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Satellite TV Dished Up For Nine Bucks Earns A Lawsuit
Littleton - Oct. 5, 2001 DISH Network, the nation's fastest-growing digital satellite TV provider, today released documents detailing legal threats made by Charter Communications Inc., one of the five largest cable television providers in the nation. In the letter, Charter cable calls for DISH Network to immediately discontinue its $9 per-month ad campaign. Charter also accuses DISH Network of unfair competition and threatens to consider legal action against the satellite TV provider. According to the letter, Charter claims that DISH Network's current promotion has caused Charter "to lose current and potential customers, and has damaged...Charter's goodwill and reputation. Accordingly, Charter demands that (DISH Network) immediately discontinue the $9 a Month Ad Campaign..." "Charter Communications can stomp their feet, pound their fists and threaten to unleash their lawyers, but we will continue `I Like 9,' which is a great deal for consumers," said Charlie Ergen, CEO and chairman of EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network. "The facts are simple: When comparing similar programming packages, DISH Network's `I Like 9' promotion can save consumers up to approximately $300 over Charter's digital cable programming package in a year. Savings could be even higher if Charter continues their historical rate increases." The following table illustrates current savings to consumers when comparing DISH Network's all-digital "I Like 9" promotion with a typical digital cable package offered by Charter Communications in selected areas: DISH Network Charter Communications America's Top 100 digital cable Programming Package Programming Package ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Monthly Programming Cost $13.99(a) Monthly rate - $49.95(b) ($9), and Local Network First month - $14.95 TV channels ($4.99) One-Time Cost of DISH $99.00 N/A Network equipment exclusively for Charter cable customers Total Price - Annualized $266.88 $564.40 ------- ------- Annualized DISH Network savings over cable $297.52 ((a) DISH Network prices are based on August 2001 rate. DISH Network rates are subject to change. Local TV channels from DISH Network are $4.99 per month and subject to restrictions and availability. (b) Charter Communications may offer varying, special promotions and prices for new customers that may reduce the monthly programming rate. Charter Communications prices are based on first-month rate of $14.95 and regular monthly rates of $49.95 for digital cable based on information available in August 2001 for a select area in St. Louis, home of Charter's headquarters. Similar Charter rates and similar savings with DISH Network can also be obtained in select areas in Atlanta and Birmingham, Ala.) On Aug. 1, DISH Network launched a nationwide campaign for "I Like 9," offering over 115 channels of all digital satellite video and music television for as low as $9 per month ($13.99 per month with select local network channels) when new customers purchase an all digital DISH Network satellite TV system valued at $199 or more. New customers will receive a credit of $21.99 per month for 12 consecutive months when they subscribe to America's Top 100 programming package, currently priced at $30.99 per month. The "I Like 9" program also includes free basic professional installation. In addition, DISH Network is making an exclusive offer to Charter customers for an additional $100 savings off a qualifying DISH Network TV system starting at $199. Customers must present to DISH Network or an authorized retailer a Charter bill showing they subscribed to Charter within 90 days of when they become a DISH Network customer. This exclusive offer for Charter customers begins Oct. 8, 2001, and expires Oct. 31, 2001. "We're surprised by Charter's reaction to our `I Like 9' promotion," Ergen added. "If Charter doesn't want to lose customers who switch to DISH Network, then their reaction should be better service and better pricing for their customers. We believe consumers, not Charter's lawyers, should decide who has lower rates. We challenge Charter to lower their rates." DISH Network is recognized as providing the best customer service in the subscription television industry. DISH Network was recently ranked number one in customer satisfaction in the American Consumer Satisfaction Index published by the University of Michigan Business School. DISH Network scored 71 while Charter scored 63, which was below the average score of 64 for the Telecommunications: Cable and Satellite sector. Details of this study are available online. For Press: A copy of Charter's letter is available by contacting Judianne Atencio or Marc Lumpkin at EchoStar. DISH Network is EchoStar's state-of-the-art direct broadcast satellite (DBS) system that is capable of offering over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming, including Dolby Digital sound, high-speed interactive television and data services, all on a single dish, as well as offering fully MPEG-2/DVB compliant hardware and installation. DISH Network, which serves over 6 million U.S. customers, is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corporation. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links DISH Network EchoStar Communications SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express The latest information about the Commercial Satellite Industry
Stratos Steps Closer To Xantic Acquisition
Bethesda MD (SPX) Jan 5, 2006Stratos Global recently announced it had taken a step closer toward the completion of the acquisition of Xantic, having received positive advice from the Works' Council in the Netherlands, and executed a definitive agreement to purchase Xantic from KPN and Telstra Corporation. |
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