Dish Network Hits Glitch With Local Programming
By Joyce Lobeck, The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.
May 15–A number of Dish Network subscribers have reported they’ve been told by customer service representatives that the satellite provider does not yet offer local programming in the Yuma area, despite a front-page article in this morning’s Sun saying that the service was to begin today.
According to a customer service representative for Dish Network contacted today by a member of The Sun staff, the satellite television provider will make local broadcast channels available today.
However, the company’s computer system hadn’t been updated by late morning to show that information. Until the information is entered in the computer system, subscribers cannot sign up to receive the local channels with their Dish Network receivers, according to the representative. The company hopes to have the system updated later today.
As of noon today, corporate officials and media spokespeople for Dish Network could not be reached by The Sun to confirm the representative’s information.
But Dish Network had planned to make local programming available today to its Yuma-area subscribers, according to an e-mail sent to Andrew Wyatt, general manager of KSWT, which he shared with The Sun.
The e-mail sent March 8 by Stacey Conway, general manager for local programming for Dish Network, says: “Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we plan to make the Yuma locals available to customers next Thursday, May 15th. Thanks for your patience.”
A follow-up e-mail sent to Wyatt Wednesday confirmed that the service would begin today.
Customers will have to call to request the programming. Existing subscribers can call 1-888-284-7116. The phone number for new subscribers is 1-888-825-2557.
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