Cheers for Dish Marketing
If you have been reading my posts here in The Satellite Dish for any length of time you will notice that I have been critical of the Dish Network Marketing Department under the leadership of Mr. Ira Bahr.
I think when I see Mr. Bahr next month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that I might owe him a drink or two.
I have been critical of Dish for not advertising their strengths and also not playing off the “Dish” name.
In the past few months Dish Network has started running new spots pointing out their strengths which I have found a big step forward. Why the ads are now as flashy and memorable as I would like they do seem to be working. Dish Network outsold DirecTV in the last quarter and I am getting reports from retailers around the country over the past few weeks that Dish Network sales have picked up briskly while DirecTV sales have slowed to a trickle.
Could it be the new marketing? If I had to guess I would say that the answer is yes indeed. Over the past 6 months nothing else has really changed at Dish so the only thing I thing I can point it to is the improved marketing at Dish Network.
Yesterday I saw something which has me literally cheering at my computer screen. It was the new Dish Network Christmas ad. The ad featured various Dish Network employees singing “We Dish You a Merry Christmas” and closes with Dish Network founders Charlie Ergen and Jim Defranco wishing us a Merry Christmas at the end
To see the video yourself checkout http://bit.ly/5AqblF
I was cheering because not only did they go against the politically correct tide by wishing viewers a Merry Christmas, but it’s the first time they have creatively used the Dish name.
For me using the Dish name like this brands the companies name in consumer’s heads. If I were on the Dish marketing team I would want it so that every time saw any satellite dish that the thought of Dish Network automatically popped into their heads. This ad is the first step in the right direction.
Now for some the ad is already causing a stir for not being politically correct for wishing viewers a Merry Christmas, but from where I sit in this politically correct world we need to hear the worlds Merry Christmas more often. I understand not everyone celebrates Christmas but a large majority of the population does. I didn’t see of these upset people out protesting the Black Friday Christmas sales, I don’t think they should be upset by people sending well wishes.
Late yesterday afternoon Dish Network put out a statement on the ad and said “DISH Network acknowledges and respects the diversity of faith in our country, but at the same time recognizes the overwhelming majority that celebrate Christmas. We cannot imagine that Americans of all faiths would not want to embrace the spirit of the holiday and join us in wishing Christian Americans a very Merry Christmas.”
I couldn’t agree with them more and I applaud Dish Network for wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.
milesgt commented:
Scott, sounds like you're campaigning for a job in marketing. I've had both Dish and DirecTV and I'm sticking with DTV. DTV has legal DVR's, while every month or so TIVO and the courts threaten to shut down the Dish DVR's. I've know this co. since they sold backyard systems (remember those 10' C Band steerables). They are so cheap, they will do anything to save a dime. I watch a lot of HD Net which Dish dumped because it cost a few bucks.....the reason their sales are up are their commercials saying they are cheaper than DTV....they are not cheaper after the sign up period freebies have expired...they are neck and neck on pricing as far as I know. And DTV's customer service is so superior, I wouldn't know where to start. Good luck with the new gig, hope you like Denver. I have no problem with Chrismas, everyone needs to get a life, and my wife is Jewish!
skrudrvr commented:
Reading all of these responses is refreshing. I get tired of hearing Christians condemn companies that try to show respect for everyone instead of only Christians. The American Family Association is currently undergoing a campaign to bully companies into only marketing to Christians in December. They long to be the American Taliban.
Rod commented:
I bet you also get offended when you hear someone tell another person "happy birthday". There is no disrespect in wishing someone happiness on a day they celebrate. Boohoo you feel left out. I have several athiest friends who all celebrate Dec 25th and buy each other gifts. They may not be celebrating "the true meaning", but they get together with their families and have a good time. Who cares if someone else celebrates a different holiday than you. Good for them. Go sit in you corner with your pacifier.
Bronxiniowa commented:
How in the world can American Christians, who are 90-plus percent of the U.S. population ... who have the government on their side when it comes to sanctioning an obviously religious occasion as an official federal holiday in violation of the First Amendment ... who have the nation's highest court declaring that a symbol (a Christmas tree) that symbolizes a particularly Christian religious occasion is a secular symbol ... who have a Supreme Court justice astoundingly declaring that a Christian cross is not a particular religious symbol ... who control the rhetoric used to dictate American ethical discourse ... feel so intimidated that they can't take a baby step back and acknowledge that (surprise!) not everyone in America shares their religious beliefs?
TV Watcher commented:
Whenever I see a satellite dish I think of Direct TV, so congrats to Dish for finally waking up. As for the ad in question, I just watched it and question whether putting the owners on camera to wish everyone a 'Merry Christmas' was a good idea. More than anything I found the spot to be tedious, uncreative and entirely forgettable. Being wished a Merry Christmas by the bosses at the end of the spot made me feel excluded, not included. Did the spot make me want Dish in my home? No.
james commented:
anotherdumbmove i am jewaish and have no problems with christians saying merry christmas and hope they do have a great time.i think what dish was for a change great idea
BobMurdoch commented:
I celebrate Christmas, but I don't get offended by splash screens on local channels wishing viewers a Happy Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, etc....
"Happy Holidays" has become the generic substitute for any holidays taking place in December, but I don't believe a company should be condemned for celebrating one or the other. Last I checked, there was a freedom of religion on this country, and that applies to companies as well. If you are THAT offended, feel free to voice your displeasure, but maybe taking a deep breath and realizing that you may be overreacting may be the better response.
Then again, I've always been a tolerant type, I understand it is de rigeur for many other religions believe they should attack the others as being inferior or worse, evil. As far as I am concerned, we are all going to the same place, but are just taking separate airlines.
Either way, enjoy celebrating whatever holiday you personally celebrate....
Anotherdumbmove commented:
Yes wish Christian Americans a Merry Christmas and ignore the rest of the world.
Yep Scott you would think this is a great idea for Dish Network to think that Jews, Muslims and others would want to hope that Christians have a great time while their faiths are ignored and disrespected.
DUH it is not being PC Scott it is about respect for all faiths and Dish Network which pushes it's pro-Christian agenda is OK.