DVR fee for Dishplayer

[ylinen]

Am I the only one who is paying a $9.99 a month fee for DVR service for my Dishplayer? I have been paying this since I bought the unit back in Dec 00 (I think). When they first came out. Now I see that the 501,508,721 has no fee.

What gives?

[Geronimo]

Ther habe been a TON of threads on this. THe DP has a fee. When the 501 etc were introduced no fee was charged.

Some peole bought their DPS during promotional offers that gave then free PTV for "ife" (which was later explained to be 36 months) or 36 months. When that offer would have expirted those people were offered free PTV for an additioanl six months. That was not extended to other DP customers although some---like me----asked why not and were offered PTV for the same period.

As far as we know no decision has been made on whether all DP owners will be asked to pay, whether all will get it gratis, ior whether this odd two tiered structure will continue.

FWIW the next generation of DVRs will have a fee. I have no idea what that might mean. But it is something to think about.


And this probably belongs in the DISH DVR forum.

[BobaBird]

Some people bought their DPs during promotional offers that gave them free PTV for "life" (which was later explained to be 36 months) or 36 months. When that offer would have expired those people were offered free PTV for an additional six months. That was not extended to other DP customers although some---like me----asked why not and were offered PTV for the same period.Last week I asked why I was charged the 3-year renewal when I know there were other people who weren't having to pay - at least through the end of the year. The way the CSR explained it, those people will start seeing charges over the next few months. The 3-year offer was available through 4-10-01 with varying end dates: Lifetime ended 6-30-03 After "lifetime" was defined to be 3 years, the subscription ends after 3 years except if your 3 years started in 2001 the PTV subscription ends 12-31-03Again, this is based on the explanation of one CSR.

[Geronimo]

Again you will find a lot of threads on this. Your explanation does not vary much from mine. The offer was extended through 12/31/03 for those people already receiving free PTV. As for any charge for renewal many reported that they were told this wasa mistake. If DSISH still expects to receive this from you write CEO@echostar.com

[Bill R]

if your 3 years started in 2001 the PTV subscription ends 12-31-03Again, this is based on the explanation of one CSR.
I talked to somone (MUCH higher than a CSR) last week about this. Right now there is no decision on what will happen after 12-31-03. Within DISH itself there was been much conflict about the DishPlayer PTV fee. As you might guess, the marketing people want the fee (NONE of them likely own one and don't have to put up with the STILL buggy software - mainly blinkouts now).

DISH has lost a considerable number of customers because of the DishPlayer and the way they handled its many problems. There are still a good number of DishPlayer out there and DISH is "quietly" trying to "move" those customers to other hardware and they don't want to make the same mistakes they have in the past with DishPlayer customers (which make you wonder if they REALLY did their homework on the new DVR fee for the DVR510).

I don't know what will happen after 12-31-03 but I bet that MANY current DishPlayer that are on the "lifetime PTV" plan won't pay $9.99 a month.