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AT&T Ending Dish Network Partnership at Year-End
Setting up a bidding war between Dish and DirecTV?
AT&T has told Dish Network that the telco is ending their agreement at the end of the year to sell bundled TV, phone and broadband packages. According to Reuters, AT&T Is setting the stage for a bidding war between DirecTV and Dish Network for who'll get to partner with the nation's largest broadband provider. Obviously AT&T wants consumers to use their U-Verse IPTV service, but they're still going to want a DBS partner in the significant number of market where U-Verse won't be profitable to deploy. It's not particularly good news for Dish, which was already facing a decline in subscribers. I've dropped a line to AT&T to see how this will impact the Homezone DSL/DBS service they offer in conjunction with Dish Network.
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PhoenixDown
FIOS is Awesome
Premium Member
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY

PhoenixDown

Premium Member

Weren't they buying Dish?

What happened with that?
EPS4
join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA

EPS4

Member

Re: Weren't they buying Dish?

Maybe the plan is to drive down DISH's stock and make them easier to buy in a few months?

Or perhaps they're now confident enough in U-Verse to not want to buy a DBS company.

trebzon
join:2001-09-03
Grandville, MI

trebzon

Member

Maybe

I think it was the other way around. DirTV was interested in Dish I thought. Also not good news for Dish but honestly I would still prefer my current Dish to Uverse. Package and hardware options are better.

aaronwt
Premium Member
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
Asus RT-AX89

1 edit

aaronwt

Premium Member

Re: Maybe

said by trebzon:

I think it was the other way around. DirTV was interested in Dish I thought. Also not good news for Dish but honestly I would still prefer my current Dish to Uverse. Package and hardware options are better.
Didn't they try to merge a few years ago and the government shot it down?

arundc
join:2004-08-11

arundc

Member

Re: Maybe

Actually Dish Network CEO Charlie E. tried to buy out DirecTV and yes the govt. shot it down. Then News Corp jumped in.
slomike2
join:2007-07-18
San Luis Obispo, CA

slomike2

Member

Re: Maybe

I think that as Dish continues it's decline, it will not be long before DirecTV trys to buy Dish out. This time hopefully the gov wont stop it.

Dish is facing a big problem with the TiVo litigation. They may have to disable all of their DVRs.

-Mike

Geminimind
Premium Member
join:2003-12-20
Sacramento, CA

Geminimind

Premium Member

Re: Maybe

Good I hate dishnetwork they are really nasty I would rather have directv. Dishnetwork is greedy and they cost more than directv too

arundc
join:2004-08-11

arundc

Member

Re: Maybe

Sorry about your experience but I've been with Dish since 2000 and have been very happy. I watch both US and International channels, latter DirecTV can't even compare. Sports is not that important to me. Both Dish and DirecTV have plans starting at 29.99 and I think they're both good.
arundc

arundc to slomike2

Member

to slomike2
Litigation aside, I think when push comes to shove, Dish may just end up paying up their dues to Tivo or atleast come to a revenue sharing plan. There is no way that they can simply turn off their DVRs. They have too many of them out there and the only and best triple tuners.
slomike2
join:2007-07-18
San Luis Obispo, CA

slomike2

Member

Re: Maybe

The thing is that after the way they have treated TiVo, the fees that TiVo may require, may be enough to put Dish out of business. Or at least kill their stock price enough that they will be easily bought. There could also be investor lawsuits about the drop in stock price.

It appears that Dish knew they were violating TiVo patents and just chose to ignore the consequences.

-Mike

arundc
join:2004-08-11

arundc

Member

Re: Maybe

Yes that maybe the case but I still don't think neither party is ready for negative publicity. I think Tivo could use the customer base that Dish has. Like I said before, highly unlikely they are simply going to disable the DVRs. Check out dbstalk.com for more in depth discussions about this case.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK to slomike2

Premium Member

to slomike2
said by slomike2:

The thing is that after the way they have treated TiVo,
The Tivo lawsuit is BS. The way they've been treated by Tivo is more like it. I applaud them for not just rolling over and like many companies do when faced with extortion.

aaronwt
Premium Member
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
Asus RT-AX89

aaronwt

Premium Member

Re: Maybe

said by KrK:

said by slomike2:

The thing is that after the way they have treated TiVo,
The Tivo lawsuit is BS. The way they've been treated by Tivo is more like it. I applaud them for not just rolling over and like many companies do when faced with extortion.
The courts obviously don't agree with your assessment.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK

Premium Member

Re: Maybe

said by aaronwt:

The courts obviously don't agree with your assessment.
The patent court cases rule based on the patents... and therein lies the rub. The problem usually is the patent granted by the patent office. IE a super broad patent often covering obvious technology is granted, and then used by a company to beat others over the head for money.

Happens all the time.

aaronwt
Premium Member
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
Asus RT-AX89

aaronwt

Premium Member

Re: Maybe

said by KrK:

said by aaronwt:

The courts obviously don't agree with your assessment.
The patent court cases rule based on the patents... and therein lies the rub. The problem usually is the patent granted by the patent office. IE a super broad patent often covering obvious technology is granted, and then used by a company to beat others over the head for money.

Happens all the time.
There is nothing at all wrong with that.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

1 edit

KrK

Premium Member

Re: Maybe

Absolutely there's something wrong with it. It's in violation of the whole idea of patents.

»w2.eff.org/patent/

Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI

1 edit

Nightfall

MVM

On a personal note

I hope they partner with both. I am a directv subscriber and I would love to see a partnership so I can get a bundle discount with them. At the same time though, even dish network subs should be able to keep their discounts.

ropeguru
Premium Member
join:2001-01-25
Mechanicsville, VA

ropeguru

Premium Member

Make up your mind...

Bellsouth was partnered with DirecTV until the whole merger thing. Then we were told the new partnership was with Dish. Now they are dropping Dish less than a year later.

Make up your freaking minds AT&T. Another reason why you are one of the worst around.

elbiejane
@62.159.137.x

elbiejane

Anon

Re: Make up your mind...

said by ropeguru:

Bellsouth was partnered with DirecTV until the whole merger thing. Then we were told the new partnership was with Dish. Now they are dropping Dish less than a year later.

Make up your freaking minds AT&T. Another reason why you are one of the worst around.
AT&T has the worst customer service I could ever imagine. Just this week, I spent an hour and a half on the phone trying to find out why they disconnected my phone (most of it on hold). They told me my son has the same address as I do and they will not provide service until I pay HIS bill! They want me to pay someone else's bill. Where do they get off? I don't owe these crooks a dime!
Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Joe12345678

Member

DirecTV does have offers with them right now

DirecTV does have offers with them right now also there DIRECTV On Demand needs high speed internet to work.

»www.directv.com/DTVAPP/g ··· 91675277

Add Internet to your service and save up to $120 over the first year

Order fast, reliable and secure high-speed Internet service though DIRECTV. We make sure that our preferred Internet providers meet the same top-notch quality standard you expect from us. Find out what high-speed Internet providers are available in your area by calling your customer service representative and save $10 a month for a full year on your DIRECTV bill.
CALL 888-777-2454 TO ORDER.

Customers qualifying for AT&T DSL service in the following states — CT, IL, MI, IN, OH, WI, AR, KS, MO, OK, TX, CA, NV — may be eligible for a $120 reward card from AT&T (restrictions apply) and do not qualify for any bundled discount on customer monthly bills. Offers end 6/24/08 and are based on approved credit. New customers only (lease required). Mail-in redemption may be required.

*Subject to availability, service not available in all areas. Eligibility based on service address and phone line. Internet Service provided by a preferred DIRECTV provider and billed separately. Prices vary depending on provider and are subject to change. Internet service commitment apply. $10/mo. promotional price only available from select Internet Service Providers in certain areas. Separate appointment for Internet installation may be required. Equipment may be required and sold separately. Startup costs, taxes and other fees may apply. Computer system requirements vary by provider. Terms and conditions for selected Internet Service provider apply. High-Speed Broadband Internet bill credits will be applied to your DIRECTV bill. Bill credits will discontinue after 12 months. DIRECTV service commitment required.
gtoken
join:2003-12-28
Fort Smith, AR

gtoken

Member

Dislike at&t (SBC)...........Like Dish Network

Dish partnering with at&t was the worst thing to happen to them. I had to sign up with Dish through at&t to get "the deal". Its been nothing but a headache for me. Any time I need help with my billing or tech support I have talk to those [insert bad word here] people at at&t first. I will be glad when my term expires. Adios at&t!!

Note: I only hate the former SBC part of at&t. I am very happy with my at&t (Cingular) wireless service. And, Dish Network itself I am happy with and will probably continue to use them.

Geminimind
Premium Member
join:2003-12-20
Sacramento, CA

Geminimind

Premium Member

Re: Dislike at&t (SBC)...........Like Dish Network

Yeah the att dish thing is really confusing

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK

Premium Member

They are moving into U-Verse

... and no longer feel DBS bundle is that important.

I know what you're thinking--- what about the more rural customers, etc etc

Well--- if you'll notice, AT&T has been dumping off rural areas for years to companies like Windstream, etc

So AT&T is becoming a competitor to Dish and DirecTV.... why install a large base of users, who, probably happy with the service, may not be eager to jump on Uverse later.

I think this is the main reason.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: They are moving into U-Verse

Where in the hell do you get that ATT has been dumping customers off? AT$T hasnt spun anyone off to Windstream. And actually Windstream hasn't actually been in business that long under their name. What maybe a year or 3 at most?

AT$T is not going to give up on much of their network like VZ they'll keep the copper around until its time to rebuild the entire network over again.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

1 edit

KrK

Premium Member

Re: They are moving into U-Verse

Around here, as SBC, they sold off quite a lot of rural area.

Windstream since has picked some of it up. Valor owns other parts. Also, if they can't get U-Verse, and can't get cable, why give em a discount--- you know they can't switch....
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

1 edit

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: They are moving into U-Verse

what discount are you talking about? You only get a Discount from ATT is if you're lucky to get their shitty DSL service to start off with along with their over priced POTS service. But that's then if you know who in the hell to talk to or you threaten to leave or use their "win-back" program and switch back. Their savings ads they're mailing out in the millions are "savings" their actually higher priced than what I'd pay cable in my area. ATT can't give you phone for $13 with taxes and fees included.

but those being sold off are only in your area that has been said. ATT has a LOT of rural area here in NW Ohio. None of it has been sold of. they're actually upgrading some of the areas but only because cable is the leader in choice. SBC wouldnt deploy DSL in my old city (Fremont) because they said the lines wouldnt handle it and it wasnt worth their money to set it up. Well TWC annouced that RR was available DSL all of a sudden was available the next day after RR was up and running in homes. Guess who the leader in Fremont is for Internet-surely not SBC. TWC has the lead by far. Especially after telling the residents that they weren't worth upgrading and they'd never see DSL in Fremont.

Yeaheap
@comcast.net

Yeaheap

Anon

Dish Sucks!

I been sayin it for a dang year now! Dish sucks swamp water! Their equipment is over engineered and difficult to use, their customer service sucks, their installation team sucks and they have no clue how to run their business correctly. When I was a contractor for Dish EVERY work order had a mistake on it listing the wrong equipment, the wrong address, the wrong customer name, the wrong account number... Something was always wrong!

I finally threw up my hands one day and stormed in to their warehouse and screamed at their warehouse manager. I told him in about a year that Dish was going to die and either get bought out or go out of business. He said, "yeah right". So okay Gary up in Hayward California.. I told ya so.

I have never had such a distaste for a company as I have for Dish. I will be the first to dance on their grave when they die.
Superman4MVP
join:2008-07-21
Orlando, FL

Superman4MVP

Member

AT&T-Dish Network

This guy came to my house today and first said he was an AT&T representative checking to see if we were satisfied with our phone service. Then he asked about our Internet and Cable(we use Brighthouse) and what we were paying and claimed that he could sell us an 'everything package' of DSL, Dish Network with Two Dual-DVR Boxes, NFL Ticket, etc. He said that if we don't sign a contract we have to pay 50 dollars, but with a contract it'd stick to the monthly 90.95 rate. This guy was really shady, asked for credit card information once my father said he was interested, had him answer a series of questions to some phone serviceman with only 'Yes/No' answers. The whole thing reaked of scam to me. What can you guys tell me about this? Is this legit?