Okay....
Until six or so months ago for HD you had the following options:
1) Add HD versions of existing channels in your package (Bronze, Gold, Silver) for $10
-------This included HDNet (not HDNet Movies), HD Theater and Palladia
2) Add HD Platinum for ANOTHER $10 a month.
-------This included HDNet Movies, MGM, Logo, Centric, World Fishing Network, MAV TV.
So if you wanted Gold/Silver/Bronze AND Platinum, it would cost you $20/mo on top of your regular subscription.
About Six months ago or more a third "super-secret" option became available for existing subs. It was available to all new subs automatically.
HD Gold/Silver/Bronze
AND Platinum for $10/mo total.
Existing subscribers paying $20 a month essentially had to drop all HD programming and immediately add the new HD+Platinum for $10 a month. If you were an existing subscriber with Gold/Silver/Bronze AND platinum for $20 a month and you did not know about this super-secret way of getting a $10 discount, Dish was more than happy to just take the extra $10 without so much as a thank you for paying too much for this muffler.
WE COME TO THE CURRENT SITUATION
This month, Dish is starting a new promotion (Free HD for life) that ELIMINATES the Gold/Sililver/Bronze HD packages altogether. The will be INCLUDED in the America's Top packages. New customers automatically get the "free HD" channels. (With 2 year commitment + CC Autopay
HOWEVER, if the customers want the Platinum package (channels that do not have SD counterparts), they can subscribe to this package for $10 a month. Platinum was NEVER EVER going to be "free for life".
Existing subscribers with Gold/Silver/Bronze + Platinum for $10 a month will see absolutely no change in their HD billing and are automatically rolled over into the new "regular" HD package for free and Platinum for $10.
And here is a kick in the nuts for the existing customers who weren't savvy enough to take advantage of switching to the HD Gold/Silver/Bronze+Platinum for $10 over the last several months. (IF I AM READING THE PROMO CORRECTLY) Existing subscribers to HD Gold/Silver/Bronze for $10 a month (regardless of whether they have Platinum for another $10 a month or not) would have to pay $99 PLUS a two year commitment+CC autopay to get the HD Gold/Silver/Platinum "free" for life. Basically pay 10 month's subscription ahead and you are guaranteed you will never be charged for these HD channels ever again. PLATINUM CHANNELS ARE STILL $10 MORE A MONTH. That never changed and was never part of the change.
Again, if I am reading this right, existing subscribers who have Gold/Silver/Bronze for $10 still have a couple of days to change their package now. There would be no additional cost to get platinum and if they already have platinum they can get both for $10 less. You can do this online. Go to your programming options and DROP ALL HD PROGRAMMING FROM YOUR ACCOUNT. SAVE THE CHANGES (you may get hit with a $5 downgrade fee). Then IMMEDIATELY go back to your programming options. You will see that the only HD option available is Gold/Silver/Bronze + Platinum for $10 a month. Select that and save it. Within minutes you will be getting the platinum channels at no extra charge if you didn't already have them. Or for $10 a month less if you already did.
Confused yet?
Read ONE PART AT A TIME. Absorb each part separately and do not try to apply one part to another. They are all separate thoughts.
It is really a lot more simple than the explanation
See ya
Tony
