CONFIRMED(?)- Dish Discontinuing Absolute HD Package

[chicagonettech]

The part I put in bold type reminds me back to when LPs were sold with one or two hits on them and then the rest of the songs were crappy. A lot of times I would hold off until a "Greatest Hits" album came out.

Ghpr13

Silver/HD/VIP722k/Samsung LN40A550
Onkyo SR606/Philips 3576 DVDr
Harmony 670/Goldstar Hi-Fi VCR(yeah, I know)

If it weren't for the fact that we occasionally let slip the fact that we listened to LPs or 8 tracks, along with a few signatures which contain data that obviously gives our ages away, you might think these forums were actually run by a bunch of overly bright kids

. . . and we actually do respect you younger guys, because, without you, we'd never know how to set the clocks on our VCRs!

 

[Bob Haller]

I think we've heard this a million times from you now.

well others are speculating E is doing it under duress....... I am just pointing out it might be purely a revenue raiser

 

[Ghpr13]

If it weren't for the fact that we occasionally let slip the fact that we listened to LPs or 8 tracks, along with a few signatures which contain data that obviously gives our ages away, you might think these forums were actually run by a bunch of overly bright kids

. . . and we actually do respect you younger guys, because, without you, we'd never know how to set the clocks on our VCRs!

So true!
Ghpr13

 

[Kb Cool]

well others are speculating E is doing it under duress....... I am just pointing out it might be purely a revenue raiser

It's probally both. The programmers want some of their channels bundled with others that are now part of the HD absolute package. Then the bean counters at Dish are crying the package is already so low priced they couldn't possibly add another channel. Well, raise the price 5 bucks if you have to and pay your progammers another dollar. But, don't take away our grandfathered package.

 

[HDRoberts]

Trying to comprehend what would be the lowest cost HD package available if/when forced to switch.

when I go to the Dish website, the only obvious route to HD is to buy AT120 and then add HD, and to be comparable to what we have now, add Platinum

so that would be
AT120 = 39.99
+HD = 10.00
+Platinum = 10.00
+ locals + service plan (5.99, 6)
= 71.98 / month before any discounts.

per the deal Joe was offered
months 1-6 would see discounts of $15 + No HD fee (free HD for life?) + $10 for free Platinum = 71.98 - 15 - 10 -10 = 36.98/month
months 6-12 would see Plat back in the price = 46.98/month
months 12+ would see the $15 discount expire = 56.98/month

a) do I have the above correct?
b) is there a different package to start from? when I log in to my acct I see Dish America" package for $29.99 but the link take me to page about adding HD to the ATxxx packages... so I'm not finding a clear description of Dish America??

The implication of this chart (found via Goggle) : DISH HD - DISH America & DISH America Gold & Silver Digital Dish HDTV is that the Bronze/Silver/Gold packages are "Dish America" and are the HD-add-ons packages without SD channels that would come with an ATxxx base package?

(I have not kept up with the packages.. I have Absolute and had no intention of switching off)

If that is true then the minimum entry point would be

Dish America (bronze) = 29.99
+Platinum = 10.00
+ locals/service plan = 5.99 + 6
= 51.98 / month before any discounts.

months 1-6 would see discounts of $15 + (HD for life has no meaning here?) + $10 for free Platinum = 51.98 - 15 - 10 = 26.99/month
months 6-12 would see Plat back in the price = 36.98/month
months 12+ would see the $15 discount expire = 46.99/month

I'm suspicious that I've made some mistakes in this. Corrections welcomed

EDIT: adding locals (5.99) and service plan (6) to the cost
EDIT2: current bill for comparison is $44.84/month

Locals are now included, and with the first pack you should be able to get HD free. However, don't forget the DVR fee if you have one.

As for what is in what pack, look no farther than this site
http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-forum/216826-dish-hd-information.html

 

[zim2dive]

Locals are now included, and with the first pack you should be able to get HD free. However, don't forget the DVR fee if you have one.

As for what is in what pack, look no farther than this site
http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-forum/216826-dish-hd-information.html

Many thanks for the local link the package info!

Ok, so the lowest priced HD conversion point (with DVR) would be

Dish America (bronze) = 29.99 (would lose several HD vs. Absolute)
+ Platinum = 10.00
+ service plan = 6.00
+ a single 622 = 6.00
= 51.99 + tax / month before any discounts

months 1-6 would see discounts of $15 and $10 for free Platinum = 51.99 - 15 - 10 = 26.99/month
months 6-12 would see Platinum back in the price = 36.99/month
months 12+ would be at 51.99/month

In this case "HD for Life" would not have any benefit?

 

[whatchel1]

broken record

well others are speculating E is doing it under duress....... I am just pointing out it might be purely a revenue raiser

The problem is Bob you are spouting the Same Old Stuff. Just very tired of the money grab angle. E* is a for profit company so they are doing what they are being forced to by the programmers and yes they are doing it so they can continue to make a profit. If you don't have anything new to add then enuff w/ beating a dead horse.

 

[HDRoberts]

In this case "HD for Life" would not have any benefit?

No help with a Dish America pack. Only for the "America's Top ___" or the Everything packs.

 

[TalonDancer]

...Ok, so the lowest priced HD conversion point (with DVR) would be

Dish America (bronze) = 29.99 (would lose several HD vs. Absolute)
+ Platinum = 10.00
+ service plan = 6.00
+ a single 622 = 6.00
= 51.99 + tax / month before any discounts....

Yes but...In the case of a single receiver, the service plan is not really very valuable. It saves you $15 for a receiver replacement and reduces the costs of a tech coming out to adjust/replace your physical dish in the case of damage (e.g. wind). Lots of members have reported that they just signed up for the service plan in the event of a problem. Dish CSR's have been reported to suggest this. You can cancel later or keep the plan if that makes you feel better.

So it would be $45.99 + tax/mo. assuming Dish continues to offer the Dish America HD packages.

Talon Dancer

 

[yaz96]

]The problem is Bob you are spouting the Same Old Stuff.[/B] Just very tired of the money grab angle. E* is a for profit company so they are doing what they are being forced to by the programmers and yes they are doing it so they can continue to make a profit. If you don't have anything new to add then enuff w/ beating a dead horse.

And yet, you keep responding.

 

[whatchel1]

Yes

And yet, you keep responding.

Yes and you have to make a big deal out of it.

 

[yaz96]

Yes and you have to make a big deal out of it.

Not making a big deal, just pointing out the obvious, you just perpetuate the squabble. Just put him on ignore if you don't like his posts. Simple.

 

[Hall]

Lots of members have reported that they just signed up for the service plan in the event of a problem. Dish CSR's have been reported to suggest this. You can cancel later or keep the plan if that makes you feel better.

In the past, this was absolutely true. Twice, I've had a receiver failure and wasn't on the service plan. Both reps asked if I wanted to add it ... and then they'd process the RMA. Now, you can add it any time you want but can't remove it for 3-6 months (don't remember exact # of months).

 

[yaz96]

In the past, this was absolutely true. Twice, I've had a receiver failure and wasn't on the service plan. Both reps asked if I wanted to add it ... and then they'd process the RMA. Now, you can add it any time you want but can't remove it for 3-6 months (don't remember exact # of months).

Yeah, now there is a FEE to remove the service plan.

 

[Bobby]

Yeah, now there is a FEE to remove the service plan.

Mostly because they figured out that the majority were playing the system. Sign on for a day or two and then sign off. There is no purpose to the service plan that way. Suppose you took out a health insurance policy that way. Sign up, get fixed and then discontinue. Next time do it all over again. The insurer will go broke in a flash. We all know that. The only way Dish, or any other communications company, can give away free maintenance is to raise the price of their product for all.

 

[yaz96]

Mostly because they figured out that the majority were playing the system. Sign on for a day or two and then sign off. There is no purpose to the service plan that way. Suppose you took out a health insurance policy that way. Sign up, get fixed and then discontinue. Next time do it all over again. The insurer will go broke in a flash. We all know that. The only way Dish, or any other communications company, can give away free maintenance is to raise the price of their product for all.

Bobby, you can't blame the customers here, when the CSR's were encouraging it.

 

[Bobby]

Bobby, you can't blame the customers here, when the CSR's were encouraging it.

No argument there, but the outcome is still the same. Now with a $25 unsub fee the customer will think about it. You still get a service call for $56 instead of $95, that's $6, $15, and $25 added, but Dish gets to recover some of their maintenance cost. Personally, I don't have the service plan. When I have the need to turn it on, I'll probably just leave it on.

 

[zim2dive]

assuming Dish continues to offer the Dish America HD packages.

LOL, yes, one wonders if we'd just be moving to another package that would eventually be killed

Ok, if I went the AT120 + HD route.. that would be

$39.99 for AT120 .. but assuming we all get the same conversion offer, I could get "HD for life" and not have to pay the normal $10 extra for HD that is shown on the website, correct?

So I would get ~80 additional SD channels.. (most of which I probably don't care about).. what's the rumor on how "HD for life" works.. if/when some of these 80 have HD versions would we get those for free?

 

[Silly Burrito]

LOL, yes, one wonders if we'd just be moving to another package that would eventually be killed

Ok, if I went the AT120 + HD route.. that would be

$39.99 for AT120 .. but assuming we all get the same conversion offer, I could get "HD for life" and not have to pay the normal $10 extra for HD that is shown on the website, correct?

So I would get ~80 additional SD channels.. (most of which I probably don't care about).. what's the rumor on how "HD for life" works.. if/when some of these 80 have HD versions would we get those for free?

Would the majority of those extra channels be the Dish music channels?

 

[whatchel1]

No ignore

Not making a big deal, just pointing out the obvious, you just perpetuate the squabble. Just put him on ignore if you don't like his posts. Simple.

I have fun teasing Bob so I don't want to ignore him. You on the other maybe .