View Full Version : Total Choice vs. Choice XTRA + HD-DVR
tenmidgets
02-20-08, 12:29 PM
I have been a DTV subscriber since 1997 and have been grandfathered in with the Total Choice package. Would the new Choice XTRA HD DVR package give me an additional 50 channels of programming and 18 XM audio channels for the same money?
terryfoster
02-20-08, 02:08 PM
I have been a DTV subscriber since 1997 and have been grandfathered in with the Total Choice package. Would the new Choice XTRA HD DVR package give me an additional 50 channels of programming and 18 XM audio channels for the same money?
Are you talking about the "Plus HD DVR" (which takes Choice XTRA, HD, and DVR and bundles them together)?
That costs $69.99 plus whatever premiums and additional receivers you have. It's unlikely it's the "same money" as Total Choice plus HD and DVR.
tenmidgets
02-20-08, 02:34 PM
Are you talking about the "Plus HD DVR" (which takes Choice XTRA, HD, and DVR and bundles them together)?
That costs $69.99 plus whatever premiums and additional receivers you have. It's unlikely it's the "same money" as Total Choice plus HD and DVR.
Well without getting into too much detail, here is the way I broke it down. Added up my costs consisting of: Total Choice + locals + DVR service + HD Access = $68.97
The "Plus HD DVR" package charges $69.99 per month as you mentioned. It sounds to me like I am gaining 50 channels for only another $1.03 per month. Am I correct here?
50 channels? Which ones. I have Total Choice Plus and aside from the premiums/sports packages I don't believe there are any English language channels we don't get.
tenmidgets
02-20-08, 03:25 PM
50 channels? Which ones. I have Total Choice Plus and aside from the premiums/sports packages I don't believe there are any English language channels we don't get.
Total Choice Plus advertises 150 channles and HD DVR Plus is basically the Choice XTRA package which offers 200 channels. Go to the web site to see which ones comprise the additional 50.
bonscott87
02-20-08, 03:32 PM
I'm not sure what your question is? You just answered it. Go the web site and do a channel comparison per package and see what more you get. Choice Xtra is every single non premium channel.
davring
02-20-08, 03:38 PM
Choice Extra is the equivalent of the old Total Choice Plus but about a dollar more, IIRC.
I was wondering the same thing, they are the EXACT same package though. You really are on the Choice Xtra if you are on Total Choice +....just you get to save a bit each month :)
There is no anymore channels in Choice Xtra over TC+...Channels have been added and removed over time which is why the advertisement from a few years ago for TC+ does not line up with the current ads for Choice Xtra
I do believe with Choice Extra you will get CSTV-610.But with TC+ you do not.
Total Choice Plus advertises 150 channles and HD DVR Plus is basically the Choice XTRA package which offers 200 channels. Go to the web site to see which ones comprise the additional 50.
Now which one are you talking about?.Thought you said you had Total Choice or Total Choice +?.If it's Total Choice then yes you would get more channels with Choice Extra,but not as many channels because you should still have alot of the channels that moved from Total Choice to Choice Extra with your grandfathered Total Choice.You would need to compare to see if there are any channels you would want to add and if it's worth the price.
tenmidgets
02-20-08, 07:02 PM
Now which one are you talking about?.Thought you said you had Total Choice or Total Choice +?.If it's Total Choice then yes you would get more channels with Choice Extra,but not as many channels because you should still have alot of the channels that moved from Total Choice to Choice Extra with your grandfathered Total Choice.You would need to compare to see if there are any channels you would want to add and if it's worth the price.
I have regular Total Choice - not Plus. Also I did a comparison of channels and there were many more in the new Choice Xtra that I don't currently have. Basically my question was whether it was worth it to give up a grandfathered package for what is currently being offered? Perhaps I have already answered my question, but I don't know enough about the programming to just make the move without consulting knowledge I trust (here).
Total Choice is now just "Choice" - 150 channels
Total Choice Plus is now "Choice Xtra" - 200 channel
Directv changed the names a year or two ago and charged a few dollars more for newly named packages. Total Choice Plus was dropped and is only available to customers who had it previous to the change (as long as their account is kept in good standing). It was a way of making a few xtra bucks on new subs, without pissing off their longtime customers.
You will get more channels if you have Total Choice (no plus) now and switch to Choice Xtra. However, once you switch, you can not go back to Total Choice, you would have to go back to "Choice" (which I believe is a few dollars more).
Hope that helps.
I have regular Total Choice - not Plus. Also I did a comparison of channels and there were many more in the new Choice Xtra that I don't currently have. Basically my question was whether it was worth it to give up a grandfathered package for what is currently being offered? Perhaps I have already answered my question, but I don't know enough about the programming to just make the move without consulting knowledge I trust (here).
Yes you are correct only you can answer that question.I myself like the Choice Extra package because when DirecTV adds any more national basic channels you will receive them also.;)
tenmidgets
02-21-08, 07:30 AM
Ok well it sounds like it makes sense to switch and I won't be losing anything by giving up the Choice grandfathered package I have now. Thanks for the info!
I have the old Total Choice Plus. I get CSTV 610. Whenever D* adds a channel to the newer package I get it in my older one also. For example when the NHL network was added to Choice Extra it was also added to Total Choice Plus.
I have the old Total Choice Plus. I get CSTV 610. Whenever D* adds a channel to the newer package I get it in my older one also. For example when the NHL network was added to Choice Extra it was also added to Total Choice Plus.
Agreed.
For Total Choice + (PLUS), you get all the same channels as in the current Choice Xtra pack from as far as I can tell. Saves $2mo or so as well :grin:
I have the old Total Choice Plus. I get CSTV 610. Whenever D* adds a channel to the newer package I get it in my older one also. For example when the NHL network was added to Choice Extra it was also added to Total Choice Plus.
All I know is when I had TC+ I did not get CSTV-610.Anyways it makes no difference as the OP has Total Choice.;)
CHDinCT
02-21-08, 01:10 PM
Agreed.
For Total Choice + (PLUS), you get all the same channels as in the current Choice Xtra pack from as far as I can tell. Saves $2mo or so as well :grin:
What about HD? I'll explain. I've had Total Choice Pluse since I started with DTV back in 2003. I added the HD tier about a year or so later. Up until a few weeks ago, I was getting every HD channel available except the HD version of a premium channel (HBO, Showtime, etc.) A few weeks ago, I lost Universal HD, HD Net Movies, Smithsoanian HD, and a few others. I called DTV to find out what was going on and was told there's a new HD Extra pack or whatever they called it that was more money and would get me the 5 HD channels back. Well, needless to say, I raised a stink and they gave these back to me for 3 months free. After that, I'll have to pay more.
What dosen't make sense is taking away channels like UHD, and HD net that I've had for years and suddenly putting them on a new additional pay tier. I'll admit, I've been paying less attention to all these DTV changes since they finally rolled out all the new HD stations last fall. Guess I missed the new HD Extra Pack slight of hand.
I have the old Total Choice Plus. I get CSTV 610. Whenever D* adds a channel to the newer package I get it in my older one also. For example when the NHL network was added to Choice Extra it was also added to Total Choice Plus.
Me too. So far, I get all the added channels. Extra doesn't make sense for me because it costs more (I have free lifetime DVR) without providing anything additional.
tenmidgets
02-21-08, 01:29 PM
Anyone know if the Madison Square Garden (MSG) channel is included in Choice Xtra? I know its in the Premier package.
bonscott87
02-21-08, 02:45 PM
Anyone know if the Madison Square Garden (MSG) channel is included in Choice Xtra? I know its in the Premier package.
If it is your local RSN then it's included in *any* package for you, even the cheap family pack. If your location is accurate and is Long Island then you'd get MSG along with 2 or 3 more New York RSNs (YES, FSNNY and SNNY I think) all with any base package. You certainly don't need Premier for it. Premier and sports pack get you the *out of market* RSNs that aren't your local ones (blackouts apply of course).
ehilbert1
02-21-08, 03:40 PM
Me too. So far, I get all the added channels. Extra doesn't make sense for me because it costs more (I have free lifetime DVR) without providing anything additional.
How much was Lifetime DVR when D* offered it?
How much was Lifetime DVR when D* offered it?
I bought it with my first DSR 6000 ($250) directly from Tivo. DirecTv honors those legacy Tivo lifetime purchases.
ehilbert1
02-21-08, 03:54 PM
I bought it with my first DSR 6000 ($250) directly from Tivo. DirecTv honors those legacy Tivo lifetime purchases.
That is really cool of them. Thanks for the info.
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