Epix & Dish in Talks

[trumanhorn]

If Dish wants to continue to attack DirecTV, they should immediately sign to carry Viacom's new premium channel Epix at launch (now that DirecTV has officially passed on doing so). Then, they should market themselves as "the official satellite carrier" of Epix--and by extension, the only place on satellite you can see movies like "Iron Man" in HD.

[juan]

no

[Scott Greczkowski]

If I were Dish I would hop on it and quickly.

While DirecTV is the sports leader, Dish is the HD Movie Channel leader.

Could be a great way to promote their Differences with DirecTV.

[KAB]

Agreed. Especially since D* has announced they "have no interest" in adding more premium channels.

[bobvick]

I wonder if this "no interest" transfers to not having any interest in adding additional HBO and Cinemax channels and HD feeds? That is the main reason I switched back to Dish Network, for HBO multiplex HD feeds, HBO Comedy and HBO Zone and the two extra Cinemax multiplex channels.
Dish Network is already way ahead of DirecTV when it comes to premium movies, they carry HBO Comedy, HBO Zone, ActionMax, 5StarMax, Showtime Beyond, TMC Xtra E&W, and Starz Cinema that DirecTV does not carry.
DirecTV currently seems to have the "winning formula" however, if they continue to neglect other markets besides those interested in sports the strategy could backfire.

[dfergie]

DirecTV currently seems to have the "winning formula" however, if they continue to neglect other markets besides those interested in sports the strategy could backfire.

Exactly, Directv is alienating a valuable subscriber base by not staying up with "the Ergens" on premiums...

[bobvick]

I would like to point out that I agree with Scott's consensus on Dish and premium/movie channels. I do not know why Dish does not try to market the fact that they are indeed the DBS HD movie channel leader.
Dish is kind of like the ugly girl in school, that someone actually helps to fix up before the prom They have a lot going for them, they just dont know how to show it off.

[DWS44]

The more likely response at E* headquarters, though?!?

"Direct isn't carrying it...we dont need to bother either!"

[ehren]

Lewis Black's live show from Detroit I heard is going to be on Epix.

[Lkr]

The more likely response at E* headquarters, though?!?

"Direct isn't carrying it...we dont need to bother either!"

You beat me to it. And since when does E* go out there and grab a channel right when it launches?

If you want Iron Man in TRUE HD and not HD-Lite, I'd just rent the blu ray for $1 at a Red Box kiosk(HD-Lite is why I don't care much about premiums)