Dear Lifetime Viewers,
Thank you for your letters, calls and e-mails in support of Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network. We heard from you loud and clear how upset you are that DISH Network yanked the #1 and #2 most popular women's networks off the air without warning on New Year's Eve.
In the weeks since DISH took this drastic and unnecessary action, we have been working round-the-clock to help get your voices heard and to try to get DISH to return your favorite networks to the air. Unfortunately, throughout, DISH falsely and repeatedly asserted that Lifetime sought a 76% increase in our fees when in fact, we had only asked for a modest increase of a few pennies per month in our fees for the two networks combined. What’s worse, and what DISH never said, is that they sought to impose huge cuts to carry these Lifetime networks that would have crippled our ability to offer you the quality entertainment and impassioned, impactful advocacy on behalf of women that you have come to expect from us.
Typically, we don't negotiate in the media or reveal details of our proposals or agreements with cable and satellite operators, but we feel we owe it to you to let you know why we have had to walk away rather than accept their bad deal. We took this step for us and for women everywhere after reluctantly concluding that DISH had left us no true alternative. DISH rejected all of our fair and reasonable offers.
We continue to be open to an agreement with DISH that is fair to us, fair to our viewers and fair to other providers, and which reflects the value of our networks, but we have not once heard such an offer from DISH in more than seven months of negotiations. We strongly believe that among the more than 180 channels DISH provides, including 46 sports and seven pornography channels, DISH should have room for more than two women’s networks.
We truly regret that DISH subscribers still can't watch the great programming you love watching on [expect from] Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network. Unfortunately, DISH customers will miss all of the exciting new programming we’re premiering -- such as the Lifetime Original Movie, “For One Night” starring Raven-Symone, two new reality series, “Cheerleader Nation” and “Face the Family,” and a new comedy, “Lovespring,” from Will & Grace’s Eric McCormack. We also regret that DISH will begin to impose a $2-$3 rate hike on its subscribers on February 1st, while depriving women of their favorite programs. That means that DISH customers soon will be paying even more for less.
But you can Take Back Your Lifetime:
· SIGN THE PETITION [click here]
· COMPLAIN: Write Charlie Ergen at
ceoofdishnetwork@dishnetwork.com <http://www.lifetimetv.com/about/dish_email.php> - or call him at 888-732-6402 - and let him know that has made a mistake.
· If you're a DISH subscriber, SWITCH: DirecTV and your local cable providers are offering discounts and other incentives to subscribers who switch their provider; Contact DIRECTV at 888-777-2454 or your local cable company at
www.thisiscable.com <http://www.thisiscable.com/lifetime> or 877-665-9222.
Thanks again for your great support.
If you're a member of the media, please go to our Press Room <http://www.lifetimepress.com/> for more information.
