BTY, latest scuttlebutt (from the OP who started it all) is that HD Absolute is NOT going away.
Dish DID make the calls to select subs, but the policy on grandfathering is evidently still enforce, if you do not change package, you can keep HD Absolute.
Let's wait and see.
my theory they realized every call had a high probability of lost sub who got mad and cancelled.
given Es churn number they decided it just wasnt worth the risk of making a bad problem worse..
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this would explain it all.
beancounters say heres a loss of money cancel the package and force them to take a more profitable package....
so the calls begin and result in less money due to cancelations so the whole idea was shelved....
if this is truly whats going on its a good sign the beancounters arent in complete control, heck E may regret their really stupid change in direction and reverse course.