Dish Network says it is the first in the U.S. pay-TV provider to transmit all standard and high definition programming in the MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding Standard. The benefit for users is more HDTV programming availability. The advantage for Dish is greater bandwidth efficiency.

 

New customers in 21 markets in the eastern half of the U.S. who sign up for any Dish Network HD package will be first to have access to the upgrade. 

 

To maximize the MPEG-4 TV experience, new customers must sign up for Dish Network's recently-introduced TurboHD, the only packages in the industry featuring 100 percent HD, MPEG-4 programming, starting at $24.99 per month.

 

TurboHD is available in three separate tiers and comprises special "turbo-charged" features and benefits such as DISH Network's award-winning and industry-leading technology, the highest quality HD available including 1080p where applicable, and the most-watched HD channels that may be viewed on any TV -- analog, digital or high definition.

 

Current Dish Network customers looking to add the "turbo-charged" HD package for as little as $10 more per month.

 

The first wave of the all-MPEG-4 offer will occur in 21 markets, including Cleveland, Baltimore, Tampa, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New York.