a question about DISH network and comedy central...

[Beaker]

so i'm watching the South Park sunday night re-run, and at the bottom of the screen a crawl starts saying: "Attention echostar/dish network subscribers- dish network is threatening to cancel these channels from their service- BET, Nickelodeon, Comedy central...-

it was at this point that the bottom part of the screen was covered with a black bar for a minute or so, and when it stopped, the crawl was gone...BTW, I have Dish Network...

can anyone tell me wassup widdat?

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Here's the scoop....

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

[Beaker]

3. if ComedyCentral goes dark monday night-

my subscription to DISH will go dark on Tuesday.

I don't like the idea of giving money to robert murdoch, but i'll be watching DirectTV by wednesday, if all this comes to pass.

[gmoney]

2. thank deregulation

Some pissing match with Viacom and the Dish Network people... I think Viacom wants to require that DN carry some new worthless channel, and DN doesn't wanna, so Viacom says "it's all or nothin' baby" so DN says "fine" and the consumer loses. You may also lose your local CBS affiliate on your dish, too.

Can't remember where I read about this, if it was on here or Fark.

Thank you Bill Clinton and Michael Powell for unbridled media deregulation. Nothing but good news for us consumers. (Not.)

[Beaker]

4. to hear dish network tell it...

this is what they have posted at their site(notice how they give the number of CBS to call with complaints...)


Stations owned by Viacom have proposed excessive rate increases we feel are unreasonable. We always strive to control costs on behalf of our customers. We continue to work tirelessly to negotiate with Viacom so you do not lose your channels.

If you desire to continue to receive your channels and would like to speak with the President and General Manager of KCBS, please contact Don Corsini at [phone].

[AlFrankenFan]

5. Jesus

if they drop those channel I swear I will go insane! They will loose A LOT of business I tell ya what!