Dish drops unpopular Voom HD channels
Voom's channels are no longer available on Dish Network.
(Credit: Voom.tv)
Just two days after it launched 22 relatively high-interest HD channels, Dish Network has stopped broadcasting the 15 specialty Voom HD channels. The channels, which Dish has long been interested in dropping to make way for more popular channels, include names like GamePlay HD, Treasure HD, Kung Fu HD, and Monsters HD, and programming most viewers have never heard of.
According to Multichannel News via TVPredictions.com, the satellite TV broadcaster is still in the middle of litigation to terminate its agreement to carry all 15 Voom channels, which are owned by Rainbow Media, a division of Cablevision. The New York area cable operator's iO cable service will continue to carry the Voom channels at least through June 30, when its own carriage deal with Voom expires.
In an analyst call Tuesday, Dish CEO Charles Ergen said, "We believe we can replace those channels with other channels that have more value for our customers. I think arguably people would say 15 Voom channels probably weren't as impressive as Disney or Sci Fi or Bravo or CNBC or CNN or TBS or TNT, those kind of channels that we now have up (in HD). Those HD networks will help make Dish Network more competitive with DirecTV's HD offering."
The new HD channels help, but Dish still lags behind rival DirecTV in the "total HD channels" bragging rights. With the removal of those Voom channels, Dish's total number of high-def channels drops from 95 to an even 80, which is still 24 total channels less than DirecTV (check out the full breakdown here).
I expect the satcaster to add more HD channels to utilize the bandwidth freed up by dropping Voom, including perhaps some of the recognizable ones it's still missing such as MTV HD and VH1 HD. Of course, it would be great if those channels actually showed real high-def material, instead of upconverted standard-def, but then again most fans of reality shows like The Hills and Celebracadabra probably don't care much.
What do you think? Are you going to miss Voom staples like Full Frontal Fashion, Keeping it Green, and Gamespotting (a series on GamePlay HD that's--full disclosure--produced in partnership with CNET Networks property GameSpot)? Or are you excited for whatever new HD channels Dish adds next?
David Katzmaier reviews HDTVs for CNET. 
It would be one thing if the channels that dishnetwork added ACTUALLY had HD content, that would be one thing, but to add "stretch-o-vision" and plaster that stoopid HD logo everywhere is another thing. Yes Voom had Monsters HD, but it was/is good NO COMMERCIAL television... again "pumped" up but none the less good programming on a specific title.
I then called back , after sending a few emails voicing my concers over losing all the Voom Channels and what was actually watched on each of them and I was told that I had been compensated with the addition of the "NEW" HD channels to make up for that. Yes I was then told that a survey had been conduced and they, dishnetwork, found that subscribers were wanting other channels. I simply said... was I included in that survey ?? They told me, no it was just from caller input... I ask... did you ever ONCE think that if I subscribed to the VOOM channels and if I was unhappy, I would not have called you ? Maybe that was a error on my part... I should have called everyday THANKING them for the wonderful VooM package. And the CSR heard that from my lips. To think of all the times I should have/could have called complaining about the sports on Dishnetwork ( no no no, don't wanna hear from the guys watching sports all the time, but u know what I mean )
Once again i fired off emails and called CSR... this time.... to actually be connected with someone on "this side of the world" who actually understood my concern and said she had been taking complaints all day. I ask her why from several lines up I was given $10.00 off for 6 months and she could not give me an answer. I told her that previously I was told that a survey had been conduced. All she could tell me was they had taken complaints about the programming that was offered and VOOM was one of the complaints. I fluffed that one off as well, still boiling that the channels were gone to read elsewhere that DirectTV mite be picking them up.. So... silly me... called DirecTV who was more than happy to lead me into their cult and want to sign me up. I told him what I was currently paying Dish... 138.00 a month with 2 receivers.... a 301 ( which I purchased on my own for over 250.00 and a VIP222... he said WOW we'd never charge that much for those and could give u DVR service as well..... and gave me the run down. ( Didn't tell him that I had 2 Direct TV receivers in my closet that we also paid for out of pocket over 200.00 each ) So once again... I called Dish and connected to someone on this side of the world again... I was offered a DVR free of charge with installation and set up all our TV''s. I did this time think to ask for the CSR user ID and extension # and a phone # to call him at, which to my suprize, he did provide... I've not tried it yet tho...
I called again today, just to see if anything new had been happening with restoring the Voom Networks... and low and behold... once again was connected with someone on this side of the world.... Perhaps my # is flagged and won't go overseas... All the finer for me.
I'm still thinking about turning off all HD channels and getting rid of the VIP222 receiver. Hummm, I live in town.... I've not yet experienced cable... mite even give that a shot if this does not work out....
BTW: been watching satelite TV since about 1978... still have the old C-Band satellite in the garage and have a KU band satellite set up in the back yard rite now... pole compliments of dishnetwork when I had to abandon that Dish 500 for another one planted on my garage
Sorry to ramble so much.... but I think we all have the same frustration..
A Note to Charles Ergen, CEO: You really should have looked at this in a broader context than simply number of people watching a channel. You are giving away your competitive advantage by eliminating these channels.
Now you will try to compete on the same playing field DirectTV owns...and you are nowhere near their level of offerings. Rather than trying to look and feel like your competition, you should have been highlighting what makes you unique. Now I am just disappointed with the same-old-programming I can get anywhere. And frankly, I can get more of it from another provider. Not a winning strategy, Charles.
I HAVE COMPLAINED BY PHONE AND E-MAIL MANY TIMES -TO NO AVAIL. WHAT CAN WE DO-THEY TELL ME THAT VOOM WILL NEVER RETURN. HOW WILL WE KNOW IF SOME OTHER SERVICE CARRIES VOOM IN FLORIDA? I AM SO SO SO MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!
I called Dish customer service short time ago. She told me there are lots of customer complaints, and she would pass the messages to Dish management. I hope Dish will reverse its decision soon. Until then I will cancel my HD Channels from Dish package. I would rather save a few dollars than waste my time on the junks.
DishNetwork KNEW this would p*** off customers.....don't think for one minute that they really believed their bait and switch with the new channel offerings would go unnoticed. It is their firm intention that every channel you see on their network is EXACTLY the same as the competition, because these people do not care about moving the content market forward (which would entail more risk than simply matching derivatives and trying to push up the number of subscribers).
Also, the long term outlook for Dish is that they will merge with DirecTV to stave off FiOS and cable advances. Usually when Murdoch's empire is threatened, he simply tries to eat another company, and there's no reason to expect that Dish fails to see the writing on the wall and wants to position for a future sale.
Finally, if Voom survives at all it will be through IPTV distros (the future of all TV anyway) and international markets. The content producers in the US have been under the influence of fascist elements for a long time now, and although Voom was a well intentioned experiment to make a buck off content diversity, it's not wanted here; Not because people wouldn't watch it (bored, distracted f**** will watch almost anything), but because it makes the job of predicting what people will appreciate a LOT harder.
Actually they will lose more as I plan on keeping Sat service as long as it is available and I am alive. And in addition, my son and his family were planning on getting Sat service as soon as they pay off their mortgage (2 months to go!) So Dish is losing a long term customer who carried the everything package AND a new subscriber as well.
Actually they will lose more as I plan on keeping Sat service as long as it is available and I am alive. And in addition, my son and his family were planning on getting Sat service as soon as they pay off their mortgage (2 months to go!) So Dish is losing a long term customer who carried the everything package AND a new subscriber as well.
Actually they will lose more as I plan on keeping Sat service as long as it is available and I am alive. And in addition, my son and his family were planning on getting Sat service as soon as they pay off their mortgage (2 months to go!) So Dish is losing a long term customer who carried the everything package AND a new subscriber as well.
As other posters have said, Voom was the main reason I kept Dish over Direct....I do not have a contract anylonger, I will be dropping Dish in short order.
I loved the monster channel, and Equator was the best. I can't believe this has happened, too bad Dish doens't care.
- by FTBLMom61782 May 16, 2008 7:28 AM PDT
- I can honestly say that 75-80 % of my viewing was VOOM channels. I've been with Dish since 9/01 and endured too much BS. This move with VOOM is the last straw. VOOM was the ONLY reason I stayed with DishNetwork. My hope is the outrage this is creating with dish customers will have 2 results.. A- dish customers finally leave ol' Charlie as high and dry as he left them.... and B- more providers will offer VOOM and their HIGH quality HD content ... I like satellite, but will consider cable if I can get VOOM again
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Showing 1 of 3 pages (51 Comments)DishNetwork's claim to be improving the HD experience insults the intelligence of their customers... I've had all the Disney channels for years.... giving me one in HD is rediculous... Goof Troop sucked when it was premiered 15 yrs ago... stretching it and adding the HD icon isn't fooling me into thinking you've showered me with fabulous NEW content... Don't P#%$ on my leg and tell me it's raining
Dish dropped the ball and customers will be dropping the service