DIRECTV says it will go all HD in 2016 , what about DISH?

[pattykay]

Almost everything is subject to change. I had free DVR service on my 508 and that eventually went away.

I still have free DVR service on my 501. Of course, that will be going away soon.

 

[Tampa8]

Almost everything is subject to change. I had free DVR service on my 508 and that eventually went away.

Not the same, the question was at one time HD for life was not for life if you downgraded, that is not subject to change either it was or it wasn't true. (not true) No one is arguing what may change in the future.
When did they start charging for PVR service on the 508? I thought because the codecs being used were changing they were eventually going to be replaced and you were given 24 months free DVR service.

 

[ChadT41]

Not the same, the question was at one time HD for life was not for life if you downgraded, that is not subject to change either it was or it wasn't true. (not true) No one is arguing what may change in the future.
When did they start charging for PVR service on the 508? I thought because the codecs being used were changing they were eventually going to be replaced and you were given 24 months free DVR service.

That is correct. Every account I saw had a 24 month credit that was applying, but that should be about expired by now.

 

[harshness]

When did they start charging for PVR service on the 508? I thought because the codecs being used were changing they were eventually going to be replaced and you were given 24 months free DVR service.

DISH began charging for DVR service on the 501 and 508 back in August of 2011. At the same time they also announced the transition to 8PSK.

August 12,2011
Dear Valued DISH Network Customer,

We would like to let you know about some upcoming changes related to your 501 or 508 DVR receiver(s). Due to changes in technology, these receivers will become obsolete and thus need to be replaced by DISH Network in the next two years. The replacement of your 501 or 508 DVR receiver(s) will initially occur as convenience allows (should we otherwise have reason to come to your home). Eventually, you may be contacted directly by a DISH Network representative to arrange to have your 501 or 508 DVR receiver. Regardless of how and when you are upgraded, your replacement DVR receiver will have more storage than your 501 or 508 receiver, plus the ability to simultaneously watch and record separate programs or record two programs at the same time.

While the 501 and 508 DVR receivers have less capability than our other DVR receivers, they have also been unique in not carrying a monthly DVR fee. Most of our DVR receivers have a $6 monthly DVR Service fee if it is the first DVR receiver on the account. Our DVR receivers also have a $10 receiver fee if it is an additional DVR receiver on the account.

In order to smoothly transition all of our affected customers who will need to be upgraded at different times over the next two years, we are simultaneously doing the following two things at this time:

• Conforming 50 I and 508 DVR receivers to the same fee structure as our other DVR receivers. Starting with this bill, you will see the $6 monthly DVR Service fee for your first DVR receiver and a $10 DVR receiver fee for each additional 501 or 508 DVR receiver.
• Providing a monthly credit on your bill for the next 24 months to offset the impact of the new or higher fee(s). As a result of this upgrade to the 501 and 508 DVR receiver fee structure, your net monthly bill total should not change. You will continue to receive the credit for the full 24 months regardless of when your receiver upgrade takes place.

If you have any questions or believe that your account has been affected in a manner other than what we've described in this letter, please call us immediately at 1-800-333-DISH and we will be more than happy to help.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter and we appreciate you being a loyal DISH Network customer.


Sincerely,
DISH Network

 

[Tampa8]

I am not only aware of that letter, I received one because I still had a 508. By the time two years passed (8/2013) those receivers were just about finished either by a breakdown or becoming obsolete. I can see where technically they were charging for it, but in reality it would seem few actually had to pay. DISH seems to have initiated the change to get people to give up the old receiver but gave them up to two years to do it and not pay any PVR fee.

 

[pattykay]

I am not only aware of that letter, I received one because I still had a 508. By the time two years passed (8/2013) those receivers were just about finished either by a breakdown or becoming obsolete. I can see where technically they were charging for it, but in reality it would seem few actually had to pay. DISH seems to have initiated the change to get people to give up the old receiver but gave them up to two years to do it and not pay any PVR fee.

That credit was extended by two additional years in 2013. (At least it was on my account.) I still have three free months of DVR service left.

 

[Tampa8]

Thanks, it would seem DISH did make an effort to keep that fee off of the 508.

 

[pattykay]

Thanks, it would seem DISH did make an effort to keep that fee off of the 508.

The best part about my situation is that, when Dish first added the DVR fee / credit combo to my account, I decided to upgrade to a DVR that "earns" the fee, a ViP722k. So, I have been getting free HD DVR service, with a much larger hard drive than the 501, for almost four years now.