So, wait, are you saying that we're lying? That they weren't getting better? That Monsters HD didn't take a drastic turn for the better on April 1st and continued improving through the day Dish decided to cut the cord?
About time Voom said something
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I just made my call and during our 3 min talk the csr said they added Chiller to replace Monsters HD................... I said, oh please, stop stop
I was getting ready to go off, but it's not his fault and I realize he was just saying what he was told.
I just sent the following to both DishNetwork and VOOM. Thanks to richiephx for some inspiration.
I am a DishNetwork subscriber that is upset about loosing VOOM. FILMFEST, WORLD, MONSTERS, KUNGFU, RAVE, and EQUATOR were among my favorite channels.
Initially, I greatly enjoyed VOOM as a new subscriber. The content was interesting and the presentation was spectacular. After several months of viewing, however, I found that the same programs were repeated, over and over again. It appeared there was little or no effort by VOOM to add new programming. Around November, 2007, there was a noticeable decline in programming. Someone made the decision to reduce the amount of different programs on most of the channels to two or three that were constantly repeated over a 24 hour plus window. I consequently watched less of VOOM until recently again with the small addition of new programming. I was hoping the new programming was the beginning of the turn-around for VOOM. Sadly this appears to be too little too late.
Earlier this week, I was excited to see the addition of new HD channels by DishNetwork -- that is, until the VOOM channels were completely eliminated. To me, this is unacceptable. I understand that VOOM channels were not in the best shape for a long time (see above), and that removing some of the VOOM channels could allow DishNetwork to offer more mainstream channels on its limited capacity system. However, there is good programming already on VOOM, and with some decent effort and investment on Rainbow Media's part, I believe VOOM could be distilled into fewer, but higher quality channels that would give DishNetwork a significant advantage over rivals. Such a consolidation might include two movie channels (FILMFEST/WORLD/KUNGFU, MONSTERS), one sports/games (RUSH/WORLDSPORT/GAMEPLAY), one world/arts channel (EQUATOR/TREASURE/GALLERY), one variety (RAVE/GALLERY/TREASURE), and one family channel (ANIMANIA/FAMILYROOM). HDNEWS news could be eliminated or perhaps updates could be injected in between shows on the other channels (ties all the channels together). The key though would be to continually offer new programs and to offer less repeats, especially in a single day.
I sincerely hope VOOM and DishNetwork can resolve their differences because there are many subscribers, including myself who would welcome the return of VOOM to DishNetwork, provided VOOM improves their programming service in a smaller footprint.
I am a DishNetwork subscriber that is upset about loosing VOOM. FILMFEST, WORLD, MONSTERS, KUNGFU, RAVE, and EQUATOR were among my favorite channels.
Initially, I greatly enjoyed VOOM as a new subscriber. The content was interesting and the presentation was spectacular. After several months of viewing, however, I found that the same programs were repeated, over and over again. It appeared there was little or no effort by VOOM to add new programming. Around November, 2007, there was a noticeable decline in programming. Someone made the decision to reduce the amount of different programs on most of the channels to two or three that were constantly repeated over a 24 hour plus window. I consequently watched less of VOOM until recently again with the small addition of new programming. I was hoping the new programming was the beginning of the turn-around for VOOM. Sadly this appears to be too little too late.
Earlier this week, I was excited to see the addition of new HD channels by DishNetwork -- that is, until the VOOM channels were completely eliminated. To me, this is unacceptable. I understand that VOOM channels were not in the best shape for a long time (see above), and that removing some of the VOOM channels could allow DishNetwork to offer more mainstream channels on its limited capacity system. However, there is good programming already on VOOM, and with some decent effort and investment on Rainbow Media's part, I believe VOOM could be distilled into fewer, but higher quality channels that would give DishNetwork a significant advantage over rivals. Such a consolidation might include two movie channels (FILMFEST/WORLD/KUNGFU, MONSTERS), one sports/games (RUSH/WORLDSPORT/GAMEPLAY), one world/arts channel (EQUATOR/TREASURE/GALLERY), one variety (RAVE/GALLERY/TREASURE), and one family channel (ANIMANIA/FAMILYROOM). HDNEWS news could be eliminated or perhaps updates could be injected in between shows on the other channels (ties all the channels together). The key though would be to continually offer new programs and to offer less repeats, especially in a single day.
I sincerely hope VOOM and DishNetwork can resolve their differences because there are many subscribers, including myself who would welcome the return of VOOM to DishNetwork, provided VOOM improves their programming service in a smaller footprint.
Once again, you didn't answer the question asked. And how did I insult you? You insult all us VOOM supporters every chance you get.
I wanted proof for this statement from you -
Awaiting your answer......
It's probably been posted elsewhere, but you can contact Dish and Rainbow Media here:
feedback@customermail.dishnetwork.com
Rainbow Media: Contact Us
So, wait, are you saying that we're lying? That they weren't getting better? That Monsters HD didn't take a drastic turn for the better on April 1st and continued improving through the day Dish decided to cut the cord?
I am not saying you are lying. I don't know. I left Dish in January. Monsters should have never taken such a dive. It is far harder to regain respect when you have tanked as bad as Monsters did. It is a fact that Dish lost subscribers in part because Voom took a nose dive. If they waited until a bunch of us left and then turned Monsters around, can you really blame Dish for ditching them? The subscribers were already gone.
Monsters, and all of Voom, failed us all in a big way. Dish punished them for that. But I also think that Dish is blaming Voom for much more of the larger problem than they are really responsible for. It was partially Voom, and more so Dish not adding channels that lead to the loss of subscriber (gains).
It is kind of like a poor employee in middle management. The Sh*t rolls downhill and the poor employee (Voom in this analogy) is blamed for everything that has gone wrong. Sure, this employee (voom) is part of the bigger problem, but not the entire problem. Dish is hurting right now and Voom's nose dive has contributed for sure. But Dish has bigger problems.
My feelings exactly.
For me, the "concept" of most of the voom channels was great but the execution was poor. Some examples:
WorldSportHD: Live CFL and Spanish Soccer, sounds great. This channel could have been unreal! Think of the possibilities...Japanese baseball, Rugby, Aussie Rules Football, Sumo Wrestling, Cricket...nope, instead we got endless reruns of Pan American baseball games, pro Tennis matches from 2-3 months ago and Spanish Soccer games from last season.
FilmfestHD: Thousands, no, tens of thousands of movies to choose from and we get 2 movies repeated back and forth for three days straight?? Come on, they could have done better than that. That's just being cheap and lazy.
MonstersHD: This was once a great channel. Yes, it was getting slightly better but the writing was on the wall when they stopped carrying the classic Universal Monster Movies IMHO.
AnimaniaHD: How about licensing some HD classic cartoons? Hanna Barbara, Walter Lance or Flescher cartoons anyone? Other than Dick Tracey and the Pink Panther I couldn't have hand picked a list of more obscure cartoons.
I could keep going but I think I've made my opinion clear. I agree with a lot the angry comments about Dish but I also see fault in Voom.
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Does anyone know if VOOM programming will show up on other channels now? Assuming they go belly up as a stand alone. Seems like they should be searching for a medium to carry their content. I could see Discovery or HDNET purchasing a large amount of Treasure, Gallery, and Equator content and showing them as new programming without a problem. As long as it is in 1080i it is fine with me. I'll miss VOOM but I'll miss the great looking HD content more.
FYI:
Canned response from CEO e-mail---expect this canned answer to anything you e-mail to that address. Voom is gone for ever.... CRAP!:
Dear Customer,
Thank you for your e-mail. Effective immediately the VOOM HD line-up can no longer be viewed by our customers. DISH Network continues to be the leader in providing the best movies, sports and entertainment in High Definition. In order to provide you with top quality entertainment, DISH Network continually evaluates and at times, makes changes to our channel line-up. We plan to use this opportunity to introduce exciting new HD channels offering a breadth and depth of programming that better complements our already robust HD offerings.
DISH Network understands it may feel like DISH is removing your favorite programming, but check out the comparable HD programming that is available!
VOOM Channel Alternative Programming Channel #
Monsters HD Chiller (Only available in SD) 199
Rave HD MHD 9469
Rush HD Universal HD, HD Net 9427, 9422
Specific HD Movies HD Net Movies, Universal HD, and Premiums in HD 9423, 9427
Also check out the following exciting new channels that will be available in the DISH HD Package!
ABC Family HD (DISH Network Ch. 180)
Biography HD (Ch. 119)
Bravo HD (Ch. 129)
Cartoon HD (Ch. 176)
Cinemax 5 Star (Ch. 381)
Cinemax HD West (Ch. 380)
Comcast Sports Network Bay Area HD (Ch. 419)*
Comcast Sports Network New England HD (Ch. 435)*
CNBC HD (Ch. 208)
CNN HD (Ch. 200)
Disney HD East (Ch. 172)
ESPNews HD (Ch. 142)
Hallmark Movie Channel HD (Ch. 187)
MGM HD (Ch. 385)
Sci Fi HD (Ch. 122)
Smithsonian HD (Ch. 374)
Tennis Channel HD (Ch. 400)
Toon Disney HD (Ch. 174)
Travel Channel HD (Ch. 215)
USA HD (Ch. 105)
Weather Channel HD (Ch. 214)
World Fishing Network HD (Ch. 396)
*Launch Wednesday, May 14
Watch for even more high definition channels over the upcoming weeks as DISH Network grows to over 100 national HD channels by end of year. For additional information please visit HYPERLINK "http://www.DishNetwork.com/HDupdate" DISH Network -- Dish HD. Thank you for being a DISH Network customer.
Your business is greatly appreciated and we thank you for allowing us to be of assistance to you. If you have any further questions or concerns, please refer to DISH Network -- Home or reply to this email.
Sincerely,
DISH Network E-Care
Canned response from CEO e-mail---expect this canned answer to anything you e-mail to that address. Voom is gone for ever.... CRAP!:
Dear Customer,
Thank you for your e-mail. Effective immediately the VOOM HD line-up can no longer be viewed by our customers. DISH Network continues to be the leader in providing the best movies, sports and entertainment in High Definition. In order to provide you with top quality entertainment, DISH Network continually evaluates and at times, makes changes to our channel line-up. We plan to use this opportunity to introduce exciting new HD channels offering a breadth and depth of programming that better complements our already robust HD offerings.
DISH Network understands it may feel like DISH is removing your favorite programming, but check out the comparable HD programming that is available!
VOOM Channel Alternative Programming Channel #
Monsters HD Chiller (Only available in SD) 199
Rave HD MHD 9469
Rush HD Universal HD, HD Net 9427, 9422
Specific HD Movies HD Net Movies, Universal HD, and Premiums in HD 9423, 9427
Also check out the following exciting new channels that will be available in the DISH HD Package!
ABC Family HD (DISH Network Ch. 180)
Biography HD (Ch. 119)
Bravo HD (Ch. 129)
Cartoon HD (Ch. 176)
Cinemax 5 Star (Ch. 381)
Cinemax HD West (Ch. 380)
Comcast Sports Network Bay Area HD (Ch. 419)*
Comcast Sports Network New England HD (Ch. 435)*
CNBC HD (Ch. 208)
CNN HD (Ch. 200)
Disney HD East (Ch. 172)
ESPNews HD (Ch. 142)
Hallmark Movie Channel HD (Ch. 187)
MGM HD (Ch. 385)
Sci Fi HD (Ch. 122)
Smithsonian HD (Ch. 374)
Tennis Channel HD (Ch. 400)
Toon Disney HD (Ch. 174)
Travel Channel HD (Ch. 215)
USA HD (Ch. 105)
Weather Channel HD (Ch. 214)
World Fishing Network HD (Ch. 396)
*Launch Wednesday, May 14
Watch for even more high definition channels over the upcoming weeks as DISH Network grows to over 100 national HD channels by end of year. For additional information please visit HYPERLINK "http://www.DishNetwork.com/HDupdate" DISH Network -- Dish HD. Thank you for being a DISH Network customer.
Your business is greatly appreciated and we thank you for allowing us to be of assistance to you. If you have any further questions or concerns, please refer to DISH Network -- Home or reply to this email.
Sincerely,
DISH Network E-Care
Because VOOM laid out the new content for the next few months right after DISH provided their audit to the judge.
What I think you guys should do is call VOOM and ask they consolidate all 15 into 5 new HDs and let DISH carry just those five, be flexible and stay alive.
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That's one of the points in my post http://www.satelliteguys.us/1364164-post105.html
If VOOM consoldates into 5/6 channels AND begins getting new content in earnest AND increases the amount of programming in a 24 hour period, then this is what you get:
- VOOM stays alive
- VOOM has more compelling channels that people would watch
- VOOM has a better sales pitch to other providers since (a) the content is better, and (b) they require less bandwidth due to smaller footprint
- Dish appeases some of their customers that were upset by the move.
- Dish has quality channels that Direct does not (again, provided VOOM seriously beefs up the new content and gets rid of daily repeats)
- Dish frees up some capacity for other mainstream channels still missing.
- Dish and VOOM avoid the courts
- Add 1, 2, or 3 channels immediately, and more as Dish adds broadcasting capacity later this year.
- Place some of the VOOM channels in a higher tier but put 1/2 in a lower tier where customers can be exposed to VOOM and perhaps have more incentive to upgrade to a higher tier.
I'm probably preaching to the choir here...
I am not sure what you are trying to say. First, there is only one of me; second, I am merely asking questions regarding the number of channels to be carried in the affiliate agreement and not making any conclusions.
Anyway, the following excerpt (see attachment) is from pages I-18 and I-19 of Cablevision's 1st Quarter Report 2005. This is what Cablevision mentioned about their agreement with EchoStar to carry VOOM21, not VOOM15. Clearly, Cablevision seems to think the $100 million spending requirement is for all 21 VOOM HD channels and as little as $38 million if fewer channels are offered. Again, I am making no conclusions...merely pointing out there appears to be conflicting information (i.e. a fact) regarding the $100 million spending requirement...unless Cablevision is providing misleading information in their quarterly report to the SEC.
NOTE 20. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
In April 2005, subsidiaries of Cablevision and CSC Holdings entered into agreements with EchoStar Communications Corporation (“EchoStar”) relating to the launch and operation of the business of Rainbow HD Holdings, LLC, the Company’s VOOM 21 high-definition television programming service. Under those arrangements, EchoStar will initially distribute a portion of the Rainbow HD programming service and, beginning in 2006, if the contemplated transactions have been completed, will carry all 21 of the channels included in the Rainbow HD programming service. In connection with the arrangements, EchoStar would be issued a 20% interest in Rainbow HD Holdings, the Company’s subsidiary owning the 21
I-18
channels included in the Rainbow HD programming service, and that 20% interest would not be diluted until $500,000 in cash has been invested in Rainbow HD Holdings. The issuance of the 20% interest in Rainbow HD Holdings to EchoStar and EchoStar’s agreement to distribute all 21 of the channels included in the Rainbow HD programming service are subject to customary closing conditions, and the closing of the sale of the Company’s Rainbow 1 satellite to EchoStar.
Under the terms of our affiliation arrangements with EchoStar covering our VOOM 21 channels for a 15 year term, if we fail to invest $100,000 per year up to a maximum of $500,000 in the aggregate (which $100,000 amount may be reduced to no less than $38,000 if we decide in the future to reduce the number of channels) in the entity that owns and develops these channels, EchoStar may terminate the affiliation agreement. We have the right to terminate the affiliation agreement if the VOOM 21 service is discontinued in the future.
sounds like conflicting information because there was never voom21 on Dish Network. All it was voom15. Sounds to me from reading the above that Voom was only to spend 38K per year for voom15 and no less.
According to the link provided earlier to the state court ruimg denying the VOOM requeste injuction the affilaition agreement is dated November of 2005 an covers 15 channels. In fact it contains the follwong passage
"VOOM explains that because the 15-year Affiliation Agreement, unlike a
traditional affiliation agreement, contemplates the distribution of a suite of 15 channels covering different interests, it would be “inconceivable” that another cable or satellite provider would agree to carry all the channels andor for the same duration (Moyer Aff 7 29).
I fin it amazing that someone can provide the link and mention it so prominently but then try to use other docuemtns about a single point-----how many cahnnels are involved.
the agreement was executed in November not may and not even VOOM is claiming that it covered 21 channels.
"VOOM explains that because the 15-year Affiliation Agreement, unlike a
traditional affiliation agreement, contemplates the distribution of a suite of 15 channels covering different interests, it would be “inconceivable” that another cable or satellite provider would agree to carry all the channels andor for the same duration (Moyer Aff 7 29).
I fin it amazing that someone can provide the link and mention it so prominently but then try to use other docuemtns about a single point-----how many cahnnels are involved.
the agreement was executed in November not may and not even VOOM is claiming that it covered 21 channels.
Good post/email. I agree 100% with you. I blame VOOM more then Dish. They need to make their channels more appealing. It's been said ad nauseam, but cutting down to 5 channels would be great. Like you said, a family channel, world/arts channel, sports channel, variety channel and a movie channel (with MonstersHD from midnight to 6am every day!). VOOM should work on creating content and becoming a premium for $5-$10/month... I'd pay.
