Dish network® meets 100 hd channel mark ahead of schedule

[GameOn]

Actually, I think the real issue is Dish has not made it clear (at least to me) what happens if you don't do anything to your existing package. Remember, all this info came from the retailers meeting which typically involves new customers, not necessarily existing customers. For example, in the retailer thread, at one point Scott indicates the presentation indicated platinum will be free for 3 months for existing customers - does that mean it will go up $10 for everyone Nov-1 automatically? Or only if I change to a new package? Personally for me, I will add my RSN (and the four new non-premium HDs channels), which means $10 more/month. I will then keep the platinum free for three months and then decide what I will do with it Oct-31. By then, there should (hopefully) be numerous new additional HD (new satellites).

Then again, it is 5:00 pm somewhere so maybe we should all just go have a drink!

 

[jwfgeol]

Ok, just had this chat with an online rep, which I always take with a grain of salt. I asked what would happen to the dishHD Absolute package (current HD only package) when the TurboHD packages become available.

(03) Jennifer P: I would like to inform you that if any new HD channels are launched then the new channels will be added automatically to this package at no additional cost.
(03) Jennifer P: Is there anything else I can assist you with?
John: So the dishHD Absolute package will still be available after the TurboHD packages are available?
(03) Jennifer P: Yes, that is correct.

Her first response led me to believe that she thought TurboHD was a CHANNEL that was going to be added at some point, so I asked again.

 

[mike123abc]

Geez, no kidding. I didn't think it was that hard to understand.

Currently the price of the HD only package with locals is $40.97 (including the DVR fee).

The price of Turbo HD gold + platinum with locals and DVR will be $59.99.

That is $19.02 more.

Essentially your $19.02 gets you an RSN (or for some markets more than one RSN)... Charlie (and other providers) have always claimed sports was expensive...

 

[jbernardi]

I'm very happy to soon be getting all my HBO and Starz movies in HD!
Although I'm personally not interested in Speed-HD, I hope it is added for all who are interested in it.

 

[Carl B]

I just wish instead of all these movie channels that show same o thing that they would add some of the main networks. Like FX HD and Speed HD AMC HD so forth instead of all these movie channels..

You have named 3 channels that way over use commercials and have little content in between the commecials so 20 minutes of content takes an hour to broadcast. AMC is absolutely the worst. It is like watching an informercial channel. We have just given up ever watching a movie on AMC because of the constant and prolonged commercial interruptions. TCM, OTOH, does a much better job and wouldn't be a bad move to HD.

The movies premium channels allow subs to see movies, soon mostly in HD, without commercial interruption for a small monthly fee. Cheaper and in many ways more flexible than NetFlix or Blockbuster. We sub to Starz and Cinemax to get the most movie bang for our buck. Glad that Dish is finally adding the Starz HD channels that DirecTV has had for some time.

Getting the premiums up to HD early is a good business strategy, since they represent the cream of the cable TV crop. Other than not have FoxNews in HD, Dish has or will have shortly, all of the top viewed cable channels available now in HD. The rest of that stuff is niche channels who's total viewership via E*, D*, and cable rarely, if ever, breaks 6-digits at any given time.

Total HD count is only important to a handful of folks and has some impact on first time subscribers to HD content. What's important to the business in the longer term is having the channels that most people actually watch available in HD. Why do you think there is so much emphasis on getting LiL in HD to as many towns as possible. Having the channels you usually watch available in HD is what really sells pay TV and retains existing subs. Having every whacko niche channel under the sun available in HD may impress a few with channel totals on their mind, but really doesn't do much for the bottom line.

End of rant!

 

[voomvoom]

jwfgeol, this quote:

Jennifer P: I would like to inform you that if any new HD channels are launched then the new channels will be added automatically to this package at no additional cost.

is almost what was originally said (I think in the Charlie Chat announcement), originally they said "Any New HD channels launched this Year, other than Premium's or RSN's, will be included in the HD package (that's the $29.99 package), at No Additional Cost"

At least that's the way I remember it...?

 

[shibby191]

Man, I always love how Dish's packages are so dang confusing.

Keep adding the HD Dish, competition is only good. DirecTV should be right behind you with D11 going online in a month or less.

 

[skottey]

Sorry, we are not all made of money.

Oh come on, who needs food when you can get Food Network HD???????? Get real mon!

 

[NoCenterIceNoDishNetwork]

Oh come on, who needs food when you can get Food Network HD???????? Get real mon!

HAHA thats funny!!

 

[8bitbytes]

I wonder when will HBO be implementing DRM and forcing component connections to output 480p?

 

[grb]

OK, This is the revised version of the spreadsheet that assumes the Turbo Packs are directly related to the AT tiers.

Again, this is conjuring the breakdown using basic deductive reasoning, take it with a grain of salt... dish could go with something completely out of left field and surprise us all!

Thanks for putting this together for us.

One question, though -- should HDNET be in the Platinum package since it is a non-SD channel?

 

[GameOn]

Thanks for putting this together for us.

One question, though -- should HDNET be in the Platinum package since it is a non-SD channel?

Forget if it was DirecTV or Dish, but one of them tried to put both HDNet and NDHet Movies in the highest premium HD package. Cuban sued/complained; they setlled/agreed HDNet would not be in the highest package but MDNet Movies could be in the highest.

 

[grb]

My question is: will the HD DVR be a 612/622/722 and will it truly be FREE? Thanks,Mike

It doesn't say "HD DVR", it says "DVR Receiver". Another confusing aspect of this whole deal that is as yet unexplained.

 

[grb]

I am so confused! I advise everyone to take two aspirins, go to bed and call Dish in the morning.

And start off the next day with another headache?

 

[Widescreen]

Ok, just had this chat with an online rep, which I always take with a grain of salt. I asked what would happen to the dishHD Absolute package (current HD only package) when the TurboHD packages become available.



Her first response led me to believe that she thought TurboHD was a CHANNEL that was going to be added at some point, so I asked again.

I suspect Jennifer P (aka Lakshmi Nahaspemapetalan) probably doesn't know what she's typing about.

 

[BobMurdoch]

Here's a challenge for someone......

Can someone list all of the 100 national channels in HD? I'm coming up around 15-20 short and am just trying to figure out how they are figuring this.....

 

[Curtis0620]

Here's a challenge for someone......

Can someone list all of the 100 national channels in HD? I'm coming up around 15-20 short and am just trying to figure out how they are figuring this.....

They round up.

 

[CDH]

I see these folks coming up with $40.97 for the "dish HD" (now apparently "dish Absolute") pack.

My bill is higher because of a $7/month leased receiver fee. Is this something I can get removed from my bill? I've had a 622 since soon after they were released (can't remember when!), upgraded from a 942. Am I stuck with this fee forever as an established customer? How would I go about getting it removed?

CDH.

 

[grb]

Do you have to subscribe to a "Dish DVR Advantage" turbo package to get your RSN's?

That's the way they have presented the packages in the press release...

 

[Bradtothebone]

Here's a challenge for someone......

Can someone list all of the 100 national channels in HD? I'm coming up around 15-20 short and am just trying to figure out how they are figuring this.....

I'll take a shot at it:

38 National HD including Big10 (from dmendenjr's spreadsheet - Thanks!)
8 PPV
19 Premium Movie Channels
25 RSN's
4 ALT 10's
6 HDALT's
________
100!

How about that???? I'm not saying it's right, but it works for E*.

Edit: You have to point at 129, 110, AND 61.5 to get all of these.

Brad