RedWingAbner 13 Report post Posted September 16, 2009 Hey guys, I know that there was all the flap about Directv dropping Versus. Is Dish Network a good option for hockey viewers? I've seen several packages that include Versus; I've also read that the Centre Ice package purchase gets you the NHL Network. Thoughts? Subscriber reviews? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Donaldjr2448 43 Report post Posted September 16, 2009 I have dishnetwork, and I have to say Dish is good for watching Hockey! The only thing Dish does not offer is MLB Network because MLB wanted too much money for it, and It does not offer MLB Extra Innings! Also there is no NFL Sunday Ticket (which isn't their fault). Other than that Dish is AWESOME! I have the Multi-Sport Package which is $5.99 per month and that includes FSN Detroit, as well as NHL Network, NBA TV, and NFL Redzone! OF course you can get NHL Center Ice!! We have the top 250 channels, plus my sports and the total is only $99 per month plus whatever taxes you have to pay! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpiritFan 37 Report post Posted September 16, 2009 I am pretty happy w/Dish Network. Have had it for probably 4 or 5 years now. I have the Center Ice package as well. Worth the buy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roaddaw9 2 Report post Posted September 16, 2009 Had Dish about 3 years now. They have never given me a reason to go back to that company that starts with a C and ends with a harter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beepbeep 3 Report post Posted September 16, 2009 I am pretty happy w/Dish Network. Have had it for probably 4 or 5 years now. I have the Center Ice package as well. Worth the buy. What is the price for NHL CENTER ICE? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tinyhockey 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2009 What is the price for NHL CENTER ICE? the web site says 169.00 and you get 4 mo payment plan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AtomicPunk 296 Report post Posted September 16, 2009 Am I to assume you also get CBC, (in hi-def? he wonders), FSN HD and Versus with Dish Network? And how much is the basic package that includes these channels? I know you don't work for them, just curious. I'm considering switching over. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheWestWing 71 Report post Posted September 16, 2009 (edited) You'll get Versus and as far as CBC goes, you'll get Saturday HNIC with the CI pkg including pregame, generally both games and the feed stays up for After Hours. I'd personally recommend making a Canuck friendly and sharing a BEV pkg - CI + CBC + TSN (+ 'some' Rogers stuff) = Hockey Utopia. Course an N3 solution 'may' be available, but that's a different story altogether Edited September 16, 2009 by TheWestWing Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWingAbner 13 Report post Posted September 16, 2009 Am I to assume you also get CBC, (in hi-def? he wonders), FSN HD and Versus with Dish Network? And how much is the basic package that includes these channels? I know you don't work for them, just curious. I'm considering switching over. The package I was quoted at included Versus. I live in Tampa so I would get the two Fox Sports Florida (Sun and FS); if I got Centre Ice, I would get Wings games on FSN. The package, non-HD (I don't have a HD TV, so why pay for the channels) had 250 channels and was $62.99 per month with 1 DVR, but a 12-month promo price of $47.99. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rage 24 Report post Posted September 16, 2009 You'll get Versus and as far as CBC goes, you'll get Saturday HNIC with the CI pkg including pregame, generally both games and the feed stays up for After Hours. I'd personally recommend making a Canuck friendly and sharing a BEV pkg - CI + CBC + TSN (+ 'some' Rogers stuff) = Hockey Utopia. Course an N3 solution 'may' be available, but that's a different story altogether Yeah Dish is great. Especially for the last few years until N3 came out!! Come on FTA Community! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rallyfire99 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2009 I had dish a few years ago thought it was great till they moved versus to a higher package, went with charter and i'v been unhappy ever since I just keep it for the bundle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PROBIE4PREZ 58 Report post Posted September 17, 2009 I dont blame Directv one bit... Versus is trying to profit off the NHL's playoffs .. If you take out Detroit and Pitt. from the SCF and replace them with Carolina Vs. Chitown I highly doubt they would have broken any records .. How many people acutally tune into Versus when its not airing hockey????> .. i know i sure as hell dont Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
40#1Fan 0 Report post Posted September 17, 2009 http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_dadd...?urn=nhl,190300 The NHL's first games on Versus this season are scheduled for two weeks from today on Oct. 1, with the Washington Capitals visiting the Boston Bruins and the San Jose Sharks at the Colorado Avalanche on a night when Joe Sakic's(notes) No. 19 will be raised to the rafters. In other words, the time for genuine concern has arrived if you're a hockey fan with a DirecTV subscription that hasn't had Versus on the satellite service since it was unceremoniously yanked on Sept. 1 following a contract dispute. Good news: Both sides confirm negotiations are ongoing after talks broke down earlier this month; and Jade Ekstedt, spokesperson for DirecTV, said the parties are "very aware" that the clock is ticking to the start of the season. The less-than-good news: Getting Versus back on DirecTV by the first official puck drop isn't looking particularly promising at this point, according to the network's president. "The two sides are now talking again, and that's a good sign," said Jamie Davis, president of Versus. "I'm hoping for an amicable solution, but right now I would have to say that DirectTV is insistent in not budging off this distribution issue. If they stay the way they are, I do not believe this will not be solved prior to Oct. 1, unfortunately." The dispute, in summary: DirecTV claims it already pays Versus "more than any other independent distributor" and that Versus is asking for a 20 percent fee hike; DirecTV specifically wants "packaging rights" for the network in order to move it into another tier of programming that could carry an additional cost to subscribers. Versus claims it isn't charging DirecTV above market rate, and that moving to that new tier would "take Versus away from six million subscribers," according to Davis. Check out our earlier coverage for a much more detailed picture of what's at stake. It's a dispute that started out rather acrimoniously, with DirecTV pulling Versus off the air and placing an accusatory message to viewers in its place. Furthermore, it called Versus "basically a paid programming and infomercial channel with occasional sporting events of interest" on a blistering message on its Web site. "They're not only insulting our network. They're insulting hockey fans," said Davis. "What really happened was that they didn't tell us they were going to pull us off the air and came out swinging when we thought we were having fruitful, professional discussions. After that, there were no discussions for over a week." For Versus, the loss of DirecTV hasn't necessarily slowed its ratings momentum. The network's coverage of No. 2 Texas at Wyoming in NCAA football propelled it to the top of the ratings in key male demos last Saturday. Year-to-year this month, Versus said its primetime viewership is up 13 percent, its total day viewership is up 25 percent and its weekend viewership is up a whopping 88 percent thanks in part to football. (This weekend's BYU/Florida State matchup is affected by the dispute, and both DirecTV and Versus said a resolution was doubtful before the game.) There's no question that Versus has accumulated some attractive properties in football, MMA and auto racing to go along with its crown jewel in the NHL. There's also no question that, for many digital cable services, Versus is a part of basic programming packages. The question we had for Davis: If DirecTV wants to place Versus on a different tier, isn't that their right? Shouldn't the marketplace decide whether it's the correct move or not? Davis said the clearance issue goes beyond the viewers. It affects relationships with leagues and with advertisers. "Taking [Versus] away from six million subscribers is something we can't live with," he said. Right now, millions of hockey fans that are affected in this dispute are wondering if they'll have to live without Versus's coverage at the start of the season. At some point, the NHL may have to become a more active player in this dispute as time runs short. We asked Davis about the shrapnel the League is receiving from critics about this dispute, the latest bit of evidence for the "Get off of Versus" crowd. He reiterated that the NHL's numbers on Versus have been climbing and that the last postseason was the highest rated on cable since 2002, no doubt bolstered by the Alexander Ovechkin(notes)/Sidney Crosby showdown and a few Cup finals games between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins. "The NHL is very squarely behind us," he said. "And remember, DirecTV pulled us off the air." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWingAbner 13 Report post Posted September 17, 2009 Screw Directv. I switched to Dish Network today. My base package is exactly the same and $40 per month cheaper, +HBO, Showtime, and Starz. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,794 Report post Posted September 17, 2009 I love hockey, but screw Versus, DirecTV and the NHL. None of them give a s*** about hockey or the fans as much as making money for themselves. The fans are the real people getting screwed here, and not any of these corporations. I don't give a damn whose fault it is, it's just a finger pointing contest. Kind of like when Republicans and Democrats try to blame each other for the country's problems. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWingAbner 13 Report post Posted September 18, 2009 I generally agree, GMR. I am pissed at Directv because I know how they'll spin this: We negotiated and got Versus back---aren't we great? You only missed a few games, and we (as a company) were not gouged on price. By the way, consumer, you now must pay $15 per month to get Versus-- totally unrelated to our stipulation that Comcast tried to gouge us. If you want hockey on our network, you have to do it. When I first signed up for Directv, it was because it offered Centre Ice and Setanta Sports. Now, Dish has Setanta as well (previously, not). Hooray for hockey and rugby. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tinyhockey 0 Report post Posted September 18, 2009 I generally agree, GMR. I am pissed at Directv because I know how they'll spin this: We negotiated and got Versus back---aren't we great? You only missed a few games, and we (as a company) were not gouged on price. By the way, consumer, you now must pay $15 per month to get Versus-- totally unrelated to our stipulation that Comcast tried to gouge us. If you want hockey on our network, you have to do it. When I first signed up for Directv, it was because it offered Centre Ice and Setanta Sports. Now, Dish has Setanta as well (previously, not). Hooray for hockey and rugby. I have Dish Network and I do not see Setanta Sports on there and I have all sports and reg channels Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
