I really think, what would make the fees more palatable across the board (yes, when you think about it - they are all too high, for every provider) but especially satellite.
Simply put, if Comcast rolls out a new cable box, when they are in stock, I can simply swap it out, at no cost / contract.
Satellite companies = its 2 years, automatically. Yes, I am aware that I could buy the box (which, is becoming harder and harder to do with providers moving towards a lease only structure), but yet still pay the same fees that I would leasing it - it's just bad for the end user (great for the provider, no matter who it is).
Paying the fees per month is bad, but again, would be considerably better if they could be upgraded to the newest technology without a contract (or, without a contract and fees - $200 for the right to lease a receiver is ridiculous).
And, before someone jumps on this, with "its new tech, costs more" - I'm aware, however other companies don't have a problem doing it, and assuming 20 a month plus a $200 "allowance to lease", plus whatever cost the contract is worth, is well, well more than the cost of the box.
Just saying (it won't happen) but the model needs to really be changed to be more pro-consumer.