Dish dropping FX?? [Archive]

Cyclone

06-30-03, 03:09 PM

Seriously there will not be any NASCAR on FX until Feb 2004 at the earliest (an more likely futher into the year such as April). Now if Speed was on the chopping block, I'd be worried. I watch that a little too much.

My hat is off to the speed channel. They really do have a lot of top shelf Racing on their channel. Besides extensive Nascar, they have F1, WRC, CART, SuperBike, Lemans, etc... Just a lot of great series. Its good to see a channel like Speed actually live up to its name.

As for FX. Reruns of old fox shows are only worth so much.

Mike123abc

06-30-03, 03:17 PM

The negotiations must be getting tough. I wonder if Dish already has another channel lined up to take its place?

Dgenx321

06-30-03, 03:56 PM

If I can't watch The Shield I guess I'll be going to Direct.

This is getting tiresome anymore. It seems like every month Charlie is going to drop a popular channel.

music_beans

06-30-03, 04:27 PM

Just move the sheild to FOX.

The negotiations must be getting tough. I wonder if Dish already has another channel lined up to take its place?

I hope it's TRIO!

Steve Mehs

06-30-03, 04:36 PM

FX used to be one of my favorite channels when they had Vice and Blue reruns and Son of a Beach and the X Show. It's still not a bad channel and I do watch it sometimes, I hope it remains on E*.

Dgenx321

06-30-03, 04:48 PM

They can't put The Shield on network TV.

The FCC wouldn't allow it.

thescrub

06-30-03, 04:53 PM

Where's the number to call fox to tell them to quit holding the channel hostage. I'm not going to switch providers over a channel that i watch 22 hours (the shield) per year.

FTA Michael

06-30-03, 06:11 PM

:wave: Buh-bye, FX! As you go, be sure and remind us again that Rupert won't use Fox channels to unfair advantage with D*.

SamC

06-30-03, 07:10 PM

FX will carry 13 Busch Series and at least 2 regular Nextel (nee Winston) Cup races, plus the 2 non-points events and the Twin 125s.

Dish walks away at its own peril.

Observation: there is a small cadre of Charlie cultists that, should Dish drop every channel save the Charlie Chat and CSPAN, would argue that this was a wise move.

gcutler

06-30-03, 07:35 PM

FX's only saving grace is "Buffy" Reruns, but thanks to quick release of DVDs, that won't be much of a problem.

Mike123abc

06-30-03, 07:42 PM

Dish walks away at its own peril.

Observation: there is a small cadre of Charlie cultists that, should Dish drop every channel save the Charlie Chat and CSPAN, would argue that this was a wise move.

Dish cannot drop every channel.... soon they will just be shopping channels. This is intense negotiation. Perhaps they are fighting over what package it will be in. Negotiations used to be a private affair. Now both sides seem to think that going public with it will be to their advantage.

I bet they come to an agreement eventually and the channel is still carried.

Randy_B

06-30-03, 08:17 PM

It seems like every month Charlie is going to drop a popular channel Name one or two that they have dropped?????

Charlie made part of his fortune playing poker, it shows! Do whatever it takes to keep prices under control Charlie!!!

IF you drop it, how about PBSKids to take its place?

Darkman

06-30-03, 09:09 PM

Why so much noise???

IMHO - they ll end up keepin' it ... the last minute (or somethin') :)

shilton

06-30-03, 09:30 PM

If I can't watch The Shield I guess I'll be going to Direct.

This is getting tiresome anymore. It seems like every month Charlie is going to drop a popular channel.
Really...not to be rude but what is the last channel to have been dropped? The last fiasco I remember was in refernce to ABC family and ESPN Classic and I can't tell you the last time i turned to either one. If you remember what FX was when it first went on the air, they have gotten so far away from the original formula its pathetic. Really, they have become no more than a TBS or TNT clone. A few original programs and all the rest is fluff. BUT REMEMBER THIS RUPERT DEAL WITH DIRECT IS GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC RIGHT??? Let these early signs as to how Rupert conducts business to be a loud warning. Beware the media giant. Stick to your guns Charlie!!!

Darkman

07-01-03, 12:01 AM

Speaking of FX ( on a different Note :) ) - saw at Lyngsat that there was a TP change for it (at 119 sat). It is now at at TP 12 (previously at TP 19)

ch 137 BTW (hehe - j/k)
:D

ccarmichael

07-01-03, 06:05 AM

They can't put The Shield on network TV.

The FCC wouldn't allow it.

That's a common misconception. The FCC will allow anything on radio and TV. It's up to the individual stations to make sure each broadcast mets community standards.

Dgenx321

07-01-03, 07:55 AM

ccarmichael

07-01-03, 08:02 AM

And the content on The Shield would most likely not be allowed on network TV.

I love how all of you are so pro-Charlie everytime he threatens to drop a channel.

Really, how much does he pay you??

You want to know what he has threatened to drop. Off the top of my head:

ABC Family
ESPN Classic
About 10-15 Regional Fox Sports Networks
FX

Thats all in the last year.

I don't know how to respond to your comments, my original one stands. The FCC would not stop the tv series "The Shield" from broadcast TV. It's up to the individual stations to uphold community standards. Perhaps it's different in Calcutta, Ohio. Your results may vary. :goodjob: Cheers.

dbronstein

07-01-03, 08:50 AM

You want to know what he has threatened to drop. Off the top of my head:

ABC Family
ESPN Classic
About 10-15 Regional Fox Sports Networks
FX

Thats all in the last year.

No, we want to know what channels he has actually dropped. He can threaten to drop every channel if he wants to and it wouldn't bother me. I'll worry about it when he actually drops them.

Dennis

shilton

07-01-03, 08:52 AM

I love how all of you are so pro-Charlie everytime he threatens to drop a channel.

Really, how much does he pay you??

How come just because we don't agree with you, we are Pro-Charlie. I am not pro-Charlie, I just happen to agree with how he is handling this situation. If I were pro-Charile, I's say "No nobody wants TRIO or PBS Kids or Oxygen" or any other channel people keep asking for. I do want those things and I think Charlie is wrong in not adding them. But how much is too much to pay for a channel? Do you really think if Rupert gets his mits on DirecTV that they will be negotiating to keep FX on the air??? And the regional Fox Nets....ooops who owns them? I think its Rupert too isn't it??? As for ABC Family or ESPN Classic, may I ask how often do you watch them anyway? The more you look into this, it seems that Charlie is not the problem here...RUPERT IS! I hear you make no mention of him anywhere.

FTA Michael

07-01-03, 08:53 AM

In keeping with the style of some of the posts in this thread,

I hereby declare that anyone who disagrees with me is part of the vast Anti-Me conspiracy. Most of them are employed by the Anti-Me HQ, but some of them are mindless dupes who have fallen victim to Anti-Me propaganda.

At no time will I address any of the logical points raised by the Anti-Me forces because, well, they're Anti-Me, and therefore they're just wrong. Q.E.D.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Randy_B

07-01-03, 08:57 AM

I love how all of you are so pro-Charlie everytime he threatens to drop a channel.

Really, how much does he pay you??

You want to know what he has threatened to drop. Off the top of my head:

ABC Family
ESPN Classic
About 10-15 Regional Fox Sports Networks
FX

Thats all in the last year.

Hmm, according to my 1040, E* paid me about a gazillion $$$. After all, speaking up for them here adds SO much to their bottom line. Actually, I like shooting trolls and do it for free.

We are just not part of the "We hate all things Charlie crowd". I appreciate E* efforts to control the cost of my subscription. Something cable never did and is biggest reason why I haven't had cable innearly 10 yrs.

As for the stations he "threatened" to drop which ones are GONE, they are ALL there. WHY do you care what E* threatens???? Shouldn't you care about what they do. Or is it that you just hate Charlie and don't need an actual reason to whine, complain and cry?

It is easy to roll over, pay the extortion fees to the networks and channels and PASS it on the consumer and blame everyone else. It is HARD to stand on principle, say no and make choices accordingly. That is why ESPN has gone up 110% in cost over the last 5 yrs. No one said no. We all know that the argument over FX is the opening salvo in the competition with Murdoch. He owns FX and next up is the Fox O&O stations. I am sure Rupe would prefer to have ALL Fox assets only available on DirecTV and this is his early posturing. E* standing firm benefits everyone, except Sir Rupe.

Neil Derryberry

07-01-03, 09:18 AM

It seems that only a few of you actually listened to the informatio that was offered in the charlie Chat. E* doesn't want to drop the channel at all... Murdoch wants to charge an arm and a leg for it, so E* needs to make a business decision (after negotiations conclude) whether or not they can afford to keep the channel in the lineup without bumping subscription prices. So far, E* has done a really good job of keeping costs down, and I trust they will continue to do the same. If murdoch wants too much money for the channel, it goes. I honestly don't think we will lose it, because that would look really bad for murdoch to the feds.

I want to address something else...
This is getting tiresome anymore. It seems like every month Charlie is going to drop a popular channel.

Pure crap, and untrue. Some folks in here seem to think that Charlie Ergen is the devil and is out to ruin your TV experience. If that were true, Echostar wouldn't be in business. I think those folks need rabbit ears and a clue. It is only TV, for pete's sake! If you hate Charlie so much, switch providers! Nobody is stopping you!

ccarmichael

07-01-03, 09:41 AM

..... Some folks in here seem to think that Charlie Ergen is the devil and is out to ruin your TV experience. If that were true, Echostar wouldn't be in business. I think those folks need rabbit ears and a clue. It is only TV, for pete's sake! If you hate Charlie so much, switch providers! Nobody is stopping you!

From my viewpoint, Dishnet -- for me -- offers the better programming needs than DTV. I have had both; and I frankly like the Charlie Chat, and the opportunity to get distant stations after waivers. I can get the network feeds from Chicago along with my local San Diego stations. My friends at DTV can't do that. I also note that the superstation pack is unique to E*. Those two features alone kept my business. Neil, you are correct: Echostar would not be in business if they gave it away. I'm 100-percent legit from service and billing address to the cards inserted in my 301s. If the company has to drop programming, if I remember right, my remote enables me to get other channels. I have watched FX, ESPN classic and ABC Family on rare occasions, I'm more into other services -- which is an individual choice. That's the American way: freedom of choice; and if you don't like it, there are other opportunites to have from antenna, cable and satellite.

Please, no flaming, no bashing ... but I have to agree with you Neil. No body is stopping the unhappy from moving.

Peace word out.

:righton:

EvanS

07-01-03, 10:24 AM

FX's only saving grace is "Buffy" Reruns, but thanks to quick release of DVDs, that won't be much of a problem.

I am with you on this point (except insert The Shield in place of Buffy)
Last year I PVR'd season 2 until I completed watching season 1 on DVD. I also only watch Fx 22 hours a year but if it's gone Netflix will have The Shield season 3 at my door soon enough.

Jacob S

07-01-03, 10:28 AM

I, for the most part, do not care that much about FX being dropped because I rarely if ever watch the channel and I do not hear customers mention this channel that much at all. What would make me mad is if Dish Network would not add another channel in its place. Also Dish Network, from what I remember, has never dropped a channel permanently, but threaten to scare the channel to let them know they mean business. If it was a more popular channel that a lot more people watch then I am sure there would not be as strict of a negotiation and Dish Network does not want to pay more than a channel is worth if the channel being dropped would not result in a loss of a lot of business.

BobMurdoch

07-01-03, 11:04 AM

It's all negotiations people. Don't sweat it. Did anyone think that ABC Family would get renewed after all the posturing and ratings drops? We may lose it for a few days but that's it.

Cyclone

07-01-03, 11:08 AM

I have removed FX from my favorites to see how it would feel it was dropped. I'll let you know if its unbearable.

music_beans

07-01-03, 11:18 AM

I love how all of you are so pro-Charlie everytime he threatens to drop a channel.

Yup, and im proud of it! :D

Charles Oliva

07-01-03, 11:37 AM

Originally posted by Dgenx321
You want to know what he has threatened to drop. Off the top of my head:

ABC Family
ESPN Classic
About 10-15 Regional Fox Sports Networks
FX

Thats all in the last year

You forgot TNT. :)

JStanton

07-01-03, 11:42 AM

You forgot TNT. :)

And NESN

Jacob S

07-01-03, 12:03 PM

I dont watch TNT either and think that channel is not the channel it used to be. The only good thing I can see of TNT and FX is that they do show movies at times.

Chris Freeland

07-01-03, 12:25 PM

Out of all the channels that Charlie threatened to drop, the only one that was ever dropped was ESPN Classic, and that was for only a short time before it was back in the line-up.

Jacob S

07-01-03, 01:28 PM

Didn't they drop SpeedVision as well?

Mark Holtz

07-01-03, 01:57 PM

Off the top of my head:

ABC Family - ABC/Disney acquired this channel, and was going to pay for it partially through a subscriber fee hike. Dish wanted to exercise their option of dropping the channel after a ownership change. There was a dispute as to whether there was an actual ownership change because of the way the Family Channel was structured. ABC obtained a injunction preventing Dish from dropping the channel. An agreement was reached outside of court for continued carriage.

ESPN Classic - When Dish first obtained this channel, it was the Classic Sports Network before ESPN purchased the channel. The channel's contract expired at the end of December, 2001, and the fee asked was too high in Dish's opinion. Channel restored after agreement reached between Dish and ABC.

CNN/SI - Channel dropped because it ceased operations.

Fox O&O/Fox RSN - Contract negotiations from last year. Agreement reached and resulted in the addition of the much-requested National Geographic Channel.

Allbrighton locals (4 stations) - Dispute due to carriage agreement problems because of the distant locals issue. Resolved within a week due to bad publicity directed at Allbrighton.

California Community College Network (Public Interest) - Channel dropped and replaced with another public interest channel. The channel ceased operations due to funding cuts as a result of the California budget shortfall.

The Speed Channel - Renamed from Speedvision.

TNT - New contract signed. TNN was going to go to two feeds, one a "TNT Plus" feed which would carry NBA games and premiere series and movies, the other being a "TNT lite" feed where the premiere programming would be replaced with other programming.

Several religious locals - Due to agreement with Dish, several religious locals were dropped in favor of the national feed.

KTEH 54 - Unusuable signal at pop. Dropped. Reportedly, Dish is now getting a good quality signal, but has not switched on the channel.

Other locals - Some were dropped or carriage temporarily suspended due to technical failures. (i.e. transmitter failure or collapse).

Chris Freeland

07-01-03, 01:59 PM

Didn't they drop SpeedVision as well?

No, Speedvision dropped E* for a time do to a contract dispute. E* had just signed up both Speedvision and OLN, both at the time were owned by Rainbow which wanted E* to place these channels in a package and not available 'a la carte', so E* included these two channels along with the Outdoor channel in the "Action Pack" for $4.99, Rainbow felt this was the same as 'a la carte" and pulled the two channels without warning. Speedvision and OLN returned when E* introduced the new AT150 package which satisfied Rainbow, since AT150 satisfied Rainbow, E* was then allowed to re-introduce the "Action Pack" with these same channels plus Discovery Wings as well for those who wanted these channels but did not want AT150, unfortunately for some the "Action Pack" did not last long the 2nd time around either. Just a little history lesson ;) .

DoyleS

07-01-03, 06:38 PM

It is not surprising that FX is asking for more money. The Shield was a major hit last season. Their summer run of Lucky is not bad either. I would expect that E* will have to give on something. But cancelling channels that have high ratings is not good business. By the same token, FX has a lot to lose in terms of advertising if they lose E* . In my case there are at least 20-30 channels I would dump before FX butI don't get a vote.............yet.

Doyle

Bobby94928

07-01-03, 09:45 PM

Jacob S

07-01-03, 10:40 PM

I agree. One or two shows do NOT make a channel.

Randy_B

07-02-03, 08:11 AM

The Shield was a major hit last season

You must have a very loose definition of major hit. Major hit=lots of eyeballs. According to the ratings, Spongebob Squarepants IS a major hit. The Shield is barely a blip. Being "critically acclaimed" is not the same thing.

FX is not worth a single penny more than they are already being overpaid for. It didn't even reair episodes of 24 this year. That WAS it's only saving grace last year. Same for ABC Family. When they reaired Alias, it had some value. Now, NONE.

ChrisPC

07-02-03, 08:47 AM

FX did reair 24 this year, I caught a couple episodes on it.

Jacob S

07-02-03, 09:28 AM

Some of these channels are just not the same, not what they used to be. When Pat Robertson owned the Family Channel back in the mid 90's it was a better channel then.

DoyleS

07-02-03, 10:58 AM

Clearly we all have our program preferences. I tend to go for drama series like 24, NYPD Blues, The Shield, Boston Public, Hack and The Practice when it is not to weird. Fox as a network has been steadily improving their position in the marketplace. One of the reasons I upgraded to Top 150 was to be able to get Fox News. FX being the "Cable/Sat" 2nd offering of Fox programming started with a lot of reruns. Their strategy seems to be to add more original programming to increase the value of the channel. The Shield was in the Top 10 Nielsen ratings the first week it was on and it maintained good ratings all year. Chiklis even won an emmy for best actor in a drama series. My point was not to argue that this is the best show but to note that Nielsen ratings are what advertisers look for. Whether it is worth more to Charlie or whether Charlie has to pay more only time will tell. HBO drew in a lot of people with the Sopranos and Sex in the City. That was a strategy change from being just a movie channel. These shows distinguish them from Showtime or TMC. As far as worrying about FX being dropped, September is when I'll cross that bridge.

..Doyle

DarrellP

07-02-03, 12:38 PM

It's not in the Top 50, I won't miss it.

Mike8675309

07-02-03, 01:39 PM

It seems that only a few of you actually listened to the informatio that was offered in the charlie Chat. E* doesn't want to drop the channel at all... Murdoch wants to charge an arm and a leg for it, so E* needs to make a business decision (after negotiations conclude)

Heard from only one of the two players, I hardly will put much faith in what might be said by one of them.

Regardless, many of you seem to only be concerned about if it's a channel you watch. Yet what you should be concerned about is the same thing Charlie is concerned about. A channel not on Dish that is on DirecTV of Cable is a problem for retaining subscribers and growing the base.

It is in the best interest of Dish subscribers if all possible channels are broadcast on the service. Without the ability to maintain a choice of channels, it will be impossible to have Dish Network continue to grow. And through their growth, existing subscribers benefit in even more choice, and in theory, lower costs for that choice than would otherwise be possible.

ccarmichael

07-02-03, 01:44 PM

Being involved in some form with the TV industry for the past 20-years, the only certain thing to happen will be:

1. E* drops FX
2. E* keeps FX

It's all poker hands now. E* has other FOX programming. For this round, Ruppie wants a clear, and clean stamp for DTV. I predict that FX remains with E*. The channel may 'disappear' from the line-up, but it'll be back.

I really believe that the saber rattling by both sides will be fought with foam knives. It's all a matter of :money:

Chris
Oceanside 92056

FTA Michael

07-02-03, 02:28 PM

A channel not on Dish that is on DirecTV of Cable is a problem for retaining subscribers and growing the base.Dish is currently growing its sub base faster that D* despite the fact that D* has Trio, Oxygen, PBS Kids, NFL Sunday Ticket and other channels that Dish doesn't.

I want all those channels, but I can't argue that they're critical to Dish's bottom line.

Steve Mehs

07-02-03, 04:12 PM

Here's what everyone seems to be missing, but is displayed through out the thread, certain channels maybe be very important or not important to certian people. Myself, I like FX because it's there and may have something on I want to watch when nothing else is on. You can argue FX was never anything, it has gone to hell or it is the best channel in the world, but there are those who think differently. I know some out there like channels like Lifetime and WE but I can't standthem and hope E* never wastes their bandwidth on Lifetime Real Women or Oxygen.

Do I think FX will still be there in a few weeks, yes. In fact I wouldn't be too surprised if lets say Fuel (or some other News Corp channel thats not on E*) gets added as a result of a carriage agreement deal, it's possible, might not happen but I won't be surprised if it does.

IndyMichael

07-09-03, 12:11 AM

4 days to go, any news?

Darkman

07-09-03, 03:01 AM

maybe as the saying goes: "No news is a Good news" :)

Cyclone

07-09-03, 08:54 AM

Not in this case. I'm sure it would be announced when a deal was reached.

Chris Freeland

07-09-03, 12:51 PM

Not in this case. I'm sure it would be announced when a deal was reached.

Yes but if they were far from a deal their would be a lot of posturing on both sides. Since we have not herd anything, I suspect they have not signed a deal yet but are close, if a deal is not reached by the 13th I suspect their will be an extension with a deal announced soon after. This is generally what has happened in the past.

music_beans

07-09-03, 01:03 PM

Trio man! (no FX!) :D

pez2002

07-09-03, 02:23 PM

I want all those channels, but I can't argue that they're critical to Dish's bottom line.[/QUOTE]

So switch to Directv If your in need of Sunday ticket and those other channels

jeffwtux

07-09-03, 03:29 PM

I'm guessing that Dish is probably being the guilty party here. They know that if negotiations fail that Rupert is going to be in big trouble with the Feds with his merger. Charlie knows that Rupert can't afford to not make an agreement, so he's probably trying to get an unreasonably cheap deal for a very long term. Yes, it really is a poker game. In the end Dish should win because the stakes are just too big for Rupert if the negotiations collapse. This really is a poker game. Kind of funny, isn't that what their playing for? A poker show: LUCKY? :) :) :)