TNT / NESN

[hockeynut]

any news?

I just saw that E* has both channels still showing on the EPG on Jan 1st


Antonio

[Steve Mehs]

Both channels will still be in the EPG because theyre active now. According to a SkyReport article from last week or the week before, Charlie is more hopeful on keeping TNT, but is still not too optimistic on NESN.

[KeithLINY]

SkyREPORT 12/31/02-DISH Inks TNT-NESN Deals


- - - DISH Inks TNT-NESN Deals - - -

EchoStar finalized two key network carriage
agreements, ensuring that Turner's TNT
and New England Sports Network (NESN)
will be available to DISH Network
customers in 2003.

On the TNT deal, EchoStar said it has
completed negotiations with Turner
Networks for continued carriage of the
popular channel, which delivers a lot
of NASCAR coverage. Terms of the deal
are not available.

According to CableFAX Daily, TNT signed
off Charter as well, leaving Comcast as
the only major MSO left without a deal.

As for NESN, EchoStar said it reached an
agreement to continue delivery of the
regional sports network into the new
year while the two sides continue contract
negotiations. NESN carries Boston Bruins
hockey and Red Sox baseball for its New
England audience.

http://www.skyreport.com/

[Adam Richey]

NESN isn't out yet. It looks like they just extended the current contract as they continue to negotiate.

[Mark Holtz]

Hmmm..... if a current contract is extended, then they may be be hashing out some final details, and both parties are liking the deal. This is a good sign, unlike ABC Family and ESPN Classic from last year.

[TNGTony]

Ever wonder how come prices are going up in February for the thir year in a row? There is your answer. Between the TNT an NESN deals long with other channels that have raise their rates, it's got to come form somewhere. And that somewhere is OUR pockets.

See http://ekb.dbstalk.com/17

Happy New Year!

See ya
Tony

[Steve Mehs]

With the price increase of $2 on all the major packages, E* is no longer as competitive with D* as they used to be. Total Choice Plus w/Locals is looking better and better all the time. If John W's info is correct, which given his record, it will be. My mom will be pissed to find out our bill is going up once again. I wouldn't be too surprised, after our contract is up with E*, if she seriously considers switching to D*. Plus she really wants a dual tuner PVR, almost ordered one at Sears the other day. By late summer the price on DTiVo2s should come down a little. Looks like we may not see our 5th Year Anniversary with Dish.

[bunkers]

Remember that the direcTIVO EPG(s) are slower than sin after your used to the DISH EPG.

Also, the DISH PVR(s) are free -- and direcTIVO will run you $250 lifetime or $5/month.

And -- you'll spend a lot of money on new equipment to make the change -- just to save $2 a month and get dual tuners.

Now to counter myself, the 721 isn't a cheap upgrade either!

I reccomend that my mother-in-law get direcTIVO about a year ago -- and she loves it -- but I just can't stand those slow EPG(s)!

[Jacob S]

I bet you that DirecTv will follow with a $2 price increase as well.

[FTA Michael]

I hesitate to bring this up, but I think it's worth mentioning.

Any intelligent business will set prices to maximize profits. Period. The goal could be higher short-term profits (higher prices now) or long-term profits through increased market share (lower prices now), but the primary goal of any business is profits.

Suppose all of E*'s programming suppliers quietly cut their rates so that E* saved $10 per subscriber per month. Would our rates go down $10? Of course not. Charlie might drop the rates a dollar to two as a gesture to gain market share, but that's it.

If this were a cost-plus business, our rates would go up a few pennies every time a new programming contract was signed. It's not. The rates are set at $x.99, and rate increases are limited to once every year or two; these are measures designed to balance customer satisfaction with highest profits.

Think that a business needs to cover its costs? Not in the short term. Look at Amazon.com, which suffered through years of losses as it built market share. E* is sitting on a huge pile of cash, so if it wanted to low-ball the market to gain market share, it could.

When a business raises rates in a highly visible way, it's good PR to blame the suppliers, or the rising cost of labor, or the cost of regulatory compliance, depending on the industry. It all sounds better than the undiplomatic truth, that the business will charge whatever price will give it the most profits.

Don't be fooled.

--Carload

P.S. Mind you, there's nothing wrong with any of this. Free enterprise, when working properly, creates competition that provides us all with the best products at the lowest cost. Business owners deserve fair returns on their investment, and the smartest, most responsive businesses deserve the highest profits.