Dish Network people were excited on Monday when it was announced that 22 new HD channels would be added to the HD package, bringing the total number of HD channels the satellite TV carrier offered up to 95, putting it on par with competitor DirectTV. What Dish forgot to mention was that just hours later it would be dropping 15 older HD channels, mostly Voom related, to leave it at 80 channels.
That didn’t stop Dish execs from quoting the 95 channel score in a press release. It’s possible one hand didn’t know what the other was doing, such as the execs not knowing a drop was going to happen. Or it was a case of generating good PR for PR’s sake.
We haven’t heard back from Dish yet, so we don’t know the story, but either way, we smell a rat.
The Voom channels are what made Dish Network unique. Why didn’t they just keep the channels and ALSO add these 22 channels? I would have gladly paid ANOTHER premium on top of the HD premium in order to continue receiving Voom channels. I don’t care about a damn lawsuit. What an immature reason to deprive thousands if not millions of customers of content they’ve come to love. The reason behind the lawsuit is not satisfactory to me for this fascist cancellation of their channels. They weren’t making enough money for Dish Network, weren’t spending enough on their own content? I was highly satisfied with the content. So we’ve lost 15 Voom channels with 100% no commercials, 100% 1080i broadcast, carrying unique content available nowhere else, with 22 garbage cable channels with commercials, 50% 480p broadcast, carrying content already available with other providers. I’ve cancelled my credit card and Dish Network will not be getting another penny from me. Not only am I pissed that something I loved was taken away from me, but I am looking at a bigger picture here. The fact that these unique channels have been replaced with garbage channels (lesser picture quality, lesser content quality, excessive commercials) that are already available elsewhere is detrimental to our democracy. It goes beyond doing what is best for the Exec’s/stockholder’s pocketbooks. In fact, I own the airwaves like every other American and I do get a say in the matter. I will be writing to the FCC regarding this and I encourage others to do so as well. Greater choice of content = greater democracy.
I want the Voom channels back, but I sure do not want to pay extra for them. Dish needs to drop their price on the ultimate package since those were dropped. They really did not add anything. We already had most of those in SD. It looks like those channel have been blown up or upcoverted. Many people like myself have a commitment with Dish, and cannot drop their service until our time is up. Maybe customers need to contact the Attorney General’s office in CO and see what we can do.
Well said mate!
I have been with Dish for many years soley because of Voom. Voom has the best clarity in HD on the market today. I have a screen over 7′ wide and it is easy to see varations in HD quality Voom is the clearest bar none! Most of the new so called HD channels dish added are barely better than SD channels! They removed 15 added 22 so net 7 of crap. Whom cares to watch the weather channel in HD? or is your four year old demanding you give him bugs bunny in HD? those channels are useless!
Unique content is what made dish not quantity as they never were close to directv in quantity or price. They have been the more expensive for years and I was ok with that due to Voom. Now they think they are going from high price provider to discount dish provider? I can save over $40 a month going to directv and have more channels both HD and SD. I’m giving them two months if they do not bring voom back we are gone forever!
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.
bring back Voom HD please!
Their new channels which are only 7 are terrible in picture clarity and content! Come on dish it should be illegal to up convert low clarity source material and try to pitch it to consumers as real HD! VOOM HD has the best clarity HD period. Bring back Voom HD or we need to give dish the boot!
Voom HD is best for clarity and quality better dish backs to it.