Dish patent application for temporary subscription updates

[mike123abc]

http://www.fiercecable.com/story/di...ng-temporary-subscription-upgrades/2013-12-13

Dish Network (Nasdaq: DISH) may be looking at ways to offer subscribers the ability to temporarily upgrade their subscription video packages for periods ranging from 12 hours to one week, according to a recent patent application.

The satellite TV provider currently offers three core programming packages--"America's Top 120," "America's Top 200" and "America's Top 250." The patent application details ways that subscribers using its program guide could temporarily upgrade to a tier containing networks that aren't offered in their current packages with a few clicks of their remote controls.

Interesting concept, I wonder if they will offer for free (i.e. you only pay the difference in package price) or have some sort of fee. Perhaps something like $1-$2 for a day pass, costing more than the monthly fee, yet a cheap temporary upgrade to watch some show special outside of your package.

 

[Scherrman]

Seems like a pretty cool idea. Would be great for people that just want a channel to watch a game or something.

 

[dare2be]

They would have to drop the $5 fee for dropping a package within 30 days for it to be of any value for the customer. Otherwise, it's the first step toward hybrid ala carte.

I wonder why it needs a patent, however. They could do something like this starting tomorrow, albeit without the automated process through the receiver.

 

[TheKrell]

Wow. Maybe we could all go down to the Welcome Pack and just enable/disable the higher packs as needed. I think a day pass is probably too good to be true.

 

[Hall]

I wonder why it needs a patent, however.

It doesn't.... Just another abuse of the patent system. All this does, if granted, will force other providers to pay Dish a license "fee" if they want to implement the same thing.

 

[Hall]

I wonder what the networks / channels have to say about this.... I'm sure that many won't allow it to apply to their channel(s).

 

[dare2be]

It doesn't.... Just another abuse of the patent system. All this does, if granted, will force other providers to pay Dish a license "fee" if they want to implement the same thing.

Ah yes, Tivo revisited.

 

[Tampa8]

I'm reading it that the patent is for being able to do it from the guide, not going online or a phone call. That's a distinct advantage much more likely people would "upgrade" with it being that easy to watch a new series or something on a channel or channels they do not get.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Not sure if the networks will have any say in it as they will get paid for the time the customer had their channel. It might actually mean more income for them.

And I dont see DISH charging a $5 fee since it will all be automated. Might be a win win win for everyone.

 

[Hall]

I wonder what the networks / channels have to say about this.... I'm sure that many won't allow it to apply to their channel(s).

After reading the patent a bit more, they (obviously) cover scenarios where a network may not allow a "temporary" upgrade. Three other ideas came to mind...

1) The networks / channels shouldn't be 100% opposed to this idea. It's no different than the movie channels offering "free weekends" of their channels, the shaving companies giving free blades, or drug dealers giving free product the first time -- it can get the person hooked.

2) As described in the image, if you have AT200 and want to watch something on the Military channel, you don't just add a one-day subscription to that channel, you upgrade to AT250, and access many more channels (unknowingly to some ?).

3) Unless a show is widely advertised and/or the customer has their guide set to "All channels" vs "My channels", they will normally be completely in the dark about what is showing on channels they don't currently subscribe to.

 

[Tampa8]

.....
1) The networks / channels shouldn't be 100% opposed to this idea. It's no different than the movie channels offering "free weekends" of their channels, the shaving companies giving free blades, or drug dealers giving free product the first time -- it can get the person hooked.

Oh, Wow man can I have another hit of that Discovery Wild channel?

It appears to be quite involved, with some options to allow a recurring series to be watched with a corresponding upgrade. I can definitely see this as being something to patent, and could turn out to be a big advancement. I can already vision other enhancements to it.



Maybe this will make DISH rethink not allowing the ALL CHANNELS to stick?

 

[mike123abc]

I could see a model like $1/per tier/day. So if you had AT120 and wanted to watch something on AT200 it would be $1, AT250 $2. If you had Dish Family it would be $2 and $3. It would still be cheaper to pay the monthly fee: for example AT120 is $50 and AT250 is $75, if you upgraded more than 12 times during the month you would be better off having AT250. Of course if you just want 1 show upgrading one day each week would be cheaper.

I could see this being used for catch up marathon weekends and such, your DVR would be busy...

 

[king3pj]

I could see a model like $1/per tier/day. So if you had AT120 and wanted to watch something on AT200 it would be $1, AT250 $2. If you had Dish Family it would be $2 and $3. It would still be cheaper to pay the monthly fee: for example AT120 is $50 and AT250 is $75, if you upgraded more than 12 times during the month you would be better off having AT250. Of course if you just want 1 show upgrading one day each week would be cheaper.

I could see this being used for catch up marathon weekends and such, your DVR would be busy...

I really don't think they would make it that easy. I don't think they would want to encourage us to stay on cheaper packages. If you want to upgrade to see a game once every month or two it would probably be worth it. I think they would make upgrading 4 or 5 times a month to record one show cost more than just keeping the more expensive package. Of course, there are tons of patents out there that never actually see the light of day.

 

[satjay]

Not sure what to think of this, I guess it could come in handy for a special show or big sporting event. Interesting to say the least!

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[Hall]

Of course, there are tons of patents out there that never actually see the light of day.

This one was filed a year and nine months ago too.... I'm not positive on this part, but Dish can still patent the "technique" -- doesn't mean they have to implement it.

 

[fhsucade07]

Wow. Maybe we could all go down to the Welcome Pack and just enable/disable the higher packs as needed. I think a day pass is probably too good to be true.

Makes me wonder if they will not place a cap on how many times you can do this. My brother, a Welcome Pack subscriber, admittedly only misses the NASCAR Sprint Cup races on ESPN and TNT. Would he be allowed to upgrade for 12 hours every Sunday once the races leave Fox and head to ESPN and TNT? Depending on the cost, it might end up cheaper to just upgrade to said package. Interesting idea. Not quite a la carte but seems like a hybrid model and step in that direction.


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[Stargazer]

A while back I seen Dish offer upgrading by clicking on the channel in the guide on the receiver so perhaps this is like that feature only for a certain amount of time. I can see some channels not allowing that.

This would probably be like PPV. I imagine a phone/broadband connection will be required.

 

[Deadlocked]

Makes me wonder if they will not place a cap on how many times you can do this. My brother, a Welcome Pack subscriber, admittedly only misses the NASCAR Sprint Cup races on ESPN and TNT. Would he be allowed to upgrade for 12 hours every Sunday once the races leave Fox and head to ESPN and TNT? Depending on the cost, it might end up cheaper to just upgrade to said package. Interesting idea. Not quite a la carte but seems like a hybrid model and step in that direction.


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Too bad the races are leaving ESPN and TNT for NBC and NBCSN.


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[mike123abc]

Makes me wonder if they will not place a cap on how many times you can do this. My brother, a Welcome Pack subscriber, admittedly only misses the NASCAR Sprint Cup races on ESPN and TNT. Would he be allowed to upgrade for 12 hours every Sunday once the races leave Fox and head to ESPN and TNT? Depending on the cost, it might end up cheaper to just upgrade to said package. Interesting idea. Not quite a la carte but seems like a hybrid model and step in that direction.

I do not see Dish losing at all on this, no matter how many times a user upgrades. If I remember correctly Dish pays on the average number of subs for a month to a provider. So, Dish in reality only pays a prorated amount anyways if you were to subscribe one day per month, you would only count as 1/30 of a subscriber, so if 30 subs do 1 day each, Dish in effect just pays for 1 more sub in fees.

The key of course is how much Dish charges for an "upgrade". They could ruin it all together if they for example charge $5 each time. Then it would be at most a 1-2 times per month upgrade. They need to make it in the cheap, but borderline need to upgrade range, i.e. $1-$3 per day.

It is really lucrative for Dish, even at $1/sub/day... $30 collected in one month, yet only have to pay for 1 more sub for each of the channels, probably less than $5-$10 (assuming Dish Family to AT 250).

 

[fhsucade07]

Too bad the races are leaving ESPN and TNT for NBC and NBCSN.


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In 2015.


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