Just in case you missed the ads airing on TV or splattered across websites (like this one)
DirecTV and DISH Network have launched headlong into their latest war. DISH started things last week by offering "free HD for life" (ad embedded from YouTube after the break), eliminating the $10 service charge for new customers signing up for a two year contract with automatic bill pay, or existing customers who either pay $99 "HD upgrade fee" up front, or sign a two year deal and add auto bill payment to their accounts. This weekend, DirecTV began offering its own "HD free for life" deal that scrubs its $10 fee for new customers under similar requirements to the DISH offer. By comparison, HD service is usually included with digital cable packages but we're wondering if dropping the extra fees is enough to make you think of joining the satellite team, or switching your current agreement.
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posted June 7th 2010 9:01AM
For as much as tv costs this should be free no matter what kind of contract you sign. I won't ever be sold on a two year tv commitment. MAYBE a 12 month.
Where's the box for screw that, I have Internet access?
The commercial is pretty funny...
I love Media Center but I am thinking of switching to Dish for the 922 VIP and being able to get rid of Comcast. Still undecided though, Comcast is still about $15 a month cheaper for me then the same comparable plan with Dish.
I have my DirecTV install scheduled for the end of the month. Just called them up and added this to my account. Sweet!!
My only question is.. when can we drop all the SD channels to open up more bandwidth for more HD content?
@nsfw
Won't help -- the SD sats aren't able to do MPEG4.
I've never understood why Hi-Def should be an added cost for a TV bill. I logged into my Dish account yesterday and noticed that I had already been set-up for HD for life. Didn't have to spend $99 or do a 2 year contract with auto-pay.
@(Unverified)
I was also signed up automatically however they rolled over my old $10 hd package to include their 13 platinum HD channel package....which I canceled making it free.
Maybe if you didn't have to pay for SD content. ;)
Its about time. I'm switching to Satellite when my latest Comcast "deal" expires over the summer. I had been really looking forward to the cable card HDHomerun, but I priced it out, and either Satellite provider with multi-room DVR is still cheaper than keeping my cable with HD at more than one jack. F-ing Comcast charges an additional $10 for HD at EACH LOCATION. A-holes.
Two year commitment is too much. I'm trying to reevaluate my plan because my 12 month deal with Verizon is up this month but I am probably going to renew my FIOS because every other provider is a minimum 2 year contract it's a little ridiculous imo.
I went through the listings of channels I pay for and checked off the ones I actually watch. The number is quite small. About 20 channels (including ones I could get via OTA) of the hundreds of channels that I receive.
I really wish they could offer a Pay Per Channel service ... but what are the odds they're going to do that?
Where is the "I want sat tv but I can't get it because there are to many trees"?
@Michael Kirschner
Ditto!
I'd have to clear half a forest where I'm at.
With Dish you will lose Paladia and HDMovie when going to "Free for Life" unless you sign up for the Platinum Package, which just happens to be $10.
Isn't HD just about standard now for sat TV? I mean sure, a couple years ago it was a special deal, but nowadays it's something that most everyone has if they go the sat TV route, right?
So shouldn't the extra price be waived about now anyways?
Maybe they should start charging the premium now for SD channels and give the HD customers the regular price.
I'll consider switching to directv if the fcc makes cablecards work on satellite like they said. Not gonna scrap my brand new tivo though. Hopefully fios will come soon though, which I doubt. I do like that Comcast doesn't make you sign contracts though.
No native Media Center support, no deal.
You will not catch me looking at service through Dish Network until they can offer a SINGLE DISH installation in Western Washington State, Oregon, etc. They want to install the regular 18" dish plus a 24" dish for the 129 satellite. This is due to a weak signal coming off 129. Screw that noise. All installers will tell you that they do not install the single setups here. DirecTV has no problems offering it all on a single dish in Washington. So that's where my service comes from since I despise Comcast.
I would be happy simply with MORE HD. DirecTV made a big announcement a while back about adding 30 HD channels. However, according to their June newsletter, they have only added 5 HD channels.
New satellite and this is all they can do?
I can't stand the 2 year contracts. I signed up with AT&T Uverse because they were the only provider in my area that didn't want a 2 year contract.
Well, it would be appealing if I was a new customer. As it is, not only don't I get HD free for life (even though I've been a DirecTV subscriber since effing 1994), but I'll have to pay the increased fee they impose on something else to make up for the money they lose on the new subs.
So, no, I don't much care for it -- it's a giant slap in the face to long-time customers.
@kcmurphy88
I'm sure if you called and complained about that, they might do something for you. It's worked for me the past. It's amazing what they'll do when they might lose a long time subscriber.
It should be free to existing customers as well. Without them, they wouldn't have any friggin income TO offer a deal like that. What's even worse is when u pay for these boxes AND the monthly fees for them AND for HD access, AND THEN when you DO want to get PPV in HD it costs you EVEN MORE to get it in HD!?!? WTF?
I can't believe there's nothing like Freesat in the US. You don't know what you're missing.
@ohnoitsaspider Isn't capitalism grand?
Already did it, and with the $10 I saved I decided to upgrade the HD platinum on top of my top250, which I've had for 3+ years.
In the end, same bill amount with more HD channels.
this is ridiculous.. HD should have been free on DISH for years! I have had it since 2008, and they have been charging me 10 bucks for HD on one receiver and 14 bucks on my other HD DVD receiver, plus the 6 dollar DVR fee. I'm waiting for this contract to be over in October and switch back to cable.