Will DISH change their stance on regional sports this week?

[J_Smooth]

Like many out there, I lost the Detroit sports teams on DISH when Diamond and DISH were unable to come to an agreement several years ago. Now that several teams have been released (including Detroit), do we know if they are planning to add this back? Today they announced that DirecTV, Comcast and Charter have come to agreements with the rest being announced tomorrow. Anyone have any inside information? Or should I just add the streaming service separately?

From the news article: The rest of the of cable providers and channel assignments will be finalized and announced Thursday, before the Tigers' season opener against the San Diego Padres at 4:10 p.m. MLB Media is now handling the Tigers' broadcast distribution. All cable companies that carry the Tigers' former broadcast home, FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, are expected to carry the new channel, and have it available on the same tier package with a similar channel number.

 

[dishrich]

Or should I just add the streaming service separately?

YES

 

[zippyfrog]

It is hard to believe, but it has been almost 7 years since Dish starting dropping the RSN's...

But back in 2019 when Dish dropped the FOX Sports RSN's as the first big batch of drops, either Charlie or someone else at Dish specifically stated that Dish would like to be in the RSN business, but the current model was not sustainable. And, in essence, said that RSN's would only come back to Dish if they were 100% a-la-carte and treated as premium programming, like HBO is.

The issue is that for the RSN's is if they had that a-la-carte deal with Dish, every other provider would want that same setup, as opposed to everyone paying for the RSN who is on the tier that contains the RSN, like currently is setup for Comcast, DirecTV, etc.

Even though these new channels are coming on for the MLB teams that got out of their Fan Duel sports deals, my understanding is that the way MLB is setting it up is that those fans that are already paying for the RSN would gain the same access as before, just that the channel is not a 24/7 RSN and only plays the live game and pregame/postgame. The fact that Dish didn't get the Padres and Rockies and those other ones these past couple of years is a sign that nothing is going to change.

 

[J_Smooth]

It is hard to believe, but it has been almost 7 years since Dish starting dropping the RSN's...

But back in 2019 when Dish dropped the FOX Sports RSN's as the first big batch of drops, either Charlie or someone else at Dish specifically stated that Dish would like to be in the RSN business, but the current model was not sustainable. And, in essence, said that RSN's would only come back to Dish if they were 100% a-la-carte and treated as premium programming, like HBO is.

The issue is that for the RSN's is if they had that a-la-carte deal with Dish, every other provider would want that same setup, as opposed to everyone paying for the RSN who is on the tier that contains the RSN, like currently is setup for Comcast, DirecTV, etc.

Even though these new channels are coming on for the MLB teams that got out of their Fan Duel sports deals, my understanding is that the way MLB is setting it up is that those fans that are already paying for the RSN would gain the same access as before, just that the channel is not a 24/7 RSN and only plays the live game and pregame/postgame. The fact that Dish didn't get the Padres and Rockies and those other ones these past couple of years is a sign that nothing is going to change.

That makes a lot of sense regarding the Padres and Rockies. Thanks for the background. It's not a big deal for me to add it through Starlink as a streaming app. This used to be a big pain point when we didn't have good internet.

 

[johnyromt]

It will likely depend on whether the new distribution model fits DISH's pricing strategy, since they have been cautious with regional sports fees in the past. Even if other providers reached agreements, DISH may still hold out. Adding the streaming option separately might be the more reliable short-term solution if you want consistent access.

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[pmjones]

Like many out there, I lost the Detroit sports teams on DISH when Diamond and DISH were unable to come to an agreement several years ago. Now that several teams have been released (including Detroit), do we know if they are planning to add this back? Today they announced that DirecTV, Comcast and Charter have come to agreements with the rest being announced tomorrow. Anyone have any inside information? Or should I just add the streaming service separately?

From the news article: The rest of the of cable providers and channel assignments will be finalized and announced Thursday, before the Tigers' season opener against the San Diego Padres at 4:10 p.m. MLB Media is now handling the Tigers' broadcast distribution. All cable companies that carry the Tigers' former broadcast home, FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, are expected to carry the new channel, and have it available on the same tier package with a similar channel number.

Just got the (expected) bad news from the Mariners that they are yet again not on DISH this season. With the Hopper Plus and the app, it's not so bad but would rather have on DISH proper because (1) there is a lag with the app - it's 30 seconds or so behind everybody else which matters when my phone goes off that somebody scored and (2) you can't DVR what you stream ofc. Still, it could be worse and this RSN deal is the only thing that DISH is lacking in terms of content. I can live with it.

 

[Derek K]

Here is the issue with the regional sports ever coming back on DISH.

First of all they lack sufficient bandwidth on western arc. This was demonstrated when they shut down 118 and 129 and had to shift all the international programming to streaming via internet.

Second, Besides maybe getting a deal to carry the Rockies for Colorado for the Dish employees to watch, its either carry a majority of the RSNs or not carry any RSNs at all.

Third, has to deal with cost, As demonstrated by Cable, and DIRECTV there is a regional sports fee anywhere from $8-$11.99. This Fee would be added to everyone's bill who had AT200 or higher. It would look like a price increase for most people. Considering that Dish just raised their prices last September by $5, we are going to raise prices another $10 for a regional sports fee 6 months later? People can deal with $5 increases, but imagine a $15 price increase in 6 months. Its going to irritate a lot of people, a lot of people who either don't care for, or have learned to live without regional sports.

Remember Dish customers are generally older, and are penny pinchers when it comes to cost.

Now finally there is always the option as Dish has offered programmers in the past where they carry a certain channel and then pass on 100% of the costs to the customer with dish not making a dime. Now we are at $20. possibly $25 for a regional sports fee. I can see the complaints from people right now saying Dish is ripping them off. and now they are going to cancel over it.

Now if you let the customer just subscribe to the app for $20, now Dish is not the bad guy.

Now unless there is some miracle merger with Directv, I don't see Dish ever carrying regional sports.

 

[HipKat]

there is a lag with the app - it's 30 seconds or so behind everybody else which matters when my phone goes off that somebody scored and (2) you can't DVR what you stream ofc.

I had that same thing with Bills games, so I ended up just disabling gameday notifications. Sadly, that lag is the nature of the beast when it comes to streaming live sports

 

[telstar_1]

It is hard to believe, but it has been almost 7 years since Dish starting dropping the RSN's...

But back in 2019 when Dish dropped the FOX Sports RSN's as the first big batch of drops, either Charlie or someone else at Dish specifically stated that Dish would like to be in the RSN business, but the current model was not sustainable. And, in essence, said that RSN's would only come back to Dish if they were 100% a-la-carte and treated as premium programming, like HBO is.

The issue is that for the RSN's is if they had that a-la-carte deal with Dish, every other provider would want that same setup, as opposed to everyone paying for the RSN who is on the tier that contains the RSN, like currently is setup for Comcast, DirecTV, etc.

Even though these new channels are coming on for the MLB teams that got out of their Fan Duel sports deals, my understanding is that the way MLB is setting it up is that those fans that are already paying for the RSN would gain the same access as before, just that the channel is not a 24/7 RSN and only plays the live game and pregame/postgame. The fact that Dish didn't get the Padres and Rockies and those other ones these past couple of years is a sign that nothing is going to change.

DiSH made the decision then that the RSNs simply weren't worth it in terms of making large #s of subscribers who don't watch them pay for them in package rates. Thus its ultimatum to the RSNs that going forward it will only carry them as ala-carte, which would require superhigh individual-sub pricing and which DiSH could be pretty sure they wouldn't go for. Thus in effect it was a decision to forego them, along with their exorbitant costs, altogether. I don't see any of it as a bandwidth issue. I really don't see why ESPN could not be next for the same treatment.

 

[tsunami2311]

When I was in NJ i could not watch devils cause they drop msg only way I can watch devils games is using my uncles Fios via gotham I been doing that is some fashion since dish drop msg, When I moved to NC I the Hurricanes become the "local" team and I cant even watch those on Dish, only time I see devils or hurricane game on dish is

TNT
NBC
ESPN
NHL channel

Dish cites they do it to keep prices "down" but all I seen for past few years 5+ is losing more channel and be charged more.

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[telstar_1]

But just think of how much more your bill would have escalated had they kept paying the sports extortion and kept the RSNs. One question would be whether you would be willing to pay alacarte $20 (or $19.99)/mo. to regain that specific RSN, and I suspect your answer would be no. But yet you would seem to be OK with all kinds of folks who don't care about TV sports helping to buy it for you through hiked package rates.

 

[zippyfrog]

Dish cites they do it to keep prices "down" but all I seen for past few years 5+ is losing more channel and be charged more.

And when Dish dropped a majority of the RSN's in 2019, there was still the exact same increases as the previous year. We weren't given any discounts or credits the rest of the year when we were no longer receiving the the RSN's. And Charlie said during one of the investor meetings that once the RSN's were dropped, there was an influx of cash. He also commented that he didn't like losing customers who were sports fans, but also commented he thought it was good that a majority of customers could get a price break. I don't recall ever seeing it!

 

[telstar_1]

And when Dish dropped a majority of the RSN's in 2019, there was still the exact same increases as the previous year. We weren't given any discounts or credits the rest of the year when we were no longer receiving the the RSN's. And Charlie said during one of the investor meetings that once the RSN's were dropped, there was an influx of cash. He also commented that he didn't like losing customers who were sports fans, but also commented he thought it was good that a majority of customers could get a price break. I don't recall ever seeing it!

You just aren't going to see it. All of the other ch's that they're not dumping keep hiking on them, and so they remain on a treadmill of their own hiking. Likely the $$ they were previously paying out for RSNs was kept in the DiSH coffers and used for other expenses or officers' salaries, etc. The DiSH subscriber contract says they can change programming around, drop ch's, etc. at will and without notice to or remuneration to subscriber. But as they say, money is fungible. Their dropping of RSNs, given how much was being paid to them from pockets of a broad base of their subs, would have immediately placed them in a more profitable position, assuming they didn't have too many quits over it, which I suspect they didn't. They of course continued on with their periodic hikes, but very simply, anything that cuts their programming expenses will, eventually, get reflected in reduced customer rates. Or should I say, rates not skyrocketing quite as much.