Dish Network customers lose FX, Fox Sports, NatGeo over rate dispute
Two of the three possible regular season final games for outgoing Braves manager Bobby Cox may be blacked out for Dish Network customers if a dispute over rates isn't resolved. CREDIT: Curtis Compton/ajc.com
If you’re a Dish Network customer and planning to watch two of the three final Atlanta Braves regularly scheduled season games this weekend, you may be out of luck.
News Corp.’s Fox is blocking Dish’s access to 19 Fox Sports channels, FX and the National Geographic Channel. The sticking point is rate increases. Dish said they are asking for transmission fee increase of more than 50 percent. Those increases are often passed on to customers in the form of higher monthly subscription rates.
In a press release today, Dish said, “Fox has flatly refused Dish Network’s request to allow customers to continue to watch these FOX channels during the negotiations.”
“Dish Network is not going to allow Fox or any programmer to bully our customers into paying such an unconscionable price increase,” said Dave Shull, senior vice president of Programming for Dish Network in the press release.
The University of Georgia football game on Saturday night versus the Colorado Buffaloes is set to air on Fox Sports South, which would be unavailable if this dispute continues.
But good news, Dawg fans: Dish has come up with a work around. It has made some channels available that most Atlanta subscribers don’t normally get, including FSN Rocky Mountain (9664) and CSN Mid-Atlantic (9667) . Those networks are airing the Georgia-Colorado game. (UPDATE: I hear this work-around did not end up happening. I’m checking with Dish to see if that was indeed the case.)
There, so far, appears to be no other option for the affected Braves games SportsSouth is scheduled to air the Braves-Phillies game tonight at 7:30 p.m. Fox Sports South is set to air the Sunday game, which could be manager Bobby Cox’s final game ever, at 1:30 p.m. (The Saturday game at 4 p.m. will air on WAGA-TV, which Dish Network customers will have access to whether this dispute is resolved or not.)
Fox has its own website about the situation at www.getwhatipaidfor.com where it also notes that the Fox broadcast network might be affected on November 1 in a separate dispute. There, Fox points to alternative options such as DirecTV, Comcast and AT&T U-Verse.
In a media statement today, Fox said, “The proposal we’ve offered Dish is fair and in line with the tremendous value we provide. We regret the inconvenience to our viewers, but Dish has asserted its subscribers do not value our channels and has made a decision to go forward without them.”
This move affects Dish Network’s 14.3 million nationwide customers. (Dish does not reveal metro specific numbers.)
According to Scarborough Research covering February 2009 to January 2010, the Atlanta metro area has 1.5 million households that subscribe to cable, 527,700 households who use DirecTV and 320,400 households who have Dish.
This current dispute does not impact Fox News, the Fox broadcast network (WAGA) or Fox Business Channel.
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305 comments Add your comment
Patti
October 2nd, 2010
5:16 pm
This is crap! it always is about money while we the viewers get screwed. I am going to miss my Sons of Anarchy and other people will be missing their favorite shows or ball games but of course Dish doesnt care.
Shelby
October 2nd, 2010
5:47 pm
Is the Texas Tech vs ISU game going to be broadcasted on another channel now? This is crap!
Shelby
October 2nd, 2010
5:49 pm
Seriously second tie this season i will miss TTU game because I have dish! Swtiching to Directtv as soon as I get a chance
Finns
October 2nd, 2010
6:15 pm
I was just wondering about this statement put out by fox “As of November 1, Dish’s position could also keep you from watching FOX’s coverage of key final match ups from the NFL regular season and the NFL Playoffs, MLB World Series, Glee, The Simpsons, Family Guy, House and other exciting FOX programming, including several new series and season premieres”. Really fox? these are local over the air channels that anyone can get they are also protected by the government and not any satellite or cable company has any control over them. This is just another tactic that fox is using to try and strong arm Dish Network into paying outrageous fees which in turn get passed on to the consumer. As a consumer I applaud Dish for sticking up for my wallet and not charging me more for a few channels.
Finns
October 2nd, 2010
6:17 pm
Oh and just a side note for all you baseball fans out there once playoffs start those are viewed on TBS which is not owned by fox.
ga fan not dish
October 2nd, 2010
7:11 pm
Anyone finding the GA game on dish network
Concrete Pete
October 2nd, 2010
7:13 pm
Awesome. Villanova vs Wm & Mary. I thought Friday nights were for high school games
Rusty
October 2nd, 2010
7:18 pm
ga fan not dish
Nope… just listen on the radio… I just got off the phone with DN…. we got screwed.
ga fan not dish
October 2nd, 2010
7:22 pm
Thanks Rusty saves me a call until Monday when I dump DISH
Didactic Rogue
October 2nd, 2010
7:22 pm
Just got off the phone with Dish … the “work around” mentioned in the article will not work, as we are blocked from watching the game on FOX Rocky Mountain because we’re supposed to be watching it on FOX South (which has been pulled). I told the guy I was moving to the Rocky Mountain coverage area for the next four hours, but he wasn’t buying it. Damn … just … damn.
richham
October 2nd, 2010
7:26 pm
Dish has blacked it out after saying it would be available. Beautiful. Maybe they will actually win one since I can’t watch the game for a change.
Rob C
October 2nd, 2010
8:23 pm
This is so stupid..there are so many good shows and movies on FX..Dish Network you guys suck…Charter here I come.
Rabbit
October 2nd, 2010
9:30 pm
One more nail in Dish’s Coffin, again management sucks, another company that does not run
based on customer’s needs, but its own agenda. Thanks Dish for your continual ripping of
whom keeps you in business. I think we should all bit the bullet and return to our local
broadcasting networks and screw all satellite and cable companies.
We the People will get all of Our Rights back, screw Rip Off Corporations.
I feel better for now, …………………….
Gene
October 2nd, 2010
9:43 pm
Thanks Dish for sticking up for your customers. We may have to do without FOX programming, but keeping the price affordable is what we expect. Normally we as viewers don’t know anything about this until the price increase is added to our bills. I think it’s ridiculus in this ecocnomy for FOX to expect that type of increase.
tree
October 2nd, 2010
10:45 pm
so I paid for nhl games and I can’t even watch them, I also do not like the idea of not being able to watch sons of anarchy
Garth
October 2nd, 2010
10:50 pm
DirecTV is the BEST provider over ALL by far! Dish Doesnt come even close to competing. It just shows by this whole ordeal.
LuckyGP0125
October 2nd, 2010
10:54 pm
Its funny too because i heard a rumor that Dish is going to lose The Weather Channel because they owe the channel money. Wont that be fun for all their “satisfied customers”. Boy do i love DirecTV. I just sit back and laugh.
acevintage
October 2nd, 2010
11:06 pm
I pay $130/mo for DISH and this is not the first time we’ve lost channels. The last time, it was the local network block and it was gone for months. No price adjustments from DISH. While I love having satellite, I could easily drop pay t.v. and go back to my antenna, and watch on demand episodes on my computer from the networks. But they’ll probably be the next ones to start charging an arm and a leg. It’s all about greed and the bottom line. And we are stupid enough to pay for it, like bottled water.
Mark Hopkins
October 3rd, 2010
12:12 am
What will take to get them to pull their stupid Fox News Network! This is Rupert Murdoch trying to extort more money from Dish and its customers. I submitted this comment on the Fox site and, of course, it wasn’t posted.
Amanda
October 3rd, 2010
12:40 am
I can not go without Sunny…not afraid to go Direct!
barbara caldera
October 3rd, 2010
1:06 am
I just got dish a month ago for these progams and if u remove they better let me out of my contract for the remaining time cuz this wasnt part of my agreements i was specific about certain progams and they assured me they will remain on dish what a f#%^rip off if they make me stay
2hellwithfox
October 3rd, 2010
12:10 pm
i say to hell with em nothing but a bunch garbage anyways
Mark
October 3rd, 2010
12:57 pm
This is ALLLLLL Fox’s fault. Dish has had me as a customer for 4 years, and I appreciate them sticking to their scruples and NOT wanting to pass the rate hike on to its customers. I love The League and Sunny, but News Corp can go pound sand for all I care – If you don’t see through this idiocy to the root cause look a little deeper. Don’t let some stupid site like “Iwantwhatipaidfor.com” dupe you into believing this is Echostar’s fault.
Fox, another reason I loathe you! Grrr……
Vinny
October 3rd, 2010
1:10 pm
What a joke they want a 50% increase for doing what.
I hope dish never gives in.
Jonathan
October 3rd, 2010
1:21 pm
Anyone who wants to switch to Direct TV can get $10 off a month for the first 10 months by using my account number when they sign up. E-mail me at Jonathan.beckler@gmail.com
ern
October 3rd, 2010
2:12 pm
Everyone find a friend with DTV, sign up and he/she gets $100, you find more disgruntled dish friends, sign them up, everyone who worked gets 100bucks! Their rules, make that money! Sorry Dish, Second place is the first loser; nice guys finish last!
Pat Hayes
October 3rd, 2010
2:46 pm
You can download Sons of Anarchy from Amazon.com for $1.99 while you are making arrangements to cancel Dish.
Ken
October 3rd, 2010
3:41 pm
I will NOT do without FX and watching the Sons of Anarchy. I will definitely switch to Direct T.V. Goodbye Dish, put out the money and suck it up. Pay your Executives a lot less and you won’t have to try and pass it on to us, the customer.
Just to let everyone know, I heard that someone stating that if you decide to leave Dish, and they try to make you pay a cancellation charge or some other B.S Charge, you can just tell them they broke a contract with you, and you will not pay and will fight it, because when you signed up, Dish offered you those same channels they now are not providing. Hope that is helpful.
Pearl
October 3rd, 2010
5:00 pm
Kudos to Dish Network!!! Their standing up for there customers,to keep their prices down.I’ve worked in the satellite business for twenty years and they are the only thats ever cared squat about what they charge there customers or customer service in general.The same thing happened about six or so years ago with ViaComm and DishNetwork.Dish turned all there channels off and end the end three or four weeks later the disput was settled and the customers won!End the end Dish lost 10,000 subscriber and life went on.Oh by the way “I’m currantly working for the other side”
James
October 3rd, 2010
5:32 pm
They want to keep prices down? OK… start by dropping all those worthless shopping channels. Seriously, does anyone really need 12+ shopping channels? And on the “budget tier” no less.
Joe
October 3rd, 2010
5:34 pm
Dont be a crybaby—all you have to do to watch your beloved sports —is simple—have a computer—have a 3 mgb dl speed—then DL Stream Torrent—install it—–then google “my p2p forums”
go there—-(you dont have to register)—scroll down find your sports event—click on it—select stream torrent player—launch it—-be patient your video will load—-im running xp—-follow the rules for windos 7 and vista—but xp works out the gate
Joe
October 3rd, 2010
5:38 pm
And another thing you people do not realize is this—-SURPRISE —-DISH and DIRECT are ONE in the SAME companies just different business models—so all you who threaten to switch—-your money is going into the same coffer—-lol—betcha did not know that!!!!!!
Aaron
October 3rd, 2010
5:42 pm
Bahah, have fun with DirecTV. They are the most dishonest company I have ever worked with billing wise. You’ll find things on your statement that will take you weeks to hammer out. See you back at Dish in a year.
Joe
October 3rd, 2010
5:43 pm
Dont Doubt ME
1911A1
October 3rd, 2010
5:49 pm
It was frustrating being unable to watch the Dogs lose (although I really enjoyed watching Florida get whupped by Bama. It is absolutely inexcusable to get hosed out of being able to watch the Braves’ final series. I’m done with pay TV. Rooftop antenna and Netflix, here I come.
ragdman
October 3rd, 2010
5:59 pm
The problem with Direct is I can’t get local channels.
joanne richards
October 3rd, 2010
6:54 pm
i have to see Sons of Anarchy…. will do whatever i have to
A.X. Perez
October 3rd, 2010
6:57 pm
so how much per customer is Fox asking per channel? How much will Dish have to raise price per customer to cover? Don’t say x percent, quote dollars and cents please. In fact, what if both sides have to post amount in question on their websites, tv ads and print media?
right now both sides are asking us to take sides without adequate info.
ern
October 3rd, 2010
7:03 pm
DTV fan here, if you have the ends, splitting the bill etc.- DTV beats dish, I find dish has lots of repeats in chnnls and plenty of filler shpping chnnls- the money dish customers save hopefully is lining the pockets of these shopping channels. @ computer guy, Joe w/recording software. Record a live game t o view later? OMG! Lol save your software bucks and invest in the real thing AND on top of that, use your software… Wow! and Joe- if what you are stating is true, all the more reason to switch, right? If one company is ripping off the other of the same conglomerate, would it not be true to deal with the one that actually delivers? While the other loses customers and dollars? You postulate riddles, makes no sense now.
Angela
October 3rd, 2010
9:13 pm
I will have no issue switching companys to watch FX. I watch SOA and it is my favorite. So someone needs to pull their heads togeather or I am sure Dish will lose many.
Mr. Green Mountain State
October 3rd, 2010
9:26 pm
I’ve been watch’n FX for 10yrs+ now & once I found out that DISH Network has drop’d the FX channel, I was shock’d. I guess I have to go to a friends house to watch Sons of Anarchy
Ryan
October 3rd, 2010
10:54 pm
does no one get that fox is just being a big bully trying to fill their pockets even more then they already. there press release made them sound liake they were the best network on tv. screw that i can live with out em if necessary to show that they cant just keep taking money from people because they think they can. screw em….and im guessing that fox will pull my post cause they dont want any real criticism on their site. and the fact that Fox has done this to every provider including direct tv, timwarner etc
Ryan
October 3rd, 2010
11:05 pm
sorry same post i posted on fox’s website so just ignore the fox wont post my post thing
Ashley
October 3rd, 2010
11:48 pm
I wish I didn’t live in the middle of nowhere so I could get cable if dish doesn’t do something I may be switching to directv! It’s sad though cause I’ve been with dish for about 10 years now!!!!!!
Mike
October 4th, 2010
12:22 am
well dish can kiss another customer good bye,dish is a service provider [ in this case that service is entertainment and I am no longer entertained ] so I will have comcast tomorrow and dish can sue me for the early termination fee.
gawxnative
October 4th, 2010
11:38 am
Folks, If you look it up Direct TV is part/majority owned by News Corp (Fox) and Liberty Media (who also owns the Braves….This is all part of the rate dispute for selected Fox Channels with the other Channels due up in the next few months….Part of the problem with “broadcasters” also owning the “delivery” services (SAT, Cable etc).
Brian
October 4th, 2010
11:44 am
Right On Ken, charge extra for the mexican channels to cover any increase Fox Corps. wants to charge! And it’s not Dish Networks fault about this whole thing….it’s Fox Corps. that wants to increase the cost of their network by 50% and although it’s probably only going to reflect a $1 increase in our Dish Network bill, I am happy they are fighting Fox on the increase! Hey, it’s FOX that is taking our FX, Sports Channels, NatGeo off while they are negotiating, not Dish Network. If FOX was decent in any way, they’d leave all the channels on while negotiations are in progress.
And to ” bornloser”…boy, that name fits you perfectly…..Not everyone can get cable you frickin’ idiot…that’s why we get satellite service.
Manchu
October 4th, 2010
12:18 pm
I switched this past saturday, the day after the change. Not only am I losing Fox Sports West which gives me free MMA on a weekly basis, I lost FX which was MAIN reason for the switch. As a DIE HARD Sons of Anarchy fan, and Its Always Sunny fan, this was UNACCEPTABLE. Plus NatGeo, no more Dog Whisperer or educational shows for my son. Sorry DISH, i know they were just trying to help us save a little, but Direct TV deal i just got will save me $50 a month, plus add more channels!
Fred
October 4th, 2010
12:58 pm
Screw sports.. No Sons of Anarchy….That sucks!!
Back to Cable we go… I loved paying 60 dollars less a month…
Bridget
October 4th, 2010
1:00 pm
This is totally unfair to the Dishnetwork customers! We are stuck in contracts with them that cost hundreds of dollars to get out of but the biggest thing I see is that when I entered into my constract I was given a channel line up that included these channels. Now I think they should have to let us out of the contract without fees so I can go back to Direct TV! I know, I know…dream on and write the check! It’s just not fair at all! So much for Sons this year.