Dallas Nets

[MikeP]

Any news regarding the day the Dallas Nets go to spotbeam? Is it true they will be replaced with Chicago Nets if you currently receive Dallas?

[Marcus S]

According to a letter from Soraya's office, because I beat them to the pass asking this question, letters will go out to Dallas distant net subs in May and switch to spot will occur within 45 days after. Also, if you have waivers for Dallas currently, E* "will not" request waivers on your behalf when they switch you to the closest distant net. You must request them and if you are now served by spot, more than likely they will not be approved.

[MikeP]

Thanks, Marcus. I guess that means they could switch us to Denver or Atlanta. Chicago seems to be the furthest of the three, but it's still in the Central Time Zone.

[Cheyenne]

Marcus, you have link/document supporting this rumor?
IF so, please post.

[Marcus S]

FACT or call Soraya's office for yourself.

[Cheyenne]

Oh, Please......
No statement from Echostar then?

[tampa8]

Loleen Balinger from Echostar also returned my question by saying Dish will indeed be taking Dallas off Conus and onto spotbeam. I also started a thread sometime ago that holds true today - after taking Dallas off the list of possible choices it was put back on the website. As a test - I called CSR just before posting this, and I could still choose Dallas today, but not as a package - just A La Carte. Don't ask me why. But I do believe this is past rumor - it will happen and I don't know that Dish would actually "announce" it anyways. A letter or phone call will probably go to anyone who subscribes but no longer can before it happens.
Finally, it does occur to me that Dish is not aware, or chooses not to emphasize those things that make it different from Direct (or cable) and subscribers might really like. Try finding the superstations on the website. It is only after qualifying for locals that you can see them. Sports Pak? nowhere on the website. And now narrowing the choices for distants. While not the end of the world, it seems to be bad decisions. Then again, perhaps it is only those that would be at this forum that care about those things. Who knows.

[Marcus S]

What is interesting is when you say ok I'll take Dallas alacarte. "Oops, sorry the system want let me give them to you."

[tampa8]

Originally posted by Marcus S
What is interesting is when you say ok I'll take Dallas alacarte. "Oops, sorry the system want let me give them to you."

Did you try that? I didn't think to go that far - it came up as a choice to the CSR and I stopped at that.

[Marcus S]

Yes I did. Qual says I can get them, billing computer says no. "Can I put you on hold while I talk to my super" ... "sorry, we can no longer offer you those net channels.", "we can give you Chicago, isn't that the same thing?", NO!, "have I nice day and thanks for calling Dish Network". 2 mo's later E* still has yet to remove them from qual database, but be assured, you cannot add them.

This all started the 1st week of Mar. I heard the rumor that E* was pulling Dallas distant nets, I already sub'd to Dallas Fox and NBC, so I thought I would add the pak to grandfather them in until D day came. To late, E* made the decision, effective Feb 28th. No new Dallas distant net subs. Ironically E* also offered me Tyler with a lame excuse that those nets would be replacing Dallas. Humm.. isn't Tyler already on spot? Yet again, qual says I can get them, billing system wont let anyone add them.

The E* pilot light is definitely, out.

[MikeP]

If they're planning to eventually take distants off CONUS and just leave us with LA and NY, I think that's a bad decision. Nets and superstations are the only reasons I still have a DISH sub.

[Chris Freeland]

I suspect as more and more people are able to sub to their locals their is less and less of a market for distant nets. I would not be surprised that within the next year or two we will only be left with NY, LA and possibly Denver, this would give a distant net for each tv time zone and would free up more conus bandwidth for additional National programing that would benefit more subs. I suspect Supers will remain as long as too many local channels do not enforce their syndex wrights, their are many that have locals who do not have a WB and or UPN channel in their local market and for others who like the Supers for extra sports and syndicated programing.

[FTA Michael]

Originally posted by tampa8
Try finding the superstations on the website.The page "Do you offer any UPN and WB stations?" is at http://faq.dishnetwork.com/questions/74.asp?sc=%2F&cboSubCategory=0&cboCategory=73&txtSearch=&pg=1 Superstations are underpromoted for two good reasons. 1) Some potential subs aren't eligible, so it would be a turn-off to lure them with an offer only to have to tell them they can't get it. 2) Loud promotions could arouse the attention of more local stations to enforce their syndex rights.
Sports Pak? nowhere on the website.Hmm, I can't find it either. Someone without the sports package could check My Account / Add Programming / Sports to see if it shows up. (When I try it, it tells me I already have everything that's available in that category.)

[wesmills]

Originally posted by MikeP
If they're planning to eventually take distants off CONUS and just leave us with LA and NY, I think that's a bad decision. Nets and superstations are the only reasons I still have a DISH sub.

I'm trying to get a cheap E* receiver and dish (without a contract) just so I can be grandfathered in to getting distants via an ala carte package. Personally, I rather like the NY and LA distants I get via DirecTV, but Denver and Atlanta seem interesting as well, so those are the two I will take when I get the hardware. At the very minimum, if I get in now, they likely won't force me onto a AT package in the future. :) Plus, the superstations would be nice, since our local UPN channel isn't all that great.

[MikeP]

Originally posted by wesmills


I'm trying to get a cheap E* receiver and dish (without a contract) just so I can be grandfathered in to getting distants via an ala carte package. Personally, I rather like the NY and LA distants I get via DirecTV, but Denver and Atlanta seem interesting as well, so those are the two I will take when I get the hardware. At the very minimum, if I get in now, they likely won't force me onto a AT package in the future. :) Plus, the superstations would be nice, since our local UPN channel isn't all that great.

That's all I have left with DISH. I switched to DirecTV because of the situation regarding YES, but kept locals, distants and supers. It costs $22.98/mo. I don't think DISH really cares whether you have a base package sub or not, as long as you pay the $5.00 access fee per month. The CSR basically told me I could do whatever I wanted to do regarding programming and packages.

[dishrich]

Originally posted by MikeP
That's all I have left with DISH. I switched to DirecTV because of the situation regarding YES, but kept locals, distants and supers. It costs $22.98/mo. I don't think DISH really cares whether you have a base package sub or not, as long as you pay the $5.00 access fee per month.

That's EXACTLY what I'm paying as well for the complete Denver local pkg, NY & LA distants & superstations. :) :) :) (Chicago is covered with my D* system)

[Marcus S]

In general, many sub to their locals, but when qual'd would like to receive their home city as well.

[navy8ball]

checkout adding distant nets on the E* website.you have to be signed up to your account to add distant nets.

[Marcus S]

Yes, but the issue is that E* was advertising Dallas as available to qualifying subscribers on distant net qual lookup. When you call to add them you where told no. "They are no longer offered as a pak or alacarte" nor is their an option to add them from the your account / add programming screen.

Yes folks, E* finally got around to pulling Dallas as a distant net all together as of today.