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I'm tempted to start paying for television. Since I moved here 5 years ago, I haven't had cable or satellite TV service, and have only watched over-the-air channels. But it looks like DISH Network has a basic "International" package which includes the 2 of the channels I used to watch the most (FreeSpeech TV and Link TV) for $10 a month.
They've also got a pre-paid no-contract deal called FLEX TV. So if I felt like watching TV, I could pay for a month, and if I didn't feel it was worthwhile, I could stop without a penalty fee. I could try out the different international packages if I wanted to, a month at a time.
From looking at the DishNet website, it appears that the monthly package prices for FLEX TV match the regular package prices. The difference is that you aren't locked into a 2 year contract, but neither do you get the discounted prices for the 1st year like you do with the contract.
From talking to Forestfen, who has been with DishNet for a while, once the 2 year contract is up, you continue paying the regular monthly price (you aren't eligible for the discounted price again). And when the package prices go up, your bill goes up (you don't get the benefit of keeping the original price). So at that point, switching to a pre-paid deal could be beneficial for regular customers too, as then they'd have the option of turning the service off for a month, or of switching packages without a change fee. Apparently DishNet realizes that and wants to discourage it; the FLEX TV page says: "You must be a first time DISH Network subscriber or a former subscriber that left DISH Network in good standing more than 90 days ago."
They've also got a pre-paid no-contract deal called FLEX TV. So if I felt like watching TV, I could pay for a month, and if I didn't feel it was worthwhile, I could stop without a penalty fee. I could try out the different international packages if I wanted to, a month at a time.
From looking at the DishNet website, it appears that the monthly package prices for FLEX TV match the regular package prices. The difference is that you aren't locked into a 2 year contract, but neither do you get the discounted prices for the 1st year like you do with the contract.
From talking to Forestfen, who has been with DishNet for a while, once the 2 year contract is up, you continue paying the regular monthly price (you aren't eligible for the discounted price again). And when the package prices go up, your bill goes up (you don't get the benefit of keeping the original price). So at that point, switching to a pre-paid deal could be beneficial for regular customers too, as then they'd have the option of turning the service off for a month, or of switching packages without a change fee. Apparently DishNet realizes that and wants to discourage it; the FLEX TV page says: "You must be a first time DISH Network subscriber or a former subscriber that left DISH Network in good standing more than 90 days ago."