What Is Dish Network TurboHD?
Satellite TV provider DISH Network just released fresh programming bundles called TurboHD. These new programming packages are all hi definition, removing of the SD channels. So is this new satellite TV the right for you?
It all depends on what you want from your pay TV provider. Some folks want every single channel that is available. They don’t care if 10 of them are shopping channels, or that five of the channels are public access. They just want all of the channels.
On the other hand, many have grown tired of trying to wade past all of the lower tier channels on the cable dial, trying to find something worthwhile to watch. For consumers who have recently bought a new HDTV, Turbo HD from DISH Network may be the perfect solution.
There are three different options with TurboHD are the Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. All of these packages are composed of hi definition channels only. Packages start at about $24.99 per month for the Bronze package. That programming package does not include your local channels, which costs five bucks more per month.
DISH also offers the Platinum package, which is an additional service to the Gold, Silver, and Bronze packages. This Platinum package is ten bucks a month, and adds on seven more HD channels such as MGM HD and Universal HD.
One sticking point with some current DISH Network customers is they have not been allowed to switch over to the TurboHD packages, even though they are cheaper. Currently only new subscribers to DISH Network have been allowed to get the TurboHD only bundles. Current customers can get DISH TurboHD, but only as an add-on to the SD package.
Another item to consider is in how DISH Network is counting the networks contained in the bundles. Take for example the Bronze Turbo HD package which includes 44 channels, but of those 24 are network channels, six are pay-per-view, and 14 are VOD, (video on demand) channels. Some would consider that plenty but many are used to having quite a bit more content to choose from. A final consideration, the Turbo HD packages do not include movie packages like Starz or Showtime, so don’t be surprised when you have to pay an additional fee monthly for commercial free channels like that. For more detail on these packages, check out the DISH Network Turbo HD review.
