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History of Rate Increases on Dish |
Some of the information below is from memory and some is from records kept here on the EKB. Whenever possible, the exact dates of the price increases were used. This page was set up only to remind folks of the way the prices and packages have changed in an objective fashion and nothing else. If you have any corrections, additions or constructive comments, they are quite welcome. Just e-mail using the link at the bottom of the page.
Basic Packages
America's Top 40 and the new America's Top 50
| Comments | Date | Price | |
| America's Top 40 was launched in 1996 when Echostar's Dish Network began operations | February 1996 | $19.95 | |
| Several channels were added over 5 years. The name was changed to America's Top 50. AT40 ceased to exist. | February 2001 | $21.99 | |
| Price Increase | February 2002 | $22.99 | |
| Price Increase (price freeze through 1/2005) | AT 50 | February 1, 2003 | $24.99 |
| AT50 & Locals | February 1, 2003 | $29.99 | |
| New Packaging Added 6/24/2003. AT50 + the local Regional Sports Network(s) (RSN) is now available as AT50 PLUS. The Multi-Sports Pack can be tacked on to AT50 PLUS for an additional $5.99. Previously none of the RSNs could be added to AT50 at any price.. | AT50 | February 1, 2003 | $24.99 |
| AT50 & Locals | February 1, 2003 | $29.99 | |
| AT50 PLUS | June 24, 2003 | $29.99 | |
The original America's Top 50, America's Top 60 and
America's
Top 100CD
| Comments | Date | Price | |
| The original America's Top 50 was created by adding channels to the AT40 package. See original AT50 rate card HERE | ~Jan, 1997 | $25.00 | |
| Channels were added and name changed to AT60. AT50 ceased to exist. WPIX, WSBK and KTLA went from the defunct AT50 directly to their own Superstations Package and were not included in AT60 | April 1998 | $28.99 | |
| The audio only channels were then included in the channel count since DirecTV advertising gave a channel count that also counted audio channels. The package name was changed to America's Top 100CD | May or June 1998 | $28.99 | |
| Several channels were added through this period and the price was increased | March 2000 | $29.99 | |
| Price increased | February 2001 | $30.99 | |
| Price Increased | February 2002 | $31.99 | |
| Price Increased | AT 100 | February 1, 2003 | $33.99 |
| AT100 + HBO + Cinemax | February 1, 2003 | $49.99 | |
| Comments | Date | Price | |
| America's Top 150 was created by adding many video and 20 monaural audio channels to AT100 | May 2000 | $39.99 | |
| Many channels were added during this period. Price increased | February 2002 | $40.99 | |
| Price Increase | AT150 | February 1, 2003 | $42.99 |
| AT150 + HBO + Cinemax | February 1, 2003 | $59.99 | |
| Comments | Date | Price | |
| America's Everything Pack was created by combining AT150 and All 4 premium channel packages. At the time of its creation, AT150 and all the movie channels sold separately for $74.98 and shortly after $75.98 | Late 2000 or early 2001 | $69.99 | |
| Price increased. The price of AT150 and the movie channels at the time was $77.98 | February 2002 | $72.99 | |
| Price Increased | AEP | February 1, 2003 | $74.99 |
| AEP + Locals | February 1, 2003 | $79.99 | |
| Comments | Date | Price | |
|
HBO The Works originally consisted of HBO E&W, HBO2 E&W, HBO3 E (Signature). HBO Family added later. HBO Comedy and HBO Latino added in 2001 |
1996 | $10.00 | |
| April 1998 | $10.99 | ||
| ~2000 | $11.99 | ||
| Jan 13, 2001 | $12.99 | ||
| Feb 1, 2002 | $13.99 | ||
| Cinemax (Multi Max): This package has always consisted of Max E&W and Max2 (MoreMax). On 1/30/2003 ActionMax and 5 Star Max were added to the package | 1996 | $10.00 | |
| April 1998 | $10.99 | ||
| Feb 1, 2002 | $11.99 | ||
| Showtime Unlimited originally consisted of Sho E&W, Sho2 E, Flix, TMC E&W, Sundance. Showtime Showcase, Extreme and Beyond were added between 2000 and 2001. TMC2 (Xtra) was added and TMC W was removed in the formation of AT150 | 1996 | $10.00 | |
| April 1998 | $10.99 | ||
| Feb 1, 2002 | $11.99 | ||
| Starz/Encore became available on Dish (2 channels) early in late 1997 or 1998. Encore Westerns and Starz2 (Theater) were added within the year. In 2000 the Starz/Encore package had Starz w, Cinema e&w, StarzBET (now Black Starz) and Starz Family added. At the same time Encore Westerns was dropped from the package and placed in AT150 and the Encore Movie Pack during that package's formation. Westerns was grandfathered for existing subscribers of the Starz package. | Early 1998 | $9.00 | |
| April 1998 | $10.99 | ||
| Feb 1, 2002 | $11.99 | ||
|
Encore Movie Pack became available at the same time as AT150. It consists of Encore West, Westerns, Love Stories, Mysteries, True Stories and Action. All these channels are also part of AT150. There is no additional package price available. Add this price to prices below for "package" price. |
May 2000 |
$4.99 |
|
| 2 Premium Package Pricing. | HBO/Cinemax | 1996 | $15.00 |
| April 1998 | $19.99 | ||
| ~ 2000 | $20.99 | ||
| February 1, 2001 | $19.99 | ||
| February 1, 2002 | $20.99 | ||
| Any Two EXCEPT HBO This type of package became available with John Reardon's "Simple Pricing" scheme in April 1998. | April 1998 | $19.99 | |
| February 2002 | $20.99 | ||
| HBO and Showtime Unlimited
This type of package became available with John Reardon's "Simple
Pricing" scheme in April 1998. *This price was derived by adding the prices the two premium packages at the time. No package price was available. |
1996* | $20.00* | |
| April 1998 | $19.99 | ||
| ~2000 | $20.99 | ||
| January 13, 2001 | $21.99 | ||
| February 1, 2002 | $22.99 | ||
| HBO and Starz/Encore
This type of package became available with John Reardon's "Simple
Pricing" scheme in April 1998. *This price was derived by adding the prices the two premium packages at the time. No package price was available. |
Late 1997* | $19.00* | |
| April 1998 | $19.99 | ||
| ~2000 | $20.99 | ||
| January 13, 2001 | $21.99 | ||
| February 1, 2002 | $22.99 | ||
| 3 Premium Package Pricing.
Choose any 3 premium packages. This type of package became
available with John Reardon's "Simple Pricing" scheme in April 1998. *This price was derived by adding the prices of all premium channels available at the time. No Package Price was available. In 1996 only HBO, Shotime and Cinemax were available. |
1996* | $25.00* | |
| April 1998 | $25.99 | ||
| ~1999 | $27.99 | ||
| ~2000 | $28.99 | ||
| Feb 1, 2002 | $29.99 | ||
| All Premium Channels Package
Pricing. This type of package became available with John
Reardon's "Simple Pricing" scheme in April 1998. *This price was derived by adding the prices of all premium channels available at the time. No Package Price was available. Starz was added in late 1997 or early 1998. |
|||
| Late 1997 Early 1998 | $34.00* | ||
| April 1998 | $34.99 | ||
| ~2000 | $35.99 | ||
| Feb 1 2002 | $36.99 | ||
Superstation and Dish Nets Packages
Superstations Package was created by splitting off WPIX, WSBK and KTLA
during the transition from AT50 to AT60 April 1998.
| Comments | Date | Price |
| The Super Stations package was pieced together by combining WPIX, WSBK and KTLA from the original AT50 package and WWOR which was a new addition to Dish | April 1, 1998 | $4.99 |
| KWGN was added to the other 4 Super Stations | August 21, 1998 | $4.99 |
| Price increased | August 2002 | $5.99 |
DishNets Network Packages
| Comments | Date | Price |
| "Prime Time 24" Networks. ABC, CBS and NBC Affiliates from east and west, FoxNet and PBSx national channels | 1996 | $3.99 |
| Dish Nets East or West which consisted of ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates from LA or NYC + PBSx (The LA Fox affilate took about two months to show up). Other cities were also available to all qualifying customers nationwide. | 8/1/98 | $4.99 |
| DishNets East/West/Regional -- ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox from NYC, LA, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas OR Chicago. PBSx with prime time programming delayed a day was SOLD SEPARATELY for $1.00 to DishNet subscribers and $1.50 a la carte (PBS had been available a la carte for $1.50 just like the individual network channels for quite some time). Due to confusion by subscribers and CSRs alike, the price was made $1/mo regardless of packaging. | Mid 2001 | $4.99 |
| PBS reintegrated into the DishNets packages however not all customers qualified to get it back | August 2002 | $5.99 |
| Comments | Date | Price |
| Locals have been added to the line-up since February 1998. The City's ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates+ the PBSx were packaged for DishNets locals. | 1998 | $4.99 |
| PBSx was removed from the Locals package and sold separately for $1 additional | Mid 2001 | $4.99 |
| When Must Carry took effect, nearly all channels for each city offered became available including the PBS affiliate. See This Page for specific details. | Jan 1, 2002 | $5.99 |
Package Pricing
Superstations, Dish Nets East, Dish Nets West, Dish Nets Locals Originally.
Now Dish Net Regionals (Atlanta Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and New York
ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX + National PBS), Locals package and Superstations.
| Comments | Date | Price |
| Any one package | Nov 2, 1996 | $3.99 (East or West PT24 +PBS ONLY) |
| April 1998 | $4.99 (PBS $1 additional from 2000 to mid 2002) | |
| August 2001 | $5.99 (PBS $1 additional from 2000 to mid 2002) | |
| Any Two packages | Nov 2, 1996 | $5.99 (East AND West PT24 +PBS ONLY) |
| April 1998 | $7.99 (PBS $1 additional from 2000 to mid 2002) | |
| August 2001 | $8.99 (PBS $1 additional from 2000 to mid 2002) | |
| September 2002 | $8.99 Dish Net regional + Superstations. | |
| Any Three Packages | April 1998 | $9.99 (PBS $1 additional from 2000 to mid 2002) |
| August 2001 | $10.99 (PBS $1 additional from 2000 to mid 2002) | |
| September 2002 | $11.99 Any two Dish Net Regionals and Superstations. | |
| Any Four packages | April 1998 | $14.98 (PBS $1 additional from 2000 to mid 2002) |
| August 2001 | $17.98 (PBS $1 additional from 2000 to mid 2002) | |
| More than 4 packages | April 1998 | $14.98 + $4.99 each additional package (PBS $1 additional from 2000 to mid 2002) |
| August 2001 | Not allowed by law. |
Dish Latino Packages
| Comments | Date | Price |
| Originally called the Spanish Language Package (click HERE to see Jan 1997 rate card), it offered as a three channel Spanish Language Package (MTV-E, Fox Sports Américas and Telemundo) | 1996 |
$4.99 |
| Dish Latino Package Created by adding the following to the existing 3 channel package: MTV-S, Playboy en Español, Discovery en Español, Gems TV (Now Mun²), TV Chile, Canal Sur, CBS TeleNoticias, Gran Canal Latino, Cine Latino broadcast from the then new 110° satellite location. and 6 audio channels 4 of which were new to subscribers. (HTV replaced MTV-E a few months before.)....TV Española and TV Azteca, Univisión and Galavisión added to the package by April 2000. The $4.99 package ceased to exist for new subscribers. Existing subscribers with the three channel package were grandfathered until about Jan 2002 | August 3, 1999 | $19.99 |
| Price Increase. | January 2002 | $20.99 |
| Price Increase: Gran Canal Latino removed from Dish Latino in February 2003. CNN en Español added in Feb 2003. TeleHit, TeleFutura east OR west, Univision West, de Película, de Pelcícula Clasico and Toon Disney en Español added to Dish Latino in June 2003. | February 2003 | $21.99 |
| Comments | Date | Price | |
| Package created by adding 22 English language channels to the 22 Spanish channels of Dish Latino | October 5, 2000 | $29.99 | |
| Price increase | February 1, 2001 | $30.99 | |
| Price increase | February 1, 2002 | $31.99 | |
| Package option added | Dish Latino Dos (only) | February 1, 2003 | $31.99 |
| Dish Latino Dos + HBO + Cinemax | February 1, 2003 | $49.99 | |
| Comments | Date | Price | |
| Package created by adding 35 additional channels (Mostly English language) to Dish Latino ¡Dos! | January 14, 2002 | $39.99 | |
| Within weeks or months of launch the price was increased | Early 2002 | $40.99 | |
| Price Increase | Dish Latino Max (only) | February 1, 2003 | $42.99 |
| Dish Latino Max + HBO + Cinemax | February 1, 2003 | $59.99 | |
Multi-Sports Pack (RSN - Regional Sports Network Out-of-Market Package)
| Comments | Date | Price |
| Created by packaging all the regional sports networks. This package DOES NOT include out of market sports which are purchased for LOCAL broadcast per agreement with networks and sports franchises. | Early to mid 1998 | $4.99 |
| Price Increased | February 1, 2003 | $5.99 |
Please send any corrections or additions to ekb17@echostaruser.com
