Updated New Pricing Info

[kstuart]

Going back to the thread topic , I asked DiSH (ceo address) if I could pay now to extend my annual AT180 subscription for an additional year (it expires later in 2007) and thereby they get more $$ up front, and I lock in an additional year at the lower price -- and they said no.

 

[Stargazer]

Going back to the thread topic , I asked DiSH (ceo address) if I could pay now to extend my annual AT180 subscription for an additional year (it expires later in 2007) and thereby they get more $$ up front, and I lock in an additional year at the lower price -- and they said no.

They always let me pay in advance to lock in at the current price in the past even if the renewal of the annual was after the price increase. I think when I drop some stuff off I will drop it lower if they try to charge me the $5 downgrade fee and tell them that I might as well drop it lower seeing how it won't cost me anymore to do so now whereas they will charge me another $5 if I do it later. Either that or it might be time to looking at DirecTv deals. I like Dish Network's hardware setup better though but the B.S. fees and a little of this and that is starting to add up.

 

[GaryPen]

Has it been determined if the DVR Advantage plan includes the DVR fee? It seems that it does. (Otherwise, where's the actual DVR advantage?) But, I want to make sure for my cost comparisons.

 

[BFG]

it includes the dvr fee for one receiver

The DVR Advantage Plan is a promotion that includes a 2 room DVR, locals, DVR fee and AT 200

 

[MikeD-C05]

Has it been determined if the DVR Advantage plan includes the DVR fee? It seems that it does. (Otherwise, where's the actual DVR advantage?) But, I want to make sure for my cost comparisons.

The advantage is DISH's . They lock you in for 18 month commitment and you save what you would have paid if the price increase went through-$3.00 and another .89 cents on top of it I believe. The package LOOKS attractive because it doesn't list the dvr fee and the locals fee but they are in there. It is another marketing ploy, because it advertises : "No hidden fees and NO hidden costs".

 

[GaryPen]

I get that it's a promotion. I was just comparing prices for a possible switch from Comcast to dbs or fiber.

 

[AVITWeb]

I am still confused...when I called a few weeks back, they told me that I could get EVERYTHING (basically what I get now - AT180, locals, HBO+Cinemax, and the protection plan thingy + Showtime and Starz and the HD) the DVR fee would be waived but I would have to pay the $199 upgrade fee. The cost per month would be about $123. Basically a $36 increase over what I pay now. I currently own my equipment (DVR501 and a 301). So was I misinformed??? I plan on moving my 501 to our bedroom and just taking the 301 off...It should not be this hard to figure out if I am getting a deal or not.....

 

[M Sparks]

They probably have a minimum revenue guarantee on the VOOM package and making it a la carte would cause too many people to drop the VOOM and they would get stuck with the bill. Who would drop VOOM for $10-$15/month savings?

I would.

As long as we're making up numbers...Who would drop VOOM for a $75-$85/month savings? Everyone? See, Voom is the problem.

When we last had a-la-carte HD, VOOM was $5 for 10 channels, and the HD pack was $10 for 5 channels- 2 of which were just simulcast channel with limited HD.

When they put all the HD channels together, it became $20- a $5 increase overall. They added 5 more VOOM channels, but also 5 other HD channels- three of which are 24/7 HD (not simulcasts.) They also added Starz HD and HD locals at no extra cost, assuming you already subscribe to those- in other words, they absorbed the uplink costs. Not a big deal for Starz, but a big undertaking for locals.

I would consider all the HD changes since last spring worth $5 (especially since I get no HD OTA channels- the HD locals alone are worth an extra $5 to me.)

The problem is, the original HD pack was overpriced to begin with. $10 for 5 channels (2 of which I never watched.)

Making VOOM a-la-carte again would save $5-$7 at the most. It would probably also kill VOOM off. While I don't watch it much, it's nice to have the variety, and it's easily worth $5 to me.

I'd like to see a 2-tiered system. The first tier would include just HD simulcasts of channels you already receive- TNT, ESPN 1 & 2, National Geographic, Premiums, and/or locals. This would be like the "HD Enabling Fee", but would include a few more channels that were previously in the HD Pack. To make this more attractive, they should add Cinemax, TMC, A&E, and any other simulcast channels, including west-coast feeds. This would drive people towards higher packages. Hopefully, they could bring Encore-HD back too. The costs on these channels SHOULD be relatively low, because you've already payed for the programming costs.

The second tier would have VOOM and any other "original" HD channels, plus channels like Discovery that have different schedules.

 

[Stargazer]

I wonder if they will continue increasing the price of the HD package as they add more channels?

 

[MikeD-C05]

Yes I feel like they will keep pricing the hd pack higher each time they add more hd channels . This will price hd out of the hands of most people out there. I feel like if you get the sd version of the channel the hd version should be free like Hbo and SHowtime and STarz does. If not there will be the haves and the havenots in regards to Hd. I shouldn't have to pay the price of two programming packs to get everything you want in hd and sd. They promise to have about 100 hd channels by years end. Do you really think they will only cost you $20.00?

 

[general487]

Yes I feel like they will keep pricing the hd pack higher each time they add more hd channels . This will price hd out of the hands of most people out there. I feel like if you get the sd version of the channel the hd version should be free like Hbo and SHowtime and STarz does. If not there will be the haves and the havenots in regards to Hd. I shouldn't have to pay the price of two programming packs to get everything you want in hd and sd. They promise to have about 100 hd channels by years end. Do you really think they will only cost you $20.00?

Let's all keep in mind that HD is also supposed to be the new STANDARD. SD should be phased out and HD should replace SD for regular programming packages. I wish the process were faster, and everything switched over all at once. It must be REALLY difficult to change America's equipment/understanding in order to get this done. For now, we are stuck with cable/satellite providers charging "extra" for what will soon be the standard broadcasting format.

 

[navychop]

Let's all keep in mind that HD is also supposed to be the new STANDARD. SD should be phased out and HD should replace SD for regular programming packages. I wish the process were faster, and everything switched over all at once. It must be REALLY difficult to change America's equipment/understanding in order to get this done. For now, we are stuck with cable/satellite providers charging "extra" for what will soon be the standard broadcasting format.

Where did you get that idea? There is NO requirement for HD. Only marketing forces push HD. The new standard is DIGITAL, which includes SD as well as HD. There are no plans, and no likelihood, of SD being phased out. Multi-casting is popular. Heck, there are still "I Love Lucy" reruns on- SD may be around forever. Not just for old stuff that can't be made into HD, but because it's cheaper.

 

[navychop]

Yes I feel like they will keep pricing the hd pack higher each time they add more hd channels . This will price hd out of the hands of most people out there. I feel like if you get the sd version of the channel the hd version should be free like Hbo and SHowtime and STarz does. If not there will be the haves and the havenots in regards to Hd. I shouldn't have to pay the price of two programming packs to get everything you want in hd and sd. They promise to have about 100 hd channels by years end. Do you really think they will only cost you $20.00?

It's DirecTV that "promised" 100 HD channels by year's end. I don't believe E* made any such comment.

 

[Stargazer]

As long as HD is considered a premium then they will expect a premium for the service. When more starts offering it then the price will drop. When you offer something the competition does not offer (or more than the competition of something in high demand) then you can demand a premium for it.

 

[Cokeswigga]

Look how long it took for Digital to be mandated.. .
who knows how long it will take for HD to be mandated......
and then the argument begins about the resolution rates of HD....

Hopefully with the Marketing push of 1080p along will BLU ray & HD-DVD ...... will put pressure on broadcasters, cable/fiber/DBS to start flowing some High-Res HD our way.

I want my Full HDTV DAMMIT!

 

[navychop]

HD will never be mandated.

The government's interest in pushing this change to digital was strictly to recover spectrum to sell. If anything, there may be an innate hostility to HD, as a multi-cast of 6 programs must reduce any pressure for more spectrum. Of course, that assumes OTA broadcasts survive as a business. But there's far too much current stock that is only in SD- and SD will be cheaper to make/edit/transport/broadcast for years to come - and multicasting has a strong business case.

 

[Stargazer]

The markets itself will mandate HD. If one company offers it others will have to offer it as well to stay in business unless they plan on staying in business by having the cheapest price instead of HD.

 

[GaryPen]

it includes the dvr fee for one receiver

I didn't see that in the original release. I only saw the term "fee-based DVR". That makes it sound like there might still be a fee, no?

 

[danderson101]

Lease fee for new customers

If I'm a new customer, get the dvr AT250 pkg ($69.99) and my only receiver is the 622, do I still have to pay the $6/month lease fee?

 

[BFG]

no