DISH Drops AMC Networks (AMC Back on DISH channel 131)
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I've been in Tennessee on vacation in the Smoky Mountains this week and have enjoyed TCM much more than I can remember enjoying AMC except during some of the original programs (namely Walking Dead) and Death Wish marathons. That said, I'm Dish America Silver and don't get either so have been used to finding the programs online. While there is something to be said for online programs I have to say I'd rather be sitting in my living room chair or sofa when watching a program. And I know I could hook my laptop to my HDTV but it all boils down to a matter of convenience to me so I can see where people are coming from with this anger. I'd be royally pissed if my favorite channels were moved with the explanation that I could watch online.
Comparing Nielsen ratings only works if you compare the monthly cost of the channels as well. I can see it being different if Discovery charges much less than AMC (hypothetically...not saying it does, because who really knows).
Like I mentioned before. It doesn't make much sense for a CEO of a pay-tv provider to encourage his customers to find programing via alternate sources. Really, what is the gain for Dish if people find what they want somewhere else? Is Charlie that vindictive against AMC Networks due to the Voom lawsuit that he would rather have Dish customers watch those programs somewhere else? What's to stop people from finding out that those other providers aren't really that bad or at least tolerable and then dump Dish? Or is he using this AMC spat as laying the groundwork for future negotations with other networks? I guess we'll see this summer what happens.
Y'all keep forgetting this is in response to the ongoing VOOM lawsuit. So in Charlie's eyes all if fair in love and war. So they sue DISH over VOOM and Charlie threatens to drop their other channels carried by the parent company :Cablevision. IF Charlie loses the Voom lawsuit permanently in the end , you can bet Charlie will drop the other suite of channels in retaliation, if he hasn't already dropped them as a threat in negotiations.
A couple years ago (only data available) both of the aforementioned were in the 25 cents range.
Even though Dish has said that isn't the real reason, I think deep down inside we know that this is true. Personally, I think it's foolish to run a company based on your personal emotions. I would hope that Dish has done it's homework and calculated that losses from dropping AMC Networks won't hurt them very much. But I think the long-term message it sends to potential customers is wrong. Why sign a contract with a provider that is willing to drop channels, maybe your favorite channel(s)? Dish had good customer growth last quarter. Why risk that with a "personal vendeta"?
Which may no longer be the case if AMC is requesting much more due to its popular series now. There is also the contractual bundling of other networks to consider. And as MikeD points out, the Voom lawsuit also comes into play.
All of this aside, personally speaking, I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the pay-tv tunnel. Fewer and fewer current shows are catching our interest, and any that is worth our time viewing can be purchased or streamed on demand for reasonable prices. Cutting the cord or at least severely cutting back on package level is really starting to look viable.
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What's funny to me not once in this thread or via an online search have I heard the words that AMC is demanding outrageous fees,or an unfair increase.That is always how the disputes came up in the past sure isn't the case this time.That is why it bothers me bottom line to me is that its being mishandled by Charlie/Dish.
Yeah, they didn't explicitly mention unfair increases, but there is this oblique reference to cost:
My interpretation of the above quote is that Dish is angling for a cost reduction due to the devaluation of the content by distribution via other means. IMHO this should have occurred when AMC went to non-stop commercials. Or maybe it did and Dish wants it lower still.
My interpretation of the above quote is that Dish is angling for a cost reduction due to the devaluation of the content by distribution via other means. IMHO this should have occurred when AMC went to non-stop commercials. Or maybe it did and Dish wants it lower still.
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I would have to agree that it does not look like AMC is raising rates a lot, or we would have heard about it. I think Dish would be more than happy to settle the Voom lawsuit and keep rates the same.
They'll replace it with channels already on DISH, more or likely from a higher package (high value package) or an addon package like BB@H channels. Meaning that the people who pay high dollar wouldn't get squat. Maybe some PPV certificates if they loudly complain about the loss of the channels.
The loss of AMC will be a big blow, but I'll just buy the episodes of Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and Hell on Wheels off of iTunes and then lower my dish bill by cutting out Blockbuster at Home, the premiums, superstations, etc. Afterwards just to stick it to DISH after cutting all of that i'll give NetFlix more of my business in place of BB@H mail service. Right now i'm at the streaming level that already gives me EPIX content after three months after the initial airing on EPIX.
It looks like the only way these disputes are ever gonna end is if the FCC steps in and forces binding arbitration on the Channels and the providers. Isn't time the consumers stops getting stuck in the middle of these disputes!
if they bring channels from the top 250 or BB@home down to the top 200 i wouldn't gain a thing. i'd be losing. if they really mean high value replacements they need to add new channels not just shuffle channels that we already have around.
That will never happen. The FCC is controlled by the Politicians in Washington and none of them are going to risk P***ing off anyone that can come back at them by broadcasting to millions of people telling them lies, slanting stories against them or worst of all the truth
.I am fortunately through with my Dish contract. In my neighborhood we have Bright House, Comcast and AT&T Uverse available so I have penty of options to chose from. Bright House and Comcast even have FEARnet HD which I have been asking Dish to add for 2 years. If the AMC channels are really dropped I will be going back to cable.
I wouldn't call it speculation when the head of the company says the channels will be pulled at the end of their contract. They didn't say we might pull it if we don't come to a deal. They said the channels will be removed in June at the end of the contract.
The people who are actually speculating are the ones saying it is just a negotiation tactic. All quotes and evidence say the channels will be pulled. These are the people reading between the lines and guessing what will actually happen (or speculating) might not be what Charlie is saying will happen.
Now they might be right and I hope they are. At the very least I hope for a very quick agreement after AMC is pulled. It's not really fair to say those of showing our dissatisfaction are doing it based on speculation though.
