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DirecTV Rates

N

nuzguy

Just received my February DirecTV bill informing subscribers that effective March 1, the Total Choice Plus package cost will increase by more than
14-percent. Rates are going out of sight while program content, selection, and quality are going nowhere.

Won't be long now until the DirecTV people will want an even hundred per month and be offering less than ever in return. As it is the less than useless shopping channels and church house money grabbers are occupying a disproportionate amount of channel space, for which DirecTV has the gall to charge subscription fees, and offers customers nothing of use or value in return.

The so-called premium channels are producing larger numbers of in-house and made-for-cable programs and airing fewer name movies, plus programs in the 100, 200, 300, 400, and other tiers are little more than what they are on OTA and standard cable television--wall to wall commercials interrupted by some occasional programming, and much of that only marginally worthwhile.

DirecTV is becoming less of a deal with every rate increase. The sales pitch is for the NUMBER of channels showering down from the bird. The company needs to get off the quantity kick and concentrate once more on quality. All too often we sit in front of the television with 200 DirecTV channels, astronomical monthly bills, and absolutely nothing worth watching.

At this rate I'm not long for being a continuing customer, and from what's being heard from thousands of others, neither is a growing part of DirecTV's subscriber base.

The head of the FCC in 1957 was right--a vast wasteland, indeed. Except now add "expensive with few returns" to the "vast" qualifier.
 
> Just received my February DirecTV bill informing subscribers
> that effective March 1, the Total Choice Plus package cost
> will increase by more than
> 14-percent. Rates are going out of sight while program
> content, selection, and quality are going nowhere.
>
> Won't be long now until the DirecTV people will want an even
> hundred per month and be offering less than ever in return.
> As it is the less than useless shopping channels and church
> house money grabbers are occupying a disproportionate amount
> of channel space, for which DirecTV has the gall to charge
> subscription fees, and offers customers nothing of use or
> value in return.
>
> The so-called premium channels are producing larger numbers
> of in-house and made-for-cable programs and airing fewer
> name movies, plus programs in the 100, 200, 300, 400, and
> other tiers are little more than what they are on OTA and
> standard cable television--wall to wall commercials
> interrupted by some occasional programming, and much of that
> only marginally worthwhile.
>
> DirecTV is becoming less of a deal with every rate increase.
> The sales pitch is for the NUMBER of channels showering
> down from the bird. The company needs to get off the
> quantity kick and concentrate once more on quality. All too
> often we sit in front of the television with 200 DirecTV
> channels, astronomical monthly bills, and absolutely nothing
> worth watching.
>
> At this rate I'm not long for being a continuing customer,
> and from what's being heard from thousands of others,
> neither is a growing part of DirecTV's subscriber base.
>
> The head of the FCC in 1957 was right--a vast wasteland,
> indeed. Except now add "expensive with few returns" to the
> "vast" qualifier.
>

Thank God I have Dish Network. They are fighting to keep prices low. I'd rather lose a channel for a few days than have my bill shoot upward.
 
> > Just received my February DirecTV bill informing
> subscribers
> > that effective March 1, the Total Choice Plus package cost
>
> > will increase by more than
> > 14-percent. Rates are going out of sight while program
> > content, selection, and quality are going nowhere.
> >
> > Won't be long now until the DirecTV people will want an
> even
> > hundred per month and be offering less than ever in
> return.
> > As it is the less than useless shopping channels and
> church
> > house money grabbers are occupying a disproportionate
> amount
> > of channel space, for which DirecTV has the gall to charge
>
> > subscription fees, and offers customers nothing of use or
> > value in return.
> >
> > The so-called premium channels are producing larger
> numbers
> > of in-house and made-for-cable programs and airing fewer
> > name movies, plus programs in the 100, 200, 300, 400, and
> > other tiers are little more than what they are on OTA and
> > standard cable television--wall to wall commercials
> > interrupted by some occasional programming, and much of
> that
> > only marginally worthwhile.
> >
> > DirecTV is becoming less of a deal with every rate
> increase.
> > The sales pitch is for the NUMBER of channels showering
> > down from the bird. The company needs to get off the
> > quantity kick and concentrate once more on quality. All
> too
> > often we sit in front of the television with 200 DirecTV
> > channels, astronomical monthly bills, and absolutely
> nothing
> > worth watching.
> >
> > At this rate I'm not long for being a continuing customer,
>
> > and from what's being heard from thousands of others,
> > neither is a growing part of DirecTV's subscriber base.
> >
> > The head of the FCC in 1957 was right--a vast wasteland,
> > indeed. Except now add "expensive with few returns" to
> the
> > "vast" qualifier.
> >
>
> Thank God I have Dish Network. They are fighting to keep
> prices low. I'd rather lose a channel for a few days than
> have my bill shoot upward.
>
DirecTV's arrogance and dismissive nature are driving their actions toward customers beyond all logic and reason. Such will only hurt and ultimately doom DirecTV.
 
DirectTV has a huge ace up their sleeve: NFL Sunday Ticket. As long as they have the exclusive, they're guaranteed a huge subscriber base.
 
>
> Won't be long now until the DirecTV people will want an even
> hundred per month and be offering less than ever in return.
> As it is the less than useless shopping channels and church
> house money grabbers are occupying a disproportionate amount
> of channel space, for which DirecTV has the gall to charge
> subscription fees, and offers customers nothing of use or
> value in return.
>
>
Not much different with cable.

We can't even get Animal Planet and BET 24/7. The cable company replaces them with infomercial networks overnight.

We scrapped DirecTV for Digital Cable in April 2001.

Price goes up every year.<P ID="signature">______________

</P>
 
> DirecTV's arrogance and dismissive nature are driving their
> actions toward customers beyond all logic and reason. Such
> will only hurt and ultimately doom DirecTV.
>
Then I would go with DISH Network. I've never been unhappy with them. Regardless of what some think of some channels being unavailable during negotiations (which has only happened TWICE in the past 2 years: Liftime and Viacom), they DO fight to keep their rates low. In fact, for years, their slogan has been the "lowest price sattelite provider" or something like that. But the do promote they are the lowest price out there.

I usually check out DirecTV's rates compared to DISH and always see that DISH is lower. I also think DISH has better packages. With the AT180, it even includes a handful of movie channels.
 
I probably would have chosen Dish over DirecTV, but Dish refuses to carry the YES Network and Yankees games are one of my primary viewing choices. I would rather pay the higher price for DirecTV to get the programming I want.
 
> Thank God I have Dish Network. They are fighting to keep
> prices low. I'd rather lose a channel for a few days than
> have my bill shoot upward.

Sounds like you haven't yet received your latest DISH bill with a
warm, friendly letter telling you about their rate increase. True,
not 14%, just tad under 10%.

In looking over the programming offered by DISH and DirectTV, I find
that of the channels offered in each package somewhere between 40%
and 60% of those available fall into the home shopping or niche
categories.

A lot of apartment dwellers are worse off, being at the mercy of
cable and without even the satellite alternative but homeowners
still have the option of off-air pickup. Thing is, there is no
organization of antenna installers advertising heavily and offering
deals. And THAT's where the pay-tv outfits (satellite, cable, fiber)
presently have an advantage. Look around...how many antenna installers
can you easily locate in your area? Not everybody is willing to get
up on their roof... Is this any kind of business opportunity for a
young person with some skill and not a lot of money for equipment or
inventory?

Of course with on-air offerings being what they are, maybe the whole
thing is moot.
<P ID="signature">______________
Artificial intelligence is NO match for natural stupidity!</P>
 
"Refuse" vs. cost

> I probably would have chosen Dish over DirecTV, but Dish
> refuses to carry the YES Network and Yankees games are one
> of my primary viewing choices. I would rather pay the
> higher price for DirecTV to get the programming I want.

Since I am not in the market, I am not privvy to the details, but I would venture to guess the reason they have "refused" (if that word is applicable) simply because of the cost to carry it. Unless those who specifically want it would pay an additional charge, there is no way that DISH will pass that cost onto everyone else who wouldn't care to watch it in the first place (like me).
 
> > Thank God I have Dish Network. They are fighting to keep
> > prices low. I'd rather lose a channel for a few days than
> > have my bill shoot upward.
>
> Sounds like you haven't yet received your latest DISH bill
> with a
> warm, friendly letter telling you about their rate increase.
> True,
> not 14%, just tad under 10%.
>

Its still better than cable, esp. where I live.
 
> > DirecTV's arrogance and dismissive nature are driving
> their
> > actions toward customers beyond all logic and reason.
> Such
> > will only hurt and ultimately doom DirecTV.
> >
> Then I would go with DISH Network. I've never been unhappy
> with them. Regardless of what some think of some channels
> being unavailable during negotiations (which has only
> happened TWICE in the past 2 years: Liftime and Viacom),
> they DO fight to keep their rates low. In fact, for years,
> their slogan has been the "lowest price sattelite provider"
> or something like that. But the do promote they are the
> lowest price out there.
>
> I usually check out DirecTV's rates compared to DISH and
> always see that DISH is lower. I also think DISH has better
> packages. With the AT180, it even includes a handful of
> movie channels.
>
No service or product is immune from rate increases, and this of course includes DirecTV. However, my primary objection is the numbers-based drivel the company puts out, thinking customers are buying into the "look at all the channels we give you" come-on. (GIVE? yeah right) Increasingly these "numbers" are made up of cheap-shot content that no one watches. I've tried repeatedly to reach someone (anyone) in DTV sales supervision/customer service who will throw away the sales script and simply discuss the rate structure vs content. Last time I asked to speak with a supervisor the kid hung up.
 
Re: "Refuse" vs. cost

There were a lot of cost issues with cable operators when YES first came on the market. But all of the local cable companies as well as DirecTV eventually came to a fair price and all chose to carry YES. Dish is the only company that did not...I think they refused to even negotiate with YES.


>
> Since I am not in the market, I am not privvy to the
> details, but I would venture to guess the reason they have
> "refused" (if that word is applicable) simply because of the
> cost to carry it. Unless those who specifically want it
> would pay an additional charge, there is no way that DISH
> will pass that cost onto everyone else who wouldn't care to
> watch it in the first place (like me).
>
 
The problem is simple. People keep buying. If you don't like the high rates cancel. I did this with my cable. I thought I couldn't live without cable. But I am doing fine. So my picture's is not so good, that means I won't stare at crappy TV.

And as for infomercials, just remember they exist because they work. And VERY well. They are cheap to produce and provide good income and more important people WILL watch them. Enough to justify their cost many times over.<P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>
 
> Just received my February DirecTV bill informing subscribers
> that effective March 1, the Total Choice Plus package cost
> will increase by more than
> 14-percent.

"more than 14%"? You've got to be kidding! Total Choice Plus is only going up $3 for current subscribers, so it's only a bit above a 6% increase-probably lower than your local cable company has gone up this year (especially if it's Comcrap.)<P ID="signature">______________
"Radio is like musical chairs. When the music stops, I sit down and say something."</P>
 
> Thank God I have Dish Network. They are fighting to keep
> prices low. I'd rather lose a channel for a few days than
> have my bill shoot upward.
>
Have you looked at your February bill? In fact, IIRC, Dish announced their price increse loooog before DirecTV did.<P ID="signature">______________
"Radio is like musical chairs. When the music stops, I sit down and say something."</P>
 
> Then I would go with DISH Network. I've never been unhappy
> with them. Regardless of what some think of some channels
> being unavailable during negotiations (which has only
> happened TWICE in the past 2 years: Liftime and Viacom)

You're forgetting how they nuked OLN over Comcrap's insistance that it be put on the basic tier.

> they DO fight to keep their rates low. In fact, for years,
> their slogan has been the "lowest price sattelite provider"
> or something like that. But the do promote they are the
> lowest price out there.

Sure, you can have low prices when you offer a fraction of what the competition does. Every time I'd check out Dish, I'd see that I'd have to go to AT180 to get Fox News Channel, while DirecTV had that on Total Choice even before NewsCorp got controlling interest in them.<P ID="signature">______________
"Radio is like musical chairs. When the music stops, I sit down and say something."</P>
 
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