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VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
May 14, 2008

On yesterdays earnings call Dish Network CEO Charlie Ergen wasn’t joking when he mentioned that two thirds of the VOOM channels were removed and that Dish Network “will be taking down the rest as soon as we can.”

 

This morning at 12:02 A.M. Eastern Time the final five VOOM channels were removed off of Dish Network.

 

Other then a crawl which ran for a short time yesterday which stated “Dish Network is excited to announce the addition of over 22 new high definition channels which will provide our customers top rated programming in HD. As a result of these additions, we removed some channels that are less popular with our customers.”

 

Today however there is no crawl, no notification whatsoever to Dish Network customers that the VOOM channels are gone, they are just *poof* gone without a trace.

 

Indication came last night that Dish was going to remove the remaining 5 VOOM channels as the channel listings at DishNetwork.COM were updated with the last 5 channels removed.

 

While I agree with the reason why Dish dropped VOOM, I do not like the way Dish Network did it.  Sure I know that the Dish Network channel listings that specifically states programming “subject to change without notice,” however Dish could have said something on their live Tech Forum broadcast, it would have gone over with customer much better then their pom-pom waving telling us how they are the HD leader when they knew damn well they were going to drop 10 (and finally 15) HD channels within 24 hour timeframe.

 

Despite any last moment legal maneuvers that the VOOM legal team can pull of, I believe that this spells the end of the VOOM HD Networks.  While VOOM currently lives on some Cablevision system in New York, its contract with Cablevision expires on June 30th.  Cablevision recently moved VOOM channels from regular distribution and moved VOOMS Distribution to SDV (switched digital video).  This move made the channels unavailable to many of Cablevisions customers who were watching the VOOM service by using Cablecards.


VOOM was unique, but in the end it will be remembered by many as nothing more then great looking demo material.  Farewell VOOM, some of us will miss you!

 

Team Summit

Dish Networks annual retailer conference will kick off tomorrow night in Nashville, TN.  I will be headed down to participate in the festivities and am looking forward to going and seeing many longtime friends.  If you are headed to Team Summit and happen to see me please stop me and say hello!

 

From Where I Sit

One of our “Satellite Dish” readers who goes by the alias of NightNinja wanted to know why I said the phrase “from where I sit” all the time.


The answer is “The Satellite Dish” is a blog about my views on the satellite industry, it is not meant to be a news source.  The good folks at MultiChannel News asked me to write this blog because of my “calling it as I see it style.”  I am not afraid to tell you my true feelings on the goings on in the industry.  I am not afraid my comments will offend anyone or any company in the industry.  Again I call things as I see them.  So here at “The Satellite Dish” while I may break some news items the main goal is to give you my insight on the news I am mentioning.

 

I have been calling it as I see it for over 10 years now and enjoy telling it like it is.  I thank the folks from MultiChannel for having me. Thank you NightNinja for your question!


Posted by Scott Greczkowski on May 14, 2008 | Comments (38)


May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Paul commented:

My family watched the Voom channels more than anything else on Dish. The 22 "new" channels are of little interest. I am very upset with their changes (and how they made them unannounced)---switching to DirectTV is a real posibility!




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Bubba commented:

Aside from the extra charge premium services (HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc.) there are very few places where you can see feature films unedited and commercial free. Voom was one of those places and it gave you the movies in HD too. Yeah they had way too many repeats but they did show some excellent films that aren't available elsewhere. I will definitely miss those three movie channels and Equator too. Voom was in fact the only reason I chose DIsh over their competitor. Now I guess I'll just have to start praying that Charlie doesn't dump HDNet Movies, another great source of commercial free movies. On the positive side I'm of course pleased that we're now have MGM HD. From where I sit Scott you should just keep on doing what you're doing and ignore your nit picking detractors.




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Voombie commented:

I for one loved the VOOM channels. I often watched the Monsters and Music HD channels. I am a shift worker and do not want to watch soaps. I often cannot watch live sports programming either. Most of the other HD channels mean nothing to me and I have them deleted from my channel guide.




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
NightNinja commented:

The fact that you are blogging implies that your writings are your opinions. I understand you are not a professional writer (neither am I), however your use of the phrase "from where I sit" is not only not necessary but also often doesn't fit the context in which you use it. Despite this nitpick, your writing style has improved greatly over the past year, and I will always look forward to reading your opinions. Keep up the great work!




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Pepper commented:

From where I sit, I am very disappointed. 15 channels of 24/7 HD content unedited, uninterrupted, and not plagued by constant logo bugs and popup ads were replaced by a bunch of part time HD or no HD at all SD upconverts that are edited, interrupted, plagued by constant logo bugs and popups. Joe Sixpack has spoken, he wants more of the usual crap.




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Red Hazard commented:

Dish Network adds 22 HD Channels???????? I just love their ethereal mathematics! (3 + 17) - 15 = 22 new HD channels???? I don't count the 2 RSN channels that 90%+ cannot receive. DISH NETWORK-THE CONTINUAL LAGGARD IN HD!




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Dave commented:

Dish's arrogant, indifferent attitude toward its customers is going to affect their bottom line going forward.




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Fitz commented:

This totally bites. I want my Voom back! Oh, the humanity!




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
riffjim4069 commented:

VOOM was the main reason I stayed with Dish Network for more than 2 1/2 years...however, I finally dumped Dish in favor of FiOS TV because I could no longer stand their horribly downgraded HD picture quality (aka DishHD-Lite). After a dismal 1st quarter, I suspect Dish Network will lose tens of thousands of additional subscribers to the likes of DirecTV (more and better quality HD), FiOS (way better SD and HD picture quality and bundled Internet/phone discounts, and the Cable Triple Play (much less expensive). Dish Network subscribers are getting tired of Cheatum Charlie Ergen pulling the plug on their favorite channels---like VOOM, Lifetime, CourtTV, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, etc.) simply because this unethical company cannot maintain business relationships with programmers. This is poor planning and execution Dish Network!!! I just hope Rainbow Media (aka VOOM HD Networks) gets more from their lawsuite than the $150 million Dish Network is paying TiVo for violating their patent rights! EchoStar does not have a stellar track record when it comes to litigation...and they could be heading for a beating should VOOM win their case in a court of law.




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
riffjim4069 commented:

What's at stake for Dish Network and VOOM: www.multichannel.com/article/CA6561003.html The Voom-EchoStar 2005 carriage deal, which Voom described as a “multi-billion dollar, 15-year contract,” called for EchoStar to pay a subscriber fee of $3.25 a month per HD customer in the first year of deal, with annual increases until it reached $6.43 a month in the pact’s final year. EchoStar charged that Voom has violated a provision of their carriage deal where Voom agreed to spend $100 million a year on a 21-channel version of Voom, up to an aggregate of $500 million. But Voom reduced its number of services to only 15, so it argues that its annual required spending “is currently no more than $82 million.”




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
stephen888 commented:

good riddance. now room for REAL hd programming




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
aat40 commented:

I Dish for removing Voom . Will switch to Direct.




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
vwboyaf1 commented:

I will miss Kung-Fu and Equator. I guess Travel HD, CNNHD and ESPNNEWS HD is cool, but I'm still waiting for Speed HD. I saw it at my bro's (DirectTV) and it was awesome.




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
DISH GOING DOWN commented:

IM MAD AS HELL!!! I LOVED MONSTERS, RAVE AND EQUATOR!! DISH YOU SUCK!




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Joeygee0531 commented:

In response to vwboyaf1: I'm waiting right beside you(online, anyway)for SpeedHD. I've never seen it but I can sure imagine...Ahhh..




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
pissed commented:

I liked voom. We pay a hell-of-a-lot to watch lousy programs with too many commercials. Voom was atleast different and add free. Thanx Dish... You know I don't have a contract with you.




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Gaffin commented:

I'm glad to see I'm not the only person who loved the Voom channels. I'm totally switching to FiOS.




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
voomshmoom commented:

Oh gee. Poor babies lost their Voom channels and now their going to Zoom to another service. Buh-bye suckers! Buh-bye Voom...




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Vooms commented:

I will be switching to DirectTV since Dish is so arrogant dropping VOOM.




May 14, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Chuck commented:

Just amazing...these obviously lame brained slackers who don't care that channels other people liked have disappeared. You just know it would be a different story if they lost something they cared about...like the Beavis and Butthead Channel! LOL




May 15, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
DishDunce commented:

You ought to see some of the comments on other forums, the fanbois do not tolerate negative Dish comments. What these people don't understand is that when customers leave in disgust, the remaining base may not be big enough to sustain the content growth of their "important" channels.




May 15, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
CharleyErgens commented:

I am going back to cable to bundle with the BB internet. The Echostar need a lesson on how to deal with customers. I, for one, and my wife, both enjoyed the VOOM package. Where can I get VOOM?




May 15, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Dorothy B. commented:

I am very disappointed that Dish dropped the Voom network. I loved the MonstersHD channel 9481,and now they are offering me other movie channels that they say are in comparison, which they are not! I have been a long time subscriber to Dish, but may move on to something better.




May 15, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
MonsterHD Fanboy commented:

:( So many tears cannot wash away the sorrow that is in my heart right now. I don't think we'll ever get back what was brutally stolen from us, I only hope that those in charge of DISH get there come- uppings. There bad karma will eventually weigh them down into purgitory! LONG LIVE VOOM HD (atleast in our hearts and minds)




May 16, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
ratboy commented:

I'd love to dump sorry-ass overpriced Dishnetwork because of this. I just need to figure out if anyone is broadcasting VOOM.




May 16, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Kyle Luna commented:

Like Scott said, the ONLY other provider that has Voom is Cablevision in the NYC Tri-state area.




May 20, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Reaper commented:

I switched to Dish Network 2+ years ago TO GET the VOOM Networks. Being a horror fan, Monsters HD was my favorite channel ever. I watch a lot of movies and Dish effectively added one (pay) movie channel and removed four others. Now Dish's HD programming is like DIRECTV's, only LESS THAN - and they don't have the MLB or NFL packages. I switched back to DIRECTV over the weekend. When I canceled Dish the sales agent totally lied to me, saying that they dropped the VOOM channels temporarily because they are broadcast in MPEG-2 format and that they’ll bring them back when they’re broadcast in MPEG-4 format. She was also emphatic that Dish currently has more HD channels than DIRECTV so I had to spell out the facts for her. Yes, Dish’s HD DVR is much better than DIRECTV’s but that is not a substitute for programming. Bye Bye Dish, you were the HD leader for a while - too bad you couldn't maintain your lead.




May 22, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
cantonsurroundsound commented:

I have been with dish for years soley for Voom. Voom has the best clarity in HD and best content in programming with Zero commercials! They forget to mention in their press release of adding 22 channels that they removed 15. All of the new ones are garbage; does anyone care to watch the weather channel in HD? or how about cartoons in HD? I'm giving them two months then if they do not bring back Voom we are gone for good!




May 22, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
cantonsurroundsound commented:

I have been with dish for years soley for Voom. Voom has the best clarity in HD and best content in programming with Zero commercials! They forget to mention in their press release of adding 22 channels that they removed 15. All of the new ones are garbage; does anyone care to watch the weather channel in HD? or how about cartoons in HD? I'm giving them two months then if they do not bring back Voom we are gone for good!




May 24, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Art commented:

I was so close to becomming a dish network customer as I have been watching Voom HD at my brothers house now that they removed Voom HD I would never consider them now or in future! They only have 80 HD as they removed the 15 Voom HD and they claim 22 new, which brings them to 80 HD. Directv has 90 at a lower price. Dish's new HD is not clear as many are upconverted content and not true HD. Also many are channels most would never watch like the cartoon channel, weather channel, etc. I was going to switch purely for the Voom HD which has 15 no commercial channels with original shows that you can not find anywhere else! Dish you made a dumb move that will cost you both existing customers and prospective customers.




May 28, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Steve commented:

DIRECTV - If you’re listening, add VOOM to your lineup, and you will add tens of thousands of FORMER DISH Network subscribers in a heartbeat!!




May 28, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Rich D commented:

I had Voom before when it was just VOOM and it was great..I put up with the degraded signal on Dish just to get it but I pay $150.00 per month and for what? I am going to cancel when I get up in the morning and go back to Cable till somebody finds a better solution




June 4, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
DAVE! commented:

I'm very mad at this dumb move by dish! I'll be changing to DTV as soon as they add VOOM to their programing! As for now, I've canceled my contract with dish tv. DISHNETWORK SUCKS NOW!!




July 5, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
SCOTT commented:

I was very shocked that they dropped it without even one notice that they were. Voom has great programming and was the reason I stayed with Dish. I guess I will go back to Direct TV. I want Voom back. They can offer it as a package deal. I thought that was was what we paid HD service for. I hope they listen to their subscibers.




August 11, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
wesflorida commented:

I immediately called dish and dropped the Plantinum HD pkg as the new channels offer nothing in entertainment value. If Direct TV had Voom channels I would make the change and I still might anyway as mad as this has made me.




August 15, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Tommyboy commented:

I was interested to find this post. Dish has kept telling me that they are negotiating with VOOM. It was the only reason I switched to Dishnetwork. I loved Rave and Equator. I guess I will go back to the NFL package on DirectTV now.




November 19, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Chad commented:

I loved Voom it was one of the main reasons that I chose Dish over Directv. Especially Monsters HD I love that channel. Now that Dish has dropped these channels I have dropped dish for Directv. The only way I would go back to Dish is if they brought Voom back. Until then they have permanently lost one of their best customers to a competitor. Dish can say what they want but giving up exclusive channels that your competitor doesn't have is just plain bad business. I could be the CEO of this company with my eyes closed. I experienced record sales in a tight market as the regional manager of my company and the name of the game is exclusivity.




November 19, 2008
In response to: VOOM GOES BOOM – All VOOM Channels Removed
Chad commented:

I loved Voom it was one of the main reasons that I chose Dish over Directv. Especially Monsters HD I love that channel. Now that Dish has dropped these channels I have dropped dish for Directv. The only way I would go back to Dish is if they brought Voom back. Until then they have permanently lost one of their best customers to a competitor. Dish can say what they want but giving up exclusive channels that your competitor doesn't have is just plain bad business. I could be the CEO of this company with my eyes closed. I experienced record sales in a tight market as the regional manager of my company and the name of the game is exclusivity.





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