ESPN/ESPN2
ESPN, it is true, that it is going off C-Band at the end of the year. Our supplier of programming for C-band, after receiving letters from the Attorney General in reference to other channels going dark, must notify ALL customers of pending shutoffs, when they know there is no opportunity to bring them back as is the case with ESPN and ESPN 2.
We are notifying customers of other options as we want them to continue to use their C-Band Dish for Premiums and other services where it may benefit them to do so.
In addition our suppliers are working with IPTV transport companies that can hopefully help us bring ESPN and other services back to C-Band in 2007.
6% UPLINK SURCHARGE
Effective December 15, 2006, our supplier will be implementing a 6% surcharge on every invoice to cover the cost of uplinking channels which would otherwise be unavailable to the C-band market. We currently uplink 12 channels and expect that to grow to possibly 25 in 2007, as the Turner services, Disney, Rainbow, Viacom and others go digital. The cost of uplinking a digital channel is approximately $10,000, and our supplier has been the only C-Band provider willing to do so. This fee will be discontinued if we are able to get on an IPTV platform which negates the need to uplink channels ourselves.
Service Date Service Ends NPS Action
ABC Family 9/30/06 Working on up linking
AMC 9/30/06 Found on G9-701
MTV 9/30/06 Found on GB (Galaxy 11) 800
WGN 12/15/06 Working on up linking
WE 12/31/06 Working on up linking
IFC 12/31/06 Working on up linking
NICK 12/31/06 Working on up linking
COMEDY 12/31/06 Working on up linking
SPIKE 12/31/06 Possible up linking, most likely IPTV
MTV Suite thru Hits 12/31/06 Working on up linking
TNT 12/31/06 Working on up linking
TBS 12/31/06 Working on up linking
CARTOON 12/31/06 Working on up linking
CNN 12/31/06 Working on up linking
DISNEY E. 12/31/06 Working on up linking
ESPN 12/31/06 WILL NOT BE ON C-BAND
ESPN2 12/31/06 WILL NOT BE ON C-BAND
COURT TV 1/31/06 Working on up linking
NFL Network Found on GB (Galaxy 11) 410
NFL Network HD coming soon as an a la carte service.
