The satcaster issued a press release on Monday saying it would add 22 High-Definition channels this week. The announcement appeared to put Dish on par with high-def programming leader DIRECTV, which carries 95 national HD channels.
And if you weren't clear about that, Dish underscored the point in the release by including this quote from Eric Sahl, the company's senior vice president of programming:
"We are excited to extend our competitiveness in HD by enhancing our already comprehensive HD lineup with these 22 channels, bringing our total HD lineup to over 95 channels," Sahl said.
Problem is -- at the very moment when the press release was issued -- Dish Network was preparing to remove 15 Voom HD channels from its high-def lineup, starting Monday night.
And, by Tuesday night, all 15 Voom HD channels were gone, leaving Dish Network with around 80 national HD channels
Sneaky.
Dish Network Expands 'Chutzpah Capacity' [TVpredictions](Thanks, Jake!)
(Photo: scarequotes )
Just left Dish Network and went with Direct TV. Cheaper billing + channels = bang for my buck! They also have the Chiller channel which is scary shows/movies. Love it.
]]>I don't know what's worse: this, or Comcast saying they have twice as many HD "choices" as DirecTV. They still only have about half the HD channels.
]]>Verucalise: not to be a poop head but check out the Wikipedia on VOOM networks. It was once a completely HD sat service just slightly ahead of the curve. They had a horrid time getting subscribers due to the fact that when the service was launched HD was just becoming more standard in peoples homes. The service flopped, and the channels were picked up by Dish.
Side note: though today it only works as an off air tuner, even to this day, Voom still had the best Sat box menu/guide configuration design I've seen.
]]>See at least they get stations to replace what's being taken off. Since Voom is owned by Cablevision is it any surprise that it sucked? Cablevision is cutting major channels and isn't giving us anything in exchange. We just have to hand over 6 bucks a month for E! which has been part of the package for over 10 years.
]]>@Carencey: Here, Here! I'm a little lost, myself....! Someone, ANYONE??
]]>@Empire:
They sure do.
I am sort of reluctant to say that my fave thing in HD is USA .. I like watching Monday Night Raw in HD.
]]>I switched to Dish Network because they are they offer the best reasonable bundle. If you have to have a bundle at all (and you do, I guess), they didn't fill it with crappy stuff. I got what I wanted for $35/month WITH DVR!
]]>I guess what happened is that Voom didn't live up to their end of the carriage agreement between them and DISH. VOOM was supposed to spend X amount of dollars towards new programming and they didn't. So DISH pulled the plug. It sucks, but it's not DISH's fault.
]]>For those of us who have never encountered such things (there must be another one, right?), what are Voom channels, anyway?
]]>Actually, the Voom channels are still owned by Rainbow Media (Cablevision), and are independent of Dish, although Dish is their only carrier outside of Cablevision.
You are correct about the satellite, though. When the Voom service failed, Echostar did buy their satellite.
]]>@Empire: DirecTV also has Cartoon Network HD, and has for months now. However, most cartoons are not in true HD. That's the fault of the channel, not the satellite company. Disney HD has more cartoons in HD than Cartoon Network HD, and they look great.
As for Voom, it used to have its own satellite service, but it folded after about a year. Dish bought them out, mainly for their brand new satellite, and picked up a few of their channels in the process.
]]>But yeah, now not only am I free of Voom channels, I also get SciFi, CN and a few other HD channels I'll actually use. Thanks DISH! (Even if you did decide to release a completely douchey press release)
]]>@tomok97: The wording in the post says "around 80 _national_ channels", so it would seem to me that market differences wouldn't apply and there should be just be one, solid number about how many channels they carry nationally.
]]>That really sucks, Dish. What a bunch of con artists. My wife's an artist and GalleryHD was a big deal for her. There was a lot of repeats on the Voom channels but there was some superior programming there too. Yeah, I like the SciFi channel, SpeedChannel, and all the other usual stuff but a little culture in the mix is nice. TennisHD? Get real, that's not even a substitute for an HD test pattern. My Dish contract is up in August and I'll be shopping around.
]]>Seriously, I watch like maybe 7-10 HD channels, and because these channels are only available at the top tier, you have to pay alimony to all the other channels you want nothing to do with.
Back on topic.
]]>So I had a "free preview" of a network that is clearly listed in the documentation I got when I signed up as being part of the package, for over a year? Bullshit.
Keep it up Dish and I'll drop you like I did Comcast.
]]>in their defense, those were the Voom channels. Voom was under contract to produce a specific # of hours of new programming, they failed. Dish pulled the plug in order to make room for channels people will actually watch.
The only Voom channel i watched was Rave and that was for one show... Later with Jools Holland. I'm upset about losing that, but its on another channel in SD. In the meantime i'm looking forward to another 20 new HD channels from Dish pretty soon
]]>So how many of the added HD channels air more than 2 or 3 hours of real HD programming in a day?
]]>@gizmosprocket: cartoon network in HD? are the painted colors somehow more realistic in HD?
]]>I disagree. While not all voom channels appealed to all people, they all were in HD for most if not all the time. Among the channels cut were channels that showed 2-4 movies per day in repeating cycle, uncut and in HD.
TBSHD, TNT-HD, DisneyHD, ToonDisHD, and Fishing and tennis HD channels do not show any significant HD content. Even Shanghai Noon (which is shown in HD on other networks) was shown in TNT in upconverted 480 stretch-o-vision. My TV does a better job of upconversion while giving me control over the aspect ratio...
Fishing and Tennis HD channels are no replacement for 5 movie channels... especially since most of their content is NOT in HD.
]]>But, to the point, yeah, it's shady. Even if it was technically accurate when they said it, it's still fucked up. The crazy thing is that they would still have a net gain, in that they droped 15, but gained 22.
]]>@AstroPig7: Well poopy, I've been beat to the punch.
]]>Looks like they truly underestimate the power of the internet users and bloggers.
Absoutely pathetic...
]]>I have Dish (it offered straight through the walls in my apartment, no actual dish). The channels that they cut blew cheese. The Voom Channels weren't pulling in viewers. I don't know anyone who watched them. But the ones that they added rock the party. Cartoon Network in HD rules. So, I see it as no real loss.
But this is just one gals opinion.
]]>Completely unsurprising. I used to work as a CSR for DISH, and they really encouraged tactics that confused the customer or were even outright lies. But that goes for all the major providers, I'm sure.
]]>I think "around 80" is probably a fair statement since the number of local HD channels varies from market to market. For instance, my CW affiliate wasn't available in HD (via DirecTV) until just last week.
]]>