Dominion/Sky Angel Gives Support to a la Carte

[silversurfer]

While most in the pay TV business are opposed to a la carte mandates, one satellite-based platform said it's willing to give program choice for consumers a shot.

Dominion Video, which operates the Christian-oriented Sky Angel satellite TV service, said it would support a consumer's wish to pick and choose channels he or she may want to watch. Kathleen Johnson, vice president of programming at Dominion, said the DBS company is working on a package of about 15 family-oriented channels that will be added to its core slate of programming if the subscriber wants to pick up the channels.

Johnson said she understands the position of other operators that may be impacted by an a la carte regime, including those with programming contracts requiring the purchase of a bundled set of channels. However, she said, "We don't believe that consumers should be forced to buy channels that they don't agree with or don't want to watch."

Dominion/Sky Angel said it agrees with the Parents Television Council and its President Brent Bozell that the way consumers get cable is like a "grocery store telling you that in order to buy a gallon of milk, you also have to buy a six-pack of beer and a carton of cigarettes."

While many families have picked Sky Angel as their only television source, some Sky Angel subscribers also subscribe to another TV service in order to receive local channels, a major news network or a particular family channel, the company said. "Sky Angel agrees with many consumers and consumer advocacy groups that consumers should not be forced to pay for extra channels that they don't watch and that may be in direct conflict with their values," Sky Angel said.

It's expected that the Federal Communications Commission will deliver its report on a la carte programming options to Congress today.

For more on Dominion and Sky Angel, visit: http://www.skyangel.com.

 

[TNGTony]

For a while there FamilyLand was available a la carte from Sky Angel. I think they also blocked FamilyLand from their subscribers upon request at first since the 9700 channel numbers could not be blocked by subscribers themeselves until much later. This was a "channel number with 4 digits" issue.

I've never been quite sure why they stopped the a la carte thing.

See ya
Tony

 

[Chris Freeland]

How hypocritical? SA wants to force "a la carte" on other multi-channel providers but other then the Family Land exception from the above post, they will not sell their own programing on a "a la carte" basis. If SA is such a big believer in "a la carte" why don't they make it an option for all of their programing? I would love to just purchase 3ABN, Safe TV and Gospel Music TV for say $2/mo each.

 

[Pepper]

My concern is where would they put those 15 additional channels, their transponders are already full.

 

[BFG]

Yeah, umm I'm not sure where sky angel fits in on the a la carte discussion at all... Other than the size of own service is small enough to be considered a la carte already

 

[James Long]

Kathleen Johnson, vice president of programming at Dominion, said the DBS company is working on a package of about 15 family-oriented channels that will be added to its core slate of programming if the subscriber wants to pick up the channels.

Oh, so it's A La Carte IF you grab their current all or nothing package.

If SkyAngel wants to offer A La Carte let them offer their current programming as individual channels or mini packages. Say $9.99 for video only, or $4.99 for just the radio channels (and still offer the discounted $12.95 for people who want the full lineup). I wouldn't mind a $9.99 (or less) music package with the music video channels and radio. Less of course would be preferable.

What I believe SA is proposing is picking up "non-religious" channels (in direct violation of their agreement with Echostar) and selling them as the A La Carte channels. To do this the agreement would die and could be rewritten to allow more religious channels on E* as well as allow The Dominion to violate their side of the current contract and offer the channels they want to offer A La Carte.

JL

 

[James Long]

Checking the prices, amend my SkyAngel a la carte recomendations to be:
16 Program TV Channels for $7.99 (50c each)
20 Music TV & Radio Channels for $4.99
All 36 channels for $11.99 (current price - a 99c discount!)

They would probably pick up plenty of new partial subscribers that don't want to pay for all of SkyAngel to get the channels they want. The spirit of a la carte?

JL

 

[neil_kc1]

a' la carte channels

I e-mailed Skyangel to ask about the channels they would be offering on an a' la carte basis, and received an e-mail back stating they would be trying to offer the following additional family friendly channels a' la carte sometime after the first of the year. Hallmark, Discover, The History channel, Fox News, and Turner Classic Movies. This moves the value of their service up lots in my opinion.

 

[James Long]

I e-mailed Skyangel to ask about the channels they would be offering on an a' la carte basis, and received an e-mail back stating they would be trying to offer the following additional family friendly channels a' la carte sometime after the first of the year. Hallmark, Discover, The History channel, Fox News, and Turner Classic Movies. This moves the value of their service up lots in my opinion.

To do so would be a violation of their non-compete agreement with E* ... or a rewrite that SHOULD allow E* to carry additional religious channels if E* wants them. Considering the length that SA went to to sue E* to prevent the addition of additional religious channels it would be odd for SA and E* to break the agreement.

JL

 

[TNGTony]

Guys, from what I understand, SA would be selling Dish Network channels a la carte. SA would essentially be the broker, but DN is the one doing the A La Carte thing EXCLUSIVELY for SA subscribers. This is due to programming contracts between the channel providers and Dish.

No pricing available yet, but it won't be terribly cheap. No $5 access fee though.

All this is still in the rumor stage.

See ya
Tony

 

[Pepper]

I wonder if an existing Dish AND SkyAngel subscriber would be able to drop the Dish programming currently subscribed, and pick the a la carte channels instead.

 

[neil_kc1]

I do not know about their contracts. just shared what their rep. e-mailed me when i asked about how it was going to work...

 

[JeffH]

I think you will begin to see good things happening at Sky Angel as Dish Network comes into compliance with their contract with Dominion. Of course it will also take a large influx of new subscribers and supporters to make it all work. Now is the time for Sky Angel subscribers to stop complaining about the service and start supporting them.

I also urge SA subscribers to join the Advisory Board; you would have had the opportunity to vote on which channels you were interested in.

I am very interested in reading all comments from forum members that have a sincere interest in the well-being and growth of Sky Angel. Thanks for the info.

JeffH

 

[rcwilcox]

If SA can pull this off this could be a real plus for them and might give Dish an out too saying their programming is available ala carte sort of. Sign me up if they will do Hallmark. I would like to have it but too cheap to go to the top 180 just for that. This could be interesting. I hope that SA can also put together a family friendly package of a couple dozen channels. That would be very good. I put in systems for people who refuse to have the whole spectrum of cable/sat in their homes but they would go for a family friendly package in a minute.

 

[James Long]

I think you will begin to see good things happening at Sky Angel as Dish Network comes into compliance with their contract with Dominion.

In what way is E* not in compliance today? How will SA be helped by loss of DayStar, FamilyNet and EE on E* with no promotion of where only one of those three channels can be seen?

IF E* does this for SA they most likely would put the channels on one of the E* borrowed transponders on 61.5. Then ALL SA subscribers would have access to the channels. If only 12 channels it would take one transponder, but wouldn't it be nice to offer PPV and possibly the religious Muzak and Sirius channels?

It's a plan. There must be money in it for E*, because they wouldn't want to do SA any favors.

JL

 

[JeffH]

In what way is E* not in compliance today? How will SA be helped by loss of DayStar, FamilyNet and EE on E* with no promotion of where only one of those three channels can be seen?

How can any of us know for sure? The fact is that no one except the executives and attorneys at Echostar and Dominion know the full terms of the contract. I have never read the contract, and I’m sure that you, JL haven’t either.

Our statements are all based on the limited facts that we have read, our opinions based on these limited facts and our own personal biases and observations.

My observation is that the “a la carte” channels must be in the contract between D* and E* otherwise why would SA be working to that end. I have no exact details or knowledge of the facts and my observation may be totally wrong. I also believe (in my opinion) that the contract between D* and E* will work out well for both parties and viewers if fully followed even though I don't know all the details. I feel certain that from what I've read, Sky Angel is willing to work with E*, but I don't know about the other way around.

All that I know is that I am in support of Sky Angel in their efforts to provide a Christian and family friendly DBS platform. I will continue to promote SA and support them financially and with my prayers. I encourage others to do the same.

JeffH

 

[rcwilcox]

My observation is that the “a la carte” channels must be in the contract between D* and E* otherwise why would SA be working to that end.
All that I know is that I am in support of Sky Angel in their efforts to provide a Christian and family friendly DBS platform. I will continue to promote SA and support them financially and with my prayers. I encourage others to do the same.

JeffH

Agreed. This could also be a new wrinkle that came out of the lawsuit. Let Dish offer SA channels ala carte to satisfy those who complain that SA programming is to broad for instance that just want Daystar. Let SA offer Dish channels ala carte to satisfy those that complain that Dish programming is too broad and I believe Dish has been upset at the numbers of people that take SA only when Dish thought SA would be a draw for people who would also sign up for Dish. SA onlycustomers leave Dish not getting any return on their equipment investment (I know you "bought it" but the truth is the equipment costs are heavily subsidised by Dish with the plan to recover those subsidy costs over time). If Dish could ala carte SA, Dish could logically believe this would help there income plus SA only customers could be eased into the Dish ranks over time. Who knows, my 2cents worth.

 

[James Long]

In what way is E* not in compliance today? How will SA be helped by loss of DayStar, FamilyNet and EE on E* with no promotion of where only one of those three channels can be seen?

How can any of us know for sure? The fact is that no one except the executives and attorneys at Echostar and Dominion know the full terms of the contract. I have never read the contract, and I’m sure that you, JL haven’t either.

If you don't know please hold off on the wild accusations that E* is not fully in compliance. Thanks.

My observation is that the “a la carte” channels must be in the contract between D* and E* otherwise why would SA be working to that end.

Are you using D* as an abbreviation for the Dominion? If so, please stop now. D* is used for DirecTV. E* is EchoStar (DishNetwork) and V* is Voom.

I feel certain that from what I've read, Sky Angel is willing to work with E*, but I don't know about the other way around.

SkyAngel MUST work with E*, since they have utterly FAILED to put their signals up any other way. By all rights they should have had their licenses denied and have their transponders assigned to other companies. There are rules attached to their DBS licenses, rules that they failed to meet. (But that's another thread or two.)

E* only has one reason to work with SA. The almighty dollar. The court judgement wasn't good for them and any cooperation selling a "Family Friendly" package via SA would help recoup that cost.

All that I know is that I am in support of Sky Angel in their efforts to provide a Christian and family friendly DBS platform. I will continue to promote SA and support them financially and with my prayers. I encourage others to do the same.

I cannot see the expense of SA as a good return on investment. Read that as "buying SA is not good stewardship for the amount I would view their channels".

I do not support the Dominion's efforts to keep Christian TV from growing on Echostar, and cannot in good faith support a "ministry" that seeks to stop others from spreading the gospel - even if they are doing that prevention to protect their own efforts.

JL

 

[rcwilcox]

If you don't know


I cannot see the expense of SA as a good return on investment. Read that as "buying SA is not good stewardship for the amount I would view their channels".

I do not support the Dominion's efforts to keep Christian TV from growing on Echostar, and cannot in good faith support a "ministry" that seeks to stop others from spreading the gospel - even if they are doing that prevention to protect their own efforts.

JL

I look at this a little differently. I see support of SA as support for a ministry not an "investment". I don't watch it all that much but it is the only Christian satellite service we will probably ever see. As far as SA "stopping others from spreading the gospel" I don't see that as E*s job. That is our job as christians. Also whatever happened to let your yes be yes and your no be no? they, SA and E*, have a contract that no one forced anyone to sign. This was supposed to be a mutually beneficial arrangement. E* would help and push SA and SA would bring customers to E* that would have otherwise gone to D*. (That is exactly what happened in my son's and my case as we both chose E* over D* just because of SA). It seems like the people who want to bash SA have to come up with some justification for their bashing. SA is trying to spread the gospel E* and D* are trying to make money period. Please don't spiritualize what is simply a business that may or may not want to force out a non-profit christian organization that really does want to spread the gospel.

 

[drfreeman]

jaded lurker...

is it just me or is this lurker guy getting more negative with every post...
while i do not agree with everything sky angel has done,i feel the service i get on sky angel is a good deal for the money.
to hope for the failure of sky angel is just downright wrong and jaded.
i agree we must keep them in our prayers..if ONE!! person comes to the lord thru sky angel then its worth it,i can think of many things i spend my money
on that has far less of a return for the kingdom.
tvu in particular is a really great channel, my 16 yr old views this all the time..
i am thankful we have it

Dan