Dish creates $40 ‘skinny bundle’

US pay TV provider Dish has created a US$39.99 a month package that comprises a ‘skinny bundle’ of core linear channels.

Customers can add or remove as many networks as they like through the Flex Pack bundle, and can purchase individual packs for local broadcast networks, kids TV, national and regional stations, and general entertainment for between US$4 and US$10 a month.

“Our customers are frustrated with having to pay for hundreds of channels, most of which they never watch,” said Warren Schlichting, Dish executive vice president of marketing, programming and media sales (pictured). “Flex Pack provides a level of flexibility and control that brings our customers closer to the ideal of fully tailoring their channel lineup.”

The concept of skinny bundling has been gaining prominence within the US cable space, as the main players react to ‘cord-cutters’ – those ditching pay TV services for on-demand platforms such as Netflix – and ‘cord-nevers’ – millennial demographics that have never considered pay TV due to the high monthly costs and perceived viewing inflexibility.

The core Flex Pack will comprise more than 50 channels such as AMC, TNT, HGTV, Cartoon Network, History, A&E, E!, Discovery Channel, Food Network, FX and TV Land.

ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and Univision are available through a US$10 add-on package, while various other options are also being offered.