Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network off Dish due to contract dispute

[samatha6]

D*'s hardware has always been one of the major advantages IMO - but that may all change with the new boxes.

I think so.. the 322 is a sweet box. And DTV does not even offer the option to run two TV's on one dual tuner box. You MUST have two boxes for two TV's.. Which cost another 6 bucks a month for the second box. Soon dish will offer the vip622 which will be able to do HD on the primary TV and send SD to another set... with radio controlled remotes as well.. This is cutting edge technology. I believe they report it will do 25 hours recording on HD and 180 hours for SD recording...
With DTV boxes you have the ablility to record one channel and watch another... but only on that TV.. with the vip622 you will be able to record from both tv's to the 622. To me it sounds like Dish is coming out with better technology and I forgot to mention that the 622 does mpeg4 as well.. As far as I know DTV has not come out with mpeg4 yet. I would say Dishes boxes are a step ahead of the technology curve.

[twinrocks]

I think you and I were talking on the lifetime forums.. If you recall... I had some posts saying that DTV software was crap.. and their cheap IR remotes were even crappier.. ..

Hi! Yes, I think we were! Well, we held our breath this morning and hooked up the Dish again. I was so afraid we would wind up with NO TV!! BUT, I reconnected all three receivers, then we tackled the antenna. It was actually a snap, and we actually got BETTER reception!! I was inside watching the signal strength, hubby outside with the antenna, and I have to admit WE got a better signal than either the Dish or DTV installers!! That was nice. I will really miss Lifetime, actually LMN, but the other two are happy. The DTV remote is awful and so is DTV's channel guide. They have made it way too complicated and the buttons and lettering way too small. I did program a custom favorites, but if your power goes out, or you unplug for any reason it loses it. Whereas our Dish settings stayed the same and all our favorite guides stayed the same after being off for 4 days. So, our PQ was from installers, not anything else.

[TNGTony]

Is it true we are only talking about a 76 Cent price increase?

No. We're talking about a 76 PERCENT (76%) increase. In reality probably LESS than 76¢.

But let's put it this way, if EVERYTHING went up by 76%, would you still be okay with that? AT60 would go from 26.99 to $47.50 instead of the announce $29.99 *done to cover other channels price increases. Is that okay now?

Is there any way Dish could just offer up a new MOVIE channel like package and for 76 Cents we could get the 3 Lifetime channels, Lifetime, lifetime movies and lifetime real w?
How about an HD Lifetime channel and make it a $1 more each month?
That way I can make my Wife happen and I wont have to go back to cable.
I would be glad to pay the 76 cents.
Just an Idea, Dish, are you reading this thread?

If they were, they probably stopped reading by the 5th time this was suggested. As has been explained several times in this thread, the channel owners do not want to be sold separately. The channel owners want to be included in the most basic packages available. Not only that, but many insist "if you want this channel, you have to get that channel too for X amount, otherwise you get nothing". This is what Heast did with Lifetime and LMN to try to force Dish to get LIfetime RW. This is likely where most of the 76% figure comes from.

Dish took a pass. Lifetime said, take it or leave it. Dish said "leave it". At that point Dish could not legally cary the channel and had to pull it.

See ya
Tony

[Mark_AR]

Here is a reply I got from Dish.

I filled out the lifetime website *canned outrage letter* and put my *loyal supporter letter* to drop the channels letter in its place. (See bottom of post)

It clearly explains Lifetime had the hissy and told E* to pull the plug on Dec. 31 if they weren't going to pony up to the rate increase.

Dear Customer,
Thank you for being a valued DISH Network customer. DISH Network sincerely regrets that your programming is currently unavailable. Lifetime has imposed unfair rates for their satellite customers which we feel are unreasonable. Until the dispute with Lifetime is resolved, Women’s Entertainment (channel 128) and Encore Love (channel 109) is being offered in all of our basic programming packages. The loss of the Lifetime Channels was the result of Lifetime Networks decision to impose a more then 70% rate increase for DISH Network to continue to carry these channels, therefore DISH Network at this time is not offering credits for the loss of the Lifetime Channels.

DISH Network has launched the Oxygen channel on channel 127 to all customers for a 30 day free preview. This will also be available permanently in our AT120 and above packages as well as our DishLATINO Dos package and above.

Oxygen, the only cable network owned and operated by women is the 24-hour television network on a mission to bring women (and the men who love them) the edgiest, most innovative entertainment on television. The Oxygen network has the MOST original programming of all the women's networks including Mo¿Nique¿s Fat Chance and Oprah After the Show.

We continually strive to control costs on behalf of our customers and are hopeful that this dispute will be resolved quickly. Please understand we are not at liberty to discuss negotiation details. Your business is greatly appreciated and we thank you for allowing us to be of assistance to you.

We have included in the email an open letter that was sent to Lifetime Networks.
Sincerely,
Terry B.
DISH Network
e-Care

January 4th

Louise Henry Bryson
President, Distribution and Affiliate Business
Development Lifetime Networks
2049 Century Park East, Suite 840
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Dear Ms. Bryson:

We hope you share our goal of restoring Lifetime programming expeditiously and at a fair rate. However, inaccurate statements in your press release and on your Web site are counterproductive. Let’s clear the air. I invite you or your representative to appear with me live on the Charlie Chat in our studio in Denver on Jan. 9, 2006 at 7 p.m. Some of the issues we will raise are listed below. We will give you equal time to present Lifetime’s perspective, and DISH Network’s customers can reach their own conclusions.

1. Let’s Do the Math. During months of negotiation, and prior to our loss of Lifetime Movie Network, your final offer was a 76.47 percent rate increase for Lifetime. You dispute this, describing the rate increase proposed by Lifetime as “modest” and far less than 76 percent. The math is simple. If our calculation is inaccurate, please explain. We offer the following example of how we did the math, for illustrative purposes.

If our 2005 rate was $1.00 per month per subscriber, and if Lifetime proposed a rate increase to $1.76, we would divide the 2005 $1.00 rate into the $.76 increase. The result is a 76 percent rate increase.

We reiterate our willingness to make our actual 2005 Lifetime rate, and the actual rate proposed by Lifetime, available to the public. Join me on the air so they can do the math as well.

2. Customer Care. The Lifetime Web site states: “DISH unilaterally chose to pull your favorite networks off the air.” Further, your Web site states: “Lifetime offered a contract extension to continue negotiations, but instead DISH decided to pull the plug on millions of women viewers on New Year’s Eve.”

These statements contradict your correspondence to us. Lifetime never offered an extension prior to our loss of the Lifetime Movie Network. In fact, on at least two occasions you indicated that you would not be willing to grant any extension whatsoever. For example, in a letter to us dated Oct. 18, 2005, Lifetime stated:

“…it is not LES’ intention to extend the existing Term Sheet beyond its expiration date and, in the event a renewal agreement has not been reached, EchoStar is not authorized to distribute Lifetime and/or LMN after December 31, 2005.”

In a follow up letter to us dated Dec. 2, 2005, Lifetime stated:
“…it is not our intention to extend the existing Term Sheet beyond its expiration date and, in the event a renewal agreement has not been reached, this letter shall serve as notice that EchoStar is not authorized to distribute Lifetime and/or LMN after December 31, 2005.”

Those were clear statements. You consistently maintained that ultimatum. Your actions were clear. If you have any correspondence that evidences any request by Lifetime for an extension prior to our loss of the Lifetime Movie Network (at 12:06 p.m., on Dec. 31) we are unaware of such. I again invite you to appear on the Charlie Chat and share any correspondence with our subscribers. The final rate you offered prior to the loss of Lifetime Movie Network on Dec. 31, 2005, was a 76 percent rate increase. DISH Network offered two alternative proposals to keep the programming on the air. Lifetime rejected both offers.

Again, we reiterate our willingness to make the entire text of each letter, and the entirety of your proposed agreement, available to the public so it can decide. Join me on Jan. 9, explain your perspective, and let consumers reach independent conclusions.

3. Playing Politics. Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network offer programming valued by men and women alike. Your attempts to spin the absence of the channels as DISH Network discrimination against women is both a disservice to your loyal viewers and an obvious attempt to obscure the real issue – cost of service. For the benefit of all Lifetime viewers, we want to restore the channels as soon as possible. In the meantime, join me on Jan. 9. If our viewers are missing public service or other important information please provide it, and we will broadcast that material to our customers at our expense.

4. Fair Dealing. Lifetime claims that DISH Network has a “history of just pulling the plug in the middle of negotiations.” Lifetime’s words and actions explain who really pulled the plug and why. The fact is, virtually every pay TV provider has at some point been forced to take down channels. Throughout 2005, DISH Network successfully negotiated new contracts for 319 channels. Only three channels went off the air. Two were the Lifetime channels.

We have valued our relationship with Lifetime Television over the past 10 years and we are hopeful that we can work together to restore Lifetime Television’s programming to DISH Network customers. Join me on Jan. 9 and let’s clear the air.



Sincerely,

Charlie Ergen
Chief Executive Officer
DISH Network

http://www.fairsatellite.com/index4.shtml

Your message:



Dear Mr. Ergen:

I am grateful about your decision to pull Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network off the air.

I will continue to be a loyal Dish customer and support your decision to bring better satellite TV to all without having outrageous contract requests threatening my monthly bill.

I also enjoy the programming recently added. I watch it more in the last 3 weeks than I have ever watched Lifetime and LMN combined.

Thank you again for looking out for my best interest.

Sincerely,

M B, AR
Loyal Lifetime Viewer

[twinrocks]

Yeah, I think anyone who has contacted either Dish or Lifetime has reveived all the canned letters! As fas as oxygen channel, I think it is horrid! Horrid programming with content that I do not want crammed down my throat!! I guess I am zooming in on that "generation gap" thing. I don't want gory stories, drug stories, serial killer stories, and things like that. TV should be entertaining not a nightmare! But they must know what they are doing if that's what the majority of viewers are watching. Thing is, NO one I know wants to watch that stuff either!

So, I am a huge computer person and am spending much more time on my computer these days!