E-mail I just sent to ceo@echostar.com

[Jerry G]

Anyone get any responses to their e-mails from Dish today??? Has Dish decide that it's just better to ignore everyone or do you think they've realized that they've ticked off a bunch of folks and are working up another plan for HD?????

I talked with someone in Ms. Cartwright's (sp?) office yesterday. She was going to get back to me about this whole HD situation, but hasn't so far. I think Dish is taking the approach of ignoring us HD enthusiasts with Charlie in the lead of the "Ignore them and they'll go away one way or the other" brigade.

 

[ken]

In the old days Charlie would have read these, heck he even called me one night to talk about a problem I was having (as a dealer) but now it's just wishfull thinking. The only hope is to swamp the assistant who is stuck with receiving this stuff and hope the assistant even gets to speak to Charlie.

 

[DRGingras]

Finally got a reply to the e-mail I sent Monday evening after the Charlie Chat:

Thank you for your email, DISH Network offers a very competitive HD package and is so intent on making HD accessible to our customers that we have moved all existing HD channels to a new satellite so that customers can see all of our HD offerings with a Dish 500 antenna.

For the foreseeable future, customers will NOT need a new Super Dish antenna installation in order to get their HD channels and prospective HD channels to be launched in 2004 will also only require Dish 500.

We are in negotiations with many HD channels including Starz and Bravo and other HD channels in an effort to provide these to our customers. We are hopeful that several additional HD channels will be launched in the first few months of 2004 and are also working on technology that will allow us to launch even more HD.

Sincerely,

Chantelle Knight

Customer Resolution Specialist
Executive Office of Soraya Cartwright

This sure offers more hope than Charlie's Chat words did. At least it'll string me along for a few more months. It'll be interesting to see if/how E* manages to get more HD on 110.

Dave

 

[A_Noland]

I got the exact same reply.

 

[Oyving]

Thank you for your email, DISH Network offers a very competitive HD package and is so intent on making HD accessible to our customers that we have moved all existing HD channels to a new satellite so that customers can see all of our HD offerings with a Dish 500 antenna.

Including CBS-HD?? I think that this is double talk!

 

[wileadams]

Finally got a reply to the e-mail I sent Monday evening after the Charlie Chat:

Thank you for your email, DISH Network offers a very competitive HD package and is so intent on making HD accessible to our customers that we have moved all existing HD channels to a new satellite so that customers can see all of our HD offerings with a Dish 500 antenna.

For the foreseeable future, customers will NOT need a new Super Dish antenna installation in order to get their HD channels and prospective HD channels to be launched in 2004 will also only require Dish 500.

We are in negotiations with many HD channels including Starz and Bravo and other HD channels in an effort to provide these to our customers. We are hopeful that several additional HD channels will be launched in the first few months of 2004 and are also working on technology that will allow us to launch even more HD.

Sincerely,

Chantelle Knight

Customer Resolution Specialist
Executive Office of Soraya Cartwright

This sure offers more hope than Charlie's Chat words did. At least it'll string me along for a few more months. It'll be interesting to see if/how E* manages to get more HD on 110.

Dave

This is VERY funny because I got almost the same exact response, but they actually called my home and left a voicemail. It actually after listening to it again, sounds as if it was read word for word.

 

[Phil T]

" are also working on technology that will allow us to launch even more HD."

Oh boy, another module to buy for the 6000.

 

[Sparkman]

I just got the same reply, word for word.
What a joke, canned response.

 

[bcwmachine]

I just got the same reply, word for word.
What a joke, canned response.

You think that it should have been reworded JUST FOR YOU?
Remember, you are just 1 out of 8000000 customers.
I wish it was different, and each one of us could get a personal response from Charlie.

 

[Sparkman]

I just got the same reply, word for word.
What a joke, canned response.

You think that it should have been reworded JUST FOR YOU?
Remember, you are just 1 out of 8000000 customers.
I wish it was different, and each one of us could get a personal response from Charlie.

Sorry, but 8000000 customer did not write in, so that argument is a bunch of bull. I'm not the one who said that I read every one of these on my chat. Did I expect a personal response from Charlie, no. I honestly didn't even expect a response. But, if they were going to respond, I would have appreciated that they respond to MY E-mail.

 

[bcwmachine]

In the overall picture, being 2 of 8000000 means that what you and I think and want just doesn't matter. We just are not that important, no matter what our own estimation of our importance is.

 

[AndyMon]

What if we had a group effort? A single letter/petition composed and signed by ALL of us here who are disappointed by E*'s /Charlie's seeming inability to actually be the HD leader in deed rather than words, especially since many cable providers and v* are able to provide, now, what E* seemingly cannot or will not. Strength in numbers might be helpful in letting Charlie know that we know that there are HD channels out there since he doesn't seem to know. The letter can then come from satelliteguys.com as a whole. The other forums out there could do similar letters. Who knows, maybe it would have greater impact if it looked like we were a united and organized front rather than a bunch of lone voices in the wind. Worth a try?

 

[AndyMon]

What if we had a group effort? A single letter/petition composed and signed by ALL of us here who are disappointed by E*'s /Charlie's seeming inability to actually be the HD leader in deed rather than words, especially since many cable providers and v* are able to provide, now, what E* seemingly cannot or will not. Strength in numbers might be helpful in letting Charlie know that we know that there are HD channels out there since he doesn't seem to know. The letter can then come from satelliteguys.com as a whole. The other forums out there could do similar letters. Who knows, maybe it would have greater impact if it looked like we were a united and organized front rather than a bunch of lone voices in the wind. Worth a try?

 

[rad]

I think Dish has gotten the word. I know they look at these forums and a blind person can figure out the mood by looking at the posts. Also, just from the delay that we've seen hearing a response I think shows that they were bombarded with e-mails and phone calls expressing our displeasure with Charlie and his we have all the HD content that's worth it comment on Monday. Like any corporation what will get action is when folks cancel and Charlie sees it in the bottom line. Remember, corporate America serves the stock holder, customers are just something they need to put up with

 

[AndyMon]

I think Dish has gotten the word. I know they look at these forums and a blind person can figure out the mood by looking at the posts. Also, just from the delay that we've seen hearing a response I think shows that they were bombarded with e-mails and phone calls expressing our displeasure with Charlie and his we have all the HD content that's worth it comment on Monday. ........

Yes, from a relatively small number of whacko malcontents is probably the way they see it. My thought is to hit them as a large united group. If AVSForum, DBSTalk, DBSForums and others all did the same I'm sure it would be more meaningful. Don't underestimate the power of these groups as a whole. Isolated and individual calls don't have the same force behind them and are easier to discount or just send a form letter to, as evidenced by the previous posts.

 

[rtt2]

Andy that isa great idea. How to ge the ball rolling is the only question

 

[bcwmachine]

First, we need one volunteer to write the 'letter', so that we don't get 70 people trying to write it.

 

[MikeD-C05]

Why not Scott? He is already connected with Dish. He would know just how to hit them where they live.

 

[BOYCOTT26]

Andymon's idea for a united front sounds like a very good
idea to me,if the letter to Dish is put together I'll sign it,
because I know I want more HD. :!:

 

[Wally]

Count me in (for multiple signed correspondence).
I also got the FORM LETTER response to my email.

This is all a fiasco, and it sprung mostly from the SuperDish disaster. Many of our local Dish dealers are HACKED because they hired MANY installers to get ready for the nearly-free upgrade. Now they are left hanging.

Why they don't just transfer many LOL cities to SuperDish and free up 110/119 for more HD I don't know. They must have lots of superdishes laying around in the past anticipation of many subs who WERE going to upgrade.

DirecTV HD may or may not be a big threat (future or whatever), but cable HD definitely is, and the only way E* is going to beat them is to work out some special/exclusive arrangements for more HD and ED (of regular cable channels) than possible anywhere (not counting VOOMs pablum exclusives).