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kstuart
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
Everyone has some channel or channels that they require a cable or satellite system to provide.

" I must have the ___ channel or I will go somewhere else. "

Given that, what can possibly keep the channels from charging as much as they like ?

Every time that a very very popular channels comes up from renewal, they can charge more.

So what can possibly be done to keep the price from going up and up and up ?

No cable or satellite provider can charge less, because their main per-customer cost is the amount charged by the channels for the programming.
43 Replies · 5034 views
ClarkGable
Every so often the government gets a burr up its behind about the merits of competition in the TV channel delivery industry. This was a real boon for Dish and Direct back in the day. However, things have changed a lot since then. Now with content owners charging whatever they want, the service providers either pony up or decide not to carry the channel in the often deluded hope that the network will cave. Occasionally, the service provider wins a minor victory in that the increase isn't as large as was originally demanded. The providers that pony up get help from the money-gouging network blowing their horn about provider XYZ is whom you should switch your service to because it carries their beloved network.

Eventually, providers fall in line and carry the channel at an increased cost. It then passes on that cost to the consumer. If they refuse to carry the popular channel, they lose customers. The only winner in any of this is the owner of the popular network, which makes more money from service providers and from advertising

This limits competition amongst cable/sat companies. The provider with the most customers has a better bargaining position with the networks. I am likely oversimplifying things here, but it seems the best solution would be for the service providers to unite and fight the networks on these increases. Of course, then congress would take action against the service providers for conspiring to fix prices. At least this would bring the problem and its root causes into the public spotlight.
jsq
jsq
The cable and sat companies should all just stick together. E*, D*, Time Warner, etc..., just get together, come up with a price that they are going to pay for a channel, and set it at that. They could start putting the squeeze on the networks.
I know this will never happen. It is like asking cats and dogs to team up, but it would work.

I have the top 200 package, and with extra receivers, and some other fee's, it is around $85 per month. :eek: It seems like not that long ago, when we just had cable, that $85 per month seemed really expensive, but would have at least bought you most of the premium channels. I can remember back then, saying "we can't afford $85 per month for T.V.", so we did without the premiums. Now, sadly, $85 is a pretty normal bill, for middle of the road programming.
cditty
Every so often the government gets a burr up its behind about the merits of competition in the TV channel delivery industry. This was a real boon for Dish and Direct back in the day. However, things have changed a lot since then. Now with content owners charging whatever they want, the service providers either pony up or decide not to carry the channel in the often deluded hope that the network will cave. Occasionally, the service provider wins a minor victory in that the increase isn't as large as was originally demanded. The providers that pony up get help from the money-gouging network blowing their horn about provider XYZ is whom you should switch your service to because it carries their beloved network.

Eventually, providers fall in line and carry the channel at an increased cost. It then passes on that cost to the consumer. If they refuse to carry the popular channel, they lose customers. The only winner in any of this is the owner of the popular network, which makes more money from service providers and from advertising

This limits competition amongst cable/sat companies. The provider with the most customers has a better bargaining position with the networks. I am likely oversimplifying things here, but it seems the best solution would be for the service providers to unite and fight the networks on these increases. Of course, then congress would take action against the service providers for conspiring to fix prices. At least this would bring the problem and its root causes into the public spotlight.

I am unsure if they could unite. Then, the would be colluding together against someone. That is one of the reasons the Direct/Dish merger was not approved. If that had went through, Dish would be eating providers for lunch, because they would be able to make networks ad rates go through the floor if they dropped them.
mike123abc
The DBS/Cable companies cannot work together since that would cause antitrust issues. So, they are helpless. DIRECTV has a huge advantage over Dish since they are larger. They just get to write into their contracts that they always get the best deal, so if Dish comes out with a better deal on FSN or Disney, DIRECTV will get it automatically.
G
jsq said:
The cable and sat companies should all just stick together. E*, D*, Time Warner, etc..., just get together, come up with a price that they are going to pay for a channel, and set it at that. They could start putting the squeeze on the networks.
I know this will never happen. It is like asking cats and dogs to team up, but it would work.
ClarkGable said:
I am likely oversimplifying things here, but it seems the best solution would be for the service providers to unite and fight the networks on these increases. Of course, then congress would take action against the service providers for conspiring to fix prices. At least this would bring the problem and its root causes into the public spotlight.
Congress wouldn't need to take action. There is a law that prohibits two or more parties from conspiring to fix pricing. It is both price-fixing and collusion, and highly illegal.

Look, take the example that I am Fox. I want my channels to reach the widest audience possible, as well as get paid a good rate for them. So my contracts with multi-channel distributiors (cable and satellite TV) expire, and I try to renew them in my most favorable terms. That's capitalism at its finest.

It appears one very large sticking point is that Fox wants FX and NatGeo in AT120. Dish Network already has comparable programming in TNT and Discovery in that package, so Fox definitely wants it there.

Dish Network is basically taking the only action afforded to them; they won't come to an agreement, just like any other capitalist including Fox, until they get a deal that is better for them. Meanwhile, Fox is free to negotiate with other companies to improve their position, and Dish Network is certainly free to find replacment programming with other programmers.

It's the classic example of the programming Cold War. The problem for Dish Network is if people subscribing to their higher programming tiers up and leave because of the dispute, as the lowest tier programming subscriber doesn't get these channels. It means a chunk of Dish Network's higher paying customers may move to other cable or satellite companies, and that does put a in the bottom line as well as increase churn.
mike123abc
Look, take the example that I am Fox. I want my channels to reach the widest audience possible, as well as get paid a good rate for them. So my contracts with multi-channel distributors (cable and satellite TV) expire, and I try to renew them in my most favorable terms. That's capitalism at its finest.

...

It's the classic example of the programming Cold War. The problem for Dish Network is if people subscribing to their higher programming tiers up and leave because of the dispute, as the lowest tier programming subscriber doesn't get these channels. It means a chunk of Dish Network's higher paying customers may move to other cable or satellite companies, and that does put a in the bottom line as well as increase churn.

Well not really capitalism at its finest. You have a sole source of programming (FSN has exclusives on the teams) competing with multiple outlets. FSN knows that Dish cannot get the programming elsewhere, Dish has no choice. If there was lets say another competing sports network, then yes there would be competition. DIRECTV could say have FSN and Dish could have Greg's SN. You as a consumer could decide who had the best coverage of your team and vote by subbing to the provider you wanted.

Now if you want to watch your local team you have no choice but to get FSN. So, either the cable/DBS company has it or not.

Nat Geo and FX are not monopolies. But, it is like Microsoft forcing IE on everyone since it controls Windows. Fox is forcing Nat Geo and FX because it has the monopoly on sports programming.
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
I'm surprised Walmart hasn't banned this guy from all of their stores. He has been on their CASE the past few months.


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/f3zr37ekgKM?feature=share
77 Replies · 749 views
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Juan
Then they are stupid. Everyone knows that the price per ounce should be the price per ounce of actual product.
You are paying for the whole thing
T
You are paying for the whole thing
Well, the bag can't weigh that much, right? But by law food product packaging must display the actual net weight of the product, i.e., the contents of the container, so by any logic, if not law, a store's stated per-ounce cost should reflect that figure. But since there's not any law regulating shelf statements, a store can say whatever it wants without violating any rules. So I guess the answer is more consumer legislation. Or simply caveat emptor.
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Jimbo
Well, the bag can't weigh that much, right? But by law food product packaging must display the actual net weight of the product, i.e., the contents of the container, so by any logic, if not law, a store's stated per-ounce cost should reflect that figure. But since there's not any law regulating shelf statements, a store can say whatever it wants without violating any rules. So I guess the answer is more consumer legislation. Or simply caveat emptor.
I would think that the Vendor/Maker of the product would have a say in it, showing the Correct weight ...
You would think it would be in the contract.

I do look at the ounces of items, but unless its way off, I don't check the math, may have to start now.

Remember when you use to get a 13.5 oz bag of Chips .... Thats a PARTY Size now.
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TRG
TRG
I would think that the Vendor/Maker of the product would have a say in it, showing the Correct weight ...
You would think it would be in the contract.

I do look at the ounces of items, but unless its way off, I don't check the math, may have to start now.

Remember when you use to get a 13.5 oz bag of Chips .... Thats a PARTY Size now.
I remember when a pound of coffee was 16oz. Now its 12oz, they don't call it a pound anymore and its three times the cost of the 16oz pound.
Jimbo
I remember when a pound of coffee was 16oz. Now its 12oz, they don't call it a pound anymore and its three times the cost of the 16oz pound.
Well, they don't call it a pound anymore ....

Ice cream is that way too, use to be a half gallon, now its 1.5 quart or some say 48 oz
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meStevo
The larger discrepancies are likely from a data or sync issue. Digital tags don't cause the error, but they can spread one bad entry across a whole store or region instantly. The small cent differences are probably just rounding in the weight, the price data, or both.
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(((Garyd)))
Well, they don't call it a pound anymore ....

Ice cream is that way too, use to be a half gallon, now its 1.5 quart or some say 48 oz
Is it real Ice-cream?
Jimbo
Is it real Ice-cream?
Is it Real Ice cream ???
Depends on what your talking about.
(((Garyd)))
Is it Real Ice cream ???
Depends on what your talking about.
Most don't have any milk in them
dishstaller
The larger discrepancies are likely from a data or sync issue. Digital tags don't cause the error, but they can spread one bad entry across a whole store or region instantly. The small cent differences are probably just rounding in the weight, the price data, or both.
It's simple math. You take the price and divide by the number of ounces and come up with the price per ounce. I find it hard to believe that Walmart's computers can't carry out simple division.
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meStevo
It's simple math. You take the price and divide by the number of ounces and come up with the price per ounce. I find it hard to believe that Walmart's computers can't carry out simple division.
The division isn't the problem, the inputs are. On the Starbucks pods, $9.22 @ $3.35/oz works out to 2.75 oz, but the box is 1.94 oz. So either the system has the wrong weight on file, or the unit price is left over from an older price of about $6.50 that never got updated. Garbage in, garbage out. Walmart's had unit-pricing data problems before, too - in 2024 they paid $1.64M to settle with New Jersey after inspectors found 2,000+ instances of unit prices using the wrong unit of measure.
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dishstaller
Garbage in, garbage out.
THAT is most likely the culprit.
in 2024 they paid $1.64M to settle with New Jersey after inspectors found 2,000+ instances of unit prices using the wrong unit of measure.
So....its intentional. The new fine needs to be a billion $...that would cause someone to fix the issue.
Y
Most don't have any milk in them
*nit pick* You want cream or more precisely FAT to make ice cream. Milk isn't heavy enough. When making my own, I use half and half.
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Y
The division isn't the problem, the inputs are. On the Starbucks pods, $9.22 @ $3.35/oz works out to 2.75 oz, but the box is 1.94 oz. So either the system has the wrong weight on file, or the unit price is left over from an older price of about $6.50 that never got updated. Garbage in, garbage out. Walmart's had unit-pricing data problems before, too - in 2024 they paid $1.64M to settle with New Jersey after inspectors found 2,000+ instances of unit prices using the wrong unit of measure.
Wrong unit of measure? Having a hard time believing that or were they conflating solid and fluid ounces (stupid US measuring system).

The first two coffees aren't off on the same amount, so likely the unit price is linked to some previous price. Now I have to *bleeping* double check more math? Does anyone check anything anymore? Bad enough in the professional world having to QA/QC a third party's work. Don't want to have to do that in the grocery store now too! Not with the absurd measures that are used in the US. Is that unit price for blueberries in ounces or pints...

First world problems, but man... argh!!!
TRG
TRG
Wrong unit of measure? Having a hard time believing that or were they conflating solid and fluid ounces (stupid US measuring system).

Not with the absurd measures that are used in the US. Is that unit price for blueberries in ounces or pints...

You always have the option of moving to a country that uses a unit of measurement that better suits your needs.
dishstaller
Thought this might be a nice diversion, this same guy audited Publix's package weight....yes, I know this is different from the original post on this thread.....and it was accurate.


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RT62clPswEA?feature=share
T
Last reply · posted in Free To Air (FTA) Discussion
IS Amiko MIRA 3 any good ???
Can you recommend the best to cover all bases. NO BEEPS on certain channels 101w (NEWSMAX ,NEWS NATION), a clock that keeps working STEADY for timed recording ,solid unit with good lifespan. My Amiko died AND my Linkbox has NO Favorites Button and BEEPS on many channels. Picking up 105 west with a NEW SHED IN THE Way with 6 foot Cband ..95 percent quality ...unbelievable.
4 Replies · 86 views
primestar31
IS Amiko MIRA 3 any good ???
Can you recommend the best to cover all bases. NO BEEPS on certain channels 101w (NEWSMAX ,NEWS NATION), a clock that keeps working STEADY for timed recording ,solid unit with good lifespan. My Amiko died AND my Linkbox has NO Favorites Button and BEEPS on many channels. Picking up 105 west with a NEW SHED IN THE Way with 6 foot Cband ..95 percent quality ...unbelievable.
Have you tried a new power brick on your Amiko? It's slim pickings out there anymore. The FTA market in the US has pretty much been abandoned.

This would likely be your best bet, and Rick is a good seller. I've never had any issues with him:

T
Have you tried a new power brick on your Amiko? It's slim pickings out there anymore. The FTA market in the US has pretty much been abandoned.

This would likely be your best bet, and Rick is a good seller. I've never had any issues with him:

Thanks
T
Have you tried a new power brick on your Amiko?

YOU WERE RIGHT. IT IS WORKING NOW WITH 2X AMPS !!

DAN
cyberham
...YOU WERE RIGHT. IT IS WORKING NOW WITH 2X AMPS !!
Give us a summary of what you receive with a 6-footer. I'm very curious.
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
· posted in The Chit Chat Club
Love this guy's channel. Looks like Walmart has thrown in the towel when it comes to conventional car batteries.

I bought a new AGM battery from Walmart about a year ago, it is already needing replacing. I thought about just buying a regular battery but from what I've read, that might not be a smart move. Might check my Forscan program and see if I can change the battery type from AGM.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awe7kY5nvdU
0 Replies · 11 views
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne


Get it?


An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68597 Replies · 2677370 views
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gms49ers
Just Get Through This Night - Styx
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long_time_Dish
Help Me Make It Through The Night - Sammi Smith
gms49ers
Make Me Smile/Now More Than Ever - Chicago
long_time_Dish
Sara Smile - Hall and Oates
dishstaller
When I See You Smile - Bad English
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Can't help but wonder if a worker overlooked checking the harness. I rarely ride a roller coaster anymore but when I do I check the harness myself pretty aggressively.
Can't imagine what the son is going through.

27 Replies · 384 views
Jimbo
dishstaller
Had no idea there were that many redundancies built into those restraints.
Jimbo
Had no idea there were that many redundancies built into those restraints.
It makes sense, however, I would want more types of restraints, so if one doesn't work, the other does ... the restraints coming over the shoulder I would have expected ... with a Seat belt as last resort.

Fwiw, I inquired with what they use on Coasters at Cedar Point, various Coasters, different restraints according to what the car and track requires ...

NONE of the Coasters at CP use THAT particular system :)
I'm glad to see ...
dishstaller
with a Seat belt as last resort.
According to the article, when you see a seat belt on a ride like this, it is basically used as a way of making sure the rider isn't too large/fat to safely ride the ride.
Jimbo
According to the article, when you see a seat belt on a ride like this, it is basically used as a way of making sure the rider isn't too large/fat to safely ride the ride.
Well, the over the shoulder support is better, but would require reconfiguring the cars.
Jimbo
Heres an article from the Akron Beacon ... seeing Six Flags has bought Cedar Point and Kings Island, they are included ...
I said earlier that Cedar Point doesn't use this type of seat restraint ... well, it does use it, But the difference is, the ones up here ALSO have the Over the shoulder restraint as well ... like I was suggesting that they should have used with the Goliath.

One of the new(er) one at Cedar point the Gate Keeper, uses the Clam shell .. I have rode it many times and have Mostly felt secure, that ride will stop you part way on the ride and you just hang, till the ride is ready to continue ... I typically ride the Front Car ... when its getting ready, you ARE hanging, in the car, looking down .... it would require 2 separate restraint systems to unlock at the same time to possibly get out of it.

dishstaller
UPDATE: Six Flags is adding seatbelts to all 9 rollercoasters

Jimbo
UPDATE: Six Flags is adding seatbelts to all 9 rollercoasters

Finally ....
dishstaller
Finally ....
It DOES kinda seem like a simple safety feature.
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Didn't see a thread like this so I figured why not start one. This is about natural supplements. If you aren't into supplements, fine, but please let those of us who do want to discuss this discuss it.

The first one I wanted to mention has been a real life changer. I'm 62 and still do all of my own install work at my business....also do all the yard work at the house. A few years ago I started noticing that I was losing my range of movement, it was even getting hard to bend over and lace up my boots. Almost got stuck in an attic because I couldn't get turned around once the work was done. Didn't think much of it and figured with age comes stiffness that was only going to get worse as time went on.
It was then that I stumbled across a video which was discussing rotator cuff tears and why they were to prevalent these days. Turns out, the culprit is a simple deficiency in MANGANESE which is key in keeping your tendons flexible. Most anti-biotics strip your body of any manganese it might have had which is why certain anti-biotics, especially those in the Cipro family. I actually knew a man who had two tendons tear while on that stuff.
Went to Amazon and ordered some manganese. Now it took a while, it wasn't instant, but gradually I have regained all of my flexibility. I can bend over and touch my toes while standing with no pain and putting on my boots is no longer a chore.
Pretty cheap too. The bottle I ordered was a 200 ct for under $13. They said to take double the normal dose for the first month because most people are severely lacking, then go to one a day.
4 Replies · 53 views
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dishstaller
Not sure if this would qualify as a supplement but here goes: When I meet someone who is in their 90s and doing very well healthwise I always ask what they attribute their longevity to. Out of all the people I questioned, there was only ONE thing that they ALL did. They all drank some apple cider vinegar daily....usually before bed. You can water it down all you want. Who knows why, but I do it. You want to buy the organic type with the mother.
(((Garyd)))
Didn't see a thread like this so I figured why not start one. This is about natural supplements. If you aren't into supplements, fine, but please let those of us who do want to discuss this discuss it.

The first one I wanted to mention has been a real life changer. I'm 62 and still do all of my own install work at my business....also do all the yard work at the house. A few years ago I started noticing that I was losing my range of movement, it was even getting hard to bend over and lace up my boots. Almost got stuck in an attic because I couldn't get turned around once the work was done. Didn't think much of it and figured with age comes stiffness that was only going to get worse as time went on.
It was then that I stumbled across a video which was discussing rotator cuff tears and why they were to prevalent these days. Turns out, the culprit is a simple deficiency in MANGANESE which is key in keeping your tendons flexible. Most anti-biotics strip your body of any manganese it might have had which is why certain anti-biotics, especially those in the Cipro family. I actually knew a man who had two tendons tear while on that stuff.
Went to Amazon and ordered some manganese. Now it took a while, it wasn't instant, but gradually I have regained all of my flexibility. I can bend over and touch my toes while standing with no pain and putting on my boots is no longer a chore.
Pretty cheap too. The bottle I ordered was a 200 ct for under $13. They said to take double the normal dose for the first month because most people are severely lacking, then go to one a day.
Chia Seeds
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dishstaller
Chia Seeds
Kinda the whole idea is to mention something and explain WHY it is something we might want to add to our daily routine.
This is what I got from google. Looks like I'm going to be adding them, thanks

Key Health Benefits
    • Digestive Health: One ounce (28 grams) of chia seeds provides nearly 10 grams of fiber, which promotes regular bowel movements, feeds beneficial gut bacteria, and helps prevent constipation. [1, 2]
    • Heart and Cardiovascular Support: Rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)—an essential plant-based omega-3 fatty acid—chia seeds can help lower blood pressure, reduce triglycerides, and improve cholesterol profiles. [1, 2, 3]
    • Blood Sugar Regulation: The combination of soluble fiber and protein slows down carbohydrate digestion, preventing sharp blood sugar spikes after meals. [1, 2]
    • Weight Management: When soaked in liquid, chia seeds absorb up to 10 to 12 times their weight in water. The resulting gel expands in the stomach, increasing feelings of fullness and curbing appetite. [1, 2, 3]
    • Bone Strength: They contain high levels of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which are vital for maintaining bone density. [1, 2, 3]
    • Antioxidant Protection: Compounds like chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid help fight cellular damage from free radicals and reduce chronic inflammation. [1, 2, 3]
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
I've always been super interested in things space related so this is a pretty cool event coming up. Nov 18, 2026 early in the morning, Voyager 1 will reach the distance of one full light day from Earth. Took almost 50 yrs. I was 13 when it launched.


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gjHK3clOwIw?feature=share
6 Replies · 137 views
Foxbat
So, 1/1596th the way to Alpha Centauri (if it were headed that way). 79,800 years to go…
Bruce
So, 1/1596th the way to Alpha Centauri (if it were headed that way). 79,800 years to go…
IMG_2175.webp
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b4pjoe
So, 1/1596th the way to Alpha Centauri (if it were headed that way). 79,800 years to go…
Thanks for that info. I will mark it on my calendar! 🤣
Jimbo
Will the Jupiter 2 make it in time ....
Stay tuned ...
dishstaller
So, 1/1596th the way to Alpha Centauri (if it were headed that way). 79,800 years to go…
Isn't that insane!!!
To reach the nearest galaxy to ours, at its present speed, will take another 44 billion years.
Jimbo
Isn't that insane!!!
To reach the nearest galaxy to ours, at its present speed, will take another 44 billion years.
Turn the Lights out when you get there.
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TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 8 views