Fisher Channels Return to Dish Network
With no fanfare at all the local channels owned by Fisher Communications returned to the Dish Network lineup overnight.
The return of these channels comes as a surprises as on Monday nights Charlie Chat, Dish Network CEO discussed the Fisher situation and said, “We are not really close on an agreement today.” Then Charlie went on and told people how they would be able to order distant networks from All American Direct on Saturday.
The Fisher Channels were removed from the Dish Network lineup on December 17th, 2008. According to Dish Network the reason for the removal was simple… money. A press release reiterated that fact which said, “Fisher Communications is demanding unreasonable contract terms and an excessive programming rate increase of 82 percent for continued carriage on DISH Network® – an increase that DISH Network is unwilling to pass on to customers.”
So now the question is who blinked, so far both sides have been mum on the deal. If I had to guess I would say it was Fisher who blinked as they realized that soon their viewers would be able to get their missing networks elsewhere. (Of course this is my opinion and not a fact.)
No matter what the reason was for the settlement between the two companies the ultimate winners here are the customers who can once again enjoy their favorite networks and local news on Dish Network.
No word on how this or the news of Distant Networks from All American Direct affects the retransmission issue that is currently brewing between Dish Network and Freedom Communications. We will be keeping a close eye on that one and will report back if there are any developments there.
Bobby D. commented:
Well with 9 blog entries and a couple clicks here and there, you are sure raking in the dough Scott.
Jamber commented:
Fisher Blinked. Nice article Scott.
Scott Greczkowski commented:
Thanks for the Plug of my site Youknowwho. :) Also thanks for reading, as everytime you reload this page guess what happens... I GET PAID. :) Thanks for reading!
John commented:
Why not Fisher's take on why there was a dispute? Scott's comments put Fisher in a bad light when most likely there is another side to the story.
KyL416 commented:
Dish isn't usually on top of things when it comes to their website. It took them about a month to acknowledge that they now carry the MyNetworkTV affiliate for my market on their website.
u r wrong commented:
check the dish website, there's no fisher stations listed.
612 commented:
I wonder how long that policy of allowing All American to deliver distants to markets where Dish is in a dispute with the local affiliate will last... My guess, by the end of the year they will finally write the rules for the digital era and it will probably turn out LESS people are eligible since if you're using a decent outdoor antenna people outside of the former grade B analog contour will get solid over the air reception of the digital signal.
1st Timer commented:
Thanks, Scott. Yours is the only comment I can find anywhere on the net regarding the return of Fisher to our Dish reception. I would certainly hope that Fisher is the one who blinked. Too bad that Dish didn't just go elsewhere for it's ABC signal.
Bubba commented:
Nothing says you have to read this blog or visit that message board if you don't like it YouknowWho but as the malcontent nerd we all know you to be I guess it's all you have to do in your apparently rather boring life.
YouknowWho commented:
Blah, Blah, Blah.
More of the little things poor Scott picks up sitting in his chair all day on his silly, juvenile messaging board: www.satelliteguys.us
I am sure all of his high school buddies know it all.
