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No. 1 Satellite Operator Counters Rival With Limited-Time Offer
D*recTV will counter D*sh Network's "free HD for life" deal with a six-week promotion offering new D*recTV customers HD channels -- normally an additional $10 per month -- for no extra charge for as long as they maintain their account.
D*sh Network Thursday launched a national TV ad campaign for its "HD free for life" offer, which requires a 24-month contract and continuous enrollment in D*sh's AutoPay with paperless billing program.
Beginning Saturday, June 5, D*recTV will extend its own free-HD program to new customers who take the "Choice" programming package or higher, enroll in auto-bill pay, and sign a two-year commitment, said spokesman Robert Mercer. D*recTV's promotion will run for six weeks.
"Our offer is more consumer-friendly than D*sh because our customers still pay only $5 [per month] for box fees while D*sh recently raised their box fees to as much as $17 per month," Mercer said. D*sh's receiver lease fees range from $7 to $17 per month.
In addition, D*sh customers must pay their first month bill before installation and are charged a $99 fee if they want to receive a paper copy of their bill.
The "free HD" tit-for-tat is the latest in a running marketing battle between D*recTV and D*sh Network. In February, D*recTV filed a false-advertising suit against D*sh, and D*sh responded with a countersuit alleging D*recTV has made misleading ad claims of its own. The two companies settled the dispute out of court.
The two satellite players also recently sparred over HD channel counts. D*sh claimed to provide 200 national HD channels (although 57 of those are on-demand movies) while D*recTV touted more than 160 and belittled D*sh's claims.
D*recTV has 18.7 million subscribers, and D*sh Network has 14.3 million.
D*recTV's HD Extra Pack is not included in the provider's "free HD for life" promotion. The $4.99-per-month tier provides access to seven additional channels: Crime & Investigation HD, Hallmark Movie Channel, HDNet Movies, MGM HD, Palladia HD, Smithsonian HD and Universal HD.
D*recTV will counter D*sh Network's "free HD for life" deal with a six-week promotion offering new D*recTV customers HD channels -- normally an additional $10 per month -- for no extra charge for as long as they maintain their account.
D*sh Network Thursday launched a national TV ad campaign for its "HD free for life" offer, which requires a 24-month contract and continuous enrollment in D*sh's AutoPay with paperless billing program.
Beginning Saturday, June 5, D*recTV will extend its own free-HD program to new customers who take the "Choice" programming package or higher, enroll in auto-bill pay, and sign a two-year commitment, said spokesman Robert Mercer. D*recTV's promotion will run for six weeks.
"Our offer is more consumer-friendly than D*sh because our customers still pay only $5 [per month] for box fees while D*sh recently raised their box fees to as much as $17 per month," Mercer said. D*sh's receiver lease fees range from $7 to $17 per month.
In addition, D*sh customers must pay their first month bill before installation and are charged a $99 fee if they want to receive a paper copy of their bill.
The "free HD" tit-for-tat is the latest in a running marketing battle between D*recTV and D*sh Network. In February, D*recTV filed a false-advertising suit against D*sh, and D*sh responded with a countersuit alleging D*recTV has made misleading ad claims of its own. The two companies settled the dispute out of court.
The two satellite players also recently sparred over HD channel counts. D*sh claimed to provide 200 national HD channels (although 57 of those are on-demand movies) while D*recTV touted more than 160 and belittled D*sh's claims.
D*recTV has 18.7 million subscribers, and D*sh Network has 14.3 million.
D*recTV's HD Extra Pack is not included in the provider's "free HD for life" promotion. The $4.99-per-month tier provides access to seven additional channels: Crime & Investigation HD, Hallmark Movie Channel, HDNet Movies, MGM HD, Palladia HD, Smithsonian HD and Universal HD.