Dish Network Sucks

[Tasan]

Well its official, the bruhaha with Dish Network and Viacom has ended, at least for now, with Dish Network removing all Viacom channels such as all MTVs, Nickelodeons, VH1s and Comedy Central because they couldn't reach a deal. I give them a couple of days, and if they don't have it sorted out without increasing my bill like mad, we will be cancelling. I've been looking for an excuse to go to DirecTV anyway. Thankfully, I can pull in cable because I get cable internet(not technically supposed to have any cable TV with it), but the picture is piss poor in the living room. At least my son won't have to miss his Blues Clues or Dora in the morning though.

[JeeberD]

Dora Dora Dora the Explorer!

[Suicane75]

Does this have something to do with VIACOM giving into the FCC as far as content and the regulating of TV? Part of me hopes this is Dish Networks way of telling anyone who's cowering to the goverment to screw off.

[Tasan]

What kills me is the SOBs at DN are still listing the programming guides for the channels we don't get right now. Nothing like surfing the guide and finding something you want to watch, then going to that channel and getting a We're sorry, we're complete fuckups at the negotiating table blurb. I see lawsuits coming out of this or something. I'm sure that there is a disclaimer somewhere that programming can change whenever they feel like it, but this is a major change and those kinds of disclaimers have been knocked aside in court before when the circumstances are large like this.

[Hurst2112]

I saw this message scrolling across the screen the last few days (I have time warner).

What I don't understand is what happens to customers who signed a contract with Dish Network? Does their contract become invalid, assuming there are contracts.

What about price hikes?

I would also agree that this matter will be fixed shortly.

[Tasan]

Yeah, I can't see this lasting very long. As soon as Dish Network has a few THOUSAND people cancel their subscriptions because of it, they'll crawl back. I just hope they don't double our rates or anything stupid like that. I'll still cancel and go dtv if that happens.

[Hurst2112]

Figures, it can't be HGtv, CSPAN and the Home Shopping Network cancellations instead.

This happened with Time Warner and Fox Sports for awhile last year. It was a big deal around the cities because the Wolves, Twins and Wild were shown on that channel. This is probably why TWC decided to negotiate. What was nice was ESPN news was put in it's place until the contract was renewed. I could have done without the best damn sports show for a little longer.

[Ksyrup]

My father-in-law signed up for Dish Network in December, because they were running a good deal on a 3-room package with one HD receiver for $99 (I think DirecTV wants $400 for the same receiver). He's still waiting to have it installed (!), as the local installers have yet to get the parts needed for the HD hookup from Dish. Not only that, but they have scheduled him for Saturday installation 3 times, and only once have they called to tell him they weren't coming, meaning he sat around for half a day waiting, and they never showed up and have no phone number that's active on Saturday (because the store is closed) that he could call to find out whether he should continue waiting.

I told him to shove the receivers up their ass and get DirecTV, but he's got an HD TV and doesn't want to spend the money for their receiver. Ridiculous.

[MizzouRah]

I'm definitly going back to Direct TV once my DN contract is up. It's weird, but the picture was much better on my TV with Direct TV.


Todd

[MacroGuru]

My DN contract is up, and I have to say, I am slightly pissed about this. My kids watch the channels that are cancelled (Except for Music Videos, thats the Wife).

Only reason(s) I have Satellite is that I can't get cable, and my kids watch Nickelodeon. I have it for my ESPN, Fox Sports World, National Geographic, Discovery Channel(s), and the History channels.

Looks like I Might be moving to DirectTV.

[Tasan]

Well I just called my dad who also has DN, and he wasn't aware of this yet, since he doesn't stay up til 3am unlike me, and actually had to to go work this morning. He wasn't too happy either, and we decided that we'll give them a couple of days to sort it out, and then we're both cancelling if they don't have the channels back at a very similar price. I hope right now they are dealing with customers a whole lot less patient than me, and they are seeing the folly of their ways.

[AgPete]

Sorry to hear they finally pulled the plug. I watch a lot of Comedy Central and that message about Dish Network has been scrolling across the screen every hour for the last week. I don't watch the music channels but I'd hate to have cable without Comedy Central.

[Ksyrup]

This continues to have wider application as the years pass, but...whatever you do, DON'T BE LIKE OJ SIMPSON:


MIAMI -- DirecTV is accusing O.J. Simpson of pirating its satellite television signal.

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in Miami, the company demanded the former football star pay DirecTV $20,000.

Federal agents removed satellite TV equipment from Simpson's house in the Miami neighborhood of Kendall during a search in 2001. DirecTV alleges the devices were "bootloaders," for unscrambling the company's signals.

The raid occurred as authorities were investigating Simpson and others in an alleged Ecstasy and satellite-theft ring. Simpson was never charged.

Simpson attorney Yale Galanter denied the lawsuit's allegations.

"O.J. Simpson has never owned any pirating equipment, pirating cards, illegal cards," he said. "`He's been a loyal, paying customer of DirecTV for years."

[gstelmack]

I understand the frustration here, but this is not necessarily Dish's fault. This is part of the fallout from the media mergers the last few years: now the media conglomerates are using their leverage to force distributors to pay more and charge less (i.e. by moving channels from a premium tier to a standard tier, see Disney & Time Warner) for their channels. Viacom wants a 5%/year increase in the rates Dish pays them (which works out to something like a 30% increase over 5 or 6 years, and at one point was asking for 7% which works out to 40% over 5 years). Are you willing for your bill to go up 5% every year to keep those channels? Because that's the end result here if Viacom wins.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Are you willing for your bill to go up 5% every year to keep those channels? Because that's the end result here if Viacom wins.
Yep. And Viacom is counting on most people not considering that bit of reality.

Looks like they're making a good bethttp://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Tasan]

Jon, don't assume just because I say "stupid Dish Network" that I don't get it. Geez.

[stkelly52]

I am actually glad to see DN not cave into the unrealistic demands of Viacom. I for one am glad to have satalite that is afordable.

[Craptacular]

As someone who is considering switching to satellite (and who wants HD channels), I'll be watching this. Honestly, I don't give a shit about anything on any of Viacom's cable channels (MTV especially), but I am interested in customer service / price part of the story.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Jon, don't assume just because I say "stupid Dish Network" that I don't get it. Geez.
Whatever you say.

All I know is that when I read the posts in this thread up to this point, you seemed rather fixated about cancelling DN. And that makes about zero sense IMO since this sort of thing is not isolated to them (or Viacom for that matter).

As a matter of fact, I hope consumers are prepared for this to become fairly commonplace.

[Tasan]

I'm going to cancel it because it does not offer programming that I want/need. Do you understand that? My son watches Dora the Explorer and Blue's Clues every morning, two very good learning shows. They are Nickelodeon only. One of my favorite shows is the Daily Show on Comedy Central, and I usually like watching the Kids in the Hall reruns in the afternoon, and the Conan rerun at 5pm central. Plus all the latenight cartoon reruns they run. What do you do when a service you pay for stops providing the service you want? Do YOU just keep paying for it or something?

[Ksyrup]

All I know is that when I read the posts in this thread up to this point, you seemed rather fixated about cancelling DN. And that makes about zero sense IMO since this sort of thing is not isolated to them (or Viacom for that matter).
I don't see DirecTV having these issues, so if the two services are comparable, and one has something the other doesn't - that you want, no less - why would you stick with the lesser of the two options?

If it wasn't isolated to them, then you've got a legitimate issue - why switch if it's happening to your other option(s). But that's not the case here.

[Draft Dodger]

I'm going to cancel it because it does not offer programming that I want/need. Do you understand that? My son watches Dora the Explorer and Blue's Clues every morning, two very good learning shows. They are Nickelodeon only. One of my favorite shows is the Daily Show on Comedy Central, and I usually like watching the Kids in the Hall reruns in the afternoon, and the Conan rerun at 5pm central. Plus all the latenight cartoon reruns they run. What do you do when a service you pay for stops providing the service you want? Do YOU just keep paying for it or something?

definitely switch - Dora is Graham's favorite show, and it's on all day long if you switch between the couple of different channels it's on. Blue's Clues also.

[Draft Dodger]

As a matter of fact, I hope consumers are prepared for this to become fairly commonplace.

definitely.
there is (was?) a similar situation with Cox Cable and ESPN.
and this hardball stuff is going to get worse, not better.

[gstelmack]

I don't see DirecTV having these issues, so if the two services are comparable, and one has something the other doesn't - that you want, no less - why would you stick with the lesser of the two options?

If it wasn't isolated to them, then you've got a legitimate issue - why switch if it's happening to your other option(s). But that's not the case here.
So far it hasn't hit DirecTV. It all depends on when contracts are up. DirecTV does have more leverage in this case, though, with the Fox connection, but that didn't help Time Warner in its dispute with ABC/Disney. So this may well be coming to DirecTV sometime in the next couple of years.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a DirecTV customer and have not seen a reason to switch over to Dish, but this issue is getting ready to hit pretty much every cable / dish company over the next few years, especially if some of the media companies win. Their whole tactic is to annoy customers (like Tasan) of the distributor they are targeting. And it seems to be working. But those customers won't like it when everyone (on every distributor) is paying $50/month instead of $40/month for the typical cable/DBS package. And you won't be able to switch because everyone is getting reemed.

I'll admit this is much harder to deal with when you have kids who have their favorite shows (although many of these shows are out on DVD now...), but if everyone caves we all end up paying more in the long run. Potentially much more.

[MacroGuru]

Well, after speaking with Dish today, it appears they are in this one for the long haul. I placed my order to switch over to DirectTV today.

It's also a hell of a lot cheaper than what I was paying Dish for. Plus, I actually get more.

[cuervo72]

[rick james]Put me back on the Dish, bitch![/rick james]

[Ksyrup]

So far it hasn't hit DirecTV. It all depends on when contracts are up. DirecTV does have more leverage in this case, though, with the Fox connection, but that didn't help Time Warner in its dispute with ABC/Disney. So this may well be coming to DirecTV sometime in the next couple of years.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a DirecTV customer and have not seen a reason to switch over to Dish, but this issue is getting ready to hit pretty much every cable / dish company over the next few years, especially if some of the media companies win. Their whole tactic is to annoy customers (like Tasan) of the distributor they are targeting. And it seems to be working. But those customers won't like it when everyone (on every distributor) is paying $50/month instead of $40/month for the typical cable/DBS package. And you won't be able to switch because everyone is getting reemed.

I'll admit this is much harder to deal with when you have kids who have their favorite shows (although many of these shows are out on DVD now...), but if everyone caves we all end up paying more in the long run. Potentially much more.
I understand all of that, but my point is that until it hits everyone, there's no reason NOT to switch to the "better" service. If all of the cable and satellite providers get strong-armed, then I'm sure they will band together to do something about it. And if they don't, then we'll still be in the same boat, only $10-25 a month poorer. But it will affect all of us. Until then, you've got to make your choice based on what's out there.

[Taur]

Watching commercials it looks like both Comcast(cable) and DirecTv are making a hard push to get those Dish customers. Now is the time to move if you can. I am currently on DirecTv and I am not going anywhere.

I am hoping though, that The Dish Network looks at this as an opportunity and not a set back to break with tradition and start real a la cart programming. There have always been rumors that some government body was going to step in and regulate tv programming packages so the consumer could pick and choose which channels he buys, but it has never happened. This is Dish Networks chance to give the viewer a choice of a real a la cart programming option.

As many customers that leave Dish network because of the loss of channels, just as many potential new customers will come because of a new and lower price for their remaining channels. How low can you go?

Of course there is always another option....The exclusive/retaliation option. The Dish Network could head over to Turner Broadcasting and sign an exclusive Satelite deal so DirecTv would lose their broadcasting rights when their current contract expired.

[GrantDawg]

Too late to move. Everything was settled last night and all stations are restored. I wonder who caved? The article I saw only said that they settled "all disputes and litigation" and they will be carring Nicktoons (which they were fighting against) in the spring.

[MizzouRah]

Too late to move. Everything was settled last night and all stations are restored. I wonder who caved? The article I saw only said that they settled "all disputes and litigation" and they will be carring Nicktoons (which they were fighting against) in the spring.

Yea! Dora Dora is back!!


Todd

[Tekneek]

Interesting. Having Nicktoons on DirecTV, it was one of the channels I thought I would miss if I make the move to Dish Network during this summer. I am contemplating leaving because the NHL Center Ice offering on Dish Network is superior to DirecTV's offering, and DirecTV has not responded to my letters asking for a real explanation why they will not even attempt to match the competition. If I can get a better NHL package at the same subscription price, why would I stay? Apparently they take their customers for granted.

[Tekneek]

Yea! Dora Dora is back!!


Todd

Heh. As my son would say, "Dora-Boots is on!"

[GrantDawg]

Heh. As my son would say, "Dora-Boots is on!"
Or as my son would say, *drool* bababababa. (He is 8 months old).

[Ksyrup]

When my daughter first started watching Dora, she would call it, "Dora the Explora." I couldn't let it go, so I had to continuously correct her, and now she calls it "Dora the Explore- ER!", and looks right at me every time she says it. I can't tell if she looking for my approval or rubbing it in my face. Considering she's 4 going on 15, I'm inclined to believe it's the latter.

[Ksyrup]

Interesting. Having Nicktoons on DirecTV, it was one of the channels I thought I would miss if I make the move to Dish Network during this summer. I am contemplating leaving because the NHL Center Ice offering on Dish Network is superior to DirecTV's offering, and DirecTV has not responded to my letters asking for a real explanation why they will not even attempt to match the competition. If I can get a better NHL package at the same subscription price, why would I stay? Apparently they take their customers for granted.
What's the better NHL package? Do they show pre and post-game, or is it something with the coverage of the games themselves? Frankly, they could stick me on the 4th line of the Red Wings, and I still wouldn't switch because of NFL Ticket.

[MizzouRah]

When my daughter first started watching Dora, she would call it, "Dora the Explora." I couldn't let it go, so I had to continuously correct her, and now she calls it "Dora the Explore- ER!", and looks right at me every time she says it. I can't tell if she looking for my approval or rubbing it in my face. Considering she's 4 going on 15, I'm inclined to believe it's the latter.

:)

My daughter (2) says Dor-Dor.


Todd

[Ksyrup]

Ah...2 years old. The days of little or no attitude. Once they start thinking for themselves, they become dangerous.

[Tekneek]

What's the better NHL package? Do they show pre and post-game, or is it something with the coverage of the games themselves? Frankly, they could stick me on the 4th line of the Red Wings, and I still wouldn't switch because of NFL Ticket.

They give both feeds of games when available (home and away), and they always show the pre-show and post-show (aka "After hours") for Hockey Night In Canada. DirecTV does not pick up HNIC until after the pre-show, they cut off the interviews done between games, and immediately turns off after the end of the last game. For the same subscription price, Dish Network is offering a vastly superior product (which amazes and frustrates me equally). I am not sure, but I think Dish Network shows the post-game shows on the Canadian feeds as well (and you can add the RSN package on Dish for the other pre/post-game shows for something like $5.99/month as opposed to the $12 on DirecTV (granted, DirecTV gives you more channels in the package, but they aren't the channels showing NHL hockey anyway)).

[MizzouRah]

Ah...2 years old. The days of little or no attitude. Once they start thinking for themselves, they become dangerous.

You kidding me? :)

NO! is her favorite word. Coloring on the walls is "funny", throwing food is "cute" and pulling her pants down and taking off her diper is the "in" thing for two year olds. :)

She's a monster....

[Glengoyne]

You kidding me? :)

NO! is her favorite word. Coloring on the walls is "funny", throwing food is "cute" and pulling her pants down and taking off her diper is the "in" thing for two year olds. :)

She's a monster....
IF you think "No" is attitude, you are in for some fun.:D

[Draft Dodger]

Heh. As my son would say, "Dora-Boots is on!"

mine too!
"Dora BOOTS!" (emphasis on Boots).

[Draft Dodger]

They give both feeds of games when available (home and away), and they always show the pre-show and post-show (aka "After hours") for Hockey Night In Canada. DirecTV does not pick up HNIC until after the pre-show, they cut off the interviews done between games, and immediately turns off after the end of the last game. For the same subscription price, Dish Network is offering a vastly superior product (which amazes and frustrates me equally). I am not sure, but I think Dish Network shows the post-game shows on the Canadian feeds as well (and you can add the RSN package on Dish for the other pre/post-game shows for something like $5.99/month as opposed to the $12 on DirecTV (granted, DirecTV gives you more channels in the package, but they aren't the channels showing NHL hockey anyway)).

wow - I'm jealous now.

[Warhammer]

My wife and I did a channel for channel comparison between Dish and Direct and opted to go for Dish because all of the additional channels were shopping and religious networks which we do not watch. Plus, our installer in Memphis was great, called him on a Friday and he was here on Monday, granted he was 1/2 hour late, but far better than the cable or telephone guys!

[JeeberD]

mine too!
"Dora BOOTS!" (emphasis on Boots).

I like monkeys...

[Ksyrup]

You kidding me? :)

NO! is her favorite word. Coloring on the walls is "funny", throwing food is "cute" and pulling her pants down and taking off her diper is the "in" thing for two year olds. :)

She's a monster....
Nothing like the attitude I get from my 4 year old, though. Having gone through the earlier stage, it just feels more willful these days. She gives me back talk and certain looks like she was a teenager. It's been an eye-opener.

[Taur]

mine too!
"Dora BOOTS!" (emphasis on Boots).
Definately one of the greatest Submarie Movies of all time.

Why would they want to pull "Das Boots" off the air? :D

[cincyreds]

DirecTV'S reception is poorer than cable(LIES!)

DirecTV rocks for me, especially since I got TIVO.

[Alan T]

I have had Dish Network for a few years. Never had any problem with reception, service, installation, etc. The only thing I have been disapointed in was the lack of the NFL package. The fact that I got Dish Network (with every channel I could possibly want) for half the price of Direct TV back a few years ago when I bought it was my true decision to get it.

This whole Viacom thing was a pain, because like others here my kids love those shows.. but instead of giving in to Viacom, I chose to just get them to watch Disney shows instead when we had tv time.. It also was a good excuse to cut back on their tv some. My kids watch way too much tv as it is.

[cuervo72]

DirecTV'S reception is poorer than cable(LIES!)

DirecTV rocks for me, especially since I got TIVO.

Oh, reception is a complete lie (we have sub-basic cable, and that's not as good as the satellite. I'm sure digital is not as bad though). As is the having to watch the same thing all over the house fallacy.

I hate those commercials from the cable companies where the confused house fraus whine about how terrible and restrictive sattelite is. Complete and utter lies!

Now, if I can just get my TiVo back....

[gstelmack]

Common cable lies in my area:

- Cable stays on when it rains: yes, but it goes out when it's not raining. And it takes a very heavy storm to knock out my DirecTV.

- Cable is free for additional outlets: unless you have digital cable (the equivalent of DBS), in which case it costs $6/outlet instead of the $5/outlet I pay with DirecTV.

- Cable gives HDTV: so does DirecTV if I want it. I need an antenna to get local HD content, but I can also get ESPNHD on DirecTV but can't with my cable company. The lineups are different, not any better/worse.

- Free 24/7 local, friendly customer service and technical support (direct quote): talk to my brother about the collection call he got for 1 penny that came from a screwup where they didn't turn off cable at his old apartment on time, or the troubles I had getting my cablemodem fixed that turned out to be caused by the shunt they put in because I don't have cable TV with them (intermittent browsing problems are fun). Their service and support is the primary reason I'm on satellite, and every time I think about going back (so I don't have to use an antenna for local HD, say), I hear another story.

- No equipment costs: well, except the couple of bucks a month you pay for leasing. At $6/month for a digital box, it takes a bit over a year until you are paying more for your box than I paid for my last DBS receiver. And I've had one of my receivers for much longer than that now. So my equipment has actually been cheaper.

Thanks to bandwidth, cable does have the opportunity to provide more directed content for my area, but all the other hassles and constant lies make it not worth it in my mind.