More on Dish and Gol TV and other random thoughts

I’m a bit under the weather, so the average grocery list will probably make better reading than this will.

But I’m willing to risk it.

Dish Network and Citadel Communications have reached an agreement to restore WOI, an ABC affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa; WHBF, a CBS affiliate in Davenport, Iowa; KLKN, an ABC affiliate in Lincoln, Neb.; and KCAU, an ABC affiliate in Sioux City, Iowa, to the airwaves.

That’s great for those folks, but Gol TV, the only provider of live La Liga and Bundesliga matches in the U.S. is still missing from its usual slot on channel 407.

I’ve got an e-mail in to the press folks at Dish. I’m not holding my breath…

In other news…

1. Washington got hosed at the end of its 28-27 loss at home to BYU. Jake Locker scored a touchdown with two seconds left and threw the ball up in celebration. He was hit with a 15-yard penalty and the ensuing extra point was blocked.

The rule was followed according to the letter of the law. That law, however, is stupid.

2. Anybody shoveling dirt on Roger Federer should stop. He thrashed Andy Murray on Monday to win the U.S. Open title, his 13th major victory. He looked pretty good doing it, too.

Back, and better than ever

After a record-breaking month of blog hits (1,136, or about as many as Bryan Hanks gets before lunch), I decided to take a few days off.

And, naturally, I’m back ready to rant:

1. Dish Network still hasn’t come to terms with Citadel Communications, which means that Gol TV is still missing from my channel lineup. It sucks. I miss La Liga and the Bundesliga.

2. I’m so glad that ESPN is getting the TV rights to the U.S. Open. I thank USA for its 25 years of coverage, but they spend entirely too much time sitting around a table and talking while actual tennis is being played. If I wanted to watch people talk, I’d flip over to CNN.

3. The MLS should hang its head in shame after New England and Chivas USA were trounced in both legs of their CONCACAF Champions League qualifiers by Joe Public and Tauro, respectively. The league will continue to struggle with credibility issues with results like these.

4. Clemson got pimp slapped by Alabama Saturday night. How do you hand the ball off 14 times by two all-conference type running backs and fail to gain a single yard?

It’s simple. Don’t block anybody. Bring on The Citadel. Whoo-hoo!

5. I taught my lovely wife how to throw a spiral the other day. It was cool. And, happily, my son didn’t turn away and run like a girl every time I threw him the ball. It only happened about 80 percent of the time, which is an improvement from 99…

Game, set, match

I guess Dish is playing hardball in their dispute with Citadel Communications.

Dish has removed channel 407, formerly Gol TV, from its on-air programming guide.

It’s really sad when a couple of multi-million dollar companies can’t iron out a deal.

The real losers here are us.

Here’s what I don’t get. Why is it that a company that increased its second-quarter revenue by $88 million (Citadel) has to have more money from a company that, for the first time in its history, lost subscribers (25K) in the same quarter?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure Dish shoulders some of the blame here. But Citadel seems to be in a lot better position to comprimise than does Dish.

The latest on Dish Network and Gol TV

Since this topic has gotten a surprising amount of interest on this blog, here’s an update.

We’re still screwed.

This was posted on WOI’s (ABC TV in Des Moines) Web site today:

We continue to reach out to the DISH Network in hopes of striking a carriage agreement that would allow ABC5 (WOI-TV/DT) to once again be carried on the DISH satellite service. A lengthy conference call was held this morning during which we once again attempted to reason with DISH executives in a good faith manner. I am disappointed to report, however, that the DISH Network continues to be inflexible and appears to have drawn a line in the sand…a line which makes it increasingly doubtful that we can reach a fair and equitable agreement prior to the start of 1) the new fall primetime schedule, 2) the college football season, and 3) the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase.

So we would once again like to remind our DISH viewers of the options available to them:

First, consider contacting DISH if you haven’t already done so. DISH is the one to whom you are sending a check each month! You can call Erin McIlvain, DISH Program Executive, at 1-303-723-1833. Second, you may wish to consider other satellite (e.g., DirecTV) and cable providers which continue to carry ABC5 without interruption. Or you may want to explore the use of an antenna to receive ABC5 over the air, something that many viewers have told us they’ve already done.    

At the same time, we will remain committed to engaging DISH in the hope that, sooner rather than later, DISH will show  flexibility and a concern for fairness. Should that happen, ABC5 could be back up on the DISH Network in very short order, ensuring that you don’t miss the upcoming season premieres of ABC primetime programming such as Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing With The Stars, or Boston Legal…or ABC daytime programming such as The View, All My Children or General Hospital…or ABC News programming such as Good Morning America, World News With Charles Gibson, or Nightline…or ESPN on ABC sports programming such as College Football and NASCAR’s Race for the Sprint Cup…or the newscasts and other local programming produced by the ABC5 News team which feature “Central Iowa’s Most Accurate Weather”…or the ABC5 Sports team’s comprehensive coverage of high school football on the Friday Night Blitz….or local sports programming such as Iowa State Basketball, Big 12 Basketball or the Gene Chizik & Greg McDermott coaches shows…or ABC5’s syndicated program offerings including Martha Stewart, The Doctors (the season’s hottest new daytime program from the producers of Dr. Phil) and Entertainment Tonight.  

Thank you for your continuing support and understanding.

Ray Cole, President
Citadel Communications Company

So, in other words, Dish and Citadel, which also owns Gol TV, continue to argue over how to split millions of dollars.

Me? I just want to watch soccer…

EDIT: Gol TV has added a note to their Web site stating that a deal is not likely to be reached in time for the start of the La Liga season. They suggest we find another distribution partner.

Joy.