Switching to DTV and OTA HD

[kia303]

Hey anyone wish to weigh in on this switch? I have been seeing the deals that DTV has been offering, I think the current offer is $399 for a Hughes HD receiver and triple LNB dish, with an additional SD receiver for another room, plus installation included. I currently have TWC and pay monthly for the HDSTB and digital cable package with HBO channels. My current monthly cable bill with Roadrunner and applicable discounts is approx. $100 after necessary taxes Would I save any money going with DTV, buying their HD package which is $10 a month, and getting an OTA antenna for any local HD channels? I believe I would still need basic cable for local channels because they are not available with DTV as of this date, but should be coming sometime in 2004. What pros or cons are there to this choice? The reason I am considering this switch is mainly due to the frustration of not being able to get enough HD content on the major networks, and the negotiation problem with WRGB is really starting to aggravate me, no SuperBowl in HD. I have spent a lot of money on this hobby and would like to enjoy it, ok I will shut up now.
Kurt

[kia303]

Well, after some research I think that I have found my answer. I would likely purchase the 39.99 package from DTV then add the HD package for 10.99, however, I am receiving a discount on my TWC DigiPC package and I would still need to pay for basic cable for local channels and my RR monthly online service would increase by $5, not to mention that I get HBO for $1 a month. So in the long run I would be paying more money to have DTV and OTA HD. So it looks like for now I will have to stick with TWC and hope there is an agreement soon between WRGB and WNYT and TWC for HD programming. If not I may wait and see what DTV offers for local channels after May '04.

[Hankster]

I was doing the same thing you were. On Sunday I was thinking of DTV and D*. You are correct, when everything is said and done you are paying about the same. I too have RR. Just think that TWC now offers 9 HD channels with WMHT (PBS) coming soon I heard.

[kia303]

Well thanks to the google ads at the top of this forum I found a place called getdish.com, I checked out their website and then gave them a call. First I called TWC and got my bill broken down, I pay $68.37 a month for digital tier cable package($45.35) with the STB($7.95) and Navigator($3 per month what a joke), plus HBO at $9.95(my $1 deal must have expired this month), they then throw on a franchise fee of a couple of dollars. I told the CSR that I was comparing cable vs. satellite and she never made any type of offer to reduce the bill to keep me on, although this may occur when I call to cancel.

Well here is the deal form getdish, sign up for Dish Network now and receive a free HD receiver(811), which will also allow me to receive OTA HD, free dish, and a second SD receiver for upstairs, plus free install. Actually they will charge me $49.99 and then issue me an immediate credit to my bill. I then will be charged per month, $24.99 for the Basic 60 package, $9.99 for the HD package, $4.99 for local channels, $4.99 for the second receiver and can get HBO for $13.99. However, the CSR told me that I can not receive HD from the local channels, only digital feed, so I will need to buy an antenna to hook up to the 811 to get my local programs in HD.
Total Dish Network price for programming is $58.95. Total savings per month is $9.32, however, that does not take into account that I can receive more HD channels through Dish Network and OTA than with TWC. Also, the HDNet and HDNet movies will be additional with TWC soon and are included with Dish. Oh yeah, and after the one year contract I own the equipment, not a lease like with TWC. Plus, did I mention ESPN HD!! I think I am going to pull the trigger on this deal soon.

[Hankster]

I like the Dish Network deal too but they don't offer the YES Network.


Direct TV offers YES but it is only in their top tier package which includes all the Premier channels at $87.99, now add $10.99 for HD. Too bad TWC wouldn't come out with a box that can decode ATSC OTA HD. I'm gonna stick with TWC now that I have their new HD DVR but let us know how you like your new service.

[kia303]

Well I called TWC tonight and told them I was thinking about switching to Satellite and I asked the CSR point blank, "what can TWC do to keep me as a customer"? The CSR who was very helpful tried to discount my package in several different ways, I am paying $109.xx per month for digital cable, HD cable box and RR. After several attempts to discount my package she was coming up with negative results, then she put me on hold and said let me try one more thing. When she returned she told me that she would be able to discount my RR service another $15 a month for three months. I thanked her for her assistance and hung up, $15 is $15 and I will continue to call back every three months and attempt to get the discount. I disagreeumption is that TWC is getting a lot of pressure from DSL at $29.95 per month and that is why they had the wiggle room with the internet access and not the cable package.
Kurt

[Hankster]

Good for you. I may due the same thing. My bill this past month was $107.00, I have RR as well but now have the 8000HD DVR which is an additional $5

[Stomper345]

TWC's RR service is so much better than my 29.95 DSL!!! My neighbor has RR and it is so much faster than mine. They didn't tell me when i purchased the 29.95 tier of DSL that it was half the speed as RR...