DISH vs. AMC

We’ve been DISH Network subscribers for at least 10 years, possibly longer. I know it’s been longer than that when you combine the times we’ve had DISH technologies. Our first system was an EchoStar system.

Recently there’s been a spat between DISH and AMC. AMC claims one thing, DISH claims another. I have no idea which story is accurate, and to be quite honest, I don’t care. What I do care about is AMC’s The Walking Dead. As a DISH subscriber I’d like to have AMC. That’s all there is to it.

Recently I sent an email to DISH asking them to sort out their differences with AMC. This is what I got in reply. You can read what AMC has to say about the matter and compare the two. Definitely different stories.

Dear Valued DISH customer,

Thank you for your e-mail. We value your business and the opportunity to discuss this situation with you.

Itâ€ s in our DNA to provide the best programming to our customers at the best value possible. Thatâ€ s our first priority and it guides how we run the business. As we keep customers first, weâ€ re constantly making evaluations on the value various channels bring to the DISH family.

AMC Networks requires us to provide and pay for channels beyond AMC, including WE tv and IFC which, as a whole, do not deliver value to our customer base for the price demanded. Providing value to our customers is at the core of our business. We are the only Pay TV provider to not have raised your programming prices this year and as a result, we cannot ask our customers to pay more for this extraneous programming.

We regret that AMC Networks has chosen to involve viewers at this time. Our contract does not allow us to go into further details, however, we remain hopeful that we can find a resolution that brings AMCâ€ s networks at a value theyâ€ ve come to expect.

Please keep in mind that you are still able to watch programming on AMC (ch 9609 – SD/9610 – HD), IFC (ch. 9607), and WE tv (ch.9608), and you will still be able to view the finale of The Killing Part 1 on Sunday, June 10th and Part 2 on Sunday, June 17th.

Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.

Sincerely,
DISH

Here’s the bottom line for us, and I really DO NOT want to do this, but if we don’t have AMC, we don’t have DISH. That’s right, I will switch services for one channel.

I hope they can work it out.

UPDATE: AMC’s The Walking Dead Season 3 Preview airs July 7-8. If this mess isn’t sorted by July 2, I have to switch providers. I don’t want to switch providers.