DVC Annual Meeting Update - Resort TV question

[CandyMandy]

The latest issue of Disney Files inlcuded the usual column by Jim Lewis, in which he discussed some of the questions that came up at the annual meeting. One he dealt with concerned why a particular cable news channel is missing from the selections on the tv system serving DVC resorts at WDW.

He phrased the question as "whether there are political reasons that particular channel isn't included." His answer was "absolutely not," although he really didn't indicate exactly why the particular station in discussion isn't in the lineup (his answer implied that the lineup has to do with undefined "contractual" factors).

Just out of curiosity, I looked up the current offerings on the system, they can be found at:

http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/restv.html

It is interesting to note that while the channel in discussion is not inlcuded, its two primary competitors are.

And that caught my attention, because as a regular business traveler who stays in a wide range of hotel chains (from upper middle to high end), all three of the major cable news stations are always available.

Always.

So I am really left wondering what supposed contractual element unique to Disney negotiations with program providers makes the resulting line up different than just about every hotel one can stay in.

 

[arthur06]

Wasn't the channel in question Foxnews? He did state that it was available at HHI and VB. I will re-read it later, just going off memory...

 

[DebbieB]

The latest issue of Disney Files inlcuded the usual column by Jim Lewis, in which he discussed some of the questions that came up at the annual meeting. One he dealt with concerned why a particular cable news channel is missing from the selections on the tv system serving DVC resorts at WDW.

He phrased the question as "whether there are political reasons that particular channel isn't included." His answer was "absolutely not," although he really didn't indicate exactly why the particular station in discussion isn't in the lineup (his answer implied that the lineup has to do with undefined "contractual" factors).

Just out of curiosity, I looked up the current offerings on the system, they can be found at:

http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/restv.html

It is interesting to note that while the channel in discussion is not inlcuded, its two primary competitors are.

And that caught my attention, because as a regular business traveler who stays in a wide range of hotel chains (from upper middle to high end), all three of the major cable news stations are always available.

Always.

So I am really left wondering what supposed contractual element unique to Disney negotiations with program providers makes the resulting line up different than just about every hotel one can stay in.

It's not available on any Disney resort TV, it's not a DVC issue.

 

[CandyMandy]

It's not available on any Disney resort TV, it's not a DVC issue.

This is correct, albeit the article in the Disney files just referenced DVC WDW resorts.

But the fact the channel isn't available at any WDW Disney resort doesn't change the question about why it isn't avalilable to people staying there, including DVC members.

Nor does the point that is is available at two DVC resorts outside WDW. In fact, now that I think of it, why did Mr. Lewis only mention the two in the east but not the one in California or the planned channels for the one in Hawaii?

I have a suspicion: given the info in the link below, if the situation in Disneyland is the same as at WDW (all resorts get the same thing), Mr. Lewis didn't want to admit the channel in discussion is also not available at the Grand Californian DVC:

http://www.mouseinfo.com/Disneyland_Hotel_(Disneyland_Resort)

 

[vicki_c]

No offense intended - at all - but what is the point here? I'm not sure I get the question / issue. Conspiracy theory? Political motivation? Do you really care? I barely have time to check the weather and Stacey's top 7 when I'm on vacation.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I was just at the Rosen Plaza near the Orange County Convention Center for four nights and they actually had WDW TV as one of their channels. But I did watch a bunch of O'Reilly, Hannity and Greta at night before I went to bed.

 

[DebbieB]

This is correct, albeit the article in the Disney files just referenced DVC WDW resorts.

But the fact the channel isn't available at any WDW Disney resort doesn't change the question about why it isn't avalilable to people staying there, including DVC members.

Nor does the point that is is available at two DVC resorts outside WDW. In fact, now that I think of it, why did Mr. Lewis only mention the two in the east but not the one in California or the planned channels for the one in Hawaii?

I have a suspicion: given the info in the link below, if the situation in Disneyland is the same as at WDW (all resorts get the same thing), Mr. Lewis didn't want to admit the channel in discussion is also not available at the Grand Californian DVC:

http://www.mouseinfo.com/Disneyland_Hotel_(Disneyland_Resort)

Doesn't want to admit? Since DVC does not control the TV stations at WDW or DL, I would not expect Mr. Lewis to take responsibility for it. To be honest, I could care less what channels are on the TV at WDW or DL. I also don't get what the big deal is if the TV's are flat screens or not but there are so many posts asking about it, some people choose their resort based on it.

 

[eva]

No offense intended - at all - but what is the point here? I'm not sure I get the question / issue. Conspiracy theory? Political motivation? Do you really care? I barely have time to check the weather and Stacey's top 7 when I'm on vacation.

No offense taken, but we do watch news in the morning with coffee and while getting ready. So it does matter to us. But it is part of Disney, not necessarily DVC alone. So we have always made sure to voice our opinions on any surveys we've taken. Not only about Fox News, but other channels that we feel are the norm in most hotels across the US.

 

[granmanh603]

No offense taken, but we do watch news in the morning with coffee and while getting ready. So it does matter to us. But it is part of Disney, not necessarily DVC alone. So we have always made sure to voice our opinions on any surveys we've taken. Not only about Fox News, but other channels that we feel are the norm in most hotels across the US.

We are here now and just wondering about that very issue...seems very odd. Never been anywhere else where you could not view that channel(FOX News)...also we were wondering about alot of the channels. PBS, History channel, travel channel LOL, Discovery?

 

[mac_tlc]

Always seemed to me that the channel offerings at VB were more typical of your local cable service. Isn't VB just a customer of the local cable company? WDW is different -- with a lot more Disney control and say.

mac_tlc

 

[ssawka]

My guess is that Fox is the bad guy here, not Disney! Fox has a habit of trying to strong-arm cable companies. When I used to subscribe to cables, I remember at least one occasion where all the Fox channels went back and the Cable company said it was the result of ongoing negotiations with Fox. This is not uncommon for Fox (do a Google search). My guess is that Fox is asking too much and Disney just decided to not deal with them.

 

[arthur06]

He phrased the question as "whether there are political reasons that particular channel isn't included." His answer was "absolutely not," although he really didn't indicate exactly why the particular station in discussion isn't in the lineup (his answer implied that the lineup has to do with undefined "contractual" factors).

Not to be the bad guy here, but you quoted the question as "whether there are political reasons that particular channel isn't included." Which is not the question at all... (isn't the point of the "quotes" to accurately represent the question and answers as they were truly asked and answered?)

The question and answer are as follows:

Is Disney making a political statement by not offering the Fox News channel in its villas?

Absolutely not. Fox News simply isn't part of the package of networks available at the Walt Disney World Resort. Fox News is available at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort and Disney's Vero Beach Resort. I can assure you that politics have nothing to do with the selection of networks. The decision is broader than Disney Vacation Club and has cost implications. While our company is investigating potential additions to our Walt Disney World channel lineup, timing and details are to be determined.

 

[saintstickets]

Hmmm...Disney owns ABC, ESPN, Lifetime, A&E, etc and they are offered at DVC resorts in WDW. Fox News is not. The primary viewership of Fox News tends to be more affluent. Would you rather have people with $'s in the room watching TV or in the parks & restaurants spending money?


Note: It's a joke folks...don't flame me!! Gotta run...there's an unmarked black helicopter flying overhead and I need to put my tin foil hat on!

 

[Sandisw]

My guess is that Fox is the bad guy here, not Disney! Fox has a habit of trying to strong-arm cable companies. When I used to subscribe to cables, I remember at least one occasion where all the Fox channels went back and the Cable company said it was the result of ongoing negotiations with Fox. This is not uncommon for Fox (do a Google search). My guess is that Fox is asking too much and Disney just decided to not deal with them.

I have read the same thing about the Fox affiliates being a lot of money and I do wonder if this has played a role.

So, it could just come down to dollars & cents but since this particular channel is viewed different politically, it could appear that this is a political statement when in fact it may not be.

But, really, none of us know for sure why WDW doesn't carry it while it carries all the others.

 

[CarolMN]

This really isn't a DVC topic and the DIS does not welcome political discussions.

From the DIS Posting Guidelines:

Because of the large number of complaints of personal attacks related to these subjects and inability for many people to keep a civilized conversation when discussing these hot-button topics, politics and religion will no longer be appropriate topics on our forums. Political or religion based posts or threads will be removed, and repeated violations of this rule can result in an infraction.

So I am closing this thread. Thanks to all who posted for keeping the discussion respectful.