Comments on tech.brianwestbrook.com: DISH vs. Fisher: Will Portland & Seattle's DESPERA...

What I find interesting is that the local media, n...

2009-02-04T20:44:00.000-08:00

What I find interesting is that the local media, newspapers, TV and radio, never mention this dispute or that fact that Dish Network cant retransmit any of the KOMO 4 broadcasts.

I grew up in Vancouver and was a loyal KATU viewer...

2009-01-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

I grew up in Vancouver and was a loyal KATU viewer. Where I live now, rabbit ears are not an option and my favorite program, Jeopardy, isn't available online because it's syndicated. We got Dish Network only after they made the Portland channels available, so I feel cheated that this was sprung on us without warning. That being said, Fisher has not denied requesting over 80% increase for something that basically costs them nothing. While they need to settle the other payment issue, it should not be a part of this dispute, since it was for different markets. The only thing I know for sure is that it is (once again) the little guys like us who are getting cheated. As for me, the KOIN-6 folks are really starting to grow one me. :)

I'm annoyed at the lack of KATU programming. Not n...

2008-12-23T21:02:00.000-08:00

I'm annoyed at the lack of KATU programming. Not necessarily for the ABC shows, but the news. It pains me to have to watch FOX (KPTV) but I do what I have to do right now.

I agreed with Ryan's comment. You'd think they'd come to a tentative agreement. BUT Dish does owe Fisher quite a bit of money, and for what the rates they are bilking homes, why can't they pay up? A deal is a deal and they need to make good on that old contract. To me Dish is in the dog house. And yes, why can't they show Comcast Sports Net? That's BS. I imagine, it's likely because they do not want to pay Comcast, much like they don't want to pay KATU.

I can't wait for a resolution to this issue. I just also added a new 2 year contract, but to my own doing. I bought an HDTV and now have an HDTV box, which in turn, comes with a new 2-year agreement.

I used to love Dish Network, but now I feel I've b...

2008-12-21T10:04:00.000-08:00

I used to love Dish Network, but now I feel I've been scammed. They called me last week, and offered me free HBO package since I was "such a valuable customer" (I have been with Dish Network for over 7 years). Of course it would require a 2 year commitment, but really, that didn't bother me as for the most part, I have no complaints about them (save the issue with Comcast Sportsnet, which I used to think was Comcast being greedy, but now I'm not so sure). Anyway, I agree to the package, and the next day I find out my local ABC affiliate has been pulled. I'd like to hear how many other Portland area customers were given this "special" offer. Also, I'd like to know if I have recourse to pull out of this deal, since I feel I didn't have all the pertinent information?

Sounds like there is more to this proverbial "piss...

2008-12-18T13:40:00.000-08:00

Sounds like there is more to this proverbial "pissing match" than either company is leading onto in their PSA's. It appears that Dish owes Fisher Inc. some payola from a previous carriage agreement deal to broadcast a channel from Washington, see article in this link:

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/dish-network-carriage-agreement-with-fisher-communications-inc-expires,661179.shtml

As I previousley stated, all of this at the expense of the consumer!

RB

You would think both parties could come to some so...

2008-12-18T12:42:00.000-08:00

You would think both parties could come to some sort of tentative agreement for the sake of their customers. How about a memorandum of agreement to continue service under the previous contract until an agreement under the new contract terms are argreed upon? Both parties have a "black eye" in the view of their customers under current terms.

Frustrated KATU viewer and Dish Network customer!

RB