Dish Network Lies About Having 200 HD Channels, Hopes Nobody Notices
from the your-customers-can-count-you-know dept
For several years TV carriers have enjoyed bickering over which company has the most HD channels, in part because it creates a debate focused on perceived value -- and steers the conversation away from who offers the lowest prices (or the fact that companies seem to impose annual or bi-annual TV hikes in unison). Carriers only just recently surpassed the 100 HD channel count, so it was surprising this week when Dish Network suddenly and proudly announced that the company was the first to pass the 200 HD channel mark -- insisting "only DISH Network has delivered" on this supposedly-epic promise. Except amusingly, Dish Network didn't bother to include a full list of the channels they added, and when reporters and bloggers on the TV/telecom beat started asking Dish questions, the company started getting a little bit uncomfortable:
"I asked Dish Network's PR department for a list of the 200 HD channels, numbered from 1 to 200. Not too surprising, the company was evasive, saying the 200 HD channels could be found at its web site. However, when I told them I could not locate more than around 130 HD channels listed at DishNetwork.com, the company's PR department got even more evasive -- and started to act a bit strange. At one point, a company spokeswoman said she could give me a breakdown of the 200 HD channels on "background only," meaning I couldn't attribute the information to Dish Network."
As it turns out, Dish's marketing department had gotten creative -- and was suddenly counting 57 different On Demand movie titles as"channels" (the Alvin & The Chipmunks 2 channel, anyone?) and just hoped that nobody would notice. So instead of being seen as the TV operator that offers the most HD channels, Dish Network is now being seen as the TV operator who assumes everybody is stupid, which we'll assume wasn't what the company's PR department was aiming for.
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Filed Under: hd, television
Companies: dish network
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Besides, either way it's just the usual misleading marketing bull. Offering 200 channels then saying you have to pay extra for a full quarter of them after the fact is highly misleading, whether they're *technically* correct or not.
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Either way, even if this could be categorized as not lying, it's certainly misleading.
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It may be a different type, but technically that sort of PPV is still a channel. Video on demand, however, is definitely not a channel.
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Lets make a deal, if they're willing to list the full monthly price for these 200 HD 'channels' then they can call them channels.
30 days * 57 on demand channels * 3.99 per movie * ~12 movies per day + 80 for the other channels.
So it would cost $81954 a month for those 200 HD channels
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Consistency FTW!
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I don't think it's a loose definition. To me, a channel can be defined two ways:
1) A finite, defined frequency band that carries a distinct flow of information, data, media, or content. This frequency can be selectively tuned by a receiving device.
2) A distinct content option that I can choose from my TV/XM radio/Radio/etc. for which the content is different than the other options.
No part of that requires that it be included or free to be considered a channel. If the content is a single movie repeating itself, it would still count as a channel to me since at any given time the content is still unique.
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Do you? The article states 'On Demand' which implies that there is no specific channel. What you describe doesn't sound like a true on demand service.
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To answer my own question, the linked article clearly states that the movies are preloaded onto the DVR. If they're channels then I have the Sita Sings The Blues channel on my computer.
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Comedy Central repeats the Daily Show about four times a day, and also shows repeats of older episodes. Does it count as a channel by your definition? Fox news repeats the same talking points all day, do they count?
Most channels DON'T show original content 24/7. All use some amount of repeats. So where is the threshold when a channel loses channel status because it repeats too quickly?
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I was using various easily accessible dictionary definitions of channel and the material in question fits absolutely none of them. If you have a more applicable definition feel free to cite a source.
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As far as the actual "actionable" word, if a salesman told you that you were getting 200 channels and (insert large portion here) were PPV and (insert large portion here) were "On Demand", anyone with sense would call bullshit. Lawyers and Judges may or may not be included in that category.
FYI, the On Demand function is like paying to use a special DVR function. On Demand is not the same as Pay Per View.
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Not me, and I have some sense. Dish's claims fits my technical and consumer definition of a channel. And as a customer, I should always exercise some Caveat Emptor. It's not like it would be hard to check: Do they have the HD channels you want, or not? I also look inside the carton of eggs before I buy it from Safeway. Why not, if I don't kick the tires a little, and find out what those 200 channels are, then that's my fault.
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How? So far the only argument to that point appears to be that the buttons on peoples remote controls are labelled as channels, which implies that should you assign a channel to the off button then that would count too.
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1) A finite, defined frequency band that carries a distinct flow of information, data, media, or content. This frequency can be selectively tuned by a receiving device.
2) A distinct content option that I can choose from my TV/XM radio/Radio/etc. for which the content is different than the other options.
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Fits my 'off button' theory neatly. Joking aside, if true video on demand counts under your definition then any device with internet access would have as many 'channels' as there are videos on the internet. All you'd have to do is automatically assign them a number.
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Well they do think they can . . .
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picture quality is what matters, not channels count
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Re: picture quality is what matters, not channels count
>that matters is quantity, not quality.
Uh, no. You have it backwards. Many customers think the number of channels is important, and therefore they are marketing to that demand.
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99 channels but the b***h network ain't one...
That'll tick off the cable company Indeed, that's their bag of peaches!
Instead of more channels, how about some channels with something worth watching?
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Re: 99 channels but the b***h network ain't one...
Welcome to the real world.
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Re: Re: 99 channels but the b***h network ain't one...
Welcome to the realm of the critical facility and information sharing.
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Don't take it to personall..
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I avoid the controversy
I don't need "Modern Family" or "Chuck" or "Archer" in HD, so I am happy to watch those on Hulu.
Boggles my mind why anyone would pay a subscription fee just to watch TV. But hey - it's your $600/year.
-CF
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Re: I avoid the controversy
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Look, if Dish can provide me with a 24/7 Squeakuel channel, I'm IN.
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Pulling a Dish
For instance they spent 700 Billion with a B and said it created 50 x the amount of real jobs they were claiming.
When the new regime was pressured for answers about it, they pulled a Dish i.e. they got defensive and acted like the people asking the questions were being idiots and how dare they. LOL It does not matter if some jobs were counted 20 or 30 times or that each new job could also be an old job, or that it cost 4 million for each new $50,000 job or something silly like that.
Be it Politicians or Dish, when they get busted, they act like the person asking a common sense question is the one who did wrong.
Both will find out that you can fool some of the consumers some of the time, but you can't fool them all of the time.
To all of the Dish's out there, lying, or pulling a Dish in the day and age of the Internet is a truly foolish thing to do, as not all consumers are as stupid and plebeian as your elitist minds would believe.
People will vote with their pocket book and at the ballot box unless they are forced to do otherwise by those very same people that pull a "Dish". :)
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Former employee
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bunch of thieves
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The MEDIA is LYING
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If Dish can broadcast 200 separate feeds of HD content, each one distinct, that simply meets the definition of "200 HD channels."
They are advertising that they have a greater system capacity than their competitors. That is a valid competitive differentiator. I don't know if they do it with more compression that degrades the images, or not. But all things equal, more channels is better.
Making a value judgement on the content (re Alvin & Chipmunks) is irrelevant. The fact that it is PPV, and costs more is also irrelevant - the ad isn't talking price or content quality, it's talking system capacity and channel choice.
Obviously, they spin it in a way that makes them look good. Hopefully this isn't the first time people here have been subjected to a PR angle that cast the advertiser in a positive light. So long as it's true, why are we debating it?
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That isn't what they are doing. The movies are not even broadcast, they come preloaded on the DVR device.
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From the linked article: "Finally, late in the day, Dish Network fessed up to Multichannel News that the 200 HD channel count included 57 HD PPV titles that were only available on the company's new VIP 922 SlingLoaded DVR. The movies are preloaded on the new DVR, which was introduced just a few weeks ago."
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It will take a while...
Come on guys this is them giving us time travel capabilities!
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Time well spent
First they waste time watching it, then they waste time "investigating" 200 worthless channels, then I waste time writing this, and the kicker, you wasted time reading it.
Though in reality, you just learned more from this post then an entire season of American Idol, Lost and whatever the hell else tops the charts nowadays combined.
Get off my lawn.
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Re: Time well spent
Ugh, that hurt to type...
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please i want ansewers bad it has been ten months and
nothing to watch at night i miss my shows a lot please
give some answers i am begging
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We are here, ready to help. Please contact our Techdirt support lines for all of your:
- satellite TV connection problems
- Amazon Prime payment and billing issues
- Funny cat web video fan mail
Operators are standing by ready for your call.
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No signal for 10 months?
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Re: The MEDIA is LYING
Cloudy with a 100% chance of a loss of a TiVo patent lawsuit.
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@Derek
What? It may be true "at times" but come on, Derek. It sure is deceptive.
It's like a car company saying a will car always get "Highway Mileage".
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Re: @Derek
Similarly, Tag body spray doesn't drive the women wild.
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You're confusing HD Programming and HD Content with HD Channels. Dish Network is advertising "Channels". There is a difference.
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What's Dish Network's return policy if you find out the advertising wasn't what you expected?
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TAM
Next thing, I'll be playing golf with Ronald J Riley.
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Re: TAM
Only if you patented golf.
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satellite TV connection problems
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You seem to have a measuring stick which measures things in terms of HD Content. Then, using your logic, DishNetwork should say "We have 9,000 HD Shows every day" But they don't, they say "Channels" which is fundamentally a different way to measure things.
I don't understand why this is so difficult for you to understand.
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Derek's interwebs is serious business
Thanks for letting us know that we can lump 'Funny cat web videos' along with your 'serious' analysis. Sure is telling of the quality of your discussion.
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Directv does the same thing
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Comcast has been usnig this bs counting "method" for years
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Lies about HD channels
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Cable and Satellite are blatant rip offs to consumers at over $500 + a year to have the privilege to pay to watch commercials. Wake up
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rip off
And, when you ask questions, and get upset over the charges you get put on hold and get a supervisor on the line telling you what a rotten person you are, and that you should never insult anyone over the phone.
I asked them where they were, and I would be glad to come in person and insult them, but was hung up on.
BE WARE!!!!
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CHEAPEST WAY TO GET TV
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Are you serious? Come on.....
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Wondering If FTC Is Aware of This?
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DirecTV 10 Times Better Than Dish Network !!!
I found out later that they didn't carry the YES Network (and they still don't), and I need my Yankees !!!
Now the are just plain LYING about their HD service, 24 or their "HD CHANNELS" are only in HD PART TIME !!!! DirecTV has 170 HD Channels ALL HD ALL THE TIME !!
DirecTV is 10 Times better than anything else for TV !!! Too bad they don't have Internet !! The service NEVER GOES DOWN (sometimes in a storm it goes out for a little while) and the Customer Service is Excellent !!!
Too bad Dish Network is able to FLAT OUT LIE to people on TV !!! Ford is doing the SAME THING !!! Whatever happened to "truth in advertising" ????
DIRECTV TOTALLY HAS THE BEST TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE, THE SERVICE NEVER CONKS OUT !!!! PLUS I ONLY NEED ONE DISH !!!!!!
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Dish Network just has to LIE! Nature of the BEAST
These bastards are the lowest form of puke on the earth. Even lower than politicians and Bill Collecting Nazis.
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH D I S H N E T W O R K!!!
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Dish does have more hd channels
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Lonch
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The most hd channels
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