Dish Network: Distant Networks

Scott Greczkowski

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Cutting Edge
Sep 7, 2003
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The following is from an email which will be going out Monday to all Dish Network retailers from Charlie Ergen regarding Distant Networks.

While SatelliteGuys.US was the first to post this information, we encourage all other forums to spread the word and encourage our members to write congress and tell them we want a choice. We do have a powerfull voice, lets use it!

In addition the www.savemychannels.com website is now active.
As you may have already heard, a group of network broadcasters are trying to force DISH Network to stop delivering distant network channels to our customers.

Distant network channels are the ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX broadcast channels customers get from us by satellite that originate outside their community. For example, if customers live in rural Texas and purchase New York, Los Angeles, Denver or other network channels from us, they are at serious risk of being shut off. This would NOT affect or upset in any way our ability to offer local network channels to local markets, and the good news is that we offer local channels by satellite to over 96% of the United States. Nor would it affect any other programming we offer.

The problem is a court case that has been going on for eight years. We strongly believe consumers have the right to choose their TV viewing experience, and should be allowed to watch televised news and other information originating outside their hometown. They are free to choose to read The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, or any other newspaper regardless of where in the United States they live. These same choices should be available for TV news. Unfortunately, the broadcasters were able to get a special interest law passed that prohibits this, except in very limited circumstances. And now the broadcasters are trying to take even that limited choice away from our customers.

We fought hard for years to allow our customers the choice to receive televised news and other information originating outside their hometown.
This is particularly important in times of national or local emergency.
During Hurricane Katrina, when local channels went off the air, DISH Network provided distant network channels to relief stations, police and fire stations, military installations and thousands of displaced families. Similarly, after 9/11, DISH Network supplied distant network channels crucial to relief efforts.

While we have reached reasonable settlements with hundreds of stations over the years, a small group of broadcasters continues to stonewall – to the detriment of our customers. A recent court decision clearly favors the self-interests of these broadcasters over protecting the rights of hundreds of thousands of consumers who choose to receive their network channels by satellite. Unfortunately, broadcaster special interests used their big money to preserve a law that takes away customers’ freedom of choice.

You can help stop this by immediately going to www.savemychannels.com, which will assist you in contacting and emailing your Congressmen and asking them to fight for our subscribers’ rights to keep their distant network channels.

Our goal is to avoid disruption to our customers who currently receive distant networks, and we continue to try to reach fair settlements with the broadcasters and to lobby members of Congress. If necessary, we will take our case all the way up to the Supreme Court.

We will continue to keep you informed of significant developments. In the meantime, please go to www.savemychannels.com today to help our customers save their distant channels.
 
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I dont think its supposed to be public knowledge yet, but who cares, lefts fight for our right to choose! :)

Please spread the word!
 
NOT a Dish guy, but sent it anyway!
Let's hope it has a greater effect than the huge sums of money special interests send to my CA. Reps....
 
Thats great! DirecTV customers should also do their part, while this is a Dish Network issue if DIsh loses the distant networks then its only a matter of time before the broadcasters go after DirecTV.

Thanks everyone for doing their part!
 
This is really bad for people in my area that can't get their locals yet. I live in the wheeling wv locals area. I sure hope they get my locals online fast before football season because i may be without networks.
 
JUST my Luck . I finally get approved for ALL Of my networks after Cbs held out for 4 or 5 years, and of course I will lose all of them now. :rolleyes:

Sent my email.