Premium Movie Packages - too few channels, too much $$

[kevino]

I've just switched from Digital Cable to Dish, and have to say that in general I am very pleased. However, one area Digital cable definitely outpaces Dish, is the movie packages (at least in my area - Adelphia in VT).

The HBO package, for example, on Dish only includes 8 channels. My digital cable package included 14 HBO channels, 7 east, and 7 west. Dish is missing most of the west channels, and doesn't even carry HBO Zone. When I sit down to watch a movie, having all of the west channels is a big advantage - literally 2x the movies available for the couple of hours I have free to watch..

Cinemax is even worse - 8 channels on Digital cable, vs. only 3 on Dish.

Has anyone heard of any move to add more channels? I'm a new subscriber so I don't know how frequently the movie packages are updated... Does Dish frequently add new channels to the premium packages?

Thanks!
Kevin O

[toomuchtv]

I agree that they are over-priced - especially Max. Digital cable here offers several more channels, too. If they are only going to carry 3 Max's, they should include it in the HBO package. The themed Encores are included in the Starz pak on cable, also. They should be included by E* too, but if they did that, there's no way they could sell AT150 for $9 more!

[Mark Holtz]

IMHO, Premium channels are a waste of money. Many of the movies are shown in pan-and-scan, not their original aspect ratio. Of course, I have a collection of almost 400 DVD titles. :)

In addition, there is a transponder crunch. Many of the local markets are being carried on 110 CONUS slot. Due to problems detected with the command module, the June launch of EchoStar 8 has been delayed until late this month, with the bird being operation in late-September to October. Once more locals are moved to spots, then more channels can be added.

[James_F]

These East/West feeds of channels might go away as more people get PVRs. Then timeshifting would allow them to watch their Skinamax at better hours... :D

[Jacob S]

I do agree that the movie channels have gotten a bit steep. Its been a whlie since they have upgraded the premium movie channels. I think they need to give a little better price structure for combining top 150 and all the premiums by giving a little better deal or get the fourth premium free when you order three.

It used to be that you could get them for 10.00 a piece and now you have to order 3 or 4 to get it for that price or cheaper.

[kevino]

Honestly, PVR timeshifting is a good options for the east/west feeds for people who "plan" their TV watching. However, I'm an impulse couch potato - I sit in front of the TV when I've got free time, and watch whatever is on at the time.

For my TV viewing style (and I suspect my viewing habits represent >75% of the viewing public), east/west feeds of the premium channels literally 2x the chance that there is a movie worth watching on!

[James_F]

What would you rather have? Two HBOs that show the same thing or additional HDTV channels...

[kevino]

I truly would prefer the east/west feeds over an HD feed... (Actually I think I read somewhere that I could get 5+ regular SD channels for the bandwidth of 1 HD channel, so I'll take a few of them, thank you!).

Now.... ask me again in a couple of years when I actually have an HD display, and I may very well offer a different answer!!

[DmitriA]

Originally posted by James_F
What would you rather have? Two HBOs that show the same thing or additional HDTV channels...

I'd rather have... BOTH! :-)

[bfennema]

How about all west coast feeds, and people on the east coast go to bed and get up 3 hours later?

All this would be solved if we got rid of the outdated concept of time zones =)

[MarkA]

"All this would be solved if we got rid of the outdated concept of time zones =)"

While I agree we should have one universal time, it would not solve the east/west feed problem. People on the west coast would have daylight at different times still, and therefore work, eat, and sleep at different hours - requiring TV suited to their schedule.

[bfennema]

People currently work, eat, and sleep at different hours even in the same time zone. (night shift, for example) They don't have the luxury of TV suited to their schedule =)

[MarkA]

They should. That's what PVRs and having both east and west coast feeds available to everybody nationwide are meant for:)

[James_F]

Explain to me how Universal time helps anyone? I live in Arizona, so I get up at 3am instead of 6am? Go to bed at 7pm? Why the heck would I want to live like that?

[MarkA]

one, I really doubt any universal time system would be 12 hour. Hate to break it to ya! It would be a 24 hour clock, and be GMT. Local schedules would be adjusted to compensate. Why would anybody want that?

- no time zone calculations means more efficient business

- easier to understand plane and train tickets

- know what the people in Japan mean when they say call them at 12:00

- and the list goes on and on and on...

[Mark Holtz]

Why do you think I went with Dish in the first place? I wanted a fee-free PVR that did time shifting. My work schedule changed in mid-July due to a personnel change, so I went from 9a-6p on Tuesdays and Thursdays-Sundays to 11a-8p Tuesday, Thursdays, and Fridays, and 9a-6p on weekends.

[James_F]

I work with people all the time in different timezones all day. Other than they forget the fact that Arizona doesn't observe daylight savings time, I have no problems. I just don't know why a universal time zone is needed?

[bfennema]

We should also get rid of daylight savings time while were at it =)

[James_F]

Works here in Phoenix. No worries about Spring Back, Fall Forward or what ever you guys have to deal with... Anyway who wants an extra hour of light when its 110 degrees?

[MarkA]

I believe we should celebrate daylight savings all year...

[Richard King]

I believe we should celebrate daylight savings all yearLet's party. :D

[James_F]

Damn, its too hot, I'm going to the pool!

[Chris Freeland]

Originally posted by Jacob S
I do agree that the movie channels have gotten a bit steep. Its been a whlie since they have upgraded the premium movie channels. I think they need to give a little better price structure for combining top 150 and all the premiums by giving a little better deal or get the fourth premium free when you order three.

It used to be that you could get them for 10.00 a piece and now you have to order 3 or 4 to get it for that price or cheaper.

E* does this now, what do you think Americas Everything package is? AT150+all four premiums for $72.99, if you add it up this is the same as getting them for only $8 each or getting three at regular combo price and the forth for just $3.

[Karl Foster]

Originally posted by toomuchtv
I agree that they are over-priced - especially Max. Digital cable here offers several more channels, too. If they are only going to carry 3 Max's, they should include it in the HBO package. The themed Encores are included in the Starz pak on cable, also. They should be included by E* too, but if they did that, there's no way they could sell AT150 for $9 more!

The Encore channels are included in the Starz! Superpack on Directv as well.

[James_F]

The Encore channels add the least value of any premium movie packages. I can't remember that last time I watched a movie on one except the "Action" channel... :shrug:

[Jacob S]

What I meant was more of a discount than what they offer on the america's everything pack like giving a better discount for 4 movie packages and then a bigger discount for combining that with top 150. If not an additional discount at least offer some additional channels at no extra charge.

[Chris Freeland]

Originally posted by Jacob S
What I meant was more of a discount than what they offer on the america's everything pack like giving a better discount for 4 movie packages and then a bigger discount for combining that with top 150. If not an additional discount at least offer some additional channels at no extra charge.

I do not understand? If you get one premium it is $13.99 for HBO or $11.99 each for the other three. If you get two it is either $21.99 or $22.99 depending on the combo, that is $7 or $9 depending on the combo for the 2nd premium, seams like a discount to me. If you select three premiums the price is $29.99, so your third premium is only $7 or $8, once again a discount. If you order all four premiums at $36.99, that fourth one is only $7, might not be as much of a discount as the AE Pak but still a discount even with AT50 or AT100. ;)

[Jacob S]

Yes, I know, they discount just the premiums, or just the basic packages, and they do discount them if you order all the basics and all the premiums, but I think they should also discount more if you order a higher basic with a couple of premiums, like run some specials or something. They could look back at the ones that never ordered them before and offer that to them to bring in more revenue.

[Chris Freeland]

Ah! now I understand, you would like say maybe AT150 and HBO for say $52.99 instead of the normal $54.98 or maybe AT150 with two premiums for maybe $59.99 instead of the normal $61.98 or $62.98. Sounds good, but does complicate marketing.:)

[Jacob S]

I am guessing that is why they did not do this yet. What I think they should do is have a point system where they reward the customers for paying their bills on time each month, for getting new customers, for adding programming, for taking certain packages, and so forth, and giving a reward such as free ppv, free channels, free upgrade, etc. with the points.