Losing HD Absolute. Any suggestions?

[uroberto]

I will be in a holding pattern until I see what my bill is in Feb, they will automatically switch me to top-200, hd free for life and hd plat. free for next 12 months (just like everyone else I assume per the letter I got)

once I see what the actual credit is and how much my bill will go up, I will make a decision...I only have one hd dvr receiver so not a lot of extras going on...that being said, I imagine my bill is going up even with a credit

I received the letter as well. I also just have one receiver (722). I will wait until for the bill then make a decision. Cablevision has a promo for 2 years for internet,phone,tv for $69.95. They are giving DVR service free for one year as part of the promo.

 

[Hall]

Got the letter today too...

As for the supposed 12-month credit, I'll probably take it, but it doesn't change what I consider the true cost of the plan I'm on or will be on. I don't consider "promotional" rates to be the real number, but that the discount is just a bonus, albeit temporary. I ran into a similar scenario years ago when I left Dish (when they wanted $999 for an HD-DVR) to Time Warner. They gave me 50% whatever package I selected for one year and 25% for second year. Before year 2 was up, I left them because my bill would be jumping to $80-100/mo.

 

[digiblur]

Argghh.... just got my letter. Oh well the ride has lasted for a while. I do like the setup with the dual head dvr of the 722 but this just a kick in the pants. You aren't going to force me into AT200 why do I need that crap? So pay more..lose channels and gain crap I don't need. I will be looking hard at cable and direct. Cable has more hd that any of the sat providers but their dvrs suck like directvs does.

Don't know what to do...I would have been fine with upping my price by 10 dollars. But doubling it and getting less? This just sucks and rubs me raw. Makes me want to cancel just for the spite. I am sure I will have to pay them to ship the box back too. I am a little miffed here I am planning on getting back into gear on working on the uplink tool again...I will probably do it but it makes not want to since dish has rubbed me raw...but I don't want to disappoint you guys here..catch 22. Arghhh.....

Off to call cox cable and see what kind of deal they will work up for me.

 

[Hall]

You aren't going to force me into AT200 why do I need that crap? So pay more..lose channels and gain crap I don't need.

Don't know what to do...I would have been fine with upping my price by 10 dollars. But doubling it and getting less?

That's the killer part.... Maybe they want us to make up the $$$ they supposedly lost on us over the years !

Hell, I think I'd go up to $49/mo ($15 more) to keep HD Absolute. Or how about increase it $10 and add the "access fee" they threw around a few months ago ?

 

[Hemi 6.1]

. Cable has more hd that any of the sat providers but their dvrs suck like directvs does.

Off to call cox cable and see what kind of deal they will work up for me.

Maybe you could Get a Tivo receiver.
I hear the Tivo's are way better then the HR's.
Still a far cry from a 722 though I'm sure.

Let us know what Cox said.

 

[dkellumw]

Just got mine today. Now it's time to compare Dish and U-Verse packages and see who has the channels we want for what price. Not very happy, but we knew the time was coming.

 

[Kb Cool]

Just got the dreaded letter too. What do you guys think of Dish latino Max. It seems to have all the channels the english packages have but at a cheaper price. And you won't need Skinimax anymore. Just watch Playboy Enspanol. Its free.
Seriously, can we get HD free for life with one of the latino paks?

 

[Hemi 6.1]

You aren't going to force me into AT200 why do I need that crap? So pay more..lose channels and gain crap I don't need. Don't know what to do...I would have been fine with upping my price by 10 dollars. But doubling it and getting less? This just sucks and rubs me raw. .

I mean really your forced into the Top 250.
Top 200 isn't going to provide you all the HD Absolute Channels.
But I'm sure your all aware of that.

But maybe you could inform Dishnetwork that the Top 200 is unacceptable.

What about Dish America Gold? What HD channels will you lose?

 

[Silly Burrito]

Yep, got the dreaded letter today too. Time to make a decision soon.

 

[RandallA]

Just got the dreaded letter too. What do you guys think of Dish latino Max. It seems to have all the channels the english packages have but at a cheaper price. And you won't need Skinimax anymore. Just watch Playboy Enspanol. Its free.
Seriously, can we get HD free for life with one of the latino paks?

When I had Dish, I had Latino Max and I think it's their best package for your money. I miss Playboy En Español now but I'm really happy with Directv.

 

[yaz96]

Just got the dreaded letter too. What do you guys think of Dish latino Max. It seems to have all the channels the english packages have but at a cheaper price. And you won't need Skinimax anymore. Just watch Playboy Enspanol. Its free.
Seriously, can we get HD free for life with one of the latino paks?

Should be able to. That's what I'm thinking of doing, Latino Max.

 

[gokamoto]

Just got mine today. Now it's time to compare Dish and U-Verse packages and see who has the channels we want for what price. Not very happy, but we knew the time was coming.

I did the comparison yesterday and for my setup (1 DVR, a 622) it would be a *lot* cheaper for me to stay with Dish, even after the $10/month promotion ends.

I also talked with a Dish CSR who was very good at answering my questions about the letter. The only question he couldn't answer was when I asked if I could get the $10/month offer even if I switched to a Dish America package. He had to ask a supervisor and when he came back he said that was approved. So, if I pick the base Dish America package I will actually pay *less* than I was for Absolute for the first year, and then just a little more after that. I will lose some channels that I love (CBS CS is the biggest one), but for that price I will stick with Dish for at least the 1 year of credits.

 

[yaz96]

I did the comparison yesterday and for my setup (1 DVR, a 622) it would be a *lot* cheaper for me to stay with Dish, even after the $10/month promotion ends.

I also talked with a Dish CSR who was very good at answering my questions about the letter. The only question he couldn't answer was when I asked if I could get the $10/month offer even if I switched to a Dish America package. He had to ask a supervisor and when he came back he said that was approved. So, if I pick the base Dish America package I will actually pay *less* than I was for Absolute for the first year, and then just a little more after that. I will lose some channels that I love (CBS CS is the biggest one), but for that price I will stick with Dish for at least the 1 year of credits.

You might pay less, but you're losing a lot of channels.

 

[Bobby]

You are only losing channels if you watched them to begin with......

 

[Kb Cool]

When I had Dish, I had Latino Max and I think it's their best package for your money. I miss Playboy En Español now but I'm really happy with Directv.

What's latino max missing that wasn't in Absolute? Also, it sucks that Charlie puts HDtheater in the platinum package. It was one of the very first HD channels. You would think it would be included in a basic pak. Instead of bundled with worthless (IMO) channels like WFN, Logo, Fashion, ect....He must have known alot of people like HDtheater and figured he could get another 10 bucks out of them.

 

[Hall]

You are only losing channels if you watched them to begin with......

Of course that's true... For me, NatGeo, History, Epix, HD Net, HDTheatre, and more are my favorites. It will suck...

 

[atlind01]

I am comparing the AT200 with my Absolute lineup and outside of NATGEO and Science channel I am not missing much. This is offset by channels like HLN, FOX, VH1. I think I can live with that for one more year and I have to figure out by then.

I have been working on my own HTPC on a desktop with a digital tuner and loaded it with XBMC and Boxee, so eventually I may disconnect dish after that.

But main question is should I switch it straight away or wait till Feb1st. Is there a remote chance of anything changing by Feb 1st.

 

[TalonDancer]

Got the letter today... so now it's officially serious

Originally I was planning to drop to Dish Locals Only + Netflix. Note: we can't get locals OTA due to topography.

But after a close look, despite having access to the majority of Dish HD channels and Cinemax via the 1 penny deal, for the last 3 yrs, we predominately watch Locals (mainly PBS), HGTV and movies from the Platinum package (EPIX, RETRO, INDIE, etc.). So, we'll probably switch to AT120 for a year, if Dish ponies up the $10/mo subsidy, HD Forever (with no strings attached) and HD Platinum at no cost for 12 months.

This will give the internet set top box/services a year to shake out -- e.g. Google TV, Apple TV, Ruko etc. and Netflix, Hulu+, etc.. Hopefully by this time next year we can completely drop Satellite TV with its over priced "packages" bloated with channels we never watch and go 100% Internet, which promises to deliver a close approximation to "al a carte" programing.

Talon Dancer

 

[jerryez]

Is Dish Latino Max in English. I don't speak Spanish.

 

[stardust3]

For those interested in the dish america channel lineup. I found a pdf in a post of Scott's showing the channels in each of the packages.
http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-forum/216826-dish-hd-information.html


I want to cxl pay TV altogether, but the wife is not wanting to let it go. She might just have to pay for it if she wants to keep it. Still completely up in the air in this house.....