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