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Ever wished you could get programming a la carte and only pay for channels you’ll actually watch? Well, good news… DISH recently unveiled a new, fully customizable plan called the Flex Pack (likely inspired by DISH’s Sling TV). It starts you off with a base of 50 channels for $39.99/mo; you can then pick from 8 different add-on packs. Your first pack is free and, thereafter, each extra pack goes for $4-$10/mo. Or, you just stick with the 50-base plan (no extra packs) and lower your bill to $29.99/mo. Read on for all the details…
Features
Get from 50 to 115 channels for $29.99/mo and $95.99/mo, respectively.
Free SHOWTIME and STARZ for 3 months
Free installation of up to six rooms
Free DISH Hopper 3 Upgrade
HD Free for Life
Free DISH Movie Pack for 3 months (EPIX, MGM Movies, etc.)
Local Channels (FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS, etc) are one of the channel packs (free if it’s your only pack or $10/mo if you have other packs).
The 8 Channel Packs
Kids Pack ($10/mo) – includes a solid mix of 8 popular channels: Disney, Disney Jr., Disney XD, Animal Planet, nick Jr, nickTOONS, Boomerang and BabyTV.
News Pack ($10/mo) – from stock market to national/world news, this one’s a must have for investors and news junkies alike: BBC World News, Bloomberg TV, CNBC, Fox, Fox Business, Fox News, MSNBC, theblaze and Weather Channel.
Regional Action ($10/mo) – get your fill of college sports and outdoor action with this 8-channel pack: Big Ten Network, ESPN Buzzer Beater, FS2, Longhorn Network, Outside TV, Pac 12 Network, SEC Network and World Fishing Network
National Action ($10/mo) – if you need more national sports coverage, this pack of 8 fits the bill and then some: axs.tv, ESPN, ESPN 2, FS1, fuse, TVG, Universal HD and Velocity
Locals ($10/mo) – get all your local buzz, live and direct…along with some Spanish-language programming: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ion, Univision, Telemundo, PBS and uniMAS.
Variety ($6/mo) – a fun mix of different genres, from mystery/crime to some of the more popular reality shows: BET, Bravo, Crime & Investigation Channel, ID, Freeform and Lifetime Movie Network.
Heartland ($6/mo) – if family movies and documentaries are your cup of tea, you’re likely to enjoy this 11-channel pack: BabyTV, Discovery Family, FamilyNet, GSN, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, OWN, PIXL, RFD TV, Ride TV and Uplifting Entertainment.
Outdoor ($4/mo) – a small but hard-hitting set of outdoor programming: Outdoor Channel, Outside TV, Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network.
And, remember, your first pack from the 8 listed above is free. The prices apply for every 2nd and additional pack added.
Ideal for
Folks that have specific tastes or just want full control.
Cost
$29.99/mo for 50 channels (no added channel packs)
$95.99/mo for 115 channels (all 8 channel packs)
Final Thoughts
Over the years, we’ve fielded a ton of questions/suggestions from DISH subscribers clamoring for a la carte or customizable plans. DISH heard ya loud and clear and this Flex Pack is an excellent first version. Expect the assortment of packs to change in the coming months as DISH streamlines the program based on customer feedback. Over-the-Top (Roku, Sling TV, etc) and On Demand entertainment have made huge strides of the years and this Flex Plan positions DISH square in the middle of those offerings and traditional satellite TV. So, if you weren’t able to find a DISH package that met all your needs in the past, you might want to give the new Flex Plan a look…and get busy building your perfect plan :).
Every DISH plan includes:
2-Year Price Guarantee
Smart DVR (Hopper or Duo)
Free DISH voice remote w/ Google Assistant
80,000 on demand movies and shows
Over 70 free SiriusXM music channels
Full professional installation (soon as tomorrow)
About the author
George Levint
George is the senior editor at DigitalFind and an expert in how technology at home impacts our lives. From funky analog radios to AI devices that try to out-think you, he's usually unfairly critical until proven otherwise. He also enjoys spending the occasional weekend off-grid to keep Skynet guessing.
I have internet already does that
Matter at all