ATTENTION: LIFETIME HAS TAKEN YOUR CHANNELS AWAY!(From Dish Network)

Dish Network ^ | 1/1/05 | Charlie Ergen, CEO of DISH Network

[Revel]

ATTENTION: LIFETIME HAS TAKEN YOUR CHANNELS AWAY! You may have tuned in today to see the Lifetime Channel or the Lifetime Movie Network.

Unfortunately, DISH Network's contract with Lifetime Networks expired on December 31st and we no longer have the legal right to carry these channels.

I can assure you that at DISH Network we have made every effort to renew our agreement and continue to carry these channels.

However, Lifetime Networks have demanded a rate increase of over 70 percent which would result in unreasonable rate increases for you, our customers.

While we were surprised by Lifetime Network’s outrageous demand, the fact that we have had a good relationship with them for 10 years gives us hope that we can reach a fair agreement.

Until such time as we have a new contract with Lifetime Networks, I hope you will enjoy this free preview of The Women's Entertainment channel.

I am very sorry for any inconvenience.

We appreciate your support and encourage your feedback.

Thank you for being a DISH Network customer.

Sincerely, Charlie Ergen, CEO of DISH Network

Lifetime posted inaccurate information pertaining to Dish Network’s loss of the Lifetime Movie Network. Click here for the response from President and CEO, Charlie Ergen.

Tell us what you think by writing us at: ceoofdishnetwork@dishnetwork.com

[Revel]

Dish Network has done it again. A few years ago they dropped some other channels in the same way. Of course The lifetime channels are just about the only channels that run movies that I have never seen before. So this is a great loss for me. Dish is replacing both of these channels with "WE". The only problem is that I already have WE. So now I have WE on 3 channels. The bill remains the same however.

[skaterboy]

THREE FREAKING CHANNELS OF WE...CAN I KILL MYSELF NOW

[Sybeck1]

My wife hates this.

[Revel]

I provided and article, but somehow I just knew this would get moved to Chat.

[BipolarBob]

This is the best news I have heard in a long time. My wife loves the Lifetime Channel while I hate the men-are-abusive-and women-are-victims channel. Any time I have glanced at it somebody is being (1) killed (2)cheated on (3) some pervert spying on a naked woman or (4) kidnapped.

[Revel]

Lifetimes responce:

CALL NOW AND TELL DISH NETWORK TO STOP DENYING THE TRUTH AND DENYING WOMEN LIFETIME: 1-888-284-7116

The Truth is that DISH Pulled the Plug on Women on New Year's Eve, Over Just Pennies, and Despite Lifetime's Offer of a Contract Extension

If you or anyone you know is a DISH subscriber, you may have tried to tune in to Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network for the great movies we wanted to share with you during the holidays and found that we're off the air. You may have heard from DISH and its CEO Charlie Ergen that this is a result of our asking for a 70 percent increase to carry Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network. But the Truth is that DISH is totally misleading their subscribers and at the same time, denying women their favorite networks. The Truth is that DISH unilaterally pulled Lifetime Networks off the air, on New Year's Eve no less, despite our offer to extend their contract through the holidays and despite more than seven months of our efforts to reach a fair agreement. The Truth is that we only asked for pennies more for the number 1 and number 2 women's channels, a fraction of what DISH and Charlie Ergen have been willing to pay for much less popular networks.

Make your dissatifaction heard right away by calling DISH at 1-888-284-7116 and emailing ceoofdishnetwork@dishnetwork.com and ask Charlie Ergen to tell the Truth and put Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network back on the air. We deeply regret the difficulty this disruption of service has caused our viewers and hope to resolve this quickly, but greatly appreciate all of your support especially in this difficult time.

Click here to contact Lifetime.
http://www.lifetimetv.com/about/echo3.html

[shezza]

Have you comparison shopped DirecTV? We left DishNetwork for DirecTV several years ago and are quite happy with the programming selections as well as the service. No complaints.

[Revel]

Dish's reply to Lifetime message above:

Louise Henry Bryson

President, Distribution and Affiliate Business
Development Lifetime Networks
2049 Century Park East, Suite 840
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Dear Ms. Bryson:

The statements on your website with respect to our dispute are inaccurate. Specifically, you claim that DISH Network violated our contract by taking Lifetime Movie Network off the air. As you are aware the agreement terminated December 31, 2005 and Lifetime refused to offer any extension prior to DISH Network’s loss of the network today (the date of the contract expiration). We are confident we have not breached the agreement and welcome the disclosure to the public, any portion of the contract that demonstrates DISH Network is in violation of our agreement.

In addition, Lifetime’s final demand prior to our loss of the network called for a 76% rate increase under the contract term. DISH Network hereby waives any right to confidentiality which may exist with respect to rates under our existing agreement and the proposed rates under Lifetime’s proposal so that the public can judge for themselves. We challenge Lifetime to likewise agree to the release of that information.

While DISH Network desires to make Lifetime programming available to its customers, we also must protect our customers from exorbitant rate increases. We have valued our relationship with Lifetime Networks over the past 10 years and we are hopeful that we can work together to restore Lifetime programming to DISH Network customers.

Sincerely,


Charlie Ergen
Chief Executive Officer
DISH Network

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Tell us what you think by writing us at: ceoofdishnetwork@dishnetwork.com

[freedumb2003]

This affects, what? 10 or 11 people?

[Revel]

I get promos in the mail all the time for Direct TV. I am going to look into it very seriously now. Most likely will switch. Thank you I have some friends who have it and they have been treated much better.

[Mr. Mojo]

All the movies have the same theme, battered wife breaks out of an abusive marriage and then the ex-husband stalks her.

Never watched the channel, but that's what I've heard. .....with a few theme variations, of course. Kind of like Oprah's talk show in movie form. (Many) women just eat that stuff up.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Lesbian ch. not lifetime!

[Revel]

There are more themes than that. And sometimes the men are the victims. But there are many real life stories. People waking up from Coma's after many years. Different things like that.

[Xenalyte]

Who the hell watches Lifetime? It's THE single most boring network there is. And I include the game show channel in that generalization.

[Xenalyte]

Don't forget the Disease of the Week movie. Every week, Lifetime showcases a new disease and its impact on women and those they love.

Unnnngh.

[teenyelliott]

I have Dish, and I hope these channels stay gone for good.One less channel I have to ignore.

I'm a woman, and I can't stand the crying channel. Then again, I don't watch soap operas, either.

[bmwcyle]

I call lifetime the wife beaters channels. It is all about bd husbands. I won't miss it.

[FourPeas]

Seems like a common occurence at Dish. It's always interesting to hear Charlie's spin.

[teenyelliott]

I'm with you.

Funny story. When I first had my Dish hooked up years ago, the first thing the guy did was say, "Here. Let me show you where the Lifetime channel is."

I about smacked him. Told him I'd never watched it, and don't intend to. He said it is most women's favorite.