Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Dish Network & Viacom Settle Their Differences

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the jon-stewart-returns-to-the-needy dept.

weshart writes "I haven't yet seen anyone mention the fact that CBS and other Viacom channels are back on DishNetwork. They've been unavailable for the past day and a half, as was reported earlier. No word on the details of the agreement; and the DishNetwork announcement doesn't say anything about whether or not they'll be raising their rates."

49 of 251 comments (clear)

  1. Wonderfull by panxerox · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just in time to see Rupert get kicked off survivor allstars

    --
    "It's so convenient to have a system where everyone is a criminal" - A. Hitler
  2. I wish... by swordboy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It would be nice to see Dish stand up to Viacom and leave them out of the most basic package. I believe it is only around $1 for the programming but I don't like the fact that Viacom thinks that they can just raise their rates arbitrarily and remain in basic packages.

    Besides, MTV is evil.

    --

    Life is the leading cause of death in America.
    1. Re:I wish... by webtre · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Some people use TV to watch the Discovery Channel; some use it for MTV.

      Some people use the Internet for research, discussion, and news; others use it for warez and porn.

      Hey, I could take a screwdriver and deside to poke myself in the eye with it... does that mean we don't need screwdrivers?

      --
      litigious bastards
      suck it sco!
    2. Re:I wish... by gradji · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I agree: MTV is evil.

      But I also disagree: why is it necessarily disagreeable for Viacom to be able to raise their rates arbitrarily?

      The problem would be if Viacom had decided to raise their rates for one cable TV provider and not others (providing service in the same geographic area). For example, if Viacom decides to play nice with the local cable TV company (Time Warner, Cox, etc) but not the Echostar (Dish) ... then I would find the rate increase very troublesome for its anti-competitive implications. This is why some of us are concerned about cross-ownership and media integration (i.e. content providers owned by same company as content distributors)

      However, if Viacom decides to raise their rates unilaterally for all cable TV providers in that market, what is the problem? This is the same as any other product. The cost that the firm must face for raising its price is reduced sales. Arbitrary price increases are a problem only if you have no choice but to buy the product (e.g. diabetic and insulin)

      Viacom has the right to raise its rate. Similarly, Echostar (Dish) has the right to refuse to carry the Viacom programming on basic service. And, similarly, consumers have the right to refuse to subscribe to cable TV at the higher retail rates.

      This is how supply and demand works in a market.

      --

    3. Re:I wish... by dcocos · · Score: 2, Insightful

      This is how supply and demand works in a market.

      apparently you only sat in on the first day of class you missed key terms like "economies of scale" and "marginal cost" which would help explain to you that when someone controls a channel (no pun intended) as large as DishNetwork the rules are different.

      I also won't go into detail on things like in a true market you could choose to buy MTV from more than one vendor see the term "monopoly"

      to sum it up simple supply and demand only works in a "free" market which the television world isn't

    4. Re:I wish... by NoodleSlayer · · Score: 2, Informative

      If I remember right DishNetwork (And DirecTV along with all cable providers) are required by law to carry all the major local networks, or none at all, as it wouldn't be fair for them to carry NBC and Fox but not CBS and ABC, or at least that's how the logic goes.

      I'd have to look it up to be any more sure. But I know that when these games have been played in the past they never lasted long because both sides are scared of the FCC stepping in and dictating terms.

  3. Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was worried I might miss some groundbreaking television like yet another reality show.

    1. Re:Whew! by PhxBlue · · Score: 5, Funny

      . . .or Janet Jackson's other boob. :)

      --
      !#@%*)anks for hanging up the phone, dear.
    2. Re:Whew! by Quasar1999 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Actually, the very, very, very odd thing is that UPN pulled new enterprise shows until April 21st... UPN is owned by parent company Paramount, owned by Viacomm... I find it odd that a lot of Viacomm owned shows seem to have gone on hold until mid April... I'm sure it was just coincidence that all new shows stopped just around the time they expected Dish network to pull their channels... hmmm... where's my tinfoil hat?

      --

      ---
      Programming is like sex... Make one mistake and support it the rest of your life.
  4. They had to... by robslimo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    settle their differences. They rely on each other too much.

    It's just a darned shame they had to wage their petty little feud on our TV screens. Like little children...

    --
    I'm robSlimo, the username is a
    product of frustration after losing the pwd to RatOmeter.

  5. Dish Caved by the+eric+conspiracy · · Score: 2, Informative

    CNBC basically described the situation as Echostar caving in to Viacom's demands for a $.72/year fee hike.

    Looks like content is king.

    1. Re:Dish Caved by LostCluster · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Viacom may have got their rate hike on the existing channels, but they did not get any new channels added to the lowest-level America's Top 60 package that competes as being the cheapest pay-TV package anybody can buy. Nicktoons was forced into the more expensive America's Top 180 package.

      Viacom was claiming that Dish network raised prices on their packages up to $3... but those who have the low-level package and their locals only had a one cent increase, and those who do not have their locals available saw no increase at all on the low-level package. It should be noticed that it's in this low level package that nearly all of the disputed channels are in.

      It may be that Dish succeeded in getting all of the increases on the rates of the few channels that are in the higher packages, thus protecting the cost of the low-level package.

  6. I'm a Dish customer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm a Dish Network customer, and while I'm disappointed that I could lose Comedy Central, I know where to place my anger. Dish Network seems to be the only provider that goes to any effort at all to keep rates down. Viacom is trying to frustrate that goal by forcing Echostar to add yet another damn channel (Nicktoons) and raise provider rates on channels that are already one-third (or more, counting overnight "paid programming") commercials. Those costs don't get paid by cable/satellite providers - they're paid by customers who get the costs passed on to them.

    1. Re:I'm a Dish customer by fahrvergnugen · · Score: 2, Interesting

      NickToons does still play 2 episodes of Invader Zim every weekend & Monday. It's pretty desirable for that reason alone.

      --
      Even Jesus hates listening to Creed.
    2. Re:I'm a Dish customer by tenman · · Score: 3, Informative

      $.06/mo/cust -or- $.72/cust/yr *more* than dish was already paying!!! That's $1,368,000/yr. This is about right when you consider that Dish paid ~$12,500,000/yr. for the recently expired programming contract. The addition of NickToons to the line up could have been worth the extra 1.3 million alone. Nickelodeon is an extremely compelling property to offer to viewers.

      The major problem is where Viacom wanted Dish to put the two(2) extra channels associated with the new contract. Dish offers 60 channels with our basic package. Viacom wanted to put *2* more of its own station in with that package.

      Our problem was along the lines of "what do we kick out of the Top60 package to make room, and is the NickToons channel more valuable to us than, say, a Disney? The answer is/was no. They wanted $.72/cust/yr for 1.9 million customers. The way the contract is written up now, we will pay then $.72/cust/yr for ~260,000 customers. That's a 1.18 million dollar savings for Dish. Viacom gets to add their channel; we still get to offer a programming line up that is good value to the consumer.; subscribers won't see an immediate impact on their bills...

      Everyone happy? Sorry about the outage...

  7. A few factoids... by LostCluster · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's a few things we do know about the deal:

    - One of the reported sources of conflict was Viacom's demand that Dish add the new Nicktoons network into their lowest base package, America's top 60. That didn't happen. Instead, the network will be added to one of Dish's more obscure packages, America's Top 180.
    - The three notable Viacom-owned networks that weren't deleted from Dish Network, namely TV Land, SpikeTV and CMT had contracts that expired at a different time, and Viacom wanted those three networks to be tied to expire at the same time as the rest of Viacom's channels. Apparently, those three networks have had their contracts extended as part of this deal. No official statement on when they now expire, but I think we can all assume the next time things expire, everything will all expire together.
    - Echostar had a pretty good anti-trust lawsuit working against claiming that the tactic of withholding the popular networks to force the purchase of unpopular networks is illegal because it's using a monopoly product (copyrighted content) to force the purchase of another product. If Echostar had won, this would send a shockwave through the industry because every content provider does this to every signal distributor. However, we'll never know the result of this suit because this deal agrees to dismiss all pending litigation between both companies.
    - Every Dish Network Subscriber will recieve a $1 credit on their next bill, and those who also subscribe to a locals package that lost their CBS station will get a second $1 credit on their next bill as well. These will not be pro-rated down to pennies because the outage only lasted 36 hours. In addition, all Dish Network subscribers will get a coupon for a free pay per view movie, which is worth $3.99. The cash credits will cost the company at least $15 million, and allowing for the fact that some of the coupons will be unused the PPV movie offer should cost the company about $10-15 million. Ironic, because $25-30 million is about the total price increase Viacom was seeking.

    1. Re:A few factoids... by SydShamino · · Score: 2, Interesting

      >> The cash credits will cost the company at least $15 million, and allowing for the fact that some of the coupons will be unused the PPV movie offer should cost the company about $10-15 million. Ironic, because $25-30 million is about the total price increase Viacom was seeking.

      I wouldn't consider all of the used PPV movies as a "cost" to the company either. I have NEVER bought a pay-per-view movie from any cable or satellite provider, ever. However, I received a free PPV movie in my last bill, and I'll get another free movie next month. Since they are free, I'll probably use them.

      This doesn't cost Dish Network anything, since it costs them nothing to provide the service and they are not losing out on money I would have otherwise paid them.

      --
      It doesn't hurt to be nice.
    2. Re:A few factoids... by NixterAg · · Score: 2, Informative

      The cash credits will cost the company at least $15 million, and allowing for the fact that some of the coupons will be unused the PPV movie offer should cost the company about $10-15 million.

      $15 million a company won't make is not $15 million lost. The fact is, 95% of those receiving the coupon wouldn't have bought a movie anyway. This also gives Echostar a way to advertise the ease-of-use of Dish-on-demand, meaning that some people will become Dish-on-demand customers that would have never considered it before. ...and if memory serves correct, the $25-30 million Viacom wanted was not the total for the entire contract. It was in the hundreds of millions range.

    3. Re:A few factoids... by LostCluster · · Score: 3, Informative

      This doesn't cost Dish Network anything, since it costs them nothing to provide the service and they are not losing out on money I would have otherwise paid them.

      Nope. Dish has to pay the movie studios per viewing for the content on the PPV services. For every coupon redeemed, Dish will have to pay the movie supplier their cut of the fee despite the fact that Dish isn't collecting a fee.

    4. Re:A few factoids... by alberk · · Score: 2, Interesting

      That money is going towards the customers now, not Viacom... I imagine that's either a short insult to Viacom or Dish's way out of any possible lawsuits that could occur. Either way, kudo's to Dish and wow gee, now I get to see repeats of CSI and South Park.

    5. Re:A few factoids... by jared_hanson · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The cash credits will cost the company at least $15 million, and allowing for the fact that some of the coupons will be unused the PPV movie offer should cost the company about $10-15 million. Ironic, because $25-30 million is about the total price increase Viacom was seeking.

      You might pay a big price to win a battle if it wins you the entire war. If EchoStar had given in to Viacom, it would have showed a weakness that Viacom would then try to exploit every time their contract came under negotiation, not to mention all the other content providers that would try the same underhanded tactics.

      Plus, the way things turned out, customers get a break in pricing for a minor inconvenience. The rates as a whole should stay flat. If Viacom succeeded, rates would likely go up. If that happened, EchoStar would likely lose a number of subscribers to other, cheaper alternatives. The money they paid was paid in order to keep and gain subscribers, rather than lose them.

      --
      -- Fighting mediocrity one bad post at a time.
  8. Seems to have been in Dish's favor by cmeans · · Score: 5, Informative
    This article seems to have a bit more meat.

    --
    Give a hand, not a hand-out.
  9. Wonderful. by hot_Karls_bad_cavern · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Great.

    So who lost?. Us. We, the consumers, lost. i really do not like this new ease at which the people are pushed aside and ignored so easily. It's really discouraging. The bickering spilled over into ugly text on the screens and then black bars over the ugly text. Who lost? Us. We lost. How many people are *actually* going to switch services? Not many.

    No? Oh yes my friend, very few will. Why? Because of the hit they will take from "ducking out early" on the contract or a hit on credit for giving the old providers the finger. Not many people are willing to pay off the rest of their contract *and* start paying a new one just to switch service over this.

    Lesson to the providers? We can do whatever the fuck we want (just don't piss off the FCC)...the consumers are too locked in and/or lazy to raise hell on us.

    Sad. Very, very sad.

  10. I don't want my MTV anymore by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny
    Having been deprived of it by this little spat I've discovered the joys of the great outdoors, birdsong and the gentle patter of rain on the windowsill.

    Too Britney, Justin, P. Diddy and all, I say, "Foo"

    S'cuse me while I go frolic naked in the periwinkle. Woo!

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  11. Re:Filth by iibbmm · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think ALL of us understand this... It's what makes it entertaining. Was Seinfeld funny? How about George Costanza? I sure think he was funny because he was always cheated, humilated, and in general being screwed with.

  12. I've learned how few channels I care about by SydShamino · · Score: 5, Insightful

    After a few nights of "Off line - Press Info" on a host of Viacom-owned channels in my lineup, I've realized how little I cared for those channels anyway. I almost never watched VH1 or Nickelodeon or CBS, but I kept them in my channel list on the off chance a decent show popped up.

    Now, I think I can safely remove them from my favorites list and reduce the scrolling in the guide between useful channels.

    There's nothing like being deprived of something to learn how little you needed it in the first place.

    --
    It doesn't hurt to be nice.
  13. Package Pricing by RobertB-DC · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I was explaining the Dish/Viacom dispute to my 8-year-old, who was going through Spongebob withdrawal last night.

    Viacom, I explained, wants Dish to buy a whole package of stations, even though Dish thinks some of the channels aren't worth it. Dish wants to pick and choose the stations they buy.

    Fair enough. Except I realized that when I signed up for Dish, I also thought some of the channels aren't worth paying for. But in this case, Dish sees things differently:
    Allowing customers to substitute channels or add a favorite channel to their package would force us to raise prices. To prevent this, we do not allow channel substitutions. We strive to make satellite programming as affordable as possible. Our packages have been setup in balance with cost effectiveness and consumer demand. One way to help keep our customer?s programming costs low is to provide stations in packages, rather than ala carte.
    Apparently, Dish wants it both ways. Packages are a great idea when Dish forces them on me, but not acceptable when Viacom forces them on them.

    The aforementioned 8-year-old got it right: "They're just fighting like 3-year-olds over a toy, aren't they?" And picking which side to root for is about as silly.
    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
    1. Re:Package Pricing by lazytiger · · Score: 5, Informative

      I was watching Charlie Ergen's chat show the other night and he explained a lot of things that you don't normally hear explained by a big company, let alone from the CEO. I am actually a bigger fan of Dish now than I was before. I really dig the fact that he comes on the air and takes calls and emails from his customers.

      Regarding the packaging of channels, Charlie said that he wishes Dish could do ala carte, but they can't because companies like Viacom won't let them. Viacom (and Disney, and all the rest) explicitly lay out in their contracts with distributors which channels have to be bundled with other specific channels. It's not a matter of Charlie having double standards - he's simply not allowed to break up packages any more than you can.

    2. Re:Package Pricing by JohnnyComeLately · · Score: 2, Funny
      I think it's because they heard Jon Stewart on the Daily Show last night (Comedy Central).


      He said the blackout can lead to violence, which is what happened in Haiti. No Sponge Bob will lead to mass rebellion, bloodshed and carnage...

      :-) Coincidence? I think not. OK, where is my foil hat


      John

    3. Re:Package Pricing by skiflyer · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Advertising spin.

      Consider for a moment
      • 60 MUST HAVE channels! Everything you want from CBS, ABC, Blah blah blah!
      • 60 Packaged Channels. We apologize we must offer a bundle, but due to the contracts we have with our providers we can not offer a la carte service at this time.

      The point is still to sell the service not matter how you approach it.
    4. Re:Package Pricing by boarder · · Score: 2, Informative

      I question your reasoning. Dish does want it both ways, but I believe they have a right to. There is a real reason for them to do package pricing:

      1) Since decoding is done at the customer's box, every single channel is broadcast to every single home. To add Nicktoons, they have to broadcast it to everyone, regardless of whether anyone wants it.

      2) Each channel they broadcast takes up bandwidth to transmit, and bandwidth costs money.

      3) Each channel costs the same in bandwidth to broadcast as any other channel, so the cost scales linearly with number of channels broadcast.

      4) Since everyone would opt for roughly the same 10 to 20 channels, the very low rated ones wouldn't support themselves.

      Dish/DTV/Cable MUST use package pricing, unless you want to pay something like $5/channel/mo. The price would be high since you not only have to pay for the channels you want, but have to support the channels only a few want. The other option would be to have variable cost channel pricing... MTV would only be $3/mo, while Nicktoons would be $7/mo. That would make it even less of an incentive to buy those obscure channels, though.

      So, the problem becomes that once you can only buy the 10 channels you want, the low rated channels don't support themselves and get dropped. Now we have much less variety and fewer options. Sound familiar? Yeah, that is how radio is now. So you would be paying more money for less variety.

      The reason Dish/DTV/Cable wants individual package selection from Viacom et.al. is that they would never purchase Nicktoons if they didn't have to. Providing it will add no new customers and nobody will want to pay extra for it. They will be paying for bandwidth of a channel that adds no revenue.

      Picking a side should be easy and not silly... If there were no package pricing for Dish/DTV/Cable, they wouldn't have to broadcast Nicktoons and others nobody cares about, therefore lowering your bill. If there were no package pricing for you, the average customer bill would actually go up. Also, there are monopolistic concerns to help choose sides... you have the choice between Dish, DTV, Cable, real Sat dish, Voom!, and just broadcast. Dish, however has no choice in whether they broadcast different channels; they are FORCED to have certain channels.

      Now, I would love to have individual channel selection, since I literally only watch 5 channels; and even at $5/channel my bill would lower. But anyone who isn't single will need at least 10 channels to satisfy others in the household.

      --
      IANAL, but I play one on /.
  14. If the rates raise, I'm gone. by MoreBeer · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Just going through the pain of 2 days without Comedy Central and CBS have left a sour taste in my mouth. I was seriously considering upgrading my dish setup to include the new 921 DVR, but I'm upset with both Charlie and Viacom. Viacom doesn't directly get my money, but Charlie does... I ain't paying him $900 for a piece of hardware.

    I was 1/2 tempted to pull the trigger on VOOM, but they don't carryTechTV, nor offer a PVR device.

    Instead of watching Letterman the other night, I started reconsidering my options... Comcast does not yet have HDTV cable in my area. I have 4 TVs (1 HD and 4 standard), and I absolutely require the crack that is TechTV _and_ a PVR now that I've sampled the both of them. What's a geek to do? I currently use a HTPC to pull in local channels over the air, but CBS only comes in at around 50% signal strength (WBBM in Chicago Fiasco.) It would be great to get DVR, HD/Standard Def, and program guide integration so I have a wife-proof solution. Anyone else go through these pains?

    DirecTV seems like an option, especially if I pick up the DirecTiVO with DVD recorder, and maybe tack up an HD reciever... but that sounds like it will cost me a bit of coin as well.

  15. Damn! That was too quick! by pair-a-noyd · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was just about to go crazy snapping up CHEAP E* systems from pissed Dish customers as they switch, then sell them back to them later after this worked out..

    I had figured on a ~30 day window. So much for getting rich quick..

  16. Good, now the messages stop scrolling by ManoMarks · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I don't have Dish Network, I have basic cable, and I got all these messages scrolling along the bottom of the screen urging me to call Dish networks to harrass them about some I don't give a flying #%$#$^^&&*! about, and distracting me from my TV watching for days. Just made me change channels, not what they wanted I'm sure, or had any way of tracking.

    --

    That's gotta fit into your schema somewhere

  17. Need for fine grained programming options by FerretFrottage · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Maybe it's time for a provider to try something new. Sure have the basic-plus-premium packages, but also offer total ala carte programming; just pick the specific channels you want. Maybe offer a /. package: sci-fi, techtv. plyby....what else does a /.'er need? Obviously the content rpvoders such as Viacom want to cram all their other useless channels down your throat, but it would be a interesting idea. Just watch hbo, cbs, fox, and espn , just pay for those channels.

    The sat/cable providers talk about channels costing the consumer "pennies per day", but what is the real cost? How many channels does the consumer really watch and for how long a period. I wouldn't be surprised if it really cost the consumer $10 an episode to just watch Trippin the Rift, given all the other programming they are paying for an not watching. Bah

    --
    "Look Lois, the two symbols of the Republican Party: an elephant, and a fat white guy who is threatened by change."
  18. Excellent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now for the next week Dish Network should scroll the message "Thi$ i$ a VIACOM $tation"

  19. No A La Carte possible in Canada by Baron_Yam · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Here we have government mandated channels that nobody wants. In order to carry the costs, they are bundled with other channels.

    I'm sure the same is true in many other places.

  20. Are you kidding? by andih8u · · Score: 5, Informative

    You think that the cable tv industry doesn't pull this kind of thing all the time? In order to get the same number of channels that I get with my current DirecTV system, I would have had to pay Comcast cable over $100 a month for their digital package, while DirecTV has more channels at half the price.

    If anyone, the blame more likely rests on Viacom who will just assume that all cable/satellite companies should swoon at their feet for the chance to carry MTV and the rest of their garbage.

    If you start getting the government involved in regulating something, you're going to end up with problems. Calling for regulation over losing VH1 classics for a day and a half is pretty stupid anyway.

    --


    slashdot, news for crazed liberal socialist zealots
  21. Reminds me of sci-fi in ages past by zakezuke · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There was a time that I wanted the sci-fi channel, but my local cableco wouldn't carry it. It took alot of navigation through their staff to get an honest answer, but it was basicly due to the fact that they them selves couldn't just buy one channel off the link, but they had to get also get a package which included things like bravo. It took a year or so of people like my self sending letters to the cable company basicly saying, "look, we are willing to pay extra for these channels you don't carry, what's the problem". It was the digital age after all, all we need do is phone up a special phone number and poof, we got the channels we've been asking for.

    I see this as being a very much diffrent case. Sci-Fi may not be worth extra bucks, but Bravo and IFC on the other hand are worth extra bucks. This is also a diffrent case because we the consumer made it clear we were willing to pay for something extra.

    --
    There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
  22. Tell that to those that left by StringBlade · · Score: 4, Interesting
    How many people are *actually* going to switch services? Not many.
    No? Oh yes my friend, very few will.

    Unfortunately there were enough people switching in the span of a day to warrant news articles across the country (check Google News yesterday for 'Viacom Dish Network') stating that cable companies are/were getting an influx of cable orders from people jumping off Dish. In some cases, these people will have to wait up to a week for cable service because of the demand.

    I'm sure most of these 'jumpers' did not break their contract because it wouldn't be worth it. Rather, their contract was up already and they needed their Nickelodeon for little Timmy (age 3-4) because he won't go to bed until he watches his Spongebob Squarepants or Dora the Explorer. One day was too much to take after his screaming fit (or they wanted to prevent that fit if possible).

    Sadly, now they're just stuck in the position of paying more for cable because they're probably too proud (or frightened) to go back to Dish. I feel even more pity for the few fools who jumped into a DirecTV contract within that 36 hours' time.

    --
    ...and that's the way the cookie crumbles.
  23. How much can we squeeze out of the customers? by eltoyoboyo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Just like everyone has his or her own corner of the Internet, is everyone trying to get his or her own little entertainment channel going? And are they expecting to be able to use the cable/dish companies to reach into the consumers' pocketbooks and siphon out money?

    The cable and dish companies have monthly price points at which they market their offerings. They know that Grandpa Joe Innercity is just fine with local analog basic service for $11.99. Bob and Mary Suburban are willing to pay $44.99 to get ESPN and the Home and Garden Network in the standard package. Tom and Bridget Twohourcommuters will pay $79.00 to get movies. And of course, there is always a market for pr0n and sp0rts, for which some people will pay extra.

    If every channel is demanding $1.00-$2.00 to get into the standard analog package and the provider needs to make money, then consumers are looking at $200 per month, which is an oppressive burden on the median income.

    In Minneapolis/St. Paul, Victory Sports is the sole carrier of Minnesota Twins Major League baseball. None of the cable companies have even stepped to the bargaining table, as the $2.30 per month demanded by the channel is too high a price.

    http://www.startribune.com/stories/465/4316582.htm l

    Victory Sports and Viacom are both taking the stand that consumers are going to scream for these channels on their service. The cable/dish companies are going to rightly state that it will cost...A LOT. Then we will see where the screaming goes. In the meantime, to watch CSI Miami on CBS, I get 39 minutes of show and 21 minutes of commercials. The credits even get squashed as they roll by during the local news lead-in.

    --
    Have you Meta Moderated t
  24. Uh, it's called sweeps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It happens every year. They save the final few episodes for late-April/May when the season ends, so they'll get the highest ratings during the May sweeps period. Most networks do it.

  25. Shady business by Elf-friend · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Seems to me that Dish wants their customers to think that Viacom caved. The whole statement reeks of a cover-up.

    I don't think anyone in their right mind thought that Dish could win this, anyhow. The timing couldn't have been worse, with the NCAA tournament and all. As much as I hate their guts, there was no way Viacom was gonna blink first.

    Mind you, I've not been unhappy with Dish over the four (IIRC) years we've had them: they beat the wireless cable we had before, hands down. However, I do think they sometimes try to pull the wool over their customers' eyes. Of course, that seems to be S.O.P. for all media companies these days, and none of it excuses Viacom from what they did.

    From the Dish Network statement:

    Everyone at DISH Network will continue to fight to provide the best possible programming and services at the lowest possible price, every day.

    One of the things I figured out over the last two days is that they actually use creative tactics to be able to claim lower prices than DirecTV. Take the Dish 120 channel package versus the DirecTV 125 channel package, for instance: $34.99 vs. 36.99, respectively, BUT (and this is a big "but") to get local channels you have to pay Dish $5.99 a month more. DirecTV includes those channels for just $3. Add that up, and suddenly Dish costs just one cent less for five fewer channels. I'm pretty sure the only thing keeping us with Dish right now is that DirecTV doesn't carry our locals yet.

  26. MOD PARENT UP - Re:Package Pricing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes, you've got it exactly right. I work for a (not-to-be-named-top-tier) cable company. It is simply not possible for us to offer channels on an individual basis because of the media conglomerates, like Viacom, forcing us to offer their channels in all-or-none blocks. The best we can really do is three tiers: (1) basic cable, which is the local networks which are (usually) independently owned, (2) expanded basic, which has those plus the aforementioned blocks from the various conglomerates, and (3) digital, which has the other channels plus all the REALLY crappy ones that we were able to negotiate out of expanded basic, plus various indepdendent networks. It's really quite ridiculous. Every time we renegotiate a deal, there are always a bunch of crap channels that we end up having to add, which nobody watches and which force us to raise rates. Believe me, nobody would like total a la carte programming more than the cable companies--our profits would increase tremendously if we could sell the networks individually, at a reasonable profit, rather than taking a tiny profit on package deal for a dozen crap networks. We've gotten LOTS of feedback over the years--there are MANY customers who would love to pay $40/month for 40 individually selected channels over $100/month for 200 forced channels. And we would turn a much higher profit in the $40/month case. But it's simply not possible, due to precisely the reason you mentioned.

  27. Well...um... by AgentGray · · Score: 2, Funny

    I haven't yet seen anyone mention the fact that CBS and other Viacom channels are back on DishNetwork

    It might be because most people weren't missing much...

    --
    "Power corrupts. PowerPoint corrupts absolutely."
  28. It means.... by StringBlade · · Score: 2, Informative
    that Dish Network will not be changing their lowest-tier programming and not increasing the rates for that tier. At the higher tiers the price gets less competitive with DirecTV and for those brackets (like America's Top 180) that got additional channels (Nicktoons) the price probably will increase slightly.

    Fortunately their biggest market niche is the low-end tier for not a lot of money and they were able to successfully defend that market. Being a subscriber to that tier, I'm glad this is the outcome (and I got a free movie out of the deal!).

    --
    ...and that's the way the cookie crumbles.
  29. What dish emailed me by piles_of_spam · · Score: 3, Informative

    I complained to dish and Viacom by email, warning dish that I would cancel the service if those channels were not restored (I don't really care who is to blame).
    I got a response quickly from an actual person at Dish (I was impressed by this) but not from Viacom. The letter was apologetic, and directed towards my particular concerns, but suggested I voice my displeasure to Viacom as well; this I had already done. Today after the channels were restored I received this dish form letter, which you'll notice does not address price hikes (or a lack thereof):

    Dear Loyal DISH Network Customer,

    I am very pleased to announce that we've successfully reached a long-term agreement with Viacom to provide you with CBS and MTV Networks including MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon. I am happy to say that this agreement will allow us to continue to provide you the lowest all-digital price everyday.

    I understand that it has been a difficult 36 hours to be without these popular channels. We appreciate your patience, your support for DISH Network and your continued business.

    As promised, you will receive a credit on your next billing statement. In addition, we would like to thank you for all of your support by sending you a free DISH On Demand Pay-Per-View coupon that will allow you to view upcoming hits like "Cat in the Hat" and "School of Rock." The coupon will arrive in your April billing statement. Enjoy a movie on us.

    Everyone at DISH Network will continue to fight to provide the best possible programming and services at the lowest possible price, every day.

    Thank you for your loyalty and thank you for being a DISH Network customer.

    Charlie Ergen

    CEO

    DISH Network

  30. Re:6 Cents... by mnemon1c · · Score: 2, Informative

    Ok, I've got to step in here... If you listen to Viacom, it was 6 cents, If you listen to Echostar, it is way more than that. It was orginally going to be a 7 percent raise per year for 5 years. The current contract was for something like 200 million dollars. You do the math. Also, all of the channels do not cost the same. MTV and MTV2 are basiclly free b/c the videos are provided to Viacom for free, while Nick and CBS cost a great deal more to run, thus those costs are higher.

    --
    Ah, the last peanut -- overflowing with the oil and salt of its departed brothers. -Homer
  31. Think about it folks... by thumbtack · · Score: 2, Informative

    As pointed out on the thread that informed Slashdotters about the takedown, Dish didn't have to give any break (as per customer agreement), but chose to, as a sign of good faith. 9 million+ subscribers, cost to Dish $9 million plus. In addition in the next bill (or if you don't receive a bill, in a seperate mailing) You will receive a PPV coupon for a free PPV movie. Cost $3.99 to every subscriber who was affected (that comes out to nearly $36 Million) Dish took a $45 milllion hit on this. The prices will not go up. Dish network is still cheaper than DirecTv, and the price increase is less that DirecTv had earlier this year, and a lot less than my cable company announced after being held up by the same company over ESPN.

    In addition VIACOM's action by dragging this to people on cable and every Viacom channel on every cable system and even on the competition was about as sleazy business practice I've ever seen. From what I understand both sides gave a little.

    In this whole scenario there were no winners,only losers, regardless of which side you were on.