DISH Network Expands Apartment Building Network

Some apartment dwellers may finally get their shot at satellite TV.

DISH Network is targeting mid to large sized apartment buildings with a new service called “DISH Optical Network.” Apartment buildings have long been a stronghold of cable television companies, often to the dismay of subscribers who may not have any other pay television choices in the units.

DISH Network’s new offering will involve a setup using multiple satellite dishes placed atop the building. Then fiber optic cabling will feed to a base system which will then provide programming for up to 128 subscribers. According to DISH, up to 400 channels will be available through the system, so capacity issues should be non-existent.

Multi-dwelling units or MDU are the latest target of satellite television operators DISH Network and DIRECTV. Current estimates place the potential apartment subscriber market somewhere between 60 and 80 million households. Some MDU customers have been able to subscribe to satellite TV in recent years, but have often had to mount the dish on their deck outside their residence. Landlords and homeowner’s associations have not always been happy with the setup, arguing the satellite dish detracts from the appearance of the buildings.

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7 comments ↓

#1 In Plain Sight Episodes on 06.11.08 at 12:52 am

Pretty interesting, I still prefer DirectTV over DISH. They are making a movement though

#2 Harrison on 07.12.08 at 6:14 pm

This is so awesome, DISH Network is coming into my apartment complex next month, cant wait to call up comcast and tell them buh bye……

#3 Karen on 07.20.08 at 6:09 pm

Well nice to see the TR-40 is out, though it should be called the tr-60 cuz its sixty bucks, but I want the TR-50!

#4 sohbet on 09.11.08 at 6:52 am

Pretty interesting, I still prefer DirectTV over DISH.

#5 MikeJackson on 03.25.09 at 7:15 am

This is definietely something people should check into. I moved into a high rise last month and didn’t want Time Warner. Lo and behold, Dish Network was available, they have a setup of huge satellite dish units on the roof of our apartment complex. I get a sweet DVR, and way more HD channels through Dish. Awesome!

#6 Libby on 04.09.09 at 9:37 pm

I wanted Dish TV so bad in my apartment, but it faces North so I couldnt get it. So bummed. Cant wait til I get into my house.

#7 Lex Luthor on 04.12.09 at 6:27 pm

This is a pretty sweet setup. I moved into a large apartment building a month ago and was shocked when they said I have a choice of cable providers. CHOICE? in an apartment? Never had that before, it was always the cable company in the past. I got the Dish Network classic 200 with DVR service. Absolutely awesome compared with what I’ve had in the past with all sorts of cable companies.

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