Dish Pitches $9.99 Tier to Analog-Only Consumers
Satellite-TV Provider Also Hawking Converter Buyable With $40 Government Coupon
By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 8/21/2008 3:09:00 AM
Dish Network, while hawking a $40 digital-to-analog box, is now trying to upsell analog-only TV owners to a low-cost version of its service.
The satellite provider has been pitching the TR-40 CRA, an entry-level, digital-to-analog converter box, nationwide at TR40CRA.com, by phone order or via participating Dish Network retailers. 
On Wednesday, Dish said consumers can also opt to sign up for new American or Latino Welcome Packs, featuring 20 popular channels for less than $10 per month.
The TR-40 CRA qualifies for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s TV Converter Box Coupon Program. The box, available for a limited time only while supplies last, is priced at $40 and is free when a government coupon is applied.
"We made a commitment to sell a $40 coupon-eligible converter box -- making it free when a government coupon is applied -- and are delivering on that commitment with our entry-level TR-40 CRA," Tom Stingley, Dish Network’s executive vice president of sales and distribution, said in a release. "Our digital-to-analog converter boxes, along with the $9.99 programming package solutions, are additional ways Dish Network is making high quality TV more accessible to consumers nationwide."
The TR-40 CRA adds to Dish Network’s lineup of digital-to-analog converter boxes, and features a unique analog pass-through feature; an easy-to-follow setup wizard; an electronic program guide with up to seven days of program listings; parental controls; program search; auto tune timers for program recording on a connected VCR; closed caption support; a remote control; and signal strength screen pop-ups that can troubleshoot lost signals.
Saying consumers can also prepare for the digital transition by subscribing to pay television, Dish Network said it has programming packages to suit a variety of preferences and budgets, including the lowest all-digital price every day and premium, high-quality products at non-premium prices.
The new American and Latino Welcome Packs have a lineup of 20 top-rated channels and priced at $9.99 per month, priced at $14.99 with local channels where available. Or for as little as $19.99 per month (an additional $5 for local channels), Dish Network customers can subscribe to the DishFAMILY package and receive over 40 popular channels, plus free installation and activation.
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