RFD TV / DISH Network Update

[Scott Greczkowski]

July 25, 2010

To: DISH Network Customers
Fm: Patrick Gottsch/RFD-TV
Re: New 5-year Affiliation Agreement

Dear DISH Network Viewers of RFD-TV,

I am proud to announce that RFD-TV and Echostar have signed a new, 5-year affiliation agreement that will insure that this rural channel be carried on DISH Network, as it has been for the last 9+ years.

Several months ago, I sent out an e-mail and asked that you contact DISH to express your support for RFD-TV. Many of you sent very positive, constructive e-mails, and made personal phone calls, which were most helpful. I am very grateful. Thank you.

All the folks at DISH Network worked hard to get this new agreement done. DISH Network, more than any other carrier of RFD-TV, understands the importance of rural programming. If it were not for DISH Network, there would probably be no RFD-TV, as it was Charlie Ergen who first gave RFD-TV its big break by launching us in December of 2000 when no one else would. There should no doubt of my appreciation on this fact.

This new agreement with DISH Network is a real “partnership”, and I believe that we will soon have some exciting announcements to make regarding our working together to expand and improve rural programming in the near future for DISH Network subscribers. Of course, we will keep you informed as news becomes available.

As you all may know, RFD-TV was the high bidder for Roy Rogers’ Trigger & Bullet at this past week’s Christies’ auction, and will bring back Roy Rogers movies beginning in November. This is just the start of our dedication to expand “family oriented” television. Without DISH’s support, we could not have gotten this job done.

Happy Trails To You.



Patrick Gottsch
Founder & President
RFD-TV/RFD HD/RURAL TV
RFD-TV The Theatre/RFD-TV The Magazine

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I hope that the expansion of Rural Programming he talks about in his letter is the addition of RFD-TV HD which was up in testing for awhile on DISH.

I got to admit I have been watching RFD-TV a lot lately and have been enjoying the Crook and Chase Show. A lot of memories there of my grandparents and it is great to relive those moments again!

 

[boba]

Congratulations!!!!!! Was it 9 years ago I was in Echosphere Dallas on La Reunion when you were telling a CSR you were going up on DISH? How times have changed.

 

[Juan]

Perhaps they should change their name to "The Nashville Network"

 

[navychop]

FYI, this is channel 231 on 72.7 & 110, currently SD only.

 

[eacalhoun]

Perhaps they should change their name to "The Nashville Network"

While I'm not a farmer, agricultural person, I do hope RFD-TV maintains a balance between entertainment and farming programs -- I think this is a formula that helps RFD-TV survive in the long haul instead of suffering from "burn out" because they focused ONLY on farming or ONLY on classic/traditional country programming. I loved and miss the old TNN -- but RFD-TV has won me over as a former TNN fan.

 

[nlk10010]

Right, they certainly have their share of country music shows (old and new) but they have a lot more; e.g equestrian, agricultural. They also have shows like Big Joe Polka and similar with music that, while being somewhat related to what we know as country, is not embraced as such by more mainstream outlets.

I'm glad for RFD-TV and Dish (and really hope for RFD-HD) because it's programming that's important to many people and of interest to even more, and also because Verizon seems to be giving RFD a hard time and may drop it from their lineup.

 

[Uther Pendragon]

I hope that the expansion of Rural Programming he talks about in his letter is the addition of RFD-TV HD which was up in testing for awhile on DISH.

I got to admit I have been watching RFD-TV a lot lately and have been enjoying the Crook and Chase Show. A lot of memories there of my grandparents and it is great to relive those moments again!

Here here. I had reported several weeks ago I saw a RFD-TV ad that stated RFD-TV HD was now available on Dish Network. I practically screamed "What gives Dish? Turn on RFD-TV HD!"

 

[JWKessler]

As a rail fan, I'd like to put in a plug for "Trains and Locomotives". I was one of the folks who "voted" to keep RFD-TV on Dish and that one show was the main reason.

 

[navychop]

So maybe you're the guy I should ask about why flexible ballast is used instead of firm concrete?

 

[oby]

Great news! From "Cowboy Flavor" to "Cowboy Church", to their great country music shows and everything in between--an excellent channel....

 

[kstuart]

A long announcement that does not state which packages receive RFD-TV...

 

[eacalhoun]

A long announcement that does not state which packages receive RFD-TV...

It's in AT200 and up...and a la carte for $3.99 -- I think that's the correct price. And, it's in Dish Family (existing customers only).

 

[W_Tracy_Parnell]

Great channel-Dish got this one right anyway!

 

[mapezaid]

Does anyone have an idea why RFD-TV would have been automatically added to my A La Carte selections? I've been with Dish for many years and never made any changes from Top 200. I just setup my online account and noticed I'm paying $3 a month for the FARMING CHANNEL?? I guess I don't care what channel it is, I'm just annoyed that I have to babysit my account to make sure they aren't adding stuff without me knowing. That's some sneaky sh1t.

Edit: I failed to mention that I pay for Dish through AT&T. The bill they send me doesn't say anything about RFD-TV; I only see it when I login to the Dish website.

 

[eacalhoun]

Does anyone have an idea why RFD-TV would have been automatically added to my A La Carte selections? I've been with Dish for many years and never made any changes from Top 200. I just setup my online account and noticed I'm paying $3 a month for the FARMING CHANNEL?? I guess I don't care what channel it is, I'm just annoyed that I have to babysit my account to make sure they aren't adding stuff without me knowing. That's some sneaky sh1t.

Edit: I failed to mention that I pay for Dish through AT&T. The bill they send me doesn't say anything about RFD-TV; I only see it when I login to the Dish website.

You're not paying extra for RFD-TV. It's included in America's Top 200, and you state that is the package to which you subscribe.

 

[mapezaid]

You're not paying extra for RFD-TV. It's included in America's Top 200, and you state that is the package to which you subscribe.

Thanks. It's just really unclear because the radio box for RFD is checked under a la carte Guess I'll just uncheck it and see what happens.

 

[yosemitesam]

Com-on RFD HD

Surprising that many people in this socialist state of Kalifornia watch RFD. Some people are surprised in that we have farms, ranches. Grow more grade A cotton then the other states. A gal that works for us has 4000 k acres. Not big compared to you Texans and your King ranch i know. hope you had a good weekend.

 

[old-guy]

As a rail fan, I'd like to put in a plug for "Trains and Locomotives". I was one of the folks who "voted" to keep RFD-TV on Dish and that one show was the main reason.

Amen to that, also "I love toy trains", Tractor pulls, and a lot of other things they had when they first came on. Sadly they moved upwards and I can no longer watch as I can't afford the upper packages, thats life. Would be nice in HD. Nope, I'm not Country, raised in Chicago no rural background it let me know about that life is all. Informative.

 

[old-guy]

So maybe you're the guy I should ask about why flexible ballast is used instead of firm concrete?

Don't really know except for cost / maintenance issues and downtime. Use replacement concrete ties now for same reason. Laying new concrete base for High-speed lines both rebuilt and new does make sense for same reason. IMO.