DISH Readies Fee for New DVRs

[Gregg Lengling]

EchoStar is preparing to assess a fee on DVR service for those who purchase new digital recorders.

The fee, however, won't impact current EchoStar customers who get DVR service with systems such as the DishDVR 501, 508 or 721. They will be grand fathered in with no monthly fee. Also, DISH Network customers who purchase the $74.99 a month America's Everything PAK from the satellite TV provider won't have to pay a DVR fee. DISHPlayer customers won't see changes in their fee structure.

Sources said new DISH Network DVRs will come with a monthly fee starting with the DishDVR 510, a 100-hour recording device that will become available to consumers later this summer. Fees will depend on the programming package purchased, with those buying the America's Top 150 or America's Top 100 packages paying a $4.98 a month DVR fee and those with America's Top 50 or foreign or Christian programming paying a $9.99 monthly fee.

The new DVR fee is a switch for the satellite TV company. While other services, including the DVR service from TiVo, charge a monthly fee or a one-time lifetime usage fee, EchoStar had never assessed a monthly DVR charge. TiVo's monthly cost is $12.95.