As the entire pay-TV industry experiences significant increases in programming costs, well above the rate of inflation, DISH will be making moderate price adjustments effective February 1, 2014. Customers will begin receiving bills in mid-January for February service.
DISH is bearing the burden of these programmer rate increases with our customers, holding price increases below those of our primary competitors over the past two years. The average percentage change that DISH customers will see with this increase is lower than the rate at which DISH’s programming costs will grow in 2014.
DISH is proactively communicating with customers about what is happening:
· Customers currently receiving promotional rates will continue to pay the same rates through their promotional period, typically one year.
· Customers paying the everyday package price will see an increase of $3 to $5 per month on core English programming packages. [Customers paying standard rates will see an increase of $3-$6 per month for Spanish language packages.]
· For existing customers, the Hopper DVR and Receiver fees will be $12 each, when applicable. Existing customers with a second Hopper will receive credits for 18 months to offset the Hopper Receiver fee increase.
We will continue to work on behalf of our customers by negotiating hard and seeking congressional help to modify outdated laws.