Truth is, if television providers don't want people to switch in pursuit of better deals, they could choose to offer better every day pricing and keep most of those customers (Assuming they are leaving only to pursue the deal). For example, If Dish and Directv had roughly the same channel package and equipment configuration at one price point, and a customer called Dish to say he was switching to Directv for low first year prices and higher second year prices on a two contract, Dish could offer him a regular price that was exactly between the two for two years locked in. The Dish sales pitch could be "Avoid the hassle of switching, pay the same total cost over the next two years, and have more reliable budgetable month to month bills that are the same for the entire commitment.". Maybe that medium price could even be offered contract free and Dish could say "Hey, give it a shot. You can always change your mind later if you're not happy".
Alternately, providers could simply offer existing customers the same promotion as new customers every other year of service if they call in and request it. For example, you sign up for Dish and get a year contract with one year of cheap rates and the second year of the higher regular rates. After the second year expires, if you call them up, they give you the option to do it again- a new two year contract with one year of cheap rates (or a free iPad or a free year of Sunday Ticket or whatever the new customer offers are) and the second year of regular rates.
If companies are all going to offer new customers great discounts, free iPads, free Sunday Ticket, and/or other incentives, and tell their existing customers "No soup for you.", they can hardly blame people for switching. Of course, some people will always stick with what they know because they don't like the hassle of switching (Phone calls, installation appointments, new channel numbers and technology to get used to, etc.), like the technology or channel lineup offered by one provider and don't feel the other provider(s) duplicate it (Maybe they are missing a key but obscure channel the person loves or a special DVR or whatever), don't feel much monetary pinch, or like seeing that familiar logo on their screen. Some people might be sticking around because they really hate the other provider and refuse to do business with them under any circumstances, or have some sort of other special situation (i.e. perhaps they are waiting to switch until a promotion on cable Internet runs out, and then they'll see if they can get a new customer TV/Internet combo discount from the cable company later after only one full priced month of Internet, maybe cable isn't available and they don't credit qualify for Directv's offer without a down payment they aren't willing to pay, maybe they've got someone in the household that loves whatever they've got, maybe their uncle is the owner of the company, etc.
). But if people do switch around a lot and companies can't stand it, they should look at what incentives they can give to keep existing customers happy (i.e. discounts, promotions, etc.).
One idea I've always liked is automatic discounts the longer you stay. Boost Mobile does something where your bill goes down $5 a month for every 6 months you stick around until by you're paying $15 a month less- and then you get that discount "forever" (subject to them revamping the way they do billing). I don't have Boost Mobile right now, but I almost did get it, and may in the future. That business model is very attractive. Maybe a television provider could give it a shot. Of course, you can't start off at a ridiculously high rate or no one will switch to you, but what about first year promotional discount, second year regular price, third year $5 off a month, fourth year $10 off a month, 5th year and beyond $15 off a month? That way you'd get the incentive for showing up, then "pay your dues" in the second contracted year, and gradually work back to their best offer for your loyalty. I'll bet people think twice about switching from Boost Mobile once they get down to $40 unlimited everything each month (Granted Boost has a fairly small network, poor call and data quality, poor phone selection, etc.- there are reasons not to like it, I'm just saying their shrinkage plan is a cool idea).
