"Standalone" HD from Dish: options & costs

[TuxCoder]

The following describes all current options for HD services from Dish Network as I understand them. Everything is calculated with "HD only" in mind (no AT60...AEP, Dish Latino..., or other non-HD packages). Thus the initial 5.00 access fee applies. With qualifying minimum package level, just subtract $5.00 from the totals below.

The "Basic HD channels" section shows what I consider the core HD programming. Then options (a) through (g) below show all possible combinations of additional packages with HD content, sorted in order of increasing channel count.

The channel counts (and corresponding costs per channel at the right, in bold) include HD channels and SD movie channels. PPV is excluded from the counts. There are some other SD channels that may be available, such as the FCC mandated public interest channels. Their total count is ambiguously included below as "n#".

Basic HD channels
Includes HD Pak, Voom Originals, HD Demo, and HD PPV.

0.00 ..... New Account
+5.00 .... Access Fee (HD Demo, HDPPV)
5.00 ..... 1 HD channel + 1 HD PPV + n# SD channels/PPVs = 1+n# (5.00 ea.)

+9.99 .... HD Pak (TNT HD, Discovery HD Theater, HDNet, HDNet Movies, ESPN HD)
14.99 .... 6 HD channels + 1 HD PPV + n# SD channels/PPVs = 6+n# (2.50 ea.)

+5.00 .... VOOM Originals (Rave HD, Equator HD, Gallery HD, Animania HD, Rush HD, Ultra HD, Guy TV HD, Majestic HD, Monster HD, HD News)
19.99 .... 16 HD channels + 1 HD PPV + n# SD channels/PPVs = 16+n# (1.25 ea.)
​

(a) Basic + CBS HD*

+1.50 .... CBS HD*
21.49 .... 17 HD channels + 1 HD PPV + n# SD channels/PPVs = 17+n# (1.26 ea.)
​

(b) Basic + HBO

+13.99 ... HBO (HBO HD, 8 other SD channels)
33.98 .... 17 HD channels + 1 HD PPV + 8+n# SD channels/PPVs = 25+n# (1.36 ea.)
​

(c) Basic + CBS HD* + HBO

+1.50 .... CBS HD*
+13.99 ... HBO (HBO HD, 8 other SD channels)
35.48 .... 18 HD channels + 1 HD PPV + 8+n# SD channels/PPVs = 26+n# (1.36 ea.)
​

(d) Basic + Showtime

+11.99 ... Showtime Unlimited (Showtime HD, 10 other SD channels)
31.98 .... 17 HD channels + 1 HD PPV + 10+n# SD channels/PPVs = 27+n# (1.18 ea.)
​

(e) Basic + CBS HD* + Showtime

+1.50 .... CBS HD*
+11.99 ... Showtime Unlimited (Showtime HD, 10 other SD channels)
33.48 .... 18 HD channels + 1 HD PPV + 10+n# SD channels/PPVs = 28+n# (1.20 ea.)
​

(f) Basic + HBO + Showtime

+13.99 ... HBO (HBO HD, 8 other SD channels)
+11.99 ... Showtime Unlimited (Showtime HD, 10 other SD channels)
45.97 .... 18 HD channels + 1 HD PPV + 18+n# SD channels/PPVs = 36+n# (1.28 ea.)
​

(g) Basic + CBS HD* + HBO + Showtime

+1.50 .... CBS HD*
+13.99 ... HBO (HBO HD, 8 other SD channels)
+11.99 ... Showtime Unlimited (Showtime HD, 10 other SD channels)
47.47 .... 19 HD channels + 1 HD PPV + 18+n# SD channels/PPVs = 37+n# (1.28 ea.)
​

* CBS HD only available to eligible customers. See http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/locals/cbshd/index.shtml for details.

 

[PhillyOTA]

Excellent.

But can you really factor the PPV in those calculations? While it is available in those packages, it isn't really included as you would have to pay extra per viewing. Or am I missing something?

Eddie

edit to add: nm my math is bad! I see now you didn't include it in the cost per channel calculation.

 

[NightRyder]

Great list Tux! I would only add, according to Dish's web site, subscribers to DNS or locals should receive CBS-HD at no additional charge.


NightRyder

 

[TuxCoder]