Will DIRECTV subsidize MDU upgrades?

[mcaldero]

So I live in a condo building serviced by MDU Communications. The satellite penetration in the building is low (we have about 70 units and probably only 10 or so have DIRECTV; the rest have Comcast). MDUC has no interest in upgrading our system to MFH2 to allow me to receive the new HD channels since so few residents have subscribed to DIRECTV. And our condo association feels the same way. This means I am SOL and stuck with the handful of HD channels I get with the 3 LNB set-up.

My question is: Does DIRECTV have any plans to supplement or subsidize the expense that companies like MDU must incur to upgrade? Wouldn't it be in DIRECTV's interest to do this?

I'm frustrated beyond belief that I'm stuck with 7 HD channels when DIRECTV now offers 75+.

[DirecTv Chicago]

So I live in a condo building serviced by MDU Communications. The satellite penetration in the building is low (we have about 70 units and probably only 10 or so have DIRECTV; the rest have Comcast). MDUC has no interest in upgrading our system to MFH2 to allow me to receive the new HD channels since so few residents have subscribed to DIRECTV. And our condo association feels the same way. This means I am SOL and stuck with the handful of HD channels I get with the 3 LNB set-up.

My question is: Does DIRECTV have any plans to supplement or subsidize the expense that companies like MDU must incur to upgrade? Wouldn't it be in DIRECTV's interest to do this?

I'm frustrated beyond belief that I'm stuck with 7 HD channels when DIRECTV now offers 75+.


Some companies may have worked out agreements with DirecTV but there are no set guidelines. If MDU refuses to upgrade the services look for another system operator to take over the contract. This is still a grey area as some believe that if your operator refuses to upgrade to MFH2 they are in breach of contract to maintain the network, while others believe it is not a necessary upgrade.

IMO anyone who has ROE to a building and is not going to upgrade to MFH2, expecially when they are going against Comcast as their only competition, is crazy. If they were to upgrade I would believe that they would be able to convert many of the additional 70 Comcast users over rather quickly.

I would check your current contract with MDU, speak with your board about switching to another operator and locate one who will provide MFH2 to your location.

[ktabel01]

Some companies may have worked out agreements with DirecTV but there are no set guidelines. If MDU refuses to upgrade the services look for another system operator to take over the contract. This is still a grey area as some believe that if your operator refuses to upgrade to MFH2 they are in breach of contract to maintain the network, while others believe it is not a necessary upgrade.

IMO anyone who has ROE to a building and is not going to upgrade to MFH2, expecially when they are going against Comcast as their only competition, is crazy. If they were to upgrade I would believe that they would be able to convert many of the additional 70 Comcast users over rather quickly.

I would check your current contract with MDU, speak with your board about switching to another operator and locate one who will provide MFH2 to your location.

In a building served by MDUC here in Chicago, and having trouble getting straight answers from them. Continually state that the hardware is not available from DirecTV. And you get no help from DirecTV when you call as an MDU customer, so you are left with nothing. I have learned the hard way from now having three MDU providers in my short four years in Chicago that they all seem essentially shady and provide some of the poorest customer service of any company I have had to deal with. If there is no progress before some of the HD content I currently receive is shifted to MPEG 4, there will certainly be breach of contract proceedings begun with our board. It is clearly stated in our contract that they are required to maintain our service at comparable national standards. I just get sick of calling them because they are clueless and blatantly rude when you try and figure what the delay is.

[DirecTv Chicago]

In a building served by MDUC here in Chicago, and having trouble getting straight answers from them. Continually state that the hardware is not available from DirecTV. And you get no help from DirecTV when you call as an MDU customer, so you are left with nothing. I have learned the hard way from now having three MDU providers in my short four years in Chicago that they all seem essentially shady and provide some of the poorest customer service of any company I have had to deal with. If there is no progress before some of the HD content I currently receive is shifted to MPEG 4, there will certainly be breach of contract proceedings begun with our board. It is clearly stated in our contract that they are required to maintain our service at comparable national standards. I just get sick of calling them because they are clueless and blatantly rude when you try and figure what the delay is.


MFH2 is available and their is no denying it. However it is only now just becoming available in adaquete quantities. Some buildings based on priority and contract terms will receive equipment before others, that is based on the decision of the system operator.

Many customers will receive the run around for a period here and continue to be told that equipment is not available as a stall tactic while others will be getting an honest answer from their system operator that is not available.

If your System Operator tells you that equipment will not be available until the
3rd Quarter of 2008 they are lying to you. If they tell you that it is just now being made available and accounting for delivery, installation, testing,etc that your building may not be ready until March or April they are probably telling the truth.

With that said there is no clear answer. I can only recommend to stay in contact with your System Operator regarding your building. Regardless of whether they have enough inventory some of the larger operators support 100+ buildings and that takes time to install.