Is SA Worth $11.99/mo

[Chris Freeland]

Once I am working full time again I hope to reactivate my E* service, in the past I subbed to AT150, Supers, PBS, Atlanta and Denver distant NBC and CBS. Once I reactivate I am considering AT120/locals/UPN Super, with SA instead of AT180. My favorite channel in the SA line-up is 3ABN which I can get Free ota with good pq on a near by LP TV station. I think I would like Safe-TV and Gospel Music TV, I also have a 15 year old daughter who might enjoy the contemporary Christian and Christian Rock video music channels. Since I get 3ABN already, is the rest of the SA lineup including the other channels mentioned worth $11.99/mo.

[Ray_Clum]

If the contemporary Christian and Rock video channels keep your daughter away from MTV, its definately worth it!

[TNGTony]

TVU and Spirit are excellent music channels. I also like the family friendly programming on FamilyLand.

See ya
Tony

[mwgiii]

TVU reminds me of the MTV I grew up with in the early 80's.

Good music, VJ's who are funny & cutting edge without profanity.

The Ten Most Wanted is a must see show.

You can get a sneak peek of TVU here:
http://tvulive.com/watch.htm

[Pepper]

The Worship Network is definitely worth it. If I'm feeling depressed, spending some time appreciating the wonders of creation and reading the Word will get me out of it.

[RJS1111111]

I'd say it's worth the $12 per month. There isn't any guarantee that they'll ever offer the lifetime subscription again, and it's likely to be around $500 if they do, but I would still consider it if offered again, if I hadn't already purchased two (one for my own household and one for my parents).

In my view, the channel and content choices have been generally improving over the years, and there is quite a lot of programming that is worth watching. SA has a long way to go to achieve its lofty goals, and can only reach them with our prayer support, subscriptions and donations.

Having SA available in your home can really make a positive difference. Because of differing tastes and a fair amount of duplication and repetition, there may not always be something good on, but there usually is.:D

I think the owner of Safe TV must be a Seventh-Day Adventist, because quite a bit of SDA programming appears on there as well. Familyland is the only specifically Roman Catholic channel, and offers some entertainment programming.

[rcbridge]

Just try it for awhile if you don't like it it will cost you the downgrade fee but if you do, it's all worth it.

[Chris Freeland]

I think the owner of Safe TV must be a Seventh-Day Adventist, because quite a bit of SDA programming appears on there as well. Familyland is the only specifically Roman Catholic channel, and offers some entertainment programming.

Yes Safe TV is owned by a Seventh-Day Adventist business man. It is a combination of the SDA programing and the safe secular programing that appeals to me on this channel. Yes I might also enjoy some of the entertainment programing on Familyland too.

I am still out of work at this time except for some temp jobs (please keep me in your prayers that I may find full time preferably IT work soon), however I may be in position to re-instate my E* subscription in 2 - 4 weeks or so and I will likely get just AT120 and Supers at first, however once I am working full time again I hope to upgrade my equipment including a DVR522 and add my Chattanooga locals which require a SuperDish and maybe the DPP44 switch will be out by then so I can easily integrate a 2nd dish for SA.

[TimL]

Chris:
I think Sky Angel would be a bargain at $14.99. I like the Family-Friendly programming..And although no one has really said much about it...I like the Radio Programming Especially Moody (Which we can get on air in the Cleveland Area) Oasis..(with a station in Canton as well)..But my favorites are BBN from North Carolina (Which I have begged them to put a station in the Canton area for years) Sacred Favorites (which actually runs on a subcarrier of Northern Christian Radio in Michigan) Solid Gospel Radio and Bott Radio Network. I only wish they would get more Family Friendly sitcoms on some of their stations..They show the same ones all the time..there is so much more out there IMO..

Tim Lones
Canton, Ohio

[ibooksrule]

i am 28 and i love sky angel although i have watches less because i am having to much fun with my HD programming but i still love it. I now have voom and sky angel and dish and i love SA its very good i remember mtv back in the days before digital cable and stuff back when it was first starting and it wasnt bad back in the day it had good funny clean djs and better music. Today mtv is worthless, when mtv2 first came out it wasnt to bad but now its junk too. I still like vh1 though and its behind the music and Vh1 classic i like too sometimes it reminds me of mtv in the 80s. but you cant beat tvu and spirit i like both. TVU is awesome when i want some hard edged music and when you want to listen to more contempery try spirit. They are awesome people the ones who own tvu,radiou and spirit i use to work for a christian radio station simlar to radiou and we knew the people at radiou and they are great christians and just awesome people. They even have a helpline you can call thats an 800 # and they are very helpful. Good place for your daughter to get advice or a good christian to talk to rather then listen to the junk on MTV. I love the programming on SA and i think its worth every penny some channels are better then others but all in all this is one great prgramming package and it is worth all of the money spent to get ths great programming. great in a world wear most of what you see and hear is neggitve and disturbing SA will offer you comfort and joy and just great programming

[genemcd]

I was an early adopter with Sky Angel and paid $300 for a lifetime subscription back in the 90's sometime. Since that time, we've changed to DirecTV for our mainstream programming but we still have Sky Angel on a couple of Dish receivers. I would hate to be without it. I listen to the radio more than I watch TV anyway and I love having their selection of radio stations. I wasn't happy when they switched from K-Love, Air-1 and Pulse-FM but I thoroughly enjoy WAY-FM and BOTT (have to take the bad with the good sometimes). The audio channels, Worship, Spirit and a couple of the others would be worth the monthly charge to me. I just wish they could expand their horizons and offer more...especially audio!

[Mike Richardson]

Sadly, SkyAngel still only has two transponders. Unless they can get another one then their programming will be limited for years to come.

[RJS1111111]

Sadly, SkyAngel still only has two transponders. Unless they can get another one then their programming will be limited for years to come.
True, they currently operate on only two transponder frequencies (tp 25 and 32) at only one slot. They actually own the rights to eight, but have leased six of them back to DISH. I can't remember whether this deal was made for the remaining operating life of E3, or "just" until SA can get its own satellite launched and operating.

Either way, as you say, it'll probably be several years before they can get out of the lease. Of course, while in place, the lease is also an excellent source of revenue for SA; probably much more than the subscriptions and donations. But it may not sit well ethically with them, since these revenues are from DISH, which gets its revenues from subscriptions to all kinds of programming (including unwholesome kinds).

As I've mentioned before, if/when SA does get its own satellite launched and operational, I presume they will put at least some spot beam capability on board, potentially allowing international re-use of their FCC-licensed frequencies, e.g. for Europe and Africa. They might even be able to take back the leased frequencies from DISH.

They are also hoping to get international licenses for two other slots, in order to blanket the whole world.

Their international production facilities are still under construction. Hopefully their completion will allow the production of more high-quality original and international programming (sooner rather than later). This should attract more subscribers and donors, and allow them to expand their satellite broadcast capabilities.

[mwgiii]

I think a great solution for Sky Angel to increase subs would be to settle their litigation with Dish Network.

Sky Angel would drop their suit in exchange for Dish Network allowing all SA channels to show up in subscribers guide (like Showtime/HBO if you don't subscribe).

Most Dish subs don't even know Sky Angel exists.

[Sonnie Parker]

I for one didn't know I could get Sky Angel through E* until just now. I'm not sure why I haven't clicked on this forum until now. I thought all the religious channels available were already on E*. The ones available I haven't been too impressed with. I'm not too much into healing shows and stuff that's not scriptural.... but it sounds like SA offers more appropriate Christian programming that I and the family might like. The idea of getting my 14 year old daughter away from MTV sounds really good. I've already made my mind up to lock out MTV anyway. It's gotten really bad. Of course I really need to be locking out some of those shows I watch as well... I'm guilty myself of watching The Shield, Soprano's, etc... I'm addicted to cop and mafia type shows.

[hankh]

I like getting the old westerns on SA. I hope that they will expand programming, when possible, to include some PBS items too.

[James Long]

I can't remember whether this deal was made for the remaining operating life of E3, or "just" until SA can get its own satellite launched and operating.
Life of E3, but it may be permissive enough to let SA leave E3. The restrictive part of the deal seems to be:
1) Service Provision: E* is required to continue to host SA until E3 dies
2) Non-Compete: E* cannot add new religious stations nor can SA add non-religious ones
3) Space Provision: E* can use six of SA's transponder licenses until E3 dies

Considering that TP28 is apparently dead on E3, a SkyAngel owned and operated bird would get their current two transponders ans possibly TP28 (a 50% increase in usable bandwidth) even if E* gets to keep the rest of the transponders until E3 dies. Then again, E* might be able to tune TP32 down and recover TP28 for use.

I think a great solution for Sky Angel to increase subs would be to settle their litigation with Dish Network.

Sky Angel would drop their suit in exchange for Dish Network allowing all SA channels to show up in subscribers guide (like Showtime/HBO if you don't subscribe).
Two separate issues. The first is settling their suit. It does not do SA well to be suing to keep religious broadcasting away from the public. Their mission is supposed to be to get the message out, not to get the message out to people willing to pay them. It's like a church taking the offering at the door on the way in ... refusing admittance without a "cover charge", and suing their neighbor for offering free ministry.

The second issue would only affect 61.5 dish owners, but it would be nice to see those channels as available (just like the many Internationals). Perhaps even add them to the instant order selections like Showtime, Bloomberg, and some of the porn channels. E* doesn't really want to solicit orders for SA.

BTW: The 9400 range PI channels are also hidden on E* receivers from subscribers who don't get them (Dish Latino and non-subscribed units). Opening up SA channels to being in red would also make them visible in the guide to non-subscribed receivers. A good thing.

I thought all the religious channels available were already on E*.
Quite the contrary. E* got a few religious channels as "Public Interest" and one more as a paid channel before making the deal with SA to not add any more religious channels. They allegedly broke the deal by adding FamilyNet (on 61.5 or 148) and Daystar - which E* claims are non-religious channels.

There are a lot of religious channels out there, even more than Sky Angel as the room to carry. SkyAngel has also been forced to drop channels in order to add new content. Most of those dropped channels are still out there.

JL

[Spruceman]

I find it worth the price for Worship (9732) alone. I have no use for the right-wing bigots spewing divisiveness on some of the channels, nor for the so-called Christian Rock music on some of the others. But Worship alone plus a couple of the audio serivices SA has made a life sub a bargain. I just hope it doesn't disappear as Praise (9731) did awhile back. I just wish they'd have a couple of audio channels with traditional hymns (one instrumental, one an instrumental/vocal blend) as Christian music was 50 years or so ago before rock began infecting the musical world.

Yes, they definitely need to use a third transponder. PQ is a drawback.

[hankh]

The Worship channel is definitely worth the subscription price! However, who is a bigot, seems to be a subjective judgement as they seem to cover the entire political spectrum.

[jegrant]

I'm unclear how SA* putting up their O&O bird would give them another transponder. If they owned a satellite that *could* use one of their frequencies that E* currently can't, wouldn't E* just require them to use that one, and any other one they would choose, thereby preserving the 6/2 balance? The only way I could see it, would be if they were able to re-negotiate (perhaps by promising to use DVS-1 as a backup in case of E-3 failure? And/or settling the lawsuit by canceling the whole agreement with E* early?)

(Note that I realize SA* may not want to carry some of E-3's programming due to its content, but perhaps a deal could at least be worked out to carry international channels, as for many expatriates, if E-3 went down (and they were unable to immediately repoint to 119 or 110 (or 121?)) they would have no service in their native language. I would like to think SA* might consider that as a factor.)

FWIW, I don't even understand why it's taking so long to settle this matter, because SA* had posted to their "hidden" website at skyangel.com/echostarlawsuit that (at one point) the matter was going to arbitration which would be completed in 30 days.
At that site, in fact, it states (in a paragraph dated January 29, 2004) that "... EchoStar and Dominion are in arbitration, which is in less than 30 days."

What I don't get is why E*, being publicly traded, wouldn't release the results of said arbitration (even if not favorable to E*)? Aren't they required to inform investors if anything were to affect one of their business contracts?

[James Long]

I'm unclear how SA* putting up their O&O bird would give them another transponder.
Their deal with E* is "you loan us two transponders to broadcast on, and we'll loan you six licenses for other transponders". There are restrictions on the deal, but that is the basics.

SA putting up their own bird means they can get off of E*'s bird, recoup the six loaned transponders for their own use, and use all six for whatever programming they choose. (SkyAngel HD anyone?)

(Note that I realize SA* may not want to carry some of E-3's programming due to its content, but perhaps a deal could at least be worked out to carry international channels, as for many expatriates, if E-3 went down (and they were unable to immediately repoint to 119 or 110 (or 121?)) they would have no service in their native language. I would like to think SA* might consider that as a factor.)
SA's current deal with E* restricts the content they can put on the six loaned transponders, so I expect any backup plan would have similar restrictions. The internationals may be the most offensive channels left on E3. Most of the other channels are broadcast TV channels. The internationals follow the decency standards of their home countries. Which may be an issue.

FWIW, I don't even understand why it's taking so long to settle this matter, because SA* had posted to their "hidden" website at skyangel.com/echostarlawsuit that (at one point) the matter was going to arbitration which would be completed in 30 days.
At that site, in fact, it states (in a paragraph dated January 29, 2004) that "... EchoStar and Dominion are in arbitration, which is in less than 30 days."
I've seen other reports of that within 30 days but no reports anywhere that the arbitration was actually finished or the results. Either it isn't over or nobody is bragging.

What I don't get is why E*, being publicly traded, wouldn't release the results of said arbitration (even if not favorable to E*)? Aren't they required to inform investors if anything were to affect one of their business contracts?
Yes. Hidden in their quarterly reports there will be a paragraph that may or may not give enough detail to know what happened, if anything happened at all.

JL

[jegrant]

Okay, but isn't the SA*-E* deal valid for the lifetime of E3, even if SA* launches a satellite? I haven't seen any provision where launching a satellite would allow SA* to leave the deal before E3 is at the "end of its lifetime" however that might be defined. If that's the case, I must be wrong and I'll admit it. All I've ever heard is that if SA* were to put a satellite up before E3 was dead & gone, that SA* satellite would be used for international service, and would later take on domestic duties when E3 finally went. I gather however that may just be a hypothetical, because they might not be able to afford to put a satellite up until E3 is nearly toast anyway.

I hadn't really considered the explicit content of the Internationals; but that is a good point.

Cable companies do the same thing; a friend of mine complained her cable company was changing again, and I couldn't find any news stories about it or anything; the only mention was buried in the bottom of a quarterly report, that "by mutual agreement" some systems would be changing hands from one cable company to another. It didn't even list all the systems involved, and I have yet to find such a list.

[James Long]

Okay, but isn't the SA*-E* deal valid for the lifetime of E3, even if SA* launches a satellite? I haven't seen any provision where launching a satellite would allow SA* to leave the deal before E3 is at the "end of its lifetime" however that might be defined.
I don't believe anyone here has seen the actual details, so it could go either way. It would make sense that E* would be protected against losing use the six transponders as well as SA is protected against losing their two. But at this point SA has no negotiating point. They MUST rely on E* or be cold off the air. Having their own bird provides (at least) the potential for independence.

If that's the case, I must be wrong and I'll admit it. All I've ever heard is that if SA* were to put a satellite up before E3 was dead & gone, that SA* satellite would be used for international service, and would later take on domestic duties when E3 finally went. I gather however that may just be a hypothetical, because they might not be able to afford to put a satellite up until E3 is nearly toast anyway.
The current plan was for an international targeted satellite (which would require ITU permission, as well as any countries they target) to suppliment their use of E3. But that "current" plan is years old and reasonably stagnant.

Cable companies do the same thing; a friend of mine complained her cable company was changing again, and I couldn't find any news stories about it or anything; the only mention was buried in the bottom of a quarterly report, that "by mutual agreement" some systems would be changing hands from one cable company to another. It didn't even list all the systems involved, and I have yet to find such a list.
It depends on the companies involved. Some are very public about things and others are not.

JL

[Steveox]

These TV preachers are about Fraud!! Just like jerry falwell is,Pat Roberson is, Oral Roberts is, And Jim & Tammy Bakker was.They're out to rob your wallet every damn penny of it. I know a guy who sent a $100 to the 700 club Pat roberson said every dollar you send to the 700 club god will pay you back in interest and he`s still waiting for god to pay him.

[BabaLouie]

These TV preachers are about Fraud!! Just like jerry falwell is,Pat Roberson is, Oral Roberts is, And Jim & Tammy Bakker was.They're out to rob your wallet every damn penny of it. I know a guy who sent a $100 to the 700 club Pat roberson said every dollar you send to the 700 club god will pay you back in interest and he`s still waiting for god to pay him.

That is sort of like me stating that all residents of South Carolina are crooks just because a couple of them cheated me. Undoubtedly there has been fraud perpetrated by SOME TV ministers, but I don't think you can lump ALL of them into that category. Have you watched all of the TV channels and listened to all of the radio channels that Sky Angel offers? You will discover that there are many sincere ministries on them that DON'T make fraudulent promises, and AREN'T all about getting your money.

[hankh]

Health and wealth in this lifetime was never a promise of the gospel. Unfortunately, health and wealth theology has been marketed since the days of Simon Magus (a 1st century charlatan) and has been made more prominent by 20th teachers who subscribe to that theology and use the electronic media to promote it.

That aside, there are many preachers and teachers who hold to the essentials of the Christian faith and do not teach non-biblical doctrine. They are not flashy or pretentious and they may differ on secondary issues, but in core theology one will find them true to the Christian faith, as taught in scripture.

A brief personal study into the teachings of the New Testament will provide the needed discernment to tell the difference between the true and the false.

Kindest Regards

[Chris Freeland]

Health and wealth in this lifetime was never a promise of the gospel. Unfortunately, health and wealth theology has been marketed since the days of Simon Magus (a 1st century charlatan) and has been made more prominent by 20th teachers who subscribe to that theology and use the electronic media to promote it.

That aside, there are many preachers and teachers who hold to the essentials of the Christian faith and do not teach non-biblical doctrine. They are not flashy or pretentious and they may differ on secondary issues, but in core theology one will find them true to the Christian faith, as taught in scripture.

A brief personal study into the teachings of the New Testament will provide the needed discernment to tell the difference between the true and the false.

Kindest Regards

Lets not forget a study of the Old Testament too, to come to a true understanding of the New Testament one must understand the Old Testament too. In order to understand what God is trying to teach us requires a knowledge and understanding of the whole Bible and not just a portion of it.

[hankh]

Yes, Chris, you are right!

[James Long]

It would be nice to stay somewhere near the topic of the thread. :)

Is SA worth $11.99? For some, the answer is yes. For others not.
If you want to bash TV preachers, start a new thread.

JL