It would be nice if Dish would drop Versus down to a lower tiered programming package such as AT 200 or Dish America Silver. Any chance of them putting it into a lower tier when Versus becomes NBC Sports Network?
VERSUS / NBC SPORTS NETWORK
- Thread starter nrholland
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Adding Versus would not be any bigger surprise than adding MLB was. Dropping Versus to a lower tier would be simple and would go a long way towards satiating the many many sports fans that complain about the lack of RSNHD 24/7. Considering the cost of Versus it may be a win win for Dish.
Comcast/NBC would have to offer a pricing incentive for Dish to place it in a lower tier, otherwise it will sit where it is until the contract comes up for renewal
I really wish they would. Not having the network that has exclusive nationally televised hockey games all year up to and including several games of the Stanley Cup Finals is perhaps the biggest glaring omission in Dish's 120+ package. Them sticking it up in the 250 tier doesn't make me want to move up to 250 (Which is a financial impossibility), it makes me want to switch back to cable (Which has it in their package that's most equivalent to 120+). I'm not saying that I will make that switch, but Versus' placement at the time my contract expires will be a factor that I'll consider.
MSNBC (Which probably could be added for a very minimal cost on Dish's part, I'd imagine) is another channel that really should be in 120+. There's really no news channel in the package that appeals to Democrats right now. I can't watch Fox News without my blood pressure going way up, and CNN is barely palatable. Without MSNBC, I just wind up watching a lot less news than I used to, which lowers the perceived value of having Dish. Now I mainly just use it to watch sports and old sitcoms.
If you are all willing to pay more for your packages to add these channels, and have my AT250 go down in price, I can agree.
I don't think it is unreasonable to get the package Versus/NBC is in for the hockey season or part of the season, then drop it down again.
I don't think it is unreasonable to get the package Versus/NBC is in for the hockey season or part of the season, then drop it down again.
The channel is in the position where NBC/Comcast & DISH Network megotiated for it to be.
Will Comcast/NBC want to have it available to more people in the future? That is possible, but that is something they will have to do.
DISH can not just click their fingers and moves channels to different packages. That is all done via contracts wich take a long time to work out deals.
Will Comcast/NBC want to have it available to more people in the future? That is possible, but that is something they will have to do.
DISH can not just click their fingers and moves channels to different packages. That is all done via contracts wich take a long time to work out deals.
Are you saying that Dish has absolutely no say in the matter? You did say the contract was negotiated didn't you? So why is any change something Comcast/NBC will have to do? Whose fingers clicked allowing MLB to be added suddenly? It would seem plausible that with the new long term contract Comcast/NBC/Versus just signed with the NHL that maximum exposure to as many subscribers as possible would be looked upon kindly by any potential advertisers. And advertising is what pays the bills.
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Because the contract that was negotiated was negotiated with the channel being at the 250 level. Comcast would have to agree to change the terms of the contract to allow the channel to change packages, Dish can't just decide to do it if they want. I guess they could, but then Comcast can come in and pull the channel for breech of contract if they so choose
but the can "Click their fingers" to remove channels................................................
I'm not questioning what others have said that Comcast would also have to agree to move Versus to a lower package. It makes complete sense. But, I have called Dish Customer Service twice voicing my desire as a customer for Versus to be moved to a lower package and the CSRs told me both times that they would forward my opinion on to programming and that every customer's opinion is considered in forming packages. Was this just to make me feel better?
Dish could probably move almost any channel they want down in tiers - as long as Dish wants to pay the per sub fees. It is moving them up in tiers that usually requires negotiations. The providers want to be in the lowest package possible to have the most subs paying fees.
That worked really well for them in the free Starz for a year deal.... They got sued..
http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/disney-and-starz-sue-dish-network-over-contract-disputes/
That worked really well for them in the free Starz for a year deal.... They got sued..
You notice that Starz did not pull their programming from Dish... They seem to be enjoying the fees.
I bet as soon as the year is over the suit is quickly settled. I think the real dispute (implied by the Starz press release) is that Dish was using some of the allotted free previews to cover the costs (i.e. only paying 11 months of fees and using 1 month as a free preview). When making the contract I do not think that Starz ever envisioned Dish giving away the channel for a year and using the alloted free preview to cover some of the costs.
If Dish really wanted to, I am sure they could call up Versus (or NBC) and say "Hey, we want to make Versus available to more of our subscribers, is it alright if we do that so long as we pay you the same price per subscriber, with more subscribers?" and the response would probably be "Deal!" because it would raise their direct revenue from Dish plus the rates they can charge to advertisers (with the channel having more potential viewers). I'm sure contracts can be renegotiated with both parties' consent. Versus/NBC could conceivably say no or ask for a higher price per subscriber, but Dish could certainly ask.
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