December 18th Dish Retailer Chat Recap

[dmendenjr]

My thought is that since the TurboHD packages are roughly priced at $1 per HD channel it looks as though we should get roughly 10 new HD channels around February.
5 in the Bronze package
7 in the Silver package
10 in the Gold Package

-UNOmar

Was just thinking the same thing... Could definately be viacom
5 bronze - CMT, VH1, MTV, Nick, Spike
2 Silver - Comedy Central, BET...

and for the heck of it
3 gold channels - NBCu's Slueth and Chiller + ABC's ESPNU



I really need to lay off the optimist pills...

[jdmacor]

What price increase ? There's no price increase (yet). The plan is to have add'l channels added by the time the increase takes effect.

Actually, I believe the timeframe works out so that the price increases will take place before the addition of God/Charlie knows what:

"They mention that the new receiver names will go into effect on February 1st when the price changes happen."
"They mention that they hope the new satellite is put into use in the mid February time frame."

Basically, we show them the money, then they give us a prize! Maybe... Maybe they will add the Golf/Versus channel in addition to the individual Golf and Versus channels...

Remember, this was a retailer chat, not a customer one. When they say "increase their margin", they mean Dish's and their partners.

Good point.

[Sileny Jizda]

As Joe the TV Viewer, this is pricing and renaming is about as clear as mud. What is clear is that I'll be getting hosed a huge chunk of money in a time where it is not available. They just lost another customer or at the very least a large chunk of money. Time to do some more shopping around.

[HDRoberts]

Wow. That sucked. Especially for HD customers.

(No I am not kidding...) Jim says more HD services are coming which will make the price increase worth it.

I hope "services" mean channels. Not HD PPV or VOD.

If they don't deliver, it will be hard to stick it out.

For that kind of money, they need to launch Viacom, Fox, and some independents. Not to mention MoreMax HD, MSNBC HD, Chiller HD, etc. (i.e. new HD channels from those they already have agreements with.)

Why do I feel like us HD absolutes are about to be screwed, as we might see a ton of new channels placed just out of our reach in Feb?

[mike123abc]

What happens to the HD absolute folks?

Dish CSR:
HD Absolute? Why Sir it was renamed to Turbo Gold with the Platinum add on it is only $59.99 now! What a steal for 150 HD channels!

[Scott Greczkowski]

What price increase ? There's no price increase (yet). The plan is to have add'l channels added by the time the increase takes effect.

Where is this plan, I haven't seen it yet.

[juan]

Where is this plan, I haven't seen it yet.

SOON

[HDRoberts]

I think HD Absoultes will get a choice:

Price the same, lose NFL, Toon Disney, Bravo, Animal Planet, Golf, Lifetime Movies, Biography, National Geographic, Science, Versus, Hallmark, HD Net Movies, MGM, NBA, NHL, Tennis, Universal and WFN, but gain lower tiered new channels

Up $10 and lose Biography, National Geographic, Science, Versus, Hallmark, HD Net Movies, MGM, NBA, NHL, Tennis, Universal and WFN, but gain your RSNs and middle tiered new channels

Up $20 and lose Biography, National Geographic, Science, Versus, Hallmark, and Tennis, but gain your RSNs and middle tiered new channels

Up $30 (i.e. double) to lose nothing, but get new channels and RSNs.

Or they could let us ride it a while longer with no RSNs and, more importantly, no new channels.

I guess I'll have to go with the third option.

[yaz96]

If they let us HD Absolutes stay grandfathered, I will wait and see what channels they will offer before considering giving DISH any more money. Nothing pressing I need and I'm not missing my RSN.

[Hall]

Where is this plan, I haven't seen it yet.

You typed it.....

Jim says more HD services are coming which will make the price increase worth it.

That's their "plan" and their justification.