Dish/Tribune Dispute

[PortlandChris]

Bottom line in all of this is DISH is shedding customers each day because of the programming costs. Programming costs keep going up. DISH has to get a handle on its costs for the new reality.

Fox sold the RSNs because they didn't see profit in them...they cost too much and most don't want them. Team owners take most of the profit now. This model is broken.

Local channels are also at a crossroads. The networks paid big $$ for content and sports....they need to pay for this.....local channels are having to fork up $$ to carry and their ad rates are compensating this enough. Networks also started the problem selling content to Hulu, etc. Now they compete with themselves.

The best option is one proposed by DISH several years ago.....unbundle the local channels from each other....meaning a subscriber can subscribe to one or all...or none....and let the customer decide individually if the cost of that channel is worth it to them. Of course now local channels have to compete for business....and show us all why $1.50 for channel x versus 2.50 for channel Y. This has a way of screwing the whole model up too....local channels won't be able to keep their revenues up and will lose customers....sure they'll sign up during super bowl month, but drop it right after.

local stations now risk screwing their model up altogether....DISH is installing free antennas to many customers in an attempt to break up the local model. It works in metro areas....bottom line is rural America has little option....but they often do have retransmitters here and there....

But each day another customer cuts the cord.

 

[The Fat Man]

Take a look at what ESPN Plus offers. Without the linear channels, and they aren't there, it is less than comprehensive.

Don't they also get live NHL games? Since the Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL disbanded, I lost my season tickets. I can't afford NHL season tickets, so I'm looking for an alternative.

 

[navychop]

I’ve never heard of the ECHL. For that matter, I’ve never heard of the AHL.

So I’ve learned something.

Why don’t we just have group boxing on ice?


Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys App. For now.

 

[Peter Parker]

I don't know what it means, but the "INFO" channel for my local Tribune station (CW39) was taken down.

Same thing in the DC market.

 

[Peter Parker]

I’ve never heard of the ECHL. For that matter, I’ve never heard of the AHL.

So I’ve learned something.

Why don’t we just have group boxing on ice?


Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys App. For now.

Minor league hockey is grat. If you think there is too much violence try a college hockey game.

 

[ncted]

They will never do that because what this amounts to is pennies.

They are going to raise the rates next year another $3-5 regardless the outcome of this dispute. Never have I seen a provider say they are not raising rates due to holding out during a dispute.

What ever money they save negotiating a better rate goes right to dish networks bottom line.

If the difference here was let’s say 50 cents. Most customers would say they would gladly pay the 50 cents to have their channels back.

The problem is Dish is already raising your rates $5 next year. If they can negotiate an increase to 25 cents for example, they just saved 25 cents per month over 12 million subscribers which comes to 36 million dollars.

Meanwhile the customer puts up with them loosing their channel for several weeks.

And you see the loyalty credits and customer cancellations. As long as the back lash does not cost them 36 million or whatever the potential savings are Dish wins

I'd still rather this than the huge price increases that cable and FiOS customer have seen of late. I'm actually really glad to see AT&T adopting the hard line like Dish. There is little to no justification for the rate of increase beyond Wall Street wants the content providers to grow revenue in a challenging competitive market and they are paying far too much for Sports, thinking that will retain subscribers. Trying to grow revenue with a shrinking slice of the pie is like trying to squeeze blood from a stone: you'll eventually get some blood if you squeeze hard enough, but it almost certainly won't come from the stone.

 

[navychop]

I’ll have to remember, and use, that last statement.


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[Voyager6]

While I'm sure that's the case where you live, it's not going to be the case for the majority. MOST people will be able to receive OTA and get decent internet service.

If you do a little research, you will find that a large portion of the US is in this category. With the repack, even some suburbs are losing their reception of local channels.
Reaching rural America with broadband internet service

 

[Bobby]

Don't they also get live NHL games? Since the Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL disbanded, I lost my season tickets. I can't afford NHL season tickets, so I'm looking for an alternative.

You would get select NHL games, not the whole slate.

 

[sam_gordon]

If you do a little research, you will find that a large portion of the US is in this category. With the repack, even some suburbs are losing their reception of local channels.
Reaching rural America with broadband internet service

So I've got to ask... did you even watch the video that you posted in support of "a large portion of the US losing reception, even some suburbs"?

He flat out says reception problems are probably caused by stations operating on temporary antennas and at a lower power while they work on their main transmission path. He goes on to say that reception problems should go away once the channels move onto their new channel at full power. The exception would be channels that are moving from Hi-V/U to low-V, and the solution to that would be get a new antenna.

Regarding the first part of your statement, of course a large land mass of the US doesn't have OTA reception. Very few people live in that area though. The vast majority of people CAN receive OTA.

 

[Voyager6]

So I've got to ask... did you even watch the video that you posted in support of "a large portion of the US losing reception, even some suburbs"?

He flat out says reception problems are probably caused by stations operating on temporary antennas and at a lower power while they work on their main transmission path. He goes on to say that reception problems should go away once the channels move onto their new channel at full power. The exception would be channels that are moving from Hi-V/U to low-V, and the solution to that would be get a new antenna.

Regarding the first part of your statement, of course a large land mass of the US doesn't have OTA reception. Very few people live in that area though. The vast majority of people CAN receive OTA.

The "should go away" part is key. Many of these stations will be relocating to the low VHF band as you have stated but that will also cut the reception area big time. Going back to the low VHF band is a very bad idea and will not help reception especially in rural areas and suburbs beyond 30 miles from the towers. You did not even comment about the lack of hi-speed broadband in rural areas and even in some suburbs.

 

[sam_gordon]

The "should go away" part is key. Many of these stations will be relocating to the low VHF band as you have stated but that will also cut the reception area big time. Going back to the low VHF band is a very bad idea and will not help reception especially in rural areas and suburbs beyond 30 miles from the towers. You did not even comment about the lack of hi-speed broadband in rural areas and even in some suburbs.

Well, since you presumably support (ie: agree with) the guy you posted the video of, and HE says the problems should go away, why do you doubt him?

No, not "many" of the stations will be relocating to low-V. Some? Sure.

And why would I comment about hi-speed broadband? I'm not arguing about the broadband coverage anywhere. My statement is simply the majority (ie: MOST) people can receive OTA. MANY choose not to.

 

[JSheridan]

... The vast majority of people CAN receive OTA.

In our multi county area with a lot of people it's the opposite and the vast majority CAN NOT receive OTA.

 

[navychop]

Did he say tvstations.org? That goes to a site hawking domain names.


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[sam_gordon]

In our multi county area with a lot of people it's the opposite and the vast majority CAN NOT receive OTA.

So in your entire DMA, the vast majority can not receive OTA? Or just the counties near you?

 

[sam_gordon]

Did he say tvstations.org? That goes to a site hawking domain names.


Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys App. For now.

tvanswers.org

 

[JSheridan]

So in your entire DMA, the vast majority can not receive OTA? Or just the counties near you?

We are on the edge of two DMA's. The southern edge of one and the northern edge of another. Three of our main counties are in one and two are in the other. It sucks, especially since the repack.

 

[navychop]

TKS.


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[comfortably_numb]

Many of these stations will be relocating to the low VHF band

IIRC, only 25 stations are moving to VHF-LO as part of the repack-

 

[Voyager6]

IIRC, only 25 stations are moving to VHF-LO as part of the repack-

According to RabbitEars, there will be 60 stations operating on VHF-Lo after the repack with 17 moving there from UHF or VHF-Hi.
RabbitEars.Info