DISH DROPS 10 HD CHANNELS OVERNIGHT
Yesterday it seemed like all the problems that Dish Network has been facing over the past few months suddenly went away. Dish Network customers were once again excited about watching their Dish Network service. In less then 24 hours they have managed to kill much of that buzz.
Yesterday the satellite company launched 17 new national HD channels to customers. (The press release said 22 new channels, but this included 3 HD channels, which launched a few weeks ago and 2 RSN’s that will launch later this week.) Almost everything seemed almost perfect in the world of Dish Network.
Last night Dish Network held its quarterly “Tech Forum” with Mark Jackson and Dan Minnick. For some reason both hosts seemed overly nervous in the telecast. I figured the nervousness was due to the first quarter financial numbers that were released to the wires just hours before the telecast.
On this broadcast Dish Network Senior Vice President Eric Sahl appeared, and he too looked a little nervous. Eric told Dish customers the exciting news of 22 new HD channels.
Over at my website SatelliteGuys.US we had a live chat and a number of folks in the chat mentioned that something did not feel right about the Tech Forum broadcast. I guess they were right.
Here at MultiChannel News in my column from Sunday Night announcing the new HD channels a “Satellite Dish” reader named “ghr” posted in the comments section the following message “Too bad there are also rumors of a major channel takedown tonight at midnight….”
When questioned by another Satellite Dish reader about what he meant “ghr” responded by saying “JoeyGee….unfortunately can’t say….until it happens….it does effect 1.5 million subscribers though..”
When I saw this I contacted the Dish Network PR department seeking to find out if there was any truth to this rumor. I never got a reply, which was really unusual for the Dish PR folks.
A clue of what “ghr” meant came to us just as the Tech Forum telecast ended on Dish Network. During the broadcast Dish Network updated their website to show all the new HD additions, however a number of SatelliteGuys members noticed there were some channels missing. The updated website listed only 5 of the 15 VOOM HD channels. Something was up at Dish Network.
Shortly after I went to bed, and when I woke up this morning I found that 10 of the VOOM HD channels were removed from the lineup.
A new channel was running in place of one of the VOOM channels telling us about the great new HD additions that Dish had made on Monday. At the bottom of the screen ran a crawl that stated the following…
“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.”
The channels removed from the Dish Network lineup are HDNews, UltraHD, Treasures HD, WorldSport HD, The new VOOM HD Movies channel, Filmfest HD, Gameplay HD, Rush HD, Animania HD and Family Room HD.
Personally this leaves a bad taste in my mouth, they had a live broadcast earlier in the evening where they tooted their horn about how many HD channels they have and added and then without any advanced warning they drop 10 HD channels. Yes they have a statement made on Dish Networks website that programming is subject to change without notice, but from where I sit this was a cruel calculated move by Dish Network.
The question now is will DirecTV come in and pick up some of the VOOM channels which have been dropped by Dish? A number of readers who attended DirecTV “Revolution” retailer event a few weeks ago reported that they were given some items with the VOOM logo on them.
If I were DirecTV, I would carry the 5 HD channels that Dish kept plus bring back HDNews, Ultra HD, WorldSport HD, Treasure HD and VOOM HD Movies.
There has to be more to this story, Dish had more then enough bandwidth to carry all the new channels plus all 15 VOOM channels, after all their aired all day together without an issue. On the HD announcement channel on Dish Network it mentions that new HD channels will be coming to Dish in weeks. I am wondering if the VOOM channels were removed because of the problem with the AMC14 satellite and this is Dish Networks way of reclaiming bandwidth to launch more nationally know HD channels? If this is the case then why were the VOOM channels removed last night.
Today both Dish Network and Echostar are scheduled to hold their earnings conference calls. I do hope that these channel drops are questioned and talked about on the earnings calls.
I knew business was going to pick up this week, but this was news I did not want to see. Nor was I expecting to see what happened last night.
vinny commented:
that why dtv rocks/ and dish just needs to go bump in the night if dtv screws u its at least to your face
Dee Stewart commented:
My husband is a horror movie freak and wanted us to make the change from direcTV to Dish in order to get the MonstersHD channel. Boy, am I glad we were doing the research and found out Dish no longer offered it before we did. DirecTV offers the Chiller channel and it's decent. Alot of TV series, but better than nothing.
Ant commented:
I totally agree with AOS. My wife and I must be moron's because we also subscribe to Dish network just to get the HD Voom channels. But after talking with her today, we're going to drop Dish and go with Comcast after we burn our DVR content to DVD-DL. ;-) I feel like a moron for missing the Monster Channel so much!
AOS commented:
In response to Dishguy - you don't know what your talking about. If the Voom channels sucked so much how come there is so much disatisfaction among dish subscribers. Are we all idiots? Fact is the Voom channels were among the few worthwhile channels on TV. I subscribed to Dish becuase of Voom - but then, I'm a moron, right dishguy?
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.
Winter commented:
So now I know where the Monster Channel went. The only thing I watched on HD. The kids watch the cartoon channels, I guess I will just cut down my program package, no point in paying for HD when they took off the only channels worth watching. Awesome move Dish!(voice dripping with sarcasm)
Bruce commented:
I had wondered where Monster Channel went.
Guess dish can go now on with Direct again.
Lindsey commented:
We loved the voom channels. Lets go to direct tv. Class action anyone??? umr
barb l commented:
If direct tv picks up voom I will go with direct tv. The whole thing was very sneaky.
glenn in california commented:
I too am saddened by Dish's choice of removing the TRUE HD VOOM channels. Not a wise decision since I loved the Voom Channels. I don't understand Dish's math, add 22and take away 10.... hummm sounds like I got only 2 channels not 22. Can anyone say "bait and switch".
gary in akron commented:
i punch in the monster channel and get "what not to wear" some bitch not named JENNA or ASIA picking ouy vibant colors to accent her vibrant personality/next channel "how they make it..candles,neon signs...oh let's not forget the fishing channel..catch and release this! the smarmy bitch said no one was watching the channels we dropped..all the while admitting they had no way to know what 'WE' were watching. maybe i got the White House instead! also pissed sci fi dropped "the dresden files" co produced by Nicholas Cage-this was "Kolchak the Night Stalker"done right!G.H. if we have a class action suit count me in..
gary in akron commented:
I keep trying to bitch but they tell me I'm not submitting the right characters in my little box! G.H.FXD
GREG commented:
I AM PRETTY UPSET TOO. I JUST SAW THE 1950'S MUMMY MOVIE AND IT WAS KOOL! WHERE ELSE CAN YOU SEE THIS. ALSO, IT WAS 7:30PM AND I WANTED TO SEE THE NEWS, I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE GLEN BECK OR LOU DOBBS AND LOCALS HAD NONE, VOOM NEWS WOULD HAVE BEEN ON BUT I GUESS NOT NOW. WHAT ELSE WILL LEAVE US. GOING TO CHECK OUT DIRECT TV ETC.VOOM YOU WERE KINDA KORNY BUT I LIKED WATCHING.
CKW commented:
Now that I know what has happened I too am pissed off. I loved most of the Voom content-it's the only reason I switched to Dish.
Gaffin commented:
I just found out about an hour ago and decided to look this up on the internet. I was/am pretty pissed off that they just took away the Voom channels. Hell, they could've at least given notice. I really like alot of the Voom channels, especially Rave. It had so many good music programs. I really hope Voom gets picked up by someone else, like DirecTv.
Boris N. Bela commented:
I feel betrayed! I feel like I got the old bait-and-switch scam from Dish Network. I had just upgraded to the highest level of HD programming with Dish Network, and the only reason that I did so was because I had found out that they carried Voom's wonderful Monsters HD channel. I really enjoyed being able to watch those fun, full-HD monster movies 24/7. Now, I am so mad about this channel being dropped that I want to just completely cancel my Dish Network service altogether and instead just rent HD Blue-Ray discs from NetFlix.
Fashionmaven commented:
Where am I going to see the latest collections now without going to the actual show? I am very disappointed that Ultra was dropped. It had some excellent programming. Bad move, Dish Network.
RVD420 commented:
The 15 Voom Channels should be trimmed down to 6 or 7 channels. The maybe there would be less re-runs.
Chuck commented:
Judging from all the negative comments on the satellite boards yeah I think some people, many people in fact (myself included) do care about loosing the Voom channels. Of course you'd rather watch the Hallmark Movie Channel wouldn't you? You'd also be screaming bloody murder if they took off one of the lame commercial loaded channels you enjoy. I really could care less about the Golf Channel, The Tennis Channel, World Fishing Network (just to name a few) but I'm glad they are there to serve their niche markets. The Voom movie channels had improved considerably in the last month of so when lots of new and very good films were added to their library. Yeah I know....you didn't watch Voom so you don't care if the channels are gone! Typical self centered response I might add!
voomshmoom commented:
C'mon. Do you really think anyone really cares about these under watched, poorly programmed excuses for HD channels? The Voom channels were--to be kind--boredom personified. And I could care less that they were commercial-free. I have a DVR so everything is commercial-free. And how much longer would you have thought these trash channels would have stayed non-commercial? Meh...
ScotsmansKilt commented:
Scott, it's a contract dispute vetween Dish and Voom's parent, Cablevision's Rainbow Media subsidiary. Dish sued Rainbow for breach of contract, for not spending the $100-million a year on Voom programming that's required in the contract under which Dish bought Voom's satellite and got 20% equity in Voom. Rainboow recently lost a court bid for an injunction preventing Dish from dropping Voom, and now, Dish has made good its threat to drop Voom. Because Dish owns 20% of Voom, NO provider other than Cablevision will carry them, especially not DirecTV.
Pat commented:
Dish Network ,what a terrible service.They had me change my dvr boxes so I can continue watching the Voom channels,and now they are gone.
Voom was the only true HD with no commercials.
I hope direct tv picks so I can drop this people.
bumblebee commented:
alas, this sucks, but goes more along the line of a liberty taking over rainbow rumor from a few months ago, when d11 lights up, i wouldn't be suprised to see a few voom channels in there :)
JoeyGee commented:
It won't backfire in their faces until our "dish n' it up" (little did I know when I went HD with Dish I "agreed"--the hell I did- to a NEW 2 yr. contract) contracts expire. I swear on my mother's name when my contract is up, I'm leaving Dish. I know every carrier has their drawbacks but Dish Networks drawbacks far outweigh the positives..
Bubba commented:
Yesterday I was singing the praises of Dish for the new HD and forgiving them for following behind in HD offerings and more importantly their lack of communication with their customers. Then they pull another boneheaded move like this! You really have to wonder about the management of that company. Nothing at all in the press release and nothing on the Tech Forum. It's just "SURPRISE! Some of your favorite channels are gone!" later in the evening. The two big ones I will miss are Voom HD Movies and FilmFest HD which really showed some good films, uncut and commercial free. Sorry but those turkeys on the commercial loaded Hallmark Movie Channel are hardly an even exchange! I hope this thing really backfires in their face! Again it's the lack of communication with their customers that really p***es me off. What a sneaky outfit!
dishyguy commented:
looks to me they dropped the lesser watched VOOM stuff. I guess they figured they were expendable because they had a dispute with VOOM as to where the channels would be in the various packages. personally it's no skin off my nose as the only VOOM channel I watched was Rave, and I watched that very infrequently. they've added many more new channels for which I've been waiting in the past few days. most of the VOOM channels sucked anyway.
NightNinja commented:
Scott, I enjoy reading your column as you provide insightful information about the industry I would otherwise not know. However, there is one thing about your writing that really bugs me... your use of the phrase "from where I sit". Do you make a conscious effort to include it in every one of your columns?
jc commented:
Dish just made it a little easier for me to consider other service providers in my area. They give us 17 "HD" channels which actually consist of very little real HD, lots of stretched, upconverted SD, and 3 to 4 minutes of advertising for every 7 minutes of broadcast content. Then they drop 10 channels of 24/7 true HD content that runs without commercial interruption. I guess Joe SixPack is calling the shots at Dish these days and stretched reruns of Reba are much more desirable than the quality content seen on these now lost Voom channels. Dish Network - The Stretched, Upconverted HD Leader.
