Dish America Welcome Pack is classified information

[mike123abc]

It seems Dish is trying its best to hide the American welcome pack. They promote the Latino version. These packs at $9.99 count as qualified programming! With locals it is $14.99.

But, good luck trying to find out what channels are in the American. Dish is hiding them because I bet it is too much competition for the other packages. Here is a list of the non public interest channels:

American Welcome Pack:

AMC
Bloomberg
Boomerrang
CMT
Comedy Central
Discovery Kids
Food
Hallmark
History
TLC
MSNBC
MTV2 (but not MTV)
Oxygen
QVC
Shop NBC
TBS
The Weather Channel
WE

I hopefully got all the America Welcome Pack ones, it is a laborious process to extract them from Dish's web site. The Latino is easier since it has a page promoting it. Dish Latino

Latino Welcome Pack:

AMC
Bloomberg
CNN
Discovery Kids
Fox Sports Espanol
Gala Vision E & W
Hallmark
HTV
MTV2
MTV3RTS
Oxygen
QVC
Shop Latino
Shop NBC
TBS
Telefutura E & W
Telemundo
The Weather Channel
Univision E & W
Dish Latino

 

[mritt75]

This package is only for those customers who do the Free for All deal. It is not considered qualifying programming. Even the Free for All customers do not get the $5 off per month under this package. This package is meant to be marketed to those OTA only customers as a cheap way to introduce to Dish.

 

[boba]

It was formerly known as the Essentials package and was easily confused with the HD Essentials. I've had it for several months and yesterday checked my account and it has been renamed Welcome.

I don't know how hard it is to find seeing the press release was issued yesterday and often it takes a few days for the website to catch up.
It isn't a perfect pack but with Public Interest and preview channels it ain't bad for $10.

 

[mike123abc]

This package is only for those customers who do the Free for All deal. It is not considered qualifying programming. Even the Free for All customers do not get the $5 off per month under this package. This package is meant to be marketed to those OTA only customers as a cheap way to introduce to Dish.

Dish Systems Offers Dish Network's Free For All Package

Tells about the free for all, but does not tell you the channels in the pack. Below is a quote, it lists the Welcome packs as qualifying programming.

DISH Network -- Free-For-All :

Qualifying Programming
A programming package of Welcome Pack (currently $9.99/mo. or $14.99/mo. with local network channels where available), Latino Welcome Pack (currently $9.99/mo. or $14.99/mo. with local network channels where available), Locals Only Package (currently $9.99/mo.),
DishFAMILY (currently $19.99/mo. or $24.99/mo. with local network channels where available), America’s Top 100 (currently $32.99/mo. or $37.99/mo. with local network channels where
available), America’s Top 200 (currently $44.99/mo. or $49.99/mo. with local network channels
where available), America’s Top 250 (currently $54.99/mo. or $59.99/mo. with local network
channels where available), DishLATINO (currently $27.99/mo. or $32.99/mo.with local
network channels where available), DishLATINO Plus (currently $32.99/mo. or $37.99/mo. with
local network channels where available), DishLATINO Dos (currently $39.99/mo. or $44.99/mo.
with local network channels where available), DISH Latino Max (currently $49.99/mo. or
$54.99/mo. with local network channels where available), TurboHD Bronze (currently $24.99/mo.
or $29.99/mo. with local network channels where available), TurboHD Silver (currently $32.99/mo. or $37.99/mo. with local network channels where available), TurboHD Gold (currently $39.99/mo.
or $44.99/mo. with local network channels where available), a Chinese, Russian or Greek-language programming package at a current price of no less than $32.99/mo. or $37.99/mo. with local channels where available, a Polish-language programming package at a current price of no
less than $39.99/mo. or $44.99/mo. with local channels where available, an Arabic or Portuguese-language programming package at a current price of no less than $44.99/mo. or $49.99/mo. with local channels where available, or a Hindi-language programming package at a current price of no less than $54.99/mo. or $59.99/mo. with local channels where available (Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Hindi, Polish, Portuguese, and Russian-language programming packages at the minimum prices listed above are each referred to in this Agreement as a “Minimum International Programming Package”) (collectively, “Qualifying Programming”) is required as your minimum subscription level at all times.

 

[Stargazer]

This sounds like a great package for someone that is on a very limited budget or does not watch a lot of tv and mostly watches one or two channels in the bunch. It would also be a great package for someone just wanting the locals in which costs $12 today, this package only costs them $3 more.

They could end up dropping the package at any time though like they did Dish Pix where they let you pick and choose 10 channels for $10 then later raised it to $15 then no longer offered it. Perhaps it will be a trial run and could also allow people that are going to disconnect go to this package so that way they keep their subscriber numbers up to make it look good for Wall Street.

A lot of people will not be able to get locals after February 2009 with the digital transition so this is a nice cheap way for them to get something.

 

[mritt75]

It is qualifying programming for the Free for All promotion only. NO other promotions is this qualify programming. A new customer doing the Free for All promotion is the only way to get this at the moment. Not positive if a current customer who owns their own receivers under no contract can even get this. I do agree that the channels offered are not that bad.

 

[mike123abc]

Dish probably does not want people on this package, hence only letting Free for All people get it. If it got too popular it would probably cause problems for Dish with other providers since many of them want to be in the popular base package (one of the reasons Fox News is suing Dish now).

 

[MikeD-C05]

This pack is for people who want some channels and are used to ota only. THis gives them a taste of satellite tv from DISH for those who have analog tv only. Once they go with DISH for this 9.99 pack + 5.00 for their locals , DISH is hoping that they will upgrade to more programming at a higher price , dvrs ,etc. My aunt is ota only and I have had her on this pack , but it used to be known as the essentials pack for a while. She has it + her locals for 14.99 and the encore pack for 4.99 = 19.98 a month. I also got her the cinemax pack for 1 cent .

 

[mike123abc]

This pack is for people who want some channels and are used to ota only. THis gives them a taste of satellite tv from DISH for those who have analog tv only. Once they go with DISH for this 9.99 pack + 5.00 for their locals , DISH is hoping that they will upgrade to more programming at a higher price , dvrs ,etc. My aunt is ota only and I have had her on this pack , but it used to be known as the essentials pack for a while. She has it + her locals for 14.99 and the encore pack for 4.99 = 19.98 a month. I also got her the cinemax pack for 1 cent .

That is a screaming deal, 2 movie packs, some channels and locals for $19.99. I am surprised they give cinemax for 1 cent with this...

Of course with FFA you buy the system up front for $200, then you get back 20 $10/month credits. And you own the equipment. I was talking to a local Dish installer and he told me the FFA was one of his biggest sellers, now I know why... At first I thought it was because there was no credit needed, but now I think it could be the $20 (or even $15 with just cinemax and locals) deal.

 

[kovach]

Doesn't appear an RSN is included? I know a number of people with only OTA who'd get this just for that.

 

[Heat]

Bump - didn't see any more recent discussions of the welcome package.

I recently moved and decided to cancel my Dish Network subscription, just watching stuff over the air. The retention specialist offered me the Welcome Pack Latino (the package I'd want) for $26 per month. It was $10 for the package, $5 for locals, $6 for the DVR, and $5 for something else, maybe a second DVR or having a second TV? My receiver is the 625 duo-tuner receiver. I would not be able to get the 1 cent Cinemax deal.

By the way, the CNN in the latino package is CNN en Español (not English CNN).

Had a question - I just bought a 46" Sony HDTV. When I hooked it up as the second TV the picture was really bad, 420i (my antenna was giving me 720p which is a very noticible improvement). If I put my HDTV as receiver number one, would the signal be any better? Or am I pretty much out of luck unless I get a HD tuner and a HD package?

Second question - any idea what that second $5 fee was?

Third question - I was quoted a price of $14 to put my account on vacation hold (I'm not under contract). $5 to put it on hold plus $9 for the second DVR or something like that, any idea what that $9 was for? When I last put my account on vacation hold, a couple of years ago during vacation, it really was $5 per month.

The reason I'm interested in the Welcome Package Latino is the price. The next Latino package with any English channels is the Dish Latino Dos package but that costs $20 more ($46).

 

[sbsi]

Bump - didn't see any more recent discussions of the welcome package.

I recently moved and decided to cancel my Dish Network subscription, just watching stuff over the air. The retention specialist offered me the Welcome Pack Latino (the package I'd want) for $26 per month. It was $10 for the package, $5 for locals, $6 for the DVR, and $5 for something else, maybe a second DVR or having a second TV? My receiver is the 625 duo-tuner receiver. I would not be able to get the 1 cent Cinemax deal.

By the way, the CNN in the latino package is CNN en Español (not English CNN).

Had a question - I just bought a 46" Sony HDTV. When I hooked it up as the second TV the picture was really bad, 420i (my antenna was giving me 720p which is a very noticible improvement). If I put my HDTV as receiver number one, would the signal be any better? Or am I pretty much out of luck unless I get a HD tuner and a HD package?

Second question - any idea what that second $5 fee was?

Third question - I was quoted a price of $14 to put my account on vacation hold (I'm not under contract). $5 to put it on hold plus $9 for the second DVR or something like that, any idea what that $9 was for? When I last put my account on vacation hold, a couple of years ago during vacation, it really was $5 per month.

The reason I'm interested in the Welcome Package Latino is the price. The next Latino package with any English channels is the Dish Latino Dos package but that costs $20 more ($46).

$5 is for TV 2 fee. If you have a duel receiver (1 receiver connecting 2 TV), Dish will charge a $5 connection fee. If you want another receiver connection TV 3 and TV 4, pay atleast $10+++ more. You should connect the receiver to the 46 inch TV. It will look way better. TV 2 connection quality is bad depending on the signal.

All other fees, please refer to the new prices effective 2/1/2010.

 

[Hemi 6.1]

$5 phone connect fee has been dropped as of Febuary 1st.

 

[boba]

Welcome pack is no longer an option as of Feb 1st, Cinemac for a penny rnded last Fall and new receiver fees started on Feb 1st. If you don't like new prices quoted to you go to OTA as you originally planned.

 

[Bob Haller]

the dtv pal dvr works pretty good for OTA and is FEE FREE once you purchase it

its a time based recorder but good for what it does

 

[HDinTX]

DTVPAL DVR Availability

I checked the Sears website and did a search on the DTVPAL DVR and it is no longer listed this week. AFAIK, Sears is the only place to get these new. Does this mean that the DTVPAL DVR is no longer available?

 

[wallyhts]

I checked the Sears website and did a search on the DTVPAL DVR and it is no longer listed this week. AFAIK, Sears is the only place to get these new. Does this mean that the DTVPAL DVR is no longer available?

Its on the kmart website.

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_105V0FREESTARDVRP?vName=Computers%20&%20Electronics&cName=Blu-ray&DVDPlayers&sName=Accessories&psid=FROOGLE&sid=KDx20070926x00003a

 

[aquaman67]

$5 phone connect fee has been dropped as of Febuary 1st.

I thought it was just waived until July for existing customers.? That's what the website about the changes says.

This is from a website about the changes.

"CREDITS TO YOUR ACCOUNT

You have participated in a long-running promotional offer where you received discounted pricing on your 2-TV receivers by connecting them to a phone line. That promotional offer expired on January 31st. Because you are a valued customer, we have provided receiver credits on your account for six months."

So that means in July the charge will be back and I think new customers are getting charged now.

 

[mainstream]

This is a time based recording DVR, not a name based recording like the dish dvr. Just means its a little limited, you still record from the guide. That could have changed since I last spoke to one of the engineers that made it a year ago.

 

[Hemi 6.1]

I thought it was just waived until July for existing customers.? That's what the website about the changes says.

This is from a website about the changes.

"CREDITS TO YOUR ACCOUNT

You have participated in a long-running promotional offer where you received discounted pricing on your 2-TV receivers by connecting them to a phone line. That promotional offer expired on January 31st. Because you are a valued customer, we have provided receiver credits on your account for six months."

So that means in July the charge will be back and I think new customers are getting charged now.

Its included in the cost of the receivers now.
Yes in 6 months you will see a $5 increase, But its not because your phone lines aren't plugged in.
Everyone will be paying the same prices in 6 months, whether you have a phone line plugged in or not.
Its just that Customers that Had their receiver connected to a landbased phone line before Feb. 1 are getting a $5 credit for 6 months.