DISH Network Drops VOOM HD
Posted on May 14, 2008
Filed Under Dish Network |
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DISH Network quickly reversed course on its national HD expansion, dropping all 15 of the VOOM HD channels it previously carried. This coming just days after adding 22 new HD channels on Monday.
The move, done in two steps by dropping ten VOOM channels yesterday, and the remaining five today, has drawn cheers and jeers from DISH customers. DISH Network has been arguing that VOOM is in violation of their carriage agreement, thus justifying the move to drop the all-HD lineup.
The writing had been on the wall for VOOM since being denied an injunction to block DISH Network from removing the channels earlier this month. DISH Network is claiming VOOM has not held up its side of the deal, including spending $100 million on new programming.
DISH Network chairman Charlie Ergen forecast the move on yesterday’s conference call discussing DISH Network’s 1st quarter results. Ergen was of the opinion that the channels could be replaced with other channels that have more value for their customer base.
The VOOM networks dropped yesterday include Family Room HD, HDNews, UltraHD, TreasuresHD, Filmfest HD, WorldSport HD, Voom’s HD Movies channel, , Gameplay HD, Rush HD, and Animania HD. Today’s dropped networks inclu Monsters HD, Rush HD, Equator HD, Kung Fu HD, and Rave.
While some existing HD customers found value from the VOOM lineup, the lack of fresh content wore out viewers quickly. Hard core HD viewers will miss VOOM, but DISH Network can certainly find better use for the space previously occupied by the VOOM HD channel lineup.
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41 Responses to “DISH Network Drops VOOM HD”
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I am one of those customers that is very disappointed to find some of my favorite HD channels are no longer available through DishTv. My daughter is just heart-broken by the removal of animania channel. As a open-minded consumer it was refreshing to channel surf and not have corporate big business decisions being made for my family and I. My husband wanted to go switch to directtv awhile ago but after the persuasion of myself and my daughter, wholly on the fact of what the Voom network had to offer, he did not. My daughter was thrilled to find a channel that did not make her a Disney, Nick Zombie.
When it is all said and done it is all about Corporate manipulation over the masses dictating what we can and cannot watch.
Oh well,… I guess now my husband can toss the Dish!!!
I am extremely disapointed as well. Some of these Voom channels were the main reason I upgraded to the HD package in the first place. I regularly watched Monsters HD,Familyroom for the old UFO and Thunderbirds series, Concerts on RAVE, and Gallery HD. Big deal, while I’m happy Dish added 22 new HD channels, most of what they added are NOT new channels only HD versions of the same old ones.
This is awful. My wife and I love the VOOM networks including Rush HD and Monsters HD. None of the newly added 22 channels resemble anything like the VOOM networks. Very disappointing. Will definitely have me looking closer at DirectTv.
I am extremely disappointed as well. Alot of the headlines read “Dish drop unpopular VOOM HD Channels”. Just how popular do they expect the World Fishing Network to be. I understand there were other issues invloved but the logical reason they had to drop the channels is the loss of capacity due to the loss of AMC-14.
I signed up for Dish Network just over 2 months ago solely on the basis that they had Voom. Now it’s gone and I’m stuck with 22 months on a contract that I don’t want.
You want to talk about contract violations? I think Dish Network just violated millions of them to the viewers who expect and are owed much more than DN is offering.
I’m done with Dish Network. I’ll be seeking legal advice on the best way to dump it without paying the termination fee. For shame Dish, for shame.
I’m disappointed too. My vote was for Rush HD. I also don’t see a need to maintain the HD expansion pack over and above the $10 level. The extra packs only offer about 1 good station in each pack, in my opinion. I will revert back to the $10 level.
I watched the Voom channels and only took dish network for its better HD programing packages. I didn’t watch all the Voom channels but the ones I did were viewed daily ( kids loved the animation channel )And like other posters said, THEY ALL WERE COMMERCIAL FREE!!! . The part about the need to free up space was/is total crap, most of the channels they added were running at the same time of the Voom channels over the last few weeks. So no oh boy we now have the WEATHER channel in pseudo HD who cares! I’m paying an extra $10 per month for now ONE channel that I watch on the hd pack for the extra $20 per month. I don’t think HD Net is worth an additional $10 per month. BTW I called Dish and they said that I could reduce my bill by the $10 but I would loose 4 or so channels ( of course hdnet was one of them)…. I have yet to decide if I’m going to drop Dishnetwork! If I didn’t have a ton of recordings on the DVR it would be a no-brainer!
William…
I’m pissed too. Every day I would watch RUSH HD and check out the best athletes at sports you can’t normally see on TV. The coverage and photography from RUSH was outstanding. I loved all the Nomads documentarys and other ski, surf, climb, kayak, mountainbike, etc. shows. Living vicariously through others.
I HATE Dish for doing this. AAAAHHHHHHHHH
I’m not sure if anyone has seen this yet, but someone created a petition online to bring back Monsters HD to Dish Network.
http://www.petitiononline.com/monsthd/petition.html
I think we should create one for all of the Voom channels. Personally, my favorite was Monsters HD, but I watched all of the Voom channels way more than any of the other channels.
I am so disappointed and angry. My kids LOVED Animania. They are lying when they say they “added” 22 new channels. Most are just the same channels we had, but now are in HD also. That is NOT NEW PROGRAMMING OR NEW CHANNELS. How stupid do you think consumers are Charlie????
I want Equador, Rave and rush HD back. This is BS what they did.
I’m very very very angry , my best HD CHANNELS EVER, I can’t believe it that you drop’em out, WE ARE THE CUSTOMER , WE MUST BE HAPPY , YOU ARE IN BUSINESS FOR US REMEMBER THAT DISH , I QUIT DIRECTV FOR A WAY LESS REASON , NOW GUESS WHAT DISH, GO THE HELL M F’er. I’m really mad and disappointed.
MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY..
……oh, customers? Who? What?
MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY
Thoroughly disappointed Voom HD is no longer available. The new channels that were “added” are the same channels already there only in HD…BIG DEAL!!! You’ve taken away quality channels and added channels that look better…so what!!! I want VOOM HD back. I chose DISH Network because of the variety of channels that were offered and now the best channels have been removed. What do you suggest I watch now? I’ll have to explore other options. I hope my contract runs out soon…I’m so DISAPPOINTED!!!
My family and I were extremely dissapointed too. They were good channels. We loved watching the Monsters HD channel because they showed all the good, old movies that you really don’t get to see anymore on any other channels. When we turned to the channel and saw it was gone (and on top of that without any notice) we were very, very angry.
My household is very upset as we watch Voom often and their network of HD channels was the sole reason we switched from Directv! We pay over $100 a month with Dishnetwork and with Voom it was worth it but now I can tell anyone that having reviewed every new HD channel they provide it is a complete waste of money! They took away our favorite HD channels and replaced them with things like the weather channel and cartoon network. Also most of their so called new HD is barely HD as the clarity is not very good. Those channels are barely better than standard digital channels.
We have asked Dishnetwork to bring back Voom; if they do not in the next few months we will cancell all of our services and return to Directv. Charlie Ergen was cited as an executive making the decision. Mr Ergen you are a complete fool! I am going to cancel my service if you do not bring back Voom and I will make an extra effort to tell everyone I know and meet not to use Dishnetwork! Eat that Mr. Ergen!
Even in this tight economy, I too paid a premium for Voom as Dishnetwork charged and extra fee on top of the extra fee to get their HD package inorder to get Voom. Voom has great channels and great programs! Please bring back Voom!
I agree with others here! I will cancel completely if they do not bring back Voom! I do not care about any termination fees, Dishnetwork is not going to get a penny more of my hard earned money if the do not bring back all of the Voom channels!
I disagree Voom HD does have fresh content and many great orginal shows that we watch all the time. We have the everthing package with Dishnetwork inlcuding all HBO,Showtime,local channels, etc. and with all those channels I would say the only three networks with new content that was fresh was Voom, HBO, and Showtime. The rest of the huge amount of channels are the ones that are weak and lack new shows. All of the channels Dish replaced Voom with are just like that, they lack new content and are channels we are not interested in.
Bring back Voom! We too will be cancelling our service in the next few months if dishnetwork fails to listen to their top tier clients whom want Voom!
Voom has really been creating more new shows and great content. I am very upset as these are my fovorite shows. Dishnetwork has made a huge mistake. I have the everthing package and out of all those many channels Voom HD was the most watched channels. Voom has been continually adding new shows and great content. You compare that to the channels they have added and those are the ones with no fresh content.
Voom is what made Dishnetwork unique and the only reason why I joined. Why else would I choose dishnetwork since they are more expensive? Dishnetwork does not realize why most join; it is due to unique content not number of channels. Most Dishnetwork people are either HD lovers with high end home theatre systems whom buy the top tier programming or hispanic people going for the unique amount of spanish content. I agree if they do not bring back Voom I’m going to save some bucks and go elsewhere until somebody picks up Voom!
I love equator hd, ultra hd, treasure hd, and rave hd to name a few of the great Voom channels! Dishnetwork is going to loose a lot of customer this next year as I too will look for someone else if Voom channels are not restored!
This is the last straw. I am going to antenna only. monthly fee $0.00. This will provide some good series, live sports, Letterman, Conan, etc. To get my fill of movies I’ll order Netflix. For less than $20.00 a month I’ll choose what I view instead wasting time trying to find something to watch. That is a savings of $90.00 a month! Hello new blue-ray player.
I was dismayed to find that I was revolving the channel listings in vain for my favorite channels, the Voom channels. What happened? Voom is fresh, beautiful HD programming and the only reason I subscribe to Dish. I live in the mountains so OTA is not an option. I was actually hurt and eventually livid to see what they have replaced it with. OMG!
I am with Pat. I think I will just disconnect and wait and see what is better. Voom was truly dedicated to HD. Adding stations and giving them a 16:9 screen ratio does not make them HD, but Dish seems to think so. Raising rates, dumping Voom and more reception issues lately, it makes sense for me to pull the Dish plug. Now maybe I can catch up on some reading!
I was so close to becomming a dish network customer as I have been watching Voom HD at my brothers house now that they removed Voom HD I would never consider them now or in future! They only have 80 HD as they removed the 15 Voom HD and they claim 22 new, which brings them to 80 HD. Directv has 90 at a lower price. Dish’s new HD is not clear as many are upconverted content and not true HD. Also many are channels most would never watch like the cartoon channel, weather channel, etc. I was going to switch purely for the Voom HD which has 15 no commercial channels with original shows that you can not find anywhere else!
Dish you made a dumb move that will cost you both existing customers and prospective customers.
I am also pretty disgruntled with DISH for this change. We are doing the calculations for the financial tipping point between the penalty for discontinuing subscription and the amount we would spend with this disappointing non-service provider to run out our contract. RUSH-HD and RAVE-HD were two of our more preferred channels - there is nothing equavalent - especially when it comes to kayaking!
Future potential customers, beware.
DISH, recognise this as an error in judgment and reconnect with the VOOM channels - and soon!!
I am thoroughly disgusted that Monster HD and all the Voom channels are gone…..Showing those classic, albeit, hokey old horror flicks were the highlight of my day……Chiller is “ok” but it’s hard to beat those old black and whites….please, please bring ‘em back…..
I too find us scrolling through the HD channels and not stopping at any as there is just no good shows on their channels! We want VOOM HD back! I agree we are going to keep complaining and if no Voom by June we will cancel.
Future dish network customers should absolutely stay clear as you will get a better deal at directv with more channels and a lower price! Dish has failed to realize that it is about quality of content. They should have provided Voom HD channels as part of one HD package that would have increased the market share of HD lovers.
I pulled the plug on my Dish Network subscription the day they dropped the VOOM channels. I had been a customer for nearly 8 years. VOOM channels like Equator, Rave, etc. were 90% of what I watched on an daily basis. No other channels have comparable content. The 22 added channels are redundant bullsh*t, and like most other Dish channels infested with 20-30 mins./hour of commercials. Not worth it!
I was upset too, I watched Voom channels all the time. Direct TV called me up and offered to buy me out of my contract with Dish Network. I sent a letter to Dish about it, I might switch. there is no differences between the two now.
I don’t usually bother surfing the net,but since Dish Network can’t be bothered to reply to my emails, here is one more complaint about removing VOOM programming: may the dumb, dumber and dumbest rule.
I am so angry that DISH dropped VOOM. VOOM was the only thing that made DISH network worth it! DSH you justlost a customer. Friggin’ idiots.
I looked for Rush and Rave for an hour not knowing they were gone, as I don’t watch TV that much. It really really really really angered me when I called DISH and they said these were dropped. These were 40% of my viewing time, which is only about 3 hours per week. That is why I got DISH and pay a large monthly bill to watch good TV when I wanted to. Very Very angry, and the entire BS about DISH wanting more programming…come on—they still broadcast CNN which may as well be called “the socialist network”
As a devoted Dish Network customer since 2004, I am truly disappointed to discover that VOOM HD channels are no longer available thru Dish Network. I believe that this is a huge mistake made by EchoStar management. Dish Network was at the competitive advantage because of the availability of VOOM HD channels. It is important to note that VOOM HD channels set Dish Network apart from its main competitor, DirecTV. Furthermore, VOOM HD channels provide intriguing, cutting edge, international-flair, environmentally-friendly, cultural, and sophisticated shows that DirecTV does not offer. Now that the VOOM HD channels are no longer available thru Dish Network, I am convinced that many Dish Network customers who love VOOM HD channels, like me, are highly frustrated and displeased. Another negative aspect that should be considered, because the HD channels offering between Dish Network and DirecTV are now similar, Dish Network customers will have no problem switching to DirecTV, especially if DirecTV offer lower cost. Again, EchoStar will posses sustainable competitive advantage because having VOOM HD channels sets the Dish Network apart from DirecTV. VOOM HD is the main reason a lot of customers subscribe to Dish Network instead of DirecTV due to its unique and upscale HD channels. I’m really serious about dropping Dish Network now.
There’s a sucker born every minute. It’s hard to believe
that they all subscribe to Dish.
The day exists without HD and without electronics.
Go out and feed some squirrels.
R.I.P. Mahatma Wendy; 5-28-49 to 4-6-98.
She knew: the ego cannot exist in eternity. They could not understand. “They’re not listening they’re not listening still; perhaps they never will.”
Also, some things are beyond ‘judgement’.
Enjoy this day, and only this day. Many blessing to all.
I too, like so many others went with Dish because of the Voom lineup. Now instead of 1080i 24 hour commercial free programming I see stretch-o-vision and low quality replacements. I have emailed Dish and called them with no satisfaction. The one thing that was more surprising than anything is when I called Directv to suggest that they pick up the Voom networks. The technician I talked to had never heard of Voom. I spent a good 30 minutes on the phone with him and to sum it I explained to him that Directv could take away alot of customers from Dish if they carried the Voom line-up. Of course nothing will happen until the court proceedings.
If I can get more people to call Directv and make the same suggestion then Directv might just carry these quality channels. Of course that is if they want to take advantage of a huge mistake by Dish. I really feel for the people that are under contracts with Dish. I own my equipment and besides the cost of the equipment I have no obligation to Dish. The second another provider offers Voom in thier line-up its bye bye dish.
I switched to the DISH HDTV only service at about the time they dropped VOOM. I thought it was because I switched service. Not. As an HDTV fan, it’s disappointing DISH tossed out VOOM. They offered high quality HD programming. DISH’s action runs contrary to their stated purpose of increasing HDTV offerings. DISH 1 Cusomer 0.
I got Dish network in order to get the VOOM networks. When my contract ends this January I getting rid of Dish Network.
Really disappointing move dish network, looks like your lack of voom HD programming will cause me to take a real look at direct tv
Where is my VOOM? Dish Network voom was all you had going for you, and now this!
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