Here’s another example of why media outlets suck. WJLA (ABC) here in Washington DC has demanded that their signal be removed from the Dish Network satellite service. I don’t know the reasoning behind this, but I can only assume that they want more money or carriage of another one of their channels. (Albritton Communications, the owner of WJLA, also owns a cable channel here, NewsChannel 8. Albritton is known as a union-busting, harsh management corporation. They recently consolidated their two stations and laid off a huge number of employees. The Albrittons also own Riggs Bank.)
In the end, it doesn’t matter to me – Dish will always win over WJLA in my house. Why? WJLA has never once responded to a single phone call or e-mail I’ve sent in response to their poor HDTV station. For years, WJLA broadcast a standard digital signal without passing through an HD picture. Then, when they moved last year to a new facility they began sending HD. Sometimes. More often than not, they simply forgot to flip the switch. I’d be frustrated watching a little “In HDTV” caption, when the show wasn’t HD. So, I’d switch to WMAR in Baltimore – who not only send a full high definition picture, but accompany it with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. Even Disney-owned ABC has complained – it didn’t help that the ABC affiliate in Washington didn’t transmit HDTV when Disney was working in Congress to shape digital television. So, my attitude toward losing WJLA on satellite is… “eh.”
Dish Network has suffered some growing pains in the customer service department in recent years. The company that began as an audacious start up about 9 years ago or so is now so large that it’s attempted to buy DirectTV. But they use their clout to fight for equitable treatment of consumers in the face of powerful cable monopolies with Congress and the FCC in their pockets. I enjoy a David vs. Goliath fight. Dish Network was the instigator of the Satellite Home Viewer Act, which allows satellite providers to retransmit local stations, putting them on par with cable companies. In fact, Dish was transmitting locals long before it was legal!
In the midst of this dispute with WJLA, Dish Network puts it’s CEO on the air, explaining the Dish position and offering DC subscribers a credit on their bills for the duration of the dispute – for the cost of all the local stations. That’s a class act. And an attention to detail that has kept me a Dish subscriber for 9 years.
Regardless, a lot of people will find this disruptive and annoying. Can you imagine what will happen when the FCC eliminates ownership rules? A single company like Fox could own nearly all the stations in your home town. Then they could strong-arm the cable and satellite companies into carrying other expensive networks as a prerequisite for carrying the locals.
[In another development, I just discovered that some states are taxing satellite TV services, even though satellite TV doesn’t in any way use state or local resources or infrastructure – the satellite is in orbit. See www.stopsatellitetax.com.]
[Update: I’m now being told that even cable subscribers in the Washington area are without WJLA. I can only assume that Albritton is making some pretty ridiculous demands.]
[Update 2: I just received a canned response to my e-mail to WJLA. It’s laughable. Read it in the extended entry.]
[Update 3: I know that it’s rather stupid to be harping on this, especially since I never really watch WJLA anyway, but… it annoys me. Evidently Albritton has removed all their stations from Dish Network. Read more at DBSTalk.com.]
This is the response I received from WJLA informing them that their tactics are not appreciated:
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Date: Sat May 31, 2003 6:40:43 PM US/EasternAll of us in the WJLA family are disappointed that EchoStar has chosen to take WJLA off its DISH programming line-up. In light of our commitment to local viewers in the Washington, DC area, we have worked hard to reach an agreement with EchoStar for the carriage of WJLA on the DISH.
Finally, after one year of long and complex negotiations, we reached an agreement with EchoStar on Friday and executed our portion of a long-term agreement.
Unfortunately, EchoStar has now decided that it no longer wants to accept that agreement. As a result, EchoStar dropped WJLA.
This means that EchoStar?s local customers can no longer watch WJLA?s ABC news, entertainment and sports programming, as well as WJLA?s local news, weather, and emergency programming.
EchoStar?s last minute decision apparently was based on its belief that Washington, DC?s viewers should watch ABC network and our station?s other programming as broadcast from television stations located in New York or Los Angeles rather than Washington, DC. We believe, however, that EchoStar should carry the Washington, DC ABC affiliate with WJLA?s news, programming, and local sponsors.
From the very beginning, WJLA has been committed to the concept of localism in all our efforts ? and in all of our discussions with EchoStar. We regret that EchoStar does not share this commitment, and we are disappointed that its last-minute decision impacts DISH subscribers.
We remain hopeful that EchoStar will re-evaluate its commitment to Washington, DC and restore WJLA?s programming for its customers. We therefore will continue our year-long efforts at negotiating in good faith with EchoStar, despite its anti-consumer tactics. WJLA will continue to be available for free over-the-air, through local cable systems, and through DirecTV at 1-888-238-7177.
Love the spin on this – they always blame it on the carrier – Dish in this instance – by making it sound like Dish made the decision to pull their programming. Ridiculous. I also love the way they put in a plug and phone number for DirecTV… It’s strange. People in Fairfax told me today that they didn’t have WJLA on cable, either. I wonder…
