Viacom channels go dark on EchoStar in dispute over programming fees

Times Leader ^ | 3/9/2004 | Catherine Tsai

[blackdog]

I think I'll hang tough with Dish. Viacom is the instrument of the devil. I like the idea that Dish means what they say.

I've never cared for opportunists.

[blackdog]

You have to be very specific in asking CS location questions. They'll say it's US based and Clintonesque in their answer. Sure it's US based, that's where the server is that routes the calls to India.

They all lie. If you ask the right questions you can catch them at it.

[petitfour]

Praise God!

I had to say that. I wish all cable companies would drop Viacom's evil rot from their line-ups. It is mafia-like for Viacom to group Nickelodeon with MTV and force consumers to pay for both when MTV is such rot. We've done quite well without paying $30+ a month for all those must-have channels, including FOX News. We can read about what is on television. And what we don't know about, we don't seem to miss. Very liberating.

[SoothingDave]

I'm a Dish subscriber and have my house in turmoil because my three year old has lost his Nick Jr. I couldn't be more pleased. I'm behind Dish too.

My wife just called with the same symptoms. My daughter will have to make do with the Disney offerings until Nick and Noggin come back.

Ultimately, Dish is trying to save us all money. And Viacom is certainly acting in a predatory manner, holding contracts for local service hostage to demands that Dish carry additional Viacom channels.

SD

[OldFriend]

Wow, how did those folks in the Denver area get so lucky!!!!

[Hurricane Andrew]

Frankly, I think this was handled very poorly. This is the first I heard about it. Yeah, I can live (better actually) without MTV, BET, and that trash, but there are issues I have with it.

First, if Dish wanted to start an outcry against Vilecom, they should have begun the process weeks if not months ago. By simply haveing the stations go dark, they are hurting their customers and will have much of the outcry, especially from the masses, directed at them, not Vilecom.

Second, I need my local stations. All of them. Well, I don't need WB, but I do need the rest. The wife is going to have my head if the dispute is not settled by Survivor, and frankly, I'll be a bit peeved as well. I'll have Dish's head if March Madness becomes March Nothingness.

Finally, with three young children and a wife who's a stay at home mom with kids ages 8, 6, and 4, her life without Blues Clues and Dora the Explorer to buy her that little bit of peace in the afternoon to buy her that time to get things done is going to be a nightmare. Try explaining coprorate manuevering to a 4 year old who's crying because he can't watch Blue's Clues.

I have no idea what I'll do. I've already lodged complaints to both parties. Right now I don't think much of either, I'm not a fan of DirectTV, and I can't stand my local cable company.

[UB355]

I dispute your statement. I have had dishnetwork since July 2003. Their customer service is outstanding and in the USA

[Wright is right!]

"Are you sure Directv's support is USA based?"

Yuppers. I've had occasion to talk with them several times over the years, and every one I talked with said they were in this state or than - none of which was Assam. Sometimes you get Colorado, sometimes Phoenix, sometimes Et-Lanta. Never Bangalore.

Michael

[Dawgreg]

We've been customers of DISH for years and have the full programming package. We have always been pleased with their customer service and tech support. Charlie Ergen is trying to do the right thing (imho) and stand up to a bully. I think I'll call Vilecom and ask them HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH??? Dang, they own half the world as far as communications and entertainment........so why would they want more? You go Charlie...........this household is behind you 100%!

[Born Conservative]

We've had DirecTV for 3 years, and any contact we have had with them has been positive. We are also very happy with the actual service/signal also.

[Monty22]

Well, I did call at like 3am a bunch one night, got all foreign people.

Maybe their nightshift only is offshore.

[glock rocks]

Let's see how Charlie plays this one out...

I won't miss CBS, or most of the garbage,

but Nick? my kids'll drive us nuts.

and Spike? (no Star Trek NG) eeeek!

[Born Conservative]

Ping

[SoothingDave]

every one I talked with said they were in this state or than - none of which was Assam. Sometimes you get Colorado, sometimes Phoenix, sometimes Et-Lanta. Never Bangalore.

You aren't aware that Indians are given "backstories" and American names and kept abrest of American stuff?

If "Tom" you talk to is supposed to be from Dallas, he is made aware of how to complain about how the Cowboys did that day or how cruddy the weather has been.

SD

[ProudGOP]

a move that could threaten their ability to watch, among other things,

the March Madness college basketball tournament.

It has better be resolved by then or I am switching to DirectTV. I got dish with the understanding that they would buy Hughes (DTV) so I would be able to get the NFL Sunday Ticket. That fell through so I've been without the Ticket for 2 years.

[petitfour]

Your wife will survive. I have seven children, and they watched NickJr every morning for years. We got rid of our cable subscription due to Viacom garbage, and our children have been fine. We had videos collected over the years, and the children actually watched the old ones. And they play. Peacefully.

[mewzilla]

And you can buy it on DVD and see the whole show, not the version that was gutted to make way for all the extra commercial time that we have now.

[SoothingDave]

a move that could threaten their ability to watch, among other things, the March Madness college basketball tournament.

Ain't you got a backup set of amplified rabbit ears?

SD

[Monty22]

Simple solution: Netflix +DVD Xcopy+DVD-R burner.

[mewzilla]

Um, I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I'm a tech trog :(