Lifetime Television Severs Talks with Dish Network

[Scott Greczkowski]

Lifetime Television Severs Efforts to Restore Lifetime Channel to DISH Network
Lifetime's Unreasonable Rate Demands Would Result in Unreasonable Price Increases for DISH Network Customers

ENGLEWOOD, Colo--Jan. 22, 2006--EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQISH) and its DISH Network satellite service announced today that Lifetime Television has severed talks with DISH Network and has refused to continue negotiations for a fair agreement for carriage of Lifetime Channel.
"We have been unable to reach an agreement, even though we offered a number of options which were ultimately rejected by Lifetime," said Michael Neuman, president of EchoStar. "We recently launched the popular women's channel Oxygen, the only television network owned and operated by women and made for women, as a replacement for Lifetime Movie Network and now Lifetime has made it clear that further talks will not result in fair rates for our customers. DISH Network will permanently replace the Lifetime Channel by month end, and we are in meaningful discussions now with a number of interesting programmers for a compelling replacement to Lifetime."

DISH Network's contract with Lifetime expired Dec. 31, 2005. Consequently, DISH Network was legally prohibited from broadcasting Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network. Lifetime demanded an exorbitant price increase of 76 percent under the contract term.

"It's unfortunate that Lifetime Television chooses to pressure DISH Network with politics rather than negotiating for fair economics, but their financial demands remain unacceptable as they would lead to unreasonable rate increases for our customers," said Neuman. "DISH Network continues to challenge Lifetime Television to disclose the actual numbers behind its outrageous rate demand so the public can judge for themselves, but Lifetime has refused. Instead, it has accused discrimination and resorted to political theater in an attempt to obscure the real issue - cost of service."

DISH Network reached reasonable agreements with dozens of other programmers for 319 channels in 2005. Only Lifetime refused to negotiate a fair agreement for DISH Network customers.

DISH Network is pleased to offer Oxygen, Women's Entertainment, Encore Love, HGTV, Food Network, Style TV, E! Entertainment, SoapNet, ABC Family, Travel Channel, Wisdom (Lime), and dozens of other channels that feature information, news, sports and entertainment for and about women. DISH Network will continue to look for an equally appropriate replacement for Lifetime Channel.

In the meantime, DISH Network is offering its customers a free preview of Women's Entertainment Network (WE), Oxygen and Encore Love, all channels that provide similar content formerly found on Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network.

DISH Network also continues to make available broadcast time for any groups formerly providing important information through Lifetime, and DISH Network has already received positive requests from women's groups for carriage of their announcements.

About EchoStar
EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) serves more than 12 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), the fastest growing U.S. provider of advanced digital television services in the last five years. DISH Network offers hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network at www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).

 

[Slamminc11]

ah, that's to bad. Hey Lifetime...SEE YA!!!!!!

 

[angiecopus]

you know what, i don't care anymore, If lifetime is going to be selfish, then good ridence to them. i am taking dishes side of this.

 

[Stargazer]

Byebye Lifetime. We knew that it did not look good when 108 changed to WE in the EPG. Wonder which channel is next to go from Dish Network.

 

[RobertsD]

See ya lifetime. Lifetime is one of our least watched channels, so I don't care that it is gone.

 

[retiredTech]

"hey Lifetime don't the door hit ya in the butt on the way out"
But seriously, Charlie did the right thing. Any channel that won't negioate and wants that big of an increase is way out of line. A reasonable price increase would have been acceptable. E* tried to be fair.

 

[TNGTony]

Stargazer

Just to put things in perspective:

Dish Network has over 2200 channels in the system. 7 (2 international, 2 locals and 3 "basic) have been removed in the last 12 months. 7 English and 3 Spanish basic and over 150 other channels ave been added in the same time frame.

See ya,
Tony

 

[BrianMis]

So sorry to see ya go Lifetime, NOT!

I to am taking the side of Dish here, I am glad Charlie stuck to his guns. Maybe other programming providers will think twice about pulling this crap again.

Yes, Dish will lose some subs because of this, but not enough to make a difference, Lifetime is the one taking the loss here. I say good for them.

 

[gdarwin]

Bye Bye...

 

[mitchflorida]

"DISH Network reached reasonable agreements with dozens of other programmers for 319 channels in 2005. Only Lifetime refused to negotiate a fair agreement for DISH Network customers."


Old Charlie is lying here. How about OLN? Oh , I guess it must have slipped his mind. .

 

[BrianMis]

"DISH Network reached reasonable agreements with dozens of other programmers for 319 channels in 2005. Only Lifetime refused to negotiate a fair agreement for DISH Network customers."
Old Charlie is lying here. How about OLN? Oh , I guess it must have slipped his mind. .

That had more to do with NHL blackouts than anything, that's like comparing apples to oranges.

 

[BrianMis]

To any interested, here's the spin from the other side.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/about/dish_viewerletter_012206.php

 

[mitchflorida]

"We continue to be open to an agreement with DISH that is fair to us, fair to our viewers and fair to other providers, and which reflects the value of our networks, but we have not once heard such an offer from DISH in more than seven months of negotiations. We strongly believe that among the more than 180 channels DISH provides, including 46 sports and seven PORNOGRAPHY channels, DISH should have room for more than two women's networks.

We truly regret that DISH subscribers still can't watch the great programming you love watching on Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network. Unfortunately, DISH customers will miss all of the exciting new programming we're premiering — such as the Lifetime Original Movie, "For One Night" starring Raven-Symone; two new reality series, "Cheerleader Nation" and "Face the Family"; and a new comedy, "Lovespring," from "Will & Grace's" Eric McCormack. We also regret that DISH has the audacity to impose a $2-$3 rate hike on its subscribers effective February 1st, while depriving women of their favorite programs. This means that DISH customers soon will be paying even more for less."


Lifetime has a point. There is space on Dish Network for 7 dirty porno stations but no space for a classy woman's Channel??

Charlie, you got some 'splaining to do!

 

[TNGTony]

I found this part of the release interesting:

In a statement, Echostar says: "Lifetime has made it clear that further talks will not result in fair rates for our customers. DISH Network will permanently replace the Lifetime Channel by month end, and we are in meaningful discussions now with a number of interesting programmers for a compelling replacement to Lifetime."

I wonder if they are just planning on moving one of the existing channels to AT60 or if they are talking about a new channel? Fit TV maybe?

See ya
Tony

 

[TNGTony]

Lifetime has a point. There is space on Dish Network for 7 dirty porno stations but no space for a classy woman's Channel??
Charlie, you got some 'splaining to do!

You're joking right? If lifetime allows Dish to charge $12.99 for 90 minutes of Lifetime's programming and Dish gets to keep $9 of it, I guarantee you that Lifetime would be back up in less time than it took me to type this!

The whole issue is MONEY. Lifetime wants MORE MONEY THAN DISH IS WILLING TO PAY. Pure and simple. If Lifetime lowers their rate (we're talking about the "government definition" meaning they raise the rates by less than what they want to raise them) then they will be back on Dish before the ink is dry on the contract. Making this about what other channels are on the system us pure politics and has no bearing on the issues.

See ya
Tony

 

[Foxbat]

It shouldn't surprise me, but those letters from Lifetime sound just like an ex...

 

[BrianMis]

There is space on Dish Network for 7 dirty porno stations but no space for a classy woman's Channel??
Charlie, you got some 'splaining to do!

I can't fathom the fact that Lifetime even made this statement. All they are trying to do is spin it to make Dish look worse. It should have read 7 Adult Pay Per View Channels (Which just about every satellite and cable system now have). But that statement should have not even have been made. Also just the fact they added the statement "classy woman's channel" makes me want to puke.

Tell ya what, I could care less that Lifetime is gone. But I have no objection to them adding it as a pay per view channel, right up there with the 7 dirty porno stations. That way anyone who wants to watch it can pay 10.99 for it.

Lifetime got what they deserve, plain and simple.

 

[mitchflorida]

One thing that can't be denied: there are 46 sports channels on Dish, which are watched 90 percent by men. And these sports stations cost big bucks.

But women are confined to only 2 or 3 special channels. I would be pissed too, Charlie!


By offering lighthearted fare served with a side of knowing irony, Oxygen hopes to be the alternative that makes women laugh, as opposed to Lifetime, which makes them cry.

 

[TNGTony]

How many of the Women's channels cause people to buy the system?

Most non-sports programming is aimed at women on EVERY network also. (Spike and G4 excepted)

See ya
Tony

 

[ksload]

It's interesting that Lifetime was able to secure agreements with DirecTv and virtually every cable franchise nationwide...but not Dish. That makes me think that Dish is ALSO at fault here.