Dish network losing Comedy Central, MTV, Nick, & CBS (AKA NCAA basketball)

[vi edit]

I was watching Comedy Central last night on my Direct TV service and they had a couple scrolling banners throughout the night saying that Dish Network and another company were close to losing Comedy Central and you needed to call a number and tell Dish what you thought of this.

My concern is that I'm on a waiting list to switch to Dish because of the free HDTV tuner promotion they are currently running. If they are going to loose comedy central it just isn't worth it since half of my cable viewing is this station.

Anyone have any info on this?

 

Thank god I'm on cable!
I think comedy central is one of two channels I actually use.

Call em up and bitch.

 

[minendo]

Don't see anything on Dish Network's site about it.

However, that $29.99/month America's 60 pak with local channels is a hell of a deal. Definitely beats my $100/month cable bill.

 

[MikeMike]

its possibly loosing more than just CC.

the list i just saw (and im on cable, so it is scrolled by the network) included

BET, VH1, MTV, Nickelodeon, Spike TV, Comedy central, and other nick variants.

MIKE

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
its possibly loosing more than just CC.

the list i just saw (and im on cable, so it is scrolled by the network) included

BET, VH1, MTV, Nickelodeon, Spike TV, Comedy central, and other nick variants.

MIKE

Damn! Spike TV too? :|

I could give two sh!ts about MTV, BET & Nick, but Spike and Comedy Central are really the only two channels I watch. Bah!

Guess I'll be canceling my order.

 

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
its possibly loosing more than just CC.

the list i just saw (and im on cable, so it is scrolled by the network) included

BET, VH1, MTV, Nickelodeon, Spike TV, Comedy central, and other nick variants.

MIKE

Whaaaaaaaat?
I was considering looking into the dish too, guess I won't be now.

 

[SludgeFactory]

I saw that too.

This seems like the new trend, for the networks and cable/satellite providers to battle over negotiating new contracts and take the battle to the public. Just like ESPN and Cox cable did for months, each advertising against the other, trying to get the public on their side. The public doesn't really give a sh!t.

Ignore it, they will settle their differences.

 

[gump47371]

The way I understand it is Viacom, who owns BET, MTV, Comedy Central, Nickeloden channels, and some of the CBS channels in 15 big markets around the U.S., and Echostar, who owns Dish Network, are bickering over the price for Dish to buy and resell the CBS channels in question. Their beef is that they are being charged too much for the BET, etc., but have to buy them to get the CBS channels, as they are being sold as a package deal by Viacom.

I called Dish Network, and they have a recorded message saying they are working on it, but Viacom is offering these channels at "prices they believe to be unreasonable." They give you a phone number for Lew Leone, President and GM of WCBS (212-975-4321 if you are interested). They, however, forget to give you a number to call and gripe about how they raised prices only a month ago, and now this.

I think all customers should call and threaten to move to DTV. That is my plan. I think it will be resolved, but they might be shut off for a day or two, though. Would be murder for them, I am afraid.

 

[Lyfer]

I'm starting to really like cable, no long term contracts, no equipment to buy, just a "mild" $42 a month fee. (Unless you don't have cable available in your area)


BTW if Dish network really lost CC, that would really SUCK. Its one of the top tier channels IMO.

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah. They were scrolling this across the screen when I was watching Spike TV just now. Oh well, good thing I'm on DirecTV.

 

[kermalou]

you are going to lose rick james b!tch

 

[MrBond]

Some info here:

http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/040304/1636001167_1.html

There's several threads on DBS forums about this too.

It sounds like Viacom put up the crawl at the bottom of the screen, then later on DishNetwork broadcasts, there was a black bar covering the crawl (added by DishNetwork)

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: MrBond
Some info here:

http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/040304/1636001167_1.html

There's several threads on DBS forums about this too.

It sounds like Viacom put up the crawl at the bottom of the screen, then later on DishNetwork broadcasts, there was a black bar covering the crawl (added by DishNetwork)

I don't get it, why is Dish balking at carrying NickGAS? Out of 20 channels, that's an odd one to fight over.

 

[PlatinumGold]

i have dish right now, i've been without service for 5 weeks. a second technician is scheduled to come out next week.

suffice it to say, once i'm finish my 1 year contract i'm done with DishTV for good.

i can get basic cable ($10 / month) and cable internet ($39.00 /month) for about the same as what i was paying for dish TV ($35/ month + $5.00 / month for locals).

plus, i take my dish components to comcast and they will give me $25.00 / month off my bill for 16 months.

ya, i'm done with dish.

 

[Balt]

Originally posted by: MrBond
Some info here:

http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/040304/1636001167_1.html

There's several threads on DBS forums about this too.

It sounds like Viacom put up the crawl at the bottom of the screen, then later on DishNetwork broadcasts, there was a black bar covering the crawl (added by DishNetwork)

I can verify that personally. I think I was watching MTV (I know, I know) earlier today and for a second or two I saw some text begin to scroll along the bottom of the screen. Then a black bar appeared and covered the text.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

I don't get it, why is Dish balking at carrying NickGAS? Out of 20 channels, that's an odd one to fight over.

They have it now, you just have to buy the Top 150 package to get it. Apparently there was a similar incident with Time Warner and the Disney channel a few years ago. Most other companies had moved Disney to standard cable, but Time Warner was still charging extra for it. In retaliation for Disney's trying to strongarm them, TW pulled ABC during sweeps from its lineup (which the FCC will fine you for). TW ended up having to pay FCC fines and ended up settling with Disney on terms that were more favorable to Disney.

 

[VTboy]

This actually has to do with Nicktoons a new channel. Viacom is saying that you have to buy all of our channels or none of them. Dish doesn't like that. They also want an across the board 7% increase in fees. Dish feels this is too much.

 

[CarlKillerMiller]

Is anyone actually going to call their number? And if you do, what is that number? I saw the bar today, but it was covered before the number.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: Chraticn
Is anyone actually going to call their number? And if you do, what is that number? I saw the bar today, but it was covered before the number.

It's the Dish Network customer service number.

Don't call it. Comedy Central isn't going anywhere on DishNetwork, it wouldn't be good for either party. They'll work it out eventually.

 

[Techie333]

LOL! Now everytime those scrolling messages come on, Dish network blocks them by putting a big black line over them!!! I was like WTF?!?!?!

 

[KK]

Now if you were under a contract with dish and you are subscribing to these channels in question, does that mean that they broke the contract and that you no longer have to subscribe?

KK

 

[VTboy]

Originally posted by: KK
Now if you were under a contract with dish and you are subscribing to these channels in question, does that mean that they broke the contract and that you no longer have to subscribe?

KK

Nope the contract says the channels are subject to change. Hell they could get rid of all the channels but 1 and you still have to pay the price you agreed too.

 

[Fiveohhh]

That'd make me switch dish's on its own

 

[VTboy]

I wonder if Dish could sue viacom though because I am sure the scrolling text has discouraged people from switching over. They could be costing Dish customers.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: VTboy
I wonder if Dish could sue viacom though because I am sure the scrolling text has discouraged people from switching over. They could be costing Dish customers.

On the same note, could Viacom sue Dish since they are altering the content that Dish has accepted to transmit by putting the black bar over the scrolling.

KK