DISH Cable 'Protest' Hits Another City

[Chris Blount]

The "protest" over high cable rates has hit another city, this time Syracuse, N.Y.

EchoStar, as part of its marketing campaign for DISH Network, organized demonstrations focusing on the "high costs of digital cable" in front of Time Warner's Syracuse offices and outside City Hall last week. Syracuse is one of several markets EchoStar has targeted for its "Why is Digital Cable So Expensive" campaigns. Recent protests took place in Seattle.

EchoStar spokesperson Marc Lumpkin said DISH Network retailers and employees participated in the Syracuse demonstration "to raise awareness about the high costs of Time Warner's digital cable."

"It's aligned with our nationwide marketing campaign that asks consumers why upgrading to digital cable costs more when all things digital, like cameras and watches, have come down in price," Lumpkin said. "In comparison, DISH Network offers the lowest all digital price in the nation."

Apparently, Time Warner Cable recently announced rate increases of up to 8 percent for Syracuse customers. In comparison, DISH Network recently raised its rates by an average of 4.3 percent.

http://www.skyreport.com (Used with permission)

[RAD]

Apparently, Time Warner Cable recently announced rate increases of up to 8 percent for Syracuse customers. In comparison, DISH Network recently raised its rates by an average of 4.3 percent.

http://www.skyreport.com (Used with permission)

Nothing like fair/balanced reporting. For TWC state the 'UP TO' rate increase but for E* mention the 'average' rate increase.

[jamieh1]

Why is ECHOSTAR doing this, they are just as bad, they just hiked there prices several dollars a year or so ago and now raising them again a couple of dollars. I know cox here is alot higher than SAT but, they raise rates every year or so but its only been about a dollar each time. I remember when DIRECTVs base package was around $29.97 then around $32.99 nows it at $40 thats $10 more in just a 2 year period, and dish network is the same, come on now they need to look at there own price increases.

[Capmeister]

I'm not sanguine about "protests" for luxury television rates. Protest a war if you're so inclined--protest injustice and immorality. Protest something if import to the scheme of things in the moral world... but cable rates? This leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[keng52]

Why are they protesting cables high prices ? Does Charlie use cable? Looks like they would want their competitors to raise their prices. Maybe we should protest in front of the Dish Headquarters over a lack of compelling HD programs.

[NightRyder]

Why are they protesting cables high prices ? Does Charlie use cable? Looks like they would want their competitors to raise their prices. Maybe we should protest in front of the Dish Headquarters over a lake of compelling HD programs.


Ooooh, "lake of compelling HD programs" :eek2: Too bad we only have a puddle. ;) :D



NightRyder

[Cholly]

Ho,hum --TWC here in the Southern Tier of NY also raised their standard cable rates and their digital rates (an average of 5.7%, AIRC). Their STANDARD cable is all Analog. You pay a premium to get their digital cable tier (note that the standard channels you receive are still analog), plus you must rent a set top box for each TV in your house that wishes to view digital content (or have a cable card ready TV, in which case you rent a cable card :) ). If you have an HDTV ready TV, their HD set top box rents for the same price as a conventional set top box, and you can get a few HD feeds at no additional charge -- INHD1 & 2, local ABC, Discovery HD theater and either TNTHD or ESPNHD (I forget which, and their online cable lineup info doesn't work :D ). You pay an additional $5 a month to get HDNet, HDNet movies and the other of the last two above.

Now that DirecTV has announced their rates are going up, I hope that all the whiners will quiet down a bit. Cablevision and Charter cable subscribers may well see their rates go up as well, so please don't be too smug. :p

[BobJ2004]

I dont get it.

Cox Cable here in Omaha Just lowered there Digtial Cable box rental feed. Now when you compare a 3 Room Digital cable top 150 to cable, Cox is lower.

If you also have Cox Cables telephone it is any other $12 a month lower as you get HBO for free.

[skenney]

Here's the top part of the ad TimeWarner is currently running in the Syracuse newspaper...

[cglide]

This may just be the way to go...D goes company first then customer... IE THE 522

[Link]

Dish has no more room to talk anymore on price increases. They used to be able to claim to be a cheaper alternative but now that is not the case. They also can no longer to claim to have the lowest all digital package with locals for $29.99. That is gone too.

[BFG]

even at 31.99 they're still the lowest all digital price in america, kwitchurbeliakin

[James Long]

even at 31.99 they're still the lowest all digital price in america, kwitchurbeliakinThat's because they don't give you any analog channels. :D

It's not a bad price, and there is a lot more potential remaining in E* than D*.

JL

[Link]

That's because they don't give you any analog channels. :D

It's not a bad price, and there is a lot more potential remaining in E* than D*.

JL

I agree the Top 60 is a good deal especially now that I have it since they raised the Top 180. I was just meaning their promotion they used to use with the $29.99 lowest all digital price w/locals and the price freeze deal is over. I wonder if they'll offer or guarantee a price freeze on the new $31.99 price.

[normang]

Here's the top part of the ad TimeWarner is currently running in the Syracuse newspaper...

It is interesting that TWC in their ad incorrectly states the increase, and doesn't really provide any comparison to tell you why you should go with them, unless there is more on the rest of the page to tell you, perhaps just as inaccurately as the percent of increase..

Bottomline is, the increases have to stop somewhere, or the bottom is going to fall out. Eventually, subscription tv is going to be in the hundreds of dollars and no one is going to pay that.. I will scale back significantly if it continues to rise, which until someone wakes up.. it will.. :money:

[BasicBlak]

And, to make matters worse, both E* & D* standard definition service looks nearly as bad as digital cable's even with a DVI connection! It's as if someone used a sledge hammer to smash the compression button while dialed in to its MAX setting. Even the PPV channels, visually once considered DBS's claim to fame, are compressed beyond belief, ostensibly to make it more DVR hard drive friendly, I suppose. So, let's break this down, shall we: Prices that are, despite their bogus ad campaign, comparable (if not higher) than digital cable - along with picture quality that seems to degrade more and more as time goes by. Uh-huh, yea...a real bargain. :nono2: I dunno...C-Band is starting to look awfully attractive to me again.

[Mike Richardson]

Cable's advertising always pisses me off. Even in the ads that they air on their OWN cable system that is only seen by cable subs, for example selling HBO or Digital Cable addons to people that ALREADY HAVE cable, they always throw something in such as "and NO dish risks!"

Dish risks? WTF? Check out this outdated page: http://www.mytwcable.com/cable/cablesatellite.html

Nearly everything about satellite there is lies.