The Official November Charlie Chat Discussion Thread

Well, it's that time again. Dish Network said that they would read our questions here at DBSTalk so I guess we will see what happens tonight. Stay Tuned!!!

It's 6:30 mountain time right now, and my prediction is that the 1st 40 minutes or so will be about the merger, 10 minutes about the benefits of upgrading to AT150, 5 minutes about the 721 and 5 minutes of question time.

Okay, I surprised someone didnt point this out, Hawiian Music is 981 and Holiday Music is 982. I dont know why I thought Hawiaiin Music was 981.

Steve

POINTS WORTH MENTIONING

4700 Download of OpenTV from now untill December
Some info on 721, basically saying it will be avaliable some time next year. (showed picture)
Starting this Wednesday 982 will be Holiday Music.
Over 200 channels have requested must carry.
IFC/WE/RC will be split when merger is complete
Yes E* will offer NFL ST as long as merger is approved before start of season
Indy and Orlando will not have WBs due to retrans.
All will have PBS
No religious Christmas muzak on 982
Normal new programming announcements that took place last month
Merger will take about 9 months to be approved by FTC and FCC
No one will have to buy new equiptment

Sorry it took me so long to get it here. This site is running like Molasses here

Anyway... here is what I've posted elsewhere

Sitting here listening to the repeating elevator music on channel 101 while
waiting for the Charlie Chat, I wonder why they don't just use one of the
Muzak channels. Anyway, I ponder to this vibrant tune what Charlie and Jim
will have to say this month. I also wonder how much longer it will be
before current DirecTV subs get to enjoy these Chats first hand. Could it
be that they'll actually say something of substance about the merger?
Programming? Anything of substance? Who knows. So, having said that, here
is the November 2001 Charlie Chat summary....

9pm sharp... a new opening for the Charlie Chat! Is this Charlie Chat or
Conan O'Brien? Funny opening.

Echostar in the news: What does it mean to you? says Brian Olsen.
Here are Jim and Charlie

Jim tosses it over to Charlie.

Charlie's says that Hughs has agreed to merge with Echostar. The merger
will hopefully lead to lower cost and more channels.

We are looking to do up to 100 local cities after the merger. They show a
ton of western markets including Spokane, Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado Springs
and many others. In the east Hartford, Louisville, Lexington, Jackson Miss,
New Orleans etc. Lots of channels.

Other advantages of the combo. More HDTV, competitive national pricing,
faster introduction of High Speed internet Access via satellite. Combining
the services and spreading the cost among the subscriber base will make it
more possible. Able to negotiate with the programmers on a "more level
playing field". ESPN has raise our rates 20% every year.

We know that some rural area will have no real multichannel choice so we
will have national pricing so the rural customers benefit from the
competition with cable.

Do Dish Nets subscribers have to do anything?
No. You may have to upgrade if you want some new services. But all the
programming you get today will still be available on your old receiver.

It's going to take 9 months for the merger to be approved by the FTC FCC and
so on. So there'll be no changes before then.

Roger asks has Echostar looked at a "pick-up pack" (a la carte) for the new
company.
We've done it before, but we won't have a lot of added flexibility. The
programming sources generally do not allow it.

Call from Robert: Channel 131 is it going to be split?
Until the merger they will continue to share the channel. After the merger
then they will be split.

When can we expect to see more channels:
First thing will be more LIL channels almost immediately. The HDTV. Longer
term you'll see the merger of the equipment and then broadband satellite
launching 2003 and service in 2004.

Tom Campbell asks about the January First must carry channels.
Must carry does start on Jan 1. 200 channels are going to be added com Jan
1 eventhough "No one" watches them. We're forced to add them. Charlie
shines a little more about the must carry...
We'll announce them on a later chat. (Presumably after they're added)
Generally all channels in the 36 markets will be up. But we do not have
room to add more cities. This is why its a great thing if we merge so we
can stop the duplication.

Brian Olsen is filling us in on new programming news,
KPLR WB on ST. Louis package available to ST. Louis subs only
Hey Dolby digital channels are available on HBO, Showtime, Starz and PPV
channels!
DishFlix is a new magazine for $19.99 a year. Buy!
International channels Arirang TV Korean channel for $14.99
and Record International Portuguese channel for $14.99 by itself or 29.99
packaged with TV Globo
Free preview until Nov 30.
TV Japan is leaving 119° on December 4th.

Holiday Music is coming on Wednesday on channel 982.

Club Dish promotion Laurie is on Memorex:
For every new customer you refer to Dish, you get a $5 a month credit for a
year, a free subscription to DishFlix and more stuff. Each referral gets
you an entry to a 100,000 dollar sweepstakes.

We have a holiday gift program. Here's a commercial! The gift pack looks
like an I like 9 promo and you get a referral from Club Dish.
Brian goes over the plan in a little more detail.

Charlie says "It doesn't get much better than that!"

Jim says "you asked for it you got it" a Dish Network programming gift
certificate. We can send them to the recipient or to you to give them.
they are available now, call 800-333-DISH.

GIVAWAY TIME!
A Gift pack to whoever calls and guesses what Charlie's favorite holiday
movie is. Charlie writes it down. Charlie is waiting for Jeopardy music.

Andreas asks how does the merger affect Puerto Rican programming?
Charlie says "I haven't thought about that!"

Gordon Ludi asks when will Dish make DSL access available to its customers?
With the merger, we will be getting into that with certain partners.
Satellite delivered two way is what we're looking at.

David is satisfied with Dish network and LOVES the service. He's heard of
the Dish PVR701. When and how much?
They show a picture. Available "early next year". Engineers promise more
than they can deliver. Jim and I get it right. But the engineers
overpromise! :)

Jim Crow (is that his name?) sees HD listings on TV plus. When are you
adding this and other HD channels?
I didn't know this channel existed. New HD (about a dozen) will be put up
after the merger.

We have a winner: The movie was "It's a Wonderful Life"
Geena Borcouski (sp) wins the gift pack.

Call from Arthur. (Not Dudly Moore): Glad you bought DirecTV... hated
them, love you!
Did we pay for you to call us?

Here's Brittany Troisi (AAAHHHHH) talks about children's programming on
Dish.

9:34 PM. Lots of info for the uninitiated and lots of questions...not all
softballs either.

Now back to Charlie and Jim:

We have a great giveaway from Boomerang: Tent, Lamp, Clock, hat, CD.
Question: What programming package is Boomerang a part of?

Rich Ross GM of Disney Channel joins the panel?
What's great about Disney Channel?
We're the Disney Channel. We have to be great.
What's coming new on Disney?
Twas the Night is a new movie coming on December.
Double Teamed a movie about twin NBA players.
They continue to talk about Disney.

Let's look at what's new on Dish on Demand: Any PPV order enters into a
sweepstakes. See the web site www.dishnetwork.com/PPV

Mitch asks about using DirecTV brand name for new service. Why?
Charlie says it's a more recognizable brand name. It's possible that the
Dish name will be used in some areas (I wonder where that might
be...Pegasus)

John Easter says the NAB says that the merger will create the largest video
delivery system in the country. what do you say?
It won't be a monopoly. 97% of the country can get cable. Cable has 81% of
the pay TV market. The merger will allow us to compete on a level playing
field. The NAB just doesn't want the competition.

Ken Voss says: With the merger, will Dish be able to offer Sunday Ticket
next year?
Yes it will be available as long as the merger is completed before the
beginning of the season. Can't speak for the 2003 season, but the 2002
season will be. conversely DirecTV customers will be able to get
internationals.

Todd calls in to ask: Will DirecTV customers have to buy new equipment.
NO. Later they may need new equipment but at no cost to them to receive
what they are getting now.

Open TV on the 4700? When is it coming?
The peanut gallery responds (Jan Johnson) This is in progress and would be
completed by the end of the year. Look for channel 9500. Turn off the
receiver to get the download. The software is in limited release now.

Do they have to request that?
No all 4700 receivers will get that by January 1. If you don't get it by
then call Jan at home.

WB and UPN in cities where there are Dish Nets available.
except Indianapolis and Orlando (asked for money) WB and All markets PBS
will be added. Some additional channels will be added in markets depending
on the area.

Holiday music is secular. Why no religious music on the holiday channel?
Is it going to stay that way or is it because you don't want to offend?
Well the Dominion Network (www.echostar.swiki.net/251) has lots of religious
music. We do not program the holiday music channels. We'll find out about
the programming on this channel.

Woody Woodward asks: What do I need to receive HD programming. I have a
Dish 500.
You need a 6000 receiver and a second dish to look at 61.5° HBO Showtime
PPV CBS in many areas and test channel.
Jim adds, you can also get the 8VSB tuner for the 6000 receiver for
terrestrial HD channels.

George on the line asks: Will you have the CEO of DirecTV on the next show?
And can you add PBS Kids to the PBS channel and charge $2 a month.
Premature for the CEO.
PBS Kids is expensive and the programming is duplicated on PBS national. We
don't want to raise the rates. Sometimes channels aren't put on because
they cost too much.

Next chat December 10th!

Thanks!

Bye!

Hmmm...I wonder why they cut off that lady who was speaking with such emotion about the Holiday Music Channel?

Steve

Is it me or does it seem like Charlie is pissed at the engineers? It seems like every time he had the chance he would take pot shots at them. Suppose maybe it's because of the Dishplayer upgrade promises? Charlie stuck his neck out about the upgrades and spoke on behalf of the engineers. Maybe it was payback time.

BTW: Thanks Tony for the summary. As usual, another great job!

Maybe we will get "Music Choice" on Dish Network in addition to Muzak services.

Is it me or does it seem like Charlie is pissed at the engineers?

He did seem this way, however Charlie being the CEO has told more stories and lies then the engeneering dept could ever think of.

I would start a thread asking people to post Charlie lies they have heard on Charlie Chats, however I would be affraid of doing so in fear that the amount of traffic would be so great that it would crash EZ Board!

Scott

Maybe we will get "Music Choice" on Dish Network in addition to Muzak services.

I have been listening to the Holiday Channel from Music Choice on DirecTV for the past week. This station is EXCELLENT!!!! They play a wide selection of Holiday Favorites, from Bing Crosby, Elton John, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Bruce Springstien and more. Plus they have all the relisious songs which I did not hear on Dish Network last year such as the Little Drummber Boy, Oh Come All Ye Faithfull, Marys Boy Child and more.

Whats more is last years Dish Holiday channel while not having any religious songs they also had songs that most have never heard or were song by artists that no one has heard of.

I hope that Dish does get on the ball and offers a quality Holiday music station. Last year (before I had DirecTV) I played the Dish Holiday Channel when I had some guests at my house and I got comments on how bad the music was. One guest even asked me if i had any real Christmas songs!

Scott

Caharlie said that he would have all six networks up in all cities (with 2 exceptions) but the six networks he named were

ABC
CBS
NBC
FOX
WB
PBS
I assume it was an oversight but UPN was not mentioned.

It wasn't an oversight - UPN doesn't have the viewership that the WB has. Also the WB is now considered one of the major networks, rather than one of the upstarts. That's why UPN isn't included.

Butt her eal point was does this mean some cities wont get UPN?

That's right - some cities won't be getting UPN because of must carry. At least, not yet. That's the way I understand it.

AFAIK, KMAX-31 in Sacramento is going to be carried on Dish. They are a UPN affiliate, and carry the Kings games.