The End of VOOM?

[vurbano]

Is there any possibility that DISH could keep the V* HD channels and include them in their programing? maybe we can win in this situation . . . . some hope?

I dont think they are interested in the 21 exclusives. My guess is a few of them might get subscribed too. The rest are not worthy of a provider wanting them. I doubt anyone wants to "buy" them and have to produce the content for them and market them.Not even Cuban. Good content costs money and he has a hard enough time filling his 2 channels with good content as it is. Frankly I hope dish uses the bandwidth to add all of the premium movie channels, universal HD, espn2hd and etc. But I think the real reason for it is to offer LIL and HDLIL

 

[tooltym]

Not DOOM for VOOM the way I see it. Unbeknownst to me, I was signing my purchase receipt for a new HDTV and my order for 3 rooms of VOOM at essentially the same time that the decision was being announced of VOOM's sale, on Thursday (1/20). But the way I see it, VOOM is a brand and a valuable technology that, if the new owners are smart, should continue on and continue to advance the state of the art, as a cohesive unit. I don't think they will break it up or kill it or anything stupid like that. I think HDTV is on the verge of an explosion; its time is now here. I bought my TV at BrandsMart and over the several days that I was window shopping, there were many dozens of customers taking the HD plunge as well as signing up with VOOM (BrandsMart is running a promotion of $300 off the TV purchase in return for a 6 month contract with VOOM). I think the VOOM future (including the name) is safe and secure.

 

[jorsan]

Vurbano,
good points in your comments. Hope that equator could be seen in Dish; for me is better than discovery: more focus in what I want to see in a channel like that.
Toolstym,
will see; maybe you're way too positive about this situation . . . hope you're right!

 

[Lobstah]

"VOOM is a brand and a valuable technology that, if the new owners are smart, should continue on ..."

Yeah..BUT.

There are no "new owners" of VOOM. The sale involved hardware, not the company. VOOM has no new owners, and they have no funding, at least not yet, from the OLD owners. And the hardware that was sold (satellite and uplink?) were VOOM's delivery mechanism. There's been mention in other posts about they could use this other sat or that other sat... point is, if it was that easy?...they'd already be doing it.

Sorry...but them's the facts as I see 'em

Lob

 

[vurbano]

I know I sound like a broken record but I am just in disbelief. RUSH, RAVE, Worldsport, monsters and equator were good concepts with good content. But after 6 months Dolan should have known the others were not attracting anyone. WHY continue with them when he could have used the bandwidth for other things that would have brought in subs. The whole thing seems like he didnt care about losses from the beginning. Obviously, as evidenced by his losses, there was no profit to be made by selling the satellite, only a reduction in losses. This begs the question : Who was running this thing? Who decided what content for the exclusives? who decided not to air RSN's and missing sd channels in lieu of exclusive content? Was Voom being run by the people developing the content for the exclusives and not by someone watching the whole operation objectively? I mean give me a break, "we are bleeding to death" so you rename the fricken channels? I think we'll go after the rich gay market with divine? I think we'll go after transplanted european soccer fans? Or the Ultra rich? WTF kind of logic is that? Could their target audiences be any more minute? And at no time was their ever an attempt to do anything like bikini destinations on HDnet. Attention Dolan (maybe at 79 you dont remember) but Boobs Sell!!!!!(forget plyboy that was a porno premium subscription) 90% of all men watch TV for 2 things. Football and BOOBS! Its no secret. It was a marketing blunder!!!!!!!!!! It seems So misguided that it almost seems intentional. But I just cant find a reason why?

PS: I hope everyone who clamored "but then they would have to say they only had 10 exclusive HD channels instead of 21" can see how misguided that position was.

 

[mdonnelly]

I know I sound like a broken record but I am just in disbelief. RUSH, RAVE, Worldsport, monsters and equator were good concepts with good content. But after 6 months Dolan should have known the others were not attracting anyone. WHY continue with them when he could have used the bandwidth for other things that would have brought in subs. The whole thing seems like he didnt care about losses from the beginning. Obviously, as evidenced by his losses, there was no profit to be made by selling the satellite, only a reduction in losses. This begs the question : Who was running this thing? Who decided what content for the exclusives? who decided not to air RSN's and missing sd channels in lieu of exclusive content? Was Voom being run by the people developing the content for the exclusives and not by someone watching the whole operation objectively? I mean give me a break, "we are bleeding to death" so you rename the fricken channels? I think we'll go after the rich gay market with divine? I think we'll go after transplanted european soccer fans? Or the Ultra rich? WTF kind of logic is that? Could their target audiences be any more minute? And at no time was their ever an attempt to do anything like bikini destinations on HDnet. Attention Dolan (maybe at 79 you dont remember) but Boobs Sell!!!!!(forget plyboy that was a porno premium subscription) 90% of all men watch TV for 2 things. Football and BOOBS! Its no secret. It was a marketing blunder!!!!!!!!!! It seems So misguided that it almost seems intentional. But I just cant find a reason why?

PS: I hope everyone who clamored "but then they would have to say they only had 10 exclusive HD channels instead of 21" can see how misguided that position was.

ROFLMAO :clap :haha

 

[Cliff]

Definitely true. Watching the SciFi channel tonight I could easily tell the difference between the poor SD pic with E* and the much, much better pic with V*. I was pleased with the V* picture, but was always very disappointed with the E* picture.

Competition is what forces companies to strive to give better performance for better price. Without it all you get is poor performance for high prices. So people out there can gloat about Voom's demise at their own expense. One less reason for D* and E* to improve their price and performance.

I still say that if Voom had promoted HD content along with SD close to HD quality, they could have accumulated more subscribers. Everyone thought they were strictly a HD provider and you would have to have a HDTV to view their programming.

I liked leasing the equipment versus purchasing also, with Dish you were always having to purchase a new receiver to upgrade.

Self installs would have been a better option also.

Just my two cents worth, I'm gonna miss Voom.

 

[jeslevine]

mike you should have keep both

This stinks! I just now ran across this news.I just had Voom installed last sat. And this morning, I called and cancelled E*. Told them I was disapointed with their lack of HD programming. I have a bunch of sat toys, 4DTV, HD200, StarChoice, DVB...

I also just got off the phone with Voom, the lady said that my 6 mos contract would be honored, we shall see, but I doubt it. They are still taking orders for installs as of 4am 1/21/05. The worst part is that I actually found stuff to watch on Voom! I liked the old movies, ecspecially in HD. I guess it is just a wait and see deal frome here.

Mike
Dissapointed in Michigan

that is what I did. I downgraded service on dish to reduce most of the duplication, but did not get rid of it.

In your case, just wait and see what offers come your way. You are still getting HD so enjoy it while you can

 

[jeslevine]

you had nothing to lose

SO CONFUSING!
Just cancelled my install order with VOOM. When asked why I wanted to cancel, I said that according to a WSJ article (and others) that Dish plans to shut down the service shortly. The VOOM lady (?) said that nothing was finalized, and that they were still taking orders for new installations.

Is this a scam or what?

you would have gotten free hardware, and installation, and an OTA antenna

 

[mike123abc]

Is there any possibility that DISH could keep the V* HD channels and include them in their programing? maybe we can win in this situation . . . . some hope?

Dish did not buy and programming from VOOM just the satellite, operating frequencies and ground uplinks.

Now it is quite possible that VOOM could offer its HD channels to cable and DBS on its own. Perhaps condense down the 21 channels to 5 or so and sell them like INHD1&2 and HDNet/Movies sell their content.

 

[jeslevine]

when I called Voom customer support

Dish did not buy and programming from VOOM just the satellite, operating frequencies and ground uplinks.

Now it is quite possible that VOOM could offer its HD channels to cable and DBS on its own. Perhaps condense down the 21 channels to 5 or so and sell them like INHD1&2 and HDNet/Movies sell their content.

they said they were plan to continue with the channel expansion set for Feburary. I feel there is something else going on behind the scenes. Maybe some agreement with Charlie and Dolan, but I think there is some chance that the Voom content will survive

 

[riffjim4069]

....would be pretty funny if Dolan reached an agreement to offload the Sat and Uplink Facility to E* and another [yet undisclosed] agreement with D* to carry a majority of the VOOM channels. Probably not, but what the hey?

 

[mrparrott]

I just had voom installed this past week I was a sub to D* and still have the HD recievers that I bought but have no intent to go back unless they start delivering more HD at a fair price.
thank god I am renting the equiptment from voom
So when Voom goes dark I will go OTA for a while and save the $80 a month to get a HD DVD when that comes out

Peace
Bruce

 

[MichaelC]

Why haven't we heard the final word from Voom yet, why wait they should let us know. Scott usually has something to say but he hasn't said much. Do you think we will know Monday?

 

[eddiscus]

Voom Lack of Advertising

I don't know about other areas but in the NY/NJ metro area you were hard pressed to se a display in the store or advertisements. I did see one display in a local sears store it was tucked in a corner, the tv was a 34" rica that looked like it was previously a security monitor. The tv was off and the literature was still in the shrink wrap. I asked a sales rep about the display and they had no idea. If foam wanted to really succeed they would have advertised the that their dish would be pointed in a different direction so if Direct TV was not an option because of LOS obstructions you had another choice besides cable. Oh wait that would also hurt cable subs what was I thinking. Voom was dead before it started. The only way it could of succeeded is if it was owned by a party of investors that had a strong interest in HD satellite technology. Even then you would have to go into the venture not expecting any profits for the first five years. Not the kind of chance investors are willing to take today unless they believe in the technology. Just IMO.

 

[akruse]

Do Not Feel Sorry

You guys deseve what you got. Everyone picked these small dishes over big dishes for what. Just for more disappontments. The small dish owners are at the mercy of the small dish companies who keeps controlling you. I do not reget keeping my big dish and I get to watch all of the digtial channels and HD channels I want and I do not have to put up with the rain fading my pictures. I feel so sorry for you guys.

 

[SeattleVoomer1]

"akruse", you'd be amazed at how many of us "small" dish users have no room on our property for a BUD. So, it's small dish or cable and with Comcast our only cable option that isn't an option.

Still watching HDTV on a rainfadless 24" antenna under rainy Seattle skies, Gill

P.S.: OK, so we haven't tried it in a thunderstorm but in Seattle....

 

[gutter]

You guys deseve what you got. Everyone picked these small dishes over big dishes for what. Just for more disappontments. The small dish owners are at the mercy of the small dish companies who keeps controlling you. I do not reget keeping my big dish and I get to watch all of the digtial channels and HD channels I want and I do not have to put up with the rain fading my pictures. I feel so sorry for you guys.

I still have my Bud but I dropped all services in favor of VOOM. Can always order more. I don't have the HD converter. too damn expensive, but have my 4dtv and a great picture off my 10 ft. dish also with KU

 

[JMikeF]

VOOM Employees in total denial!

Here's the email I got when I canceled the 1/28 install

VOOM is operating normally and is continuing with plans to expand its programming lineup and enhance your service. Look for announcements as soon as next month and throughout 2005. Meanwhile we are pleased to provide up to three times the number of high definition channels compared to other satellite companies or cable, plus the full array of standard definition channels you expect

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us.

Thank you for choosing VOOM - the leader in High Definition programming!

Autumn H.
VOOM Email Support

 

[rgarbonzo]

"DOLAN ready for biggest heist yet
by: sh300 (M/Palo Alto, CA)
Long-Term Sentiment: Sell 01/20/05 07:21 pm
Msg: 20217 of 20261

Do you think Chuck Dolan will purchase just the Voom system from CVC? I think not. If I were CVC independent directors, I would give it to him for free because of the huge cash drain.

However, what is going to happen is that Dolan is going to purchase not only VOOM, but also the Rainbow Networks which are very valuable. And he is going to get the whole package at a firesale price.

The networks are necessary because it is the only possible way that Dolan will be able to finance VOOM going forward.

This is going to be the ultimate slap in the face to CVC shareholders. Only hope is that another bidder will step in and offer a competing bid to keep Dolan honest on his bid so that he doesnt rape the company which is going to be what happens.... "

Just off the Yahoo! message board for CVC. We're not the only ones speculating on the future.