Hungry to fill the void left by DirectTV and yearning for an abundance of television channels, many Bermudians are signing up for new satellite service with DishNetwork.

An article in yesterday's Royal Gazette revealed hundreds of local TV satellite subscribers were stripped of close to 200 channels when satellite service provider DirectTV replaced a satellite in their prime orbital slot.

The new satellite has a more concentrated beam which, while providing greater efficiency to US subscribers, totally cut Bermuda out of the picture.

DishNetwork competes head-to-head with DirectTV and is gaining popularity in the US as they expand their programming selection.

The difficulty for Bermudians deciding to make the switch is that they must get a new receiver to obtain the signal. Receivers that are used to transmit the DirectTV signals are not compatible with those of DishNetwork.

Both Marius Dier, general manager of Island Satellite and Ernest Peets, owner of Satronics Enterprises, have reported that customers are willing to pay for the additional equipment to make the switch.

"DirectTV will loose customers as they switch to DishNetwork,'' Mr. Dier said, "and although they did not realise they had people in this grey market, it was not just Bermuda, it was much of the Caribbean also. Tens of thousands of people.

"Direct TV will feel the difference when suddenly these people stop paying.'' Mr. Peets claimed that there has been "a real rush to the DishNetwork'' and attributed it to a yearning for choice.

"DirectTV was the largest carrier on the Island, now there is a big rush for the DishNetwork,'' he said.

"Technology is changing everyday but really it's all about choice. People want choice and will find alternatives.'' Certainly good news for anyone deciding to make the switch is that DishNetwork have no plans to replace any of their satellites for the next eight years.

A spokesperson for the company, while stressing that they are only licensed to operate within the US, confirmed to The Royal Gazette that the satellite which feeds the Island was just launched last September and has an estimated life of ten years.