Dish won't drop VOOM entirely. They're too reliant on saying "we have 'X' HD channels". No way they'll let that number go down ! Dish wants to keep VOOM, no question about it, but want it on a tier (like D* did with HDNet and HDMovies).
Now here is a read...
- Thread starter Scott Greczkowski
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I hope you are right. I just cant see Dish wanted to get rid of them totally. I wonder which Voom channels get the most viewers it has to be MonstersHD. I am all for dropping a couple of the Voom channels to make way for more National HD but dont drop Monsters.
Do I have hard evidence, no. What I do have is past experience to go on.
Say what you want about Charlie but he is a businessman, a very good one, and in the market to make money. He says he wants whats in the best interest of the customers. In reality he wants whats best for the customer as long as (in most cases) the money situation benifits Dish. His actions in the past clearly show this and thats exactly how a company should be run.
A few years ago Dish needed to respond to a very small, but VERY vocal community. This community had brand new HD sets, not shy about spending money, educated about the HD product, and wanted content.
Dish saw an opportunity and grabbed the rights to Voom. Back then there was very little HD content anywhere and Voom had tons of it. Because the community that was wanting the content was willing to pay for it it was a Win/Win situation for Charlie. Dish goes and charges 20 bucks for the HD pack and overnight becomes the HD leader.
Fast forward to today.
In the current market, there are a LOT more HD channels. This doesnt mean there is a lot of HD content on those channels, but there are many more channels that now are "in HD."
Today Dish is no longer catering to a niche market of HD enthusiasts. Why? Because Joe User now has a voice in the matter and Joe User doesnt care if a channel is actually HD as long as there is that little logo on the channel that says HD.
HD is beginning to go mainstream and FAST. Now that the Analog cutoff is actually going to happen, you got a bunch of people buying Digital capable sets and thinking they absolutely have to have them because their TV wont work in Feb. Those people want HD, are not willing to spend $20 bucks on HD, and generally dont care about VOOM.
Now that the term "HD" has gone mainstream Dish needs to play catchup with DirecTV. DirecTV has a brilliant marketing campaign currently that is talking about Dish having all these HD channels that no one cares about. In the commerical they say, "get the channels that really matter like ......." In another commercial DirecTV was talking about paying too much for HD on Dish when the only way to get HD on Dish was to pay $20 a month.
Joe User wants the product cheap and currently DirecTV subs are up. Dish had to respond with the $10 HD pack or else they were going to start losing out big time to DirecTV.
The thing that you have to remember is that we are a VERY vocal minority in this forum and are part of the enthusiast community..
Either Voom is not turning a profit, or its not turning in ENOUGH profit. Dish knows they have limited HD capacity and Voom takes a nice chunk of it.
If Voom was making good money for Dish then Dish wouldnt be trying change the contract so its able to carry it in a tier. You dont try to get out of a contract that is taking in lots of profits.
Dish is trying desperately to continue to cater to the vocal minority while keeping Joe User happy.
There was a listing posted one time ranking the VOOM channels and as I recall, RAVE was the most popular.
Voom HD Movies channel formally WorldCinema I think is a step to A Voom channel offered on another tier. Voom has had several new production series this year not sure how close that gets to $100m however is does state:
"if the numBer of channels on Voom was permanently reduced, the annual spending requirement would decrease pursuant to a prescriBed formula."
Echostar never rolled out the complete suite. Voom reduced spending accordingly.
Contrary to most here, I want more Voom channels to return. (As much as I never watch Game or Monsters, I know others do- If I want my HD, I must also fight for you HD) Grow don't reduce the amount of full time HD content channels.
BTY GSN is preparing to go all HD soon. Just taking time to get the old and new material ready first.
"if the numBer of channels on Voom was permanently reduced, the annual spending requirement would decrease pursuant to a prescriBed formula."
Echostar never rolled out the complete suite. Voom reduced spending accordingly.
Contrary to most here, I want more Voom channels to return. (As much as I never watch Game or Monsters, I know others do- If I want my HD, I must also fight for you HD) Grow don't reduce the amount of full time HD content channels.
BTY GSN is preparing to go all HD soon. Just taking time to get the old and new material ready first.
I would agree that Monstershd is probably the most popular of the Voom channels. It is also (except Nov-Mar) one of the best hd channels available.
I think MonstersHD is probably the best HD channel I have. If they could get rid of a couple channels and keep Monstershd and a couple other of the most popular Voom channels that could mean a lot more newer content for these channels. I think this would be a good thing because you would get a lot more high budget films on MonstersHD.
I agree but don't trust them to keep Monsters. I also don't want to see Monsters combined with another channel. Monsters has great potential and is pretty darn good as is.
Yes, Dish will add the Replacement HD channels............................Soon.
Sorry, I could not help myself
This much is true. In this particular case, he is looking to make more money and spend less by using the contract to make this happen. He can put the pressure on Voom to improve every channel to keep on the air and if they want to be on all tiers, they will have to prove they can provide the content to justify it.
Don't really see Dish responding to a small community but they did see an opportunity to grab the HD market early.
J6P (joe six pack) doesn't even know whether he is looking at HD or not. D* can play their marketing game to get 1st time subs, but they will churn soon enough because that's the game these days and cable plays it up just like satellite does.
Most J6Ps as well as the niche viewers HATE the logo bugs regardless of whether it says HD or not.
HDTVs are going mainstream and fast but HD itself, not so much. More people are learning but HD costs no matter who you get it from. D* can tell people theirs is cheaper but after they see their bills for awhile, the churn machine will crank up as they look for ways to save money.
"Don't care about Voom" - How can you say that? If they have never seen Voom before, then as they say, It's New To You! Then, when they see that the content is actually HD and it's OAR and it's not interrupted by commercials every 7 minutes they will love it even more.
D* marketing, already addressed, hides the truth that there are just as many if not more non-Voom HD channels that are nonsense-who cares channels. AMCHD? Years ago maybe but ads ruined that channel and that is just the beginning...
"Joe User wants the product cheap and currently DirecTV subs are up."
1st time subs, who when their deals run out will hit the churn stiles.
Exactly, that's why all the postulating, venting, and pontificating might be interesting but is all but invisible to reality.
Dish is cracking the whip on a provider that could do a better job of keeping a fine product available to its subs. Voom is still the best high quality HD product available and Dish wants to keep it that way.
Voom we do not want to lose it?? I am in the twlight zone?? how many post have their been attacking VOOM??
Were am I?? reading post of folks leaving Dish if v0om is pulled??
I can not get out of this --were am I???
Were am I?? reading post of folks leaving Dish if v0om is pulled??
I can not get out of this --were am I???
I have a suggestion. Keep VOOM in a higher tier, but move it to 148 or 118.7. Those that want it can get it but it will free up capacity on their core satellites.
I love Voom and it is the thing I watch most on Dish. I especially love how they have niche programming spread out which to me increases choice and variety. Yes there is room for improvement, but there is nothing else like it or that can touch it in my opinion. I really enjoyed the foreign movies and wish they would continue.
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Funny you mention that, NBC just announced they are dropping both due to low ratings.
