It is a lot. Between the yearly price increases and the price of all the DISH fees and hikes in those fees, the only way to save any money is to down grade to lower packs and or cut out extra sat equipment. I personally can't see paying more than $100.00 a month x 12 months = $1200.00 a year. When I started with DISH it was like $4.99 a month for an extra receiver and NO Dvr fees at all. I had the original Webtv/dishplayer and never paid the $9.99 personal video recorder fee back then due to something DISH was offering back then. I paid $69.99 for AEP back in 2000 and now that would cost me $119.99 BEFORE any taxes, additional receiver fees, DISH fees are applied. Unless DISH will be able to sustain themselves with the wealthiest 1% as customers, I don't see many people staying with them in the future . There will come a time , like I already pointed out in my case, where all the programming downgrades, and cutting down to one receiver, won't keep their bills down under a $100.00 a month and then they will decide to cut the cord completely.
I only sub to premium programming like HBO , which I truly enjoy, if it is either FREE or 1/2 price. At $18.00 a month it is almost as much as I used to pay for the top 40 programming for $19.99 back in 97, when I first got DISH. IF EVERYBODY stopped subscribing to premium programming packs ,at full Price , they would have to go down on the packs. I think that this must already be happening because I've had 1/2 price or FREE Hbo twice this last year since June. In fact right now , I can get 1/2 price on ALL the premium packs including Encore, when I check in on my DISH account online. We as the customers ,could force them back down , just like we do on gas prices when they go up , we stop driving as much and the price goes back down. Stop subbing to any premium pack ,unless either free or 1/2 price and the companies will get the message and they will have to cut the price back down to attract customers.
