NatGeo not standard with HD Pack

[gadgtfreek]

I understand why they do it, and I would have the at250 anyways, but I think its pretty crappy of them.

Dish charges more for their HDpack than anyone I can think of, natgeohd should be part of it.

 

[riffjim4069]

This will be more the norm as all the "cable favorite" channels go mainstream.

 

[gadgtfreek]

What do you mean, norm for not having them in the HD pack or they will move to the hd pack?

I wonder how many new subs dont read the fine print when they get HD and are duped by this.

 

[mike123abc]

The HD package is really 3 things, but Dish bills it as one item so that customers cannot try to drop one of them.

1. HD enabling fee -- allows the receiver to get OTA HD also. Note you can pay $6/month for this feature.

2. Existing channel in HD fee.

3. HD only content: HDNet, HDMovies, Discovery HDT, VOOM, etc.

Many would love to just get OTA and existing channel HD for $5-$10. But, Dish probably has minimum contract sub numbers it has to deliver, so forces people to subscribe.

 

[kstuart]

I understand why they do it, and I would have the at250 anyways, but I think its pretty crappy of them.

Dish charges more for their HDpack than anyone I can think of, natgeohd should be part of it.

Just so you are clear that it is National Geographic that has the requirement, not Dish.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

However as other channels go HD (Weather channel, History Channel, SciFi etc) those channels will only be available with the HD package and the proper AT package.

 

[gadgtfreek]

So, its looking like you'll need the 250 to get everything down the road.

Why in the world would NatGeo require this, seems like it causes them to lose subs. Im sure there are people that feel it isnt worht to pay $20hd +$10 250 just for Natgeo. But those same people would watch it if it was in the HD pack.

 

[JAG72]

So, its looking like you'll need the 250 to get everything down the road.

Why in the world would NatGeo require this, seems like it causes them to lose subs. Im sure there are people that feel it isnt worht to pay $20hd +$10 250 just for Natgeo. But those same people would watch it if it was in the HD pack.

National Geographic does not have this as a requirement. This is the package that Dish put it in. If Dish would put it in the base package I am sure that National Geographic would be very happy.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

So, its looking like you'll need the 250 to get everything down the road.

Why in the world would NatGeo require this, seems like it causes them to lose subs. Im sure there are people that feel it isnt worht to pay $20hd +$10 250 just for Natgeo. But those same people would watch it if it was in the HD pack.

Because you need AT250 to get the SD version of National Geographic.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Ah. So as I originally figured, Dish's motive is to force you into a bigger pack to get all of your HD. This is going to be a cluster**** down the road. People are going to be signing up and wondering why they arent getting all their HD.

Im a sucker for sure as I love NatGeoHD and wont go without it. I hope they dont come out with the AT600 for $99 a month and put it in there

 

[Pepper]

There are two sides to this.

1. those who believe because they pay for HD they should get all of it including the HBO-HD, SHO-HD and MAX-HD.

2. those who believe they are paying for a level of content, if they pay for the 250 level which includes NatGeo, and they have HD, then they get NatGeo-HD.

 

[Hall]

I strongly believe that the channel or network makes this requirement. Can you get HBO-HD by itself ? Nope.... I'm not sure what package channels like Food Network, HGTV, etc are in but I'll bet if they were in AT250, you wouldn't get Food HD if you only subscribed to AT1xx.

 

[gadgtfreek]

I guess this is where cable is easier. I DO NOT think I should get HBO and other premiums, but I do wish if they were going to charge an HD fee it would include all the non premium channels.

Might would be easier if they listed two prices for each package(with and without HD). The when you looked at the programming for each package then youd see what HD channels youd get with that package.

Instead of having an HD fee that doesnt include something.

 

[thedamaja]

I guess this is where cable is easier. I DO NOT think I should get HBO and other premiums, but I do wish if they were going to charge an HD fee it would include all the non premium channels.

My local cable operates the same way. You have to first subscribe to the SD channel before you can receive the HD version. Which you still have to pay a HD fee for just the same as dish (but with less channels for the money)

Also Dish lists National Geo as a premium channel.

 

[gadgtfreek]

I was used to comcast. Either you have digital or you have sd. If you have digital and a hddvr you get ALL the hd channels.

NatGeo must charge a little more for their channel. Makes you wonder what others coming on will require the AT250?

 

[JAG72]

Makes you wonder what others coming on will require the AT250?

The only ones that will require the AT250 are the current ones that are AT250 only.

 

[Jim5506]

The HD "package" includes all the HD channels that correspond to your SD level of service. If you hve AT100 you get the SD channels and the corresonding HD channels, add locals you get HD locals if available, add the plus pack for RSN's you also getthe corresponding HD RSN if aailable, add a premium movie package, you get the corresponding premium movie channel in HD. If you move up to AT250 you gain all the extra SD channels and any corresponding HD channels.

It all sounds very logical to me.

As SD channels move to HD I look for satellite providers to do the same. If all SD's were suddenly HD, you couldn't expect to get ALL of them just because you have the HD package.

5 or 10 years from now everyone will be using an MPEG4 receiver and there may still be those who sub only SD, but they will receive the same channels as the HD subs, their receiver will just pass them through in 480i/480p.

 

[gadgtfreek]

The only ones that will require the AT250 are the current ones that are AT250 only.

Not if due to the cost of their HD expansions, channels start asking more. You could possibly have Fx and FxHD moving up or any other channel if they wanted more for their service.

 

[havana]

In addition to the basic HD package, I would be happy to pay an extra fee for the HD ONLY versions of HBO, Showtime etc. providing the fees were based on fair pricing and not greed...but in order to get the four or so HD premium channels that I’m interested in, I’m forced to pay for twenty or thirty crappy SD channels that I don’t want.

BTW, I never watch ESPN or it’s clones, and I’m sure the cost for them is a substantial percentage of my bill....Guess that’s capitalism and the free market system for ya...

 

[Van]

I wonder how much customers are paying for ESPNHD.