EchoStar Loses Distant Network Appeal

[BobMurdoch]

Could it be the most complaints come from those which have Local channels with all 5 Networks available?

If D* does cut DNS it will save me $9+tax. I will let them do the cutting.

My hardship isn't as bad as many others. I have the New York Locals and got my waivers so I could time shift, and get around the fact that EVERY NFC game gets blacked out when the Jets are playing. As a Giants fan, I hate the Jets and refuse to watch them. Since my areas is served by both New York and Philly (at least for cable it does as they offer both cities' affiliates), I got around the fact that Philly is blacked out for satellite users (we didn't get the significantly viewed status we should have), by being able to get the LA feeds. This is invaluable for timeshifting when E*'s receivers screw up and miss a recording, or there are more than 2 good shows on at one time (Sundays at 9pm are brutal usually).

Bottom line, I watch more broadcast TV than I would if I didn't have the distants. I hope the ratings crash once they go forward with this stupid plan. A couple hundred thousand viewers SHOULD make a dent in the ratings...

 

[JohnH]

What if Sky Angel or some such offered a Distant Network package. Would they have to comply with Must Carry? C band apparently does not.

 

[BobMurdoch]

I have a feeling, if, and when they do go away, they will have to hire some CSRs for all the people who will suddenly be moving.

That is probably the best solution available for those in white areas and those with less than 4 networks available.

 

[riffjim4069]

If the injuction is filed, the only hope is to either have Congress pass a special law restoring distants for those that truly qualify (nullifying the injunction), or to switch to DirecTV.

And I can assure you the former will never happen...it's late in the Congressional year and the NAB is a powerful lobbyist.

 

[longshot]

"This opinion affirms the FCC's hard work and expertise in establishing who is fairly eligible to receive such signals and strengthens broadcasting's rich tradition of localism," he said.

Hard work and expertise! Hahaha thats a funny one the FCC is worthless!

 

[stone phillips420]

I'll just add *C and the NAB and its members can go F*ck themselves. :devil: )

I already did

Nice to have Spokane & Buffalo as nets. If I had a HD unit, I could get Detroit & Seattle in HD too (Buffalo & Spokane are SD only)

ME TOO
Can i get a F*ck you Dish and NAB!

Dish you dumbf*cks all you had todo was play by the rules but you cant play fair.
Thanks for ruining it for everyone Charlie and his band of retards.

 

[Juan]

How about this.. (kinda like a sky angel situation) say e* stops offering distants..a new "startup " company comes along..existing eligble customer would still be able to receive distants via e* equipment but get billed by another "providor"( charlie would "sell" some transponder space to this "startup" company)

 

[Greg Bimson]

Going with Juan's theory...

Sure, it is possible. Remember, however, that the court has found that Echostar does not have one qualified grandfathered subscriber. Unless the waivers Echostar received on behalf of customers were handed over to this new company, the method of qualification used would be that as outlined in the SHVERA:

If your locals are available, you cannot get distants. Waivers can be pursued, but why should anyone bother?

That removes eligibility from 95 percent of the US.

 

[crawfrdb]

mobile waivers?

Will today's ruling have an impact on waivers obtained for reception from a recreational vehicle? If so, what will happen in these cases where terrestrial reception is not possible?

Thanks.

 

[tripod]

I agree...the innocent customers who are legally receiving distant networks will suffer. Of course, I feel no pity for those who are illegally receiving them. I think the channels will be gone by the end of the week.

Im an Rver and travel all over U.S. never staying to long in one spot.Signed Rv waiver 5 years ago and receive New York and Los Angeles channels,guess I lose them.

 

[Greg Bimson]

Today's ruling has nothing do to with the loss of network channels.

Dish Network is now trying to find a way to get their numbers of ineligible subscribers for each network below 20 percent. If Dish Network could successfully challenge the FCC's ruling that the ILLR maps should be used, then a map which would replace the ILLR map may show more qualified people. If a new type of map were used that qualifies more people than the ILLR maps, Dish Network might be below the 20 percent threshold for willful infringement. That would then negate the need for an injunction by the court.

 

[SummitAdvantageRetailer]

That is probably the best solution available for those in white areas and those with less than 4 networks available.

Well, for the savvy DISH subs that know how to "move" can, but a regular Joe Blow would probably just get mad and disconnect.

 

[JonUrban]

It's amazing to me how strong the NAB lobbiests are. They still sit in the catbird seat here in 2006, when the TV and Radio world is 180 different than it was in 1950/1960. Local "protection" is a joke. Today, local stations should fend for themselves against competition like every other company does.

It makes me sick that this lobby fought against the D* E* merger, the distant network deal, the way that ANY subsciber cannot get the games of a team that he or she loves EVEN IF THEY PAY.

What's the big deal? It's almost like "Connecticut is an HBO state, so we can't get Showtime". As absurd as that sounds, there is a connection there.

 

[Clancy]

I already did

Nice to have Spokane & Buffalo as nets. If I had a HD unit, I could get Detroit & Seattle in HD too (Buffalo & Spokane are SD only)

I also have Star Choice with all the available US networks.
If I correctly remember back several years ago , the Canadian regulator (CRTC) has allowed the Canadian satellite carriers to not only allow carriage of Boston, Rochester,Buffalo,Detroit,Spokane and Seattle networks but also other US cities as well.
With the probable pending deletion of distant networks, look for the Canadian satellite carriers to begin offering some money to more US local stations for carriage in Canada with the end result in more sales to the north american market.
Distant markets may be disallowed in the US but they are encouraged in Canada.
I think it has something to do with freedom of choice.

 

[micklewhite]

I also have Star Choice with all the available US networks.
If I correctly remember back several years ago , the Canadian regulator (CRTC) has allowed the Canadian satellite carriers to not only allow carriage of Boston, Rochester,Buffalo,Detroit,Spokane and Seattle networks but also other US cities as well.
With the probable pending deletion of distant networks, look for the Canadian satellite carriers to begin offering some money to more US local stations for carriage in Canada with the end result in more sales to the north american market.
Distant markets may be disallowed in the US but they are encouraged in Canada.
I think it has something to do with freedom of choice.

No I think it has to do with socialist disregard for private property.

 

[dodge]

Dns

If I lose my dns I will cancel my sub to Dish net and get either star choice or Bev to get my west coast locals for the time shift.

All this will do is get more people hacking the fta to get their dns back.......

 

[qbucki]

I don't think the distant networks will disappear completely. Dish still has to provide them to unserved dmas by the same laws that are forcing them to turn off to served dmas. I have read one of court rulings at length (an hour of my life I can never get back) and it appears the NAB and the court simply wants Dish to follow the law as it is written. Again, from what I read people with waivers will lose any network they are not supposed to receive. I also think that those who have the RV waivers will continue to receive them as long as they have the proper documentation.

I have been receiving all four nets east and west since I originally signed up in 1996. I live Marietta Ohio and am only "served" by WTAP (NBC) in Parkersburg WV and should be considered "unserved" for ABC, CBS, and FOX. When Dish finally gets around to enforcing I expect NBC east and west to go dark but the other channels to stay active. I don't really have a problem with this because WTAP is easily picked up OTA (and I have digital cable too). I will miss the west coast feed because the varying shift work I do but can live with it because I frankly don't watch NBC that much.

As to the bigger picture I don't agree with the ruling and agree with Dish at least philosophically. This issue is based on antiquated 1950's laws and does not even come close to translating to the digital age. I think that as long as Dish (or Direct TV) provides the required served dmas and the customer pays for that the same customer should be able buy as many out of markets dmas as he wishes (or can afford). It is similar to an on demand service. This is an issue, where for the consumer, free enterprise is definitely not being served. Thanks for reading my vent.

 

[cj9788]

Keep fingers crossed we hopefully have DNS until Sept 11. Also notice how Members of congress are speaking out on this. We are getting their attention, let’s not let up now



From Multichannel news:

Second, in preparation of the stay denial, EchoStar and network-affiliated TV stations that sued EchoStar jointly asked the lower court Tuesday to postpone any injunction until Sept. 11. Both sides informed the court that they were attempting to reach a settlement.

The parties were urged to file for a 45-day postponement by key members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas).

Lastly, if the District Court ignores the postponement request, EchoStar still has the option of asking the Supreme Court to lift the injunction while considering the merits of the appeal of the 11th Circuit's May ruling.

In that decision, the 11th Circuit found that EchoStar had flagrantly broken the law by selling out-of-market network signals to thousands of ineligible customers.

 

[micklewhite]

Unfortunately not. Unless something changes every DNS customer regardless of merit or situation will be terminated. I am more sympathetic to RV'er and truckers since they clearly qualified. I still don't think there were over a half million legitimate DNS customers. Under your circumstances how did you get NBC DNS? Either hope Charlie adds your DMA (does D* have it?) or enhance your OTA with one big antenna. I am dismayed at your last comments, E* does not own the programming and does not have the right to distributed outside of some sort of license. You wouldn't buy ill gotten goods would you?

I don't think the distant networks will disappear completely. Dish still has to provide them to unserved dmas by the same laws that are forcing them to turn off to served dmas. I have read one of court rulings at length (an hour of my life I can never get back) and it appears the NAB and the court simply wants Dish to follow the law as it is written. Again, from what I read people with waivers will lose any network they are not supposed to receive. I also think that those who have the RV waivers will continue to receive them as long as they have the proper documentation.

I have been receiving all four nets east and west since I originally signed up in 1996. I live Marietta Ohio and am only "served" by WTAP (NBC) in Parkersburg WV and should be considered "unserved" for ABC, CBS, and FOX. When Dish finally gets around to enforcing I expect NBC east and west to go dark but the other channels to stay active. I don't really have a problem with this because WTAP is easily picked up OTA (and I have digital cable too). I will miss the west coast feed because the varying shift work I do but can live with it because I frankly don't watch NBC that much.

As to the bigger picture I don't agree with the ruling and agree with Dish at least philosophically. This issue is based on antiquated 1950's laws and does not even come close to translating to the digital age. I think that as long as Dish (or Direct TV) provides the required served dmas and the customer pays for that the same customer should be able buy as many out of markets dmas as he wishes (or can afford). It is similar to an on demand service. This is an issue, where for the consumer, free enterprise is definitely not being served. Thanks for reading my vent.

 

[JohnH]

We are in negotiations. We have a judgement. No, we are in negotiations. Being in compliance might yield fruitful negotiations.


Must carry. Oops! It happened.