Some Interesting Dish Info

[SpenceJT]

I am pondering returning for HD, but for now I pay Dish more than $18 a month for the "right" to use my own equipment.

While you have the right to own the equipment, the service provider owns the transmission. You choose to pay to receive their service.

 

[andrews777]

While you have the right to own the equipment, Dish/Echostar owns the transmission. You choose to pay to receive their service.

I only get SkyAngel, not Dish service.

I do get the PI channels, but I would scrap those to scrap the DVR fees. I only got them because I was already paying.

Brad

 

[VinceT3]

I can't believe that it would be 100% profit. If they were not going to develop these new technologies they would not need the developers. Dish would not pay people to sit around and do nothing. These are the cost it takes to bring new products to market.

Depends.. some companies charge a fee for their software, that's normal process you see from most software companies.

Service related companies generally eat the cost of development for the security of retained services from their customers and the new revenue it brings from new signups because their feature set is grander than the other companies in their service category.

 

[Hall]

If Dish did not consitantly update the receivers with new features, customers would potentialy leave for the compitition.

Are you kidding ?? Dish receivers are feature-rich compared to other provider's set-tops.

When I had Time Warner, in many discussions with the local chief engineer, he told me that the vast majority of features that are added in Passport Echo releases are back-end stuff that the end-user neither sees nor benefits from, but the cableco does. In 2+ years with the SA 8300HD set-top, rarely did we ever see a change in the UI. In fact, the company who develops Passport Echo was typically two major revisions ahead of most cable providers, i.e. Echo had v4.x available but providers were still staying on v1.8 or in some cases v2.x.

Since DirecTV moved away from TiVo on their DVRs, I've heard mostly complaints, especially at their initial rollout. Is it getting better ? I don't know.

 

[harshness]

It is funny to me that Directv is thinking of an ALL ACCESS pack for all the Premier pack + locals+ hd and NO additional receiver fees or dvr fees for $119.99, while DISH is continuing to jack the price up on everything . THE DVR fees PER RECEIVER, the No connection fee for 5.00 per receiver not hooked up, and now the 40.00 hard drive enabeling fee - THANKFULLY PER ACCOUNT & A ONE TIME FEE.

It is interesting to hear DIRECTV think out loud via press releases and Q&A sessions, but has anyone seen anything other than column inches come out of them recently?

Directv is supposed to NOT increase the price for hd THIS year. SO for 10.99 you can get up to 100 hd channels by the end of this year.

Again, this is just more PR. PR doesn't fill the DVR with HD content.

Comparing what DIRECTV is saying with what Dish Network is doing (and assuming that they will not make adjustments) and extrapolating based on that comparison is irresponsible.

Get back to me when DIRECTV actually rolls out this shadowy "All Access" package. IIRC this wouldn't be the first time that someone "oopsed" a page on their website and it turned out to be a weather balloon.

 

[harshness]

Dish's engineers are paid whether they created this feature or not.

But the decision to go ahead with a feature is accompanied by certain expectations for Return On Investment.

I'm betting that whomever wrote the business plan for VOD is in charge of opening suspicious looking envelopes in the mail room at Dish Network now. That being said, Dish Network offers VOD on many models of DVR. Their competitor spoke volumes about delivering it a year ago on the R15 and subsequently has offered substantial additional bloviation about how it would be available on the HR20 by now.

 

[MikeD-C05]

It is interesting to hear DIRECTV think out loud via press releases and Q&A sessions, but has anyone seen anything other than column inches come out of them recently?Again, this is just more PR. PR doesn't fill the DVR with HD content.

Comparing what DIRECTV is saying with what Dish Network is doing (and assuming that they will not make adjustments) and extrapolating based on that comparison is irresponsible.

Get back to me when DIRECTV actually rolls out this shadowy "All Access" package. IIRC this wouldn't be the first time that someone "oopsed" a page on their website and it turned out to be a weather balloon.

I am not being irresponsible at all . I am merely showing comparisions in the two sat providers and the directions that they are taking in hd and new programming packs. Whether Directv really does launch this All ACCESS Pack by the end of August like the thread says at the dbstalk site remains to be seen. But Directv is more friendly when it comes to fees. They already have a simple Hd tech fee of $10.99 rather than the $ 20.00 hd pack with VOOM inflating the price. They only charge your ONE DVR fee per account or none if you take the dvr plus pack, or Premier pack, unlike DISH where it is PER RECEIVER. IT is not a stretch to believe that Directv would be coming up with a newer all access pack that eliminates the additional receiver fees , dvr fees and the hd tech fee . This would slaughter the competition including DISH. IT would make them have to sit up and take notice and reconsider the CABLE like approach that they have been taking on all these NEW miscellaneous fees they have added. DISH wants to be the leader in hd and the low cost leader at the same time. THEy can't do this if they keep adding fees and hiking the costs for high def. IF DIRECTV really does add this pack I imagine that a slew of new customers will be headed their way . Wouldn't you seriously consider doing so if it included no dvr fees, all the hd channels that they will add in Sept., all premium channels , locals in sd/hd , sports packs and you could add as many receivers as you want and it wouldn't cost you anymore than the one receiver, all for the low price of $119.99?

 

[ArtWIS]

I am not being irresponsible at all . I am merely showing comparisions in the two sat providers and the directions that they are taking in hd and new programming packs. Whether Directv really does launch this All ACCESS Pack by the end of August like the thread says at the dbstalk site remains to be seen. But Directv is more friendly when it comes to fees. They already have a simple Hd tech fee of $10.99 rather than the $ 20.00 hd pack with VOOM inflating the price. They only charge your ONE DVR fee per account or none if you take the dvr plus pack, or Premier pack, unlike DISH where it is PER RECEIVER. IT is not a stretch to believe that Directv would be coming up with a newer all access pack that eliminates the additional receiver fees , dvr fees and the hd tech fee . This would slaughter the competition including DISH. IT would make them have to sit up and take notice and reconsider the CABLE like approach that they have been taking on all these NEW miscellaneous fees they have added. DISH wants to be the leader in hd and the low cost leader at the same time. THEy can't do this if they keep adding fees and hiking the costs for high def. IF DIRECTV really does add this pack I imagine that a slew of new customers will be headed their way . Wouldn't you seriously consider doing so if it included no dvr fees, all the hd channels that they will add in Sept., all premium channels , locals in sd/hd , sports packs and you could add as many receivers as you want and it wouldn't cost you anymore than the one receiver, all for the low price of $119.99?

I'll jump on that total access pack if it becomes available!

 

[navychop]

I see that everyone has been referring to the 622/722 capability concerning adding the external hard drives, but my question is can this be done with the 625 also?

No. And don't expect it.

Dish needs to move to increasing use of MPEG-4 to save bandwidth. One way of doing that is by adding features to MPEG-4 receivers that aren't available to non MPEG-4 receivers. Customers see value, upgrade on their own.

Plus, why expend effort to add such a major feature to a receiver with a very short expected lifetime? Better to concentrate your efforts on boxes with a longer future ahead of them.

 

[JAG72]

Are you kidding ?? Dish receivers are feature-rich compared to other provider's set-tops.

Never said that they were feature rich. Every thing that Dish or any other provider does has some sort of return on investment. If it didn't they would not develope it. Yes, some times things don't work out like they wanted but it is all in the name of making money.

 

[Hall]

Every thing that Dish or any other provider does has some sort of return on investment.

Depending on how far you stretch how something creates ROI, you're right. I can look at many menu options on my 622 and would LOVE to know how they provide a return. For example, viewing pictures off of a USB key, through my receiver.

 

[John Kotches]

It is interesting to hear DIRECTV think out loud via press releases and Q&A sessions, but has anyone seen anything other than column inches come out of them recently?Again, this is just more PR. PR doesn't fill the DVR with HD content.

What are you talking about... PR fills the disk with HD (High Drivel) but it does compress well since it's text based and highly repetitive

Comparing what DIRECTV is saying with what Dish Network is doing (and assuming that they will not make adjustments) and extrapolating based on that comparison is irresponsible.

Welcome to the "My Future HD is bigger than your current HD" mantra

Get back to me when DIRECTV actually rolls out this shadowy "All Access" package. IIRC this wouldn't be the first time that someone "oopsed" a page on their website and it turned out to be a weather balloon.

It happens a number of places

Cheers,

 

[John Kotches]

I am not being irresponsible at all . I am merely showing comparisions in the two sat providers and the directions that they are taking in hd and new programming packs.

DirecTV is selling the promise of more HD at some point in the future.

Dish has been delivering more HD for several years now; and will up the ante by 7 or 8 more national channels 8/15. Sorry I don't remember the number. This will put them at around 40 and with the September adds, they'll be around 1/2 of that 100 channels DirecTV has been promoting before launching the new sat.

Whether Directv really does launch this All ACCESS Pack by the end of August like the thread says at the dbstalk site remains to be seen. But Directv is more friendly when it comes to fees. They already have a simple Hd tech fee of $10.99 rather than the $ 20.00 hd pack with VOOM inflating the price.

Do the math; how much per channel do the two fees work out to be? How many national HDs does the $10.99 buy you? If you go by the website, it's 9 (with HBO + Showtime). That's $1.22/channel. MHD and National Geo are coming soon. Dish charges $20 for 32 listed national channels or about $0.63/channel.

So in what way is DirecTV's fee more friendly? It's more for each available channel. I'm curious, were you this bad at math in school too?

They only charge your ONE DVR fee per account or none if you take the dvr plus pack, or Premier pack, unlike DISH where it is PER RECEIVER. IT is not a stretch to believe that Directv would be coming up with a newer all access pack that eliminates the additional receiver fees , dvr fees and the hd tech fee . This would slaughter the competition including DISH.

No it won't. Churn is pretty much constant across the various TV providers (Dish, DirecTV, Cable).

IT would make them have to sit up and take notice and reconsider the CABLE like approach that they have been taking on all these NEW miscellaneous fees they have added. DISH wants to be the leader in hd and the low cost leader at the same time. THEy can't do this if they keep adding fees and hiking the costs for high def.

Time will tell, won't it. And BTW, Dish is the leader in HD -- this cannot be disputed for what is it 3 or 4 years now? DirecTV might be the leader sometime in the future; but with a new bird launching for Dish too, all bets are off.

IF DIRECTV really does add this pack I imagine that a slew of new customers will be headed their way . Wouldn't you seriously consider doing so if it included no dvr fees, all the hd channels that they will add in Sept., all premium channels , locals in sd/hd , sports packs and you could add as many receivers as you want and it wouldn't cost you anymore than the one receiver, all for the low price of $119.99?

No.

That was simple, wasn't it?

 

[MikeD-C05]

You know I just don't feel like arguing about this John. I have DISH and have had them for over 10 years going on 11 in January. I have all the hd that they have to offer. I love DISH and have chose them as my main provider for just about all my video content. I also have an sd receiver from Directv for the one show we won't be able to get in Sept.: Passions .

I thought it was an interesting proposition that DIRECTV was trying to come up with an all Access pack and ELIMINATE all additional receiver fees, dvr fees, and hd access fees for 119.99. IF you can't see that this would spur competition between DISH and cable too then you are too dense for words. Competition is a good thing. I hope that they do offer the pack, just so DISH will reconsider eliminating some of the cable like FEES that they charge now. It has also forced DISH to look at adding more and more hd channels NOW so they can try to blunt some of the impact of DIRECTV's launch of their "100" hd channels.

DISH is the leader in low prices < Untill you start adding all the fees in small printing that you didn't bother to read when you signed up . I think that I would like to see DISH return to their customer friendly ways that they used to tout as their advantage over CABLE. INstead of being like CABLE.


IF you find it irresponsible to compare and contrast what is going on with both companies , FINE. You are entitled to your opinion. Remember Opinions are like a**holes: everyone has one.

 

[John Kotches]

You know I just don't feel like arguing about this John. I have DISH and have had them for over 10 years going on 11 in January. I have all the hd that they have to offer. I love DISH and have chose them as my main provider for just about all my video content. I also have an sd receiver from Directv for the one show we won't be able to get in Sept.: Passions .

Woo hoo. I haven't talked about how long I've been a dish subscriber; nor is it relevant to the discussion at hand.

I thought it was an interesting proposition that DIRECTV was trying to come up with an all Access pack and ELIMINATE all additional receiver fees, dvr fees, and hd access fees for 119.99. IF you can't see that this would spur competition between DISH and cable too then you are too dense for words. Competition is a good thing.

Dish almost always keeps this close to the vest; so I don't expect them to sit idly by. I expect they'll do something to remain cost competitive. They have historically done so; this likely won't be an exception.

As far as my density; well if we consider specific gravity a measure of density; I'm less than water or I wouldn't float.

I hope that they do offer the pack, just so DISH will reconsider eliminating some of the cable like FEES that they charge now. It has also forced DISH to look at adding more and more hd channels NOW so they can try to blunt some of the impact of DIRECTV's launch of their "100" hd channels.

There won't be 100 national HD channels before either provider has both new sats in the air. If I were a betting man; I would bet that somehow even without the hype; they'll keep pace.

DISH is the leader in low prices < Untill you start adding all the fees in small printing that you didn't bother to read when you signed up . I think that I would like to see DISH return to their customer friendly ways that they used to tout as their advantage over CABLE. INstead of being like CABLE.

Yep I miss the "cable pig" days too. Now it's a question of which species....

IF you find it irresponsible to compare and contrast what is going on with both companies , FINE. You are entitled to your opinion. Remember Opinions are like a**holes: everyone has one.

Perhaps you'd better work on your reading skills too. I never used the word irresponsible until I typed it just now. I did quote you saying irresponsible (twice now) and this sentence makes it twice I've typed that word.

Oh yeah, I also quoted harshness using that word.

 

[MikeD-C05]

It is interesting to hear DIRECTV think out loud via press releases and Q&A sessions, but has anyone seen anything other than column inches come out of them recently?Again, this is just more PR. PR doesn't fill the DVR with HD content.

Comparing what DIRECTV is saying with what Dish Network is doing (and assuming that they will not make adjustments) and extrapolating based on that comparison is( irresponsible.)




Here you are harshness. YOu said it right here in your origional post about my post.

 

[MikeD-C05]

Woo hoo. I haven't talked about how long I've been a dish subscriber; nor is it relevant to the discussion at hand.




Dish almost always keeps this close to the vest; so I don't expect them to sit idly by. I expect they'll do something to remain cost competitive. They have historically done so; this likely won't be an exception.

As far as my density; well if we consider specific gravity a measure of density; I'm less than water or I wouldn't float.



There won't be 100 national HD channels before either provider has both new sats in the air. If I were a betting man; I would bet that somehow even without the hype; they'll keep pace.




Yep I miss the "cable pig" days too. Now it's a question of which species....




Perhaps you'd better work on your reading skills too. I never used the word irresponsible until I typed it just now. I did quote you saying irresponsible (twice now) and this sentence makes it twice I've typed that word.

Oh yeah, I also quoted harshness using that word.

Okay John you and Harshness both responded at different times and I got you and him mixed up . But I did respond to everything that both of you said. I stand by what I said about the competition that the All ACCESS pack would bring to the sat industry.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

DirecTV was not coming up with an All Access Package (at least not one that others were mentioning). From what I know the All Access Package was the Premiere package and the spanish language package combined into one package.

It did not include HD, nor free DVR or extra outlet fees.

This entire rumor was just one persons wild imagination of what he would like in the All Access Package. He saw All Access and his mind took over builing a great package (I would love to see the package myself!) The thoughts on this are like thoughts you have when you think about winning the lottery.

So before people compair Dish or anyone else to this made up package, they must understand that the other package is just a fairy tale. Sure we would love for it to come true but talking about it like its real only confuses everyone.

 

[John Kotches]

Scott:

So the All Access Package isn't even vaporware?

 

[8bitbytes]

DirecTV promises 100 National HD channels - Have not been named and don't exist
DirecTV All Access Package - Doesn't exist and may not be based on any comments from DirecTV at all

Dish Network reduced the use of fees in the DVR Advantage Package
Dish Network leads in National HD channels
Dish Network has named specific HD channels and services to come online next month

IF DirecTV ever creates something even remotely like an All Access Package, Dish has been preparing to bundle all their costs into a "Package" already instead of line item listing the costs as they have done in the past. The DVR Advantage package is proof of Dish's efforts in that respect.

I like competition and the benefits from it. I doubt that DirecTV will ever be more affordable than Dish though. Their exclusive NFL and now nearly exclusive MLB packages are too costly to allow them to undercut Dish. This is why they can only PROMISE to do more for the same money. Dish still costs less, despite all the fuss over the line item cost for each HD package.