Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network off Dish due to contract dispute

[dishrich]

I know it doesn't mean anything to the consumer so most people just don't care. (blah, blah, blah...)

You exactly right on - I, & EVERY one of my customers DON'T give a rat'$ a$$ about the profitability of either D* or E*. All we care about is what we are getting for our money. And the simple fact is:

-E* keeps doing these channel drops & is now RAISING prices
-D* keeps ADDING channels & is NOT raising prices now.

It is also a FACT that TC already has MORE channels than AT120 & already costs LESS. Now it will be going UP & have 2 LESS channels with the Lifetime drops. Yes, I do NOT care that E* is more profitable for this & NEITHER do my E* customers that are already raising hell about this.

And as far as your "channel count", you DO realize that almost all of the channels E* added D* has ALREADY had for quite some time, so what is the big woop there? As far as adding The Pentagon Channel, it's a PI channel that E* HAD to add, since one of the other PI channels went away & they have to keep the same number of PI channels - it was a wash for them.
As far as the Internation Music Feed & Holistic TV - all I'll say on those is, you GOT to be kidding???

But that's OK, just keep a drinkin' that E* kool-aid...

 

[dishrich]

Sorry dude You should really read the satelliteguys front page before posting!! They are currently transmitting both formats during a transitional period

Well sorry dude, but where DID you get the idea that the "transitional period" was only going to be six months??? Show me where D* has said this.

Again, you DO realize that those MPEG2 NY & LA CONUS feeds are used by distant HD subs - D* is NOT going to be taking those down until they are upgraded, of which D* is NOT even worrying about right now. You might need to go back to that DBS 101 class you took...

 

[GeorgeLV]

Can we take the DirecTV HD talk to another thread?

 

[destrada]

If Lifetime goes off it won't be for long. Alot of women love the ch.....and men too. Although they really don't like to admit it. I don't watch it at all but I make fun of my father who has been watching a ton of it along with the Hallmark ch. He has Directv but he would be pissed off if Lifetime was gone.....like alot of Dish customers will be. My father just rertired and he has been watching alot of Lifetime.....I inform him on a daily basis that it is "tv for women". If Lifetime gets blacked out it won't be for long.

Your father too?!!!? Mine is the same way.

 

[Juan]

Well sorry dude, but where DID you get the idea that the "transitional period" was only going to be six months??? Show me where D* has said this.

Again, you DO realize that those MPEG2 NY & LA CONUS feeds are used by distant HD subs - D* is NOT going to be taking those down until they are upgraded, of which D* is NOT even worrying about right now. You might need to go back to that DBS 101 class you took...

Not too many people can receive distant hd yet Only those in owned and operated markets(and very few "white" areas)can receive out of market HD!! (still waiting on FCC rules for everyone else) Once the big markets are converted it wont cost D* much to convert everyone else I suspect that all new national HD channels (think national geographic) will only be offered in mpeg 4 causeing more people to convert

 

[dfergie]

Back to topic folks, open a thread to discuss the D*HD or find one of the many please...

 

[Stargazer]

Retailers got a Facts Blast about the Lifetime station at 3 37 am this morning. They had to send it out so that the retailers would know why they would be getting all of those angry calls wondering what is going on. It is going to be real fun for us retailers on the hook for a LOT of money for a year. This could cost some retailers thousands (maybe tens of thousands) in commissions.

If this continues then this would be the highest rated channel to ever be dropped and we could see the biggest effects nationwide.

For those of you in a contract you are still obligated to your contracts or MUST pay the penalty for early termination whether it be through Dish Network, the retailer, or both. Some may forget this as they think about switching service providers. The penalties could very well be more than what the programming would cost.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

The following has been posted to the Dish Network retailer site...

Hearst Cable Network Take Down DISH Network's contract with Lifetime for the right to carry Lifetime (Channel 108) and Lifetime Movie Network (Channel 109) expired Dec. 31, 2005, at midnight PST. Lifetime is attempting to impose a rate increase of over 70 percent. In addition, they are demanding we add a new channel which gives our customers no added value because similar content is already available on DISH Network for no additional cost. We continually strive to control costs on behalf of our customers and are hopeful that this dispute will be resolved quickly.

For the most up-to-date information, including an "open" letter from Charlie Ergen to Lifetime Network, please visit us at www.fairsatellite.com .

 

[Stargazer]

There are going to be some customers wondering why the programming prices are going up $3 with the drop of LifeTime and may mention the drop of OLN last year.

When analog is shut off do you think a lot of people will end up going OTA only? That there will be more digital content available in the future? IPTV/broadband video is getting more and more popular now. Some of these stations demanding a lot of money is going offer a cheaper rate on their own website yet make more than they get from satellite/cable.. Eventually some service like iTunes/iPod is going to start offering the same thing and have them available to put on your pods (podcasts).

 

[GeorgeLV]

Thanks Scott, now we know LRW is a factor in the dispute.

 

[Stargazer]

Retailers would not be allowed to passout brochures and advertise anything with the Lifetime channels in it now or could be sued for false advertisement. We need new brochures and advertisements.

 

[GeorgeLV]

Retailers would not be allowed to passout brochures and advertise anything with the Lifetime channels in it now or could be sued for false advertisement. We need new brochures and advertisements.

I'm suprised Charlie is using the Lifetime logo on the link directing people to fairsatellite.com for the similar reason.

 

[Stargazer]

This could be a stunt they are pulling off for an excuse for why the rates are going up so much once they get Lifetime back. This same crap happened when the Viacom stations went off the air then the price increase came after that. Dish Network will then say "hey, we kept the channels that demanded a price increase plus gave you more".

 

[GeorgeLV]

This could be a stunt they are pulling off for an excuse for why the rates are going up so much once they get Lifetime back. This same crap happened when the Viacom stations went off the air then the price increase came after that. Dish Network will then say "hey, we kept the channels that demanded a price increase plus gave you more".

I'm sure their customers will be *thrilled* that the price increase got them Lifetime Real Woman.

 

[riffjim4069]

I'm sure their customers will be *thrilled* that the price increase got them Lifetime Real Woman.

Even my Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network lovin' wife thinks Lifetime Real Women is a horrible channel.

 

[Reefer123]

They really better take the NWS (nagging wife syndrome) into account here. Mine is already upstairs looking through cable and directv. Honestly the HD quality isn't there, the Voom channels their adding (gameplay and auctionTV they can shove up their arse) and they want me to pay $700 for a DVR or wait till March when the MPEG4 comes out but no pricing/upgrade path is known.

I am getting tired off Charlie deciding what I can or can't spend. Stick them on the AT180 or AEP and raise prices there. I currently have AEP and now a rate hike on the horizon and 2 big channels getting taken away. F Them.

I have no contract so if they are gonna keep me better do it quick as the wife won't wait for the "big" announcement at CES. She wants her lifetime ASAP.

 

[riffjim4069]

I'll bet Ms. Charlie and those in the Engineering Department are still receiving the Lifetime channels...otherwise their wives would kill them! Perhaps we should ask the Lifetime Network to kill the feed to EchoStar and see how long this situation lasts?

 

[Stargazer]

Maybe that was part of the dispute, that Lifetime was going to require Dish Network to carry Lifetime Real Women.

The retailers are going to be busy answering the phones tomorrow and listening to a lot of messages on their answering machines talking to angry women on the phone.

 

[dishrich]

Maybe that was part of the dispute, that Lifetime was going to require Dish Network to carry Lifetime Real Women.

OK, while we probably can all assume that this is true - SO WHAT??? (not yelling at you SG)
D* managed to put LRW in TC+ & is NOT raising the price on EITHER it or TC, while E* is DROPPING channels & raising the price on ALL AT pkgs.

To keep quoting this site's leader:

Its funny, Dish keeps dropping channels due to costs, yet they are raising their rates 4%, while DirecTV has all the channels Dish dropped and is not raising their rates.

Is something wrong with this picture?

And sorry, BUT I DON'T CARE ABOUT E*'s OR D*'s PROFITABILITY - IT'S A NON-ISSUE!
The ONLY thing that matters is what I get & how much it costs - PERIOD!

 

[GeorgeLV]

And sorry, BUT I DON'T CARE ABOUT E*'s OR D*'s PROFITABILITY - IT'S A NON-ISSUE!
The ONLY thing that matters is what I get & how much it costs - PERIOD!

Yeah, it's like cheerleading Coke for selling a 24oz bottle for $1.50 over Pepsi selling a liter for $1.25 because Coke is profitible.