EchoStar (DishNetwork) Preparing to Drop Viacom Channels:

[Liberal Veteran]

EchoStar Preparing to Drop Viacom Channels: EchoStar Communications' DISH Network satellite service will stop carrying signals from CBS's 15 owned-and-operated television stations at midnight Monday if the satellite company and CBS parent Viacom can't resolve a legal dispute over retransmission fees and the networks EchoStar must carry.

The deadline stems from a restraining order imposed by a federal judge that was set to expire March 8, after which EchoStar must cease airing those 15 O&Os if the two companies have not reached a settlement. Local affiliates not owned by Viacom are not affected.

At issue is the rate EchoStar must pay Viacom to retransmit CBS and which cable networks the satellite operator must carry. Specifically, EchoStar officials are balking at Viacom's demand that in order to carry CBS it must also carry the Nickelodeon GAS channel. EchoStar filed an antitrust suit against Viacom to challenge the media giant's demands.

If no agreement can be reached by the deadline, all of the Viacom networks carried by EchoStar would go dark. In addition to top-rated CBS, the networks affected include MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/web030504.html

[Anus Retainus]

1. This is so odd...

I'm a big fan of my Dish Network (as compared to DirectTV or Cable), but if they drop my Daily Show, I'll have to sate my habit elsewhere.

I'm not sure what the deal is with GAS, but they just recently raised my rates $3 in the past month without providing any new services (and that' on my full-premium, every channel package).

I sure hope all the greedy bastards (including Echostar) stop gouging everyone for services, that in theory, should be going down, not up, as they get better at providing the same old electronic signal!

[Missy Vixen]

2. Okay, now I'm pissed

DH and I just spent several hundred dollars yesterday to repair some parts that went bad on our DISH 500. If I would have known that Charlie the CEO was playing hardball (again,) with the folks from Viacom, I would not have spent money to fix our DISH and waited for the outcome. I will not stay with them if they do not carry Comedy Central.

Charlie seems to have forgotten the flap over his decision to stop carrying FOX Sports a few years back.

Julie

[SoCalDem]

3. This really sucks for me.. I mostly watch CBS & Comedy Channel

and we just got Dish in December :(:(.. I cannot imagine that they would actually NOT carry one of the big 3.. They would lose so many customers..

Sometimes I wish we would have just gotten the HUGE satellite dish, and been done with it..:grr:


Here are some of the latest stories about the flap......greedy bastards..


THIS IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH MEDIA CONSOLIDATION, FOLKS !!!

---

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=dish+network+viacom
Head of EchoStar Says Firm Must Consider Merger if Disney Deal ...
Miami Herald, FL - 10 hours ago
... Representatives of Viacom did not return calls for comment. "Write this down:
We always have a place for CBS on the Dish Network platform," Ergen told ...
Echostar, Viacom deadlocked but hope seen in dispute - Forbes
EchoStar Threatens to Drop CBS in Dispute - Atlanta Journal Constitution
and more »
Jobs key to stocks...Intel narrows outlook...Stewart jury still ...
WAVY-TV, VA - 18 hours ago
... EchoStar Communications says it'll drop CBS from its DISH Network in some
cities rather than give in to demands of Viacom, the network's owner. ...


EchoStar Preparing to Drop Viacom Channels
Television Week, MI - 11 hours ago
EchoStar Communications' DISH Network satellite service will stop carrying signals
from CBS's 15 ... Monday if the satellite company and CBS parent Viacom can't ...

[otohara]

4. Don't Panic - From ReutersToday

EchoStar is about to be eaten up if Comcast buys Disney. Which would be a complete drag IMO. If that should happen kiss all the Dish alternative stations goodbye, goodbye. Viacom is the bad guy in this situation. They are kicking ass right now and can strong-arm those who are in contract negotiations.


Echostar, Viacom deadlocked but hope seen in dispute
Reuters, 03.05.04, 9:21 PM ET

"Given EchoStar's relatively small market share, going dark on CBS would end up hurting EchoStar a lot more than it would hurt Viacom," said Moffett. "Charlie Ergen is a world-class poker player. He should know better than anyone when he's playing a losing hand."

http://www.forbes.com/business/newswire/2004/03/05/rtr1288924.html

[WatchWhatISay]

5. The day we lose Dish Network is the last day

anyone will ever see or hear from FreeSpeech TV again. What, you think Rupert at Direct TV or any of the other moguls would ever play such a corporate-free station?

When FSTV goes, that will be the day when I shut down satellite just like I swore off cable some years ago.

[otohara]

6. Got That Right

Charlie Ergen is a cool guy - Murdoch is evil bastard. Direct TV carries World Link, but who knows when Murdoch takes over, it too could disappear.

Comcast dumps CSPAN in certain areas of the country when the contract is up

[Robb]

9. Father-in-law played a round of golf w/Charlie Ergen

...a few years back. Seemed to really like the guy, personable. Found out FiL had Dish, asked him a bunch of questions, how was it, how could it be better, service stuff, etc. Genuinely interested.

[Whoa_Nelly]

7. Thanks for posting. Was wondering when message scrolled

across my TV screen last what this was all about. I signed on for a year for certain channels, and should these channels be removed, will consider this a breach of contract.

[Nlighten1]

8. It scrolled on mine this morning too but ...

when it got to the phone number part to call it was covered up with a black bar.

I was like :wtf: