DISH Network’s recent decision to drop the VOOM HD channel network has certainly drawn plenty of criticism from viewers who claim they love VOOM and its 24-hour HD programming format. From a business perspective however, the move had to be made.
For those not familiar with VOOM, the concept behind the company was to create and all-HD satellite television provider. After struggling to carve out a subscriber base, VOOM was given new life by Echostar when the parties reached an agreement to have all of the VOOM HD channels carried on DISH Network.
Earlier this year, DISH Network realigned its HD packages, forcing subscribers who wanted VOOM HD to pay $20 for all 15 channels. Subscribers who wanted the dishHD essentials package could subscribe for $10 a month, and would only miss out on the 15 VOOM HD channels and a few additional channels.
Of course, VOOM did not like that move, as it would erode their subscriber base. The parties headed to court to fight things out, DISH Network claiming VOOM had not held up their part of the bargain by failing to invest in new programming. DISH certainly has an argument there, as one of the biggest complaints about the VOOM network is its constant repeats. DISH Network finally pulled the plug, removing VOOM earlier this week, claiming breach of contract.
DISH Network head Charlie Ergen has always taken a hard-line stance with programmers, and has always been willing to cut the cord first and pay his lawyers to work it out in court later. His decision here will probably mean the end of VOOM, as it can count cable operator Cablevision as its only customer.
The bottom line with VOOM is that it was a niche product, enjoyed by only a few in the grand scheme of things. Very few, if any new customers were making the decision to subscribe to DISH Network based on gaining access to VOOM HD. While it may have to field a few customer complaints about VOOM in the short term, the longer term view required DISH Network to clear out the old in order to bring in the new.
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Bad move Dish TV!! A lot of folks, including myself, really like Voom HD. I have a feeling that this is going to backlash big time on them.
Voom was the signature that made Dish different than competition. I don’t see a valid reason for any new subscriber to choose Dish with fewer HD channels over DirectTV now.
I will cancel my subscription simply because I cannot see Equator HD any more. What a beautiful channel you have thrown away – I never minded seeing the repeats.
We will miss “Later…”, Glastonberry, & all the other *great* music on Voom. It kept us gray hairs young.
as soon as possible, im dropping dish network for dropping voom
I agree with everyone else that’s posted….VOOM is a unique package for Dish TV. And Equator HD is truly beautiful to see! Now it’s just the same old channels that other providers have, and probably for less $$. I’m looking at other programming options
Bad, bad, bad. Voom was the only thing that set you apart from the rest, DishNetwork.
Well, my contract is almost over. Dish won’t see my $150/month.
I really like the shows on Equator, stunning HD.
I went with Dish Network because it carried Voom HD. Rave, Equator, Gamespot and Monsters HD were all unique and great to watch, but now I get to see people talk politics or prepare food in HD—WOW! I’ll be leaving Dish Network soon.
I enjoyed Rave I will miss all those great concert. Good job dish network.
I really enjoyed the quirky programming on Treasure HD – treasure Divers, and I’ll Try Anything. Equator, too, Rush and Monster. direct has nothing like them. I’m dropping Dish.
disney plays the same movies on all of its stations! how many times has THE PARENT TRAP played on ABC FAM and the Disney Channel ? now both in HD
at least 70% of there programming are repeats fron other networks.
dish should bring voom back or also get rid of the disney for the same reason
I loved Gallery, Equator, the World movies, Zatoichi, the concerts, the collections, the operas, the unique things you could find on those channels. I feel betrayed. As soon as I can I will drop Dish Network.
I just discovered that my VOOM channels were missing, and am in shock. If you think no one joined Dish because of VOOM, you’re wrong – that is exactly what I did. I particularly loved Equator and the Rave concerts. Now what separates Dish from other networks? – same old, same old. Like others, I feel betrayed and will be dropping my subscription as soon as possible. Goodbye!….
I went through the channels twice today to find Equator, Gallery and Treasure that had somehow been dropped from my favorites list. Since there are some new HD programs I thought the channels must have been renamed. That brought me to the web to find out where they were. This is very distressing. I watched those channels all the time and some of my favorite programs are now gone. Good work, Dish.
Very disappointing – at least 50% of what I watched/recorded was on one VOOM channel or another. Why do I need HD versions of all the channels I don’t watch? Do we really need fishing in HD? No reason to stay with Dish now, but will another network pick up VOOM?
I will subscribe to Direct TV because of Dish dropping Voom. I am very angry that the best quality in programming has been dumped. I will not do business with them again, or recommend them to anyone.
I have been a loyal subscriber of Dish for many years, but because of their move of dropping the VOOM channels, I will be discontinuing my subscription with them and will probably never give them any business again. I used to recommend them to everyone I knew, but now I will go out of my way to steer my friends to other providers.
The VOOM programming was by far the best HD programming available.
What a mistake I got rid of comcast 6mos ago and went with dish because of the voom network now that they got rid of it I’m going to have to go with comcast again what’s the difference now. why don’t they ask the customers what they want not what dish wants. Loosers !!!!
What I really hate is how the media outlets that are publishing this dribble are saying that it is a positive move for Dish subscribers! Give me a break. If the silent majority that wants the new commercial-heavy, trashy programming that I can get anywhere (and with the $ of commercials should be getting free!), why has not one person left feedback in defense of Dish? Because, it’s B.S.
I’m giving Dish a month to realize they did a boneheaded move and to settle their differences with VOOM. It seems Ergen was stupid enough to think cutting VOOM off cold-turkey was going to be a way to negotiate a better deal with them; what he failed to consider was the backlash of Dish consumer malcontent. This is only going to make it harder for Dish to renegotiate and bring them back at all which is an utter shame. What an audacious and stupid move – not only may Ergen sacrifice the brilliant programming of the VOOM network but quite potentially his own company. If I had stock in Echostar right now I would be dumping it faster than you can say Enron.
Voon was the only thing I liked about Dish. I can get all the usual crap anywhere for a lot less $$. The Voom made it unique.
Bye, Bye Charlie and Bye, Bye Dish, my $150/month is going elsewhere…
Most of us “upset” customers had joined Dish BECAUSE of Voom, not because we loved dish, Direct actually has better software and equipment. I’ll giver a little while then I’ll go either were Voom is or back to Direct. Dish f****d up. They lose…….
Equator was the best show that Dish had to offer as far as HD is concerned. This seems to be a slap in the face for the customer, no communication, no consideration of the reaction of taking VOOM out and giving crap back. Another great plan by our business leaders.
Sorry Dish I will now drop you. Voom were the ones I liked best. Monster HD loved it even though I had seen almost every movie still loved it.
I do not agree with the article. To me Voom has the best programming and clarity in HD. They should have made it part of a one price HD package. Once people experience the Voom channels with NO commericals, much better original content, they would fall in love with Voom. How can you sell it if you have to pay two premium prices to get it?
If dishnetwork does not bring back Voom I will cancel our services. In addition I will make a personal campaign to make sure everyone one I know from now on does not use dishnetwork!
Dishnetwork has made a huge mistake taking away their best programming. Voom was our favorite channels. I agree the new channels are weak! Do not use dishnetwork; Directv is a better buy.
I checked my recorded shows last night. I have 13 movies taped from Monster HD, a concert and a Jools Holland from Rave, 2 Episodes of Lost and an episode of Battlestar Galatica. You tell me if the Voom channels are “not as popular”. How about you remove 2 NHL Center Ice and 3 NBA and give us the top 5 Voom channels back. I would even pay a little extra particularly if Voom juiced up their programming a little.
Iwill cancel dishnet until voom returns. $125.00 a month is staying in my pocket good luck dishnet you,re going to need it!!!
Niche?? Voom was a collection of niche channels, but the service as a whole offered something for everybody. The thing that’s really bad about this is that Dish pulled the plug the day after they announced 22 new channels which pretty much makes them liars on two fronts :
1) The didn’t “add” 22 channels to their overall channel lineup. By removing 15 the next day, their lineup only increased by 7.
2) They claim that they got rid of Voom to make room for the new channels, but the new channels and Voom were up at the same time.
The only thing worse than Dish taking away a giant chunk of their HD lineup and replacing it with pseudo-HD crap is the way they’ve handled this whole affair. Their outright hostility to their customers is the reason they’ve been losing money like crazy. At this rate, they’ll continue to bleed cash until they eventually join Voom in the satellite graveyard.
Like every one else here, I feel betrayed by Dish Network. The Voom programing had the most unique and intelligent programing anywhere. I especially dislike the manner in which the programing was dropped with no notice of the change, very badly handled. This will affect my choice of provider in the future.
We checked you can get 300 channels the directv everything package which has hbo, showtime, cinemax, stars, plus the HD package, and DVR and right now the first three months of showtime, hbo, stars, cinemax, etc. are free! Thus the first three months is $56 a month then it goes to 91. Dishnetwork does not have that many channels and the cost of their everything package is a lot more!
I am ok paying more if they brought back Voom but without it I can not see anyone staying with Dishnetworks at all! Wait I forgot they still have a lot of spanish programming but I am an American so I speak English. I guess dishnetworks will eventually just serve the illegal aliens here in the US? habla Espanol?
Im tired of paying over a 100 bucks for dish!And now without voom…oh well lets move on
VOOM was the value of Dish Network.
This is disapointing. I will drop Dish Service just because I know I’ll find something better that won’t do this kind of errors.
DISH, Booooooooooooooooooooooooo!
charlie,you creep-thanks for canceling my voom channel-equator -my favorite program-i going to cancel your damn dish network-it sucks now !!!!!!!!!
Like all of you i was a big fam of Voom, but voom was lagging in the new content. How many time can you watch Children of the Corn? or Zatoichi the blind swordsman?
I don’t see how anyone could defend DishNet for dropping the Voom channels. I was glad to see a few reruns of some quality programming. Now we get to watch reruns of crap, woohoo! What goes around comes around. I’ll get off the DishNet wagon at the next stop please.
BBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Really Bummed about loosing VOOM – we were really excited to settle in for a night of watching RAVE – and what do we find – NO RAVE!!! and none of the other fun channels we enjoyed either!!
REALLY PISSED here! I am going to start looking for a new provider right away!
Um.. I just discovered my freaking HD MONSTER channel is GONE!! Dish should give us a choice or at least let us know ahead of time! Added 22 HD channels but took away the 15 VOOM HD CHannels so they added 7 HD channels… Wanna beat out DirectTV give us ALL HD CHANNELS Possible… Then directv won’t stand a chance! Really pissed here as well… I want my VOOM back… and the new HD channels!
I moved to Dish from Direct to obtain Voom. Without Voom I’ll probably move back. Half my viewing had to be Equator and Gallery TV.
dish ceo must think people don’t like to watch art,culture,fashion and the rest of the beautiful content of voom hd. It is a sad day when quality is replaced by trash. It is a dumbing down of tv. I am switching to direct tv if this is not rectified soon.
I subscribed to DN because of the VOOM channels. My friends and I love watching RAVE and RUSH. It’s what made DN different. This is a very bad decision. I am exploring other options for sat. service.
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED VOOM. It was the ONLY reason I chose DISH HD in the first place. I am disgusted, and I will be LOUDLY telling everyone I know, and all over the net to go with anyone other than DISH until they bring VOOM back!!! IF WE ALL PROTEST THIS LOUDLY ENOUGH, ESPECIALLY ALL OVER THE INTERNET, PERHAPS WE WILL GET VOOM BACK EITHER WITH DISH OR ANOTHER PROVIDER.
DIRECTV – If you’re listening, add VOOM to your lineup, and you will add tens of thousands of FORMER DISH Network subscribers in a heartbeat!!
Dropping Voom is enough for me to drop Dishnetwork. Rave, Gallery, Equator, etc were so over the top in their excellence that the replacements look even more trashy than they would have had we never seen Voom. Bring back Voom now.
Voom was the reason I got Dish HD in the first place. They had great shows like Equator, Rave , Gallery, Rush, and Ultra. They have replaced these channels with a bunch of crappy substitutes. I am a long time loyal Dish Network customer and am really upset by this betrayal. I am also very angry that I was never even informed by Dish that they were dropping these channels. This is a very poor decision by Dish IMO, and a slap in the face to all there subsribers.
Dish Network screwed me and many others. Although some of the VOOM programming was redundant, it still was one of the best choices for HD content. The Kung FU and Monster channels were the reasons why I remained with Dish after considering canceling last year. And what kept me from switching recently was GamePlay. Also, to be able to see some of the show from my childhood (Flipper, UFO, etc.) was fantastic. To second another poster’s comments – “I AM EXPLORING OTHER OPTIONS FOR SAT. SERVICE.”
I just sent the following to the Dish Network. If I was lured to the Dish Network by VOOM, is not an implied contract to me as a customer broken? Don’t they have some obligation? I find it hard
to believe that there are many people who really are willing to trade programs like the “700 Club” for VOOM. Even if I have to pay the $13/month for the broken contract, it is still a bargain against the actual premium even with the phony $10 discount.
The only reason I subscribed to the Dish Network is that you offered VOOM. To use the vernacular. Your current programming sucks. Icalled you last night to cancel and was told I had six months left on
my contract but after talking with the idiot of a CSR it turned out I
had four months as of June 2. I intend to tell my bank not to honor
any deductions from the Dish Network, to my debit account. By
removing VOOM, it is my contention, that you broke the contract. The
ten dollars discount for the deletion of VOOM is not worth the junk
you replaced it with. After I advise my bank, I will officially
cancel Dish. What you replaced VOOM with really stinks. Having seen
blogs about the same complaint,it is not just me. I can get much
more from DirectTV for much less. What also really angers me is the
fact that I recommended the Dish Network to so many of my friends and
they are now stuck with the crap that you have given us instead of the
high quality programming and HD video from VOOM.
Time for me to look for a new provider. No Voom, no reason to stay with dish network. I miss my Rave and MonsterHD. Please DirectTV pick up Voom and u are guaranteed me as a new customer.
dish has given us just so so support but ignoring us and dropping VOOM HD their best HD channels and replacing them with crap! Now that is just the last straw! It’s time for me to shop for someone else!
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