VOOM Goes BOOM - update Dish Drops all 15 VOOM Channels

[airphotos]

We need to start a bring back Monsterhd petition lol.

In my own selfish way, I could live with just Monsters. There is NOTHING out there that can replace it. That's not being very realistic though.

[yaz96]

....snip.... DISH really wants to kiss our ass now and will be adding HD left and right.

[Bradp56]

I am the same way Monsters was my only reason comming to Dish, I started getting used to the other channels like Equator and Rave but I am selfish too I would be happy with just Monsters

[Jeffro34tx]

The problem is that the general populace is not filled with the HD-geeks like you and me. In the end E* has to try and get subscribers and we are definitely living in an age where "brand recognition" rules. I really think the DirecTV ads about the "Channels you've never heard of" hurt E* more than we know.

I blame this more on the "masses" and VOOM than anything else. Although, I blame E* for the poor way they handled the removal.

I tend to agree with the statement you made here........ I know people are upset they lost some channels that are in their viewing habits, but the fact is, DISH had to make a decision. These channels do not bring in new subs. DISH's numbers on their earnings report were down substantially. They have to make drastic changes, that includes adding channels that the majority of people percieve to be the mainstream channels. The general public want channels they know and recognize.

Let's face it, Dish is trying to increase the new subs. If a potential new sub wanted to view the HD offerings from DISH, which would they prefer to see? Keep in mind, they are probably comparing the channels to DirecTV's offerings.

NEW HD Channels added on Monday:

1. CNN
2. USA
3. SCI-FI
4. THE WEATHER CHANNEL
5. BRAVO
6. CARTOON NETWORK
7. DISNEY
8. TOON DISNEY
9. ESPN NEWS
10. ABC FAMILY
11. BIOGRAPHY
12. HALLMARK MOVIE CHANNEL
13. CINEMAX-W
14. CINEMAX 5-STAR
15. CNBC
16. SMITHSONIAN
17. MGM
18. WORLD FISHING NETWORK
19. TRAVEL CHANNEL
20. THE TENNIS CHANNEL

Plus these hopeful and eventual additions in place of the 15 removed VOOM Channels:

1. MTV
2. CMT
3. VH-1
4. COMEDY CENTRAL
5. SPEED
6. FUEL
7. FX
8. FOX NEWS
9. FOX BUSINESS
10. SPIKE
11. NICKELODEON
12. HBO-W
13. SHO-TOO
14. THE MOVIE CHANNEL
15. STARZ-W

OR..... Would the potential new sub rather see these? (Perhaps they have never even heard of)

Former VOOM Channels on DISH:

1. ANIMANIA
2. EQUATOR
3. GALLERY
4. GAME PLAY
5. RAVE
6. TREASURE
7. ULTRA HD
8. FILM FEST
9. KUNG FU
10. MONSTERS
11. VOOM MOVIES
12. FAMILY ROOM
13. RUSH
14. WORLDSPORT
15. HDNEWS

I think Dish is making a HARD but good decision for their long term. Who know's, maybe later the VOOM Channels will return, but for now, in the short term, they had to make a tough decision.

As far as how they followed through with their plan, I'm sure legalities played a major part in how they were removed and discussed (or not).

Also, another thing to keep in mind, HD is more mainstream now, it's no longer just for the enthusiast. Many retail stores now only sell HDTV sets. This forces a lot of other consumers into this arena that would not normally be in this market. Prices have come down as well, so it brings in a whole different type of subs and viewing audience.

The main thing DISH wants is to keep up with the HD subs, and the last couple of quarters has not been well for DISH. They obviously understand now, and are finally making moves trying to adjust.

I for one, stuck around when I and everyone felt like DISH was falling behind by not adding any HD channels, We were all complaining that they weren't doing anything. Where are the new channels? Well, I guess we have to be careful what we ask for. I stuck around during the drought, and I will stick around now. The main reason I have stuck around has always been for one main reason. The DVR. I would be PO'd if they had to remove the DVR functions because of the TIVO lawsuit, so I can empathize with those who are upset with the VOOM channels. However, I still put the blame on VOOM for this mess.

[wonko]

My prediction... This is a ploy by Charlie to purchase the Voom networks outright for cheap. Once CVC doesn't pick them back up, he'll come in with a lowball offer to get the networks. Then he'll keep the best ones (with maybe fewer repeats), consolidate the others, and have something to use against D*.

Hey, we can hope can't we?

[haertig]

Sports in HD was the driving motivator that caused me to purchase an HDTV.....Now that I have one, I really enjoy watching my other shows in HD, but sports is what drove the purchase.

My driving motivator was my ten year old 60" SD RPTV going belly up. I didn't want to go down in screen size, and you can't find an SD set that large. Or even a 720p one. So I ended up with a 65" 1080p HDTV. The sport I watch most is hockey and to be honest, SD hockey on a 60" SD set wasn't all that bad. However, SD hockey on a 65" HDTV is just horrible. Basically unwatchable. There is a big big big difference in SD vs. HD hockey on a large HDTV however.

Given a choice between watching a regular show in HD or SD, of course I'll choose the HD version. Most of my TV viewing, what little there is of it in the first place, is major network shows. I don't normally go "exploring new things" just because they are in HD. Junk programming is still junk. Commercials are still commercials. Junk is no more appealing in HD than it was in SD. It's just a TV.

[Poke]

Well Folks,just a little advice DUMP DISH.............

LOL! Dish is the best thing out there...

[airphotos]

LOL! Dish is the best thing out there...

Good one.

[zim2dive]

Gotta say.. folks may be upset about losing VOOM but going to Direct? looks like knee-jerk reaction to me.

what channels does Direct have that are worth:

- the effort of switching
- paying upfront cost
- getting worse DVR (by most opinions)
- paying more per month

when I look at the HD vs HD chart, I see maybe 3 channels that would be ok to have.. in other words I watched the SD version MAYBE for less than 1 hour per month.

I have no huge love of Dish, but looking at things as a current subscriber, or even as a potential subscriber.. I don't see how you beat the Dish HD-only package.

[Bradp56]

Gotta say.. folks may be upset about losing VOOM but going to Direct? looks like knee-jerk reaction to me.

what channels does Direct have that are worth:

- the effort of switching
- paying upfront cost
- getting worse DVR (by most opinions)
- paying more per month

when I look at the HD vs HD chart, I see maybe 3 channels that would be ok to have.. in other words I watched the SD version MAYBE for less than 1 hour per month.

I have no huge love of Dish, but looking at things as a current subscriber, or even as a potential subscriber.. I don't see how you beat the Dish HD-only package.

More HD, and the NFL package.