Retailer Chat Recap 12/12/13

[Scherrman]

If they eliminate free HD for life and raise programming prices, that will eliminate a lot if not most of the savings that a promotion would have. They may see fewer new signup's and/or more people drop the service after their contract is up. Reminds me of them not charging for DVR, the second tuner on dual tuner receivers after getting a bunch of people hooked onto it then later starting to charge for it.

There are already fewer sign ups and this isn't going to help anything. I'm pretty disappointed.

When they first said they were going to make some changes to the HD offer I got excited because I figured they would just eliminate it and make HD the standard and free for everyone. What a step in the wrong direction.

 

[navychop]

DMA changes for NEW CUSTOMER effective January 17th...

Too blurry to read.

 

[navychop]

I suspect in the next 2 years they may have to revisit charging for HD. It will be standard, and just another way of charging in a way that is not immediately obvious. That sort of thing can backfire on you.

 

[Claude Greiner]

Claude DISH's HD is also FREE for the first two years.

Thats what I just said. Customers who did their homework know Dish was at an advantage when it came to HD because it was free for life instead of the first 2 years.

Dish just gave their potential customers 1 less reason why they should choose them over Directv

 

[Laddyboy]

I had a customer come in so I'm behind now.

I am seriously not happy with the change to the HD promotion. All this will do is cause more turnover after the customer's contract is up.

Yep, they are creating an incentive to switch providers to get a lower fee. Makes little sense to me. Scherrman, you need to peddle Direct as well and protect yourself.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Thats what I just said. Customers who did their homework know Dish was at an advantage when it came to HD because it was free for life instead of the first 2 years.

Dish just gave their potential customers 1 less reason why they should choose them over Directv

And how long does DIRECTV give free HD for?

 

[Scherrman]

Yep, they are creating an incentive to switch providers to get a lower fee. Makes little sense to me. Scherrman, you need to peddle Direct as well and protect yourself.

I've considered it many times but we do other things besides Dish already. We sell TVs, appliances and antennas along with service work.

 

[Deadlocked]

You're thinking of something else. If you have 2 or more 722s (or 2 of any of the 622/722/922 class), then the ones after the first will have a $17 monthly fee each. It's been that way for years. Since you only have one 622, you are only being charged for the 211 ($7).

Ah gotcha

 

[Deadlocked]

I think if there is enough backlash (like Xbox One) Dish may change course.

 

[lparsons21]

Thats what I just said. Customers who did their homework know Dish was at an advantage when it came to HD because it was free for life instead of the first 2 years.

Dish just gave their potential customers 1 less reason why they should choose them over Directv

For switchers like me, it doesn't matter. And for those that don't switch often, Dish will still generally be a little cheaper.

But there are other issues for switchers that are making it harder. As we've become accustomed to having this more advanced gear, switching generally involves more upfront money than in the past.

For instance, to switch from E* to D* for me would mean swapping out 2 Hoppers, which means to get even a little close to what I have now I would have to pony up $199 for an additional HR, or ideally a 2nd Genie.

Going back the other way from D* to E* would mean an upfront of $100 for a 2nd Hopper.

That more than anything else, makes switching a little less of a savings.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I think for me the hard part about switching wouldn't be about the price, but the technology. To this day for me the Hopper still blows anything away that DIRECTV offers, and no one else has even come close.

 

[TNGTony]

I am still wondering why Dish still offers the SD channels! All new receivers convert DOWN to SD if necessary. I know there are a ton of people with SD only receivers, but doing like cable TV has been doing, phasing out analog channels on their lifeline tiers, is something Dish should do.

Essentially start with the less popular channels telling people if they want to keep the channels, they can. They just have to call to upgrade their receivers for "free" (with contract extensions). Eventually (over a couple/three year period) they can have their entire customer base with MPEG4 HD receivers (which can down-convert to old analog NTSC TVs) an no need to carry both HD and SD versions of channels!

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I am still wondering why Dish still offers the SD channels! A

Because they have to, programmers will not allow them to drop the SD feeds and only keep the HD feeds. Even in contract renewals they are requiring this.

 

[tomcrown1]

Looking at direct tv site i do not see a charge for HD. One smart thing Direct TV does is bundle the internet with programming. Dish should do the same.

Who does the marketing for Dish?? That person should be fired. Yes dish needs to raise their rates, but it should have been done better. Hd is the norm now so to charge extra for it is dumb. Dish should have bundled in free Netflix for two years and then charge or some other form of service.

The time has past in charging for HD programming. It would have made more sense if Dish claims that the $10.00 charge is for HD receiver, that what the cable company in my area does.

 

[Juan]

Looking at direct tv site i do not see a charge for HD. One smart thing Direct TV does is bundle the internet with programming. Dish should do the same.

Who does the marketing for Dish?? That person should be fired. Yes dish needs to raise their rates, but it should have been done better. Hd is the norm now so to charge extra for it is dumb. Dish should have bundled in free Netflix for two years and then charge or some other form of service.

The time has past in charging for HD programming. It would have made more sense if Dish claims that the $10.00 charge is for HD receiver, that what the cable company in my area does.

Hmm. Didn't they bundle with blockbuster? Don't they bundle with hughesnet? And please no more ideas for a 10 dollar HD receiver charge cuts charlie doe read these forums

Posted Via The SatelliteGuys Reader App!

 

[navychop]

Because they have to, programmers will not allow them to drop the SD feeds and only keep the HD feeds. Even in contract renewals they are requiring this.

Can Dish pay the SD fee as well as the HD fee, but then just actually transmit only the HD version? Yes, I know there are other reasons not to do this- yet.

 

[Teehar]

Boy,I dread to see the new pricing!i bet it will be more than last year.

 

[navychop]

Boy,I dread to see the new pricing!i bet it will be more than last year.

Well, I guess I'll finally have to downgrade then.

 

[Miner]

If I order 2 Hoppers before the new rates, will I be grandfathered in? First it was $7 for the second hopper, then $12 with grandfathering. Now $17, and no second TV out, unless I pay for a Joey.

As for the HD for life going away after 2 years, I call marketing BS there. By then every provider will be HD and Dish will flip-flop with charging extra for SD. Oh Crap, I think I just figured out a new spin for more money!

Miner

 

[Hall]

I am still wondering why Dish still offers the SD channels! All new receivers convert DOWN to SD if necessary. I know there are a ton of people with SD only receivers...

You just said it - there are probably a ton of people that Dish will need to replace equipment for.

Because they have to, programmers will not allow them to drop the SD feeds and only keep the HD feeds. Even in contract renewals they are requiring this.

Dish can still pay for both the SD and HD channels, but they would only have to transmit the HD channels. The end-user can still get the "SD" channel (the HD feed down-converted by the receiver) as well as the HD channel (untouched).