Dish Will Raise, Then Freeze, Prices For Two Years DBS Provider Will Add $3 To $5 Per Month To Sub Packages Starting Next Month, Then Hold Line Through Jan. 2013
Mike Reynolds Multichannel News 1/4/2011 8:28:05 AM http://www.multichannel.com/article/461746-Dish_Will_Raise_Then_Freeze_Prices_For_Two_Years.php Dish Network will raise prices on most of its programming packages, starting in February, and then put a hold on subscriber increases for two years. Beginning next month, the No. 2 DBS provider will add $3 to $5 per month to most of its programming packages, before enacting a two-year price freeze through January 2013. Dish said it is the only major satellite or cable company in U.S. to announce a two-year price stabilization. As a result, Dish, which is not charging more equipment fees or premium programming, said its typical customer's video package over that span will increase some 3% on an annualized basis. Dish officials said that even with the increases it will still offer lower prices than a number of what it called its competitors' "starter packages," pointing to $59.95 per month on average for Comcast, the $59 for AT&T U-verse U100 and $60.99 for DirecTV's Choice. Moreover, Dish said it proffers four programming packages that have a lower price than DirecTV;s Choice: Dish America ($34.99), America's Top 120 ($44.99), America's Top 120+ ($49.99) and America's Top 200 ($59.99). According to the Denver Post, Dish's declared price hike means the monthly rate on its most popular package, America's Top 120, will jump 12% from $40 to $44.99, while the cost of its America's Top 200 offering will increase 9% from $55 to $59.99. Also, in honor of its 30th anniversary, the company is offering premium movie channels free for one year to most customers. Dish also offers Free HD for Life, which provides access to high definition feeds of popular channels at no additional cost. "Dish Network continues to work harder than any other company in the industry to offer the best prices, and the most choices," said Ira Bahr, chief marketing officer for Dish in a statement. "We pride ourselves on not raising rates each year, unlike cable companies. And despite rising programming costs, we are pleased to continue to offer the lowest everyday prices in America." -- ======================================== George Antunes, Political Science Dept University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204 Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927 Mail: antunes at uh dot edu _______________________________________________ Medianews mailing list [email protected] http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
