You have to have at least the AT100 to get the $20 HD package. Says so on the website. You must have AT250 for NatGeohd.
ALL VOOM TO GO MPEG4 AUGUST 15th
- Thread starter Scott Greczkowski
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EXACTLY. Thats my point to this. Anyone who has been receiving the old HD package+VOOM will be required to add one of the AT packages to continue to receive the HD-VOOM channels. It so sad that DISH would treat people like this.
I, like rafski and many others, already have a VIP receiver-can receive MPEG4 transmissions. I do not want to have to subscribe to one of the AT packages to continue to receive the VOOM channels that I have been receiving since DISH offered them a couple years ago.
I, like rafski and many others, already have a VIP receiver-can receive MPEG4 transmissions. I do not want to have to subscribe to one of the AT packages to continue to receive the VOOM channels that I have been receiving since DISH offered them a couple years ago.
EXACTLY. Thats my point to this. Anyone who has been receiving the old HD package+VOOM will be required to add one of the AT packages to continue to receive the HD-VOOM channels. It so sad that DISH would treat people like this.
I dont know what to say other than explore other options and protest with your wallet. Dish is making a push to keep up with the market just like Comcast is in Chicago and its pissing some off, but making many happy.
I don't see this as keeping up with the market (not the part about forcing current subs into committments). They are trying to lock-up their most vulnerable subs - the ones that have older HD boxes and that are obviously into HD and free to leave if they find a better offering. I see it as a VERY SMART move by DISH, but not one that is customer friendly.
This actually could work either way for them IMO.
To me it reeks of concern that they feel they will fall behind the competion this fall (yes they will certainly catch up - but when?) - and a need to get these very vulnerable subs locked-in before September rolls around - could their 'sudden' announcement of this being done in August be simply a coincidence?
It may cause some (many) to re-evaluate - after all they will be asked to make a change one way or another. While it will lead to some portion re-committing, will it also lead to some portion taking their business elsewhere (cable or D*)?
I guess we will see, won't we?
Come on Scobuck, the people that are complaining pay $19.99+14.99+dvr fee for HD. Where are they going to go and get HD for that price? The answer is nowhere.
This is why i dont see it as a big issue:
Currently paying: $35
Dont upgrade, will pay: $30
Upgrade, will pay:$50($15 more for all the HD)
You go to Comcast youre gonna pay $45 for basic, then you can pay $70 for digital to get HD.
I just dont see anymore arguing about it, I think the Family/Voom/Mpeg2 only subs are on the low end of the spectrum, kinda like the MLBEI crowd and E* knows it. They prob arent worried about.
Bottom line, $50 for 100 channels and HD aint bad and hard to beat. I just dont see the big deal.
This is why i dont see it as a big issue:
Currently paying: $35
Dont upgrade, will pay: $30
Upgrade, will pay:$50($15 more for all the HD)
You go to Comcast youre gonna pay $45 for basic, then you can pay $70 for digital to get HD.
I just dont see anymore arguing about it, I think the Family/Voom/Mpeg2 only subs are on the low end of the spectrum, kinda like the MLBEI crowd and E* knows it. They prob arent worried about.
Bottom line, $50 for 100 channels and HD aint bad and hard to beat. I just dont see the big deal.
Check the retailer chat recap I just posted, some more information on this has been posted.
Sounds like good deal to me.
Some will never be happy, Ive seen guys that constantly complain about the extra $6 HD DVR fee.
I have the AT250 + HD and a 622. As long as E* keeps adding HD, Im happy.
Check the retailer chat recap I just posted, some more information on this has been posted.
Scott - I read through it - I don't see mention of 18 month committment regarding the VOOM subs upgrading to MPEG4 - did I miss it in the recap?
I am not saying this is a 'monthly charge' issue at all - in fact I don't think it is. I see it as a marketing ploy solely designed to get the vulnerable non-committed HD subs locked into the platform for 18 months. To me - that is GREAT for DISH, and NOT SO GREAT for the existing long-time customers. Any time a provider forces a good customer into an long-term agreement - generally it is company focused IMO - NOT CUSTOMER focused. If D* did it to me I would be just as upset.
I am NOT saying only E* does or would do this, I am saying it is not a plan that benefits customers - but it surely benefits the provider.
Gotcha, I agree its a motive, but Im also happy with the result.
That being said, I personally feel that if someone does not like commitments, they should stick with cable. I was always leary of sat when I was younger because of the contracts, but now that Ive been with them(and found getting out of one doesnt cost that much) it does not bother me.
As you said, E* is business, and we all know they are trying to make money.
Since I've already subscribed to the Plat with HD since day 1 and own a 622 is this an issue Im gonna have to deal with? I think I still have a yr on my commitment left and my "assumption" is that just as I have to keep service for 18 months they should be required to provide the services they promised when I commited.
As I remember the reasoning behind all of these committments - they were designed originally to help ensure that the providers would keep subs on the platform for some guaranteed period as they were providing the set-top boxes and dishes with subsidies to lower purchase/up front costs.
I have not seen that DISH is shutting down the MPEG2 stream (not yet anyway) - so the sole purpose as I see it is a marketing ploy to lock-up the most vulnerable and most desireable subs (HD customers) that currently have no COMMITTMENT. This is way different than what those committments were for in the first place IMO.
Problem or not, I just think people need to see it for what it is.
The like-for-like exchange is great news, but I have a question: When does this offer run out? I called Dish this morning and the rep said August 15, when the Voom mpeg4 begins--after that Dish offers no more like-for-like exchanges. (I know that sometimes reps are wrong.)
This presents a problem to me, since to exchange my owned 921 for a leased 622 (a great deal), means that an installer must come to my home to do the work, connecting the 622 to an HD TV. I presently have only one HD TV with a 622, and that set-up works fine, but I am not yet financially ready to purchase a second HD TV. So it appears that when I am--maybe in the fall--I will miss this exhange offer.
Any helpful suggestions? Thanks.
This presents a problem to me, since to exchange my owned 921 for a leased 622 (a great deal), means that an installer must come to my home to do the work, connecting the 622 to an HD TV. I presently have only one HD TV with a 622, and that set-up works fine, but I am not yet financially ready to purchase a second HD TV. So it appears that when I am--maybe in the fall--I will miss this exhange offer.
Any helpful suggestions? Thanks.
Im honestly suprised you dont have to re-up the contract everytime you get new equipment for a low price. I like to get a new phone every year because mine gets beat up at work. They love to see me coming.
Im willing to be very soon you wont be able to see any HD with a mpeg2 box at E*.
Why not take the second 622 now even though you dont have a hdtv, better than paying an large price for it later. Right?
I didn't upgrade to an MPEG4 receiver from my 811 last year, because then as now I'm not in a position where I can make an 18 month commitment. I'll probably end up dropping all of my HD. The remaining MPEG2 channels are not worth $10, especially recently. Discovery has a new program like once a month, and HDNet's programming has really been watered down in the past year or so.
Does your TV have extra inputs? My Widescreen has 4 plus an HDMI. If your worried about missing out on the trade deal maybe could for time being have them hook the 2nd box to your main TV to do setup n such and then disconnect it till you actually need/want it, or just leave it connected.
For your first point - you DO generally have to re-committ when you get new equipment - but like I am saying, that is USUALLY the customers choice and decision to upgrade, or based upon an old IRD that breaks down. It is not generally because a provider takes 1 piece of its offering and puts it on a different platform while leaving the original platform in place for the other programming also on it - meaning that there is nothing wrong with the old receiver and it does NOT NEED to be replaced. I see nothing wrong with them making this change, but I think the upgrade should NOT have committment attached in a case like this. They made this decision for customer retention purposes only IMO, not to benefit the customer.
As to the second - I agree that there will be a total migration to MPEG4. It makes sense, and it will happen - both with E* and D*.
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