Last post...then I'm moving on! Enjoyed the back and forth.
Last time: I think Dish should pay to bury my cable. Why? Because I doubt they have a whole lot of customers who have been with them for 10+ years (since the days when they had only Echo I in orbit). I wouldn't argue that they should pay to bury anyone's 200' run, but the number one business risk Dish faces today is churn. That's the reality, and churn is a much bigger issue today than it used to be, because cable is better, and AT&T and Verizon are out seeking video subs as well.
I'm a golden customer for the company: I've probably called them half a dozen times (maybe less) in my 10+ years, always pay the bill on time. Okay, I don't have any premiums, but we've had DVRs from day one, two sets, etc. And we haven't disconnected...even as we've moved several times. I may be the best customer they'll every have! And when I call them up to tell them I've lost service on one receiver, in my opinion (and I do know a bit about business), they should fall all over themselves to make sure I'm satisfied, within reason. Because if they keep me happy, I'm going to keep paying the bill on time, and most likely won't go anywhere for another 10 years.
Dish currently pays north of $600 to add a new customer. That customer is totally unproven, and certainly is not expected to remain a customer for ten years (customers churning at 2% per month last an average of 50 months; newer customers are most likely disconnecting at a higher rate). Why shouldn't Dish pay one of you installers $1.50 per foot to bury my 200' of coax? That would cost them less than half what adding an unproven new sub costs to add. And I pay my bill on time, and have proven that if I'm happy, I'll remain a customer forever (or a very long time).
I know, this is the old complaint from existing customers: why do the new connects get all the subsidies, while existing customers have to scratch to get anything from the company. But come on...I think my record with Dish says that I'm not the average existing subscriber. Where's the company's $300 to pay one of you guys to bury my coax? It would be money well spent...another 10 years!
By the way...the coax is fully underground. Only problem: the puppy saw me bury it, and dug it up a couple of times behind where I was working. Hopefully my loud "NO!'s" will do the trick.