Dish vs. West Virginia Media

[Tim Tyler]

Tuned in to watch CBS Sunday Morning and found that Dish is showing a graphic on Channel 13 stating "This station is currently blocked by its owner, who is demanding an outragous rate increase in excess of 200%". I thought it was standard that carriers and stations reached an agreement before it ever went this far. What is going on with Bray?

[JKF18]

According to Dish, a last minute attempt by Dish was given to WV Media due to the storm for a 2-day extension. Bray said no. For Bray to shut off viewers in the middle of a state emergency to line his pockets with more $$$ is ridiculous. You would think a true WV businessman with so many ties to WV would consider the PR backlash nightmare this could cause.

Shame on WV Media. If anyone believes that Bray would invest more cash into his holdings with a more lucrative deal with Dish, I have some oceanfront property in Wirt County to sell.

[Mr. Tom Jones]

Clearly, neither one of you has seen Bray in action over the years.

Go back to his multi-billion dollar NASCAR deal that got him the wad of cash he needed to put together WVMH. You'll find he bent so many noses out of joint, he was not welcome.

The real villain in this matter is BB & T, which has issued the debt he needs to run the group.

[Greg Goodfellow]

IF Cary was given the opportunity to extend the CURRENT contract, which allegedly he agreed to without a gun being held to his head, advising those folks that still had power to get potentially life-saving information, and that he REFUSED, he needs to be held FULLY accountable. IF, however, DISH is misrepresenting the situation, shame on THEM. There are ALWAYS two sides to every story, even one involving the chairman.

I think we all agree that this should never have gone this far. The timing couldn't have been worse. Even though viewership traditionally goes down this time of year, the storm was a game-changer. Whatever happened to 'in the public interest'? Could this result in less-than-flattering missives being sent to every WVMH station, followed by a complaint to the 'Forever Clueless Company'?

[Mr. Tom Jones]

I think we all agree that this should never have gone this far. The timing couldn't have been worse. Even though viewership traditionally goes down this time of year, the storm was a game-changer. Whatever happened to 'in the public interest'? Could this result in less-than-flattering missives being sent to every WVMH station, followed by a complaint to the 'Forever Clueless Company'?

You're preaching to the choir. Good night, and good luck.

[the jive talkin one]

Tuned in to watch CBS Sunday Morning and found that Dish is showing a graphic on Channel 13 stating "This station is currently blocked by its owner, who is demanding an outragous rate increase in excess of 200%". I thought it was standard that carriers and stations reached an agreement before it ever went this far. What is going on with Bray?

Tim...two words could probably easily solve your problem: rabbit ears. People are so used to paying cable and satellite companies, they forget (or never know) that a perfect HD digital signal is free to capture in the air (at least for people who don't live in a gully like we do).

[Greg Goodfellow]

If stations were allowed/compelled to increase their power to a level whereby folks could actually receive the signal, I'd go back to an outdoor antenna in a New York minute, but I had to sell mine, as it was useless in the current broadcasting environment. Or, if stations set up a dependable translator system, again I'd go for it. Especially in Cary's situation, he needs every set of eyeballs possible, at least when it comes to his newscasts. WTOV9's news totally annihilates WVMH's efforts in that regard. He controls the three top networks; how can he cry about money, especially during a time when families are being devastated by this storm? At least one of us in our little club here spoke about losing hundreds of dollars in food. Surely many here could echo Dave's words.

Here in Tyler County, we still have close to a thousand families without power. At least it's going to be somewhat cooler, but the suffering continues. At least Cary has forced his customers to go to radio for essential information. ..at least, the stations that were able, because of proper planning, to air the information.

[Dr. Loomis]

If this drags on, my parents are sure to drop Dish Network. They are in Tucker County and post-DTV transition, it would take one hell of an antenna tower up there to pull in WBOY.

[oldtvman2]

bray tried this the last time but it didn't go this far. all he cares about is money not the viewers. some one should inform his advertisers that with his low power transmitters if you don;t have cable or dish you can not see their ads. signel just to low to receive without an outside antenna. I am just over the hill and can not receive with a small antenna, 3 and 30 great but no 13.