SkyAngel Plans Move to IPTV

[elder]

I have contacted the FCC as follows:

I am a member of a select group which Robert W. Johnson, Sr., the founding CEO of Sky Angel called "Sky Angel" sponsors. There is an undisclosed number of us that provided "up-front funding" for the Sky Angel DBS system during the first thirty months of operation by purchasing "lifelong subscriptions" to the programming. I have just learned, not through Sky Angel but through a third party, that Sky Angel has requested permission from the FCC to transfer ownership of its satellite frequencies to DISH Network and if approved will discontinue providing DBS service shortly after FCC approval. Apparently Sky Angel will be transitioning to a broadband Internet protocol, commonly known as IPTV, with programming still delivered to the TV. It will be received by the viewer through a broadband Internet connection and small set-top box. The IPTV technology does not require an outside dish or antenna, professionally installed equipment or a computer.

My question is what provision does the Sky Angel request to the FCC make for the undisclosed number of Sky Angel sponsors, or lifelong subscribers, who invested in the Sky Angel vision? A free subscription to the IPTV system and provision of the set-top box in itself would not satisfy the requirement unless the subscriber just happened to already have broadband internet service. To subscribe for a broadband internet service would cost more than a Sky Angel subscription. If Sky Angel sells its FCC authorized frequencies to Dish would Dish then be obligated to honor the lifelong subscriptions, or would Sky Angel be obligated to provide free IPTV subscriptions w/ equipment and broadband internet subscriptions, or would Sky Angel be expected to compensate monetarily those that are disadvantaged by the sale? Again, Sky Angel has not provided any insight into these negotiations.

[catkoko]

I checked that (so far useless piece of paper) and it specifies that we will receive programming via DISH equipment! so once again, are they hanging lifetimers out to dry? Interesting that they offer 1 YEAR subs to the "special 4", isn't it?

where exactly do we draw a line here? first they want more $, now new equipment (not everyone has DSL available) what aftet that, more $ again?

I have contacted DISH to ask their position on this and if our equipment will continue to receive SA after 1 year. Otherwise seems deceitful if they continue to sell service/equipment knowing it will be obsolete in a year

[wescopc]

SA was a ministry who is now trying to turn itself into a business.

It wasn't run enough like a business from the very start, as Iceberg said - they did not have a backup plan. It was too much "vision" not enough "spreadsheet".

[Pepper]

Pepper,

Just curious, did you receive this via postal mail or email? I have not received anything as a longtime, lifetime subscriber. But then, I hear about letters and announcements here long before they show up in my mailbox!

Red

Received in email. I am one of their "independent sales representatives" and today is the first I heard of any of this.

[jbmiller]

hi, i found this on the internet
http://www.skyangel.com/About/Index....nce=IPTVFAQ&~=

god bless
john

[Iceberg]

I checked that (so far useless piece of paper) and it specifies that we will receive programming via DISH equipment! so once again, are they hanging lifetimers out to dry? Interesting that they offer 1 YEAR subs to the "special 4", isn't it?

If they sell their portion of the satellite spot they have to Dish (which is sounds like they've already filed it) for them to operate they need new equipment. Plus Dish equipment cannot work through the internet like this new box would. Once they sell the only thing you can receive from Dish equipment is Dish Network

where exactly do we draw a line here? first they want more $, now new equipment (not everyone has DSL available) what aftet that, more $ again?

welcome to reality.

I have contacted DISH to ask their position on this and if our equipment will continue to receive SA after 1 year. Otherwise seems deceitful if they continue to sell service/equipment knowing it will be obsolete in a year

heh...good luck with an answer from them. They don't answer legit Dish customers questions. Most people at Dish have no clue what Sky Angel is. And the equipment isnt going to be obsolete. You can sub to Dish Network with it or you can sell it. Heck I've sold many recievers that I don't need (upgraded mine) and sold the older ones.

Also, you fail to realize something. Dish has NO, NONE, NADA, ZIPPO say in whether or not Sky Angel stays working or ceases. They are two INDEPENDENT companies. The only tie in is since SA had no uplink facilities & no equipment (all they had was the license for the transponder space), they signed a deal with Dish to provide the uplink facilities and to have the equipment work with Sky Angel (sicne they use the same encryption mode).

So if Sky Angel says "we're pulling the plug" all Dish can say is "OK...it was fun working with ya". And that could be tomorrow, next month, or next year. Sky Angel signed the contracts with those channels. So if they cease transmissions, then all those contracts are moot so those channels would be pulled. If Dish wants to sign agreements with those channels (and if they could without being sued like they have in the past) then they could.

Also the original "lifetime" was not lifetime anyways. It was until 2009 or if Echo 3 blew up. Honestly Echo 3 not blowing up yet is a miracle in itself since its crippled. So I would call it borrowed time

[Iceberg]

If Sky Angel sells its FCC authorized frequencies to Dish would Dish then be obligated to honor the lifelong subscriptions,

nope they wouldn't...because they are TWO INDEPENDENT COMPANIES

Dish has NO, NONE, NADA, ZIPPO say in whether or not Sky Angel stays working or ceases. The only tie in is since SA had no uplink facilities & no equipment (all they had was the license for the transponder space), they signed a deal with Dish to provide the uplink facilities and to have the equipment work with Sky Angel (sicne they use the same encryption mode).

So if Sky Angel says "we're pulling the plug" all Dish can say is "OK...it was fun working with ya". And that could be tomorrow, next month, or next year. Sky Angel signed the contracts with those channels. So if they cease transmissions, then all those contracts are moot so those channels would be pulled. If Dish wants to sign agreements with those channels (and if they could without being sued like they have in the past) then they could.
(copied this from my other response...don't want writers cramp)

[catkoko]

Since we subscribed to SA and the lifetime says they will use DISH BRAND equipment, how can they phase out the DBS? I thought I was mad with the "special 4" nonsense but I think this is going to get worse! I wonder if the "special 4" was a red herring, designed to figure out how many lifetimers they actually have? Then they can figure out how many irate people they will have to deal with or should I dare hope compensate in some way?

[catkoko]

How do you come up with that date? My sub was for my lifetime and/or lifetime of my spouse........ neither of us plan to be dead by then

seriously though, assuming you are correct they would still be WRONG as they plan to turn everything off in 2008 if I read this correctly........

[elder]

Also the original "lifetime" was not lifetime anyways. It was until 2009 or if Echo 3 blew up. Honestly Echo 3 not blowing up yet is a miracle in itself since its crippled. So I would call it borrowed time

Not exactly correct according to lifelong provisions, excerpt follows:

EchoStar III has a projected operating-lifetime of 12 to 14 years, There are backup transponders on the EchoStar III DBS satellite in order to provide replacements in the event of transponder failure, In addition, DVS has contracted to construct a backup DBS satellite for launch in approximately the year 2002 to provide additional backup in the unlikely event of a total EchoStar III DBS satellite failure, Once the EchoStar III DBS satellite ends its useful life, DVS plans to move all of its licensed DBS frequencies to a DVS owned/controlled DBS satellite,