Distant Network Shutoff on December 1st?

[TNGTony]

Hall, good guess, but not in the way you think. This county keeps bouncing back and forth. Dish offers both sets of locals in this county right now.

See ya
Tony

[ti_yn]

Hey it's only 4 channels out of a couple of hundred... what's the big deal?

More like 8 channels, and the big deal is that they're the only ones I watch, and only subscribe to the other hundred in an effort to subsidize the distants. Sad but true.

But really, in all honesty, without distants, what good is satellite over cable? To make a statement, I'll probably end up downgrading to just Superstations and maybe DishFamily.

Guess it's time to hopefully put my distant viewing time allotment back into something productive.

[SlackerInc]

Approx. 6-7 years ago both D* and E* were told by the courts to stop handing out illegal DNS. D* complied and E* just kept violating the law and now must face the penalty as specified in the law. There is no range of penalty in the law but a very specific penalty and that's permanent shutoff of DNS. The sad part of this is the folks that are legally qualified for DNS are being punished because of E*'s violation.

Oh boy, I'm hopping mad now. I just found this forum minutes ago because I received a postcard today from Dish Network saying I was going to lose my distant networks due to a court ruling and that I needed to call them to get an antenna hooked up. Well, I live in a semi-rural area where we have local FOX and ABC affiliates, but nothing else (the closest station for the other networks is almost a hundred miles away, and people here in town who get cable--which is most people--get Kansas City stations for PBS, NBC, and CBS). So putting up an antenna isn't likely to do me much good (though I'm going to let them do it since they're doing it for free and it will improve my reception for FOX and ABC).

To add insult to injury, they sent this postcard just a couple days before the cutoff, and couldn't schedule the antenna installation until well into December. I asked why they didn't get ahold of me sooner, and they claimed the court ruling just came out. I stated that this seemed to be a reason I ought to be able to get out of my 18 month contract and switch to cable, but they claimed (clearly lying, from what you guys are saying) that this affected everyone, that the local cable company would no longer be able to provide those stations either.

I'm very upset with Dish Network, and I'm wondering if others agree that I ought to be able to get out of my contract. I'm also, frankly, a bit irritated with the customers who were abusing this distant network deal, when it's not ultimately going to be that big a deal for them but a huge deal for me (three of my favourite shows are instantly gone as of the next time they air!).

Uggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!

[HDTVFanAtic]

EchoStar Fails in Override Bid 
A federal judge rejected a bid by EchoStar for a new trial in its patent dispute
with DVR specialist TiVo. Now, the DISH Network operator's hopes of overturning
the $89.6 million jury verdict rests with yet another appeals court thanks to the
judge's decision this week. 

U.S. District Judge David Folsom said that in its quest for a new trial, EchoStar
failed to raise any new legal issues that would warrant another hearing. Earlier
this year, a jury decided that the company violated one of TiVo's DVR patents. 

Folsom said the issues of the case "were raised and decided at least once, if not
several times, during the course of this litigation" and EchoStar's latest attempt does
"not persuade the court to change its prior rulings." 

EchoStar's Director of Corporate Communications Kathie Gonzalez said the company
anticipated this ruling in what was undoubtedly a lengthy process to begin with but
"we now looks forward to our appeal where we are confident we will prevail." 

The case will now move to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington,
which specializes in U.S. patent law. Last month the Federal Circuit granted EchoStar
a reprieve, allowing the company to continue its DVR service while the appeal is pending.

Quote:
EchoStar's Director of Corporate Communications Kathie Gonzalez said the company anticipated this ruling in what was undoubtedly a lengthy process to begin with but "we now looks forward to our appeal where we are confident we will prevail."

Regardless what you think of the TIVO lawsuit claims - E* is still shuffling this off just as they did the DNS issue for years.

They made the same claim about the DNS issue - and were confident there as well thinking 12/1 would never come.

They are clearly showing very poor management skills and they clearly haven't learned a lesson yet.

[waltinvt]

They are clearly showing very poor management skills

As long as Charles holds the controls, don't look for it to change anytime soon. He needs to put someone with brains in charge then listen to them.

[JohnH]

Buford T. Justice.

[Robert NTSC Archivist]

My instalation date for my antenna was supposed to be yesterday and when they did not show up I called and they told me they called and rescheduled due to there not beig enough antennas.

Checxked my voice mail and there was no message from Dish Network at all and no number from Dish Network on my caller ID. . . .

Oh well DirecTV gave me all the networks I am loosing from Dish grantd there not on a TV in part of the house I like to watch in but it will do in the mean time

[minnow]

...But really, in all honesty, without distants, what good is satellite over cable?...

In the hundreds of posts on this topic, ti_yn has hit the nail squarely on the head with that comment.

Dish has always screamed "more choice". But now the screw has turned. Dish now offers less choice.

[Greg Bimson]

...But really, in all honesty, without distants, what good is satellite over cable?...

In the hundreds of posts on this topic, ti_yn has hit the nail squarely on the head with that comment.

But that is the point. How much of Dish Network's subscriber base remained with the company because it was the only way they could receive distant networks? And for many people, no one knows if they were legally receiving distants.

The networks originally filed suit to nip the problem of illegally provided distants right in the bud. The problem is the suit took nine years. All the networks and their affiliate boards wanted was the practice to stop. And Dish Network's choice was to fight instead of salvage the subscribers that could still qualify.

[catmom50]

Not sure if this is where I should post or not...

But here are a couple questions from a senior citizen who is so confused now...

What do I do, since losing my distant networks last night?

1. Do I jump over to Direct, or will they eventually be in the same boat?
2. Do I get the antannae Dish is offering me free of charge?
3. Wait it out until congress convenes in January and hope for the best??

Thanks everyone for your time,

Catmom in the woods of Central Oregon.