Charlie's latest HD commercial

[SE_Sooner]

Anyone seen this one? Charlie states back in the day they didn't charge extra for color TV so Dish doesn't charge extra for HD.... Where has this attitude been the last couple years?

Let's be really conservative and do the math:

10 million subscribers * 20% HD subscribers * $10/month * 24 months =
480 million

wow, nearly half-a-billion dollars later he decides not to charge for HD.

It's funny how dish doesn't charge for HD, but they still charge me for HD Platinum or whatever they call it this week.

[RasputinAXP]

It's funny how dish doesn't charge for HD, but they still charge me for HD Platinum or whatever they call it this week.

HD Platinum is an optional package with channels that aren't in SD.

I'm willing to guess you know that and you're just trolling. I could be wrong. :rolleyes:

[SE_Sooner]

My point is the commercial says "we don't charge for HD". I guess without DVRing the spot and looking for the fine print, one would think they don't charge for HD programming.

BTW, what's "trolling"?

[RasputinAXP]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRp8j8zZqb8

"...the most popular HD channels for no extra charge."

Hairs. You split them.

[Nick]

The things some people worry about. Is it safe to ass/u/me that since you have HD, you also have a roof over your head, food on your table and clothes on your back?

Be thankful, my friend, be very thankful.

:sure:

[BattleZone]

Never take MARKETING at face value. Marketing is all about deception.

[James Long]

http://www.dbstalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=23415&stc=1&d=1284521506
It isn't a new commercial ... probably two months old now?

Unfortunately "Free HD" requires commitment or prepayment ($99) for those who did not accept the $10 HD+Platinum HD offer when it existed last August-June. And yes ... if you want 16 additional channels you can't get in SD including eight HD movie channels one has to pay for Platinum HD.

[tlouwhite]

Of course, they are also offering an HD only option for less, but my son watches the Disney channels all the time :|

[l8er]

.... Marketing is all about deception. .... Actually, marketing is all about PERception. There are laws and regulations to protect joe sixpack from deceptive and false advertising. :D

[SE_Sooner]

"The things some people worry about."

Not worried about it. I think it's hilarious that dish banks half a billion dollars, then with a straight face tells consumers we don't charge for HD.

[Paul Secic]

The things some people worry about. Is it safe to ass/u/me that since you have HD, you also have a roof over your head, food on your table and clothes on your back?

Be thankful, my friend, be very thankful.

:sure:

AMEN!

[Stewart Vernon]

I've gotten used to ignoring marketing and commercials for all companies... but I agree it is strange to hear Charlie saying that he doesn't believe you should have to pay extra for HD when until this year all of his customers were doing so.

Companies really do depend on people having short memories, though... and we have lots of evidence in this very forum of just that..... so he's probably not too wrong that most of his customer base doesn't know he is blowing smoke.

[James Long]

I've gotten used to ignoring marketing and commercials for all companies... but I agree it is strange to hear Charlie saying that he doesn't believe you should have to pay extra for HD when until this year all of his customers were doing so.And now those that jumped through the right hoop have "Free HD" ... while anyone who signed up before August 2009 is likely still paying $10 for HD120/HD200/HD250 and perhaps $20 for their base HD plus PlatinumHD.

If DISH stopped charging for HD they wouldn't charged for HD. What they did was introduce a promotion where customers have the option to not pay for HD by making certain commitments ($99 or 2yrs+autopay/paperless forever). New customers today still have the option of paying $10 for basic HD.

Sorry Charlie, HD isn't quite free yet.


Companies really do depend on people having short memories, though... and we have lots of evidence in this very forum of just that..... so he's probably not too wrong that most of his customer base doesn't know he is blowing smoke.Short memories on regional The Weather Channel versions (not to mention the weather alerts promised years ago). Or the press release touting Palladia replacing Fuse (which ended when DISH claimed it was just a preview - it didn't say that in the press release). Not to mention the receiver function promises, TV Everywhere adapters, etc.

Fortunately there are good things happening, but there are a lot of short memory issues.

[Stewart Vernon]

And here I thought we were the Dish apologists :D

Maybe we should sticky this thread as proof of being critical of Dish when they are too far deep in the spin zone!

On the "free" HD front... I wasn't even thinking about how technically not everyone is getting it free now, unless they put all the square pegs in the right round holes... and I'm pretty sure that's not in the fine print on the commercial.

I hate seeing Charlie & Dish in this latest spin, though.. because it is exactly the kind of commercial I had been making fun of Time Warner running about their "free HD" for years now...

[James Long]

One more kicker ... Take a look at the terms at the bottom of this page:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/dishdeals/
**FREE HD FOR LIFE - $10/mo HD add-on fee waived for life of current account; requires 24-month agreement and continuous enrollment in AutoPay with Paperless Billing. Valid with America's Top 120, America's Top 120 Plus, America's Top 200, America's Top 250, America's "Everything" Pak; DishLATINO Dos or DishLATINO Max. Channel selection will vary based on selected package. Offer expires 9/28/10.I've seen the expiration tied to the $15 off for a year before but this is clearly tied to the HD Free offer. So Charlie believes HD should be free ... if you act now. :rolleyes:

I assume the offer will continue in some form after September 28th but there are no guarantees.

BTW: The next line after that disclaimer:
DISH Network now offers Standard Definition locals in 100% of markets and High Definition locals in over 94% of markets.Actually, DISH has HD in 170 of 210 markets (80%). The 94% would refer to the population of the US in markets with HD locals. "... in markets serving over 94% of U.S. households" would be more accurate - which is, BTW DirecTV's claim for SD market coverage.

[tsmacro]

At this point anyone that's been around the block once or twice knows that anytime you see "free" in any kind of ad it really isn't.

[VDP07]

.......I assume the offer will continue in some form after September 28th but there are no guarantees.......

Current promos have been extended through 1/31/11.

[James Long]

Current promos have been extended through 1/31/11.Where on DISH Network's website(s) does that appear?

[VDP07]

Where on DISH Network's website(s) does that appear?

I couldn't say if or where on the website it appears. Retailers were informed in the middle of July of the extension. I am referring to the DHA24/Free HBO-Showtime/HD Free for Life. Other promos were extended or modified as well.