Platinum Included With Dish America?

[sms1976]

I was just coming to the end of my 12 month trial period, so I called and downgraded my programming to Dish America, as it contains everything we watch. As I was talking to the CSR, she said that would remove my HD For Life, but I would get Platinum for free. Is that right? I don't see anywhere that says Platinum is free with Dish America ($29.99 plan).

I had her note that on my account since I don't think that's right. Anyone heard of this? I don't really need those channels, but I would take them...

 

[cditty]

You're right, CSR is wrong.

 

[sms1976]

Oh well. I am taking off DHPP, 1 cent Cinemax, AT120, and HD Platinum so we'll see if we feel starved.

Is it impossible to stay with HD Free for Life if I switch to Dish America (ie, add Platinum)?

 

[cditty]

You can't make it with Top 120 HD Free? It's only 39.99.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Too bad the HD packages do not seem to have an incentive like HD For Life.
However, you should get Palladia (369) and HD Theater (364) in the Dish America package even though they were moved to HD Platinum. So, I suppose that is one plus.

Dish America actually does not seem horrible with locals, A & E, Cartoon Network, CNBC, CNN, Comedy Central, Discovery, ESPN, ESPN 2, Food Network, HD Theater, HDnet, HGTV, History, Lifetime, Syfy, Spike TV, TBS, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, USA Network, The Weather Channel, and CMT all in HD from what I understand.

You could even add other options if you like movies. There is Encore Movies a la carte for $5.00. From what I understand, it would include Encore West (341), Encore Westerns (342), Encore Action (343), Encore Mystery (344), Encore Drama (345), and Encore Love (346). It odes not seem like a bad deal for $6. EPIX 3 alone is $7; I do not think that is the best deal. I mean $7 seems like a lot for one channel. Maybe it would be better if it had all the EPIX channels. However, for $10, you can still add HD Platinum and get MAV TV (361), Universal HD (366), CI HD (368), Centric (371), Logo (373), Fashion TV HD (374), Shorts HD (375), HDNet Movies (383), WFN HD (394), IndiePlex (293), RetroPlex (295), EPIX 1 HD (295), EPIX 2 HD (296), and MGM HD (298). Of course, you already get Palladia (369) and HD Theater (364) as mentioned before. Personally, I like HDNet Movies a lot. EPIX 1 and 2 are pretty good. I catch a good movie from time to time on IndiePlex and RetroPlex. MGM HD has a good movie from time to time but may have a short commercial break between movies (not really horrible but a commercial break...).

$29.99 Dish America alone (not sure if you have any extra receivers)
$29.99 + $ 5.00 = $34.99 for Dish America and Encore Movies
$29.99 + $10.00 = $39.99 for Dish America and HD Platinum
$29.99 + $10.00 + $5.00= $44.99 for Dish America, Encore Movies, and HD Platinum

 

[bgee]

Too bad the HD packages do not seem to have an incentive like HD For Life.
However, you should get Palladia (369) and HD Theater (364) in the Dish America package even though they were moved to HD Platinum.

That is not my understanding.

 

[fbara]

Can you still order Dish America package? I went to the website and don't see it anywhere.

 

[Bonneville44]

i have dish america and have Palladia and HD theater just like always (even though they said they may go away, they did not)

 

[bgee]

That is not my understanding.

I guess I was wrong. I was stupid enough to actually believe what two Dish CSR's told me. Their business practices (or lack thereof) push the boundaries of legality - i.e., customers make changes based on CSR lies that financially benefit Dish.

 

[Bonneville44]

and when they lie its tough luck to us if we believe them (like when I ask what is in dish america silver and they give me the list of the top 200 hd channels and I KNOW that isn't right)

 

[Mojo Jojo]

http://www.satelliteguys.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=52168&d=1276523037

Make sure to check this out if you did not already.
Please note that some channels like ABC Family, Disney (E), ESPNews, and Disney XD are no longer available in HD due to the dispute. The document was created before the dispute. I also think that some have said the Msnbc is not included in any HD package, and that it was an error on the document.

 

[bgee]

Thanks MJ. That document proves that info was readily available. Dish is culpable for extorting money from customers. Here's my transcript from May 31 2010:

me: Can you confirm info I have about June 3? Palladia and HD Theater will be dropped from Dish America gold?
CSR: One moment.
CSR: HD Theater and Palladia will now be part of HD Platinum.
me: Understood. They will not be in Dish America Gold any longer?
CSR: Yes.
me: I also understand that if I get AT250 + HD + Platinum before June 3, I will get automatically converted to HD Free for Life after June 3. Is that also correct?
me: Will my current dish antenna setup allow for AT250 + HD + Platinum?
CSR: Yes, you will automatically get the HD Gold pack free for life however, the HD Platinum pack costs $10.00 a month.
me: Understood. Just to confirm before we go ahead with the order - if I don't make this change, I will LOSE Palladia and HD Theater on June 3?
CSR: That's right.

 

[sms1976]

Well, I made the change to Dish America, and I do indeed have Palladia and HD Theater (for now).

However, I don't have the other Platinum channels, which the CSR said I would have. I had her note that on my account--that she had promised I would be receiving Platinum as part of the Dish America Package. I don't think that's going to do me any good, though.

Thanks for the help guys. I really just wanted the cheapest package available that would get me ESPN, ESPN2, Discovery, HGTV, Food Network, and my local channels. Now if someone would just offer those...

 

[ncted]

So, it sounds like the Dish America Packages are still available then?

 

[TheKrell]

So, it sounds like the Dish America Packages are still available then?

Existing HD customers can select them via radio button on DISH Satellite TV - $24.99 & HD Free For Life - Let's Watch TV.

 

[ncted]

Existing HD customers can select them via radio button on DISH Satellite TV - $24.99 & HD Free For Life - Let's Watch TV.

Ah. OK, they show up now. The first time I logged in, they weren't there as options. I'll probably switch to one of those when I drop HBO after True Blood is over for the season. That way, I only pay the downgrade fee once.

Thanks,
Ted

 

[sms1976]

So, it sounds like the Dish America Packages are still available then?

Looks that way...I was able to order it.