I'm not sure if this is the right thread of the umpteen on the subject, but here it goes:
I'm just had to register to comment on this ridiculousness. Not Dish's ridiculousness, but most of yours. While I too am disappointed with the loss of the 10 (and soon 15) VOOM networks. I would rather have them than not have them. I also thing Charlie could have gone about it a lot better. But you people are so fickle! Charlie can't win no matter what he does. There are a few points you can all keep in mind:
1. Remember back 3 months ago, when some thought bandwidth was one of the biggest issues holding Dish back? I remember reading plenty of commend in the various gripe threads (here and the other site) that "Oh, I know where Dish can find 15 more spots today." Many of you were ready to give up VOOM just for Sci-Fi HD and USA HD. Now that they are gone, you act like it was the worst move ever. Come on.
2. Many of you seem to think VOOM was some kind of huge competitive advantage for Dish to have VOOM. And sure, that's why some may have subscribed. But it clearly wasn't a huge advantage. The evidence is simple: The recently released sub numbers. But before we get into that, let's review Dish's and Direct's strategies for the past year or so:
Dish: Stay the HD leader by offering the most HD programming, not worrying as much about new channels with little HD. Release the best HD DVR on the market, and advertise the heck out of it. Be aggressive in negotiations to get better pries, even if it means delaying launches.
Direct: Increase capacity and launch as many mainstream channels in HD as possible. Advertise the heck out of having the most capacity, even if most of you channels show little to no HD. Focus less on equipment.
The discerning HD viewer might think Dish's strategy is the winner. But as we can see from the new sub numbers, Joe Six Pack clearly preferred Direct's approach. And that makes sense. Imagine the conversation with the salespeople: J6P: "So, what HD channels do you have?" DTV: "Oh, your favorites, like Spike, MTV, Speed, FX, USA and Sci-fi" J6P: "So, Dish, what about you?" Dish: "While we have USA, Sci Fi, Rush, Ultra, Treasure..." J6P: "What the heck are those last ones?" Dish:" Those are our VOOM HD Networks" J6P: "But what about Spike and Speed?" Dish: We don't have those" J6P: "Oh Direct..."
To remain competitive, Dish has to keep up, even if it means copying Direct. While uniqueness may be great, if it doesn't work, time to go to plan B.
3. There is one other important competitive situation: Price. The one part of their strategy that can still serve them is a price advantage over Direct due to lower provider fees. Even if my DishHD (only) pack goes up $30, it will still be cheaper for me than Direct.
4. Many of you are thinking the bandwidth excuse is a load of crap because VOOM and the 17 additions coexisted for 8 or so hours. Maybe it is. But maybe its not. Maybe Dish is concerned about Echostar 3's power situation, and wants to keep a transponder or 2 free in case the lose some. Or maybe we sill soon see The Viacom networks, plus the remaining NBC-U networks, maybe even Rainbow Media networks added it their place. Maybe they had the space for 17, but have 25+ more channels to give us. Something may have had to give to get us more.
5. We represent a small cross section of Dish subscribers. Be are the HD nuts. None of Dish's millions of SD subs noticed a difference yesterday. None of the HD Essentials folks noticed a downgrade, as they had already elected to drop VOOM. In fact, I'm sure they all are happy for the big upgrade. Only us dish HD and HD Ultimates noticed. And even among us, I'm sure many were only occasional VOOM watchers. Never forget that Dish no doubt had actual numbers attesting to VOOMs low viewership.
6. This is VOOMs fault more than Dish's They had a contract. All they had to do was spend $100M on programming. Instead, they decided it would be more profitable to just show the same stuff over and over and keep the cash. That's what gave Dish the out. And, had VOOM improved it's programming (not just the oft referenced improved Monsters HD), Dish may not have wanted yank VOOM because we might have actually been watching it.
7. The VOOM networks are becoming increasingly redundant, even against other Rainbow networks. There are now 2 cartoon HD networks, 2 HD News notworks (maybe soon more), and plenty of other arts/documentary networks. Even World Cinema/VOOM HD Movies and Filmforce are matched with AMC HD and IFC HD form Rainbow. Who do you think Rainbow is going to give the better titles to? Heck, much of Ultra HD could go to WE HD. Only Monsters, Kung Fu, Rush, World Sport, Gameplay, and Rave (given that it was a music station that actually had music) were unique. And maybe that fact shows that there sin;t much of an audience for those niches.
But if that isn't enough, go to Direct, cable, or FiOS. With Direct, you can gripe about how you are now paying more for the same HD content that's on Dish, or how you HR21 sucks. With Cable or FiOS, you can gripe about the lack of HD. But wherever you go, I don;t think any prover can get you what you want, so you'll keep griping anyway.
I, for one, hope Dish will add some more HD in the next 2 weeks to make up for today. But even if not, I consider yesterday to be more a gain than a loss.