Echostar/Fox Talks Status?

[Geronimo]

I don't have any news on the rights to broadcast Fox O&Os. I am asking if anyone else does. If you choose to post speculation I would appreciate it if you labelled it as such.

[Scott Greczkowski]

My feeling on this is no news is good news.

I have a feeling there will be a deal on this one and that none of the O&O's will go away.

[Maniacal1]

Just bumping this up in case there's been any additional news.

The Fox O&O thing is going to be very big in the Boston DMA. The Fox affiliate carries the Red Sox games, and you know how we New Englanders will take to having our Sox taken away. It would be reason enough for me to at least suspend my account and probably to switch providers.

[Geronimo]

I could not agree more maniacal one.

[cnsf]

That's what we in NY said originally.....and how many could afford to defect?

[Geronimo]

Nah this is completely different. Back then we were talking about a baseball team. Now we are talking about the Red Sox.

[Maniacal1]

You're so right, Geronimo. And since I make some of my income from them, it's imperative that I have the games. I'd hate to invite the cable folk back in, but if it has to be done, it has to be done.

[motjes2]

I am in New York City. I just called dish-network and expressed my concern about E* not carrying local Fox after 6/30. Fox is the only one carrying the All Star Game on July 9th. Even if E* does not carry it, I will be able to watch it since I still carry a box of cable with Internet. But this later move by E* will force me to go to D*. Charlie is relying too much on this merge and if it does not happen do they have plan B? It seems like every effort is being put into only one plan-merge merge merge.

[Mark Holtz]

Uh, "pro-merge" is the spin that Charlie is putting on it. And beyond the Charlie Chats and possible FYI spots which I skip over, I haven't seen much promotion of the merger. There isn't even any promotion of the merger on DirecTV's or Dish's web sites beyond a link to the merger web site, and a FAQ on what a merger with Dish Network means to DirecTV subscribers.

[Geronimo]

Any news? A bump.

[zuma hans]

I hope Fox falls off the satellite.

I am sure Prince Rupert is putting the screws to the plucky Echostar hotel-room-sharing negotiation team.

With all the billions that Charlie et al have cost the News Corp. pirates, I am sure this one is a blood war!

And anything that hurts the Fox octopus's local television tentacles is OK in my book... I work for the competition!

Go Charlie! Let's see the NY, Chicago and LA overnights minus a few thousand households who can't see WNYW, WFLD or KTTV!

[zuma hans]

I saw armored personnel carriers driving down Pico Boulevard near Motor Avenue this morning at 0530.

I think this is going to be a long seige.

I look forward to getting the NASA Channel and Gobierno de la Republica in place of KTTV and WNYW beginning tomorrow.

From the Edge of America,
ZH

[Geronimo]

Last I heard a shutoff is delayed until late tomorrow (Monday). Personally I hope you all get to watch those Simpsons reruns.

[bills976]

Whether or not you agree with the content of FOX, DISH cannot expect to remain competetive if they do not have a contract with one of the four major networks. Saturday MLB games will be gone, as well as The Simpsons and syndie Seinfeld (at least here in NY). If I had known that Charlie was as stubborn as an ox when it comes to these things (I was on Time Warner when ABC's contract expired), I would not be a DISH customer. Thank goodness that I picked up lifeline cable service to get YES.... I didn't think I'd be using it for WNYW.

[Maniacal1]

Looks like we get to keep Fox:

http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/020702/200207020604000243_1.html