loss of channels

[klatu10]

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texasguy37 wrote:

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klatu10 wrote:

Dish network is notorious for doing this. Cant they all  negotiate in good faith?

Keep the channels going and find a way to come to ''yes''?

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Sometimes they do mutually agree to keep the channels on the TV provider past the deadline and continue to negotiate until a deal is done.  Other times the channels are pulled when the two sides are so far apart in the negotiations that their is no hope of an agreement in sight.

As you may recall in the dispute with Rainbow Media, AT&T was allowed to keep those channels in the lineup past the deadline even though no agreement had been reached.  Shortly after that, both sides were able to reach an agreement.

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Texas,

Good point. Ive had dish for years. They have made taking channels off the air an art.

The Voom take down of 15 channels was possibly the worst action Ive seen by a tv provider to date.

So any takedown of programming to me wether right or wrong is a horrible bussiness practice.

We, good paying subs suffer for this.

I like the face that Att and Rainbow found a way to make it work without a channel take down.

Too bad they ''all'' cant do it that way.

Im still seething at dish for the Voom masacre. Even though that was two years ago.

The only reason I have Dish is their stellar HD dvr. But Im rethinking that as well.

[kryptonite]

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Terry wrote:

The channels included in the DISH blackout are FX, National Geographic Channel and regional sports outlets like Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket. The Fox broadcast network, local Fox stations and the Fox News Channel are not part of the contract dispute.

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Keep in mind that only SOME of the FSN channels have been lost.

With the sports package, even if you lost "your" FSN, you can still watch much of that same programming on another FSN.  The loss of FSN has not meant anything for "out of market" packages.

[traderjb]

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"If MSG does not have outlets for its programming, it essentially ceases to exist, therefore, they do not have the power in the relationships with providers who will always retain a percentage of subscribers even after the loss of a major sports network. Not only would MSG cease to exist but a team whose fan cannot follow them on television will soon find a loss of revenues across the board. MSG will be forced to settle eventually.

How does this end?  Eventually, technology will make the cable companies obsolete and you'll be free to craft your own deal with providers who will deliver programming directly to your set top box. At that time, it'll be simple supply and demand. If you want to pay for DIY and the Cooking channel, have at it. It will be fascinating to see which networks survive if you actually had to pay for them."

- marcindublin

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Exactly, but the content creators may have one last salvation versus the distributors. As technology progresses, new products will emerge. If companies like AT&T and Dish keep up with frustrating viewers, whose to say that channels like the Science Channel or Food Network may just bite the bullet and go to Hulu + and/or Apple TV? Why stop there, like you said, technology will make cable companies obsolete or at the very least "dumb pipes."  With a high speed internet connection, one can get programming from everything from video game consoles to netflix to Hulu to Apple TV to whatever comes down the line. The model is changing, that is for sure, the question begs whether consumers will stay with companies tied to an earlier era.

[Chitown67]

At this point, ATT should just send us Post card of which channels we can count on for the next 12 months These post cards are getting old. ATT is having more programmig disputes than Ol Charlie over at Dish Network. The post card states we may lose: -DIY, Food network, cooking, HGTV, Great American Country and the outdoor channel on 10/31. -family net on 11/30 -Bloomberg and Eternal World tv on 12/1. It seems ATT is even getting into a Price dispute with Jesus. How about negotiating carriage agreements that give us a service that we can consider sustainable, something we can count on for longer than a few months without threats of changes?

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Expert]

Let's clarify:

Postcards like this are required by law in some states.  If a carriage contract comes within 30 days of expiring and there is no new contract negotiated, the law requires that customers be informed of that.  It in no way means that the channels are going away.  It just means that the new contract is still being worked on.

View this as more of a legal requirement (i.e. small print) rather than a notice that the channels are going away.

[kryptonite]

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SomeJoe7777 wrote:

Let's clarify:

View this as more of a legal requirement (i.e. small print) rather than a notice that the channels are going away.

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Exactly.

Odds are that many of those channels are owned by the same company.  As such, they all are set to expire at once.

I don't watch any of those channels, but I can hear the "one and done'ers" complaining now over the loss of the religious channel.  I can practically guarantee it will be amazing how many people supposedly signed up for U-Verse just for Eternal World.

OTOH, if they DO lose those channels, we can all call in and pretend like we regularly watch them, and get various discounts.

[Chitown67]

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SomeJoe7777 wrote:

Let's clarify:

Postcards like this are required by law in some states.  If a carriage contract comes within 30 days of expiring and there is no new contract negotiated, the law requires that customers be informed of that.  It in no way means that the channels are going away.  It just means that the new contract is still being worked on.

View this as more of a legal requirement (i.e. small print) rather than a notice that the channels are going away.

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That's funny. I received a post card like this about dropping Hallmark too, and then Hallmark disappeared.

[bellesmom_1]

I agree completely.  I love the words "Hallmark denied AT&T customers a fair deal" - no, they denied you a deal - you did not care enough about your customers to get a good deal.  If the HGTV affiliate channels are discontinued, so will U-Verse at our house.  What are we getting to replace? There is way too much competition out there.  Get it together ATT&T - you are one of biggest companies in the world. 

[kryptonite]

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Chitown67 wrote:

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SomeJoe7777 wrote:

Let's clarify:

Postcards like this are required by law in some states.  If a carriage contract comes within 30 days of expiring and there is no new contract negotiated, the law requires that customers be informed of that.  It in no way means that the channels are going away.  It just means that the new contract is still being worked on.

View this as more of a legal requirement (i.e. small print) rather than a notice that the channels are going away.

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That's funny. I received a post card like this about dropping Hallmark too, and then Hallmark disappeared.

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Chitown67 wrote:

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SomeJoe7777 wrote:

Let's clarify:

Postcards like this are required by law in some states.  If a carriage contract comes within 30 days of expiring and there is no new contract negotiated, the law requires that customers be informed of that.  It in no way means that the channels are going away.  It just means that the new contract is still being worked on.

View this as more of a legal requirement (i.e. small print) rather than a notice that the channels are going away.

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That's funny. I received a post card like this about dropping Hallmark too, and then Hallmark disappeared.

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But we also got a postcard about the other channel, right?

[Chitown67]

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kryptonite wrote:

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SomeJoe7777 wrote:

Let's clarify:

View this as more of a legal requirement (i.e. small print) rather than a notice that the channels are going away.

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Exactly.

Odds are that many of those channels are owned by the same company.  As such, they all are set to expire at once.

I don't watch any of those channels, but I can hear the "one and done'ers" complaining now over the loss of the religious channel.  I can practically guarantee it will be amazing how many people supposedly signed up for U-Verse just for Eternal World.

OTOH, if they DO lose those channels, we can all call in and pretend like we regularly watch them, and get various discounts.

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And for "every one and done" poster claiming undo hardship, we will also hear from all the UVerse blinded "fan boys" making excuses, heaping undo praise, and otherwise blinded to criticism.

[toltecjoe]

The change of channels is not an "inconvenience"  --it is what I signed up for.  I am SERIOUSLY UNHAPPY about the posible loss of Home and Garden and Food tv channels.  I am also NOT IMPRESSED with att languaguage about fairness.  This eventuality may prompt switching carriers.

              Joe

[ctapella]

Yeh.  That's what they said about Hallmark.  Wouldn't pay while other providers are!!

[bnichols_1]

Didn't we just get some of these channels (like DIY, Cooking)  at the beginning of August? Did ATT get a 90 day free trial that is running out?

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Expert]

Yes, we did get a postcard about Hallmark (and AMC).  AMC stayed, Hallmark didn't.  So we're 1 for 2.

That's called a small sample size.

No one knows what's going to happen with DIY, Food Channel, and Cooking TV, but I would guesstimate that AT&T has the research to show that these channels are far more popular than Hallmark.  We'll see if that translates into a deal, even if that involves a cost increase.

Or, on the other hand, the owner of these channels (all are owned by Scripps Networks Interactive and Tribune Company) may be more reasonable than Crown was.

All I'm saying is don't preemptively condemn anyone because nothing has happened yet, and nothing is guaranteed to happen yet.

[JamesTheName]

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SomeJoe7777 wrote:

Yes, we did get a postcard about Hallmark (and AMC).  AMC stayed, Hallmark didn't.  So we're 1 for 2.

That's called a small sample size.

No one knows what's going to happen with DIY, Food Channel, and Cooking TV, but I would guesstimate that AT&T has the research to show that these channels are far more popular than Hallmark.  We'll see if that translates into a deal, even if that involves a cost increase.

Or, on the other hand, the owner of these channels (all are owned by Scripps Networks Interactive and Tribune Company) may be more reasonable than Crown was.

All I'm saying is don't preemptively condemn anyone because nothing has happened yet, and nothing is guaranteed to happen yet.

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Condemn? Like alot of people on here did to Hallmark after we lost the channels because they bit AT&T's baited hook that Hallmark was being the bad guy in all this and St. AT&T was only looking out for our best interests. When in fact, none of us knows what happened at the negotiating table. We only know what both sides want us to know.

[PSommer]

If HGTV, Food, Cooking, DIY, etc. disappear, so will my U-Verse.  I'll switch to XFinity.  I've been pretty happy with U-Verse up until recently, but the potential loss of channels sucks.  I refuse to pay what I'm paying now for less options.

[twentw]

I must not understand the economics of all this.  Don't local channels support themselves solely on advertising revenue?  And give their signal away to the cable companies?  How is it that these cable networks are so adamant about holding up the cable companies - their bread and butter - for more money?  It seems to me they should be the ones paying for their programming to reach more homes, and increase their advertising revenue.  Of course, this wouldn't apply to premium networks with no advertisers.

[texasguy37 ACE - Expert]

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Chitown67 wrote:

That's funny. I received a post card like this about dropping Hallmark too, and then Hallmark disappeared.

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SomeJoe is correct.  The FCC regulation that covers the notification requirement was discussed in the thread found in the link below.

http://utalk.att.com/t5/TV-Programming/Channel-Removals-RELAX/m-p/255701#M56949

We also received a postcard about AMC, WE and IFC, and we still have those channels.  There was also postcard sent out about the NHL Network and Horse Racing TV (HRTV), and we still have those channels.

[texasguy37 ACE - Expert]

I posted the link below in another thread, but you can access the website in the link below to see which carriage agreements are expiring and renewals are being negotiated.

http://att.com/u-verse/programmingchanges

[dan58]

We've lost  the most family friendly channels on this provider, the Hallmark Channels.  The holidays are coming and this is where (besides the food and cooking channels) where our TV's stay from the first of December until the holiday season is over.

Now AT&T wants to send out a notice about DIY, Cooking Channel, Food Network, Home & Garden Television, FamilyNet, Bloomberg Television, Eternal Word Television and EWTN. 

We don't watch them all.  Most we do.  Weekends are my DIY, HGTV and Cooking times. 

Again, just like with Hallmark, we get a notice in the mail saying contracts are about to expire well, I've seen what happens when you let them expire.  We've had cable and both satellites and both were over $100 a month more expensive than what we are paying for AT&T however if that's the only way we can get the channels back that we want, we will have no choice but to go back. 

The slogan at the top of the card that came in the mail said "Rethink Possible".  Apparently, the possible is impossible.

Time to lower the bill or put the channels that have been taken back.

[schs1977]

Who do I blame? U-Verse! Here it is a month and NOTHING! As I have stated before, this shows you that U-Verse, with its 2.5 millions subscribers has NOTHING to negotiate Crown with.  Comcast, Time Warner, Suddenlink, DirecTv and Dish Network have MILLIONS more customer than U-Verse has.  U-Verse is a phone company pretending to be a cable company!!

Again, U-Verse customers, if it has been 30 days and no Hallmark, just imagine what it will be when U-Verse's contract with Disney (for ABC and ESPN) or another popular network comes up for renewal.

I have been with U-Verse since last December and I have had NUMEROUS problems and I have decided to say - at least for a while.

Hey U-Verse - enough is enough!  Level with us and stop blaming Crown!  Please don't insult my intelligence and say you are working for me to get a fair deal.  Whatever the cost ends up being, you are going to pass that cost on to us.

One question for the U-Verse employee who monitor this-  why have you not given me a credit on my bill for the loss of Hallmark?

[texasguy37 ACE - Expert]

Following that logic, should AT&T increase your bill each time a new channel is added to the lineup?

[walkingcalif]

lose these channels and I'm off to another provider, or better yet, no cable...  AT&T is already expensive.

[swede1_1]

I just got a card from ATT u-verse in the mail today.  Hallmark has already been cancelled.  DIY,HGTV, Food Network, GAC, Outdoor Channel are on the chopping block.  These are among our favorite channels.

If they are dropped, why should we keep u-verse?  I'm already checking out the other options.  They are even cheaper and have these channels.

[Karloffb]

No DIY no Att. This is BS ploy to charge more

[NorthLineTony ACE - Professor]

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schs1977 wrote:

Who do I blame? U-Verse! Here it is a month and NOTHING! As I have stated before, this shows you that U-Verse, with its 2.5 millions subscribers has NOTHING to negotiate Crown with.  Comcast, Time Warner, Suddenlink, DirecTv and Dish Network have MILLIONS more customer than U-Verse has.  U-Verse is a phone company pretending to be a cable company!!

Again, U-Verse customers, if it has been 30 days and no Hallmark, just imagine what it will be when U-Verse's contract with Disney (for ABC and ESPN) or another popular network comes up for renewal.

I have been with U-Verse since last December and I have had NUMEROUS problems and I have decided to say - at least for a while.

Hey U-Verse - enough is enough!  Level with us and stop blaming Crown!  Please don't insult my intelligence and say you are working for me to get a fair deal.  Whatever the cost ends up being, you are going to pass that cost on to us.

One question for the U-Verse employee who monitor this-  why have you not given me a credit on my bill for the loss of Hallmark?

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You're wrong. Uverse is not a PHONE company pretending to be a CABLE company. You're just too Simple Simon. Would you say Comcast is a cable company pretending to be a phone company since phone service is available with Comcast and ALL cable companies by the way.Don't forget, everything that is Uverse is AT&T, BUTeverything that is AT&T is not Uverse. For example you cannot go to any AT&T store and pay your Uverse bill. If you are leaving Uverse or you think something is wrong with your equipment, i.e, an STB, remote, RG  you cannot take it back to an AT&T store and say "I'm done with Uverse!' The people who hook up Uverse are NOT the same people who hook up AT&T POTS lines.

Then you beg us not to "insult your intelligence". I could use another "I" word about you but I WON'T and remain civil because you ask the"the Uverse  monitor" (that should be moderator BTW)  why you have not  received a credit on  your  bill for the loss of the Hallmark Channel. First, Wendy or any other Utalk moderator has the authority to make any changes on anyone's uverse bill. Second, this a peer to peer forum, not a forum for people to complain to the "Uverse Ombudsman".  Third, no Utalk moderator would  solve your woe(s) here on this forum. Fourth, what makes you THINK that you deserve a CREDIT because you LOSE one channel????????????? I am sorry if I seem to be hard on you, but you did say not to "insult your intelligence".you don't pay by the channel (a la carte)

Enjoy your weekend.!

[floyd33]

With the loss of these channels I'm ready to quit and go back to a dish. These are my love and I'm really upset!

[Nuxxs]

All the profit AT&T makes per year as a whole and they want to bully channel providers and loss some customer base over it?  This is what I hate about corporate companies.  They won't pay a little more out of their profits to keep us and future customers happy.  If they come to an agreement our TV bill will be going up next year and AT&T will not take anything from their net profits greedy POS.

[flhthemi]

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Nuxxs wrote:

All the profit AT&T makes per year as a whole and they want to bully channel providers and loss some customer base over it?  This is what I hate about corporate companies.  They won't pay a little more out of their profits to keep us and future customers happy.  If they come to an agreement our TV bill will be going up next year and AT&T will not take anything from their net profits greedy POS.

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Hummm, maybe they're trying to bully them to keep costs DOWN. If AT&T holds out long enough just maybe Hallmark and others will come around. How do they justify an increase in their prices?? They still show the same crappy (IMHO) shows. Other cable providers should hold out too and help stop the increase in pricing at a time when we are all reining the purse strings in a little. Just sayin'....

[shoe]

So have we lost the channels yet or is this pre lost [Word Filter Violation]?