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A FAMILY FEUD'S FALLOUT
BY HARRY BERKOWITZ
STAFF WRITER
January 25, 2005
Last Wednesday, Cablevision chief executive James Dolan hopped the corporate jet to Denver to help clinch a deal that would mean the demise of the company's failed nationwide satellite TV venture.
The same day, his billionaire dad, Cablevision chairman Charles Dolan, sent an internal memo to employees of Voom saying it had to survive, even if that meant he would personally try to buy the costly venture from Cablevision.
The stunning boardroom victory of the son, who had long been seen on Wall Street as an unworthy successor, over the visionary father who founded the company has been heralded by Wall Street analysts as foreshadowing a transformation of Cablevision Systems Corp.
Even though Charles Dolan directly controls 41 percent of the voting shares, a narrow majority of the board rejected his wishes, saying the company would no longer pursue a venture that was chalking up huge losses and attracting few subscribers.
The analysts predicted Cablevision, the biggest cable operator in the New York metropolitan area, which also controls Madison Square Garden, the Knicks and Rangers, and Radio City Music Hall, as well as cable channels like AMC, may even be sold to Time Warner for as much as $13.5 billion for its cable business alone, partly as a result of the family feud.
But even if it is not, major questions have emerged on the future role of Charles Dolan, who had planned to become chairman of a Voom spinoff company and leave Cablevision's board.
Will friction persist between Charles, 78, and James Dolan, 49, who had been slated to take over as chairman if his father left? Will Charles, who through the Dolan family controls 75 percent of the voting shares, seek to oust some of the board members? Or will Charles finally make way for James to move out of his father's shadow?
For years, media moguls and Wall Street analysts said only Charles Dolan stood in the way of a sale of Cablevision.
Now that impediment may be removed, analysts said, especially since Charles Dolan's focus has shifted away from cable TV.
As James Dolan cemented the deal to sell Voom's sole satellite to competitor EchoStar Communications for $200 million, its stock price zoomed, gaining 18.5 percent for the week, as investors gained confidence Cablevision will be less likely to go off on costly tangents that depress the stock.
"There is a far greater likelihood with Chuck Dolan having been overruled by the board that someone could make a bid for Cablevision and that he would be receptive to such an offer, given that he is far less focused on the cable business than ever before," said analyst Richard Greenfield of Fulcrum Global Partners.
Channels likely to be sold
Even if a sale of the whole company is not imminent, chances have improved that the cable channels it owns, especially AMC, will be sold, analysts said. AMC alone is worth $2.6 billion, and packaged with IFC and WE: Women's Entertainment, the total price could reach $3.9 billion, according to analyst Jessica Reif Cohen of Merrill Lynch.
Sumner Redstone, chairman of MTV parent Viacom, which has considered buying AMC in the past, said recently he is eager to buy cable channels and expects some to be offered.
"In light of Comcast's plan to launch a competing classic movies channel with MGM, Cablevision would be shedding AMC at a time when risks around the network are mounting," said analyst Craig Moffett of Sanford C. Bernstein & Co.
The shift in Wall Street's view of Cablevision is remarkable, given that Charles Dolan had been considered the guiding force. James Dolan had been written off by some analysts as a lightweight prone to expensive misadventures such as The Wiz electronics chain, to mismanaging the Cablevision-owned New York Knicks and Rangers and to battling Mayor Michael Bloomberg over a planned Jets stadium in Manhattan.
During the prolonged family feud over Voom, a venture that Reif Cohen said cost Cablevision $1.4 billion in investments, the son has emerged as a born-again pragmatist and shareholder advocate, promising that Cablevision's profits would no longer be threatened by risky ventures or uncontrolled spending.
Deal lifts spirits
It is not even that the EchoStar deal was seen as a coup for Cablevision, given the price.
"It's slightly more than EchoStar wanted to pay, but it's still a bargain-basement price," said Satellite Business News editor Bob Scherman.
But the deal has lifted the spirits of investors and analysts, who had long complained that the Dolan family was too much of a wild card.
Greenfield said that if sold, the cable company could be worth up to $4,500 for each of its 3 million subscribers, or a total of $13.5 billion.
A Cablevision spokesman declined to comment.
Douglas Shapiro, an analyst at Banc of America Securities, told investors that Charles Dolan appears "more interested in developing new businesses than running a mature cable company," adding that it raises "the question whether he still feels compelled to own it."
Copyright © 2005, Newsday, Inc.
BY HARRY BERKOWITZ
STAFF WRITER
January 25, 2005
Last Wednesday, Cablevision chief executive James Dolan hopped the corporate jet to Denver to help clinch a deal that would mean the demise of the company's failed nationwide satellite TV venture.
The same day, his billionaire dad, Cablevision chairman Charles Dolan, sent an internal memo to employees of Voom saying it had to survive, even if that meant he would personally try to buy the costly venture from Cablevision.
The stunning boardroom victory of the son, who had long been seen on Wall Street as an unworthy successor, over the visionary father who founded the company has been heralded by Wall Street analysts as foreshadowing a transformation of Cablevision Systems Corp.
Even though Charles Dolan directly controls 41 percent of the voting shares, a narrow majority of the board rejected his wishes, saying the company would no longer pursue a venture that was chalking up huge losses and attracting few subscribers.
The analysts predicted Cablevision, the biggest cable operator in the New York metropolitan area, which also controls Madison Square Garden, the Knicks and Rangers, and Radio City Music Hall, as well as cable channels like AMC, may even be sold to Time Warner for as much as $13.5 billion for its cable business alone, partly as a result of the family feud.
But even if it is not, major questions have emerged on the future role of Charles Dolan, who had planned to become chairman of a Voom spinoff company and leave Cablevision's board.
Will friction persist between Charles, 78, and James Dolan, 49, who had been slated to take over as chairman if his father left? Will Charles, who through the Dolan family controls 75 percent of the voting shares, seek to oust some of the board members? Or will Charles finally make way for James to move out of his father's shadow?
For years, media moguls and Wall Street analysts said only Charles Dolan stood in the way of a sale of Cablevision.
Now that impediment may be removed, analysts said, especially since Charles Dolan's focus has shifted away from cable TV.
As James Dolan cemented the deal to sell Voom's sole satellite to competitor EchoStar Communications for $200 million, its stock price zoomed, gaining 18.5 percent for the week, as investors gained confidence Cablevision will be less likely to go off on costly tangents that depress the stock.
"There is a far greater likelihood with Chuck Dolan having been overruled by the board that someone could make a bid for Cablevision and that he would be receptive to such an offer, given that he is far less focused on the cable business than ever before," said analyst Richard Greenfield of Fulcrum Global Partners.
Channels likely to be sold
Even if a sale of the whole company is not imminent, chances have improved that the cable channels it owns, especially AMC, will be sold, analysts said. AMC alone is worth $2.6 billion, and packaged with IFC and WE: Women's Entertainment, the total price could reach $3.9 billion, according to analyst Jessica Reif Cohen of Merrill Lynch.
Sumner Redstone, chairman of MTV parent Viacom, which has considered buying AMC in the past, said recently he is eager to buy cable channels and expects some to be offered.
"In light of Comcast's plan to launch a competing classic movies channel with MGM, Cablevision would be shedding AMC at a time when risks around the network are mounting," said analyst Craig Moffett of Sanford C. Bernstein & Co.
The shift in Wall Street's view of Cablevision is remarkable, given that Charles Dolan had been considered the guiding force. James Dolan had been written off by some analysts as a lightweight prone to expensive misadventures such as The Wiz electronics chain, to mismanaging the Cablevision-owned New York Knicks and Rangers and to battling Mayor Michael Bloomberg over a planned Jets stadium in Manhattan.
During the prolonged family feud over Voom, a venture that Reif Cohen said cost Cablevision $1.4 billion in investments, the son has emerged as a born-again pragmatist and shareholder advocate, promising that Cablevision's profits would no longer be threatened by risky ventures or uncontrolled spending.
Deal lifts spirits
It is not even that the EchoStar deal was seen as a coup for Cablevision, given the price.
"It's slightly more than EchoStar wanted to pay, but it's still a bargain-basement price," said Satellite Business News editor Bob Scherman.
But the deal has lifted the spirits of investors and analysts, who had long complained that the Dolan family was too much of a wild card.
Greenfield said that if sold, the cable company could be worth up to $4,500 for each of its 3 million subscribers, or a total of $13.5 billion.
A Cablevision spokesman declined to comment.
Douglas Shapiro, an analyst at Banc of America Securities, told investors that Charles Dolan appears "more interested in developing new businesses than running a mature cable company," adding that it raises "the question whether he still feels compelled to own it."
Copyright © 2005, Newsday, Inc.
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2946 views
Bitter, eh? Sounds like more going on here than just VOOM.TYORK said:
Supporting Founder
Lifetime Supporter
Thanks to Fitch Ratings ( who gives the ratings on Credit and debt, as approved by the SEC, so they have accurate numbers) we have the totals.
DIRECTV's video subscriber base is the third-largest traditional multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) in the U.S. with about 8.2 million subscribers at the end of 1Q26.
The last time it was reported, it was 8.8M at the end of 2Q25, so only a 600,000 loss for 3 quarters, which is a major improvement, since for many years before that, it was losing 500,000 a quarter, 2 Million a year.
It is now losing less than Dish/Sling combined, I believe the Genre Packs are helping to retain and get subscribers.
DIRECTV's video subscriber base is the third-largest traditional multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) in the U.S. with about 8.2 million subscribers at the end of 1Q26.
The last time it was reported, it was 8.8M at the end of 2Q25, so only a 600,000 loss for 3 quarters, which is a major improvement, since for many years before that, it was losing 500,000 a quarter, 2 Million a year.
It is now losing less than Dish/Sling combined, I believe the Genre Packs are helping to retain and get subscribers.
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361 views
Recently came back to DirectTV Satellite service and have two boxes, Gemini and a main HR54.
DirecTV is charging me two "TV access fees" of $10 each, but can only watch TV on the one without the server. Is there anything I can do to fix this?
DirecTV is charging me two "TV access fees" of $10 each, but can only watch TV on the one without the server. Is there anything I can do to fix this?
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940 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
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....
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....
67110 Replies
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2662374 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
I feel like this was discussed in another thread, but I can't find it. I have T-Mobile and my last iPhone upgrade was in 2020. I want to get a new iPhone, but what is the best way to go about doing it? Should I order the iPhone from T-Mobile directly, or should I buy from the Apple Store? I feel like there are pros/cons to each option.
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34 views
I have a Hopper with Sling. (Don't know exact model.) A couple nights ago, I went into the DVR screen, and noted that it was recording three programs. Yet I was able to view live TV (that was not one of the channels being recorded.) Did something change? In the past, it would only let me watch one of the channels being recorded, or any recording in the DVR menu. Maybe it was streaming, although there was no indication of that?
Apologies if this has been covered; I searched and didn't find anything.
Thanks.
Apologies if this has been covered; I searched and didn't find anything.
Thanks.
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354 views
iJustine
Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YJjxjYvmQ8s
Direct YouTube Link - Good Bye, Tim! Last WWDC
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YJjxjYvmQ8s
Direct YouTube Link - Good Bye, Tim! Last WWDC
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
0 Replies
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10 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Cutting Edge
WANTED DirecTV LCC
Anyone have a DirecTV Local Channel Connector that you'd like to get rid of at a reasonable price? DirecTV is currently in a contract dispute with owner of my local ABC affiliate.
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307 views
I did that. The response was that the LCC is not available. Escalated the issue to a tech support person with the same results.
Could be out of them I guess ... I'd keep trying, every 3-4 days.I did that. The response was that the LCC is not available. Escalated the issue to a tech support person with the same results.
If they are not out of them as them WHY you can't get one, seeing Your in a Dispute. Thats what they are for.
I would make them give you a real answer, don't let them off the hook.
I had one, and it worked well, but I believe I gave it to another D* friend (also had a AM21), I know I gave them away ...
According to the tech support guy, they don't have any in stock. He said I should receive an email when and if they have them. I even told him I would accept a refurbished unit.
I'm not sure your going to find any Refurbished ones as D* doesn't ask for them back.According to the tech support guy, they don't have any in stock. He said I should receive an email when and if they have them. I even told him I would accept a refurbished unit.
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Did anyone have a price increase today on their equipment? I own my VIP211k's, and they have been $5.00. My bill that I received last week shows the "add-ons" as being $5.00. However, I just logged into my Dish account, and my "add-ons" are now $10.00. Did the additional receivers go up by $5.00 recently?
As I mentioned, my last bill shows $5.00 and under the notes, nothing is mentioned about a price increase.
As I mentioned, my last bill shows $5.00 and under the notes, nothing is mentioned about a price increase.
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202 views
Hello everyone, new guy here. I'm trying to solve problem I'm having with Dish bonus view channels. When I'm watching the bonus view channels then I switch back to regular dish channels, after few minutes the screen flips to black and after 30 seconds flips back to regular channels and continues to flip back and forth until I turn off TV. After I wait 30 minutes and turn back on , I can use regular channels again. So, its after I switch from bonus view channels to regular dish channels the problem starts. Been trying to fix this for a month, but no luck
Here what I've done.
i contacted Dish support and they sent me a new Joey3, but no help. Switched to a different HDMI input on TV, no help. Used different HDMI cable , no help. Used different electrical wall plug, no help.
Finally got a Dish tech to check it. He ran all systems check and was OK. Finally he brought in a small TV and plugged in the HDMI out from the Joey to the small TV. He could not get the problem to occur on his small TV, so the new Joey was working OK. So, then the problem must be myTV. He made some phone calls and came back with the answer that there must be a problem with the analog to digital switch in my TV. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this, or is it time to be looking for a new TV? My tv LG OLED65C8PUA. TV has been trouble free til now. Thanks
Here what I've done.
i contacted Dish support and they sent me a new Joey3, but no help. Switched to a different HDMI input on TV, no help. Used different HDMI cable , no help. Used different electrical wall plug, no help.
Finally got a Dish tech to check it. He ran all systems check and was OK. Finally he brought in a small TV and plugged in the HDMI out from the Joey to the small TV. He could not get the problem to occur on his small TV, so the new Joey was working OK. So, then the problem must be myTV. He made some phone calls and came back with the answer that there must be a problem with the analog to digital switch in my TV. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this, or is it time to be looking for a new TV? My tv LG OLED65C8PUA. TV has been trouble free til now. Thanks
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103 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones, premieres on HBO Max on 8/21. I will be warching
www.syfy.com
View: https://youtu.be/fNwwt25mheo
S~
'Game of Thrones' spinoff 'House of the Dragon' fires up release date at HBO, drops new character pics
The wait’s felt a little like watching for a dragon egg to hatch, but HBO’s hugely anticipated Game of Thrones prequel series finally has a release date. House of the Dragon will debut the first of its initial 10-episode season this summer, the network revealed today in a series of tweets that...
View: https://youtu.be/fNwwt25mheo
S~
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5648 views
