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Archive through March 10, 2004

The TVClubHouse: Archives: 2004 January - Arpil: Viacom channels gone from Dish Network!: Archive through March 10, 2004 users admin

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Max
Member

08-12-2000

Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 10:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Okay, I'm mad.

Last night, I turned on the TV to watch Roseanne on Nickelodeon as I drifted off to sleep. Across the bottom of the screen came a message that was hard to read (they didn't put a black bar, just a faded text message that scrolled). It said Dish Network subscribers were in danger of losing this channel as well as other Viacom channels (MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, BET, and all Nickelodeon channels) because of contract disputes and gave the phone number for Dish Network.

Ten minutes later, the channel went black with this message:

"Dish Network sincerely regrets that this channel, owned and operated by Viacom, is currently unavailable. VViacom has demanded rate increases which are unreasonable and wouold contribute to a higher monthly bill for you. We continually strive to control costs on behalf of our customers and are hopeful that this matter will be resolved quickly."

It then advises to contact Viacom or listen to more information on Channel 101.

Upon further research, I found that Comcast and DirecTV, the two largest providers have already reached contractual agreements with Viacom. Dish Network seems to be the final, large holdout (although Cox Cable is big, too, and I'm, not sure of their status).

Dish says they are giving me a $1/month credit while the channels are gone. They say that Viacom wants a rate increase that is 4x higher than the current inflation rate.

I'm pissed.

First of all, I had no idea this was happening. There was no notification from Dish Network (the scrolling message seems to have been from Viacom since it gave the Dish Network number as a contact point).

Second, if the subscriber cost for these channels is really only $1 per month, then wouldn't an increase of 4x inflation rate (currently around 3%) be only about $.12 a month to each subscriber? Geez, I'd pay that. Why don't I get a choice?

If I had known this was going to happen, perhaps I could have influenced something (probably not as Dish is the #3 provider, so it sorta seems like tilting at windmills to think they could win this fight when #1 and #2 have already agreed to the contract demands). At the very least, I could have made a decision to switch to DirecTV so I would continue to have service on all the channels I watch.

Anyone else pissed about this? I sent a letter to Dish Network last night. Viacom doesn't give any contact information on their websitel so all that's available is to call them (which I haven't done since there is no toll-free number available).

I appreciate that Dish Network wants to keep costs down, but this, IMHO, is NOT the way to do it.



Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 10:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
It is a contractual argument with Viacom. The same thing happened in NY a few years ago with cable subscribers when ABC shut New York out because they couldnt agree on a contract with cable subscribers. Luckily, NY is a big enough market the lawmakers got involved.

here are the details of the viacom/cbs argument

link

Draheid
Moderator

09-09-2001

Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 10:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
More details: Hollywood Reporter Article on this issue.

Max
Member

08-12-2000

Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 10:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yeah, I know. The thing is, why didn't Dish Network (Echostar) give me any warning? Why didn't they give me an option to pay more if I want those stations? Why do I suddenly just get cut off and asked to help them fight their battle with Viacom?

I mean the bottom line for me really is getting the service I want. If I need to switch to DirecTV (which has a bigger market share) to do that, fine. I don't really care, although I do know that I won't switch to Comcast (the cable provider in my area).

:-)

Ohiomobprincess
Member

11-07-2003

Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 12:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wow, I can't believe it came down to a few cents. The people who suffer are the customers. March Madness is next week, so many will switch to another company to watch the games.

The warnings have been scrolling on the bottom of my tv screen on the Viacom channels for the past three days. I have Time Warner Digital Cable, so we aren't effected.

Max
Member

08-12-2000

Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 12:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Fortunately for me, the local CBS channel is NOT owned by Viacom, neither is the UPN channel, so I haven't lost those. If I had, I'd be on the phone to DirecTV already!

I had seen part of a warning scroll the other day, but before I could read what it said, it was replaced with a black bar (which Echostar did to prevent people from seeing Viacom's message), so I hadn't actually seen the content until late last night.

Marysafan
Member

08-07-2000

Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 1:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well, I just got my Direct Tv bill and found out that our service was going up $3.00 per month for the basic package. I wonder if the Viacom deal had anything to do with it.

Azlen
Member

08-27-2000

Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 1:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cox and ESPN recently had a similar hiccup in negotiations, but that one got resolved before any channels were turned off. I first heard about the issue with Viacom and Dish a couple of days ago and am really surprised they shut them off so quickly as the posturing between Cox and ESPN went on for months.

Ruiner
Member

08-31-2003

Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 2:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I lost my local CBS due to this. Thank my lucky stars I have other CBS affiliates that are still operational.

If I wouldn't had Survivor on Thursday - I'd be spitting nails!

On our locals - we have Charlie giving email addresses to viacom, local advertisers, even his own, to let the powers that be know we're not pleased!

btw, my bf works for Dish - says this has been on going but no details much after that...I'm a bit biased obviously in Charlie's favor....

Kappy
Member

06-29-2002

Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 9:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
THIS SUCKS! Argggh!

I've had Dish for over 18 months without my rates being raised and when I was with Comcast, they were raised at least twice a year. No way am I going back to them. And from reading the press release at the Viacom site, they don't list any valid reasons for why they are raising the cost except to point out what Dish is charging per channel. If they gave a valid reason as to their own costs going up, it'd be different. But it appears, imho, to be about one company making a few more pennies and another company wanting in on that action. Arggh ~ screw all big companies!

Here's the url for Viacom's press release if anyone's interested:
http://www.viacom.com/press.tin?ixPressRelease=80254208

Quite honestly, I think I'll just learn to live without the Comedy Channel and MTV. If Dish subscribers were such a big part of their audience as Viacom makes out, then this action by Dish could very well hurt them. And right now, I'm all for that.

Cathie
Member

08-16-2000

Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 11:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
My sister just changed from cable to Dish a couple of months ago and lost her CBS today--she is freaking out about no Survivor and no soaps. It makes me feel really lucky for procrastinating the change from our cable to Dish.

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 11:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
2 months ago we switched from Dish to DirectTV with Tivo and have been happy since day one. DirecTV did raise its rates $3.00 in February, so that could be to offset the extra cost of Viacom. We don't have to pay the extra until next January because they guarantee the rates for a year when you sign the contract, but new subscribers would.



--- Start of Commercial ---

DirecTV is very aggressive in signing up new customers and you can get set up with 1, 2, 3 or 4 rooms for close to nothing or add some dual tuner DirecTivo units for not much more. The best part of the DirectTivo option is that the Tivo charge is only $5.00 a month for all your Tivos and not a charge per receiver.

--- End of Commercial ---


Tabbyking
Member

03-11-2002

Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 11:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
we just had a 9 dollar increase in our comcast bill with no increase in service. they said they 'spent a million dollars to improve service in' our town, so they had to give us an increase...of 15%?! sheesh...and the cable isn't any better than it was...you can still see the digital coming in and out with the picture breaking up into little colored squares here and there.

Max
Member

08-12-2000

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 12:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well, I'm REALLY glad that I didn't lose CBS in this mess.

I have looked a little bit at the DirecTV promotions in case this drags on for too long. There are a couple of things keeping me from making the switch right now.

First, I do respect the concept that Echostar is trying to maintain a low subscription cost. It is nice that they are looking out for the customer in this regard and I respect their position. I just don't like the way they went about doing it and I'm very skeptical about their ability to remain steadfast and still retain the Viacom channels.

Second, I have a significant investment in equipment for my Dish system. I've had their service for several years and upgraded to a dual-LNB system with three receivers, two of which are DVRs. Because I already had service, I purchased the new receivers on my own from Costco. If I switch to DirecTV, the receivers I spent several hundred dollars on last year are useless. I have to start over. Seems like a real waste of equipment and money (even with the deals DirecTV gives).

So, I'll wait a bit and see if Echostar and Viacom can come to some sort of agreement. In the meantime, I'll miss watching Roseanne and Cosby before I go to bed and I'll miss my MTV shows, but I'll survive.

It all seems like such a bloody racket! Of course, my friend who never watches TV thinks I'm nuts! :-)

Ruiner
Member

08-31-2003

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 8:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
They'll work it out somehow. I feel it's just a lot of posturing and Charlie will come out ahead. This man always seems to.

Echostar is a large employer in my area - local company. Charlie always seems to try to do his best and has had numerous battles with congress, miscellaneous lawsuits, just to stay in business! He's obviously won most battles to date since he's still with us.

Yes, I support his decision. He has a right to demand what he feels is best for the consumer.

Sorry I'm too lazy to research and provide links for anything mentioned above. I know the info is out there...

Once again, yes I'm biased, this man signs my bf's paycheck that pays the mortgage, that keeps the roof over our heads and computers on our desks.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 9:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Who is Charlie?

Halfunit
Member

09-02-2001

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 10:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Charlie

Dahli
Member

11-27-2000

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 10:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
LOL HALF - I spit out my tea you brat!!!

Max
Member

08-12-2000

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 10:37 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Charlie is the CEO of Echostar. :-)

Viacom has launched its own salvo in the battle: Viacom's ad. They don't say much of substance, though and there's STILL no place I can find that gives any email addresses for them, just toll phone numbers.

I got this response to my email to Echostar:

"We appreciate your feedback and value all of the input we have received. We are outraged to know that our customers are being treated this way by a major media giant like Viacom. We acknowledge the hardship this has created and we ask for your continued support and patience.

"We continue to work aggressively to resolve this dispute. Please visit the programming section of our website at dishnetwork.com where we will continue to provide routine updates and the latest information on our negotiations with Viacom.

link

"You may also use this website for Viacom contact information, as we encourage you to share your opinion with them as well."



Resortgirl
Member

09-23-2000

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 12:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
We won't be getting Survivor until they resolve this, so I'm am spitting nails!!!!

Cassie
Member

07-15-2000

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 12:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Me too, Resortgirl. It sucks the big one! Is Viacom getting cocky or what?

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 12:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
ROTF Half!

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 3:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Last time I was out of town and was going to miss Survivor, I went to a motel and sat in their lobby to watch it! It's on tonight, btw.


Maryk
Member

01-30-2001

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 3:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Its good my distant feeds of CBS for NY and 'LA' are still on. But I'm going to miss some of my shows in MTV. I hope they resolve this matter soon.


Crossfire
Member

08-07-2001

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 3:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
It's on tonight? It what? Survivor? Ahhhh.

*frantically scanning program guide*