Fox News and Lifetime are drops in the bucket compared to sports networks. The fact that sports channels are multiple times more expensive than the average basic channel is the reason for the proposal to put sports in its own premium tier.
Right, but there are more non-sports channels than sports channels, and the sports channels tend to get better ratings. I mean for every $2.00 sports channel the non-sports fan "subsidizes", there are probably 10 20cent channels that consist of reality television, reruns of scripted shows that no one even liked when they were new, and old B-movies that the people who have the stuff solely or primary for sports "subsidize". My guess is that sports fare is less than 50% of the total channel cost, but accounts for more than 50% of the subs and the ratings- in general terms, that is, since it's possible that Dishes aggressive approach to RSN negotiations and such may mean it has less sports fans as a percentage of total subscribers than a company like Directv that aggressive pursues sports fans, or cable, which is the default TV option for most people in areas where cable is available who don't specifically seek out a Dish for one reason or another.
I don't think sports fans are going to like the premium tier stuff. One company like Dish would implement it first, and take a huge hit. Let's say they lose half their subscribers, but the remaining subscribers have half the bill because they have no sports. But, wait, that means that the remaining channels take a big hit on ratings and advertising revenue, and Dish only gets half the income, so the channels increase their rates and Dish charges the same amount, give or take. Except you now don't have sports.
Look at AT120 and AT120+. The only major difference between the two (besides the $5 price) is that AT120+ adds the RSNs. Why not rename AT200 to AT200+ and create a new AT200 that is $5 cheaper without RSNs? Same for AT250. That would appease the sports and non-sports fans alike.
Because that's not the way television works. They'd just keep the price of AT200 the same and charge $5 extra for the theoretical AT200+. When have you ever seen a television provider drop the price of anything for any reason? Also, they might run into contractual issues with the RSNs, who probably have negotiated deals that they are in AT200 and AT250 by default. Dish might have to wait and try to renegotiate with RSNs one by one as their contracts expire, and you can bet a good number would bulk and Dish would just pull them until the end of time.
I think you "no sports" people are really just sticking it to sports fans with your proposals, and in the end if implemented, they wouldn't wind up helping you as much as you think either. It'd be a lose-lose for everyone.