I have the welcome package and asked if I could add the NFL Red Zone channel for the 2021 NFL season. The answer was no. It can only be added to the 120 package and above. So to get that channel I would have to pay an additional $60 per month to upgrade to the 120 package and $13 more for the Multi Sports package . I don't understand a business model of a company that is losing subscribers that turns down $13 per month I was willing to pay for the multi sports package. $73 is more than you would pay to get the NFL Sunday Ticket Max on DIRECTV.
NFL Red Zone
- Thread starter odbrv
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If they successfully get more people to upgrade to the higher tier - or stay at that higher tier, in part because of the value proposition of Red Zone being available... then that is why they are turning down your $13 per month.
Since I won't do that nor would I think any other sane person would do so, they are losing $78. All the other welcome pack customers who would also add the Multi sports package is also probably additional lost revenue.
Right, but they also likely have the data and research to make that calculated choice to keep customers at higher tiers to offset what you perceive as them losing money from you churning. They are also using it to prevent downgrades and keep revenue per sub higher.
You are not alone. I have been saying for years that Multi-Sport should be available as an add-on for the lower packages. It is the simple argument "I am willing to pay you more money per month, just not as much more as you want me pay in order to qualify for the sports channels." So as it is, I simply watch the free previews of NFL RedZone each year, and the NFL can go without my revenue or viewership the rest of the season. If it is the NFL insisting on the higher tier placement, then maybe they will learn their lesson eventually. If it is not the NFL's decision, then it is clearly a case of Dish discriminating against the NFL. After all, Dish does include MLB Extra Innings and NHL Center Ice in Welcome Pack:
MyDISH
Yes, I realize that the logos and channel numbers referenced in that chart are for the free slate channels that remain unhidden year-round in order to advertise for those packages. Any actual content on those channels is blacked out unless you pay extra to get those packages. However, in addition to no NFL channels being listed there, NBA League Pass is also missing from the list. So, maybe Dish thinks that lower-tier package subscribers only care about baseball and/or hockey?
It is a trade off. Even at Welcome Pack status, I'm still eligible for the perpetual discounts on the premium packs. Welcome Pack is an unusual thing and it isn't something most other sat/cable companies have available. Access to locals, a large handful of general programming channels, and access to that fat 2 TB of EHD programming. That it comes with a couple of limitations shouldn't be surprising. Personally, Dish should probably allow subscribing to the Sports add-on, but at a higher price to make up for some lost revenue, due to the cheapness of Welcome Pack subs (disclaimer: I've been a Welcome Pack sub for years now
). But they probably ran the numbers and figured Welcome Pack subs wouldn't subscribe to those channels for $20 or $25 a month. Though, they might for NFL Red Zone, if they sold as a standalone, but then there are agreements and what not.
With Dish's price increases on Welcome Pack over the last few years, they are already charging more to make up for lost revenue. Those who didn't subscribe to Welcome Pack in time to avoid the changes are paying an extra $4 per month just for the Welcome Pack, plus they have a $7 fee on their first receiver if it is a Wally or ViP211 model. (The first receiver fee is only $5 for a purchased receiver. Either way, it is an expense that grandfathered subscribers do not have.) So, Dish is charging more to non-grandfathered Welcome Pack subscribers, to make up for the cheapness of those who have had Welcome Pack for years.Personally, Dish should probably allow subscribing to the Sports add-on, but at a higher price to make up for some lost revenue, due to the cheapness of Welcome Pack subs (disclaimer: I've been a Welcome Pack sub for years now
So, here is an idea. If you are paying the full non-grandfathered price for Welcome Pack, then that should come with some perks. The ability to add some other packs (such as Multi-Sport) that grandfathered subscribers are ineligible to add, would be a good start. If you are grandfathered at the lower rate for Welcome Pack and wish to add these packages, then you would have to give up your grandfathering. Otherwise, if you want to keep your existing low price, then you would still have that option, subject to the existing restrictions. Sounds fair to me.
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