Hearst Television Inc. blacks out DISH customers in 26 markets

[bluegras]

Hearst Television Posts Open Letter To DISH Subscribers


To DISH Subscribers:

As Hearst Television continues to work toward a resolution of our impasse with DISH Network, I want to share with you our appreciation for your patience. We understand that you are frustrated that this impasse has taken so long to resolve—so are we. As a television viewer, nothing is more frustrating than missing your favorite station's local news and weather or network programming. Unfortunately, if you're a DISH subscriber, you've probably become accustomed to this phenomenon. Over the past several years, DISH has been the most egregious abuser of pay-TV disputes within the industry. While the length of these disputes has varied, in numerous instances DISH has had outages that have lasted several months. Unfortunately, to date DISH's lack of engagement and unwillingness to present a fair proposal suggest that DISH intends to employ their age-old strategy of a long-term impasse.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...pen-letter-to-dish-subscribers-300423290.html

 

[Troch77]

Hearst Television Posts Open Letter To DISH Subscribers


To DISH Subscribers:

As Hearst Television continues to work toward a resolution of our impasse with DISH Network, I want to share with you our appreciation for your patience. We understand that you are frustrated that this impasse has taken so long to resolve—so are we. As a television viewer, nothing is more frustrating than missing your favorite station's local news and weather or network programming. Unfortunately, if you're a DISH subscriber, you've probably become accustomed to this phenomenon. Over the past several years, DISH has been the most egregious abuser of pay-TV disputes within the industry. While the length of these disputes has varied, in numerous instances DISH has had outages that have lasted several months. Unfortunately, to date DISH's lack of engagement and unwillingness to present a fair proposal suggest that DISH intends to employ their age-old strategy of a long-term impasse.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...pen-letter-to-dish-subscribers-300423290.html

What was wrong with the link from 13 hours ago???

Samsung Galaxy S6 Active

 

[Oklahoma State Grad 2004]

The thing subscribers need to realize is companies like Hearst don't care about their viewers. They only care about the money in their pockets. DIRECTV subscribers just dealt with the same thing a couple months back. This cycle repeats itself every 2-4 years. It's not Dish or DIRECTV fault this happens. The locals have figured out a way to extort their viewers for a free signal they provide over the air. These same companies never disclose what they think is the fair value they ask for from the provider. So don't get mad at your provider for trying to keep your bill low, blame the media outlets for trying to get more money for their signals.

 

[AlaJoe]

These same companies never disclose what they think is the fair value they ask for from the provider. .

I have always wondered if there is some sort of nondisclosure clause in these contracts because like you say they never give out the numbers. For example If I were dish I and being reasonable I would say something to the effect of (Fictitious figures) "We were paying hearst $1.00 per sub and over the course of the last 4 years cost of living has gone up 6% so we have offered them $1.06 the problem is Hearst wants $1.25 an increase of 4 times the cost of living, an increase we at dish refuse to pass along to our customers"
If they did this you could decide real quick which side to come down on.

 

[mdram]

well dish started a $10 local line item
so if you have abc, cbs, nbc, fox, cw thats $250 each you are being charged for tem
and i bet that $10 hasnt changes with the loss of a station or 2

 

[WXIK K-96]

Dear Hearst:
I am finding I can do without you. The Media General and Sinclair stations offer great news and weather. I am still crafting my letter to your advertisers to advise them to move their advertising to these companies, where more viewers are available whilst you are blacked out here...

 

[The Fat Man]

I just want to point out, PSIP guide data would benefit more than those with disputes. It would also help those that pick up subchannels OTA that Dish doesn't provide guide data for.

...or Dish could bring back inserting the subchannel guide data through their established system. Hence why I get some subchannels data (already in the system before Dish dumped adding info for new channels) and not other (after Dish stopped). Outside that example, can you name more benefits? In my opinion, it's just redundancies.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using the SatelliteGuys app!

 

[Bronxiniowa]

Hearst and DirecTV settled within 7 days. It's been 2 weeks with Dish, with no end in sight.

 

[The Fat Man]

Hearst and DirecTV settled within 7 days. It's been 2 weeks with Dish, with no end in sight.

True, but at the same time, Directv went through the same garbage with Sunbeam, where they didn't pull their channels off Dish. It depends on that peeing contest I mentioned before. Sometimes it's for distance and other times for accuracy. This time, it looks like distance.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using the SatelliteGuys app!

 

[dare2be]

Hearst and DirecTV settled within 7 days. It's been 2 weeks with Dish, with no end in sight.

Good.

 

[Bruno]

Hearst and DirecTV settled within 7 days. It's been 2 weeks with Dish, with no end in sight.

Just like Dare2be. I will SECOND that GOOD!! I have 2-622 and a 612 all with OTA and a GUIDE now. I dont care it DISH cuts them off for GOOD. To me the GUIDE is just as important than the Station. I do FEEL for the people that can not get OTA.

 

[NYDutch]

My local NBC put this up today
http://www.wbaltv.com/article/an-open-letter-to-dish-subscribers/9128167

Is it any surprise that Hearst says nothing about the fact that they alone have been responsible for over half of the 102 blackouts among all service providers so far this year?

"Washington, D.C. – Hearst’s decision to pull down its signal in 30 states and 26 markets leaves millions of DISH Network customers without access to their local programming. This massive consumer blackout brings the total number of blackouts in 2017 to 102, the largest number ever recorded this early in a calendar year. Hearst Television Inc. is responsible for more than half of all consumer blackouts this year, having previously pulled the plug on DIRECTV customers on New Year’s Day. Hearst pulled its signal from DISH customers despite offers from DISH to retroactivly ‘true-up’ for new rates, which would allow customers to continue to access their local broadcast channels while negotiations continue."

Consumer Blackouts Surpass 100 for the Year; Heart Television Inc. Solely Responsible for more than half of all Blackouts in 2017

 

[Kirk1233]

I'd like to know if it's true that Dish offered to accept the same terms negotiated with DirecTV at the beginning of the year. If true I'm on Dish's side, if not, they should be prepared to pay the going rate set by the DTV negotiation...

 

[pattykay]

To DISH Subscribers:

As Hearst Television continues to work toward a resolution of our impasse with DISH Network, I want to share with you our appreciation for your patience. We understand that you are frustrated that this impasse has taken so long to resolve—so are we. As a television viewer, nothing is more frustrating than missing your favorite station's local news and weather or network programming. Unfortunately, if you're a DISH subscriber, you've probably become accustomed to this phenomenon. Over the past several years, DISH has been the most egregious abuser of pay-TV disputes within the industry. While the length of these disputes has varied, in numerous instances DISH has had outages that have lasted several months. Unfortunately, to date DISH's lack of engagement and unwillingness to present a fair proposal suggest that DISH intends to employ their age-old strategy of a long-term impasse.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...pen-letter-to-dish-subscribers-300423290.html

So, which is it: a recent phenomenon, or an age-old strategy? Hearst can't have it both ways.

 

[HDdude24]

no other OTA adapters work with hopper 3 other than dish brand?

 

[Bobby]

no other OTA adapters work with hopper 3 other than dish brand?

Nope...

 

[Tampa8]

I'd like to know if it's true that Dish offered to accept the same terms negotiated with DirecTV at the beginning of the year. If true I'm on Dish's side, if not, they should be prepared to pay the going rate set by the DTV negotiation...

It is true.
http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/102415/hearst-launches-shot-clock-on-dish-talks

If you strip everything away except the actual offer by DISH, I see both sides of this. DISH has to compete with Directv and they must have an idea they are being asked to pay more, maybe substantially more. Maybe the amount being asked is high and in an attempt to get an agreement DISH felt this would be a way to compromise.

The answer by Hearst also makes sense. If DISH is asking for confirmation Hearst agrees to the same cost DISH can't possibly think Hearst will share that. Even minus that, once Hearst agrees even without confirmation that alone tells DISH what Directv is paying. For a rare time I see the Networks side of this for this dispute if DISH is insisting on only that term.
There could be other things in the deal with Directv that are not on the table with DISH or any one of a number of reasons. Whatever they are I can see why Hearst can not agree to simply charge what they do any other provider. I doubt however this is the only way DISH says they will agree.

 

[MikeD-C05]

I think that DISH should get into the home ota antenna business for the hopper. Installing these antennas would give subs a way to watch ota for these black outs , when they occur. Now if they could also allow us to use two of the new usb ota dongles and let them split so you could get two tuners each , you would get all 4 main networks covered in black outs. You would still need to provide guide data so we could record them ,but it would lessen the effect of these blackouts and increase DISH's hand in negotiations.

 

[comfortably_numb]

I think that DISH should get into the home ota antenna business for the hopper. Installing these antennas would give subs a way to watch ota for these black outs , when they occur. Now if they could also allow us to use two of the new usb ota dongles and let them split so you could get two tuners each , you would get all 4 main networks covered in black outs. You would still need to provide guide data so we could record them ,but it would lessen the effect of these blackouts and increase DISH's hand in negotiations.

They already service washers and dryers, so why not.

 

[ChadT41]

If Dish utilized Echostar to develop an OTA antenna that could. E specific to Dish equipment, and feed into the DPH lnb, then they could essentially remove the local channels, take the savings to pay for guide data. That would be a huge deal. Especially if they were able to make the OTA antenna somehow connect to the dish antenna, for a single antenna(something like an adjustable rooftop antenna that could be spun to point in the direction for OTA in the specific area, without having to have a second bracket). They could start offering autohop next day, and not worry about carriage disputes. That'd be a helluva deal. They could even allow the locals delivered via satellite as an optional charge for those too far to get OTA.