I have a 622. No contract - that was one of the specific things that made me choose Dish over Direct last year was that I could pay the $49 installation fee and avoid any commitment. I think the subs that have gotten the package must either own their equipment, or just got lucky with a CSR.

One option I was considering was calling and downgrading to Dish Family, then calling back and trying to 'upgrade' to HD Only. I'm calling my cable company first, though.
 
TNGTony said:
No response for what grb? I looked back in messages to see what this was in reference to and it escapes me.

See ya
Tony
Click to expand...

Sorry, I thought I had deleted that message. I had completed a detailed description of my efforts to get the free public interest package but the message mysteriously disappeared when I tried to post (except for the "no response" portion).

I tried 2 CSR's and asked to speak to a supervisor and I was cut off when I was put on hold. I tried the chat feature on the Dish website and when I became insistent on receiving this package, I got a message that the session had ended due to network problems...

Everyone at Dish so far has said I can't have this package without a basic package, even though Dish won't allow me to have a basic package because I have the HD Only package.

I sent an email from their website and so far no response...
 
another newbie question

if I signed up for this HD only package with 2-year contract, and lease 2 HD receivers, will it be counted as terminating or changing the contract if I decide to return one receiver during the contract period and only keep the other? I have 2 HDTVs , but the family doesn't watch the HDTV upstairs that often. Thanks!
 


I do believe you can return it and your bill will lowered without penalty. Go to the Dish online chat. Usually the best way to ask.
 

You should be able to downgrade receivers if necessary as long as you keep one receiver with the qualifying package (it doesn't even need to be High Definition Programming to qualify).

Geoff
 

Grb, I found Scott's original message from February 2006.
Scott Greczkowski said:
You ask, you receive!
Click to expand...

Public interest package was part of AT100 (then AT40) since about 1998! So until 2/2006 the CSRs were correct, but now they are behind the times

See ya
Tony

Good luck!
 

Here is the statement that preceded the channel chart
 
Here is the online chat session I just had:
Should I just call the CSR?

David M: Hello, I would like to change my programing to the HD standalone only package, can you help me with that?
(03)Matthew M: Please give me 2 minutes while I pull up your account and assist you further.
(03)Matthew M: Thank you for your patience.
(03)Matthew M: I would like to inform you that in Digital Home Advantage plan you need to have basic programming package on the account However, $29.99 HD stand alone package is not considered as an basic programming package.
(03)Matthew M: I am really sorry, I have confirmed the details that you cannot add $29.99 HD stand alone package.
(03)Matthew M: You can go for America's Top 100 with Dish HD Essential or Dish HD Ultimate. However, $29.99 stand alone package is not possible.
David M: I have read that it is possible, is there nothing else you can do to help me out?
(03)Matthew M: I understand your concern, however it is not possible.
(03)Matthew M: Is there anything else I can assist you with?
 
Tacomahunter

Sorry. Try again. HD stand-alone is a basic package otherwise everyone who has it now would be charged a $6 programming access fee and they are not.

See ya
Tony
 


Looks like to me you said you want to CHANGE to and the csr said you cannot ADD the pack.

Try it again.
 

One thought that just occured to me: I have the HD only pack right now and a 622 w/ about one year left on my commitment. If they ever get it straightened out I may just buy myself out of the rest of the commitment and keep the HD only pack. My biggest concern would be that they keep adding the new HD channels to this pack. I don't care if they raise the price as they add channels as long as it is reasonable.

What is it to buy yourself out, about $13 a month?

that would be 12 x 13 = $156. I am saving about $80/month over what I was paying before and the only HD channels that I am now missing are the premium movie channels and my RSN's. The only reason I had everything before was to get all of the HD and the only reason I had the movie channels was because it was only $18/month more to just add them and waive the DVR fees.
 
"Should customers wish to call in and request it (800-333-DISH), we have put together a package of 21 Public Interest Channels – for free! Customer Service Representatives, however, will not proactively offer this package to customers; they must voluntarily ask for it to add it on to their other DISH Network programming."

Thanks for the info, Tony.

I have asked to have this package added on to my HD Only plus locals package and have been refused by 3 Dish CSR's. They all tell me I have to have a basic package, which, of course, I can't have because Dish won't allow subscribers to the HD Only package to have a basic package. Not that I would get one if they allowed me to...

I guess I should consider myself lucky I got the HD Only package since others have been refused because they are not new subscribers...
 
grb,

All I can say is keep trying. HD Only Pack IS a basic package and qualifies for all the promos as a basic package to new customers

You also DO NOT need a basic package to get the PI pack. You can subscriber to ONLY locals or ONLY Bloomberg and still get the PI Pack. The CSRs are dead wrong.

BTW the PI pack is INCLUDED (without asking) in the AT packages and Dish Latino Max.

See ya
Tony
 
I tried the other day and it took them a long time to figure it all out. I was willing to pay 9.99 more to upgrade from ultimate to the hd only pack and keep my top 100. They said I couldn't have both so I said the HD only pack was all I need anyway. Then they said I couldn't have it and they wondered why I wanted it to begin with. I reminded them that I just watch HD and that there were more channels in that package and new HD channels seem to get added there. They finally agreed and gave me HD only pack and I saved a bunch of money. I can live without the few channels I watch in Top 100.
 
It sounds like that Dish is regretting putting this package out there. I think Scott had said the other night in the chat that Dish was surprised by the large numbers that went to this pack. Now it seems that Dish is even trying to turn people off or away from this pack.
 
Subbed & cancelled

I called Dish this week to get the HD only pak, never had Dish before. Told the csr what I wanted. 2 hd & 2 sd. He said the package is 29.99, and 5 for locals, plus the equipment fee, my monthly total was 41.99 + tax. I set up an install date for 2-22-08. I get a call on 2-14 they are sending a tech to install. I told them it was scheduled for 2-22. OK, reschedule. I look on Dish builder, there is no way I can get it for that price. I call csr, they don't have any record of my phone #, finally find my account. Ask them what the total monthly will be, closer to $57 a month.
Told them to cancel it. The csr said the package is new and their sales people don't know that much about it. He said the sales guy probably thought the first receiver was free and only charged for the second one. Which it is on the other packages.
The difference in price isn't that big a deal, but if I'm not told up front right off, how else will they jack with me. They have lost a potential first time customer for NOT knowing what they are selling.
 
The back of the Dish "New 2008 Programming Package Guide", that accompanied the latest letter attempting to get me (an existing customer) to sign up for DishDVR Advantage, outlines the three new HD packages.

Next to the dishHD $29.99/month white ball is...
"All you need to get the best sports and movies in HD -- over 40 channels! With this package you can subscribe to HD without an America's Top package and enjoy all the benefits of HD!" [Emphasis mine].

The fine print below it is a jumble of limitations of one or more of the three HD packages including the requirement for a subscription to qualify programming (AT100, AT200 etc.). No wonder the Dish CSRs are so confused.

Talon Dancer
 
Last edited:

Tony,

I turned on my tv today and voila! -- CSPAN (210) was on! I checked against the list Scott made and I am now missing only RFDTV (9409). It seems this channel is missing from the "All Channels" program guide as well so maybe it is no longer carried. Of course I don't get the 6 61.5/148 channels as I am not pointed to these satellites. I guess one of my calls/emails finally got through to the right person!

BTW, while going through the All Channels" listing, I could not find my RSN's. These channels were originally 411 and 417 and had additional HD equivalents of 9411 and 9417. I am curious why they are not listed in this listing and colored in red to indicate I don't subscribe...

Thanks for your help!
 
Well the persistence paid off for me, had to call and talk with 6 CSR's before I found the right one that could take care of me.. Keep calling you will get service eventually.
 
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