The satcaster sets a standard $20 monthly charge.
By Phillip Swann

Washington, D.C. (December 22, 2006) — Does EchoStar’s HDTV pricing structure seem a little confusing? Well, if you do, you’re in luck. The satcaster said today that it will make its HDTV programming package a simple $20 monthly addition to any Dish Network package.
For instance, if you subscribe to Dish’s “Top 180″ package for $49.99 — and add the HDTV programming lineup — your monthly price will be $69.99.
Until now, the monthly high-def fee depended upon the number of HD and non-HD channels you received. But now you will get all non-premium HD channels for $20 a month in addition to the basic package price.
EchoStar has 30 national HDTV channels; it also offers local HD channels in some markets.
EchoStar also said overall programming prices will rise about three percent next year. The hike is less than what some cable operators are charging for the new year.