"DISH Gives You A Choice" flyer

[nwflyboy]

So this landed in my postal mailbox today...

---------------------------------------------------------
DISH GIVES YOU A
CHOICE
and a way to save $12/month

DISH is the only television provider to allow you to chose how to receive your Local Channels (ABC, CBS, FUX and NBC).
Today you receive Local Channels via satellite from DISH for only $12/month.
You now qualify for an exciting offer:
- DISH will provide you with a professionally installed over-the-air (OTA) antenna at no charge.
- Talk to your agent about how you could save $12/month
---------------------------------------------------------​

Anytime some marketing genius trots out words like "enhancement" "exciting offer" etc. I worry I'm about to be bent over.

So I assume this means that DISH is gearing up for an imminent fight with the networks over passing along costs to users, and by offering a "free" OTA antenna that sticks it to the networks and gives DISH more leverage.

Of course, as much as I'd welcome any opportunity to help stick it to the networks, this makes me wonder if that OTA antenna would be of any use if I send DISH packing. It also makes me think that $12/month is about $11 more than the local networks are worth paying for.

I assume this mailer presages an upcoming price hike from DISH, accompanied by an explanation that the networks are charging too much for their feeds, and DISH is just looking out for the consumer as they always are.

Funny, I was just thinking the other day, "I'm off contract, I'm surely paying way, waaaay too much for DISH service, I should look at other options then give a call and see how badly they would like to keep me as a customer..." I guess this is just one more reason to look into alternatives.

Am I missing anything here, or have I got it about right above?​

 

[Joe The Dragon]

how many tuners does that OTA antenna have?

 

[Tampa8]

So this landed in my postal mailbox today...

---------------------------------------------------------
DISH GIVES YOU A
CHOICE
and a way to save $12/month

DISH is the only television provider to allow you to chose how to receive your Local Channels (ABC, CBS, FUX and NBC).
Today you receive Local Channels via satellite from DISH for only $12/month.
You now qualify for an exciting offer:
- DISH will provide you with a professionally installed over-the-air (OTA) antenna at no charge.
- Talk to your agent about how you could save $12/month
---------------------------------------------------------​

Anytime some marketing genius trots out words like "enhancement" "exciting offer" etc. I worry I'm about to be bent over.

So I assume this means that DISH is gearing up for an imminent fight with the networks over passing along costs to users, and by offering a "free" OTA antenna that sticks it to the networks and gives DISH more leverage.

Of course, as much as I'd welcome any opportunity to help stick it to the networks, this makes me wonder if that OTA antenna would be of any use if I send DISH packing. It also makes me think that $12/month is about $11 more than the local networks are worth paying for.

I assume this mailer presages an upcoming price hike from DISH, accompanied by an explanation that the networks are charging too much for their feeds, and DISH is just looking out for the consumer as they always are.

Funny, I was just thinking the other day, "I'm off contract, I'm surely paying way, waaaay too much for DISH service, I should look at other options then give a call and see how badly they would like to keep me as a customer..." I guess this is just one more reason to look into alternatives.

Am I missing anything here, or have I got it about right above?​

What? So it's terrible Dish will set you up for free to possibly save $12? And btw this is nothing new for a long time in various situations they have dine this.

 

[Kirk1233]

I got this too and was wondering:
1) do they tack time to your commitment for performing a labor intensive task at “no charge?”
2) do they include the dual tuner dongle or are you stuck with just one tuner for your locals?

 

[Tampa8]

I got this too and was wondering:
1) do they tack time to your commitment for performing a labor intensive task at “no charge?”
2) do they include the dual tuner dongle or are you stuck with just one tuner for your locals?

1. I don't believe there is a commitment but you can easily ask either on the phone or when they show up and make sure you don't sign anything that says you are extending.

2. Your second question is why it isn't a good idea for a company to give anything free. You were "stuck" before the free install and free antenna with a single tuner. If your receiver is compatible with the dual tuner you could buy one and not be stuck. You would be saving $12 that doesn't mean you get the exact same service not paying the $12, meaning that $12 also goes to being able to record multiple locals at a time.

 

[JSheridan]

1. I don't believe there is a commitment but you can easily ask either on the phone or when they show up and make sure you don't sign anything that says you are extending.

2. Your second question is why it isn't a good idea for a company to give anything free. You were "stuck" before the free install and free antenna with a single tuner. If your receiver is compatible with the dual tuner you could buy one and not be stuck. You would be saving $12 that doesn't mean you get the exact same service not paying the $12, meaning that $12 also goes to being able to record multiple locals at a time.

Don't you know that now a days everybody is 'entitled' to free everything.

 

[dishdude]

Dish is going to have to shave off the unprofitable portions of the business that are seeing the costs rise the most, and I bet locals have to be at the top.

 

[sam_gordon]

how many tuners does that OTA antenna have?

Antennas have zero tuners. It comes down to your receiver. I'm guessing if you need more than one tuner, that you actually spend a good bit of time watching shows delivered by your local broadcaster.

 

[ncted]

So this landed in my postal mailbox today...

---------------------------------------------------------
DISH GIVES YOU A
CHOICE
and a way to save $12/month

DISH is the only television provider to allow you to chose how to receive your Local Channels (ABC, CBS, FUX and NBC).
Today you receive Local Channels via satellite from DISH for only $12/month.
You now qualify for an exciting offer:
- DISH will provide you with a professionally installed over-the-air (OTA) antenna at no charge.
- Talk to your agent about how you could save $12/month
---------------------------------------------------------​

Anytime some marketing genius trots out words like "enhancement" "exciting offer" etc. I worry I'm about to be bent over.

So I assume this means that DISH is gearing up for an imminent fight with the networks over passing along costs to users, and by offering a "free" OTA antenna that sticks it to the networks and gives DISH more leverage.

Of course, as much as I'd welcome any opportunity to help stick it to the networks, this makes me wonder if that OTA antenna would be of any use if I send DISH packing. It also makes me think that $12/month is about $11 more than the local networks are worth paying for.

I assume this mailer presages an upcoming price hike from DISH, accompanied by an explanation that the networks are charging too much for their feeds, and DISH is just looking out for the consumer as they always are.

Funny, I was just thinking the other day, "I'm off contract, I'm surely paying way, waaaay too much for DISH service, I should look at other options then give a call and see how badly they would like to keep me as a customer..." I guess this is just one more reason to look into alternatives.

Am I missing anything here, or have I got it about right above?​

Anyone know of any upcoming contract renewals for locals due in the Seattle area? Also, Dish could be using this kind of thing as a real-world training opportunity for techs.

 

[Tampa8]

Dish is going to have to shave off the unprofitable portions of the business that are seeing the costs rise the most, and I bet locals have to be at the top.

It does seem like they would like to be able to that. But it's risky locals are watched much more than cable channels overall I don't see a business model for them without locals or some way to get them. They may be trying to at least keep all those who can get them OTA and would stay with DISH saving that money. Maybe find a way to have a third party provide them like they did with Distant Locals?

 

[ncted]

It does seem like they would like to be able to that. But it's risky locals are watched much more than cable channels overall I don't see a business model for them without locals or some way to get them. They may be trying to at least keep all those who can get them OTA and would stay with DISH saving that money. Maybe find a way to have a third party provide them like they did with Distant Locals?

Not knowing anything about the terms Dish has with local stations, this is just speculation, but could it be that Dish wants to reduce the number of subs it has using locals as a negotiation technique with local channels to keep prices down? Essentially, "we don't have many subs to your channels, so it can't be worth what you're asking for us to carry the channels."

 

[Tampa8]

Not knowing anything about the terms Dish has with local stations, this is just speculation, but could it be that Dish wants to reduce the number of subs it has using locals as a negotiation technique with local channels to keep prices down? Essentially, "we don't have many subs to your channels, so it can't be worth what you're asking for us to carry the channels."

Absolutely, good point. Exactly what they do (and should do) with cable channels that lose eyes. In a different manor that's what they said in the AMC dispute years ago. Not so much less people watching but that they were allowing free viewing online thus diluting their worth to DISH. Again in a different manor that is part of what DISH is saying to HBO/At&t - you have now allowed people to get HBO without a satellite/cable subscription so we are not going to value you so high that we can't lose you. Most of our subscribers can still get HBO without us carrying it.

 

[wormil]

Actually I was planning to cancel at the end of this year and install a roof antenna but this deal and saving 12 bucks month would keep me as a customer for another year. My locals are close and I can almost get them with rabbit ears but geography weakens the signal just enough it cuts out occasionally. A roof antenna should be near 100% signal.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

They have been doing this for awhile.


Sent from my iPhone using the SatelliteGuys app!

 

[NYDutch]

They have been doing this for awhile.

Sent from my iPhone using the SatelliteGuys app!

Exactly... Similar offers have gone out recently for just about every local contract dispute that resulted a blackout.

 

[sam_gordon]

Not knowing anything about the terms Dish has with local stations, this is just speculation, but could it be that Dish wants to reduce the number of subs it has using locals as a negotiation technique with local channels to keep prices down? Essentially, "we don't have many subs to your channels, so it can't be worth what you're asking for us to carry the channels."

Good thought, but the stations do have data showing how many people are watching... whether via OTA, cable, satellite, or streaming.

 

[Chuck14]

Does PTAT work with OTA tuners? If not, even the dual OTA tuner isn't going to cut it for a lot of people. I record several network shows, and a bunch of them are on Wednesdays, same time on different channels. And you have to start your timers early and end them late since the networks deliberately don't line things up on the hour to try to make you watch the commercials. 16 tuners in the H3 solves that problem for now, but if locals become OTA only, this is going to be a problem...

 

[ncted]

Good thought, but the stations do have data showing how many people are watching... whether via OTA, cable, satellite, or streaming.

Sure, to some extent, but if, given the option, Dish customers are less likely to pay for locals, whether due to taking the OTA option or general disinterest, it is a lot easier for Dish to say, "local channels are not that important to our customers, so we're not going to pay your 500% increase retransmission fees this time around.

FWIW: I've worked with Nielsen enough in another industry as well as having been one of their households, that I find their methodology very suspect. Dish and their peers are going to have much better data about what people are actually watching than what stations are getting concerning OTA viewership from Nielsen.

 

[sam_gordon]

Sure, to some extent, but if, given the option, Dish customers are less likely to pay for locals, whether due to taking the OTA option or general disinterest, it is a lot easier for Dish to say, "local channels are not that important to our customers, so we're not going to pay your 500% increase retransmission fees this time around.

Again, spin. It's not that local channels aren't important to the customer, it's that they realized they can receive OTA, save $12/month and possibly get more channels at a better quality than what Dish was providing.

FWIW: I've worked with Nielsen enough in another industry as well as having been one of their households, that I find their methodology very suspect. Dish and their peers are going to have much better data about what people are actually watching than what stations are getting concerning OTA viewership from Nielsen.

Nielsen isn't the only game in town any more. And I agree the diary system left a lot to be desired. But as they expand metered markets, I think it's a more realistic indicator of how many are watching.

 

[NYDutch]

Does PTAT work with OTA tuners? If not, even the dual OTA tuner isn't going to cut it for a lot of people. I record several network shows, and a bunch of them are on Wednesdays, same time on different channels. And you have to start your timers early and end them late since the networks deliberately don't line things up on the hour to try to make you watch the commercials. 16 tuners in the H3 solves that problem for now, but if locals become OTA only, this is going to be a problem...

No, PTAT does not work with OTA. PTAT uses a single Hopper sat tuner for the four networks. If you need to record more than the OTA option allows, then stick with the $12 locals option. Dish is not dropping sat locals anytime soon, just giving us a choice.