Dish's "secret package" in the Twilight Zone

[arjay]

DBSForums is freezing up repeatedly and I can't access it now. Before it froze I posted the following to a thread I had started:

Here's the thread URL:

http://www.dbsforums.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=003025#000021

Here's the update:

An interesting update!
I contacted Dish on June 26 and was told that a work order was indeed in place to cancel my service on July 6. I cancelled the work order so I could make a change to my account.

After swapping the coax from my Dish 501 to my JVC
DSR-100u combo receiver/digital VCR I deactivated the 501 (without the coax to signal the deactivation all my recordings remain preserved if they otherwise wouldn't have been!) and activated the JVC receiver as the second receiver on my account.

Yesterday, July 6, I called Dish to cancel my account.

Here's where it gets interesting!

I was told about a "secret" programming package which Dish offers to retain "low rollers". I'd never seen a reference to it before. Supposedly it's good for 6 months after which, if not cancelled, it will revert to the standard AT-50 bottom end package @ $23. monthly.

The "secret" package is called the "Essentials Package". It offers 12 channels for $10. monthly. The 12 channels are:

HGTV--Chan. 112
MTV2--161
Cartoon net.--176
Discovery--182
CNN--200
Hdline News--202
C-SPAN--210
C-SPAN2--212
Weather--214
HSN--222
QVC--226
TBS--230

I said OK to "Essentials" and didn't cancel my service. I deactivated the JVC receiver and all other services including L.A. locals.

Here's where we enter the "Twilight Zone"!

Today, I turned on the satellite stuff and what do I find? I'm getting every channel Dish offers, except for PPV's and the foreign specialty stuff, including Superstations and the L.A. locals. All this split between both receivers with a few duplications!

Y'know what? I don't care. If it stays, fine. If it doesn't, so what; I don't watch much TV anyway.
CNN, TBS, and Discovery for $10. a month would be fine!

[John Corn]

OMG....:eek: Thats some story. Only thing I've got to say is "Lucky You", just be ready if they catch there 'boo boo' :)

[Richard King]

/incognito mode on/:D I sold a model 5000 to a customer about 3 years ago that had been my showfloor unit. I transferred my showroom package to another unit and set him up with AT100 plus HBO. He has been receiving my showroom package (everything except the expected deletions) since. He receives his normal pacckage on his second receiver. He is very happy, even though he rarely watches the extras he receives. /incognito mode off/
Can anyone tell who I am? :D By the way, where is cognito anyway?

[arjay]

Originally posted by Rking401
I sold a model 5000 to a customer about 3 years ago that had been my showfloor unit. I transferred my showroom package to another unit and set him up with AT100 plus HBO. He has been receiving my showroom package (everything except the expected deletions) since. He receives his normal pacckage on his second receiver.

Interesting. My primary receiver is a 7200 which I bought from a dealer. It originally had the dealer's showroom package.

I enjoyed getting all Dish's channels for a week and then activated the 7200 on my account with AT-100 and Starz!. That's what I got--until the next day when the showroom package returned!

Since then I added a 501 and L.A. locals to my account. The 501 got the packages I subscribed to while the 7200 got the whole enchilada. Since I don't watch much TV I didn't want to continue paying the $55. monthly Dish bill for AT-100, Starz!, L.A. locals and the second receiver fee. I planned to end the service completely (realizing there was a 50-50 chance that the 7200 might continue to get the showroom package.)

The "Essentials Package" seemed like a pretty good deal so I took it instead of cancelling service. I half expected the 7200 might continue to receive the whole showroom package. The big surprise is that the showroom package (with a few duplications) is now split across both the 7200 and the JVC receiver which was supposed to be deactivated!

[Jacob S]

What do u mean it is split with a few duplications? That you get half the channels on one receiver and the other half of the channels on the other receiver? This is very strange.

[arjay]

Originally posted by Jacob S
....you get half the channels on one receiver and the other half of the channels on the other receiver? This is very strange.

Exactly! Very strange indeed!

[STXJim]

By the way, where is cognito anyway?

Can I take a guess?
The Motor City?:shrug: ;)

[Nick]

" By the way, where is cognito anyway?"

Cognito is not a place, but a state of intense higher consciousness.

[Neil Derryberry]

I had a 5000 I bought at a salvage store that was in a Costco warehouse - it had the showroom package. I dumped the 5000 for a 501, so I lost it, but it was cool to have the movies for a year or more.

[Richard King]

Cognito is not a place, but a state
Is that next door to New Jersey?

[jrjcd]

what WOULD be imteresting if this happened to someone and got ALL the locals cleared...lol

[RJS1111111]

...if offered at no extra charge!

[lee635]

Can you get other programming with this package. For example, can you subscribe to movie packages?

Currently have AT50 + showtime. I'd like this cheap package as I'd rather use the savings for Starz.