Lots of Information from Dish Network... Enjoy!
Echo X – New Satellite Launch
Echo X, DISH Network’s newest satellite, launched February 15, 2006! This satellite will help us to better deliver local broadcasts and HD programming content to our customers.
• Increase total channel capacity – Echo X will increase our total channel capacity available from our core DISH 500 offerings by making for easier installations for customers to get most of the programming they enjoy from a single dish antenna. This means fewer multiple-antenna installations.
• More local channels – The new satellite will operate from the 110° orbital location and will improve DISH Network’s ability to offer more local broadcast channels.
• Elimination of SuperDISH local markets – The Echo X satellite will also eliminate the need for a SuperDISH to view local channels in certain markets.
o We expect the date of this change to be mid-April and will keep everyone posted.
o Please keep in mind that we will be stopping payment on SuperDISH antennas in those markets and you will need to begin reducing your SuperDISH inventory to plan for this change. We will be covering the transition dates on the next Retailer Chat.
o Current customers with SuperDISH antennas should continue to use them.
• Other Echo X changes:
o International channels moving – We will be moving some of the International channels to the wings (61.5° and 148° orbital locations).
- Arabic-language channel move – On February 23, 2006, Arabic-language channels were the first of our many International channels to begin transitioning from the 121° SuperDISH to 61.5° and 148°.
- SuperDISH equipment discounts – Please note that SuperDISH equipment discounts will no longer be payable in connection with customers who newly subscribe to these channels.
o Local market transition – Some existing local markets will be moving from the 119° orbital location to 110°.
- This is a shift that should have no substantial effect on most customers.
- There are some customers, however, who still have a DISH 300 antenna pointed at 119° only, and they may lose the ability to view their locals. We have already started to contact these customers, and are offering them a free DISH 500 antenna so that their service will not be disrupted.
? In the event that any of these customers contact you about missing local network programming, please direct them to call DISH Network at 800-333-DISH so that we can swap out their antennas as soon as possible. Please note that at this time Retailers are not eligible to participate in these free DISH 500 antenna upgrades.
? Affected DMAs – Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Chico, Grand Rapids, Harrisburg, Hartford, Houston, Huntsville, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland (OR), Raleigh, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis and Tulsa.
• Local Channel Options - Reminder
There has been a positive response now that customers can decide whether or not to add local network programming to their DISH Network subscriptions. Please be sure to explain all the choices your customers have regarding local network programming so that they subscribe to the programming that best fits their needs.
o Customers in markets where DISH Network offers local network programming may choose to:
- Subscribe to local channels and pay $5.00/mo. with qualified programming or $5.99/mo. without qualifying programming (includes both standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) were available). Customers need the appropriate equipment to receive HD programming.
- Receive locals in another format (over-the-air antenna) – and save $5.00/mo.
- Please note that an HD Enabling Fee may apply.
o Customers in markets where DISH Network does NOT offer local network programming:
- Customers save money by not having to pay for a bundled package.
- May already have a solution for local programming – or may now obtain an over-the-air antenna installed to receive their locals (depending on signal availability).
- Can check to see if they qualify for distant network programming. If not, submit waiver requests for your customers.
? Eligible customers or customers that receive approved waivers can take advantage of distant network programming from Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago and/or New York. Spot Beam Distants are available from Portland, Dallas and Kansas City to eligible customers that reside within the respective spot beams.
? Customers who qualify for distant networks can take up to two feeds of each network.
? Distant networks are sold as a la carte channels for $1.50 each or eligible customers can subscribe to a package (i.e. ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX) for $5.99. A package must be comprised of 4 feeds from the same city.
Example 1 (two of the same network in two cities) – ABC in Denver ($1.50) and ABC in Los Angeles ($1.50) = Total $3.00.
Example 2 (four major networks from the same city) – ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX in Chicago = Total = $5.99.
Example 3 (No more than two of each major network from any of the cities) – ABC, NBC in Denver ($3.00); FOX, CBS in Chicago ($3.00); NBC, FOX in Los Angeles ($3.00) = Total $9.00.
HD Promotions for Existing HD Customers:
• Customers with a single-tuner HD receiver (model 811 or 6000 receiver).
o Customers with a model 811 or 6000 receiver are eligible to upgrade their existing receiver to a ViP211 for just $49.00.
- All eligible customers would be considered Plan A under this promotional program.
- This promotion is available today.
• Customers with an HD DVR (model 921 or 942) - $200.00 Equipment return credit – Effective April 1, 2006.
o Effective April 1, 2006, customers who currently have a non-ViP HD/DVR receiver (specifically a model 921 or 942) will be eligible for a special offer to upgrade to ViP622 DVR equipment and DishHD programming.
o Customers will be able to swap their existing receiver for a next generation ViP series HD/DVR for just $99.99 ($200.00 equipment return credit off the current price of $299.99). The $200 credit will be applied to the customer’s bill after their 921 or 942 receiver is received by DISH Network.
- Customers still pay the $299.99 upfront, then receive the $200.00 equipment credit upon our receipt of the 921/942 receiver.
- Due to high demand, the ViP622 DVR is currently available in limited quantities, so please continue to work with your authorized equipment provider to get the equipment you need.
o Please remember that the equipment return credit offer begins on April 1, 2006. Before this date, existing HD DVR customers can lease a ViP622 DVR for $299.99 which is the same price available to new customers.
• New – Public Interest Channel Package – Effective February 23, 2006
o Should customers wish to call in and request it (800-333-DISH), we have put together a package of 21 Public Interest Channels – for free! Customer Service Representatives, however, will not proactively offer this package to customers; they must voluntarily ask for it to add it on to their other DISH Network programming.
o Please note that 6 of the 21 channels are transmitted from the wings (61.5° and 148° orbital locations), and require a wing antenna to receive them.
o A select group of customers may not already have an appropriate antenna. If they wish to receive all the Public Interest Channels within this a la carte package, they would need to add/upgrade their antenna at their own expense. Examples of these customers include:
- International only programming customers who have no visibility to either the 110° or 119° orbital locations.
- American-programming customers who do not have a wing antenna pointed to either the 61.5° or 148° orbital locations.
- Customers in Hawaii with a DISH 300 antenna with no visibility to the 110° orbital location, or no visibility to the 61.5° or 148° orbital locations – regardless of the type of antenna they may have.
- Customers in Alaska with a DISH 300 and no visibility to the 110°, 61.5° or 148° orbital locations.
- Customers in Puerto Rico with a single antenna and no visibility to the 61.5° or 148° orbital locations.
- DishFAMILY subscribers have been excluded from select Public Interest Channel programming due to potentially offensive or mature content. DishFAMILY customers may request this a la carte package of all Public Interest Channels with the understanding that it is at their own discretion.
Free Previews and Promotional Offers
• HBO and Cinemax – Free Preview – Effective March 17, 2006 through March 21, 2006
o Special channel locations for free preview located on channels 285-298.
• Showtime
o Showtime Free Preview – Effective March 31, 2006 through April 3, 2006
- Special channel locations for free preview located on channels 285-295.
o Upgrade to Showtime and get free Häagen-Dazs® ice cream for a year – Effective March 1, 2006 through April 30, 2006
- Eligible existing customers can upgrade to Showtime on 3/1/06 through 4/30/06 and get free ice cream for a year! For details, go to www.dishnetwork.com/icecream. For customers to receive their 12 Häagen-Dazs® Cool Gift® Certificates (maximum value of $4.25 each):
? Customers print their name, address and phone number on a 3x5 card.
? They mail it along with their DISH Network billing statement (between 3/1/06 and 6/30/06) showing customers’ first two months of paid Showtime programming to:
Showtime Häagen-Dazs® Cool Gift® Certificate Offer
P.O. Box 1208 Dept. DS
Grand Rapids, MN 55745-1208
HD Local Network Programming
• New HD Local Markets – We’ve recently launched Boston, Chicago, Nashville, Denver, Albuquerque, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, and Washington D.C., in addition to our first HD local markets which were New York and Los Angeles.
o HD Local Launches for Q2 2006 – DISH Network is planning to launch the following DMAs next: Dallas, Houston, San Diego, Phoenix, Miami, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, Spokane, Portland (OR), and San Antonio. Please note that these cities are not confirmed until they go live.
o For only $5.00/mo. more, customers can choose to add their local network service with any minimum qualifying programming. If they have the appropriate equipment, they will receive their HD locals included in that $5.00/mo. price (along with their standard definition (SD) locals).
- If customers already have a ViP series (MPEG-4) receiver and appropriate antenna, they will automatically receive their HD local network programming in addition to the SD local network programming, where available.
- They must have an MPEG-4 receiver and appropriate antenna to view the HD locals.
o Washington D.C. HD Local Market – This DMA is within the DISH 1000 footprint, so we’ve previously instructed you to utilize the 129º orbital location for subscribers to receive DishHD programming. We launched the HD locals content on 61.5º, so according to our previous instruction, this would require 4 orbital locations.
- Going forward, if a new customer wants HD content including locals, you should install a DISH 500 and an additional antenna pointed to 61.5º to receive all HD content (including HD local network programming and DishHD entertainment packages), and not use the 129º orbital location. However, if a new customer only wants DishHD package content, and does not want their HD locals, you should only install a DISH 1000.
- If an existing customer with a DISH 500 wishes to add HD content including locals, you should only install an additional antenna pointed to 61.5º, and not install a DISH 1000.
- If an existing customer already has a DISH 1000 for DishHD content, and now wants to add their HD locals, you should install an additional antenna pointed to 61.5º for all HD content, and disable the 129º feed.
DishLATINO Programming Change
• Telemundo – No longer available in DishLATINO for Puerto Rico subscribers – Effective March 1, 2006.
Beginning March 1, 2006, Telemundo will no longer be available in DishLATINO packages for Puerto Rico subscribers. However, the Telemundo local feed will be available through the Puerto Rico local network programming package. Customers who do not have the locals package may add it for only $5.00/mo. more.
o On February 27, 2006, these customers began receiving voice mail messages about this change.
o Telemundo and local Telemundo have similar programming but the content is different. For more information, please visit http://www.telemundo.com/programacion/index.html.
Local Network Programming
• Distant Local Network Programming
o Atlanta Distant Locals
- Beginning March 17, 2006, Atlanta can no longer be sold as a distant local network service.
? Going forward, eligible customers who wish to subscribe to distant local network programming will be able to choose either Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago or New York.
- The reason for this is that Atlanta will move to our new Echo X satellite in late April. Once this occurs, Atlanta will be broadcast via spot beam (in the 110° orbital location), and some customers who currently receive Atlanta distant network service will lose the ability to see this programming.
? Existing customers outside the spot beam will automatically be switched to New York for their distant network service.
? Existing customers who fall within the spot beam and already subscribe to Atlanta for their distant local network programming can continue to receive it.
? After late March, new customers or existing customers inside the spot beam who wish to begin subscribing to Atlanta distant network service unfortunately may not – a definite date to be announced on the Retailer Care Site.
Echo X – New Satellite Launch
Echo X, DISH Network’s newest satellite, launched February 15, 2006! This satellite will help us to better deliver local broadcasts and HD programming content to our customers.
• Increase total channel capacity – Echo X will increase our total channel capacity available from our core DISH 500 offerings by making for easier installations for customers to get most of the programming they enjoy from a single dish antenna. This means fewer multiple-antenna installations.
• More local channels – The new satellite will operate from the 110° orbital location and will improve DISH Network’s ability to offer more local broadcast channels.
• Elimination of SuperDISH local markets – The Echo X satellite will also eliminate the need for a SuperDISH to view local channels in certain markets.
o We expect the date of this change to be mid-April and will keep everyone posted.
o Please keep in mind that we will be stopping payment on SuperDISH antennas in those markets and you will need to begin reducing your SuperDISH inventory to plan for this change. We will be covering the transition dates on the next Retailer Chat.
o Current customers with SuperDISH antennas should continue to use them.
• Other Echo X changes:
o International channels moving – We will be moving some of the International channels to the wings (61.5° and 148° orbital locations).
- Arabic-language channel move – On February 23, 2006, Arabic-language channels were the first of our many International channels to begin transitioning from the 121° SuperDISH to 61.5° and 148°.
- SuperDISH equipment discounts – Please note that SuperDISH equipment discounts will no longer be payable in connection with customers who newly subscribe to these channels.
o Local market transition – Some existing local markets will be moving from the 119° orbital location to 110°.
- This is a shift that should have no substantial effect on most customers.
- There are some customers, however, who still have a DISH 300 antenna pointed at 119° only, and they may lose the ability to view their locals. We have already started to contact these customers, and are offering them a free DISH 500 antenna so that their service will not be disrupted.
? In the event that any of these customers contact you about missing local network programming, please direct them to call DISH Network at 800-333-DISH so that we can swap out their antennas as soon as possible. Please note that at this time Retailers are not eligible to participate in these free DISH 500 antenna upgrades.
? Affected DMAs – Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Chico, Grand Rapids, Harrisburg, Hartford, Houston, Huntsville, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland (OR), Raleigh, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis and Tulsa.
• Local Channel Options - Reminder
There has been a positive response now that customers can decide whether or not to add local network programming to their DISH Network subscriptions. Please be sure to explain all the choices your customers have regarding local network programming so that they subscribe to the programming that best fits their needs.
o Customers in markets where DISH Network offers local network programming may choose to:
- Subscribe to local channels and pay $5.00/mo. with qualified programming or $5.99/mo. without qualifying programming (includes both standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) were available). Customers need the appropriate equipment to receive HD programming.
- Receive locals in another format (over-the-air antenna) – and save $5.00/mo.
- Please note that an HD Enabling Fee may apply.
o Customers in markets where DISH Network does NOT offer local network programming:
- Customers save money by not having to pay for a bundled package.
- May already have a solution for local programming – or may now obtain an over-the-air antenna installed to receive their locals (depending on signal availability).
- Can check to see if they qualify for distant network programming. If not, submit waiver requests for your customers.
? Eligible customers or customers that receive approved waivers can take advantage of distant network programming from Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago and/or New York. Spot Beam Distants are available from Portland, Dallas and Kansas City to eligible customers that reside within the respective spot beams.
? Customers who qualify for distant networks can take up to two feeds of each network.
? Distant networks are sold as a la carte channels for $1.50 each or eligible customers can subscribe to a package (i.e. ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX) for $5.99. A package must be comprised of 4 feeds from the same city.
Example 1 (two of the same network in two cities) – ABC in Denver ($1.50) and ABC in Los Angeles ($1.50) = Total $3.00.
Example 2 (four major networks from the same city) – ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX in Chicago = Total = $5.99.
Example 3 (No more than two of each major network from any of the cities) – ABC, NBC in Denver ($3.00); FOX, CBS in Chicago ($3.00); NBC, FOX in Los Angeles ($3.00) = Total $9.00.
HD Promotions for Existing HD Customers:
• Customers with a single-tuner HD receiver (model 811 or 6000 receiver).
o Customers with a model 811 or 6000 receiver are eligible to upgrade their existing receiver to a ViP211 for just $49.00.
- All eligible customers would be considered Plan A under this promotional program.
- This promotion is available today.
• Customers with an HD DVR (model 921 or 942) - $200.00 Equipment return credit – Effective April 1, 2006.
o Effective April 1, 2006, customers who currently have a non-ViP HD/DVR receiver (specifically a model 921 or 942) will be eligible for a special offer to upgrade to ViP622 DVR equipment and DishHD programming.
o Customers will be able to swap their existing receiver for a next generation ViP series HD/DVR for just $99.99 ($200.00 equipment return credit off the current price of $299.99). The $200 credit will be applied to the customer’s bill after their 921 or 942 receiver is received by DISH Network.
- Customers still pay the $299.99 upfront, then receive the $200.00 equipment credit upon our receipt of the 921/942 receiver.
- Due to high demand, the ViP622 DVR is currently available in limited quantities, so please continue to work with your authorized equipment provider to get the equipment you need.
o Please remember that the equipment return credit offer begins on April 1, 2006. Before this date, existing HD DVR customers can lease a ViP622 DVR for $299.99 which is the same price available to new customers.
• New – Public Interest Channel Package – Effective February 23, 2006
o Should customers wish to call in and request it (800-333-DISH), we have put together a package of 21 Public Interest Channels – for free! Customer Service Representatives, however, will not proactively offer this package to customers; they must voluntarily ask for it to add it on to their other DISH Network programming.
o Please note that 6 of the 21 channels are transmitted from the wings (61.5° and 148° orbital locations), and require a wing antenna to receive them.
o A select group of customers may not already have an appropriate antenna. If they wish to receive all the Public Interest Channels within this a la carte package, they would need to add/upgrade their antenna at their own expense. Examples of these customers include:
- International only programming customers who have no visibility to either the 110° or 119° orbital locations.
- American-programming customers who do not have a wing antenna pointed to either the 61.5° or 148° orbital locations.
- Customers in Hawaii with a DISH 300 antenna with no visibility to the 110° orbital location, or no visibility to the 61.5° or 148° orbital locations – regardless of the type of antenna they may have.
- Customers in Alaska with a DISH 300 and no visibility to the 110°, 61.5° or 148° orbital locations.
- Customers in Puerto Rico with a single antenna and no visibility to the 61.5° or 148° orbital locations.
- DishFAMILY subscribers have been excluded from select Public Interest Channel programming due to potentially offensive or mature content. DishFAMILY customers may request this a la carte package of all Public Interest Channels with the understanding that it is at their own discretion.
Free Previews and Promotional Offers
• HBO and Cinemax – Free Preview – Effective March 17, 2006 through March 21, 2006
o Special channel locations for free preview located on channels 285-298.
• Showtime
o Showtime Free Preview – Effective March 31, 2006 through April 3, 2006
- Special channel locations for free preview located on channels 285-295.
o Upgrade to Showtime and get free Häagen-Dazs® ice cream for a year – Effective March 1, 2006 through April 30, 2006
- Eligible existing customers can upgrade to Showtime on 3/1/06 through 4/30/06 and get free ice cream for a year! For details, go to www.dishnetwork.com/icecream. For customers to receive their 12 Häagen-Dazs® Cool Gift® Certificates (maximum value of $4.25 each):
? Customers print their name, address and phone number on a 3x5 card.
? They mail it along with their DISH Network billing statement (between 3/1/06 and 6/30/06) showing customers’ first two months of paid Showtime programming to:
Showtime Häagen-Dazs® Cool Gift® Certificate Offer
P.O. Box 1208 Dept. DS
Grand Rapids, MN 55745-1208
HD Local Network Programming
• New HD Local Markets – We’ve recently launched Boston, Chicago, Nashville, Denver, Albuquerque, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, and Washington D.C., in addition to our first HD local markets which were New York and Los Angeles.
o HD Local Launches for Q2 2006 – DISH Network is planning to launch the following DMAs next: Dallas, Houston, San Diego, Phoenix, Miami, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, Spokane, Portland (OR), and San Antonio. Please note that these cities are not confirmed until they go live.
o For only $5.00/mo. more, customers can choose to add their local network service with any minimum qualifying programming. If they have the appropriate equipment, they will receive their HD locals included in that $5.00/mo. price (along with their standard definition (SD) locals).
- If customers already have a ViP series (MPEG-4) receiver and appropriate antenna, they will automatically receive their HD local network programming in addition to the SD local network programming, where available.
- They must have an MPEG-4 receiver and appropriate antenna to view the HD locals.
o Washington D.C. HD Local Market – This DMA is within the DISH 1000 footprint, so we’ve previously instructed you to utilize the 129º orbital location for subscribers to receive DishHD programming. We launched the HD locals content on 61.5º, so according to our previous instruction, this would require 4 orbital locations.
- Going forward, if a new customer wants HD content including locals, you should install a DISH 500 and an additional antenna pointed to 61.5º to receive all HD content (including HD local network programming and DishHD entertainment packages), and not use the 129º orbital location. However, if a new customer only wants DishHD package content, and does not want their HD locals, you should only install a DISH 1000.
- If an existing customer with a DISH 500 wishes to add HD content including locals, you should only install an additional antenna pointed to 61.5º, and not install a DISH 1000.
- If an existing customer already has a DISH 1000 for DishHD content, and now wants to add their HD locals, you should install an additional antenna pointed to 61.5º for all HD content, and disable the 129º feed.
DishLATINO Programming Change
• Telemundo – No longer available in DishLATINO for Puerto Rico subscribers – Effective March 1, 2006.
Beginning March 1, 2006, Telemundo will no longer be available in DishLATINO packages for Puerto Rico subscribers. However, the Telemundo local feed will be available through the Puerto Rico local network programming package. Customers who do not have the locals package may add it for only $5.00/mo. more.
o On February 27, 2006, these customers began receiving voice mail messages about this change.
o Telemundo and local Telemundo have similar programming but the content is different. For more information, please visit http://www.telemundo.com/programacion/index.html.
Local Network Programming
• Distant Local Network Programming
o Atlanta Distant Locals
- Beginning March 17, 2006, Atlanta can no longer be sold as a distant local network service.
? Going forward, eligible customers who wish to subscribe to distant local network programming will be able to choose either Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago or New York.
- The reason for this is that Atlanta will move to our new Echo X satellite in late April. Once this occurs, Atlanta will be broadcast via spot beam (in the 110° orbital location), and some customers who currently receive Atlanta distant network service will lose the ability to see this programming.
? Existing customers outside the spot beam will automatically be switched to New York for their distant network service.
? Existing customers who fall within the spot beam and already subscribe to Atlanta for their distant local network programming can continue to receive it.
? After late March, new customers or existing customers inside the spot beam who wish to begin subscribing to Atlanta distant network service unfortunately may not – a definite date to be announced on the Retailer Care Site.
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