Live Retailer Chat Recap - January 26, 2005

[Scott Greczkowski]

Hello all and welcome to SatelliteGuys.US and our coverage of todays Dish Network Retailer Chat!

As always we will only report items of interest to the consumer, we will not report sensative dealer information such as product costs and profits.

If you are a Dish Network retailer please visit our sister site at http://boards.dishretailer.com to discuss Retailer Issues.

The show starts at NOON Eastern Time so be sure to check in often, or better yet join us in our live chat at http://chat.satelliteguys.us

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Ok the show opens up with Jim and Amir, the start talking about the buyout of the VOOM Satellite Assits.

They have no plans on what they are going to use for the spectrum and they expect it to take a few months before the transfer is approved.

After that they start talking about promotions, Free Dish is DEAD as of February 1st however DHA is alive.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

They now mention the 942 and it will be available via DHA for a $250 upgrade fee. THey will talk more about it on the next chat. They HOPE to have them available on March 1st.

 

[dnyce]

Important Question

Will Voom customers be left in the cold or be able to keep their STB's and recieve programming from Dish??

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

The 6 Months free HD package will soon be available to existing customers the catch there is you can not be an existing or past HD customer to get the deal.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

They now tell dealers about the upcoming marketing campaign, and its HORRIBLE, it ends with a commercial of a talking TV set which begs viewers "Please stop calling me the boob tube, because that hurts my feelings."

This is BAD folks

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

MSRP on the 501 has been dropped for $150 and the 508 for $200.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

The 522 will be available for lease starting on February 1st.

Dish is planning on SELLING 522's however they have not established a MSRP yet.

 

[korsjs]

The 6 Months free HD package will soon be available to existing customers the catch there is you can not be an existing or past HD customer to get the deal.

bad move in my opinion. they should be trying to get their existing customers to commit to their service.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Dish Network will be issuing a new Customer Privacy Notice on February 5th.

Jim says this is a part of the SHIVRA act.

 

[littlebudda]

Ok the show opens up with Jim and Amir, the start talking about the buyout of the VOOM Satellite Assits.

They have no plans on what they are going to use for the spectrum and they expect it to take a few months before the transfer is approved.

After that they start talking about promotions, Free Dish is DEAD as of February 1st however DHA is alive.

What is DHA?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

The 311 is getting a software update which adds the ability for Dish Network to popup a screen and alerts you to pay your bill or your service will be shut off.

The LCD TV's are now available (actually these are NICE)

 

[dfergie]

What is DHA?

Digital Home Advantage i think...

 

[snowcat]

What is DHA?

Digital Home Advantage, which is their lease program.

 

[nuts4scuba]

Scott, can you ask why AEP is going up 4 dollars when Top180 is going up 3 and no change to the movie packages.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Because you are getting DVR service for free is the answer Nutsforscuba (of course if we were getting it for free, why did our rate go up more)

 

[dnyce]

Scott,
Last try. Any word at all about Voom, aside from they don't know?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

The 322 will not be made available to current customers, they don't want to put 322's in then have the customer decide later that they want a DVR.

 

[NightRyder]

Scott,
Last try. Any word at all about Voom, aside from they don't know?

E* didn't buy Voom. They bought a satellite, licenses and up-link center. The utilization of those assets require FCC approval. Don't expect any announcement prior to FCC approval. As for what will happen to rest of Voom's assets (programming, subscribers etc), that's up to Cablevision not E*.


NightRyder

 

[Darkman]

It it would be more "word" about Voom, i am sure Scott would mention it....