GolTV Removed From DISH Network

by The Gaffer on August 2, 2008 · 91 comments

goltv dish network GolTV Removed From DISH Network

As of August 1, GolTV - the 24/7 soccer network - has been removed from DISH Network due to a contract dispute.

According to GolTV, “this occurs despite efforts to continue GolTV’s availability to Dish customers.” DISH Network, in retort, inserted this message when you hit the INFO button where GolTV’s channel used to be: “GolTV has removed this channel after asking for unreasonable terms to renew the contract and we’re working to solve the problem.”

In the meantime, DISH Network is offering free previews of both Setanta Sports and Fox Sports Espanol to its customers. However, even if DISH Network customers subscribed to Setanta and Fox Sports Espanol, that won’t replace the void that’s left with GolTV gone because GolTV has exclusive license rights in the United States to La Liga and Bundesliga, as well as many 2010 World Cup qualifiers and this weekend’s Emirates Cup featuring Real Madrid, Hamburg, Juventus and Arsenal.

For DISH Network, the decision to remove GolTV is idiotic. Hopefully this a short-term disagreement between GolTV and DISH Network that will be resolved soon, but the timing couldn’t be worse and soccer fans will want to make a decision soon whether to leave DISH Network before the new seasons begin. My gut instinct says that this issue won’t be resolved soon especially when GolTV tells readers on its homepage that “You can find GolTV on our current distribution partners,” which includes DirecTV.

If you love GolTV, my recommendation would be to simply cancel your DISH Network subscription and move to DirecTV where you get GolTV there instead. If you’re upset about the situtation, vote with your dollars by leaving DISH but don’t forget to send them an e-mail too to let them know why you’re cancelling and moving to their biggest competitor.

DISH Network can be contacted here.

{ 91 comments… read them below or add one }

1 chirkut August 13, 2008 at 4:26 pm

Dish network thinks that they wont be losing many customers just because of Gol TV… . But they are wrong… they will soon find out the millions of soccer fans in this country.
I emailed and chatted with them… chatting ofcourse is useless other than letting them know that you will cancel and switch over to Direct TV. They are not of any help. Fox sports en espanol… huh…. all I see on that channel is woman in bikinis talking about lipo suction, massage creams etc….. couldnt they provide Setanta instead to the english customers….instead of only providing it to Latino subscribers… I am off dish in 2 weeks if Gol tv is not back on..

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2 Justo Hernandez August 14, 2008 at 7:54 pm

I had DISH up until a year ago when I moved to Texas from Florida. Now I´m back to Miami but haven´t settled into a new house/apartment, so I don´t know if I will have satellite or cable. I have no contract issues, but there are other packages where I think DISH works better for me than DIRECT TV or COMCAST.
I would be a shame to the DISH people if they are not able to bring back GOL TV. That will force me to get DIRECT TV, but from what I´m reading here, they are better than DISH.
DISH did the same in the past with CENTROAMERICA TV, an entertaiment/news channel dedicated to central america. The channel couldn´t negotiate a new contract with DISH and they went to DIRECT TV. I was really upset with it back then. So, my feeling is… SO LONG GOL TV!

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3 BYE BYE DISH August 17, 2008 at 5:05 pm

I LOVE GOL TV AND CENTRO AMERICA TV

I’m switching to direct tv because they went so far this time.

I love to watch the real madrid or barcelona on Sundays but when i get home i found that there is not a real Soccer tv.

I hope it dish gets better channels than direct tv in the future.

but for now it time to enjoy DIRECTV.

Thank

Mario

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4 tony August 18, 2008 at 11:08 am

Ill wait for the solution until la liga starts, then if no deal, will switch.

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5 tony August 20, 2008 at 10:13 am

Any news?

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6 The Gaffer August 20, 2008 at 12:27 pm

No news is bad news. Sorry Tony.

Cheers,
The Gaffer

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7 Jeff August 20, 2008 at 3:13 pm

This is a note I just got from goaltv:

Dear Jeff,

With the recent Bundesliga kick off and upcoming launch of La Liga action on Aug. 31, we want to you to know that we don’t forsee reaching any compromise with Dish Network in the near future.

Because we don’t want you to miss GolTV’s unmatched soccer action, we recommend selecting an alternate video service provider at this time. On our site at http://www.goltv.tv you will find a list of our Distribution partners.

Sounds like we are screwed

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8 administrator August 20, 2008 at 10:07 pm

please lets all complaint to goltv, to sign the contract back with dish.

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9 administrator August 20, 2008 at 10:11 pm

can someone post a copy of the contract, I am dying to see who’s really blocking the service.

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10 tony August 22, 2008 at 12:15 pm

then why are they cheating us telling they are working to solve the problem? Millions on subscribers of dish arenot goning to see the spanish soccer?

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11 Frankie August 22, 2008 at 6:02 pm

I recieved a very nice email from GOLTV saying that things do not look good between them and Dish.They also said they are gonna send a special thankyou gift to me after recieving my support for them. I went to BESTBUY today and they had a great offer going on to sign up with DirecTV. First 4 months around 50 bucks plus the NFL ticket, you`ve all seen the offer…now whats interesting here is I had just cancelled DirecTV about a year ago so I didn`t think I would be able to get the offer but I did and signed right up. The installer comes on Monday and I dump Dish on Tuesday!Check out the offer at BestBuy guys. I get everything and more on DirecTV and the tuner is free and installation also. Rather not have taken this course because I prefer Dish remote but I aint going without my GOLTV. Tsweet part of the deal is that my monthly bill will be about $45 lower than what I was paying Dish….those idiots at Dish!!!!

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12 Antonio August 24, 2008 at 6:55 pm

Done,

I am ready for “La liga”. Called Direct TV and next day at 8:00 am were already installing the Satellite. Forget Dish network…they are showing no respect for soccer fans. Iforgot, Direct tv are even cheaper.

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13 cristiano August 25, 2008 at 1:35 am

Nacho libre HA HA HA HA HA HA

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14 Paolo August 25, 2008 at 11:39 pm

Just look at the info box on Channel 407. It says that the “free preview” for FoxSoccerEspanol will end on Wednesday and that people who want it should subscribe to the Latino package. What a bunch of crap. First we lose GolTv, and now it looks like they aren’t even going to let us keep this other channel. Unbelievable. Verizon FIOS is sounding better right now.

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15 Paolo August 25, 2008 at 11:58 pm

Just chatted with a rep who told me that there will be nothing to replace Channel 407 with. For a few days, subscribers will be minus one channel. They don’t know what they are going to replace it with…probably another shopping channel…unbelievable.

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16 jeff August 26, 2008 at 12:34 am

I had the same conversion on the 24th. I tired to get setanta for half price but no deal because its better than FSC but no deal. The Rep. said they feel that gol tv will come around because they are losing money. I told them everyone I know is just switching to direct tv. My Rep said that if you have top 200 or greater you will keep fox in espanol . they seem to change the story every damn day. Hell until i explained the situation the Rep. didn’t even know that the channel was gone.
Only one month left on my agreement.
hello direct tv and la liga.

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17 Matt August 27, 2008 at 6:51 pm

Well true to their word - GOLTV, and the free Fox Sports Espanol, is now gone from my top 250 package. I love how they give virtually no notice to current customers about any of this. I have well over a year left on my contract with them, otherwise I would change like many others . So ,I’m going to ride out the contract and then switch as soon as its financially viable. Screw Dish!!!

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18 Dave August 27, 2008 at 7:41 pm

Matt, I’m in the same position as you and am planning to the same thing, namely change over when it won’t cost me a bundle. In the mean time, I’m planning on filing a complaint with the BBB on DishNetwork because I feel they broke my contract first by eliminating my favorite channel and won’t let me get out without paying $200 first. I will also call my local NBC affiliate that works as a arbitrator when there are disagreements over contracts. Good Luck to you.

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19 Matt August 27, 2008 at 9:25 pm

Dave; I have seen in other posts the same path you plan to take but wonder if in the “small’ print in each of our contracts there isn’t an out for Dish with some legalize that allow them to change their channel line-up w/o notice or penalty. I haven’t gone over it w/ a fine tooth comb but I bet its in their somewhere. Good Luck to you also.

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20 Robert August 28, 2008 at 3:06 pm

25004 here… just to let you know I wrote GOLTV about this issue and they basically said that they saw no solution to the problem and that the best way for me to enjoy GOLTV is to switch providers, now…

I really love DISH Network and the DRV, menu, guides etc is all better on Dish than DirecTV, now the question is…

Could I go for a year with watching La Liga on laggy streams on the net? I really don’t care about Bundesliga but La Liga is the best, so there is the question…

Downgrade to DirecTV or Stream La Liga??

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21 kstuart August 28, 2008 at 6:18 pm

GolTV gets more leverage in the negotiations as people start to drop Dish. This is why they are telling people to switch and giving them “gifts” as an incentive. The negotiations are ongoing……..

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22 Isaac August 28, 2008 at 6:30 pm

GolTV also has to keep in mind that DishNetwork was the first big Sat provider to offer them when they started , they have to be able to recognize that. I remember both myself and my parents switched from Directtv to Dish years ago because of goltv offering LA LIGA

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23 tony August 29, 2008 at 10:10 am

well, at last those last comments are if not optimists, less pesimists. I hope they will get an agreement.

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24 Patrick August 30, 2008 at 2:04 pm

They’ve just lost another. I just[ switched to DirecTV. I’ll miss this first weekend of La Liga but it’s better then nothing - thanks Dish Network!

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25 ronaldinho August 31, 2008 at 1:29 am

i already switched to directv and tomorrow im goint to watch real madrid’s game and barcelona’s game too………fuck you dish you people better cancel now………or you going to miss out alot of cool games………

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26 Sean August 31, 2008 at 8:08 pm

I have the biggest dilemma: Having Dish allows me to watch the German Package which includes the Bundesliga. I am finally able to watch the games in German. Their show Saturdays includes watching a conference of the 6 Saturday games as well as the Sunday show with a conference of the 2 games.
It was the perfect solution for me. As a huge Bayern fan, I could conveniently watch their games live on Gol Tv and record the Bundesliga show simultaneously(even switch for the haltime show and of course all the highlights right after the game).
Now I can’t even switch completely; otherwise the German package will be lost.
I am forced to get something like Uverse and cut down DISH to a minimum.
The second the German Package is available anywhere else, I will drop DISH. They just ignored soccer fans like us.

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27 tony September 1, 2008 at 10:55 am

Maybe a solution is going on, dish has dropped a message in his homepage, wich said that they did not seen an agreement near. Today I´ve found that the message was gone.

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28 Mostar September 2, 2008 at 10:50 pm

I hope that negotiations will continue and DISH will restore GOAL TV channel soon. I primarily watch Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports but I do miss La Liga and Bundesliga a lot… I am truly hoping for a miracle…

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29 marlon September 5, 2008 at 11:10 pm

I NEED GOLTV BACK BECAUSE LA LIGA WILL STAR SOON, AND FOR THAT STUPID SON OF A BITH CALLED (BRANDON) HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT…

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30 marlon September 5, 2008 at 11:16 pm

I’M SORRY THA BITH IS (BRANDO)…

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31 brando September 6, 2008 at 1:13 am

stop crying, you should be watching the presidential campaing, forget about goltv, IT’S GONE FOREVER, I feel sorry for you guys.

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32 Rod September 6, 2008 at 2:30 pm

If I dont get GOL TV this week, I am leaving those ass holes and going to DirectTv.

They need to understand that I got them only because of GolTv.

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33 joe September 8, 2008 at 8:56 am

I called dish network and the person from them said that they knew of the problem and were working to bring back goltv. I asked for a timeframe and he did not give any. Maybe he is lying. Maybe they are actually trying to make it work.

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34 marlon September 8, 2008 at 1:41 pm

fuck you brando , i think than you should go with mccain to kiss her ass,stupid..

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35 abjdmba September 10, 2008 at 1:58 pm

Did anyone get their “gift” from GolTV? What is it?

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36 Alin September 15, 2008 at 3:04 pm

The problem with dish network is if any one wants to cancel the contract, he has to pay a canceling fee. I don't know how much . . !!!!

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37 josi October 27, 2008 at 8:10 am

I switched to FIOS and now I can get to watch my soccer games both on Fox and also GOL TV. I gave Dish 2 months to sought out the problem. I just swtiched it was a no briner. They are fine without me but I love my soccer

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38 PutoDISH October 30, 2008 at 9:23 pm

PUTO DISH YA NO TIENE GOL TV, A LA VERGA, MEJOR ME VOY CON DIRECTV!

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39 Christian Rodriguez Roman November 3, 2008 at 7:09 pm

Hi my name is Christian Rodriguez Roman and i have to tell that i am very upset and mad for cancelling my goltv chanel in my dish service.GOLTV was the only chanel i could see my my favorite leagues,cups and programs like the spain league,la copa del rey,bundes league,goltv news,ole la liga and bundes league magazine. PLEASE PLEASE put the contract back with gol tv and dish.You are my only hope to continue my fan spirit with my teams. HOPEFULY A GOLTV FAN

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40 Christian Rodriguez Roman November 3, 2008 at 7:12 pm

DISH PORFAVOR VUELVAN A PONER GOLTV QUIERO VOLVER A VER MIS PROGRAMAS,COMERCIALES,JUEGOS,LIGAS,COPAS,Y GOLTV NEWS

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41 fran April 22, 2009 at 7:43 pm

por favooooooooooooooor regresen la senal de gol tv
PPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEE

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