Russian TV

[KenC]

We just recently had DirecTV install a new dish for International TV.  The Russian programing is great.  There are 5 channels.  There is the most popular Moscow channel, some movie channels and a Ukrainian music channel.  I believe this is a new package offered by DirecTV.  The cost for the package is $29 for 4 channels and $14 more for the 5th one.  A small price to pay for one happy Russian wife!

This is by far the best Russian TV package we have found.  We had the Dish Network for quite a while and Lena was very unhappy with it.  Their package included 3 channels.  The news program was really American news about Russia and was heavily influenced by Russian Jews in America.  Lots of viewpoints from Isreal and such.  The movie channel was a joke as the movies were very very old.  The only real value (?) to Lena was the South American soap operas that she used to watch back home.  This package cost $29.

While on the subject of TV; did anyone watch "My Name is Earl" last night?  There was a MOB RW character that displayed every terrible side that could have been shown in the few moments she was on.  A guy that owned a pawn shop had recently installed a computer and was showing off his new bride.  One of his comments was that he got free shipping because she was over 30!:shock:  Even though it was terribly derogatory, it was funny.  You have to understand that the whole show revolves around the underbelly of lowclass Americans, so the RW was of the same level.

KenC

[TigerPaws]

[color="#0000ff"][size="4"]KenC,[/size][/color]    [color="#0000ff"][size="4"]

 Dish Network recently had an  unannounced programming change and my lady truly disliked the new programming,  it seems that the good channels and programming went to Direct TV so we are  about to switch to Direct TV as soon as we can resolve the billing issues  because of not having a physical residence in the U.S. but from what we have  been told that is a minor issue but we may have to put into Miami to resolve  it.[/size][/color]

[KenC]

When Lena spoke to DirecTV about adding the 5th channel, they told her that they were blown away by the positive respose to Russian TV in America.  They said they had 2 million subscribers already.

KenC

[RacerX]

Funny, I had just called this AM to have it installed on Monday.  We needed to get the new antenna/receiver, but the price quoted was $0.  It's great news to hear they have so many subscribers since it might well mean even more programming/channels in the future.

[KenC]

RacerX,

Be sure to check out the DVR that you can also get with the package.  The initial cost is $149, but there is a $100 rebate.  Hook the girl up in style!  BTW, the quality is outstanding too.

KenC

[TigerPaws]

[color="blue"][size="4"]KenC,

 Interesting I was quoted $200.00 plus a $200.00 rebate, well it is all the same net $0.00 I guess just interesting.

 
[/size][/color]

[RacerX]

KenC ~ I haven't been following their hardware very closely, is the DVR an optional receiver model, or an add-on unit?

[Admin]

KenC ~ I haven't been following their hardware very closely, is the DVR an optional receiver model, or an add-on unit?

RacerX - head over to www.avsforum.com - or their sister site www.dbstalk.com ASAP to get the latest news on promotional offerings.

Bottom line is - NONE of the content providers (cable or satellite) are interested in offering ANYTHING to existing customers - whereas they ALL offer attractive packages for NEW subscribers.

Dish has formally announced that in February, they are switching their HD content over to MPEG-4, and with accompanying equipment. This is a technology leap over DirecTV - which, in part, explains the attractive offers by DirecTV right now.

As for Russian stations - Dish *used to* have the best - but it now seems to have shifted over to DirecTV. The packages from Dish are:

ValuePak with TVCI and NTV America for 24.99/mo - and
RTVI/RTVI+ for another 24.99/mo

A total of 4 channels if you subscribe to all of them - at a cost of $50/mo.

Not sure which stations, or costs, are in the DirecTC package(s) - but it might prove interesting to compare/contrast them.

You may want to also be attentive to the HDTV options available to you with DirecTV or Dish. Soon, all US broadcast companies will ONLY broadcast in Digital - and most will broadcase exclusively in HD. The cable and satellite companies take those feeds and apply a number of compression and sampling algorithms which somewhat degrades the picture quality over what you can get over-the-air from the stations themselves.

Once again - on the avsforum site, they have each and every major city listed with active discussion threads about each one. If you look at Denver, you will see that Denver has extremely serious problems with OTA HD transmissions. There are more than 13,000 posts in the currrent thread - and this is the THIRD thread (other 2 are archived). All other markets have maybe a few thousand posts. This is due to the incredible decisions some of the network stations have made here - and the political situation associated with transmission towers.

Just FYI

- Dan

[KenC]

KenC ~ I haven't been following their hardware very closely, is the DVR an optional receiver model, or an add-on unit?

It is an optional receiver/DVR combo.

KenC

[Erwin]

Ken,

My wife also disliked all Russian programming offered by Dish Network  for the same reasons as outlined in your letter.  She wanted to  watch Channel One Russia, the most popular television channel in  Russia, among other channels.   So, we also have recently  switched from Dish Network to DirectTV.   My wife is very  happy with DirectTV.  

Dish Network used to carry Channel One Russia and dropped it apparently  because of the programming fee issue.   Rupert Murdoch was  smart enough to pick it up.

Regards,

E
 

[Vaughn]

[align=center]I'm usually the last to know[/align]

It figures that DirecTV has signed up 2 million new suscribers to the Russian package, and I'm just now hearing about it. As Dan said, they're not too interested
in the existing accounts - growing their base is the target. OK OK, I'll call 'em tomorrow - my wife's BD
is 04 Feb, might be a very cool gift.

BTW, why is the 5th channel so much higher in price relative to the other four?


[align=center][/align]

[KenC]

BTW, why is the 5th channel so much higher in price relative to the other four?

Because it is the best one.  Channel 1 from Moscow.  BTW, the music channel had some very good programing on tonight for the New Years Day holiday.  Most were American songs, sung in Russian in a music video style.

KenC

[/size]

[ConnerVT]

As Dan said, they're not too interested in the existing accounts - growing their base is the target.

They'll love you again after you leave them... 

[Vaughn]

They'll love you again after you leave them...  

That's for sure. Ten years ago I had MCI and Sprint sending me bonus checks over and over just for switching...

Because it is the best one.  Channel 1 from Moscow.  

Figures. When I told my wife about the package, she asked if Channel 1 was available. Sounds like a done deal, she was very receptive to the idea. Anybody here interested in cashing in on a referral rebate?

[KenC]

Vaughn,

The only reason I stumbled upon this package was because I was on DirecTV's site to cancel my sevice.  I have cable and added DirecTV for their NFL package.  They have an exclusive on it.

I cannot express enough how good the quality is though.  The Dish Network was of very low quality in content and reception even though the broadcast originated in New York.  The only real value that came out of the Dish Network was the comical commercials.  It seemed as though their target market was the old Babuskas and Dadushkas in Brighton Beach.  All the home cures for ailments were a gas.  And of course the fur coats at Christmas time were also a hoot.

KenC

[Erwin]

Vaughn,

Channel One is available as a single channel subscription for $14.99/mo. or as part of the RussianDirect™ service for $29.99/mo.

                                                                    

                                   Channel One Russia                     Worldwide (C1RW): The most known TV brand in Russian                     television, Channel One offers a diverse mix of programming                     including news and documentaries, talk shows, feature film presentations,                     game shows and sports, plus your favorite hosts.

                               Channel One is also available as a single channel subscription. See below for details.

                                  Dom Kino:                     Enjoy non-stop movies in Russian. You'll see movie hits of the                     past and blockbusters of the present, the best TV series and                     time honored classics and programs about people who make movies.                     Dom Kino offers viewers a wide variety of film entertainment.

                               Muzika Pervogo:  The first music channel in North America in Russian and Ukrainian. See  quality entertainment, music videos, hit parades and much more for the  younger Russian and Ukrainian-speaking audiences.

                               Vremya: Retro Channel:  A TV channel with the unique mix of programs from '60s, '70s, '80s and  '90s, Vremya presents your favorite TV hosts of the past, actors,  musicians, athletes, scientists and politics of those nostalgic times.    
This is the fifth channel:

 

                       With  the best of its leading channels "Kultura" and "Rossiya", this channel  features cultural programming, news, sports, feature films and  documentaries, and delivers them to all Russian-speaking people around  the world.    
To get these services, you must first subscribe to DIRECTV®[/sup] BASIC ($9.99/mo) or DIRECTV®[/sup] PREFERRED CHOICE™[/sup] ($29.99/mo) international base package, or any TOTAL CHOICE®[/sup] ($41.99/mo. or above) or DIRECTV PARA TODOS®[/sup] ($29.99/mo. or above) base package. Then add the RussianDirect™[/sup] service. Programming commitment required.

http://www.directtv.com/DTVAPP/packages/international_services_russian.jsp


Best,

E

[KenC]

My bad for posting incorrect info.  Thanks for the real info, Erwin.

KenC

[START2]

Just wondering if any of you have tuned into a program called Dom Dva?  It's a reality show which my wife seems to like. It is shown on any of those channels?

[rkn777]

Somewhere I sw a link to a website that braodcast Russian TV and Russian Radio (Actually had most countries)  and I wonder if anyone has a link to that site.  I used to play Russian TV news online live for my housekeeper (Ukrainian) and she loved it, but I cant find a link....

Richard

[Vaughn]

Richard,

  We've been using this one for radio programming (there's a Bride.ru banner topside, my suggestion of this link is by no means an endorsement):
 
http://russianinternet.com/radio/

and this one for TV:

http://www.russianinternet.com/video/

Vaughn

[Bruno]

[user=306]rkn777[/user] wrote:

Somewhere I sw a link to a website that braodcast Russian TV and Russian Radio (Actually had most countries)  and I wonder if anyone has a link to that site.  I used to play Russian TV news online live for my housekeeper (Ukrainian) and she loved it, but I cant find a link....

Richard

For radio, try http://www.radio-locator.com/ :

For TV, try http://wwitv.com/

[Vaughn]

Start2 asked:

Just wondering if any of you have tuned into a program called Dom Dva?  

Start, my daughter is familiar with Dom Dva, but it's shown only on TNT (Teh-n-teh), apparently
not offered in this package.

Erwin and KenC, many thanks for all this info.

Vaughn